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to another. What a triumph for the advocates of despotism to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves, and that systems founded on the basis of equal liberty are merely ideal and fallacious! Would to God that wise measures may be taken to avert the consequences we have but too much reason to apprehend! Retired as I am from the world, I frankly acknowledge I cannot feel myself an unconcerned spectator; yet, having happily assisted in bringing the ship into port, and having been fairly discharged, it is not my business to embark again on the sea of troubles. Nor could it be expected that my sentiments and opinions would have much weight in the minds of my countrymen. They have been neglected, though given as a last legacy in a most solemn manner. I then, perhaps, had some claims to public attention; I consider myself as having none at present."

In October, 1786, he wrote of the insurrection at Massachusetts: "I am mortified beyond expression when I view the clouds that have spread over the brightest morn that has ever dawned upon any country. You talk, my good sir, of employing influence to appease the general tumults in Massachusetts. Influence is not government. Let us have a Government by which our lives, liberties, and properties will be secured, or let us know the worst at once. Under these impressions, my humble opinion is that there is a call for decision."

In November he writes, "Fain would I hope that the great and most important of all subjects, the Federal Government, may be considered with that calm and deliberate attention which the magnitude of it so critically and loudly calls for. Let prejudices, unreasonable jealousies, and local interests yield to reason and liberality. Let us

look to our national character, and things beyond the present Without an alteration in our political

moment.

creed, the superstructure we have been seven years in raising, at the expense of so much treasure and blood, must fall. We are fast verging to anarchy and confusion."

It was indeed a critical time for America; a time fraught with greater danger from internal weakness and indecision, than any period of the Revolutionary War had been. Carlyle says, "No time need have gone to ruin, could it have found a man great enough, a man wise and good enough; wisdom to discern truly what the time wanted; valour to lead it on the right road thither-these are the salvation of any time." And such a man America found in Washington. He saw that what the country needed was, to have its Government centralised. During the war, as the interest of the country had been a common interest, Congress had been able to wield its power for the common good; but now that the interest was dividing itself into different channels, it was necessary to increase this unity of power. Every State had its own internal government, and its own laws of commerce. Before this country could regard itself as a nation, with a national and confederated Government, it was essential that there should be a community of laws.

The first effort made towards effecting this purpose was at Mount Vernon, where some friends of Washington's had met to consult about the formation of two companies to undertake the navigation of the Potomac and James rivers. This plan would greatly increase the commerce of Virginia and Maryland; and Washington urged that it should not be undertaken as a local enterprise, but subject to national laws, and proposed that there should be a convention of as many States as could be induced to join together to submit legisla

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tion for the proposed scheme to the approval of Congress. This was the first effort towards making national laws of commerce. General Washington was elected president of both companies. He was offered a hundred and fifty shares in each, as a tribute of gratitude from his countrymen. He declined them, saying that what he did he did for the love of his country, and not for personal gain; and he asked that the money might be devoted to founding a college on each of the two rivers.

The idea of a convention between the States for strengthening and reforming the Government was one which spread rapidly. Though undertaken in such a quiet way at first, it ended in twelve States arranging a convention to meet in Philadelphia, in May, 1787, “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Federal system, and correcting its defects." Washington at first declined to have any part in the deliberation of this convention, but it was urged upon him so much to become a delegate for Virginia, that he felt it as much his duty as it had been twelve years before to leave Mount Vernon for public life.

The convention deliberated from May till September, with Washington as its president, and the result of the deliberation was the present Constitution of America. The form which was drawn up commenced with these words: "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The articles then declared that the legislative power should be vested in a Congress, to consist of two parts-a Senate and

a House of Representatives. The Representatives to be elected by the people, every two years; their number to be determined by the size of the State represented. The Senators to be chosen by the legislature of the separate States, and to hold office for six years-two for each State. The executive power was to be vested in a President, who was to hold office for four years. There was also to be a Vice-President, and both were to be chosen by electors appointed by vote in each State. The judicial power was to be vested in one supreme court, and inferior courts ordained from time to time by Congress. All debts con tracted during the Confederation were to be valid under this Constitution. The agreement of nine States was to ratify the Constitution.

On September the 17th this Constitution was drawn up and solemnly signed by those present. "When the business was done," says Washington, in his diary, "the members adjourned to the city tavern, dined together, and took a cordial leave of each other; after which, I returned to my lodgings, did some business with and received the papers from the Secretary of the Convention, and retired to meditate on the momentous work which had been executed."

The scheme of the Constitution was submitted to Congress, and then sent to each separate State, to be ratified by the people. It took nearly a year for this to be carried out, during which year Washington remained at Mount Vernon, anxiously watching the effect upon the country of the proposed scheme. It was crowned with a success beyond that for which he and his friends had hoped, and, in spite of some opposition, was adopted; "thereby," says Washington, "in all human probability, laying a lasting foundation for tranquillity and happiness, when we had but too much

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reason to fear that confusion and misery were coming rapidly upon us."

It was arranged that in January the people were to elect a President, and that the new Government was to meet in the month of March, in the city of New York.

When the election took place, the votes were found to be almost unanimous for George Washington.