He was not a speculator on government, and after his fashion he was engaged in dealing with the questions of the day and hour.

Yet the ideas that he put forth in this time of confusion and conflict and expedients were so vitally sound and wise that they deserve the most careful study in relation to after events.

The political trials and difficulties of this period were the stern teachers from whom Washington acquired the knowledge and experience which made him the principal agent in bringing about the formation and adoption of the Constitution of the United States.

We shall have occasion to examine these opinions and views more closely when they were afterwards brought into actual play.

At this point it is only necessary to trace the history of the methods by which he solved the problem of the Revolution before the political system of the confederation became absolutely useless..