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As a constructive statesman Wilson had no superior in the Federal Convention of 1787. He favoured the independence of the executive, legislative and judicial departments, the supremacy of the Federal government over the state governments, and the election of senators as well as representatives by the people, and was opposed to the election of the President or the judges by Congress. His political philosophy was based upon implicit confidence in the people, and he strove for such provisions as he thought would best guarantee a government by the people. When the constitution had been framed Wilson pronounced it “the best form of government which has ever been offered to the world,” and he, at least, among the framers regarded it not as a compact but as an ordinance to be established by the people.

As a constructive statesman Wilson had no superior in the Federal Convention of 1787. He favoured the independence of the executive, legislative and judicial departments, the supremacy of the Federal government over the state governments, and the election of senators as well as representatives by the people, and was opposed to the election of the President or the judges by Congress. His political philosophy was based upon implicit confidence in the people, and he strove for such provisions as he thought would best guarantee a government by the people. When the constitution had been framed Wilson pronounced it “the best form of government which has ever been offered to the world,” and he, at least, among the framers regarded it not as a compact but as an ordinance to be established by the people.

Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were [[George Clymer]], [[Thomas Fitzsimons]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Jared Ingersoll]], [[Thomas Mifflin]], [[Gouverneur Morris]], and [[Robert Morris]].

Other members of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Convention were [[George Clymer]], [[Thomas Fitzsimons]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Jared Ingersoll]], [[Thomas Mifflin]], [[Gouverneur Morris]], and [[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]].

During the struggle for ratification he made a speech before a mass meeting in Philadelphia titled ''Speech in the State House Yard'', which has been characterized as "the ablest single presentation of the whole subject."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=jwkOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA282 The Confederation and the Constitution, 1783-1789, Volume 10]</ref> In the speech, Wilson had harsh criticism for the proposed [[Bill of Rights]]. Powers over assembly, the press, search and seizure, and others covered in the Bill of Rights were, according to Wilson, not granted in the Enumerated Powers so therefore were unnecessary amendments.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=W0qaX-_fNV4C&pg=PT97 The American Revolution: A Concise History]</ref><ref>[http://lehrmaninstitute.org/history/BillofRights.html Bill of Rights]</ref><ref>[http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1065912913513351?journalCode=prqb James Wilson versus the Bill of Rights]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mWu7GGgkDJUC&pg=PA113 Thomas Jefferson and Executive Power]</ref>

During the struggle for ratification he made a speech before a mass meeting in Philadelphia titled ''Speech in the State House Yard'', which has been characterized as "the ablest single presentation of the whole subject."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=jwkOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA282 The Confederation and the Constitution, 1783-1789, Volume 10]</ref> In the speech, Wilson had harsh criticism for the proposed [[Bill of Rights]]. Powers over assembly, the press, search and seizure, and others covered in the Bill of Rights were, according to Wilson, not granted in the Enumerated Powers so therefore were unnecessary amendments.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=W0qaX-_fNV4C&pg=PT97 The American Revolution: A Concise History]</ref><ref>[http://lehrmaninstitute.org/history/BillofRights.html Bill of Rights]</ref><ref>[http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1065912913513351?journalCode=prqb James Wilson versus the Bill of Rights]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mWu7GGgkDJUC&pg=PA113 Thomas Jefferson and Executive Power]</ref>