n。〃

Two　hundred　and　twenty　one　years　ago；　in　a　hall　that　still　stands　across　the　street；　a　group　of　men　gathered　and；　with　these　simple　words；　launched　America's　improbable　experiment　in　democracy。　Farmers　and　scholars；　statesmen　and　patriots　who　had　traveled　across　an　ocean　to　escape　tyranny　and　persecution　finally　made　real　their　declaration　of　independence　at　a　Philadelphia　convention　that　lasted　through　the　spring　of　1787。

The　document　they　produced　was　eventually　signed　but　ultimately　unfinished。　It　was　stained　by　this　nation's　original　sin　of　slavery；　a　question　that　divided　the　colonies　and　brought　the　convention　to　a　stalemate　until　the　founders　chose　to　allow　the　slave　trade　to　continue　for　at　least　twenty　more　years；　and　to　leave　any　final　resolution　to　future　generations。

Of　course；　the　answer　to　the　slavery　question　was　already　embedded　within　our　Constitution　…　a　Constitution　that　had　at　is　very　core　the　ideal　of　equal　citizenship　under　the　law；　a　Constitution　that　promised　its　people　liberty；　and　justice；　and　a　union　that　could　be　and　should　be　perfected　over　time。

And　yet　words　on　a　parchment　would　not　be　enough　to　deliver　slaves　from　bondage；　or　provide　men　and　women　of　every　color　and　creed　their　full　rights　and　obligations　as　citizens　of　the　United　States。　What　would　be　needed　were　Americans　in　successive　generations　who　were　willing　to　do　their　part　…　through　protests　and　struggle；　on　the　streets　and　in　the　courts；　through　a　civi