The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-21

a common man." measures with his own
hands every bit OF building construc-
tlon that is going forward. and SHOWS
q great turn for mechanics" one of his
guests noted. amidst comments on his
greatness and his gracious dignity.
1t was such constancy and candor and
spirit in living that took the admiration
Of all men alike upon the instant, and
his nelghbors every day saw here the
same strenuous and simple gentleman
they had known before ever the war
began.
1t WAS through the opening OF the Po-
tomac. after all-the thing nearest his
hand-that way was found to cure the
country of its malady OF weakness ana
disorder. Washington had been chosen
president of the Potomac company that
il might have the advantage Doth OF MS
name and of his capacity In analrs' ana
he had gone upon tour OF inspection,
with the directors OF the company, TO the
falls of the river In the summer of liS3,
keeping steadily to the business lie had
come upon, and insisting upon being In
fact a private gentleman busy with his
own affairs, despite tho enorts made eV-
erywhere he went to see and TO enter
tain him; and 1t presently became evident
even to the least sanguine that the long
talked-of work was really TO be carried
through.
A visitor at Mount Vernon In the au
tumn OF 1855 found Washington quite
pleased at the idea OF the Baltimore
merchants laughing at him. and saying II
was a ridiculous plan' and would never
succeed. They begin now, says the gen
cral. TO look a little serious about the
matter. as they know il must hurt their
commerce amazingly"
The scheme had shown its real conse-
quence In the spring of that very year,
when il brought commissioners from the
two states that Law upon the river to.
gether In conference % 1, to devise plans ms r0 OF
land had appointed commissioners. and
meeting had been set for March. l7S5,
at Alexandria. For some reason the Vir-
ginian commissioners were not properly
notified of the place and time of confer
ence. The meeting was held, neVerthe-
less. minority OF the Firginian COM
give 1t more the air of cordial confer,
once of neighbors, Washington invited
the representatives OF both states to ad-
journ from Alexandria TO Mount Vernon.
day to Monday He was not formally
OF the commission: but conference was
not confined to their formal sessions, and
his counsel entered into their determi-
were not enough to decide the questions
submitted TO them. pennsylvania az
least, must be consulted before the fuil
line OF trade they sought could be drawn
from the headwaters of the Ohio TO the
headwat ters of the Potomac; and II three
states were TO consult upon questions OF
neut, why should not more be invited,
and the conference be made general?
Such was the train OF suggestion, GER
tainly. that ran In Washingtons mind:
home with them. Every sign OF the time
served to deepen its significance for
Washington. Just before quitting the
army he had ridden. upon a tour OF In
spection into the valley OF the Mohawk.
where a natural way like this OF The
Potomac. ran from the northern settle
ments TO 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 consider and settle--nothing less
than the policy. which. must make them
an empire or doom them 10 remain
weak and petty confederacy.
GENERAL CONVENTION URGED.
The commissioners did not put all that
they had heard at Mount Vernon into
their reports to their respective assem-
blies. They recommended only that. be-
sides cooperating with each other and
with Pennsylvania in opening way to
the western waters, Virginia and Mary
land should adopt a uniform system OF
and should establish uniform rules re-
garding their currency. But the Mary
land assembly itself went further.
1t presently informed the, Virginian
the measures recommended by the COM
mlssioners, but thought it wise to do
more. Delaware ought to be
consulted. with a view to carrying a
bay to the Delaware river;
and since conference could do no harm
and bind nobody, 1t would be as well TO
invite all the states to confer with them.
for the questions Involved seemed far
enough to Justify it. IL not 10
make 1t necessary,
Governor 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 n tangle Of disa
greement about granting TO congress the
power 10 lay imposts; Gardoqui. IT was
was insisting. for Spain, upon
closing the Mississippi; twas evident
enough conference was needed Every
thoughtful man might well pray that 1t
would bring peace and accommoda ton.
When Maryland's suggestion was read in
the Virginan assembly, there was prompt
acquiescence Virginia asked all the
states of the union (January, 1880, to
send delegates to a general conference to
be held at Annapolis on the first Mon
day in September. to consider and rec
ommend SUCH additions 20 the powers of