Dear Stan:

You have posed this question: "In respect to Democracy and Human Rights, do you believe the Founding Fathers had protection of human rights as their most important issue when establishing the Union and what evidence from the Constitution and history supports your point of view?"

I have read about the founding fathers extensively. One of my favorite periods to read about is the period of the Revolution and the establishment of our country (along with WWII and the Civil War and any submarine book I can find).

The Founding Brothers by Ellis and other works give me the belief that the great compromise in the creation of the bicameral legislature was caused primarily not by a desire for the protection of individual human rights, but by a concern by the founding fathers for the protection of state's rights.

The big states were worried that the small states would have disproportionate power (one state - two votes in the senate). The little states feared that a system of votes based on population would favor the larger states.

The drafters of the Constitution were trying to fix the ills of the confederation of states, where no central authority could issue money, raise an army to protect against the Indians and pirates and foreign invaders. There was no authority to issue stamps valid in every state or handle interstate mail efficiently, nor provide for the common defense of all of the states.

With these things in mind, the Constitution, in Article I describes the power of each house of congress. Article II describes the Executive. Article III, the judiciary. Article IV is the full faith and credit clause. Article V provides for the amendment of the Constitution. Article VI validates any contract, debt or agreements before the adoption of the Constitution and VII describes how the Constitution should be ratified.

Only years later did those in government and concerned citizens realize that there were no provisions regarding the protection of individual human rights. Thus the Amendments were adopted. Those refer human rights. Since you are an expert on those, I won't tell you what they say.

One point that has been repeatedly discussed is that had slavery and human rights been addressed in the Constitution, perhaps it would never have been adopted by all of the states. Perhaps, this Constitution is the best that could be agreed upon at the time.

Of course the Declaration of Independence refers to the rights of man in a most eloquent way, but your question seems to me to refer to the Constitution, so that is why I have referred to the Constitution in my answer above.

I hope this is responsive to your question.

Thank you for your interest.

I apologize for the delay in getting this to you. I have been busy trying to walk to as many houses as possible. The above is prepared by me only and not by any other person.

Bob Frie

303 420 1234