Who was the Greatest Founding Father?

[Young Paleocon]

Patrick Henry and Jefferson. Without Henry, Clinton, and the anti-federalists we may not have had a Bill of Rights. Not that we really use it anymore, but it's the thought that counts.

 

[Unspun]

Patrick Henry and Jefferson. Without Henry, Clinton, and the anti-federalists we may not have had a Bill of Rights. Not that we really use it anymore, but it's the thought that counts.

Which Clinton would this be?

 

[Young Paleocon]

George Clinton I believe.

 

[Galileo Galilei]

Which Clinton would this be?

George Clinton of New York was against the Constitution. New York was unique in that it delegation at the Constitutional convention was the only large state to oppose it.

Clinton had instructed delegates Yates, Lansing and Hamilton to only ammend the Articles of Confederation, and Yates & Lansing outvoted Hamilton.

Finally disgusted, Yates and Lansing left, and then Hamilton came back to vote, but he couldn't vote because New York needed two delegates to vote. Hamilton did sign the Constitution, however.

At the New York ratifying convention, some delegates agreed to vote for ratification if a bill-of-rights were added to it, and they ratfied by a close vote 30-27, I believe.

The Bill-of-Rights is a rare case were a very importnat political promise was kept. James Madison introduced it in the first congress on June 8, and then fought for it until it was passed and ratified two years later. You will not see any modern politician do such a thing (except Ron Paul, but he does not have the power that Madison had).

 

[Galileo Galilei]

Hey, come on guys, these guys have zero votes:

George Read (signed constitution & declaration of independence)
John Hancock (first president of the U.S., signed declaration, got constituion ratified in MA)
Alexander Hamilton (co-author of federalist papers)
James Wilson (signed constituion & declaration, major speaker at convention)
John Jay (wrote 5 federalist papers, 1st Chief justice of supreme court)
Roger Sherman (signed constituion & declaration, on committee to write declaration, sherman compromise saved convention)
Robert Morris (signed constituion & declaration, financed the revolution)
Gouverneur Morris (wrote most of final text of constitution)
John Dickinson (wrote Letters from a federal farmer, signed constitution)
George Clymer (signed constituion & declaration)

 

[Young Paleocon]

I don't really think Hamilton should be on here.

 

[SWATH]

Jefferson was nearly ideologically a purist. So I'm going to have to go with Jefferson. He pondered over his philosophy until it was razor sharp and consistent. He was in love with ideas and philosophy and we have not had a president like that since then, that is until Ron Paul became president in the near future.

 

[Slutter McGee]

There answer if Washington. He isn't known for his writings, or his speeches. But he could have been king. And he refused. That is why he was the greatest.

Sincerely,

Slutter McGee

 

[SWATH]

I don't really think Hamilton should be on here.

Well he did help "found" stuff like a central bank and a standing army. So yeah Jefferson should have shived him outside the halls of the continental congress with a quill pen and Washington should have made him walk around with his neck shackled to his knees so he could more quickly lick the stockings of King George III should he encounter him.

 

[Young Paleocon]

Well he did help "found" stuff like a central bank and a standing army. So yeah Jefferson should have shived him outside the halls of the continental congress with a quill pen and Washington should have made him walk around with his neck shackled to his knees so he could more quickly lick the stockings of King George III should he encounter him.

Better yet, Burr shot his ass.

 

[Galileo Galilei]

I don't really think Hamilton should be on here.

Hamilton did some bad stuff.

But remember, he wrote 2/3 of the federalist papers which is his true legacy.

He also got Jefferson elected in 1800.

He also signed the Constitution, helped set up the convention, and got it ratified in New York.

He also fought in the revolutionary war.

And he also helped foil the Newburg conspiracy.

 

[Pennsylvania]

I voted Thomas Paine because I think he was the most consistent. Patrick Henry might have worthy as well.

 

[Galileo Galilei]

Accomplishments of James Madison, Jr.

Father of the Constitution

Father of the Bill of Rights

Author of the best written Federalist Papers, including # 10

Only president to preserve Constitution during a time of war

One of three greatest defenders of religious liberty in history (with Voltaire, Jefferson)

Graduated from college at Princeton in only two years

Early supporter of independence

Elected at age of only 23 to Virginia Committee on Safety (1774)

Commissioned as Colonel in militia

At age of only 25, wrote plank in Viginia Constituion strengthening religious liberty

Most effective member of continental congress for three years (1780-82), never missed a day of work

Got Jefferson's religious liberty statute passed in 1785 in Virginia

Closest collaborator with Jefferson

Closest collaborator with Washington between 1785 and 1791

Closest collaborator with Hamilton between 1784 and 1789

Closest collaborator with James Monroe (along with Jefferson)

Presidency of John Tyler inspired by Madison

Along with Hamilton and Washington, foiled the Newburg military conspiracy

Prime mover of the Mount Vernon conference (1785)

Prime mover of the Annapolis Convention (1786)

Real founder of democratic-republican party in opposition to Hamilton

Gave greatest anti-central bank speech in histroy in 1791

Wrote the Virginia Resolution in 1798, defending states rights

Wrote the amazing Report of 1800, defending and defining states rights, and also making the greatest staement in favor of freedom of speech in history

Wrote first draft of Washington's Farewell Address

Won most important Supreme Court case of all time, Marbury vs Madison, 1803

According to many contemporaries, Madison "governed the president" as secretary of state to Jefferson

Vetoed the bonus bill in 1817

Appointed Joseph Story the the Supreme Court (served 1811-1845), arguably the greatest defender of the Constitutionliberty ever on the high court

Also appointed Gabriel Duvall to the high court (served 1811-1835), another greta defender of liberty

Only supported revenue tariffs, never corrupting protective tariffs

Most important member of the 1st congress, everything the 1st congress did set a precedent

Expanded liberty at the Virginia Constitutional convention of 1829, which reduced representation for slave owners, and expanded voting rights for whites

Had the coolest wife of any Founding Father, Dolly Madison

Started the Era of Good Feelings

Remained active in public affairs well into his 80s, writing numerous newspaper editorials

Wrote the most frank assessment of his own presidency ever written by an ex-president, the detached memoradum

Wrote 'Advice to My Country' sgortly before his death

Almost unique among the founders, never expressed racism in his speech of in his private letters.

Paul Jennings, his former slave, wrote in 1865 that James Madison was the greatest man in the world.

John Adams said that Madison's presidency achieved more glory than that of Washington, Jefferson, and Adams combined

John Quincy Adams said by implication in 1836 that Madison was the greatest founding father ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Madison

 

[Athan]

George Washington.

THEE man. Without him, it would have been a short revolution.

 

[Theocrat]

The Greatest Founding Father

For me, it's John Witherspoon. God used him in a mighty way, for he was

• A signer of the Declaration of Independence,
• A ratifier of the U.S. Constitution,
• A representative of New Jersey who served in the Continental Congress,
• President of Princeton University,
• Responsible for training 37 judges (three of whom made it to the U.S. Supreme Court), 10 Cabinet officers, 12 members of the Continental Congress, 28 U.S. senators, and 49 United States congressmen, one student who became Vice President (Aaron Burr), and another student who became President (James Madison),
• On over 100 committees in Congress and was head of the Board of War (essentially, he was the congressional "boss" for Commander-in-Chief George Washington),
• A prolific writer in both political and religious matters, and
• A prominent leader and pastor of the early Presbyterian church in America

 

[paulitics]

James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin.

 

[Liberty Star]

The one who said something about Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness. The coolest dude ever.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Hamilton did some bad stuff.

But remember, he wrote 2/3 of the federalist papers which is his true legacy.

He also got Jefferson elected in 1800.

He also signed the Constitution, helped set up the convention, and got it ratified in New York.

He also fought in the revolutionary war.

And he also helped foil the Newburg conspiracy.

Have you READ his Federalist essays? Not exactly freedom oriented.

 

[Galileo Galilei]

Have you READ his Federalist essays? Not exactly freedom oriented.

I have read them. They are freedom orientated. Can you site an example?

 

[Truth Warrior]

Index to the Antifederalist Papers
http://www.wepin.com/articles/afp/index.htm