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HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBERTY, MISSOURI -- OCTOBER 11, 1937. IT IS A VERY GREAT PRIVILEGE TO APPEAR BEFORE THE CLAY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE WHILE ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION. WE CAN NOT KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, OR TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, YET IT IS A VERY SIMPLE VERY FLEXIBLE DOCUMENT. IT WAS WRITTEN BY A VERY REMARKABLE GATHERING OF MEN , AT PHILADELPHIA IN 1787. THE COUNTRY THEN CONSISTED OF THIRTEEN INDEPENDENT STATES, WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT 4,000,000 people. THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY WAS PHILADELPHIA WITH 42,000 PEOPLE, NEW YORK HAD 33,000, BOSTON 18,000, CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA 16,000 AND RICHMOND 3,700. THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE FORSEEN A NATION OF 130,000,000 OF PEOPLE, EXTENDING FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC AND FROM CANADA TO THE GULF, YET THE INSTRUMENT OF GOVERNMENT WHICH THEY DREW, IS AS GOOD TODAY AS WHEN IT WAS DRAWN. THE REASON-SIMPLICITY AND FLEXIBILITY. THE PREAMBLE IS A MASTER PIECE. (READ THE PREAMBLE) *WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION, ESTABLISH JUSTICE, INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO en NARA