arguments, to accept the appointment. Greatly as he loved Mount Vernon and the enjoyments of rural life, he loved his country more. What he had laboured so earnestly to bring about in the beginning, he could not and would not desert until it was brought to an end, and, after long consideration, he once more consented to return to public life. With what unwillingness he made the sacrifice is seen in various of his letters, wherein he expresses, with the unaffected plainness of truth, his hesitation. Once more, in the month of September, 1787, did Washington leave his retirement, where, for a few short years of his arduous existence, he had tasted the blessings of a quiet and happy home. His country called, and he obeyed her summons, to aid by his wisdom in the preservation of that freedom which he had won by his valour.

VOL. II.-0

CHAPTER IX.

Convention-Evils to be remedied by it-The New Constitution-Washington solicited to accept the Presidency-Consents with great Reluctance-ls chosen unanimously— Leaves Mount Vernon-His Reception on his JourneySituation of Public Affairs-Disputes with England-Spain -War with Moors and Indians-National Debt-Administration of Washington-Final Retirement to Mount Vernon.

THE weakness of the confederation was the cause, to give it strength was the object, of calling the convention. It was convened, not for the purpose of making a new constitution, but amending the old. The most striking and dangerous defects to be remedied, are thus eloquently set forth in a letter of Washington:

"With joy I once beheld my country feeling the liveliest sense of her rights, and maintaining them with a spirit apportioned to their worth. With joy I have seen all the wise men of Europe looking on her with admiration, and

all the good with hope, that her fair example would regenerate the old world, and restore the blessings of equal government to long oppressed humanity. But alas! in place of maintaining this glorious attitude, America is herself rushing into disorder and dissolution. We have power sufficient for self-defence and glory, but those powers are not exerted. For fear Congress should abuse it, the people will not trust their power with Congress. Foreigners insult and injure us with impunity; for Congress has no power to chastise them. Ambitious men stir up insurrections; Congress possesses no power to coerce them.. Public creditors call for their money; Congress has no power to collect it. In short, we cannot long subsist as a nation, without lodging somewhere a power that may command the full energies of the nation for defence against all its enemies, and for the supply of all its wants. The people will soon be tired of such a government. They will sigh for a change, and many of them already begin to talk of monarchy without horror."

These crying evils certainly called loudly for

a remedy. But there were many and formidable obstacles to its adoption. The states were justly jealous of their independence, and the people justly afraid of delegating too much power to the general government. They had felt oppression, and trembled at the idea of authority. The power had reverted to them on the dissolution of the parent government, and they disrelished the idea of parting with it so soon, by delegating it to others.

The convention, however, met at Philadelphia, and unanimously chose Washington its president. This situation in some measure precluded him from speaking, if he had been so inclined; but his influence was not the less in producing the results which followed. It is highly probable that but for the exertions he made in private, and the vast authority of his character and services, the objects of the convention might not have been attained. As it was, the constitution encountered great opposition within doors, and when promulgated, after a session of six months, it was met by the people in various quarters with a determined spirit of hostility. It was accepted slowly and unwillingly by many of the states, which accom

panied their adhesion by a variety of proposed amendments, almost all operating to circumscribe the authority of the federal government. The great talents of Madison, Hamilton, and Jay, exerted in that celebrated work called the Federalist, and the influence of many of the leading men of the different states, aided by the name of Washington, alone, perhaps, secured to the country the great charter of its liberties.

Under the new constitution a chief magistrate became necessary to administer the government. The eyes of the whole people of the United States were at once directed to Washington, and their united voices called upon him who had led their armies in war, to direct their affairs in peace. His old companions came forth and besought him to leave his retirement once more to serve his country. The leading men of all parties wrote letters to the same purport, and on all hands he was assailed by the warmest, most earnest applications.

His replies are extant, and those who have

ever seen them cannot for a moment question the deep reluctance with which he undertook this new and trying service. Both in its exter