Having been born on Madison’s birthday (March 16) in Philadelphia (the site of Madison’s great work at the Constitutional Convention), I have always felt a special closeness to James Madison 1771, and I am gratified by his selection as Princeton’s most influential alumnus (cover story, Jan. 23).

But George Will *68’s essay does not do justice to his subject. As Will himself admits, he is no scholar like Madison. And as Daniel J. Freed ’83 wrote in his March 19 letter to PAW, Will misreads Federalist 10. As Freed points out, Madison’s purpose is to protect freedom by the creation of an extensive republic with all its diversity, not to justify (unlike Will) economic inequality. This point is crucial and was not lost on Daniel Webster, who boldly proclaimed, “Liberty and Union [emphasis added], now and forever, one and inseparable.”

So how did Madison conceive the idea of an extensive republic as a shield against tyranny? I wish Will or Professor Sean Wilentz would have taken the opportunity to tell us more about the influence of a Princeton education on Madison.

Furthermore, what role did Prince-ton itself play at the Constitutional Convention? A Princeton Companion notes that nine alumni attended the convention — almost twice as many as from any other college. Indeed, the Constitutional Convention could be considered Princeton’s most successful alumni reunion. Moreover, these alumni were influential in the formation of each of the three major proposals considered at the Convention — the Virginia or “large states” Plan (Madison), the New Jersey or “small states” Plan (William Paterson 1763, supported by Jonathan Dayton 1776, Luther Martin 1766, and Gunning Bedford Jr. 1771, who was valedictorian of Madison’s class), and the Connecticut Compromise (Oliver Ellsworth 1766).

The Constitutional Convention and the U.S. Constitution itself have been described as “the miracle at Philadelphia.” One must wonder to what extent the friendships and camaraderie formed at Princeton fostered trust and good will among strong-willed delegates of starkly different opinions and allowed that miracle to happen. Perhaps at some future time, some scholar will enlighten us on the influence of these shared ties to Princeton.

Wayne Moss ’74
Sitka, Alaska