The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-06-06
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tured.
1t had been a mere seven weeks
conference: no one had deemed the
congress a government, or had spoken
of any object save peace and accom-
mediation; but no one could foresee
the issue of what had been done.
A Vision of United America.
A spirit had run through those de-
alterations which gave thoughtful men.
as they pondered it, new idea of the
colonies. 1t needed no prophet to dis
Germ beyond all this sober and anx
ious business a vision OF America
united, armed, belligerent for her
rights.
There was no telling what form of
scornful rejection awaited that declar-
alton of rights or the grave pleading
of that urgent memorial to the crown.
1t behooved every man to hold him
self in readiness for the worst; and
Washington saw as clearly as any man
at how nice hazard things stood.
Washington Not Deceived.
He had too frank a judgment upon
affairs to cheat himself with false
hopes. AN innate spirit of freedom
first told me that the measures which
administration hath for some time
been and now are most violently pur-
suing are repugnant to every principle
of natural Justice had been his earn
est language to Bryan Fairfax ere he
or tho savx-hi CT
much ADLER heads than my own hath
fully convinced me that it is not only
repugnant to natural right, but sub
versive of the laws and constitution
of Great Britain itself, in the estab-
lishment of which some of the best
blood of the kingdom hath been split
| could wish, l own" he had
added. that this dispute had been
left to posterity to determine"
Could Be No Compromise.
But he knew more clearly than ever
before, as he rode homeward from
the congress through the autumn
woods, that it had not been; that Lee
and Henry and Mason were rightly of
the same mind and purpose with the
men from Massachusetts; that confer
ence had only united and heartened
those who stood for liberty In every
colony; that there could be no com
promise-perhaps no yielding either
and that every man must now take
his soberest resolution for the times
to come.
Washington turned steadily to his
private business for the winter, never
theless, as was his wont-pushed for
ward the preparation and settlement
of his western lands, and stood guard,
as before, over the soldiers grants
upon the Ohio, against official bad
faith and negligence.
The Busiest Man In Virginia.
For year or two past there has
been scarce a moment that / could
properly call my own" he declared to
a friend who solicited his promise to
act as guardian to his son. What
with my own business, my present
wards, my mothers, which is wholly
in my hands, Colonel Fairfax's, Colonel
MERGERS, and the little assistance |
have undertaken to give in the man
agement of my brother Augustine's
concerns; together with the share
take in public affairs, have been con-
stantly engaged In writing letters, set
ting accounts, and negotiating one
piece of business or another: by
which means l have really been de-
oR l.; -
had almost fully resolved to engage
in no fresh matter till l had entirely
wound up the Old
Does Not shirk Responsibility.
He promised to undertake the new
charge, nevertheless. It was stuff of
his nature to spend himself thus, and
keep his powers stretched always to a
great compass.
With the new year (1775) public af-
fairs loomed big again, and ominous
The petitions of the congress at Phil
adelphia had been received in Eng
land almost with contempt Chatham,
indeed, with that broad and noble sa-
gacity which made him so great a
statesman, had proposed that Ameri-
cas- demands should be met, to the ut
most length of repeal and withdrawal
Of menace, and that she should be &C
corded to the full the self-government
she demanded in respect to taxation
and every domestic concern.
chatham's Fervid Warming.
1T is not cancelling a piece of parch-
ment," he cried, that can win back
America the old fire burning hot
within him; you must respect her
fears and her resentments."
The merchants, too. in fear for their
trade, urged very anxiously that there
should be instant and ample conces-
sion. But the kings stubborn anger.
the parliament's indifference, the min
istry's incapacity made it impossible
anything wise or generous should be
done.
Adding Insult to Injury
Instead Of real concessions there was