"You don't understand? The Continental Congress, with representatives from the Thirteen Colonies of North America, has a different number of representatives from each Colony. For ordinary matters, it's one vote per person, but for important issues, it's one vote per state, or even the principle of unanimous consent.
You say you represent the Western pioneers, wouldn't that make you the fourteenth power?" Franklin said gently.
"You mean the fourteenth representation?" Charles frowned.
He hadn't really thought that much. The reason he brought up the Western pioneers in the first place was mainly because he was afraid that the signatures of just over a hundred people in Pittsburgh wouldn't carry enough weight, so he used Pittsburgh's advantage as a Western pioneering base to gain influence.
And there was another very important reason: he didn't want to be constrained by Pennsylvania.
Now, hearing Franklin say this, he realized there was another layer of meaning.
"I absolutely didn't mean that. It's just that the people of Pittsburgh elected me, and the people in the fort are all pioneers. They have connections with other pioneers, share similar interests, and have similar views. But those Western pioneers living elsewhere don't listen to me at all.
I merely believe that as fellow pioneers, I should represent their interests and have a responsibility to speak for them," Charles explained helplessly.
"Hmm! Actually, your performance was very good. If you succeed, I, Wilson, and the other Pennsylvania representatives would all be very happy.
After all, the people of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania are like family, and your views are relatively close to ours," Franklin said, not expressing any misunderstanding.
"Now that you can become the youngest member of the Continental Congress, we Pennsylvania Councilors are all very much looking forward to your performance."
Seeing that Charles was a bit unclear about his meaning, he explained very directly:
"Our Pennsylvania mainly relies on industry and commerce. Pittsburgh was established as a fortress, and now it continuously supplies gun parts to Philadelphia.
Its interests and economic model are consistent with the entire Pennsylvania.
But you should know that our demand for slaves is not great, and our demand for tobacco and cotton is even more limited.
Instead, what we need are skilled laborers, a vast consumer market of free people and property owners.
We are completely different from the plantation economy of Virginia, and there are even conflicts of interest.
If it weren't for the limited economic scale of both sides and the ongoing war with Britain, our trade with Virginia would probably already be in conflict."
After listening to Franklin, Charles understood completely.
Isn't this the cause of the Civil war? The economic forms of the North and South were different, and their demands for political and social forms were also different.
Among the Thirteen Colonies, the leaders of the North and South were Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively, but overall, the South currently held the advantage.
If he could become the fourteenth power to join the Continental Congress, it would be equivalent to increasing the voice of the Northern forces, and Franklin and his colleagues would naturally be happy.
Although it was impossible to become the fourteenth power now, his interests were still consistent with Pennsylvania.
In fact, Franklin didn't mention one thing: Pennsylvania and Virginia also had a union, where these two largest states in North America used their strong power to direct the smaller states.
This statement actually had some implications against the idea of a fourteenth power, so it was naturally not suitable to say directly to Charles.
Factions existed within the Continental Congress, but their factional interests were equally complex, which was something Charles, who had a rough understanding of history, couldn't immediately distinguish.
"I agree that slavery should be abolished during this war as well," Charles said, understanding perfectly.
This was enough to state his position.
A clever man like Franklin naturally understood the meaning behind Charles' words and smiled slightly, but then shook his head helplessly:
"After the British army encouraged slaves to rebel and join the army last year, I already proposed freeing the slaves and letting them help us fight.
But Adams and his colleagues firmly opposed it.
In the end, I had to compromise and propose that slaves who served in the army for one year could become free people.
Even so, the Southern States have not yet unanimously agreed."
Many of the founding fathers of North America were very far-sighted people. Many of their opinions, such as the abolition of slavery, were not accepted at the time, but history later proved that they should have been accepted.
"There's no need to rush this," Charles' historical knowledge finally came into play.
"Although our battle situation is excellent, to be honest, that's because the main force of the British army has not yet appeared.
Once they transfer soldiers from Canada and their homeland, our battles will certainly not be as smooth as they are now.
When the war changes, those slave owners in the South will agree to this proposal."
Historically, this was indeed the case. The British army incited slaves to join the army, while the Continental army initially opposed slave enlistment.
It was only when the situation became unfavorable that they encouraged slave owners to allow slaves to join the army, becoming free people after one year.
However, after the war, many slaves who nominally gained freedom were forced to return to their masters' plantations.
"Hmm! You're very right," Franklin said with a smile, nodding, not getting angry because Charles predicted that the battle would not be smooth.
"I think you are indeed qualified to be our representative for Pennsylvania.
Let's go, I'll introduce you to the other Councilors."
Franklin stood up with a smile.
Initially, because Charles was so young, he was a bit uneasy, worrying about his stance and his experience.
Now, after a conversation, Franklin no longer had such concerns.
Not only was Charles charismatic in his speeches, but he was also very mature and steady in his demeanor.
Such a person could be used as a core force for Pennsylvania.
Jefferson and Franklin, as leaders of the two major interest groups in the North and South, both completed their assessment of Charles, the newcomer, through their own methods, and found ideas in him that aligned with their interests.
Led by Franklin, Charles arrived at the Pennsylvania Assembly.
The Assembly held a plenary session to welcome this youngest Councilor in history, and also the youngest Continental Congress Representative.
Of course, another reason was that the Assembly was holding a plenary session at this time.
"Esteemed Councilors of Pennsylvania, today we gather to welcome the pride of our Pennsylvania, the youngest Continental Congress Representative, Councilor York Rival Graeffel Godfrey, from the Colony of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Please give him a warm round of applause!" Franklin, as the introducer, announced to the assembly in a booming voice.
These cunning Councilors, through Franklin's introduction, clearly understood Charles' political stance and his future position in Pennsylvania.
Because as long as Charles' political stance was consistent with Pennsylvania, these Councilors would certainly support him in external matters.
So everyone sincerely and warmly applauded to welcome Charles, this young man from the countryside of Pittsburgh.
Charles placed his hat over his chest and bowed repeatedly, expressing gratitude for the Councilors' welcome.
He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, everyone applauding in unison, this was more like a parliament.
Unlike the Continental Congress, where representatives were in groups of three or five, like gangsters negotiating, there was no semblance of a meeting.
Instead, the Pennsylvania Assembly, which was one level below it, had existed for a long time and had the feel of a regular parliament.
The Assembly did not arrange for Charles to give a speech but instead had Franklin lead him around, introducing him to each of the Councilors.
Finally, he specifically introduced the representatives attending the Continental Congress: Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, Robert Morris, George Cramer, and several others.
After this round of introductions, Charles truly entered the center of power in Philadelphia.
Although he didn't have power yet, his status was already established.
The Continental Congress or the Pennsylvania Assembly did not arrange offices for all Councilors and representatives, but there were accommodations.
Some Continental Congress Representatives had their own places to stay, while others stayed in hotel rooms provided free of charge by several prominent Philadelphia families.
The Councilors were a bit more complicated; some had their own homes, while others could expense their accommodation costs.
Charles' status was clearly not enough for the Pennsylvania Assembly to arrange accommodation, so he had to go check out the free hotel.
This was a hotel provided by the Biddle family of Philadelphia, with a tavern downstairs and hotel rooms upstairs.
Charles was very satisfied with the conditions here.
After his skilled Pittsburgh advertisement, a dozen common people who had fled from Boston immediately expressed their desire to visit Pittsburgh.
And Charles spent his first night in Philadelphia in excitement and exhilaration.
"Sir! sir! Come and see, you're in the newspaper!"
The next morning, just after waking up, the black servant Tom called out and brought in a newspaper.
"Leave the newspaper, Tom, you go and have breakfast," Charles said gently to his male servant.
Pittsburgh, of course, had no newspapers, but at this time, Philadelphia already had several newspapers, such as the Philadelphia Paper and the "Pennsylvania Daily".
For a young man from the countryside of Pittsburgh like Charles, who became a member of North America's largest power institution—the Continental Congress—overnight, they naturally couldn't ignore reporting it.
Charles sat at the dining table, which was already prepared in the hotel, eating and browsing the newspaper.
Perhaps because they didn't know much about Charles' situation, the newspaper portrayed him as a passionate young man who responded to national needs and specifically came to Philadelphia to participate in the independence revolution.
However, it did excerpt a portion of Charles' speech at the Continental Congress and also included short comments from critics, who, without exception, referred to Charles as a rising "political new star."
He wasn't concerned with the newspaper's reports about himself; he merely skimmed the articles written about him.
Instead, he paid close attention to every piece of information that Pittsburgh couldn't obtain, such as the latest battlefield situation and European political news.
However, the current hot topic in the newspapers was still the very famous book "common sense," a philosophical work that incited North Americans to seek independence.
In addition to reprinting it, the newspapers also published a large number of commentary articles.
In Charles' view, this actually indirectly popularized the book "common sense" and indirectly supported independence.