Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-02-23

but demanded his leadership. Wash
ington was not ambitious as compared
with bis associates, Hamilton, Jefferson,
Madison, Monroe, John Adams and with
those other great men who have adorned
cur history, like Jackson, Lincoln and
Grant. He was reluctant to accept the
presidency the first time, and much
more so the second time, Greatly prefer.
ring the quiet of Mount Vernon.
In reading the debates which attend.
ed the drafting Of our constitution, am
constrained to believe, that unless the
patriots of that day had succeeded in
Inducing George Washington to preside
over the deliberations OF the constItu.
tional convention this immortal docu.
ment never would have been framed.
He had no smbition to accept this poi.
tion and tied TO avoid the response
blitg of it. He scarcely participated 10
the debates, but at times when it seemed
almos' certain that an agreement could
net he reached over some mSoied cues
ton of principle, his wise counsel, his
power over his colleagues, and their per-
feet faith in his disinterestedness and
patriotism adjusted the difficulty and
brought about compromise. My read
ing of the events Of those days constrains
me to believe still further that bad ii
not been for this tremendous power
which Washington exercised over the
people and the leaders, the constitution
would not have been adopted by the
States when it was submitted to them.
All cf these great men through faith in
the intangible, unexplainable something
in the character of Washington yielded
their convictions to his judgment.
Washington was very human, and his
friends we're devotedly attached to bin.
He must have oeen very true to every
one. He was Thoughtful and consideraie
always of others, and i is interesting
10 read his private correspondence to
friends and relatives, as these letters
give an insight to bis character.
He was voiuminnus correspondent,
and many of bis private letters have been
published. These letters give us in adj
diiion opportunities for contrasting the
conditions of the first days of the repub-
lie with those OF our time. Washington
as President was beset with the perplex-
tiles and snnoyances which are the &C
Compartment now OF our chief executive.
Even in the first days of the republic,
citizens were not loath 10 bold Office,
and then as now the man more frequent
ly sought the Office than the Office the
man. 10 letter to Joseph Jones,
written on November seth, 1889, Wash
ingtoe wrote;
"In every nomination to office | have
endeavored, as far as my own knowledge
extended, or information could be OBJ
tanned, to make fte.s of character my
primary Object, Ifwith this the peculiar
necessities of the candidate could be
ombined, it has been with me an ad-
ditioDal inducement 10 the appoint
nIent.
In a letter to CatbariDe Macsulay
Graham, written January 9.l79O, Wash
ington gave bis opinion OF the new gov
erument in these word:
"That the government, though not
actually perfect, is one OF the
best in the world. have little doubt.
| always believed that an un'quivc-
cslly free and equal REPRESENTATION
of the people in the legislature, t'gclbef
with an efficient and responsible ESec1-
tive, was the great pillar On which the
preservation of American free dom must
depend" "
While public receptions which our
first President gave were not so frequent
nor so largely attended as they are at
present, yet even then they were some
what irksome. 1t was complained of
Washington that because he did not re-
ceiye the people more often, and with
less ceremony, that he was filled with
pride. Washington referred to this in
quite a long letter 10 his friend, David
Stewart, on June 10. 1890. 1t may be
interesting by way of comparison OF The
then and now, to quote from this letter.
He said;
"In Ia letter of last year, to the best of
my recollection, / informed you of the
motives which compelled me to allot a
day for the reception of idle and cere-
monious visits (tor it never has prevent
ed those of socisbility and friendship in
the afternoon or at Any other time); but
if | am mistaken in this, the history OF
this business is simply and shortly as
follows: Before the custom was establish
ed, which now sccomm' dates foreign
characters, strangers, and others, who,
from motives Of curiosity, respect to the
chief magistrate, or any other cause, are
induced TO call upon me, / was unable
to attend TO any business whatsoever; for
gentlemen, consulting their own con-
venience rather than mine, were calling
from the time rose from breakfast, often
before, until sat down TO dinner. his,
as resolved not TO neglect my
public duties, reduced me TO the