Tempest at Dawn (13 page)

“
Hold your horses, fool!”

Madison stood in the crowded Central Hall,
watching the tangle of carriages jockey for position in front of
the State House. The unrelenting rain had turned the street into
disorder and the coachmen into snarling contestants. The door stood
open as the delegates peered over each other to see which carriage
had secured a position at the uncovered entrance.

“
Do the heavens, my dear Mr. Madison,
augur a stormy convention?”

Madison recognized Pinckney’s voice at his
shoulder. Was he to be haunted by this man? Without turning his
head, Madison said, “The weather doesn’t foretell, nor can man
foretell the weather. Both operate on their own cycle.”

“
Perhaps you’re right, the weather may
not foretell, but I predict today’s unanimity will disintegrate
into the same discord we witness before us.”

“
Disagreement’s inevitable, Mr.
Pinckney, but discord sometimes disguises progress. Watch. This
mess will sort itself out, and we shall be whisked to our
quarters.” Turning to look Pinckney in the eye, Madison added. “The
convention may suffer some storms, but in the end, we’ll deliver to
our countrymen a sustainable republican government.”

“
Hear! Hear! This dismal day needs a
dose of optimism. You might be right. A plan might eventually
emerge, but who among us can predict its final form?”

“
The Virginia Plan provides the
framework, and it has sufficient support, especially with South
Carolina on our side.”

“
Don’t worry, James, we remain
steadfast. But again, things may not proceed in a straight line. If
events go awry, my plan may present a more acceptable
formula.”

Madison had hoped Pinckney had abandoned his
plan. “Mr. Pinckney, I’m not so naïve as to believe that the
Virginia Plan will pass without a few alterations.”

“
Perhaps more than a few,” Pinckney
taunted.

“
Liberty depends on the total design.
Alterations must be carefully balanced against other elements. I’ll
fight to pass the Virginia Plan with as few changes as necessary to
achieve consensus.”

“
A grand objective, James, but a
question remains: if events go as you expect, how do you propose to
get Congress and the states to ratify your plan? You threaten
powerful men.”

“
We shan’t seek their permission,”
Madison said. “There’s another authority.”

Pinckney’s surprised expression pleased
Madison.

“
And who, may I ask, is this other
authority?”

“
The people. We’ll bypass Congress and
the states and go directly to the people.”

Pinckney laughed. “Jemmy, I admire your
audacity. You are truly a rapscallion mutineer.”

Pinckney started the conversation by
addressing him as Mr. Madison, shifted to James, and then delivered
his jocular reproach using a name reserved for his closest friends.
Why did Pinckney do this? Why did it irritate him so? Madison
realized that the second question answered the first.

Could history be made with such allies? Did
Pinckney take nothing seriously? Was he completely unlearned?
Republican theory clearly stated that the people held all political
power, and only they could delegate authority to a government. The
people were free to change governments at will. They didn’t need
permission from incumbents.

At that moment, the Indian Queen carriage
jostled into position at the foot of the State House steps. Madison
took the opportunity to escape Pinckney. Tucking his valise tightly
against his chest, Madison dashed to the carriage, arriving before
the coachman could climb down and open an umbrella. Trotting in
place, head bent against the downpour, Madison fumbled with the
carriage door latch. Finally getting it open, he stepped up into
the dry interior and collapsed into a seat. Just as he exhaled
deeply, Pinckney clambered in behind him.

“
This weather makes a warm fire and a
brandy seem positively luxurious,” Pinckney said with good
humor.

Despite himself, Madison laughed in
agreement. “Yes, and on such a stormy day, a cozy bed with a
willing maiden would be the epitome of decadence.”

“
A splendid suggestion,” said Hamilton
as he climbed aboard. “If you gentlemen will excuse me, I won’t be
getting off with you at the Indian Queen. Jemmy, your bright ideas
never cease to amaze me.”

The now-crowded coach tittered with
amusement. The ribald quip had instantly erased the weather’s
gloominess and reinstated the exuberance of the Council
Chamber.

In his break for the carriage, Madison had
forgotten that Pinckney was a fellow guest at the Indian Queen and
would follow in his footsteps. But revelry now seemed to be the
order, and Pinckney’s flippancy fit the mood. Madison quite enjoyed
the short carriage ride. Hamilton, true to his word, remained in
the carriage but waited to give the coachman directions until they
had all departed.

“
Absolutely not!” Hamilton was
furious. “We cannot accede to this—ever.”

“
The alternative may be worse,”
Madison said.

“
No! They intend to use this rule to
win by attrition. We cannot allow it. Never!”

“
What we cannot allow is the
shattering of this convention before it has a chance to do its
duty.” Franklin also looked grim.

“
Nothing will come of our work if we
concede to unreasonable demands at the outset,” Hamilton
said.

Franklin leaned toward Hamilton. “Fury
doesn’t help us resolve this dilemma. It took untold maneuvering to
get these men together, and they can disperse as quickly as a flock
of disturbed gulls.”

“
But we cannot acquiesce to a bald
threat,” Hamilton said.

“
Jemmy, was this presented as a
threat?” Franklin asked.

“
Sherman’s too clever to speak
directly, but there was no mistaking the meaning. He was offering a
trade: secrecy for reconsideration. He said it was beyond his
control, but I’ve seen his work before.”

“
Delegates bolting isn’t our only
risk. Congress can withdraw our sanction. Open proceedings might
ignite their panic.” This came from Robert Morris, in whose parlor
they now sat. Morris, known as the Financier of the Revolution, had
invited his old friend, Gen. Washington, to stay in his lavish home
during the convention. This evening he was hosting a dinner for
prominent delegates from Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Hamilton had arrived late, looking slightly
disheveled. Entering in a rush, full of apologies, he had given
Madison a sly wink. With Hamilton’s arrival, they started
discussing Sherman’s disturbing message as they sipped an excellent
French wine from the Morris cellar.

Madison had been thinking. “If I may, we
have two issues, and I think the first step is to decide which has
greater importance. I believe the issue of secrecy paramount. As
long as we hold our coalition, we needn’t fear new votes on settled
issues.”

“
I don’t know where you’re going with
this, Jemmy,” Hamilton said, “but if you suggest we make
concessions, I believe it an error.”

“
I merely suggest that we analyze the
issues based on the greater purpose. Robert’s caution is valid.
We
must
have closed
deliberations.”

Franklin suddenly took on a cagey look.
“What if George’s committee reported out neither rule?”

“
My good doctor, we—”

Franklin raised a hand to stop Hamilton. “We
can have someone propose a motion for secrecy from the floor and
easily get it passed. If Sherman makes a motion to reconsider
votes, his weak support will be exposed. Force him out of the
corridors and into the chamber where he’s less comfortable.”

“
I don’t understand,” Morris said.
“What does this accomplish? They may still quit the convention.
Committee or floor, what is the difference?”

“
Appearances, my dear Mr. Morris,”
Franklin said. “They wish to portray us as unfair to their
interests, full of connivance, and in violation of republican
principles. They need to justify their mutiny to the people back
home. Losing a vote on an arcane parliamentary procedure will not
resound with the public.” Franklin settled back in his chair.
“They’ll stay.”

“
If we back down,” Hamilton fumed,
“it’ll spur them to further fulmination. Ignore Sherman.
Appearances are of no consequence.”

“
Appearances are crucial.” Washington
had followed the discussion but had remained aloof from the
argument until now. “I approve of Ben’s course of action. We must
avoid a donnybrook on our second day.” Washington turned in his
seat and bowed toward Franklin. “Thank you for your wisdom,
Doctor.”

Wythe, silent during the debate, picked up a
piece of paper and made a note. The subject was closed.

To Madison, Sherman’s strategy was obvious:
slow down the proceedings. It was going to be a long summer.

“
I need guidance on another matter,”
Madison said. “Mr. Pinckney has devised a plan of his own, and he
wants to present it to the convention.”

“
What?” Hamilton said. “Are we to lose
complete control of this convention?”

“
Easy, Alex,” Washington said. “What
do you know of the design, Jemmy?”

“
Nothing. I asked for a copy, but
Pinckney made excuses. He’s quite adamant and brought it up again
this afternoon.”

“
What commitments did you make?”
Hamilton bristled.

“
That he may present his plan in the
event of a deadlock. Every time he brings it up, I remind him of
his commitment to support our plan.”

“
Hmm,” Franklin mused. “If the
convention deadlocks, I think your tactic may give weight to
Pinckney’s proposal. Better to dispose of it immediately. Let him
present directly after Randolph. Then we’ll refer both plans to
committee. We can manage the committee so his grandiose ambitions
never resurface.”

“
I concur,” Morris said.

With a twinkle in his eye, Franklin added,
“More’s been lost in committees than from storms at sea.”

“
South Carolina’s crucial to our
alliance,” Washington said. “We mustn’t slight anyone in this
clannish delegation. Give him his platform, but bury the proposal
deep in committee.”

Washington settled comfortably into an easy
chair. Dinner was over and everyone but Madison had left.

Robert Morris, sitting across from the
general said, “You look disturbed, George. What bothers you?”

“
I know we’re well organized, but it’s
probable that no plan will be adopted. I fear another dreadful
conflict is in our future.”

“
A year ago we had scant opportunity,”
Morris said. “Now opportunity sits at our door.”

Washington remained despondent. “Perhaps,
but I can’t help but worry. No morning ever dawned more favorably
and no day ever looked more clouded.”

Madison knew the general didn’t mean the
heavy rain outside. Today’s opening session had been exuberant and
consensual, yet he kept hearing grim premonitions from people
within his own bloc of support.

Morris leaned back. “The matter this evening
is a bagatelle, easy to overcome.”

“
I worry about timing. The people may
not be ready to retract from error. Evil must be sorely felt before
it can be removed.”

Madison sat forward. “We mustn’t
underestimate the people. I assure you, they’re ready. People sense
misdirection. Daily they feel the dearth of money and its
consequences. Entrenched officials are the ones we should
fear.”

“
Many of those entrenched officials
reside with us in Philadelphia.” Washington took a sip of brandy.
“Jemmy, we must present a system the people will
accept

all the people, even
those from obstinate states. Whoever tries to govern this country
must govern all. We’re either a united people or thirteen
independent sovereignties.”

“
You know my sentiments, General,”
Madison said. “The convention may become acrimonious at times, but
need will prevail in the end.”

Morris bowed his head toward Washington.
“And after that fateful event, I’m confident you’ll be selected to
lead our new government.”

“
Thank you, but it is far too early to
contemplate such events. However, I do have a favor to
ask.”

“
Anything,” Morris
responded.

“
If, in the course of events, we do
propose an acceptable system, and I am again selected for
leadership, there’ll be inevitable accusations of monarchy. I must
not be seen as having brewed the ingredients of my own regime. For
this reason I’ll be reserved in the proceedings … and I request the
same of you.”

“
Surely people won’t attribute my
contributions to be at your direction? I have a long and honorable
record of public service.”

“
Robert, I’m staying in your home.
We’re fast friends. In my silence, people will assume that you’re
presenting my views. This system must be seen as the judgment of
all the states, or I won’t be able to govern. If it’s thought to be
my design, I’ll be of no use to the country.”

“
George, you know I’ll honor your
request.” Then Morris said with a smile, “I assume I’m free to
express my opinions in my own home.”

“
Of course,” said Washington,
returning the smile.