Tempest at Dawn (36 page)

“
On the contrary, your expectations astound
me.”

Washington’s crisp reproach
surprised Sherman. The three men sat in the parlor of the Morris
home. Sherman wanted to meet with Washington alone, but the general
had insisted that Morris be present. Sherman assumed that
Washington had an inkling of the visit’s purpose and wanted a
witness.

“
I’m sorry, Your Excellency, but I
can’t think of another way to move us beyond this
impasse.”

“
Mr. Sherman, you’re a religious
man, yet you barter with slavery.”

Sherman was taken aback by
Washington’s indignation about the slavery side of the proposition
instead of the western lands. When Sherman heard himself speak, he
sounded defensive. “Only with the greatest reluctance,
sir.”

“
The greatest reluctance would have aborted
your proposal.”

“
There are unsavory aspects of
this plan but nothing unique. I only pulled the strands together.
This convention won’t put restrictions on slavery, in any
case.”

Washington looked sad. “Mr.
Sherman, there’s not a man living who wishes more than I for the
gradual abolition of slavery. Slaveholders with such sympathies
must rely on New Englanders to trigger change. You disappoint
me.”

“
I apologize, General. I wouldn’t
have approached you except under duress.”

“
What duress?” Washington seemed
incredulous.

“
Bald-faced insistence that I
accept a government that threatens Connecticut’s
existence.”

Washington took a long moment. “If
you’ll excuse us, we’ll consider your proposal. Good night, Mr.
Sherman.”

Sherman was disappointed that the
next day’s session started with no word from Washington. In fact,
the general didn’t arrive until just before the gavel
fell.

Today’s debate was on the term
length for senators. Madison spoke first.

“
In framing a system for the ages,
we shouldn’t forget the changes which the ages will produce. An
increase of population will increase the demands for a more equal
distribution of wealth. Inequalities exist because they’re the
unavoidable result of liberty. In time, the indigent may outnumber
those who own property. With equal suffrage, power will slide into
the hands of the former. A leveling spirit has appeared enough to
warn of future danger.

“
How should this danger be guarded
against? How is the danger of any coalition to oppress a minority
to be guarded against? By a senate respectful of property. Thus,
the term of office should be long, at least seven
years.”

Sherman disagreed. “Gentlemen,
frequent elections ensure good behavior. In Connecticut, elections
are frequent, yet we have experienced great stability for more than
one hundred and thirty years. I agree with Mr. Madison on the need
for steady wisdom, but four or six years will suffice.”

Hamilton made a sharp response.
“Mr. Sherman forgets that the first branch of the legislature is
designed to guard poorer citizens. Of late, mobs have intimidated
the states. Fear of rebellion prevents responsible fiscal
measures.” Hamilton walked between the tables and approached
Sherman. “Mr. Sherman, is Connecticut so stable that you’d dare
impose a new tax?”

Sherman thought Hamilton had a
point. The Connecticut legislature had shown extreme caution of
late, but he wouldn’t give weight to the charge by responding.
Despite Madison and Hamilton’s best efforts, Sherman’s proposal
passed six to four. The Senate would have a six-year term with
one-third going out biennially.

“
Washington avoiding you?”

“
The only possible conclusion.”

Sherman walked along the river
docks with Dickinson. Even if someone wanted to eavesdrop, the
clamor of the waterfront made it impossible. Sherman counted eleven
ships being loaded or unloaded by noisy stevedores. They stepped
between two rows of barrels to get out of the way of a crate
swinging off a crosstree. As the load descended, six stevedores
surrounded the crate, their arms held up to grab an edge. The men
tried to ease contact with the wharf, but the load hit the planks
with enough force to give rise to a jarring mixture of notes.
Someone was going to be the proud owner of a new
pianoforte.

“
Are these barrels coming or going?” Sherman
asked as he looked at the rows of stacked barrels.

Dickinson gave them a quick
glance. “They’re staged to be loaded. Cod.”

“
Who decides all these trades?” Sherman asked.
“Goods come, goods go, and nobody coordinates a thing.”

“
The invisible
hand. That’s what Adam Smith calls it in
The Wealth of Nations
.”

“
I read it last year and found it boring. I
tend toward practical matters.”

“
Like money?”

“
Like money.”

“
Money controls trade between nations. My
father-in-law insists that unless we establish a sound money
system, we’ll be at the mercy of the great powers.”

Sherman waved his hand. “How is this trade
negotiated?”

“
Mostly barter, which puts us at a
disadvantage.”

Sherman walked a few paces and
then said, “Before we can address trade issues, we need a strong
national government.”

“
And Washington hasn’t
responded?”

“
No, but Hamilton hasn’t left
either.”

“
He was supposed to leave days
ago.”

“
As long as he remains, I believe
Washington’s still considering my proposal.”

“
What’s your next move?”

“
When you’re in the majority,
vote; when you’re in the minority, talk.”

“
You’re going to talk?”

“
Not me.”

“
Who?” Dickinson asked with
trepidation.

Sherman laughed. “Not you. Luther
Martin.”

Dickinson slapped Sherman on the
back. “You heartless scoundrel. May God have mercy on your
soul.”

Even Sherman regretted asking
Martin to speak. The man talked for over two days and said nothing
coherent. When he mercifully exhausted himself on Thursday, Madison
felt compelled to answer with a long sermon of his own. The chamber
was clammy, crowded, and filled with rancid hot air.

It appeared they’d be allowed to
exit, when Franklin gained recognition. “After five weeks, we’ve
made scant progress. This assembly is unable to recognize truth
when presented. How has this happened? Why have we not thought of
humbly applying to the Father to illuminate our
understandings?

“
During the war with Great
Britain, we prayed daily in this room, and our prayers were
graciously answered. Have we forgotten that powerful friend? Do we
imagine that we no longer need his assistance?

“
If a sparrow can’t fall without
his notice, can we raise an empire without his aid? If we don’t
seek his guidance, governments will only be created by chance, war,
or conquest.

“
I move that clergy-led prayers be
held in this assembly every morning.”

Sherman wanted to bless the old man for his wisdom
and seconded the motion.

Hamilton quelled an immediate
vote. “At this late date, such a resolution will signal distress.”
Hamilton made a flip gesture. “Besides, I don’t believe we need
foreign aid.”

Randolph suggested a special
sermon on the Fourth of July, which was approved. Then Madison
moved to adjourn. Sherman was surprised that the adjournment
passed—a silent veto of Franklin’s motion.

Chapter 22

“
Two long days of unbearable speechifying.
Tortured mercilessly in an airless oven. I surrender! The small
states may have their way with me.”

“
Alex, this isn’t funny.”

“
But it is. I nearly bowled over in
laughter when Luther said he was too exhausted to finish and asked
to continue on Thursday.”

“
I was mortified,” Madison
said.

“
Dear Jemmy, it was your horrified
expression which prompted my amusement.”

“
I failed to see the
humor.”

“
Don’t take things so seriously.
You’ve lost too much hair for such a young man.”

Hamilton’s reference to his
receding hairline didn’t lighten Madison’s mood. As the two men
walked to the State House, Madison wondered why Hamilton had thrown
in a personal slight.

“
His speech was a delaying
tactic,” Madison said, as evenly as he could.

“
And how did you respond—with a
long sermon of your own.”

“
His challenge had to be answered.”

“
No, it didn’t. No one took his
ranting seriously. You added vinegar to an already disagreeable
drink.”

Madison seethed for a minute.
After he settled down, he realized that Hamilton was right—he
should have ignored Martin’s rambling diatribe. His loud and
relentless condemnation of the Virginia Plan had so infuriated
Madison that he felt compelled to respond. “You’re right, I
should’ve left him to wallow in his own brew.”

“
Play by your rules, not theirs.”

Madison looked at Hamilton. “Alex, I wish you didn’t
have to leave.”

“
If the last two days are any
indication, I’m glad to be free of Philadelphia.” Hamilton grinned
brazenly. “Besides, there are some gentlewomen in New York that
rely on my visitations.”

“
When do you leave?”

“
Tomorrow.”

“
Who will I confide
in?”

“
Let me think. Yes, I shall designate Charles
Pinckney as my surrogate.”

“
Mr. Hamilton, another remark like
that and I’ll call for your carriage myself.”

“
Jemmy, you’d be wise to take
Charles into your confidence. He can do little good, but he can do
enormous harm. Hold him close.”

Madison entered the State House
and immediately dreaded the long day ahead. The oppressive heat was
now accompanied by huge black flies. As he arranged his writing
materials, he tried to chase the persistent pests away from his
sweaty eyes. His mood did not improve when Ellsworth reproposed
equal state suffrage in the Senate.

After being recognized, Madison
jumped up and quick-stepped to the back of the chamber. “Please
ponder the consequences of demanding concessions that will break
the confederacy into pieces.” Madison tapped the Connecticut table
with his fingertips. “I beg you, sirs, renounce this principle of
equal state suffrage. It will infect our Constitution with a mortal
illness.”

Madison whirled and walked back to his table. Just
before sitting, he looked back at the Connecticut table.
“Gentlemen, relent, or your countrymen will never forgive you.”

Hamilton slowly unwound to his
full height, which seemed taller than his five foot feet seven. As
Madison picked up his quill, his friend gave him a mischievous
wink. “The small states say we ask them to renounce their liberty.”
Hamilton paused and then filled the chamber with a booming voice.
“This is a contest for power, not liberty.”

Hamilton’s bombast had gained the
attention of every man in the room. He pointed at the Delaware
table and declared, “Delaware, with forty thousand souls, will lose
power to Pennsylvania, with four hundred thousand. But will a
person in Delaware be less free than a citizen of Pennsylvania? Of
course not.” Hamilton stared at Paterson. “Some of you pretend to
protect liberty, but your real aim is to protect your illusion of
power. An illusion, because if you don’t give it up
freely

here,
now

it shall be
taken from you by force.”

Madison felt the men in the
chamber stiffen as Hamilton continued. “Make no mistake, if
dissolution occurs, Europe will pounce. It’s a miracle that we can
sit here, engaged in tranquil deliberation.”

He placed a hand on the rear of
his chair, and just before he sat, he said, with the kind of
disdain only he could muster, “Only a madman would trust in further
miracles.”

Gerry stammered a few beats and
then controlled himself of everything but an odd tic that caused
his head to bob to no discernible beat. “I regret that instead of
coming here like a band of brothers, we see our role as
negotiators. I am from a proud state, but I consider myself a
citizen of the United States.”

Gerry continued arguing reasonably
but then concluded, “Gentlemen, I think we should remember that if
we don’t agree on something, few of us will be appointed to
Congress.”

Madison sighed. Gerry had abruptly
degraded everything he had said with a selfish plea.

Next, Ellsworth defended his
proposal. “Proportional representation in the first branch protects
the large states against the small. An equality of voice in the
second branch protects the small states against the large. Nature
has given self-defense to the smallest insect. Can’t we do the
same? We must compromise or our meeting will be for naught. I’m not
a halfway man, yet I prefer doing half the good we can, than to do
no good at all.”