Which founding figure expressed reluctance about the promise of a Bill of Rights?

Benjamin Franklin exhibited some reluctance regarding the necessity of a Bill of Rights. While he was a strong advocate for the protection of individual freedoms, he believed that the Constitution, as it was being drafted, already contained adequate protections through the structure of the government. Franklin felt that enumerating specific rights might imply that any unlisted rights could be infringed upon, thus potentially limiting freedoms rather than safeguarding them. His perspective was shaped by a belief in the inherent capability of the republic and its institutions to protect citizens' rights without the need for explicit listings.

Understanding Franklin's perspective helps illuminate the broader debate during the founding era about balancing the need for individual rights with the desire to create a strong federal government. This context underscores the complexities and varying opinions among the Founding Fathers regarding the protection of liberties in a new nation.