Conservatives have long held respect for our nation's Founders.  While our values closely mirror those of our Founding Fathers – self-governance, natural rights, (historic) liberalism, and the free exchange of commerce and ideas, what is most respected (according to this author) is the use of "reason" to advance the tenets set forth in establishing our new nation. Great men with disparate views, advancing great ideas.  Make no mistake: passions were high, but all sides (Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists) used reason to make the case for their ideals. The Federalists – James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and others – wrote 85 essays (The Federalist Papers) to explain the provisions of the Constitution and to make the case for its adoption. The Anti-Federalists – James Wilson, Samuel Bryan, Robert Yates, George Clinton, Patrick Henry and others made their case in opposition to the Constitution's adoption. Morten Borden...(Read Full Post)