nd myself happily mistaken, if the remedies are at hand. We are
certainly in a delicate situation; but my fear is, that the people are
not yet sufficiently _misled_ to retract from error. To be plain, I
think there is more wickedness than ignorance mixed in our councils.
Under this impression I scarcely know what opinion to entertain of a
general convention. That it is necessary to revise and amend the
Articles of Confederation, I entertain no doubt; but what may be the
consequences of such an attempt, is doubtful. Yet something must be
done, or the fabric must fall, for it certainly is tottering."

It was the general impression, at that time, that an alarming crisis in
public affairs was at hand, and during the whole summer of 1786,
Washington was in constant correspondence with leading minds in
different parts of the country. To Jay he again wrote in August,
saying:--

"I do not conceive we can long exist as a nation, without having
lodged somewhere a power, which will pervade the whole Union in as
energetic a manner as the authority of the state governments
extends over the several states. To be fearful of investing
Congress with powers, constituted as that body is, appears to me
the very climax of popular absurdity and madness. Could Congress
exert them for the detriment of the public, without injuring
themselves in an equal or greater proportion? Are not their
interests inseparably connected with those of their constituents?
By the rotation of appointment, must they not mingle frequently
with the mass of citizens? Is it not rather to be apprehended, if
they were possessed of the powers before described, that the
individual members would be induced to use them, on many occasions,
very timidly and inefficaciously, for fear of losing their
popularity and future election? We must take human nature as we
find it. Perfection falls not to the share of mortals.

"Many are of opinion, that Congress have too frequently made use of
the suppliant, humble tone of requisition in application to the
states, when they had a right to assert their imperial dignity and
command obedience. Be that as it may, requisitions are a perfect
nullity when thirteen sovereign, independent, disunited states, are
in the habit of discussing and refusing compliance with them at
their option. Requisitions are actually little better than