If I may contribute to your post the republicans you referenced under Jefferson, Madison et al., to my recollection were more formally known as Democratic-republicans, hence the direct ancestor of todays Democrats.

You are correct in your recognition that nothing in the writing of our Constitution was either easy or cast in stone. Every word was an argument and every finished line the result of compromise.

Varying interests: rural v. metropolitan; merchant v. farmer; rich v. somewhat less rich; aristocrat v. democrat; and about any other dichotomy of interest you can think of found it efficatious to reach a compromise. This probably wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been summer and the doors of the hall closed and locked until some meeting of the minds could be reached.

By the way, the motto incribed on the first coin issued by the United States in 1787 was "Mind Your Business" suggested by Franklin. Franklin wanted the national bird to be the turkey, but lost out to the eagle.

Great reminder.