Gladstone has said of it in well-known words that, just "as the British Constitution is the most subtle organism which has proceeded from the womb and the long gestation of progressive history, so the American Constitution is so far as I can see the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man."[1] Note that Gladstone does not name a single or an individual man, which would have been wholly untrue, for the American Constitution was struck off by the wisdom and foresight of fifty-five men collectively.

There were among them two or three who might be called transcendent men.

It gained its peculiar value from the fact that it represents the composite of many divergent opinions and different characters.
[Footnote 1: W.E.Gladstone, _North American Review_, September, 1878.] Just before the members broke up at their final meeting in Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin amused them with a characteristic bit of raillery.

On the back of the President's black chair, a half sun was carved and emblazoned.

"During all these weeks," said Franklin, "I have often wondered whether that sun was rising or setting.