The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-05-30


They were not men to be trifed
with. Had they been able to unite
upon active measures, had they ad-
vanced from defence to aggressive &C
ton, they might have rendered them
selves formidable beyond possibility
of defeat.
Everywhere men of substance and
of influence were to be found by the
score who were opposed to revolu;-
tionary agitation, such as this that
now seemed to be gathering head
Even in Massachusetts men who bore
the best and Oldest names Of the COM
monwealth were of this number; in
New York and Pennsylvania, at the
very heart of the continent, they
could, it was believed, boast q ma
jority, as well as to the far south
ward, in the low country of South
Carolina and Georgia.
Without Hurt to the Empire.
| No one, they declared, but designing
politicians and men without prop
erty, those who had much to gain and
nothing to lose by the upsetting OF
law and ordered government, wished
/ to see this contest with the ministry
pushed to extremes.
They wished no less than others to
see the colonies keep their lawful and
chartered liberties, but the thing must
be accomplished soberly, and without
loss of things equally dear-of honor,
and the maintenance of an unbroken
English empire.
The nice balance of the parties was
disclosed in the congress itself.
| The Pennsylvania delegation was
led by Joseph Galloway, man In the
prime of life, full of force and learn
ing, who had been speaker Of the
provincial house these eight years by
the almost unanimous choice of his
colleagues, and who now stood forth
to utter the real voice of his colony
in proposing measures OF accommoda-
ton.
The Speakers Proposition.
He proposed that the home govern
ment be asked to sanction the estab-
lishment of confederate parliament
for America, composed of delegates to
be chosen every third year by the
legislatures of the several colonies,
and acting under encouragement
to be appointed by the crown.
/ Edward Rutledge, of South Caro-
lima, hot orator for liberty though he
was, declared in an almost perfect
plan," and was eager to see it adopt
ed; influential members from almost
every quarter gave it their hearty
support, Mr.. John Jay, of New York.
among the rest; and it was defeated
only by the narrow majority of sin
gle colony's vote.
Chatham's Opinion of Congress.
Chatham might very justly COM
mend the congress of 1774 as con-
| spicuous among deliberative bodies for
its 'decency firmness and wisdom
its "solidity of reasoning, force of
sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion,
under such complication of circum-
stances was such as even he did not
fully comprehend
For seven weeks of almost contin-
uous session did it hammer it's stiff
business into shape, never .wearying
of elaboration or debate, till it could
put forth papers to the world-an ad-
dress to the king, memorials to the
people of Great Britain and to the
people of British America, their fel.
low-subjects, and a solemn declara-
/ ton of rights-which should mark it
no revolutionary body, but congress
of just and thoughtful Englishmen, in
love, not with license or rebellion, but
with right and wholesome liberty.
A Single Aggressive Act.
Their only act of aggression was
the formation of an American asso-
citation" pledged against trade with
Great Britain till the legislation OF
which they complained should be re
pealed. Their only intimation of in
tention for the future was resolu-
ton TO meet again the next spring,
should their prayers not meanwhile be
| needed
Washington turned homeward from
the congress with thoughts and pur-
poses every way deepened and ma
tured
1t had been mere seven weeks
conference; no one had deemed the
congress 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.
Y A spirit had run through those de-
alterations which gave thoughtful men,
as they pondered it. a new idea of the
colonies. 1t needed no prophet to dis
Germ beyond all this sober and anx-
ious business 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.