For a brief tinie Washington now became ira private citizen on the banks of the Potomac . . . free frorn the bustle of a camp and the busy scenes of public life," planning as he said to "move gently down the stream of time until I sleep with my fathers." He did not see in this happy hour that his past services had but devoted him to further duties, and that he had become °the focus of political intelligence for the New World." Even before resigning his leadership he had urged the States to put fac tion and jealousy away and make "an indis soluble union under one federal head? As the affairs of the confederation became more and more deranged, and America, "like a 3oung heir,' as Washington wrote, wantoned and ran riot until its reputation was brought to the brink of ruin, their great leader warned them that it was in the choice of the States and depended upon their conduct, whether they would be re spectable and prosperous, or contemptible and miserable as a nation.
The politically starved Congress grew daily weaker. It COUld TIOt even persuade the States to carry out thC terIll of the treaty of peace or pay their debts to foreign countries. Con gress was despised at home, and America was disgraced abroad. The world looked on to see the confederation go to pieces. Within the in dividual States the mob seemed to have gained control and the law-giving bodies abandoned themselves to paper money and other economic vagaries. There was quarreling over State boundaries and commercial restrictions, one State against another, until thoughtful men like Washington urged that, if they were not a united people, the.y should no longer act the farce of pretending it. At last, however, his own endeavors united with others brought about a convention of the States, and that led to an other which met at last in May of 1787, at Philadelphia, destined, if not purposed, to give America a new and stronger form of govern ment. To that convention Washington reluc tantly came. He thought himself a soldier but no statesman. When at last he was persuaded that the chief hope for success must come from his approval, and that his mere presence would lend dignity and power to the convention, he yielded. As the delegates slowly assembled, he grew eager for the success of the work, and would listen to no half-way measures. "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair," he said to those who talked of a weak plan. When the work began he was chosen president of the convention, and, though he was no parliamentarian, his prominent place lent gravity and steadiness to the business.
After the Constitution was completed, and when it was before the country for approval, Washington had never been seen so eager for anything as for the adoption of the new scheme of government. It was only by active letter writing that he used his influence, however, for the work of the politicians was out of charac. ter for him. The final success was very grate ful to him, but, when the new government was being set up, and the whole country turned to him as their choice for President, he held back, diffident and reluctant. He yielded at last be cause, as Hamilton represented to him, °In a matter so essential to the well-being of society as the prosperity of a newly instituted govern ment, a citizen of so much consequence as your self to its success has no option but to lend his services.° His was a noble figure to stand in the fore front of a nation's history. His simple manner well graced a republic, and yet there was a gravity and a lofty courtesy that lent dignity to democratic forms. His own self-mastery was a living lesson to democracy with its ill repute for turbulence. No more fitting ideal of manhood could have been chosen for a new republic. It is, indeed, creditable to the men
of that day that they were won by a character so unpretentious.
The political leadership was very unattrac tive .to Washington. When the formality of election was over. he went to the scat of gov ernment with °feelings not unlike those of a culprit who .is going to thc place of execution." He bade adieu to private life and to domestic felicity, going to Ilk new duties with resolution, but anticipating tH, joy in them. On his way the demonstrations of the people only filled him with forebodings. °The decorations of the ships, the roar of the cannon, and the loud acclamations of the people which rent the skies as I walked along the streets, filled my mind with sensations as painful as they are pleasant.° After he had sworn, 30 April 1789, in the open balcony of the Federal Hall, that he would faithfully execute the office of President of the United States he read his address in the Senate Chamber. °T4he magnitude and difficulty of the trust,° he protested once more, °could not but overwhelm with despondence one who, inherit ing inferior endowments from nature,.and un practised in the duties of civ!1 admintstration, ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies.° He realized keenly from the first that he walked °on untrodden ground.° Scarcely any part of his conduct might not thereafter be drawn into precedent. There must not be a government only, but a body of public opinion that would uphold it. Governmental action must be mixed of firmness, prudence and con ciliation, said Washington, if it would win lik ing and loyalty as well as respect. He resolved to give it every proper form of dignity, cere mony and prestige that would appeal to the imagination of the people. Men must see that it was a real government, supreme in the land. To this end he adopted forms that some thought stiff, some unrepublican, but which all were soon taught to respect. °If there are rules of proceeding,° he wisely concluded, °which have originated from the wisdom of statesmen, and are sanctioned by the common assent of nations, it would not be prudent for a young State to dispense with them altogether.° It was not by this conservatism alone that he gave strength to the new government, but by that unerring judgment which led him to choose men like Hamilton, Knox, Jefferson and Randolph, and then to take for his guide Ham ilton, the greatest of these for the present needs of the government Natural leader as Wash ington was, he recognized the gifts and talents of others, and gave to eadt the task for which he was fitted. Hamilton's genius in affairs had not been in just the lines along which he was now to act, but his bold and original mind Washington saw to be a fit instrument to set the new government on a strong foundation. Hamilton quickly demonstrated the wisdom of the President's choice. He funded the public debt and established confidence in the nation's honesty. He prevailed upon Congress to as sume the State debts and thus transferred the interest of creditors to the central government. A bank of the United States was created at his call, the gimplied powers° of the Cobstitution being thus brought to the support of a strong government, and the commercial classes won by this attention to their 'interests. He was ena bled to do these things successfully because he had the strong will of Washington with him. Tile fiscal measures had been trade the Presi dent's own, because he was con inced that they were right, not merely that they 1% ( re expe dient. The end that was sought was the pur pose that Washington held from the first, a strong and righteous government.