[El Gato]

I would, however, think that something as critical as national security cannot be left to the whims of one man!

They didn't. They gave Congress the power to declare war. But they gave the President the title of Commander in Chief. Things moved a lot slower then than now, but still they never thought a President would pledge not to defend the country, let alone against weapons that most of them could not imagine. (Franklin likely could imagine the use of poisons and disease as weapons).

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

They gave Congress the power to declare war.

I don't think that works any more. What war did Congress declare for "Gulf War 1". Well, how about the Korean War, and how about the Vietnam War, and how about our more recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

It doesn't seem that Congress declares war any more and yet, we still go to war.