The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-07-25

!, the commission; but conference
VAS not confined to their formal see
sions. and his counsel entered in1o
their determinations
Wants General Conference
n vas evident that two states were
not enough 10 decide the questions
submitted 10 them. Pennsylvania, at
Last must be consulted before the
fuu line OF trade they sought could
Be drawn from the head-waters OF the
Ohio to tie head-waters Of the Poto-
mac. and IL three states were TO con
suit upon questions Of trade which
concerned the whole continent, way
should not more be invited. and the
conference be made general
such vas the train Of suggestion.
certainly, that ran in Washington
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 ne
had ridden upon tour Of inspection
into the valley of the Mohawk. where
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 Chic was but one item Of
policy which all the states must con-
slider and seltIe-nothing less than the
policy which must make them an EN-
pire or doom them TO remain weak
and petty confederacy.
The commissioners did not put all
that they had heard at 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 a
way to the western waters. Virginia
and Maryland should adopt uniform
system OF duties and of commercial
regulations, and should establish uni
fun rules regarding their currency.
but the Maryland assembly itself
went further. 1t presently informed
the Virginia legislature that It had
not only adopted the measures
recommended by the commissioners.
t,,k ~ r,,r-tt a. ,,-i.o - A., rovoa4bfr,
more. Delaware ought to be consult
ed. with a view to carrying a straight
water course, by canal. from ClIesa-
peake bay to the Delaware river; and,
since conference could do no harm
and bind nobody. it would be as well
to invite all the states to confer with
them. for the questions involved
seemed far-reaching enough to justify
It. II not to make 1t necessary Coz
ernor Bowdoin Of Massachusetts had
that very year urged his legislature
to invite a general convention of the
states in the interest Of trade.
The whole country was in a tan
gle Of disagreement about granting
to congress the power to lay i'm
posts: Gardoqui. it was rumored.
was insisting. for Spain, upon closing
the Mississippi; twas evident enough
conference was needed. Every thought
full man might well pray that it 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. 1866 to send delegates to gen
eral conference to hs held at Annapo.
lis on the first Monday in September,
to consider and recommend such add.
items to the powers OF congress as
might conducs to better regulation
OF trade.
washIngton's Grave Charge.
There Is more wickedness than ig
norance IN the conduct OF the states