The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-05-09

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 hesitated.
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 great deliverance.
Governor Fauquier had deemed II
his duty to dissolve the assembly
upon the passage of Henry's resolu
tions, 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 a courtier
rather than 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
of letters, he vastly preferred the
talk Of vivacious women and accom-
] plished men to the business of the
general court, and was a man to be
liked rather than consulted.
A Royailst Governor.
Washington, always admitted to the
intimacy Of official circles at Will
iamsburg. very likely relished the gal
liant Fauquier better than the too off.
cious Dinwiddie. 1t was, unhappily.
no portent to see man still devoted
to dissipation at sixty-two, even
though he were governor of one of his
majesty's colonies and trusted ser
want of the crown; and Fauquier'e
gifts as man of wit and of instructed
tastes made his companionship no less
acceptable to Washington than to the
other men of discernment who fire.
quented the bathrooms and receptions
ate formal dinners, and played quiei
games of cards during the brief season
at the little capital.
1t did not seriously disturb life there
that the governor upheld the powe
of parliament to tax, while the bur
gesses strenuously opposed 1t. Wash
ington, tor one, did not hesitate o.
that account to be seen often i
friendly talk with the governor, or t
, accept frequent invitations to th
palace" He was OF the tempe
which has SO distinguished the noble
sort of Englishmen in politics; h
might regard opposition as a publ
: duty, but he never made it a groun
J of personal feeling or private Spite
A Man of Influence.
: In sense, indeed, he had long bee
regarded as belonging to official CT
eles in the colony more intimate
7 than any other man who did not no
Office. He has been put forward
the Fairfaxes in his youth; men
the council and at the head of affai
had been his sponsors and frien
from the first; he had been Away
like his brother before him. memb
of one of the chief groups in the CO
ony for influence and a confidenti
/ connection with the public bushes
1t was even understood that he Wa
il himself destined for the council, whe
| 1t should be possible to put him in
/ without seeming to give too great
preponderance to the Fairfax interes
already SO much regarded in its maxi
up.
i The first furry of differing view
and conflicting purposes among tn
Virginian leaders had passed off. TIL
4 judgment of high-spirited men ever,
i where sustained Henry-gave him III
Il mistakable Authorization as a leader
put all public men in the way Of vi
II derstanding their constituents Som
were bold and some were timid, bu
all were animated by the same hop
and purpose, and few were yet inten
prate.
, CTo BE CoNTINUEDl
i