What can James Madison teach us about the importance of compromise?

0:05It's important to notice that no one at the Constitutional Convention got exactly the constitution he wanted. They all had to give on something or other. They all made compromises but they were all willing to do that and to work together because they thought it was so important to change the system that they had and get something better, more effective and more protective of rights and liberties. I think what most impresses me about Madison, he loses on a number of points. He does not want the states to have equal representation in any branch of the legislature. You know he fights the states being equal in the Senate and he thinks that's a terrible idea. He's very glum after that compromise passes whereby the House will be

1:00proportional representation. The bigger states will have more representatives but the Senate, all the states are equal. But you know what Madison always does is he never gives up. He always comes back because he always knows, well, you may have lost that fight, but, then things have to be applied. Or then we're going to work, the system will get underway, and then situations will come up, and decisions will have to be made and maybe you'll win some of those fights. Remember, the only thing James Madison does in his life is he's a politician. He holds no other job. He's never been a lawyer, he's not a soldier. You know, well, he's a planter but his job is an office holder, and he's very good at it.