Tempest at Dawn by James D. Best Read Free Book Online Page B

letter.
    Madison held no doubts. Republics had come
and gone throughout history. The challenge was not to forge a
republic, but to build one that would endure. The key to a lasting
republic was the design. Studying other republics, he had paid
special attention to their structure, looking for the flaws that
accelerated their demise. The Virginia Plan held the ingredients of
a republic for the ages. Now, at long last, it was all about to
begin. Thinking in a rush, he had a letter to Jefferson composed in
his head by the time he entered his room.
    Madison’s room was small but pleasing, with
an unobstructed view of the Delaware River and the Jersey shore.
The furniture included a comfortable bed, a bureau, a writing table
with drawers, a large looking glass, stuffed chairs, and two nicely
framed oil paintings on the walls. A handsome night cabinet, pushed
into a far corner, hid the chamber pot. Today’s newspaper and
London magazines were splayed across the table.
    Shrugging off his coat, he immediately went
to the writing table. He spent a minute arranging the ink, the
paper, and his thoughts.
    The sound of the town crier in the street
below disturbed his concentration. “Ten o’clock and weather clear,
ten o’clock and weather clear.” This Philadelphia tradition
irritated him. All night long his sleep would be interrupted on the
hour by this rhythmical chant. He hoped time would numb his
awareness of the intrusion.
    He looked at his ink-stained hand, pen
poised to strike the first letter. Madison had never been to
Europe, so the idea of communicating to France fascinated him. How
he wished he could just talk to Jefferson. The hopes and
aspirations they had shared for over a decade were about to come to
fruition.
    The pen suddenly leaped to life, filling
Madison’s ears with the familiar and reassuring sound of a quill
scratching paper.
    Dear Tom,
    In a few days, we shall
begin at long last to build our republic. If men were angels, no
government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, no
controls on government would be necessary …

Chapter 5

Wednesday, May 16,
1787

    “ Perhaps I should cease boring you with
political matters.”
    “ On the contrary, we need to work
together,” Paterson said. “Something you’ve refused to do in the
past.”
    Sherman and William Paterson of New Jersey
sat in Mrs. Marshall’s parlor. They had met at Sherman’s
boardinghouse to plot a strategy for the convention.
    Sherman tried to look sympathetic. “Our
hands are full with the rebellion by our western settlers against
Pennsylvania. Times are too tense to engage another state.”
    New York was using her harbor to extort
unreasonable taxes from both Connecticut and New Jersey. When
nothing came of New Jersey’s request to Congress for redress, New
Jersey had quit contributing taxes to the national government and
asked Connecticut to join her in an armed offensive against New
York. Connecticut had declined.
    “ Until stopped by force, New York will
continue to pillage our treasury.”
    “ The convention can strengthen the
government so it can deal with such matters.”
    “ Such talk scares me. Roger, the
Virginians advance sedition.”
    “ William, you go too—”
    “ You aren’t suggesting that we
withhold criticism of their corrupt scheme?”
    “ Of course not. You’re right to harbor
fears, but casting dispersions on their proposal won’t be
enough.”
    “ We must expose their treachery. Their
treason!” Paterson got up and paced the room. “Honor demands that
we stop them. Stop the theft of our state sovereignty, stop the
theft of our liberty, and stop the theft of our purse.”
    Sherman glanced toward the door. “William,
please lower your voice. Other guests may be within earshot.”
    Paterson gave Sherman a long stare. The
lawyer was forty-one and wore short-cropped hair without a wig
unless he was in court. Well-proportioned facial features decorated
a small head perched on a stumpy body. His