a jest
and a by-word throughout the land. If you tell the legislatures
they have violated the treaty of peace, and invaded the
prerogatives of the confederacy, they will laugh in your face. What
then is to be done? They can not go on in the same train for ever.
It is much to be feared, as you observe, that the better kind of
people, being disgusted with the circumstances, will have their
minds prepared for any revolution whatever.... I am told that even
respectable characters speak of a monarchical form of government
without horror. From thinking proceeds speaking; thence to acting
is often but a single step. But how irrevocable and tremendous!
What a triumph to our enemies to verify their predictions!... Would
to God that wise measures may be taken in time to avert the
consequences we have but too much reason to apprehend.

"Retired as I am from the world," he continued, "I frankly
acknowledge I can not feel myself an unconcerned spectator. Yet,
having happily assisted in bringing the ship into port, and having
been fairly discharged, it is not my business to embark again on a
sea of troubles. Nor could it be expected that my sentiments and
opinions could have much weight on the minds of my countrymen. They
have been neglected, though given as a last legacy in the most
solemn manner," he said, referring to his circular to the governors
of the states in the summer of 1783; "I had then, perhaps, some
claim to public attention, I consider myself as having none at
present."

His sentiments and opinions _did_ have great weight, and in his
retirement at Mount Vernon, Washington exercised a most powerful
influence. To the patriotic and thoughtful, his words were oracular, and
the ear of the nation leaned in earnest silence toward Mount Vernon at
that crisis, to catch the faintest whisper from the lips of the retired
soldier, who was about to emerge as a sagacious statesman.

In September, 1786, commissioners met at Annapolis, at the suggestion of
the legislature of Virginia, "to take into consideration the trade of
the United States," and "to report to the several states such an act
relative to this great object, as, when unanimously ratified by them,"
would enable "the United States in Congress assembled," effectually to
provide for such a uniform system in their commercial relations as might
be necessa