The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-04-07

presently turned back amid the win
ter's storms to carry through the
frozen wilderness a letter which boast
ed the French lawful masters Of all
the continent beyond the Alleghanies.
When Washington reached VIII
liamsburg, in the middle of January,
1874, untouched by even the fearful
fatigues and anxieties Of that daring
journey. he had accomplished nothing
but the establishment Of his own char
acter in the eyes Of the men who were
to meet the crisis now at hand. He
had been at infinite pains. at every
stage Of the dreary adventure, to win
and hold the confidence Of the Indi-
ans who were accounted friends Of the
English. and had displayed an older
mans patience, address and fortitude
In meeting all their subtle shifts. and
he had borne hardships that tried
even the doughty Gist
When the horses gave out. he had
left them to come by easier stages.
while he made his way afoot with
only q single companion, across the
weary leagues that lay upon his home
ward way. Gist. his c0mEado In the
hazard, had been soiicitously. "unwil-
ling he should undertake such travel,
who had never been used to walking
before this time" but the imperative
young commander would not be
stayed, and the journey was made,
spite OF sore feet and frosts and ex-
hausting WEAKNESS. He at least knew
what the French were about, with
what strongholds and forces, and
could afford to wait orders what to
do next.
The Governor Had Been Busy.
Dinwiddie had not been idle while
! Washington went his perilous errand.
He had gotten the burgesses together
by the first Of November, before
Washington had left the back settle
ments to cross the wilderness, and
would have gotten liberal grant Of
money from them had they not fallen
in their debates upon the question of
the new fee charged, since his coming,
for every grant out Of the public lands
of the colony and insisted that 1t
should be, done away with. Sub
jects." they said. very stubbornly,
cannot be deprived of the least part
of their property without their con-
SENT" and such a fee, they thought,
was too like tax to be endured.
They would withhold the grant, they
declared, unless the fee was abolished,
notwithstanding they saw plainly
enough in how critical case things
stood in the west; and the testy gov
ernor very indignantly sent them
home again. He ordered a draft of
200 men from the militia, neverthe-
less, with the purpose of assigning
the Command to Washington and see
ing what might be done upon the Ohio
without vote Of the assembly.
Defies the Hurgesses.
A hard-headed Scotchman past sixty
could not be expected to wait upon a
body of wrangling and factious pro-
vincials for leave to perform his duty
In a crisis, and, inasmuch as the OBJ
ject was to save their own lands, and
perhaps their own persons, from the
French, could hardly be blamed for
proposing in his anger that they be
taxed for the purpose by act. of par
lament. "a GOVERNOR" he exclaimed,
as really to be pitied in the dis
charge of of his duty to his king and
country in having to do with such
obstinate, self-conceited people!"
Some money he advanced out Of his
own pocket.
When Washington came back from
his Ruthless mission, Dinwiddie or
dered his journal printed and copies
sent to all the colonial governors. GAS
1t was thought advisable by his honor
the governor to have the following &C
count of my proceedings to and from
the French on Ohio committed tC
print" said the modest young major
E<"I think can do no less than apollo
: gize, in some measure, for the number
Hess iInperfections in It" But 1t was
La very manly recital of noteworthy
things, and touched the imagination
, and fears of every thoughtful mar
who read it quite as, near the quick at
| LUG uIk0uk dnQ ASPV0SSN ASSNSAN Va SA~~
troubled Dinwiddie.
I Virginia, 1t turned out. was after
all more forward than all her neigh
bors when 1t came to action. The
Pennsylvania :. assembly very ,coolly
declared they doubted his ma
+ iesty;s claim to the lands on the
Ohio, and the assembly in New York
followed at appears" they said
in high judicial tone, "that the French
have built fort at the place called
i French Creek at considerable dis
Etance from the river Ohio, which may
but does not by any evidence or in
formation appear to us to be, an in
vasion Of any of his majesty's colo
MES"
The governors of the other colonies
whose safety was most directly men
aced by the movements of the French
; in the west were thus even less able
to act than Dinwiddie. For the yir
ginia burgesses, though they would
not yield the point of the fee upon