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From: mcgeer@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU (Rick McGeer)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Sometimes I (don't) agree with Don Black
Message-ID: <10791@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Thu, 24-Oct-85 22:31:32 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.10791
Posted: Thu Oct 24 22:31:32 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Oct-85 06:35:34 EST
References: <774@x.UUCP> <244@3comvax.UUCP> <818@x.UUCP>
Reply-To: mcgeer@ucbvax.UUCP (Rick McGeer)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Lines: 59

In article <818@x.UUCP> wjr@x.UUCP (STella Calvert) writes:
>In article <244@3comvax.UUCP> michaelm@3comvax.UUCP (Michael McNeil) writes:
>>				  However, the non-signatory
>>states were under no compulsion to join the Union -- in fact they
>>could not be compelled to since at the time they were independent
>>states.  All of the original holdout states eventually, over the
>>next two years, did approve the Constitution and join the United
>>States, with the State of Rhode Island being the final laggard.  
>
>I'm sorry I phrased that so it seemed I was arguing that the other states were
>drafted into the Union -- and sorrier still my sources on the disinformation
>campaign used to bring the holdouts into line are buried in a storage locker.
>But until then, OK -- states were not forced to join, they were propagandized.

Is there any evidence whatever of such propagandizing?  What specific
falsehoods were told, and by whom?  The benefits of joining the United States
were fairly evident, and the Framers' goodwill relatively clear -- the
structure of the Senate was a specific concession to the small states, who
feared domination by the likes of Virginia and New York.

>
>>The states joined for a number of reasons, commercial, political,
>>and social.  Many people feared a future as small, Balkanized
>>states.  Americans had recently freed themselves from European
>>domination, and many wondered if small independent states could
>>continue to fend off the imperial powers.
>
>And many, including signers of the Declaration, feared King Washington as much
>as the other George.

This is a damned lie.  Washington was offered the crown on a number of
occasions in the 1780's, first in 1781 (when Congress, beginning a long and
ignoble tradition, refused to pay the army) and again in 1785.  Each time
he refused, with vehemence -- on the first occasion personally forestalling
a coup by his officers.  Further, he and he alone pushed hard for a
Constitution, at least in part because he feared that the remnants of the
Continental Army would attempt to put him on the throne.  And the only reason
the Constitution was accepted at all was that Washington agreed to be the
first President.  Indeed, Flexner writes that the only aspect of the
Constitution that appealed to people was that Washington would be the first
President.  Finally, Washington attempted to retire after his first term and
did retire after his second, *against the wishes of practically every state
government and the Congress* -- because he was afraid that he would die in
office, be succeeded by Adams, and thus establish a monarchial tradition.

In sum: Washington sought no public office, aside from that of a seat in
the House of Burgesses, from 1760 on -- each office he took was thrust upon
a reluctant Virginia planter.  Two.  Washington's holdings suffered grievously
both during the Revolution and his Presidency; indeed, Washington's tenure in
public affairs was a personal disaster.  Three.  Washinton twice refused the
crown of America and retired from public life to ensure that a monarchial
tradition never took hold in America.  Four.  It is very clear that the
people of the early Republic would have preferred King Washington, given the
option.  It was only because of his genuine commitment to democracy that we
enjoy it today.  There are any number of biographies and histories which attest
to this: I suggest you read them and learn our collective debt to the Father
of America. 

						-- Rick.