A large orchard seat under one of those homely old apple trees, savoring of domesticity, brought them to a quiet nook where the three sat down for a discussion of affairs.
“Do you believe that the delegates from Pennsylvania will vote for a Declaration, Doctor Franklin?” asked Mr. Jefferson of his associate.
“I, for one, shall vote for the Declaration,” replied Benjamin Franklin, emphatically, “but the other delegates from Pennsylvania, Robert Morris and James Wilson, I am convinced will never do so. They love riches too well to disturb present institutions. They are too close to, and too much interested in the commercial element of Philadelphia to be so radical. If they could see money in the venture they would not hesitate.”
“But do you not think that they can see the great benefits to mankind in free institutions and in the doctrine that all men are created free and equal?” continued Mr. Jefferson.
“Never, sir, so long as they think that there is any reason to stand on the argument of non-interference with settled usage and present commercial relations. They believe that a Declaration would bring war and an upheaval in trade. You know they represent great commercial houses in London, and they think that they would be ruined to cut off their condition of agent and hireling. They are thoroughly whipped into line by a policy of commercial cowardice and dependence. They cannot see that to be independent of England’s merchants would be for their own benefit,” argued Franklin to his listeners’ delight.
“I believe that they will see the error of their way,” continued Dr. Greydon.
“Yes, when they find that they are overwhelmingly outvoted by the rest of us,” remarked Jefferson. “But those commercial people think that the world revolves around them and that we farmers are mere satellites, reflecting their wisdom,” continued Jefferson lightly.
“But what about the printers?” inquired Franklin with a smile.
“Oh, they have no right to exist, when they print the truth about these lords of creation,” insisted Jefferson.
“When they speak of themselves as men of substance, I find that they are mighty small potatoes, when they require a man of physic to keep body and soul together,” happily joined in Dr. Greydon.