"Alas! I can't out-argue you. Perhaps later I can slowly write down the benefits of a Federal Government and the drawbacks of a confederation, and let you read them at your leisure. Or perhaps, when a confederation is established in the future, I can show you real-world examples to prove the necessity of establishing a Federal Government," Charles said, shaking his head helplessly.
Even his most powerful rhetoric couldn't convince Jefferson; his relatively weaker writing skills certainly wouldn't sway him. Saying this was merely to show that he also had his own thoughts and wouldn't yield.
Even though he had clearly admitted defeat, he added a rather youthful supplement:
"Anyway, even if politicians disagree, industrialists and merchants will definitely demand the establishment of a Federal Government. The different laws and tariff barriers between states will drive them crazy."
When Charles said this, he was unaware that the primary economic form in early America was a conservative agricultural plantation economy. They actually welcomed tariff barriers and hoped that goods from other places couldn't reach their local markets.
In reality, the American federal system was indeed a top-down imposition, a result of the foresight of politicians, rather than a push from the lower classes for changes in the superstructure. Even after the federal system was established, many in the South still wanted to change it back to a confederation or simply secede.
Now that Charles had voluntarily backed down in the argument, Jefferson no longer pressed the issue, only enthusiastically inviting Charles to visit Virginia again before ending their discussion.
"Godfrey! Come with me to Virginia; it is the best representative of the thirteen Colonies in North America. Seeing her is equivalent to seeing all of North America. Moreover, many influential Continental Congress Representatives come from Virginia, and we are all very good friends. I can introduce you to them then."
Four of the first five American presidents came from Virginia, a period historically known as the Virginia Dynasty. She was indeed the best representative of the thirteen Colonies in North America at this time. Not only was her economic and military strength the greatest, but she also had the most outstanding individuals.
Currently, the Continental army was commanded by Washington, who also hailed from Virginia, and even the highest authority, the Continental Congress, was dominated by Adams and Jefferson, both from Virginia. If Philadelphia hadn't been the largest city in North America, the most likely venue for the Continental Congress would have been Virginia. After seeing Virginia, there was indeed no need to visit other places in North America.
"No, Thomas! You know, my hometown Pittsburgh is still very backward. I want to take this opportunity in Philadelphia to bring more residents there. At the same time, I also need to recruit some skilled workers for my own workshop," Charles politely refused.
It was a joke; Virginia was a good place, but it was not only far but, more importantly, unsafe. It was the front line of battle. Even now, with the national situation looking good, the British army had not yet withdrawn from Virginia.
Who knew if he would be surrounded by the British army if he went there? After today's conversation, he and Jefferson should be considered fairly compatible friends, but it hadn't reached the point where he would willingly put himself in danger just to see a friend. Besides, he was, after all, a Pennsylvania Representative, and going to Virginia would require him to consider the opinions of the Pennsylvania Assembly members.
The two bid each other farewell, agreeing to chat again at their next meeting, and then went their separate ways.
When he received Jefferson's invitation for a conversation, Charles had dreamed of using this discussion to gain Jefferson's attention and then be greatly entrusted with important tasks. However, during the actual conversation, it was completely like a casual chat between friends.
Aside from some current affairs and ideas, the two also discussed many romantic and cultural topics. While they had disagreements on political ideology, in terms of lifestyle and cultural views, they were almost like bosom friends.
Jefferson himself was an abolitionist, which, of course, gave him common ground with Charles. At the same time, his open-mindedness regarding private life made it easier to win the admiration of Charles, a person from the 21st century. During Jefferson's later terms as Secretary of State, Vice President, and President, he had five sons and two daughters with Sally Hemings, a female slave on his Virginia plantation, five of whom grew to adulthood.
According to the laws of the time, they were all Jefferson's slaves, but Jefferson eventually granted them freedom. Their status as "descendants of President Jefferson" was not confirmed until 1998, when Nature magazine published the results of DNA testing.
In fact, celebrities of this era were generally more open-minded in their private lives. The famous General Washington was rumored to have had an affair with his nephew's maternal aunt. Later, under public pressure, the then young and shy Washington simply went to the battlefield.
Even Franklin, not long after marrying Deborah Read, brought home a newborn son, William. Although Franklin never revealed the child's mother, there is evidence that she was either a maid or a prostitute. William was taken in by the Franklin family, became a lawyer, and served as governor of New Jersey.
Charles inherently had a bit of a petty bourgeois mentality. When interacting with these great men, he would talk about this and that when discussing current affairs and ideas. Although there were bright spots, it was more a display of ego than a sincere discussion. However, once they started discussing romantic and cultural topics or interesting anecdotes, he became very interested.
His personality also determined that no matter how well the two conversed, they could only become close friends, not loyal comrades-in-arms.
Charles was only slightly regretful for a second or two about this outcome, and then immediately returned to his normal state of mind. His expected goal was merely to befriend a revolutionary founding father like Jefferson. Now, not only had he successfully achieved his goal, but he had also unexpectedly gained a Continental Congress Representative position, which was enough to satisfy him.
Thinking that this position still required confirmation from the Pennsylvania colonial Assembly, Charles immediately went excitedly to find Franklin, the leader of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Continental Congress.
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"Your Excellency Franklin, I'm here!"
Charles quickly returned to the location of the Continental Congress, which was the Pennsylvania State Hall, to visit Franklin, preparing to receive confirmation of his identity as a Pennsylvania Assembly member.
His qualification as a Continental Congress Representative was very unique. Firstly, he represented the interests of the western pioneers and Pittsburgh, but because these people and places were truly insignificant and still under the control of Pennsylvania, he was actually acting as a representative sent by Pennsylvania.
Not only did his identity require confirmation from the Pennsylvania Assembly, but he also had to fulfill the powers and obligations of becoming a Pennsylvania Assembly member.
"Oh! Godfrey, you spoke very well. Just call me Benjamin, please sit!" Franklin, the old man, welcomed Charles with a French-style embrace.
Franklin was a physicist, inventor, politician, and social activist. Of course, he was most famous as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. But before the North American Revolution began, he primarily served as a diplomat and had once strongly opposed the revolution. Only when it became impossible for Britain to maintain control over the American Colonies did he become an enthusiastic supporter of the independence movement.
As late as 1780, he still considered allowing Britain to retain sovereignty over America in exchange for a high degree of autonomy for the Colonies. Charles was very familiar with this man's face; after 1928, his portrait graced the hundred-dollar bill.
"You flatter me, you are the pride of our Pennsylvania," Charles said sincerely.
"Hahaha! You've done very well too, Godfrey. I've just had the Pennsylvania Assembly confirm your identity, and there's absolutely no problem with your status. Your father is a lord, you returned from the French Artillery Academy, and your assets include one hundred thousand acres of wasteland approved by the state assembly.
Since there's no problem with your identity, I plan to be your introducer and formally introduce you to the Pennsylvania Assembly to become a true assemblyman and a Continental Congress Representative. How does that sound?"
At this time, Franklin was already very famous as a scientist. Although he was not the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, he had absolute influence over the assembly. His decision to introduce Charles to the Pennsylvania Assembly this time showed his high regard for Charles.
"Thank you for being my introducer, Benjamin. That would be my honor!" How could Charles refuse?
"Don't mention it. Your becoming a member of the Continental Congress is also the pride of our Pennsylvania," Franklin said, smiling towards Charles. "Pennsylvania was named after king Charles II owed the nobleman William Penn sixteen thousand eight hundred pounds, so he granted a large piece of land in North America to Penn's younger son, William Penn Jr. Unlike company Colonies like Virginia, although our Pennsylvania is prosperous, its residents are mostly uncultured freemen, and we have always lacked young talents with substantial assets like you."
"Haha! I am still young and inexperienced in handling people and affairs. After entering the assembly, I should accept more guidance from esteemed elders like yourselves." Charles, hearing Franklin mention Virginia, was overly sensitive and feared Franklin disliked him befriending Jefferson, so he could only try to appear humble.
Although he hadn't yet seen any signs of North-South conflict, after the three of them expressed their views in the Continental Congress, no one else had any objections, which clearly indicated the existence of factional struggles. If he were to get involved in partisan struggles now, it would definitely be detrimental to his early development. Therefore, neither Franklin nor Jefferson should expect him to join either side.
"Hahaha! You are too modest. This is completely different from your performance just now in the assembly when you wanted to be the representative for the fourteenth colony, isn't it?" Franklin burst out laughing. "But don't worry, as your introducer, I will meticulously explain all the rules, regulations, and social etiquette to you."
"The fourteenth colony?" Charles was a little puzzled.