Tempest at Dawn (16 page)

“
I can’t accept that. You’re one of the
smartest men I’ve ever encountered. Surely you can devise a
solution acceptable to your fellow Southerners.”

“
Southerners aren’t the only slaveholders. May
I remind you that only Massachusetts has outlawed slavery?
Pennsylvania has four thousand slaves, many in Philadelphia. New
Jersey
—
your
state
—
has twelve
thousand.”

“
James that’s not fair, you know—“

“
It is fair. The South holds no monopoly on
this vice.”

“
Our economy doesn’t depend on
slavery.”

“
So why not free yours?” Madison looked away.
“Let’s change the subject.”

“
A sinner cannot excuse his depravity by
pointing to another sinner. You cannot avoid
complicity.”

“
Ending slavery means sacrificing our
republic. Too high a price.” Madison tossed a remnant of cake back
onto the plate. “And a quixotic quest.”

“
You must do something,” Witherspoon said,
with a tranquil earnestness that reflected years of ministering to
intractable sinners.

Madison tapped his empty teacup against his front
teeth. “There’s only one thing I can do. Virginia has outlawed the
slave trade. We’re the only Southern state to have done so. I can
work to extend the prohibition in the new Constitution.”

“
A start.”

“
John, I cannot end this evil. The best I can
do is to thwart its growth.”

“
I must trust your political instincts.”
Witherspoon smiled. “And I’ll work to end slavery in New Jersey, so
I can be more self-righteous at our next meeting.”

Madison laughed at the reverend doctor’s
self-deprecation. Instead of reminiscing about his college days,
they had discussed difficult matters. Better to end on a friendly
note. As they parted, Madison realized that he had just negotiated
a compromise with a nondelegate. He hesitated a moment and then
bolted out the front door, proceeding to Market Street. In two
blocks, he reached his destination: Wilcox Apothecary.

“
Good afternoon, Mr. Madison. How can I help
you?”

“
Good day, Mr. Wilcox. Can I have a
pennyweight of ginseng mixed with chalk powder and two bottles of
Stoughton’s?”

“
Stomach ailing again?”

“
A bottle of balsam of Tolu as well.” Madison
was grateful that the shop was empty.

“
Of course. Take just a moment.”

While the chemist busied himself pulling down
ceramic pots and measuring jars, Madison wandered over to a wall
plastered with broadsides for patent medicines made from plant and
animal extracts or metallic derivatives.

“
Anything new?”

The chemist kept grinding the pestle against the
mortar to mix the ginseng into the chalk. “Keyser’s pills, but
they’re for syphilis.”

Madison laughed. “I’ll strive to avoid that
ailment.”

Madison scanned the wall behind the counter. After
perusing the tiny drawers interspersed with glass and ceramic pots
of every conceivable size, Madison asked, “Anything to quiet
bowels?”

The chemist scratched his head. “We’ve tried
everything.”

“
Wrap my order then. I’m in a
hurry.”

Madison opened a glass-fronted bookcase and
extracted a heavy tome. As he examined the London Dispensatory, he
realized that he had learned everything from books. “Which of these
dispensatories is the best?”

“
Some like Shaw’s or Bate’s, but I think the
one you’re holding’s superior.”

“
I’ll take it as well.”

This request drew a dubious look from Wilcox. “It
costs forty dollars. It’s for chemists.”

Madison handed the shopkeeper the book. “I
know.”

“
Mr. Madison, this will give you a long chalk.
Would it be possible to settle at least part of your
bill?”

Madison tried to keep his face from showing his
reaction. He was going through money fast and that meant he would
need to write home. The money always came promptly, but he dreaded
the accompanying remonstration to mend his spendthrift ways. He
hated being dependent on his father’s largesse, but surviving in
this expensive city on his miserly remuneration from Congress was
impossible. Madison hefted the dispensatory. The book might contain
clues to his health problems, so he reached for his purse and
handed the chemist four gold sovereigns.

Madison tucked the linen napkin into his breeches
and ran his fingers along his waistline to smooth out any
gathering. He looked up at the steward and ordered breakfast. “I’ll
have boiled eggs, ham, and biscuits. And coffee, not tea.”

“
Yes, sir. Would the gentleman care for a
waffle?”

“
Yes, thank you. With honey
…
after the eggs and
ham.”

“
Of course, sir.”

Madison scanned the Indian Queen’s dining room for
an eating companion. He had risen early and encountered no one upon
entering. Now he saw Pinckney standing in the doorway.

Madison waved, and Pinckney sauntered over.

“
How fortuitous. I was looking for you,”
Madison said. “Will you join me for breakfast?”

“
If we can discuss my plan.”

With the flat of an uplifted palm, Madison pointed
to the opposite chair. “That’s the subject I wish to discuss. But
please, let’s wait until after coffee.”

“
So you need a morning lift. I thought you had
no vices.”

“
Morning coffee is one of my minor vices. My
major vices I conceal.”

“
And what might those be?”

“
If I tell you, they’ll no longer be
concealed.”

Pinckney’s mouth quivered a second, but then he
laughed. “You invite my sarcasm—my most debilitating vice.”
Pinckney shook out his napkin and let it float to his lap.

“
Randolph presents today. Are you prepared as
well?”

“
For what? To present my plan?”

“
Yes.”

“
Today?”

“
Directly after Edmund.”

Pinckney ignored Madison and caught the eye of a
steward. He waved two fingers to summon him to their table. After
an inquisition, Pinckney selected a meal with more amendments than
a congressional bill and ordered coffee served immediately. The
nonplussed steward instantly returned with a silver carafe.

After taking a sip of coffee, Pinckney asked, “Will
there be time?”

“
There’ll be no debate today, just
presentation.”

“
Then I am ready.”

“
Excellent. We believe a fair hearing requires
that both plans be presented together.”

“
Who’s we?”

“
I, uh, presented your request to Gen.
Washington and a few others. It was received with enthusiasm, and
they suggested you follow Edmund.”

“
When was this?”

“
Sometime over the weekend. I’ve been busy and
forgot to see you. My apologies.”

“
Damn it, James, this is Tuesday. You had
ample—”

“
Charles, I didn’t—”

“
Your actions are disingenuous.”

“
No! I didn’t mean to delay. If you’re not
ready, we’ll make other arrangements.”

“
I’ll present
today
.” Pinckney stared at Madison. “But I’m not
a novice. I recognize political connivance.”

Madison met Pinckney’s intense glare. “Charles, I
know how this looks, but there was no intent to catch you unawares.
This is entirely my fault. You were busy with the Rules Committee.
I should’ve searched you out. Please, I feel terrible.”

Madison’s chagrin was real, but it emanated from
underestimating Pinckney. Madison broke eye contact, ceding
Pinckney a victory in their little contest.

The steward approached with their meal. Sensing the
tension, the steward worked swiftly and departed without a word.
With his forearms situated on either side of his meal, Pinckney
inspected his breakfast. Deciding that the steward had met his
specifications, he lifted a knife and crisply tapped an egg to
create a perfect crack one-third of the way down from the top. He
lifted the top off in a single motion, deftly swirled the knife
around the circumference, and slipped the egg into a small bowl. He
replicated the little ceremony with a second egg.

Picking up the salt, he stopped in midmotion,
“James, eat. I shan’t stay angry.”

“
Again, I didn’t mean—”

“
Stop. But never treat me in this manner
again.”

“
You have my word.”

“
Now that that’s settled, we can enjoy our
breakfast. Are there any other plans?”

“
No. We’ll debate and select a course between
the Virginia Plan and the South Carolina Plan.”

“
The ‘Pinckney Plan.’ South Carolina isn’t
tribal like Virginia.”

Did ego drive this remark, or had Pinckney been
rebuffed by his own delegation? Either way, it was an astonishing
statement. The Virginians only appeared unified to foreigners
because they hid their dissensions.

Madison picked up a knife and fumbled with his eggs.
The rest of the meal proceeded in a bright mood, with Pinckney
actually making him laugh at his sardonic portrayal of their fellow
delegates. The man was entertaining. He was also a valuable ally
and supporter of the republican cause. Madison had mishandled this
episode, and he admonished himself not to make the same mistake
again.

“
Gentlemen, our present government is weak.”
Edmund Randolph had the attention of the entire chamber. “We cannot
control the states’ dealings with foreign countries, we cannot
field an army, we cannot raise revenue, and we cannot promote
commerce.”

Now Randolph dropped his voice and spoke with
sincerity instead of bombast.

“
This is not to denigrate the authors of the
Articles. Nothing better could’ve been obtained at the time. War
required compromise, but these accommodations laid an unstable
foundation. Now our task is to shore up our republican experiment
with a foundation that will support our lofty ideals.”

His voice rising again, Randolph announced his
transition. “Gentlemen, I’ll now describe the fifteen resolves that
will build a sustainable government.”

Madison looked up from his journal—his private
notes, not the official record. The secretary’s transcript would be
terse, so Madison had decided to keep a complete journal. He could
take a break from his note taking because the Virginia resolves sat
before him in his own hand. Madison placed the cap on his
inkwell.

The day had started with the report from the Rules
Committee. The convention quickly approved the report, including
secrecy and a right to request a new vote on settled issues. That
battle was past.

Randolph had opened with a lengthy description of
the crisis in the United States. The delegates wouldn’t be here now
if they weren’t already aware of the problems the nation was
facing, but Madison had urged the review to stiffen their will.
Franklin had astutely suggested praise for the authors of the
Articles of Confederation, because four of them, including Sherman,
sat in the chamber.

During the presentation, Washington wore a carefully
neutral expression. Madison realized that, with his back to the
delegates, he couldn’t measure their response. He considered
turning around but took his cue from Washington.

Randolph closed his oration to utter silence. Some
delegates already knew the plan. Others sat stunned. Washington
deftly called on Pinckney to present his proposal. Quickly moving
to another subject would soften the blow and preclude debate, which
would have only raised anguished protest. Innovations required time
to be absorbed.

Madison listened to Pinckney with interest, because
their earlier confrontations had aroused his curiosity. He did not,
however, remove the cap from his inkwell. Madison felt no need to
record the elements of a plan destined for the abyss. Pinckney’s
plan went beyond republican; it veered toward democratic. The
people deserved a voice, but the cacophony of factions destroyed
republics. Pinckney’s naïveté exposed his lack of research.

Pinckney’s eloquent close did rouse polite applause,
but Madison knew the proposal went too far to garner support. Good.
Pinckney’s plan would make the Virginia resolves look cautious by
comparison.

The last order of business was to dissolve into a
Committee of the Whole. Washington relinquished his chair until the
official convention would reconvene. Madison worried that the
absence of his stern countenance would lift a restraint from the
incendiary members. The informality of the Committee of the Whole
could incite combative debate.

With adjournment, Madison stood respectfully with
the other delegates as Washington marched out of the chamber.
Tomorrow they would unfurl the sails for their great voyage.

“
No more dams I’ll make for fish;

Nor fetch in firing

At requiring

Nor scrape trenchering, nor wash dish.

’
Ban, ’Ban, Ca—Caliban

Has a new master, get a new man.

Freedom, hey-day! Hey-day, freedom! Freedom,

hey-day, freedom!”

“
O brave monster! Lead the way.”

Shakespeare’s clown scene closed the second
act of
The Tempest
. Madison
laughed. Gouverneur Morris rolled with merriment. Washington gave a
rare uninhibited smile. Hamilton scowled.