Tempest at Dawn (21 page)

“
The Virginia Plan?”

“
It goes too far. But must we fight
every element?”

Sherman settled back in his chair. “Oliver,
how do you think legislation is bartered?”

“
Must it be bartered?”

“
Yes.”

“
Are there
no
elements we can accept? Shouldn’t principles
guide us?”

Sherman leaned forward. “Do you accept that
we must prepare for some difficult bargaining?”

Ellsworth started to reach for his snuffbox,
stopped, then said, “Roger, there’s no question that we must
negotiate with all our might to protect our interests.”

Sherman smiled. “‘Negotiate’ sounds so
civilized, a gentleman’s game. Bartering is what we do in the
streets. Negotiation means finding common ground between reasonable
men. Barter requires owning something that another holds dear.
Jefferson negotiates in Paris. We barter in Philadelphia."

“
Meaning?”

“
We must capture something the
Virginians desperately want.”

“
What?”

“
I wish I knew. What are the precious
jewels in Madison’s plan? We must forage until we discover what
holds the highest value for them.”

“
By contesting every
point?”

“
At this stage, we shouldn’t pursue
what we want but seize something the Virginians crave. Later we
trade.”

Ellsworth reached for his snuffbox. By the
time he’d finished, a fine dust had settled about his clothes and
person. “In the end, you won’t abandon principle?”

“
That’s my nightly prayer.”

“
That doesn’t sound like a
promise.”

“
It’s not.” Sherman glanced down and then met
Ellsworth’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Oliver, but in my long career, I’ve
made some deals I regret, some I loathe.”

“
Yet you continue to put yourself in
situations that totter on the edge of a moral abyss.”

“
Yes.”

“
How do you cope?”

“
I decided that I don’t need to worry about
ethics—as long as I continue to worry about ethics.”

Ellsworth laughed and then studied his knees.
“Roger, I think I understand.” Then looking up, he added, “I’m
sorry I voted against you.”

“
No matter. It never hurts to confuse
the opposition.”

“
We should’ve had this discussion
earlier.”

“
My error.” Sherman crossed his legs
to signal patience. “Let’s get specific. Which principles concern
you?”

Sitting straighter, Ellsworth said,
“Several.” He fingered his snuffbox but didn’t pick it up. “You
were the one that got me thinking along a different line Wednesday
night at the City Tavern. Do you remember the conversation?”

“
Of course.”

“
I supervised Connecticut's war
expenditures, and I learned that liberty depends on
money.”

“
Go on.”

“
Our paramount objective must be to
secure a sure source of funds for the national government. The
European powers can be held at bay only by a united nation of
thirteen states with enough funds to field an army and a
navy.”

“
Agreed.”

“
But Wednesday night you argued
against the national government taxing the people.”

“
I was appealing to Read and Paterson,
not you.” Sherman waved dismissively. “You know their biases. But I
believe the states must supply the nation’s money, or they’ll
become extraneous.”

“
My experience says that approach
never works.”

Now it was Sherman’s turn to stall. He went
over to a bruised bureau and poured himself a schooner of water
from an earthenware pitcher. Returning to his chair, he said,
“Oliver, I must accede to your position on this point. You’re the
one with treasury experience. You went to Yale and Princeton, while
I have little formal education. You’ve been abroad; I’ve not.”

Sherman continued as he settled into the
chair. “Let me offer another path. There are many sources of funds.
We can reserve specific taxes to the national government and
dedicate others to the states. Then each may remain supreme within
their realm.”

Ellsworth looked thoughtful. “That might
work.”

“
Good. Anything else?”

Ellsworth again started to reach for his
snuffbox.

Sherman laughed. “Obviously, yes. Tell
me.”

“
Your comments on democracy angered
me.”

“
That was a device. Well … not
entirely. I do have reservations about the wisdom of the
people.”

“
I don’t share those
reservations.”

“
You must admit that Shays’s Rebellion
exemplifies the excesses of democracy?”

“
I do not.”

Sherman blanched. “Explain.”

“
You know the situation among our
farmers. The country has no money. Hard-working, patriotic farmers
can’t pay their taxes or buy the most rudimentary implements to
till their land. So we throw them in jail and confiscate their
property. They have a right to raise up arms.”

“
Who
gave
them this right?”

“
You.”

“
How? When?”

“
You signed the Declaration of
Independence. Perhaps you should read it again. It says that man
has an inalienable right to rebel against an oppressive
government."

“
Our government is not
oppressive.”

Ellsworth snapped his snuffbox hard against
his chair. “Many consider physical confinement and loss of
livelihood oppressive.”

“
It’s not the government’s
fault.”

“
It is.”

“
We’re here to fix that.”

“
Not at the expense of our republican
principles.”

Sherman sighed. “The people can be easily
duped to follow an anarchist.”

“
Only when the government gives the
anarchist a platform.”

“
Do you suggest that people are wise
when things go well?”

“
Yes. Collectively. Some will be
foolish, but if we try to guard against the lowest level, we invite
rule by the privileged few. We must endure the ignorant to protect
the liberty of the majority.”

“
Your populism may exceed
Madison’s.”

“
Virginia is not my model.
Connecticut’s my model.”

Sherman took a sip of water, unclear about
how to proceed. Ellsworth was right. Connecticut had a strong
republican tradition. Leaning forward, Sherman said, “Oliver, I’m
proud to have influenced your political career. I’m even prouder
that you’ve learned to chart your own course. You’ve given me much
to think about.”

“
Thank you.”

Sherman leaned back. “I’ll probably not live
long enough to measure our success, but you’re a young man. You’ll
hold powerful positions in this new government.”

“
I may not want to hold a position in
the national government.”

“
That would be our nation’s
loss.”

“
I appreciate the compliment, but my
loyalty is to Connecticut.”

“
I understand, but we need to talk
about tactics. The political arena doesn’t nurture idealism. Rough
and ruthless men always emerge to pursue power.”

“
I have faith that good men will be
attracted to a good government.”

“
Oliver, let me be clear. Politics,
disguised by a veneer of civility, is played on the very edge of
barbarism.”

“
I’m not naïve.”

“
Good. Let’s get back to tactics. We
must vote together.”

“
In all cases?”

“
Yes.”

“
What else?”

“
I am a horrid speaker. I believe you
should present Connecticut’s views. I’ll speak from time to time,
but my talent is to convince in private, not public.”

“
As we are at the moment.”

Sherman chuckled. “Have I succeeded?”

“
You’ve reminded me that our
destination requires circuitous detours. I can be a patient and
willing passenger.” Ellsworth walked to the bureau and poured
himself some water. After retaking his seat, he said quietly, “If
principle dictates, and my vote won’t alter the course you chart,
I’d like the freedom to vote my conscience.”

“
Agreed.”

“
And speak my mind on
occasion?”

“
Yes.”

“
Then tell me how you wish to
proceed.”

Leaving his room, Sherman almost bumped into
Witherspoon.

“
Good afternoon, Reverend.”

“
A fine day it is. Do you have time
for a stroll?”

“
Unfortunately not. I’m rushing to an
appointment.”

“
Oh yes, busy, busy. You have a big
challenge.”

“
I suspect we’ll muddle
through.”

“
How’s the family?” Witherspoon
asked.

“
Fine. A little illness, but my church
is lending Rebecca a hand. Did you see James?”

“
Yes, we had a stimulating
conversation. Unfortunately, we resurrected some old
disagreements.”

“
It’s a relief to know others
disagree.”

“
Madison sees you as an
opponent.”

“
I was referring to my own
allies.”

“
Do you oppose James?”

Sherman smiled. “Only some of his
ideas.”

“
Allow him to explain. You’ll see he
makes sense.”

“
What did you and James argue about?”
Sherman asked.

“
Slavery.”

“
A volatile issue.”

“
What’s your position?” Witherspoon
asked.

“
I’ll endeavor to make slavery illegal
in Connecticut.”

“
I meant in the South.”

“
What’s James’s position?”

“
I asked for yours.”

“
Reverend, I can’t share my positions
with you. You’re a friend of James Madison.”

Howard suddenly emerged from a room he had
tidied up.

“
Ah, Howard, if I may, how do you feel
about slavery?”

Sherman thought Witherspoon’s question
tactless and inappropriate. Howard couldn’t answer such a direct
question from a guest.

“
My feelings are private,” Howard said
nonchalantly.

“
Then what’s your opinion?”
Witherspoon refused to be put off.

“
First, if I may, sir, what’s your
opinion?” Howard responded.

“
I think slavery is a reprehensible
evil.”

“
You must also believe that God
punishes evil.”

“
I do.”

“
What’s your opinion on violence?”
Howard asked.

“
Another reprehensible
evil.”

“
Then you must reconcile your
reprehensible evils.”

Witherspoon started to speak, but Howard
interjected, “You must excuse me, sirs, I have chores I must attend
to.”

Sherman watched Howard’s long legs
gracefully carry him to the rear staircase, where he quickly
disappeared. Turning back to Witherspoon, he was pleased to see him
baffled.

“
What do you find so amusing,
Roger?”

“
Riddles. I find riddles
amusing.”

“
I’m glad you’re here, John. I need
your help.”

“
I wasn’t much use today.” This morning John
Dickinson, of Delaware, had proposed an unsuccessful motion to give
the states the power to impeach the executive.

Sherman had arranged to meet Dickinson at
the famed botanist John Bartram’s garden that had been opened to
the public. Dickinson was fifty-five, wealthy, and distinguished
looking. Sherman had felt relief when his longtime close friend and
colleague had finally arrived a few days previously.

“
We’ll have another
chance.”

The elaborate gardens sat west of the
city, on the far side of the Schuylkill River. The expanses of
arbors, greenhouses, and flowered paths, plus a matchless spring
day, had attracted scores of finely turned-out Philadelphians.
Children played, couples courted, and families splayed across the
lawns. Despite the multitudes, the gardens had a hushed atmosphere,
especially after the cacophony of the city. Everyone spoke in
private whispers meant only for their companions. Watching the
young families, Sherman felt a pang of nostalgia for his own youth.
Was this Jefferson’s “pursuit of happiness”? It seemed a simple yet
powerful idea
—
people
unabashedly enjoying newly bloomed flowers and meticulous pathways
without any concern that an oppressive government might intrude
into their day.

Sherman and Dickinson strolled in complete
privacy. No one noticed the two gentlemen engaged in a quiet
dialogue that might shape their future. Sherman reminded himself
not to disappoint these people.

“
How are Rebecca and the
family?”

“
She wants me home to put our finances
in order.”

“
Problems?”

“
She thinks I’m running out of
time.”