The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-05-09
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them, but as Henry had drawn them,
with their express threat of disobe-
dience.
Nor was that all. October 1765,
saw delegates from nine colonies come
together in New York, at the call OF
Massachusetts,, to take counsel what
should be done.
Every one knew that Virginia,
North Carolina and Georgia. the only
colonies absent from the congress"
would have sent delegates, too, had
their governors not prevented them
by the dissolution of their assemblies
before they could act on the call.
Excitement in the Colony.
A deep excitement and concern had
spread everywhere throughout the set
Elements. Not only did the impending
enforcement Of the act engross the
conversation of the speculative part
of the colonists," as Washington wrote
TO Francis cambridge in London; II
promised to engross also the ener-
gies of very active, and it might be
very violent, men in many quarters
and it began to grow evident tnat
some part of government itself would
be brought to a standstill by its pro-
cesse.
Our courts of adiudicature,' de-
clared Washington, must inevitably
be shut up; for it is impossible (or
next of kin to it, under our present
circumstances, that the act of pari1a-
ment can be complied with ana
If a stop be put to our judicial pro-
ceedings, | fancy the merchants or
Great Britain trading to the colonies
will not be among the last to wish for
a repeal of it."
A Bill of Rights.
The congress at New York drew
up nothing less than bill of rights
and immunities, and sent resolutions
over sea which arrested the attention
of the world. The Virginia assembly
despatched like papers for itself; and
Richard Henry Lee, when he had as
sisted to draw it's memorials. hast
ened home to form in his own CaVa-
ler county "Westmoreland associa-
ton" whose members -four Washing
tons among the resD bound them
Iselves by solemn covenant to exert
Ievery faculty to prevent the execution
lof the said stamp act in any instance
Whatsoever within this colony" The
ministry could not stand the pressure
They gave way to Lord Rockingham
and the act was repealed.
Washington Takes 1t Calmly.
Meanwhile Washington, his calm
temper mistaken, was slowly coming
to a clear vision of affairs in all their
significance Fox hunting did not
cease. He was much in the saddle
and at table with the Fairfaxes, whom
nothing could shake from their ALE
Eiance and who looked with sad fore
bodings upon the temper the colony
was in.
1t was proper they should speak so
If they DENIED it just, and Washington
had no intolerance for what they
urged. But George Mason, the neigh
Dor whom. he most trusted, was of a
very different mind. and strengthened
and confirmed him in other counsels.
Mason was six years his senior; a
man, too, cast by nature to under
stand men and events, how they must
go and how be guided, They con-
ferred constantly, at every turn OF
their intimate life, in the field or in
the library, mounted or afoot in the
forests. and came very deliberately
and soberly to their statesman's view
Randolph and Pendleton and Wythe
and Bland had themselves turned
after the first hesitation, to act with
ardent men like Lee in framing the
memorials to king, lords and commons
which were to go from the burgesses
along with the resolutions OF the
stamp act congress in New York; and
Washington. who had never hesitoted,
but had only gone slowly and With his
eyes open, with that self poise men
had found so striking in him from the
first. came steadily with the rest to
the at last common purpose of reso-
lutte opposition.
Repeal of the Act.
The repeal OF the act came to all
like a great deliVerance.
Governor Fauquier had deemed II
his duty to dissolve the assembly
upon the passage of Henry's resoiu-
tons. but he had acted without pas
sion in the matter, and had kept the
respect of the men he dealt with. He
was not man, indeed. to take public
business very seriously, having been
bred a man of fashion and courtier
rather than a master of affairs He
loved gay company and the deep eX
citement of the gaming table, not the
round of official routine. Affable, gen
erous, elegant scholar and real lover
lof letters. he vastly preferred the
talk of vivacious women and accom-
Ipnshed men to the business of the
GENERAL court, and was a man to be
liked rather than consulted.
A RoyaIist Governor.
Washington, always admitted to the
Intimacy of official circles at VIII
kamsburg, very likely relished the gal