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CHAP. II. by the wide spreading contagion of the times, ar1783 rayed themselves almost universally under the banners of the constitution and of the laws. This circumstance lessened the prejudices which had been excited against them as creditors of the public, and diminished the odium which, in the eastern states especially, had been directed against the order of the cincinnati. But the most important effect of this unprovoked rebellion was, the deep conviction it produced of the necessity of enlarging the powers of the general government, and the consequent direction of the public mind towards the convention which was to assemble at Philadelphia.

In producing this effect, a resolution of congress had also considerable influence. New York had given her final veto to the impost system, and in doing so, had virtually decreed the dissolution of the existing government. The confederation was apparently expiring from mere debility. Indeed, its preservation in its actual condition, had it been practicable, was scarcely to be desired. Without the ability to exercise them, it with-held from the states powers which are essential to sovereignty. The last hope of its friends having been destroyed, the vital necessity of some measure which might prevent the separation of the integral parts of which the American empire was composed, became apparent even to those who had been unwilling to perceive it; and congress was restrained from giving its sanction to the proposed convention, only by an apprehension that their taking an interest in the measure would impede rather than

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promote it. From this embarrassment the mem- CHAP, II, bers of that body were relieved by the legislature 1783 of New York. A vote of that state, which passed in the senate by a majority of only one voice, instructed its delegation to move in congress a resolution recommending to the several states to appoint deputies to meet in convention for the purpose of revising and proposing amendments to the federal constitution. On the 21st of February 1787, the day succeeding the instructions given by New York, the subject, which had been for some time under consideration, was finally acted upon and it was declared "in the opinion of congress, to be expedient that on the second monday in May next, a convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several states, be held at Philadelphia, for the sole and express purpose of revising the articles of confederation, and reporting to congress and the several legislatures, such alterations and provisions therein, as shall, when agreed to in congress and confirmed by the states, render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of government, and the preservation of the union."

This recommendation removed all objections to the regularity of the convention; and co-ope rated with the impressions made by the licentious and turbulent spirit which had lately endangered the peace and liberty of New England, to incline those states to favour the measure. By giving the proposed meeting a constitutional sanction, and by postponing it to a day subsequent to that on which the cincinnati were to assemble, it also

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CHAP. I. entirely removed one impediment, and greatly diminished another, to the attendance of general 1787. Washington as a member. He persuaded himself that by repairing to Philadelphia previous to the second monday in May, in order to attend the general meeting of the cincinnati, he should efface any impressions unfavourable to the attachment he felt to his military friends, which might otherwise be excited in their bosoms by his appearing in a public character, after declining the presidency of their society. The increasing probability that the convention would be attended by a full representation of the states, and would propose a scheme of government which, if accepted, might conduce to the public happiness, and would not be unworthy of his character, had also its influence on his mind and an opinion which began to prevail, that the government must be invigorated by agreement or by force, and that a part of the opposition to the convention originated in a desire to establish a system of greater energy than could spring from consent, by suggesting the idea that his refusing his aid in the present crisis might be attributed to a dereliction of republican principles, furnished additional motives for yielding to the wishes of his fellow citizens. On the 28th of March, he addressed a letter to the governor of Virginia, in which, after stating the reasons which had induced him to decline attending the convention, the influence of which he still felt, he added; "however, as my friends with a degree of solicitude which is unusual, seem to wish for my attendance on this occasion, I have come to a

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resolution to go if my health will permit, provided CHAP. II. from the lapse of time between your excellency's* 1783 letter and this reply, the executive may not (the reverse of which would be highly pleasing to me) have turned their thoughts to some other character."

After communicating this determination to the executive of Virginia, he received a letter from the secretary of war, one of the small number of his friends who had endeavoured to dissuade him from the resolution he had ultimately taken, in which that officer avowed an entire change of opinion on this subject. "It is," said he, "the general wish that you should attend. It is conceived to be highly important to the success of the propositions which may be made by the con

vention.

"The mass of the people feel the inconvenience of the present government, and ardently wish for such alterations as would remedy them. These must be effected by reason and by agreement, or by force. The convention appears to be the only mean by which to effect them peaceably. If it should not be attended by a proper weight of wisdom and character to carry into execution its propositions, we are to look to events, and to

The letter alluded to is the public letter which has been already stated. Several intermediate private letters had been written by the governor in which he continued to manifest his anxious solicitude that the ultimate decision of general Washington would be favourable to the wishes of the friends of a convention.

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CHAP. II. force, for a remedy. Were you not then to attend the convention, slander and malice might suggest that force would be the most agreeable mode of reform to you. When civil commotion rages, no purity of character, no services however exalted, can afford a secure shield from the shafts of calumny.

Convention at Philadel phia,

"On the other hand, the unbounded confidence the people have in your tried patriotism and wisdom, would exceedingly facilitate the adoption of any important alterations that might be proposed by a convention of which you were a member, and (as I before hinted) the president."

At the time and place appointed, the representatives of twelve states convened. In Rhode Island alone was found a spirit sufficiently hostile to every species of reform, to prevent the election of deputies on an occasion so generally deemed momentous. Having unanimously chosen general Washington for their president, the convention proceeded, with closed doors, to discuss the interesting and extensive subject submitted to their consideration.

On the great principles which should constitute the basis of their system, not much contrariety of opinion is understood to have prevailed. But on the various and intricate modifications of those principles, an equal degree of harmony was not to be expected. More than once, there was reason to fear that the rich harvest of national felicity which had been anticipated from the ample stock of worth collected in convention, would all be blasted by the rising of that body without effecting

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