Page:Kentucky Resolutions of 1798.djvu/45

Rh As time went on he proved himself able, enterprising, and indomitable, and when the opportunity, which was now near at hand, offered, he discovered an eloquence of that declamatory and florid kind which was then so popular. This was the one thing needful to give him great political influence, and it for a long time floated him on the highest tide of popularity, despite reflections on his truth and probity which became constantly more and more widespread. He was an early convert to the necessity of the Mississippi trade to the well-being of Kentucky, and came into the field of politics to press this single question. Kentucky meanwhile overtured Virginia to address Congress on the subject, and in compliance therewith the Virginia delegates were instructed to urge the importance of the free navigation of the Mississippi on Congress. The convention called to meet in July, 1787, promised to be most important, and it was expected that the contest of the two parties would be very sharp. Wilkinson, who seems to have been peculiarly obnoxious to his opponents and the fomentor of all discord, suddenly disappeared. The time for the convention ca.me on and still he did not appear. The convention opened and went on with its deliberations in a quiet and unanimity that had been hitherto unknown, and finally adjourned without a single ripple having broken the smooth surface of their debates. Meantime speculation was rife as to what had become of Wilkinson. Various reports were current for a time, but it came to be very generally understood that he had