The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-08-01

| must nave OWNED from Lu6 uTSL. 4 u6y
knew him better in such matters than
he knew himself He not only loved I
his retirement; he deemed himself a /
soldier and man of action and no |
statesman.
The floor of assemblies had never
seemed to him his principal sphere OF
duty.
He had thought of staying away
! from the house of burgesses on priv |
ate business 20 years ago. when be
knew that the stamp act was to be de-
bated. But it was not for the floor or
the approaching convention that his
friends wanted him; they told him
from the first he must preside.
He was known to be in favor of Civ
ing the Confederation powers that
would make it a real government, and
he thought that enough; but they
wanted the whole country to see him
pledged to the actual work, and when
they had persuaded him to attend,
knew that they had at any rate won
the confidence of the people In their
patriotic purpose
His mere presence would give them
power
The virginians First to Arrive.
Washington and the other Virginians
were prompt to be in Philadelphia on
the day appointed, but only the Penn
syivania delegates were there to meet
them.
They had to wait an anxious week
before so many as seven states were
represented Meanwhile, those who
gathered from day to day were nerv
Gus and apprehensive, and there was
talk of compromise and halfway meas
ures, should the convention prove
weak or threaten to miscarry.
Washineton's Brave Words.
They remembered for many long
year afterwards how nobly Washing
, ton, standing self-collected in the
midst OF them" had uttered brave
! counsels OF wisdom in their rebuke.
! 1T is too probable he said, that no
/ plan we propose will be adopted. Per
! haps another dreadful conflict is to be
h sustained If, to please the people, we
offer what we ourselves disapprove
+ how can we afterwards defend oul
i work? Let us raise standard to
d which the wise and honest can repair
> The event is in the hand of God"
h 1t was an utterance, they knew, moi
il of craftsmanship merely but of char
n acter; and it was that character, i
anything could. that would win ths
people to their support.
i President of the Convention.
4 When at last seven states were rep
i resented-a quorum of the thirteen
t, an organization was effected, and
:; Washington was unanimously chosen
y president of the convention.
He spoke, when led to the chair, 20
,r the novelty Of the scene Of bushes:
s In which he was to act. lamented hi
1t want Of better qualifications. ant
v claimed the indulgence of the hous'
y, towards the involuntary errors which
1t his inexperience might OCCASION" blu
Is no mere pariiamentarian could hay
n. given that anxious body such stead
ness in business Of such grave earn
at estness in counsel as 1t got from hi
m presence and influence in the chair.
le Five more states we're in attendanc
in before elaboration was very far at
vanced; but he had the satisfaction t
~ see his own friends lead upon tn
"a floor.
~ Wsshington's Friends Lead.
= 1t was the plan which Edmund Raj
80 dolph proposed, for his fellow Virgin
ans. which the convention accepted a
III a model to work from; 1t was jaime
Madison, that young master of couI
sci, who guided the deliberations froI
day to day, little as he showed hi
= hand in the work or seemed to pr
=. himself forward in debate.
q No speeches came from the pres
- dant only once or twice did he brea
~ the decorum of his office to tempe
- some difference of opinion or facilitat
- some measure Of accommodation.
= 1t was the 18th of September whe
!. the convention at last broke up; til
10th when the Constitution it ha
Il wrought out was published to th
81 country
Il All the slow summer throug
II Washington had kept counsel wit
the rest as to the anxious work tn;
de was going forward behind the close
m doors Of the Ions conference; it was
ia grateful relief to be rid of the pai
81. tnI strain. and he returned to Mou1
Vernon like one whose part in tn
to work was done.
he Keen for New Government,
Il never saw him so keen for an
tut thing in my life as hs is for the ado
its lion of the new sca.eme Of COVER
ais ment," wrote visitor at Mount We
ry, non to Jefferson; but ne took no otht
les part than his correspondence afforde
ge him in the agitation Sor its acceptanc
he Throughout al chose long fol
months in Philadelphia he had give
ad his whole mind ami energy to evel
sty process of difficult counsel by which
tut had been wrought 10 completion; b
it he was no politician Earnestly as
m | commanded the plaH to his friends