The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-07-11
GEORGE WASHINGTON
BY WOODROW WILSON
The Story Of The First President by The President
Wants General Conference.

not enough 20 decide the questions
submitted 90 them. Pennsylvania, at
least, must be consulted before the
fuil line OF trade they sought could
be drawn from the head-waters of the
Ohio 20 the head-waters of the Poto-
mac; and II three states were to con.
suit upon questions of trade which
concerned the whole continent, why
should not more be invited, and the
conference be made general.
Such was the train of suggestion,
certainly. that ran in Washington's
mind. and which the commissioners
carried home with them.
a Tour Of Inspection.
Every sign of the time served to
deepen It's significance for Washing
ton.
Just before quitting the army he
had ridden upon a tour of inspection
into the valley of the Mohawk, where
a natural way like this of the Poto-
mac. ran from the northern settle
ments into the west. He knew that
the question OF joining the Potomac
with the Ohio was but one item of
policy which all the states must con-
slider and settle-nothing less than the
policy which must make them an en-
pire or doom them to remain a weak
and petty confederacy
The commissioners did not put all
that they had heard az Mount Vernon
into their reports to their respective
assemblies.
Trade Movement Spreads.
They recommended only that, be-
sides cooperating with each other
and with Pennsylvania in opening
way 20 the western waters, Virginia
and Maryland should adopt a uniform
system OF duties and of commercial
regulations. and should establish uni
FINN rules regarding their currency.
nut the Maryland assembly itself
went further. It presently informed
the Virginia legislature that 1t had
not only adopted the measures
recommended by the commissioners.
hut thought IL wise TO do something
more. Delaware ought to be consult
ed. with a view TO carrying straight
water course. by canal. from Chesa-
peake bay 10 the Delaware river: anG.
eince conference could do no harm
and bind nobody IL would be as we'll
90 invite all the states to confer with
them, for the questions involved
seemed far-reaching enough to justify
A.. II not 20 make IL necessary. Gov.
ernor Bowdoin Of Massachusetts had
that very year urged his legislature
60 invite a general convention OF the
states In the interest of trade.
The whole country was in a tan
gle OF disagreement about granting
90 congress the power to lay i'm
posts: Gardoqui. II was rumored.
was insisting. for Spain. upon closing
the Mississippi: twas evident enough
conference was needed. Every thought
full man might well pray that 1t would
bring peace and accommodation.
when Maryland's suggestion was
read In the Virginian assembly. there
was prompt acquiescence. Virginia
asked all the states of the Union Jan
uary. 1850 TO send delegates to 4 gen.
eral conference TO be held at Annapo-
lis on the first Monday in September
90 consider and recommend such addi-
tions 20 the powers OF congress as
might conduce to a better regulation
OF trade
WashInaton's Grave Charge.
There Is more wickedness than ig-
norance in the conduct of the states.
or. in other words, i'm the conduct Of
those who have too much influence in
the government of Them" Washington
wrote holly to Henry Lee. upon hear
ing 10 what lengths contempt Of the
authority of congress had been car
ried and until the curtain is with
drawn. and the private views and self
ish principles upon which these men
act are exposed to public notice,
have little hope of amendment without
another convulsion"
Perhaps the conference at Annapo-
lis would withdraw the curtain and
give the light leave to work a puri-
fcation: and he waited anxiously for
the issue
The States Apathetic.
But when the commissioners assem-
bled they found only five states repre-
sented-Virginia Pennsylvania, Della
ware. New Jersey and New York
Maryland had suddenly fallen indif-
ferent. and had not appointed dele
gates. New Hampshire. Massachu-
sets. Rhode Island and North Caro-
lima had appointed delegates. but they
had not taken the trouble to come.
Connecticut. South Carolina and Geor-
gia had ignored the call altogether.
The delegates who were in attend
ance. besides. had come with only the
most jealousy restricted powers: only
New Jersey. in her great uneasiness
az being neighbor to the powerful
states OF New York and Pennsylvania,
had authorized her representatives to
consider how far a uniform system
IN their commercial regulations and
other important matters might be nee
essary 20 the common interest and