“General Arnold, may I present to you and Mrs. Arnold, Mr. Barclugh?”
Roderick Barclugh bowed twice, very low, and Mrs. Arnold took pains to say most cordially:
“It is with much pleasure we meet you, Mr. Barclugh,” as she smiled most sweetly and passed on to the other part of the room to greet friends.
Colonel Hamilton and Roderick Barclugh were the only ones who were not intimately acquainted with every one else, so the party at once took on a most free and jolly air. The young ladies at once lionized Colonel Hamilton, who was a very popular beau of his time. Miss Greydon was already making a few good-natured sallies at the Colonel.
Mr. Wilson held the attention of Roderick Barclugh by saying:
“Why, sir, Congress has had so many hot-headed and rabid Democrats that the people of wealth and substance in the Colonies have dreaded the issue of the Revolution for fear that the rabble and ignorance of the country would rule,—in fact, I have no love for the so-called inherent rights of the people, sir.”
“But why are the influential people of substance encouraging the Revolution then, if they can see nothing except disorder and anarchy result therefrom?” was the inquisitive rejoinder of Barclugh.
“Why, sir, those New England delegates under Samuel Adams and the Southern delegates under Thomas Jefferson were so rabid that Robert FitzMaurice and myself and our party of conservatives in the Continental Congress were overwhelmed and compelled to sign the Declaration of Independence. We did so reluctantly and after a bitter contest, for the commercial and Quaker interests of Philadelphia opposed the declaration. If the commercial interests of our country could have the decision, there would have been no Declaration of Independence. We would have settled our differences amicably with King George, maintained our allegiance to the British Crown, and held the Colonies under the British Constitution,” was the dramatic response of the Philadelphia lawyer.
“Yes, and every one of you would bargain away your rights as free men for the sake of so-called commercial interests, which will breed a class of tyrants more potent than kings,” was the spirited retort of Miss Greydon, who had been an attentive listener to the doctrines of an advocate who, she knew, was paid for his opinions.
“Well, well, at politics already! Why it seems, Mr. Barclugh, as though the Americans were born for politics,—even the ladies have their opinions,” laughingly remarked the host as he offered his arm to Mrs. Milling, and then turned to the guests with the words: