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20 January 2025

"A Republic, ... if you can keep it"

Benjamin Franklin's famous line that the United States government is a "republic, if you can keep it" is recorded only in the diary of James McHenry, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Maryland. The Library of Congress placed an image of this diary online.

James McHenry. Diary, September 18, 1787. Manuscript. James McHenry Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (63.02.00) [Digital ID# us0063_02p1]

The number 18 at the top of the entry shown above is a reference to 18 September 1787, the day after the Constitutional Convention adjourned and the process of ratification began.

Franklin's comment is presented by McHenry as a reply to Elizabeth Willing Powel. She was well-known in the city and hosted delegates to the First Continental Congress for dinner parties. She is credited with convincing George Washington to continue as President for a second term. Her husband was Mayor of Philadelphia, the first to serve in this position after the United States gained independence, as well as the last to serve as mayor of the city under British rule. The Powels were among the richest residents of Philadelphia.

Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland is named for James McHenry. It was this fort that held against British bombardment 13-14 September 1814, successfully defending Baltimore Harbor, that inspired Francis Scott Key to write what became "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States.

Whether Franklin in fact uttered the words credited to him by McHenry is uncertain, but the phrase has taken on a life of its own far beyond the context of the day. The question, as recorded, was merely, "What have we got a republic or a monarchy?"

During the Convention's final day, Franklin delivered his longest speech of the Constitutional Convention. Franklin stressed that he did not believe the Constitution perfect, but he also doubted his own judgement. He did not think the current Convention, nor a subsequent one would produce a better constitution.

He began:
I confess that I do not entirely approve of this Constitution at present, but Sir, I am not sure I shall never approve it: For having lived long, I have experienced many Instances of being oblig’d, by better Information or fuller Consideration, to change Opinions even on important Subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow the more apt I am to doubt my own Judgment and to pay more Respect to the Judgment of others.
And then states:
In these Sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its Faults, if they are such: because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well administred; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administred for a Course of Years, and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other.
Read the whole speech at The National Constitution Center.

In our era of mis- and disinformation today, we may be due for despotic government.

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