American Bill of Rights

When the Constitutional Convention was drawing to a close several members who opposed the adoption of the Constitution suggested a number of amendments, which, they declared, "would make the Constitution acceptable to them." While the Constitution already contained many provisions for the protection of the rights of the individual citizen, various States desired that it contain further written stipulations that would remove every possibility of doubt and prevent disputes by "leaving no matters to inference, implication, or construction." It was contended that the provision of the suggested Bill of Rights contained "various exceptions not granted * * *. Why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do?" The tyranny of legislature is a most formidable dread at present, and will be for many years. That of the Executive will come in its time, but it will be at a remote period. - Madison. Subsequently, many of these features were incorporated in the first 10 amendments, adopted in 1791 as supplements to the Constitution, and are called the "American Bill of Rights." The first 10 amendments embodied "guaranties and immunities which are inherited from our English ancestors." - Supreme Court (1897).