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diff --git a/25889.txt b/25889.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7222505 --- /dev/null +++ b/25889.txt @@ -0,0 +1,31942 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Washington and the American Republic, Vol. +3., by Benson J. Lossing + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Washington and the American Republic, Vol. 3. + +Author: Benson J. Lossing + +Release Date: June 24, 2008 [EBook #25889] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WASHINGTON *** + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Marcia Brooks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON] + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON +AND THE +AMERICAN REPUBLIC + +BY +BENSON J. LOSSING + +NEW-YORK: VIRTUE AND YORSTON] + + + + +WASHINGTON + +AND THE + +AMERICAN REPUBLIC. + +BY + +Benson J. Lossing, + +_AUTHOR OF "PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR," "FIELD-BOOK OF THE +REVOLUTION," "FIELD-BOOK OF THE WAR OF 1812," ETC. ETC._ + + +VOLUME III. + +NEW YORK: +VIRTUE & YORSTON, +12 DEY STREET. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by VIRTUE & +YORSTON, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. + + +[Transcriber's Note: The caret (^) has been used to mark subscript in the +text version. A Table of Contents has been added. Obvious printer errors, +including punctuation, have been corrected. All other inconsistencies have +been left as they were in the original.] + + + + +CONTENTS + + PAGE + CHAPTER I 1 + CHAPTER II 13 + CHAPTER III 32 + CHAPTER IV 40 + CHAPTER V 53 + CHAPTER VI 63 + CHAPTER VII 74 + CHAPTER VIII 92 + CHAPTER IX 103 + CHAPTER X 114 + CHAPTER XI 125 + CHAPTER XII 135 + CHAPTER XIII 147 + CHAPTER XIV 161 + CHAPTER XV 167 + CHAPTER XVI 178 + CHAPTER XVII 192 + CHAPTER XVIII 205 + CHAPTER XIX 219 + CHAPTER XX 230 + CHAPTER XXI 243 + CHAPTER XXII 258 + CHAPTER XXIII 271 + CHAPTER XXIV 283 + CHAPTER XXV 292 + CHAPTER XXVI 307 + CHAPTER XXVII 323 + CHAPTER XXVIII 334 + CHAPTER XXIX 348 + CHAPTER XXX 368 + CHAPTER XXXI 378 + CHAPTER XXXII 390 + CHAPTER XXXIII 417 + CHAPTER XXXIV 435 + CHAPTER XXXV 447 + CHAPTER XXXVI 465 + CHAPTER XXXVII 479 + CHAPTER XXXVIII 491 + CHAPTER XXXIX 501 + CHAPTER XL 517 + CHAPTER XLI 527 + CHAPTER XLII 550 + CHAPTER XLIII 573 + CHAPTER XLIV 584 + WASHINGTON MEMORIALS 605 + ANALYTICAL INDEX 613 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. III. + + + PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON (AFTER STUART) FRONTISPIECE. + + WASHINGTON AT VALLEY FORGE VIGNETTE TITLE. + + WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS NEAR NEWBURG 7 + + ENTRANCE OF THE AMERICAN ARMY INTO NEW YORK, + NOVEMBER 25, 1783 33 + + WASHINGTON PRESIDING IN THE CONVENTION, 1787 63 + + PORTRAITS OF RUFUS KING, JOHN DICKINSON, GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, + OLIVER ELLSWORTH, AND JOHN RUTLEDGE 64 + + WASHINGTON ENTERING TRENTON 87 + + RECEPTION OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON AT NEW YORK, + APRIL 23, 1789 89 + + PORTRAITS OF COMMANDERS HOPKINS, TALBOT, PAUL JONES, + DALE, AND BARRY 295 + + PORTRAIT OF JOHN ADAMS 472 + + + + +WASHINGTON. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + WASHINGTON RECEIVES CHEERING NEWS FROM GREENE--SIEGE OF FORT + NINETY-SIX--SUCCESS OF PARTISAN CORPS ELSEWHERE--CAPTURE OF AUGUSTA + BY THE AMERICANS--RAWDON APPROACHES NINETY-SIX--GREENE ABANDONS THE + SIEGE--RAWDON RETIRES TO ORANGEBURG FOLLOWED BY GREENE--GREENE + ENCAMPS ON THE HIGH HILLS OF SANTEE--STEWART AND CRUGER AT + ORANGEBURG--RAWDON GOES TO ENGLAND--BATTLE AT EUTAW SPRINGS--THE + UPPER COUNTRY IN POSSESSION OF THE AMERICANS--SERVICES OF MARION AND + OTHER PARTISANS--BRITISH CONFINED TO THE SEABOARD--DEATH OF JOHN + PARKE CUSTIS--WASHINGTON ADOPTS HIS CHILDREN--WASHINGTON CO-OPERATES + WITH CONGRESS--JOINS THE ARMY ON THE HUDSON--DISCONTENTS IN THE + ARMY--PROPOSITION TO MAKE WASHINGTON KING--HIS REBUKE--PEACE + MOVEMENTS--WASHINGTON'S CAUTION--JUNCTION OF THE FRENCH AND AMERICAN + ARMIES--EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH AND CHARLESTON. + + +We have observed, that with the capture of Cornwallis and his army, the +War for Independence was virtually ended, but that some blood flowed +afterward, and that hostile forces were arrayed against each other for +several months longer, before the two nations agreed to fight no more. +Let us take a brief survey of events, from the siege of Yorktown until +the declaration of peace, and the departure of the last British troops +from our shores. + +On the evening of the ninth of October, just as Lincoln, having +completed the first parallel before Yorktown, ordered a battery to open +upon the British works, Washington received encouraging intelligence +from General Greene in the far South. Greene was then encamped upon the +High Hills of Santee, having, a little more than a week previous to the +date of his letter, been engaged in a bloody battle with the enemy at +Eutaw Springs. + +In a former chapter we left Greene on his march to attack Fort +Ninety-Six, situated in Abbeville district in South Carolina, within +about six miles of the Saluda river. It was then garrisoned by five +hundred and fifty loyalists, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel +Cruger, of New York. Sumter having cut off all communication between +Camden and Ninety-Six, Cruger had not received Rawdon's orders to join +Brown at Augusta, but remained, and was using every endeavor to +strengthen his works. + +Greene arrived before Ninety-Six on the twenty-second of May, with less +than a thousand regulars and a few raw militia. Kosciuszko, the brave +Pole, was his chief engineer, and under his direction the Americans +commenced making regular approaches, by parallels, for the works were +too strong to be taken by assault. For almost a month the work went on, +enlivened by an occasional sortie and skirmish. Then news came that Lord +Rawdon was approaching with a strong force to the relief of Cruger. +Greene's troops were full of spirit, and were anxious to storm the works +before his lordship's arrival. Consent was given by the commander, and +on the eighteenth an assault was made, and a bloody contest ensued. The +Americans were repulsed, and on the following day Greene raised the +siege and retreated across the Saluda. Rawdon pursued him a short +distance, and, having accomplished the object of his errand, wheeled, +and marched toward Orangeburg. + +While the siege of Ninety-Six was in progress, partisan corps were +elsewhere successful. Lee captured Fort Galphin, twelve miles below +Augusta, and then sent an officer to the latter post to demand its +surrender from Brown. The summons was disregarded, and Lee, Pickens, and +Clarke, commenced a siege. It lasted several days, and on the fifth of +June, the fort and its dependencies at Augusta were surrendered to the +republicans. Lee and Pickens then joined Greene at Ninety-Six, and with +him retreated beyond the Saluda. + +And now Greene and Rawdon changed their relative positions, the former +becoming the pursuer of the latter, in his march toward Orangeburg. +Finding Rawdon strongly entrenched there, Greene deemed it prudent not +to attack him; and the sickly season approaching, he crossed the +Congaree with his little army, and encamped upon the High Hills of +Santee, below Camden, where pure air and water might be found in +abundance. + +Considering the post at Ninety-Six quite untenable, Rawdon ordered +Lieutenant-Colonel Cruger to abandon it and join him at Orangeburg. +There Rawdon was met by Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, who had come up from +Charleston with an Irish regiment. As Greene had gone into +summer-quarters apparently, and the American partisans were just then +quiet, his lordship left all his forces in charge of Stewart, went down +to Charleston, and embarked for Europe to seek the restoration of his +health. + +Soon after encamping on the High Hills of Santee, Greene detached Sumter +with about a thousand light troops to scour the lower country and beat +up the British posts in the vicinity of Charleston. His assistants were +those bold partisans, Lee, Marion, Horry, the Hamptons, and other brave +republican leaders, with troops accustomed to the swamps and sandy +lowlands. These performed excellent service in preparing the way for the +expulsion of the enemy from the interior of South Carolina. + +Early in August Greene was reinforced by North Carolina troops, under +General Sumner; and toward the close of the month, he broke up his +encampment, crossed the Wateree, and marched upon Orangeburg. Stewart, +who had been joined by Cruger, immediately retreated to Eutaw Springs, +near the southwest bank of the Santee, and there encamped. Greene +followed, and on the morning of the eighth of September, a very severe +battle commenced. The British were finally expelled from the camp, +leaving their tents standing, and almost everything but their arms +behind them. + +Greene's troops, unmindful of their commander's orders, had spread +themselves through the abandoned camp to plunder, eat, and drink, when +the enemy unexpectedly and suddenly renewed the battle. After a bloody +conflict of four hours the Americans were compelled to give way. "It was +by far the most obstinate fight I ever saw," Greene wrote to Washington. +Stewart feeling insecure, for the American partisan legions were +hovering around him, retreated toward Charleston that night. + +On the morning of the ninth Greene advanced and took possession of the +battle-field, and sent detachments in pursuit of Stewart. A victory was +claimed by both parties. Washington seemed to consider it as such for +Greene. "Fortune," he said, in a letter to him, "must have been coy +indeed, had she not yielded at last to so persevering a pursuer as you +have been." Yet there was no victory in the case. The advantage +evidently lay with the Americans. The contest had been a most sanguinary +one. The loss of the Americans in killed, wounded, and missing, was five +hundred and fifty-five; that of the British six hundred and +ninety-three. The bravery, skill, and caution of Greene, and the general +good conduct of his troops, were applauded by the whole country. +Congress ordered a gold medal to be struck in commemoration of the +event, and presented to Greene. A British standard captured on that +occasion was also presented to him. + +Many of his troops being sick, Greene again retired to the High Hills of +Santee, where he remained until the middle of November. There, on the +thirtieth of October, he was informed of the glorious events at +Yorktown, and the day was made jubilant with the rejoicings of the army. + +The whole upper country of the Carolinas and Georgia was now in +possession of the republicans. Nothing remained to be done, but to drive +in the British outposts, and hem them within the narrow precincts of +their lines at Charleston and Savannah. Marion, Sumter, Lee, and other +partisans, performed this service effectually. + +Greene finally crossed the Congaree and moved with his army to the +vicinity of Charleston. The object of his campaign was accomplished. He +had driven the enemy to the margin of the sea, and he was prepared to +keep them there. Marion and his men lingered around the headwaters of +the Cooper river to watch their movements, and to prevent their +incursions beyond Charleston. St. Clair had come down from Yorktown, and +had driven the British from Wilmington. Governor Rutledge had called the +legislators of South Carolina together at Jacksonboro', to re-establish +civil government in that state, and Greene's army lay as a guard between +them and the enemy at Charleston. In that city and Savannah only, did +the British have a foothold south of the Delaware at the close of 1781; +and Wayne, with vigilant eye and supple limb, lay not far from the +latter place, closely watching the British there. The war was virtually +at an end in the South. + +Let us turn to the consideration of Washington's movements after the +capitulation at Yorktown. + +In the midst of the rejoicings because of the great victory, +Washington's heart was made sad by domestic affliction. His stepson, +John Parke Custis, who had followed him to the field as his aid-de-camp, +sickened before the close of the siege. Anxious to participate in the +pleasures of the victory, he remained in camp until the completion of +the surrender, when he retired to Eltham, the seat of Colonel Bassett, +who had married Mrs. Washington's sister. His malady (camp-fever) had +increased, and Washington sent Doctor Craik with him. A courier was also +despatched to Mount Vernon for his wife and mother; and on the fifth of +November, having arranged all public business at Yorktown, Washington +set out for Eltham. He arrived there, as he wrote to Lafayette, "time +enough to see poor Mr. Custis breathe his last." + +The grief of Washington was very great, and he wept bitterly. He had +watched over that young man from his earliest childhood with paternal +affection and solicitude; and with pride he had seen him take public +position as a member of the Virginia assembly. Now, at the age of +twenty-eight years, he was taken from him. The mother was almost +unconsolable, and the young wife was sorely smitten by the bereavement. +Washington's heart deeply sympathized with them, and there, in the +death-chamber, he formally adopted the two younger children of Mrs. +Custis, who thenceforth became members of his family. These were +Eleanor Parke Custis, who married Lawrence Lewis, the favorite nephew of +Washington, and George Washington Parke Custis, who lived until the +autumn of 1857. + +Washington proceeded directly from Eltham to Mount Vernon, only halting +at Fredericksburg to see his mother, and join in some public ceremonials +there, in honor of himself and the French officers. But he sought not +the quiet of his home for purposes of repose, for he was not to be +seduced into the practices engendered by a fancied security because of +the late brilliant victory. On the contrary, his apprehensions were +painfully awakened to the danger which the prevalence of such confidence +might occasion, and he wrote to General Greene, saying:-- + + "I shall remain but a few days here, and shall proceed to + Philadelphia, where I shall attempt to stimulate Congress to the + best improvement of our late success, by taking the most vigorous + and effectual measures to be ready for an early and decisive + campaign, the next year. My greatest fear is, that Congress, + viewing this stroke in too important a point of light, may think + our work too nearly closed, and will fall into a state of languor + and relaxation. To prevent this error, I will employ every means in + my power, and if unhappily we sink into that fatal mistake no part + of the blame shall be mine." + +A little later he wrote to Greene from Philadelphia, saying: "I am +apprehensive that the states, elated by the late success, and taking it +for granted that Great Britain will no longer support so losing a +contest, will relax in their preparations for the next campaign. I am +detained here by Congress to assist in the arrangements for the next +year; and I shall not fail, in conjunction with the financier, the +minister of foreign affairs, and the secretary at war, who are all most +heartily well-disposed, to impress upon Congress, and get them to +impress upon the respective states, the necessity of the most vigorous +exertions." + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS NEAR NEWBURG] + +Washington had been received in Philadelphia with distinguished honors, +at the close of November. With his usual energy and industry, he pressed +forward military arrangements for the campaign of 1782, and by his +continual importunities, he awakened Congress to the importance of being +prepared for another year of active duty in the field. On the tenth of +December that body, by resolution, made a requisition of men and money +from the southern states, and the resolve was warmly seconded by +Washington, in letters to the respective governors of those states. +Franklin, at the same time, was using the most strenuous exertions in +France to procure more aid from that power; and when intelligence of the +capitulation of Yorktown reached the French court, Vergennes promised a +loan of six millions to the United States. + +Washington remained four months in Philadelphia, and then joined the +army near Newburg, on the Hudson. The allied forces had been dissolved. +The troops under the Marquis St. Simon had sailed from the Chesapeake in +De Grasse's fleet early in November; the French troops, under +Rochambeau, remained in Virginia; the remainder of the American army, +after St. Clair's force was detached to the South, proceeded northward, +under the command of Lincoln, and took post on the Hudson and in the +Jerseys, so as to be ready to operate against New York in the spring; +and Lafayette, perceiving no probability of active service immediately, +obtained leave of absence from the Congress, and returned to France to +visit his family. + +We have already noticed the proceedings in the British house of commons +on the subject of peace with the Americans. Early in May, 1782, Sir Guy +Carleton arrived in New York as the successor of Sir Henry Clinton in +the chief command of the British forces; and in a letter dated the +seventh of that month, he informed Washington that he and Admiral Digby +were joint commissioners to make arrangements for a truce or peace. Even +this friendly approach of British officials did not make Washington any +the less vigilant and active, and he continued his preparations for +further hostilities, with all the means in his power. + +With the dawning of the day of peace great discontents in the army were +developed. It prevailed equally among officers and private soldiers, +and originated in the destitute condition of the troops at that time, +and the conviction that the army would be disbanded without provision +being made for the liquidation of the claims upon the government for the +pay of arrearages, and the promised half-pay of the officers for a term +of years after the conclusion of the war. The prospect was, indeed, +gloomy. For a long time the public treasury had been empty; and +thousands of the soldiers, many of them invalids, made so by their hard +service for their country, would be compelled to seek a livelihood in +the midst of the desolation which war had produced. In this state of +things, and with such prospects, many sighed for a change. They lost +faith in the republican form of government, as they saw it in its +practical workings under the _Articles of Confederation_, and they +earnestly desired something stronger--perhaps an elective or +constitutional monarchy. + +Washington had perceived these growing discontents with anxiety, and was +urging Congress to do something to allay them, when he received a letter +from Colonel Lewis Nicola, a veteran and well-bred officer of the +Pennsylvania line, which filled him with the greatest apprehensions. In +it Nicola, no doubt, spoke the sentiments of a great many of his +fellow-officers and soldiers at that time. He attributed all current +evils, and those in anticipation, to the existing form of government, +and then urged the necessity and expediency of adopting a mixed one like +that of England. Having fortified his position by argument, Nicola +added:-- + + "In this case it will, I believe, be uncontroverted, that the same + abilities which have led us through difficulties apparently + unsurmountable by human power to victory and glory--those + qualities, that have merited and obtained the universal esteem and + veneration of an army--would be most likely to conduct and direct + us in the smoother paths of peace. Some people have so connected + the ideas of tyranny and monarchy as to find it very difficult to + separate them. It may, therefore, be requisite to give the head of + such a constitution as I propose some title apparently more + moderate; but, if all other things were once adjusted, I believe + strong arguments might be produced for admitting the title of + KING, which I conceive would be attended with some national + advantage." + +How little did even Nicola, who was very intimate with Washington, +comprehend the true character of his disinterested patriotism in all its +breadth and depth! The commander-in-chief perceived that Nicola was only +the organ of a dangerous military faction, whose object was to create a +new government through the active energies of the army, and to place +their present leader at the head. He sympathized with the army in its +distresses, but this movement met with his severest rebuke. + +"_Sir_," said Washington, in a responsive letter to Nicola, "With a +mixture of great surprise and astonishment, I have read with attention +the sentiments you have submitted to my perusal. Be assured, sir, no +occurrence in the course of this war has given me more painful +sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in +the army as you have expressed, and which I must view with abhorrence +and reprehend with severity. For the present, the communication of them +will rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter +shall make a disclosure necessary. I am much at a loss to conceive what +part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to +me seems big with the greatest mischiefs that can befall my country. If +I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a +person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable. At the same time, in +justice to my own feelings, I must add, that no man possesses a more +serious wish to see ample justice done to the army than I do; and, as +far as my power and influence, in a constitutional way, extend, they +shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should +there be any occasion. Let me conjure you, then, if you have any regard +for your country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, +to banish these thoughts from your mind, and never communicate, as from +yourself or any one else, a sentiment of the like nature. I am, etc." + +This stern rebuke at once silenced the faction, and checked all further +movement in the direction of king-making. How brightly did the +patriotism of Washington shine out in this affair! At the head of a +victorious army; beloved and venerated by it and by the people; with +personal influence unbounded, and with power in possession for +consummating almost any political scheme not apparently derogatory to +good government, he receives from an officer whom he greatly esteems, +and who speaks for himself and others, an offer of the sceptre of +supreme rule and the crown of royalty! What a bribe! Yet he does not +hesitate for a moment; he does not stop to revolve in his mind any ideas +of advantage in the proposed scheme, but at once rebukes the author +sternly but kindly, and impresses his signet of strongest disapprobation +upon the proposal. History can not present a parallel. + +The summer of 1782 passed away without much apparent progress being made +toward a definite and permanent arrangement for peace. At the beginning +of August, Carleton and Digby wrote a joint letter to Washington, +informing him that they had good authority for saying, that negotiations +for peace had been commenced at Paris, by commissioners, and that the +British representatives in that conference, would first propose the +independence of the United States as a basis. But Washington, taught by +past experience, was still doubtful of the reality of all these +professions. "Jealousy and precaution," he said, "at least can do no +harm. Too much confidence and supineness may be pernicious in the +extreme." + +No wonder he still doubted. The British government had not yet made any +offer for a general cessation of hostilities. The Americans had allies +whose interests must be consulted. Hostilities might cease in the United +States, according to recent enactments of Parliament, but the very +forces then on our shores, might be sent to make war upon the French +dominions in the West Indies. The public faith required that the +interests of France should be considered in the negotiations for peace; +and until a cessation of general hostilities should be officially +proclaimed by Great Britain, Washington resolved to be prepared for a +renewal of the war. + +Thus viewing affairs, the commander-in-chief advised Rochambeau, who was +then (August, 1782) at Baltimore, to march his troops to the banks of +the Hudson, and form a junction with the American army. This was +accomplished at the middle of September, the first division of the +French army crossing the Hudson at King's ferry on the fifteenth. The +American forces were at Verplanck's Point, opposite, to receive them, +all arranged in their best attire, their tents decked with evergreens, +and their bands playing French marches. + +In the meantime British troops had been leaving the southern shores of +the United States, and others were preparing to depart. They evacuated +Savannah on the eleventh of July, and sailed for New York, when the +"keys of the city of Savannah" were delivered to Major Jackson, by a +committee of British officers, under the direction of General Wayne. On +the same day the American army, led by Wayne, entered the city, and +royal authority in every form ceased for ever in Georgia. + +General Leslie, the British commander at Charleston, was not in a +condition to leave on account of a want of provisions. When he was +apprized of the proceedings in Parliament in favor of peace, he proposed +to General Greene a cessation of hostilities. Like a true soldier, +Greene took no such responsibility, but referred the whole matter to +Congress, while relaxing not one whit of his vigilance. Leslie then +asked permission to purchase supplies for his army, that he might +evacuate Charleston. The wary Greene refused to allow it, for in so +doing he might be nourishing a viper that would sting him. + +Leslie then resorted to force to obtain supplies; and late in August he +sent an expedition up the Combahee for the purpose. General Gist, with +some Maryland troops, was there to oppose him, and the British were +compelled to retreat to Charleston. In the skirmish that ensued, the +noble Colonel John Laurens, who had volunteered in the service, was +killed. He was mourned by all as a great public loss; and his was about +the last blood that flowed in the War for Independence.[1] + +On the fourteenth of December following, the British evacuated +Charleston, and on the ensuing day the Americans, under General Greene, +marched into the city and took possession. He and his army were greeted +as deliverers. From the windows, balconies, and housetops, handkerchiefs +waved, and the mingled voices of women and children shouted, "God bless +you, gentlemen! Welcome! Welcome!" That evening the last hostile sail +was seen beyond Charleston bar, as a white speck upon the horizon. At +the close of the year only New York city was held in possession by +British troops. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] John Laurens was a son of Henry Laurens, president of the +continental Congress in 1777. He joined the army early in 1777, and was +wounded in the battle of Germantown. He continued in the army (with the +exception of a few months), under the immediate command of Washington, +until after the surrender of Cornwallis, in which event he was a +conspicuous participant as one of the commissioners appointed to arrange +the terms. Early in 1781, he was sent on a special mission to France to +solicit a loan of money and to procure arms. He was successful, and on +his return received the thanks of Congress. Within three days after his +arrival in Philadelphia, he had settled all matters with Congress, and +departed for the army in the South under Greene. There he did good +service, until his death, on the Combahee, on the twenty-seventh of +August, 1782, when he was but twenty-nine years of age. Washington, who +made him his aid, loved him as a child. He declared that he could +discover no fault in him, unless it was intrepidity, bordering on +rashness. "Poor Laurens," wrote Greene, "has fallen in a paltry little +skirmish. You knew his temper, and I predicted his fate. The love of +military glory made him seek it upon occasions unworthy his rank. The +state will feel his loss." He was buried upon the plantation of Mrs. +Stock, in whose family he spent the evening previous to his death in +cheerful conversation. A small enclosure, without a stone, marks his +grave. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + DEATH OF JOSEPH HUDDY--RETALIATION RESOLVED UPON--CASE OF CAPTAIN + ASGILL--PEACE PROCEEDINGS IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT--PRELIMINARY + TREATY NEGOTIATED AND SIGNED AT PARIS--DISCONTENTS IN THE + ARMY--MEMORIAL OF OFFICERS SENT TO CONGRESS--INFLAMMATORY ADDRESS + CIRCULATED IN CAMP--MEETING OF OFFICERS CALLED--WASHINGTON + DETERMINES TO CONTROL THE MATTER--THE MEETING AND ITS + RESULTS--WASHINGTON'S ADDRESS--ITS EFFECTS--PATRIOTIC + RESOLUTIONS--INTELLIGENCE OF PEACE RECEIVED BY WASHINGTON--ITS + PROCLAMATION TO THE ARMY--JUSTICE TO THE SOLDIERS--FURLOUGHS FREELY + GRANTED--VIRTUAL DISSOLUTION OF THE ARMY--CONFERENCE BETWEEN + WASHINGTON AND CARLETON--DEPARTURE OF LAFAYETTE--CINCINNATI + SOCIETY--ADDRESS TO GOVERNORS OF STATES--MUTINY OF PENNSYLVANIA + TROOPS--CONGRESS ADJOURNS TO PRINCETON--WASHINGTON'S TOUR TO THE + NORTH--INVITED TO PRINCETON--A BRONZE STATUE OF WASHINGTON VOTED BY + CONGRESS. + + +A very painful affair occupied the attention of Washington in the autumn +of 1782, when his judgment and his sympathies were placed in opposition. +In the neighborhood of Freehold, in New Jersey, lurked a band of +marauding tories, known as Pine Robbers. One of these named Philip +White, notorious for his depredations, had been caught by the New Jersey +people, and killed while attempting to escape, when being conducted to +Monmouth jail. His partisans in New York vowed revenge. Captain Huddy, a +warm whig, then in confinement in New York, was taken by a party of +loyalists under Captain Lippincott, to the Jersey shore, near Sandy +Hook, and hanged. Upon Huddy's breast the infamous Lippincott placed a +label, on which, after avowing that the act was one of vengeance, he +placed the words in large letters-- + +"UP GOES HUDDY FOR PHILIP WHITE." + +From the neighboring country went forth a strong cry for retaliation. +Washington submitted the case to a board of general officers, when it +was agreed that Lippincott should be demanded as a murderer, for +execution, and if Sir Henry Clinton would not give him up, retaliation +should be exercised upon some British officer in the possession of the +Americans. + +Sir Henry refused. At the same time the Congress, by resolution, +approved Washington's course, and he proceeded to select a British +officer for execution, by lot, from among prisoners at Lancaster, +Pennsylvania. It fell upon Captain Asgill, a young man nineteen years of +age, an officer of the guards, and only son and heir of Sir Charles +Asgill. Efforts were immediately set on foot to save Asgill. For a long +time the matter remained in suspense, but Washington, firm in his +purpose, was deaf to all entreaty. Lippincott was tried by a +court-martial, and acquitted, it appearing that he was acting under the +verbal orders of Governor Franklin, who was at the head of the board of +associated loyalists. General Carleton, meanwhile, had succeeded Sir +Henry Clinton in command at New York. He condemned the proceedings in +the case of Huddy, and broke up the board of loyalists. Thus, in time, +the most prominent features of the case became changed. + +Meanwhile Lady Asgill had written a most pathetic letter to the Count de +Vergennes, the French minister, imploring him to intercede on behalf of +her son. Vergennes, at the request of the king and queen, to whom he +showed the letter, wrote to Washington, soliciting the liberation of +young Asgill. The count's letter was referred to Congress. That body had +already admitted the prisoner to parole; and to the great relief of +Washington, he received orders from Congress, early in November, to set +Captain Asgill at liberty. + +The case of Asgill excited Washington's deepest sympathies. He was an +amiable and honorable young man. "I felt for him," wrote the +commander-in-chief, "on many accounts; and not the least, when viewing +him as a man of honor and sentiment, I considered how unfortunate it was +for him that a wretch who possessed neither, should be the means of +causing him a single pang or a disagreeable sensation." + +On the twenty-fifth of July, 1782, the British Parliament passed a bill +to enable the king to consent to the independence of the United States, +and the monarch signed it, though with reluctance. Richard Oswald was +immediately appointed, with full powers, to negotiate a treaty of peace +with the new republic, on the basis of its independence. The American +ministers abroad, Franklin, Adams, and Jay, were constituted +commissioners for the United States, to treat for peace, and on the +thirtieth of November, preliminary articles were signed by them +respectively at Paris. Henry Laurens, who had arrived at Paris, from +London, while the negotiations were in progress, had joined the American +commissioners, and he also signed the treaty. + +Washington, meanwhile, had been anxiously preparing the way for the +anticipated disbanding of the army. Congress, through utter inability, +had done really nothing to allay the discontents in the army; and the +commander-in-chief was fearful, that during the idle hours of a winter +encampment, those discontents would assume the form of absolute mutiny. +He drew his forces to his former encampment, near Newburg, and there +calmly awaited the issue of events. + +Almost daily there were bold conferences of officers and soldiers in the +camp, when the prospects of the future were discussed, sometimes +angrily, and always warmly. Finally, in December, 1782, the officers, in +behalf of the army, sent a committee with a memorial to the Congress, in +which they represented the real hardships of their condition, and +proposed that a specific sum should be granted them for the money +actually due them, and as a commutation for the half-pay of the +officers. This memorial elicited a long and warm debate in Congress, its +character and its propositions being viewed differently by different +minds. The entire winter passed away, and nothing satisfactory was done +in the supreme legislature for the suffering soldier. + +At length forbearance appeared to many as no longer a virtue, and some +officers resolved not to wait for justice in idle expectation of its +appearance from the halls of legislation. A plan was arranged among a +few, "for assembling the officers, not in mass, but by representation; +and for passing a series of resolutions, which, in the hands of their +committee, and of their auxiliaries in Congress, would form a new and +powerful lever" of operations. Major John Armstrong, a young officer +six-and-twenty years of age, and aid-de-camp of Gates, was chosen to +write an address to the army, suitable to the subject, and this, with an +anonymous notification of a meeting of officers, was circulated +privately on the tenth of March, 1783.[2] + +That address exhibited superior talent in the writer, and its tone was +calculated to make a deep impression upon the minds of the malcontents. +After preparing their feelings for a relinquishment of faith in the +justice of their country, which had been already much weakened by real +and fancied injuries, he remarked:-- + + "Faith has its limits as well as temper, and there are points + beyond which neither can be stretched without sinking into + cowardice or plunging into credulity. This, my friends, I conceive + to be your situation; hurried to the verge of both, another step + would ruin you forever. To be tame and unprovoked, when injuries + press hard upon you, is more than weakness; but to look up for + kinder usage, without one manly effort of your own, would fix your + character, and show the world how richly you deserved the chains + you broke." He then took a review of the past and present--their + wrongs and their complaints--their petitions and the denials of + redress--and then said: "If this, then, be your treatment while the + swords you wear are necessary for the defense of America, what have + you to expect from peace, when your voice shall sink, and your + strength dissipate by division; when these very swords, the + instruments and companions of your glory, shall be taken from your + sides, and no remaining mark of military distinction left but + wants, infirmities, and scars? Can you, then, consent to be the + only sufferers by the Revolution, and, retiring from the field, + grow old in poverty, wretchedness, and contempt? Can you consent to + wade through the vile mire of dependency, and owe the miserable + remnant of that life to charity, which has hitherto been spent in + honor? If you can, go, and carry the jest of tories and the scorn + of whigs; the ridicule, and, what is worse, the pity of the world! + Go, starve, and be forgotten." + +The writer now changed from appeal to advice. "I would advise you, +therefore," he said, "to come to some final opinion upon what you can +bear and what you will suffer. If your determination be in proportion to +your wrongs, carry your appeal from the justice to the fears of +government. Change the milk-and-water style of your last memorial; +assume a bolder tone, decent, but lively, spirited, and determined; and +suspect the man who would advise to more moderation and longer +forbearance. Let two or three men who can feel as well as write, be +appointed to draw up _your last remonstrance_--for I would no longer +give it the suing, soft, unsuccessful epithet of _memorial_." He advised +them to talk boldly to Congress, and to warn that body that the +slightest mark of indignity from them now would operate like the grave, +to part them and the army for ever; "that in any political event, the +army has its alternative. If peace, that nothing shall separate you from +your arms but death; if war, that, courting the auspices, and inviting +the direction of your illustrious leader, you will retire to some +unsettled country, smile in your turn, and 'mock when their fear cometh +on.' Let it represent also, that should they comply with the request of +your late memorial, it would make you more happy and them more +reputable." + +Copies of these papers were placed in the hands of the +commander-in-chief on the day when they were circulated, and with +consummate sagacity and profound political wisdom, he resolved to guide +and control the proceedings in a friendly manner at the meeting of +officers, rather than to check them by authority. In general orders the +next morning, he referred to the anonymous papers, as disorderly, and +utterly disapproved of by the commander-in-chief. At the same time he +requested that the general and field officers, with one officer of each +company, and a proper representation of the staff of the army, should +assemble at a place designated, at twelve o'clock on Saturday, the +fifteenth, for the purpose of hearing the report of the committee of the +army to Congress. With masterly skill he requested the senior officer +(General Gates, whom he suspected, and doubtless with justice, of being +the chief actor in the drama) to preside at the meeting. + +When this order appeared, Armstrong prepared and issued another address, +more subdued in tone, but so adroitly worded, as to convey the idea that +Washington approved of the scheme, the time of the meeting only being +changed. This interpretation Washington frustrated, by private +conversation with the principal officers, in whose good sense and +integrity he had confidence. The minds of these he impressed with a +sense of the danger that must attend any rash act at such a crisis; and +he inculcated moderation and forbearance. He thus prepared the best men +in camp to deliberate at the coming conference, without passion or +prejudice. + +The meeting was held pursuant to the order of Washington. There was a +full attendance of officers, and Gates presided. There was a raised +platform at one end of the room in which the meeting was held, on which +Gates and others sat. Upon this Washington took a seat, and when the +meeting was called to order, he advanced upon the platform, while the +most solemn silence prevailed in the assembly, and read an address which +he had prepared for the occasion. It was compact in thought, dignified +and patriotic in expression, and mild in language, yet severe in +implication.[3] + +When he had concluded the reading, Washington retired without uttering +a word, leaving the officers to deliberate without restraint. The +address had a most powerful and salutary effect. The conference was +brief. They did not deliberate long, but proceeded to pass resolutions +offered by Knox, and seconded by Putnam, by unanimous vote, thanking the +commander-in-chief for the course he had pursued; expressing their +unabated attachment to his person and their country; declaring their +unshaken confidence in the good faith of Congress, and their +determination to bear with patience their grievances, until, in due +time, they should be redressed. Gates, as president of the meeting, +signed the address, and on the eighteenth, Washington, in general +orders, expressed his satisfaction. + +Thus was frustrated, by the sagacity, prudence, and wisdom of +Washington, the most dangerous scheme by which the liberties of America +were put in jeopardy, next to the treason of Arnold. It had no _wicked_ +features in common with that treason, but its practical effects, if +carried out, might have been almost equally disastrous. + +To the president of Congress Washington wrote, when he transmitted to +that body an account of the affair just narrated:-- + + "The result of the proceedings of the grand convention of officers, + which I have the honor of sending to your excellency, for the + inspection of Congress, will, I flatter myself, be considered as + the last glorious proof of patriotism which could have been given + by men who aspired to the distinction of a patriot army; and will + not only confirm their claim to the justice, but will increase + their title to the gratitude of their country." + +The excitement caused by these events had scarcely died away, when +intelligence of the signing of the preliminary treaty of peace reached +the commander-in-chief. That intelligence came to him in despatches from +Robert L. Livingston, the secretary for foreign affairs, and also in a +letter from Alexander Hamilton, and other New York delegates in +Congress. It had been sent to them in the French ship, _Triomphe_, +despatched for the purpose by Count de Estiang, at the request of +Lafayette. Washington immediately wrote to Governor Clinton, saying:-- + +"I take the first moment of forwarding to your excellency the despatches +from the secretary of foreign affairs, which accompany this. They +contain, I presume, all the intelligence respecting peace, on which +great and glorious event, permit me to congratulate you with the +greatest sincerity." Upon the envelope, bearing the superscription of +this letter, Washington wrote, in a bold hand, and with a broad dash +under it--PEACE. + +On the nineteenth of April, the seventh anniversary of the earlier +bloodshedding in the War for Independence, at Lexington and Concord, the +intelligence of peace was officially proclaimed to the army in general +orders. "The generous task," Washington said, "for which we first flew +to arms, being accomplished; the liberties of our country being fully +acknowledged, and firmly secured, and the characters of those who have +persevered through every extremity of hardship, suffering, and danger, +being immortalized by the illustrious appellation of _the patriot army_, +nothing now remains, but for the actors of this mighty scene, to pursue +a perfect, unvarying consistency of character through the very last act; +to close the drama with applause, and to retire from the military +theatre with the same approbation of angels and men, which has crowned +all their former virtuous actions." + +Ever mindful of the interests of his soldiers, Washington had procured +the passage of a resolution in Congress, that the services of the men +engaged in the war, did not expire until the definitive treaty of peace +should be ratified, but that the commander-in-chief might grant +furloughs according to his own judgment, and permit the men to take +their arms home with them. Washington used this prerogative freely, but +judiciously, and, by degrees, the continental army was virtually +disbanded, except a small force at headquarters; for those dismissed on +furlough were never called back to service. "Once at home," says Irving, +"they sank into domestic-life; their weapons were hung over their +fireplaces--military trophies of the Revolution, to be prized by future +generations." + +On the sixth of May Washington held a personal conference with Sir Guy +Carleton, at Tappan, in relation to the transfer of certain posts in the +United States occupied by British troops, and other arrangements; and +two days afterward, Egbert Benson, William S. Smith, and Daniel Parker, +were appointed commissioners on the part of the Americans, to inspect +and superintend the embarkation of the tories, who were about to leave +for Nova Scotia, with their property. Several thousands of these +unfortunate people left New York for that far-east country, where, one +of them observed, were "nine months of winter, and three months of cold +weather every year." + +In view of the approaching dissolution of the army, and their final +separation, the officers in camp, most of whom had worked shoulder to +shoulder in the eight years struggle, yearned for some bond of +association, whereby they should continue to be like brothers, not only +in the memory of the past, but in personal intercourse, and friendly +association. The idea of a society to be formed of all the officers of +the Revolution, American and foreign, was conceived by the large-hearted +Knox, and on the thirteenth of May, at the quarters of the Baron +Steuben, a committee that had been appointed for the purpose, submitted +a plan to a meeting of officers. It was adopted, and an association +called the _Society of the Cincinnati_, was formed. That name was +adopted, because, like the noble Roman, LUCIUS QUINTIUS CINCINNATUS, +they were about to return to private life and their several employments, +after serving the public. + +The chief objects of the society were to promote cordial friendship and +indissoluble union among themselves; to commemorate by frequent +re-unions the great struggle they had just passed through; to use their +best endeavors for the promotion of human liberty; to cherish good +feeling between the respective states; and to extend benevolent aid to +those of the society whose circumstances might require it. They formed a +general society, and elected Washington the president, and Knox the +secretary. The former held his office until his death, and was succeeded +by General Alexander Hamilton. For greater convenience, state societies +were organized, which were auxiliary to the parent society. To +perpetuate the association, it was provided in the constitution, that +the eldest male descendant of an original member should be entitled to +membership on the decease of such member, "in failure thereof, the +collateral branches, who may be judged worthy of becoming its supporters +and members." During the remainder of his life, Washington manifested a +great interest in this society, and the re-unions were seasons of real +enjoyment for the members.[4] + +On the eighth of June Washington addressed a circular letter to the +governors of all the states, on the subject of the disbanding of the +army. It was a most able paper, evidently prepared with care after much +thought, and presenting, for the consideration of his countrymen, +topics and opinions of the greatest importance. With admirable skill he +drew a picture of the enviable condition and position of the United +States, and their citizens, and then remarked:-- + + "Such is our situation, and such our prospects; but notwithstanding + the cup of blessing is thus reached out to us--notwithstanding + happiness is ours, if we have a disposition to seize the occasion + and make it our own; yet it appears to me there is an option still + left to the United States of America, whether they will be + respectable and prosperous, or contemptible and miserable as a + nation. This is the time of their political probation; this is the + moment when the eyes of the whole world are turned upon them; this + is the time to establish or ruin their national character for ever; + this is the favorable moment to give such a tone to the federal + government as will enable it to answer the ends of its institution; + or this may be the ill-fated moment for relaxing the powers of the + Union, annihilating the cement of the confederation, and exposing + us to become the sport of European politics, which may play one + state against another, to prevent their growing importance, and to + serve their own interested purposes. For, according to the system + of policy the states shall adopt at this moment, they will stand or + fall; and by their confirmation or lapse, it is yet to be decided + whether the Revolution must ultimately be considered as a blessing + or a curse; a blessing or a curse not to the present age alone, for + with our fate will the destiny of unborn millions be involved. + + "With this conviction of the importance of the present crisis, + silence in me would be a crime. I will therefore speak to your + excellency the language of freedom and sincerity, without disguise. + I am aware, however, those who differ from me in political + sentiments may perhaps remark, I am stepping out of the proper line + of my duty; and they may possibly ascribe to arrogance or + ostentation, what I know is alone the result of the purest + intention; but the rectitude of my own heart, which disdains such + unworthy motives--the part I have hitherto acted in life--the + determination I have formed of not taking any share in public + business hereafter--the ardent desire I feel and shall continue to + manifest, of quietly enjoying in private life, after all the toils + of war, the benefits of a wise and liberal government, will, I + flatter myself, sooner or later convince my countrymen, that I + could have no sinister views in delivering, with so little reserve, + the opinions contained in this address. + + "There are four things which I humbly conceive are essential to the + well-being, I may even venture to say, to the existence of the + United States, as an independent power. + + "1st. An indissoluble union of the states under one federal head. + + "2dly. A sacred regard to public justice. + + "3dly. The adoption of a proper peace establishment. And, + + "4thly. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly disposition + among the people of the United States, which will induce them to + forget their local prejudices and politics, to make those mutual + concessions which are requisite to the general prosperity, and in + some instances to sacrifice their individual advantages to the + interest of the community. + + "These are the pillars on which the glorious fabric of our + independence and national character must be supported. Liberty is + the basis, and whoever would dare to sap the foundation, or + overturn the structure, under whatever specious pretext he may + attempt it, will merit the bitterest execration and the severest + punishment which can be inflicted by his injured country." + +With close and admirable logic he expatiated upon these four heads; and +with the earnestness of most profound conviction, he urged the +importance of union, and the vesting of the federal Congress with +greater power. He then made a warm and generous plea for the army, while +treating upon the subject of public justice. Concerning proposed +half-pay and commutation, he observed:-- + + "As to the idea, which I am informed has, in some instances, + prevailed, that the half-pay and commutation are to be regarded + merely in the odious light of a pension, it ought to be exploded + for ever; that provision should be viewed, as it really was, a + reasonable compensation offered by Congress, at a time when they + had nothing else to give to officers of the army, for services + then to be performed: it was the only means to prevent a total + dereliction of the service; it was a part of their hire. I may be + allowed to say, it was the price of their blood, and of your + independency; it is, therefore, more than a common debt, it is a + debt of honor; it can never be considered as a pension or gratuity, + nor cancelled until it is fairly discharged." + +After giving a sufficient apology for treating upon political topics, he +concluded by saying:-- + + "I have thus freely declared what I wished to make known, before I + surrendered up my public trust to those who committed it to me. The + task is now accomplished. I now bid adieu to your excellency, as + the chief magistrate of your state, at the same time I bid a last + farewell to the cares of office and all the employments of public + life." + +But, six long months of official labor, with all the anxieties and cares +incident thereto, were before the commander-in-chief. Even at the very +moment when he was sending forth his address, and making a noble plea to +his country for justice to the army, a part of that army was bringing +dishonor upon the whole, by mutinous proceedings. About eighty +newly-recruited soldiers of the Pennsylvania line, stationed at +Lancaster, marched in a body to Philadelphia, where they were joined by +about two hundred from the barracks in that city. The whole body then +proceeded, with drum and fife, and fixed bayonets, to the statehouse, +where the Pennsylvania legislature and the continental Congress were in +session, with the avowed purpose of demanding a redress of specified +grievances from the state authorities. They placed a guard at every +door, and sent a message in to the president and council, threatening +them with violence if their demands were not complied with in the course +of twenty minutes. The Congress, feeling themselves outraged, and +doubting the strength of the local government to protect them against +any armed mob that might choose to assail them, sent a courier to +Washington with information of these proceedings, and then adjourned to +meet at Princeton, in New Jersey. This event occurred on the +twenty-first of June, and the Congress reassembled at Princeton on the +thirtieth. + +Washington received information of the mutiny on the twenty-fourth, and +immediately detached General Howe, with fifteen hundred men to quell the +insurrection and punish the leaders. At the same time he wrote a letter +to the president of Congress, in which he expressed his sorrow and +indignation that a mob of men, "contemptible in number, and equally so +in point of service, and not worthy to be called soldiers," should have +so insulted the "sovereign authority of the United States." He then +vindicated the rest of the army upon whom the act might cast dishonor. +But the mutiny was quelled before Howe reached Philadelphia, and +bloodshed was prevented. + +While waiting, "with little business and less command," for the +definitive treaty, Washington made a tour northward from Newburg, of +about seven hundred and fifty miles. Governor Clinton accompanied him. +They set out on the seventeenth of July, ascended the Hudson to Albany, +visited the places made memorable by Burgoyne's defeat, passed down Lake +George in light boats, and over to Ticonderoga, from the foot of that +beautiful sheet of water. They returned by nearly the same route to +Schenectady, and then went up the Mohawk as far as Fort Schuyler (now +Rome); thence to Wood creek, a tributary of Oneida lake, by which there +was a water-communication with Lake Ontario, at Oswego, and then +traversed the country between the Mohawk and Otsego lake. They were +absent nineteen days, and performed a greater part of the journey on +horseback, much of it through an unbroken wilderness. + +To the Chevalier de Chastellux, Washington wrote in October, respecting +this tour:-- + + "Prompted by these actual observations I could not help taking a + more extensive view of the vast inland navigation of the United + States, from maps and the information of others; and could not but + be struck with the immense extent and importance of it, and with the + goodness of that Providence, which has dealt its favors to us with + so profuse a hand. Would to God we may have wisdom enough to + improve them. I shall not rest contented till I have explored the + western country, and traversed those lines, or great part of them, + which have given bounds to a new empire." + +Over all that region where then the primeval forest stood, the hand of +industry has spread the varied beauties and blessing of cultivation; and +where the solitary Indian then prowled with his rifle or arrow, in +search of game for his appetite, a busy population, inhabiting cities +and villages, and thousands of pleasant cottages or stately mansions, +now dwell. + +On his return to headquarters, Washington found a resolution of the +Congress, calling him to Princeton, where that body was in session. The +chief object was to have him near them for consultation and aid in the +several arrangements for peace. The Congress engaged a house, suitably +furnished, for his use, at Rocky Hill, a few miles distant, and he set +out for Princeton on the eighteenth of August, leaving General Knox in +command at Newburg. On the twenty-sixth he had a formal public audience +with Congress, when that body presented a most affectionate address to +him, in which they said:-- + + "It has been the particular happiness of the United States, that + during a war so long, so dangerous, and so important, Providence + has been graciously pleased to preserve the life of a general, who + has merited and possessed the uninterrupted confidence and + affection of his fellow-citizens. In other nations, many have + performed eminent services, for which they have deserved the thanks + of the public. But to you, sir, peculiar praise is due. Your + services have been essential in acquiring and establishing the + freedom and independence of your country. They deserve the grateful + acknowledgments of a free and independent nation." + +This honorable reception was grateful to the feelings of Washington, +for, next to the approval of his God and his conscience, he coveted that +of his country. Congress had already voted him a rarer honor, an honor +such as the senate of old Rome was fond of conferring upon the heroes of +the commonwealth. On the seventh of August they had-- + +"_Resolved_ (unanimously, ten states being present), That an equestrian +statue of General Washington be erected at the place where the residence +of Congress shall be established," and a committee appointed for the +purpose reported a plan for a pedestal to support the statue, with +historical _basso relievos_ upon it, and an appropriate inscription. But +this statue, like many other monumental testimonials, ordered by the old +Congress, was never made. Washington submitted to the unpleasant +operation of having a plaster-cast taken from his face, to be sent to +the sculptor in Europe who should be employed to execute the statue; but +the cast was broken, and as he would not submit to the manipulations +again, the effort was abandoned. + +On the third of September the definitive treaty for peace was signed at +Paris, and by a proclamation dated the eighteenth day of October, 1783, +all officers and soldiers of the continental army, absent on furlough, +were discharged from further service; and all others who had engaged to +serve during the war, were to be discharged from and after the third of +November. + +On the second of November, Washington, yet at Rocky Hill, issued his +last general orders, in which he addressed his soldiers as a father +speaking to his children, and bade them an affectionate farewell.[5] + +He then waited quietly for the British to evacuate New York city, that +he might go thither with a few troops that would remain in camp under +Knox, take formal possession, and then hasten to the seat of Congress +and resign his commission of commander-in-chief of the American armies +into their hands. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] The following is a copy of the notification: "A meeting of +the field-officers is requested at the public building on Tuesday next +at eleven o'clock. A commissioned officer from each company is expected, +and a delegate from the medical staff. The object of this convention is +to consider the late letter of our representatives in Philadelphia, and +what measures (if any) should be adopted to obtain that redress of +grievances which they seem to have solicited in vain." + +[3] The following is a copy of the address:-- + + "GENTLEMEN: By an anonymous summons, an attempt has been + made to convene you together; how inconsistent with the + rules of propriety, how unmilitary, and how subversive of + all order and discipline, let the good sense of the army + decide. In the moment of this summons, another anonymous + production was sent into circulation, addressed more to the + feelings and passions than to the reason and judgment of the + army. The author of the piece is entitled to much credit for + the goodness of his pen, and I could wish he had as much + credit for the rectitude of his heart; for, as men see + through different optics, and are induced by the reflecting + faculties of the mind to use different means to attain the + same end, the author of the address should have had more + charity than to mark for suspicion the man who should + recommend moderation and longer forbearance; or, in other + words, who should not think as he thinks, and act as he + advises." + +When Washington had concluded this paragraph, he paused, took out his +spectacles, begged the indulgence of the audience while he put them on, +and observed, "You see I have grown gray in your service, and am now +growing blind." The effect was electrical, and many an eye was moistened +by tears called forth by the incident. He then proceeded:-- + + "But he had another plan in view, in which candor and liberality of + sentiment, regard to justice, and love of country have no part; and + he was right to insinuate the darkest suspicion to effect the + blackest design. That the address is drawn with great art, and is + designed to answer the most insidious purposes; that it is + calculated to impress the mind with an idea of premeditated + injustice in the sovereign power of the United States, and rouse + all those resentments which must unavoidably flow from such a + belief; that the secret mover of this scheme, whoever he may be, + intended to take advantage of the passions while they were warmed + by the recollection of past distresses, without giving time for + cool, deliberate thinking, and that composure of mind which is so + necessary to give dignity and stability to measures, is rendered + too obvious, by the mode of conducting the business, to need other + proofs than a reference to the proceedings. + + "Thus much, gentlemen, I have thought it incumbent on me to observe + to you, to show upon what principles I opposed the irregular and + hasty meeting which was proposed to be held on Tuesday last, and + not because I wanted a disposition to give you every opportunity, + consistent with your own honor and the dignity of the army, to make + known your grievances. If my conduct heretofore has not evinced to + you that I have been a faithful friend to the army, my declaration + of it at this time would be equally unavailing and improper. But, + as I was among the first who embarked in the cause of our common + country; as I have never left your side one moment, but when called + from you on public duty; as I have been the constant companion and + witness of your distresses, and not among the last to feel and + acknowledge your merits; as I have ever considered my own military + reputation as inseparably connected with that of the army; as my + heart has ever expanded with joy when I have heard its praises, and + my indignation has arisen when the mouth of detraction has been + opened against it, it can scarcely be supposed, at this last stage + of the war, that I am indifferent to its interests. But how are + they to be promoted? The way is plain, says the anonymous + addresser. 'If war continues, remove into the unsettled country; + there establish yourselves, and leave an ungrateful country to + defend itself.' But who are they to defend? Our wives, our + children, our farms, and other property which we leave behind us? + or, in this state of hostile separation, are we to take the two + first (the latter can not be removed) to perish in a wilderness, + with hunger, cold, and nakedness? + + "'If peace takes place, never sheathe your swords,' says he, 'until + you have obtained full and ample justice.' This dreadful + alternative of either deserting our country in the extremest hour + of her distress, or turning our arms against it--which is the + apparent object--unless Congress can be compelled into instant + compliance, has something so shocking in it, that humanity revolts + at the idea. My God! what can this writer have in view by + recommending such measures? Can he be a friend to the army? Can he + be a friend to this country? Rather, is he not an insidious foe? + some emissary, perhaps, from New York, plotting the ruin of both, + by sowing the seeds of discord and separation between the civil and + military powers of the continent? And what a compliment does he pay + to our understandings, when he recommends measures, in either + alternative, impracticable in their nature? + + "But, here, gentlemen, I will drop the curtain, because it would be + as imprudent in me to assign my reasons for this opinion, as it + would be insulting to your conception to suppose you stood in need + of them. A moment's reflection will convince every dispassionate + mind of the physical impossibility of carrying either proposal into + execution. There might, gentlemen, be an impropriety in my taking + notice, in this address to you, of an anonymous production; but the + manner in which that performance has been introduced to the army, + the effect it was intended to have, together with some other + circumstances, will amply justify my observations on the tendency + of that writing. + + "With respect to the advice given by the author, to suspect the man + who shall recommend moderate measures and longer forbearance, I + spurn it, as every man, who regards that liberty and reveres that + justice for which we contend, undoubtedly must; for, if men are to + be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter which may + involve the most serious and alarming consequences that can invite + the consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us. The + freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be + led, like sheep, to the slaughter. I can not, in justice to my own + belief, and what I have great reason to conceive is the intention + of Congress, conclude this address, without giving it as my decided + opinion that that honorable body entertains exalted sentiments of the + services of the army, and, from a full conviction of its merits + and sufferings, will do it complete justice; that their endeavors + to discover and establish funds for this purpose have been + unwearied, and will not cease till they have succeeded, I have not + a doubt. But, like all other large bodies, where there is a variety + of different interests to reconcile, their determinations are slow. + Why, then, should we distrust them, and, in consequence of that + distrust, adopt measures which may cast a shade over that glory + which has been so justly acquired, and tarnish the reputation of an + army which is celebrated through all Europe for its fortitude and + patriotism? And for what is this done? To bring the object we seek + nearer? No; most certainly, in my opinion, it will cast it at a + greater distance. For myself (and I take no merit in giving the + assurance, being induced to it from principles of gratitude, + veracity, and justice, a grateful sense of the confidence you have + ever placed in me), a recollection of the cheerful assistance and + prompt obedience I have experienced from you under every + vicissitude of fortune, and the sincere affection I feel for an + army I have so long had the honor to command, will oblige me to + declare, in this public and solemn manner, that in the attainment + of complete justice for all your toils and dangers, and in the + gratification of every wish, so far as may be done consistently + with the great duty I owe my country; and those powers we are bound + to respect, you may freely command my services to the utmost extent + of my abilities. + + "While I give you these assurances, and pledge myself in the most + unequivocal manner to exert whatever ability I am possessed of in + your favor, let me entreat you, gentlemen, on your part, not to + take any measures, which, viewed in the calm light of reason, will + lessen the dignity and sully the glory you have hitherto + maintained. Let me request you to rely on the plighted faith of + your country, and place a full confidence in the purity of the + intentions of Congress, that, previous to your dissolution as an + army, they will cause all your accounts to be fairly liquidated, as + directed in the resolutions which were published to you two days + ago, and that they will adopt the most effectual measures in their + power to render ample justice to you for your faithful and + meritorious services. And let me conjure you, in the name of our + common country, as you value your own sacred honor, as you respect + the rights of humanity, and as you regard the military and national + character of America, to express your utmost horror and detestation + of the man who wishes, under any specious pretenses, to overturn + the liberties of our country, and who wickedly attempts to open the + flood-gates of civil discord, and deluge our rising empire in + blood. + + "By thus determining and thus acting, you will pursue the plain and + direct road to the attainment of your wishes; you will defeat the + insidious designs of your enemies, who are compelled to resort from + open force to secret artifice; you will give one more distinguished + proof of unexampled patriotism and patient virtue rising superior + to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings; and you will, + by the dignity of your conduct, afford occasion for posterity to + say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to + mankind, 'Had this day been wanting, the world had never seen the + last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of + attaining.'"--_Journals of Congress_, viii 180-183. + +[4] A full account of this society, with drawings of the orders +worn by the members, and the certificate of membership, may be found in +the first volume of _Lossing's Field-Book of the Revolution_. + +[5] The following is a copy of Washington's last general order:-- + + "ROCKY HILL, NEAR PRINCETON, _November 2, 1783._ + + "The United States in Congress assembled, after giving the most + honorable testimony to the merits of the federal armies, and + presenting them with the thanks of their country, for their long, + eminent, and faithful service, having thought proper, by their + proclamation bearing date the sixteenth of October last, to + discharge such part of the troops as were engaged for the war, and + to permit the officers on furlough to retire from service, from and + after to-morrow, which proclamation having been communicated in the + public papers for the information and government of all concerned; + it only remains for the commander-in-chief to address himself once + more, and that for the last time, to the armies of the United + States (however widely dispersed individuals who compose them may + be), and to bid them an affectionate, a long farewell. + + "But before the commander-in-chief takes his final leave of those + he holds most dear, he wishes to indulge himself a few moments in + calling to mind a slight review of the past: he will then take the + liberty of exploring, with his military friends, their future + prospects; of advising the general line of conduct which in his + opinion ought to be pursued; and he will conclude the address by + expressing the obligations he feels himself under for the spirited + and able assistance he has experienced from them in the performance + of an arduous office. + + "A contemplation of the complete attainment (at a period earlier + than could have been expected) of the object for which we contended + against so formidable a power, can not but inspire us with + astonishment and gratitude. The disadvantageous circumstances on + our part, under which the war was undertaken, can never be + forgotten. The singular interpositions of Providence in our feeble + condition, were such as could scarcely escape the attention of the + most unobserving; while the unparalleled perseverance of the armies + of the United States, through almost every possible suffering and + discouragement, for the space of eight long years, was little short + of a standing miracle. + + "It is not the meaning, nor within the compass of this address, to + detail the hardships peculiarly incident to our service, or to + describe the distresses which in several instances have resulted + from the extremes of hunger and nakedness, combined with the rigors + of an inclement season: nor is it necessary to dwell on the dark + side of our past affairs. Every American officer and soldier must + now console himself for any unpleasant circumstances which may have + occurred, by a recollection of the uncommon scenes in which he has + been called to act no inglorious part, and the astonishing events + of which he has been a witness--events which have seldom, if ever + before, taken place on the stage of human action, nor can they + probably ever happen again. For who has before seen a disciplined + army formed at once from such raw materials? Who that was not a + witness could imagine that the most violent local prejudices would + cease so soon; and that men who came from different parts of the + continent, strongly disposed by the habits of education to despise + and quarrel with each other, would instantly become but one + patriotic band of brothers? Or who that was not on the spot, can + trace the steps by which such a wonderful Revolution has been + effected, and such a glorious period put to all our warlike toils? + + "It is universally acknowledged that the enlarged prospects of + happiness, opened by the confirmation of our independence and + sovereignty, almost exceed the power of description; and shall not + the brave men who have contributed so essentially to these + inestimable acquisitions, retiring victorious from the field of war + to the field of agriculture, participate in all the blessings which + have been obtained? In such a republic, who will exclude them from + the rights of citizens, and the fruits of their labors? In such a + country, so happily circumstanced, the pursuits of commerce and the + cultivation of the soil will unfold to industry the certain road to + competence. To those hardy soldiers who are actuated by the spirit + of adventure, the fisheries will afford ample and profitable + employment; and the extensive and fertile regions of the West will + yield a most happy asylum for those who, fond of domestic + enjoyment, are seeking personal independence. Nor is it possible to + conceive that any one of the United States will prefer a national + bankruptcy, and dissolution of the Union, to a compliance with the + requisitions of Congress, and the payment of its just debts; so + that the officers and soldiers may expect considerable assistance, + in recommencing their civil operations, from the sums due to them + from the public, which must and will most inevitably be paid. + + "In order to effect this desirable purpose, and to remove the + prejudices which may have taken possession of the minds of any of + the good people of the states, it is earnestly recommended to all + the troops that, with strong attachments to the Union, they should + carry with them into civil society the most conciliating + dispositions; and that they should prove themselves not less + virtuous and useful as citizens than they have been persevering and + victorious as soldiers. What though there should be some envious + individuals who are unwilling to pay the debt the public has + contracted, or to yield the tribute due to merit; yet let such + unworthy treatment produce no invective, or any instance of + intemperate conduct; let it be remembered that the unbiassed voice + of the free citizens of the United States has promised the just + reward, and given the merited applause; let it be known and + remembered that the reputation of the federal armies is established + beyond the reach of malevolence; and let a consciousness of their + achievements and fame still excite the men who composed them to + honorable actions, under the persuasion that the private virtues of + economy, prudence, and industry, will not be less amiable in civil + life than the more splendid qualities of valor, perseverance, and + enterprise, were in the field. Every one may rest assured that + much, very much of the future happiness of the officers and men, + will depend upon the wise and manly conduct which shall be adopted + by them when they are mingled with the great body of the community. + And, although the general has so frequently given it as his + opinion, in the most public and explicit manner, that unless the + principles of the federal government were properly supported, and + the powers of the Union increased, the honor, dignity, and justice + of the nation would be lost for ever; yet he can not help repeating + on this occasion so interesting a sentiment, and leaving it as his + last injunction to every officer and every soldier who may view the + subject in the same serious point of light, to add his best + endeavors to those of his worthy fellow-citizens, toward effecting + these great and valuable purposes, on which our very existence as a + nation so materially depends. + + "The commander-in-chief conceives little is now wanting to enable + the soldier to change the military character into that of a + citizen, but that steady and decent tenor of behavior which has + generally distinguished not only the army under his immediate + command, but the different detachments and separate armies, through + the course of the war. From their good sense and prudence he + anticipates the happiest consequences: and while he congratulates + them on the glorious occasion which renders their services in the + field no longer necessary, he wishes to express the strong + obligations he feels himself under for the assistance he has + received from every class, and in every instance. He presents his + thanks, in the most serious and affectionate manner, to the general + officers, as well for their counsel on many interesting occasions + as for their ardor in promoting the success of the plans he had + adopted; to the commandants of regiments and corps, and to the + officers, for their zeal and attention in carrying his orders + promptly into execution; to the staff, for their alacrity and + exactness in performing the duties of their several departments, + and to the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers for their + extraordinary patience in suffering as well as their invincible + fortitude in action. To various branches of the army the general + takes this last and solemn opportunity of professing his inviolable + attachment and friendship. He wishes more than bare profession were + in his power; that he was really able to be useful to them all in + future life. He flatters himself, however, they will do him the + justice to believe that, whatever could with propriety be attempted + by him, has been done. And being now to conclude these his last + public orders, to take his ultimate leave, in a short time, of the + military character, and to bid a final adieu to the armies he has + so long had the honor to command, he can only again offer, in their + behalf, his recommendations to their grateful country, and his + prayers to the God of armies. May ample justice be done them here, + and may the choicest of Heaven's favors, both here and hereafter, + attend those who, under the Divine auspices, have secured + innumerable blessings for others! With these wishes, and this + benediction, the commander-in-chief is about to retire from + service. The curtain of separation will soon be drawn, and the + military scene to him will be closed for ever." + + + + +Chapter III. + + BRITISH TROOPS LEAVE THE CITY OF NEW YORK--AMERICAN TROOPS AND CIVIL + AUTHORITIES ENTER AND TAKE POSSESSION--THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN + TROOPS CONTRASTED--PARTING SCENE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND HIS + OFFICERS--WASHINGTON SETTLES HIS ACCOUNTS WITH THE UNITED + STATES--JOURNEY TO ANNAPOLIS--COMPLIMENTARY DINNER AND BALL + THERE--WASHINGTON RESIGNS HIS COMMISSION--HIS RETIREMENT TO PRIVATE + LIFE AT MOUNT VERNON--LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS ON THE + SUBJECT--WASHINGTON'S DREAMS OF QUIET LIFE. + + +It was late in November, 1783, before the British troops were prepared +to leave New York, so large was the number of persons, and so great was +the quantity of goods to be first conveyed away. At length Sir Guy +Carleton gave Washington notice when he would be ready to surrender the +city. Governor Clinton summoned the members of the state council to +convene at Eastchester on the twenty-first of November, to prepare for +the re-establishment of civil government in New York city and its +vicinity, and a detachment of troops came down from West Point to be +ready to take possession of the posts about to be evacuated by the +British. + +Carleton appointed the twenty-fifth of November as the day for the +evacuation, and before that time the British troops were drawn in from +the surrounding posts. On the morning of the twenty-fifth Washington and +Governor Clinton were at Harlem, with the detachment from West Point, +under General Knox; and during the morning they all moved toward the +city, and halted at the Bowery. The troops were composed of +light-dragoons, light-infantry, and artillery, and were accompanied by +the civil officers of the state. + +[Illustration: ENTRANCE OF THE AMERICAN ARMY INTO NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 25, +1873.] + +Between twelve and one o'clock the British troops were embarked. The +fleet immediately weighed anchor, and with a favoring breeze sailed out +the Narrows. The American troops and the civil authorities then marched +in and took formal possession. Washington and Clinton, with their +respective suites, led the procession, escorted by a troop of +Westchester cavalry. Then followed the lieutenant-governor and members +of the council, General Knox and the officers of the army, the speaker +of the assembly, and a large procession of citizens on horseback and on +foot. + +The evacuation of the British, and the entrance of the Americans, +produced in the inhabitants mingled feelings of joy and sadness. The +whigs greatly rejoiced at their deliverance, while the families of +loyalists were saddened by the change. There was a marked contrast +between the troops that left and the troops that came. "We had been +accustomed for a long time to military display in all the finish and +finery of garrison life," said an American lady to Mr. Irving; "the +troops just leaving us were as if equipped for show, and with their +scarlet uniforms and burnished arms, made a brilliant display; the +troops that marched in, on the contrary, were ill-clad and +weather-beaten, and made a forlorn appearance; but they were _our_ +troops, and as I looked at them and thought upon all they had done and +suffered for us, my heart and my eyes were full, and I admired and +gloried in them the more, because they _were_ weather-beaten and +forlorn."[6] + +But joy was the predominant feeling, and on that night the city was a +scene of public festivity, and demonstrations of unbounded pleasure. The +governor gave a feast, and splendid fireworks illuminated the town. + +On the fourth of December Washington was prepared for a journey to +Annapolis, where the Congress was in session, to resign his commission +into their hands. A handsome barge was made ready to convey him from the +Whitehall ferry to Paulus's Hook (now Jersey City), and lay at the +stairs, ready manned at twelve o'clock. Meanwhile Washington and his +officers had assembled in the parlor of Fraunce's tavern, near by, to +take a final leave of each other. Marshall has left on record, a brief +but touching narrative of the scene. As the commander-in-chief entered +the room, and found himself in the midst of his officers--his old +companions-in-arms, many of whom had shared with him the fortunes of war +from its earliest stages--his tender feelings were too powerful for +concealment, and defied his usual self-command. Filling a glass of wine, +and taking it in his hand, he turned upon his friends a sad but +benignant countenance, and said:-- + +"With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you, most +devoutly wishing that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy, +as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." After lifting the +wine to his lips, and drinking a farewell benediction, he added, while +his voice trembled with emotion:-- + +"I can not come to each of you to take my leave, but shall be obliged if +each of you will come and take me by the hand." General Knox being +nearest, first turned to him. Washington, incapable of utterance, +grasped his hand in silence, and embraced him affectionately, while his +eyes were suffused with tears. In the same affectionate manner, every +officer took leave of him. Not a word was spoken. Feeling held speech in +abeyance. The tear of manly sensibility was in every eye, and in +dignified silence they all followed their beloved chief as he left the +room, passed through a corps of light-infantry, and walked to Whitehall +to embark. Having entered the barge, he turned to the tearful friends +upon the wharf, and waving his hat, bade them a silent adieu. They stood +and watched the barge until it was hidden from their view by an angle of +the battery, when, in silent and solemn procession, they all returned to +the place where they had assembled. + +Washington stopped a few days in Philadelphia, where he adjusted his +accounts with the comptroller of the treasury. These were all in perfect +order, from the beginning of the war until the moment of settlement, on +the thirteenth of December. They were entirely in his own hand-waiting. +The gross amount was almost seventy-five thousand dollars, in which were +included moneys expended for secret service and in various incidental +charges. For his own services he would receive nothing. + +Washington's journey from New York to Annapolis, in Maryland, was one +continued ovation. The people everywhere received him with enthusiasm; +and public meetings, legislative assemblies, and learned and religious +institutions, greeted him with addresses. He arrived at Annapolis on +Friday, the nineteenth of December, where he was joined by Mrs. +Washington and many warm personal friends. On the following day he +addressed a note to the Congress, inquiring when, and in what manner it +would be proper to offer his resignation; and on Monday he was present +at a dinner ordered by that body. In the evening he attended a grand +ball given in his honor. + +On Tuesday, the twenty-third, Washington wrote to the Baron +Steuben--"This is the last letter I shall write while I continue in the +service of my country. The hour of my resignation is fixed at twelve +to-day; after which I shall become a private citizen on the banks of the +Potomac." + +At the hour named the chief was before the assembled Congress, of whom +General Thomas Mifflin was president. The hall was filled with public +functionaries and military officers, accompanied by ladies; and in the +gallery was Mrs. Washington and many more ladies than were on the floor +below. + +Washington was conducted to the hall by Secretary Thomson, when the +president said, "The United States in Congress assembled, are prepared +to receive your communication." Washington then arose, and in a +dignified manner, and clear, rich voice, said:-- + + "Mr. PRESIDENT: The great events on which my resignation depended, + having at length taken place, I now have the honor of offering my + sincere congratulations to Congress, and of presenting myself + before them, to surrender into their hands the trust committed to + me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my + country. Happy in the confirmation of our independence and + sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United + States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction + the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my + abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which, however, was + superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the + support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of + Heaven. The successful termination of the war has verified the most + sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the interposition of + Providence, and the assistance I have received from my countrymen, + increases with every review of the momentous contest. While I + repeat my obligations to the army in general, I should do injustice + to my own feelings not to acknowledge in this place the peculiar + services and distinguished merits of the gentlemen who have been + attached to my person during the war. It was impossible the choice + of confidential officers to compose my family should have been more + fortunate. Permit me, sir, to recommend in particular those who + have continued in the service to the present moment, as worthy of + the favorable notice and patronage of Congress. I consider it as an + indispensable duty to close this last act of my official life by + commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection + of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them to + his holy keeping. Having now finished the work assigned me, I + retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an + affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I + have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave + of all the employments of public life." + +President Mifflin replied: "SIR--The United States, in Congress +assembled, receive with emotions too affecting for utterance, the solemn +resignation of the authorities under which you have led their troops +with success through a perilous and a doubtful war. Called upon by your +country to defend its invaded rights, you accepted the sacred charge, +before it had formed alliances, and while it was without funds or a +government to support you. You have conducted the great military contest +with wisdom and fortitude, invariably regarding the rights of the civil +power, through all disasters and changes. You have, by the love and +confidence of your fellow-citizens, enabled them to display their +martial genius, and transmit their fame to posterity. You have +persevered, until these United States, aided by a magnanimous king and +nation, have been enabled, under a just Providence, to close the war in +freedom, safety, and independence; in which happy event we sincerely +join you in congratulations. Having defended the standard of liberty in +this new world; having taught a lesson useful to those who inflict and +to those who feel oppression, you retire from the great theatre of +action with the blessings of your fellow-citizens. But the glory of your +virtues will not terminate with your military command; it will continue +to animate remotest ages. We feel with you our obligations to the army +in general, and will particularly charge ourselves with the interests of +those confidential officers who have attended your person to this +affecting moment. We join you in commending the interests of our dearest +country to the protection of Almighty God, beseeching him to dispose the +hearts and minds of its citizens to improve the opportunity afforded +them of becoming a happy and respectable nation. And for you, we address +to him our earnest prayers that a life so beloved may be fostered with +all his care; that your days may be as happy as they have been +illustrious; and that he will finally give you that reward which this +world can not give." + +Washington, now a private citizen, hastened to his beloved home on the +Potomac, accompanied on the way by many friends, among whom was Colonel +Walker, one the aids of the Baron Steuben. By his hand, he sent a letter +to Governor George Clinton--the first that he wrote after his retirement +from office--in which he said: "The scene is at last closed. I am now a +private citizen on the banks of the Potomac. I feel myself eased of a +load of public care. I hope to spend the remainder of my days in +cultivating the affections of good men, and in the practice of the +domestic virtues." + +It was on Christmas eve when Washington reached Mount Vernon. It must +have been a happy and a merry Christmas in that beautiful home, for the +toils and dangers of war were over, peace was smiling upon all the land, +and the people were free and independent. The enjoyment of his home, +under these circumstances, was an exquisite one to the retired soldier; +and in his letters to his friends he gives frequent and touching +evidence of his happiness in private life. To Lafayette he wrote on the +first of February:-- + + "At length, my dear marquis, I am become a private citizen on the + banks of the Potomac, and under the shadow of my own vine and my own + fig-tree, free from the bustle of a camp, and the busy scenes of + public life. I am solacing myself with those tranquil enjoyments, of + which the soldier, who is ever in pursuit of fame, the statesman, + whose watchful days and sleepless nights are spent in devising + schemes to promote the welfare of his own, perhaps the ruin of other + countries, as if this globe was insufficient for us all, and the + courtier, who is always watching the countenance of his prince, in + hopes of catching a gracious smile, can have very little conception. + I have not only retired from all public employments, but I am + retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the solitary walk, + and tread the paths of private life, with a heartfelt satisfaction. + Envious of none, I am determined to be pleased with all; and this my + dear friend, being the order of my march, I will move gently down + the stream of life, until I sleep with my fathers." + +A little later he wrote to Madam Lafayette, saying:-- + + "Freed from the clangor of arms and the bustle of a camp, from the + cares of public employment and the responsibility of office, I am + now enjoying domestic ease under the shadow of my own vine and my + own fig-tree; and in a small villa, with the implements of husbandry + and lambkins around me, I expect to glide gently down the stream of + life, till I am entombed in the mansion of my fathers. + + "Come, then, let me entreat you, and call my cottage your home; for + your own doors do not open to you with more readiness than mine + would. You will see the plain manner in which we live, and meet with + rustic civility; and you shall taste the simplicity of rural life. + It will diversify the scene, and may give you a higher relish for + the gayeties of the court, when you return to Versailles. In these + wishes and most respectful compliments, Mrs. Washington joins me." + +Notwithstanding Washington's retirement was so perfect as to amount to +positive isolation for a month or more, on account of the effects of an +intensely severe winter, which closed almost every avenue to Mount +Vernon, and suspended even neighborly intercourse, he found it +extremely difficult to divest himself of the habits of the camp. +"Strange as it may seem," he wrote to General Knox on the twentieth of +February, "it is nevertheless true, that it was not till lately I could +get the better of my usual custom of ruminating, as soon as I waked in +the morning, on the business of the ensuing day; and of my surprise at +finding, after revolving many things in my mind, that I was no longer a +public man, nor had anything to do with public transactions. + + "I feel now, however, as I conceive a wearied traveller must + do, who, after treading many a painful step with a heavy + burthen on his shoulders, is eased of the latter, having + reached the haven to which all the former were directed; and + from his house-top is looking back, and tracing with an + eager eye the meanders by which he escaped the quicksands + and mires which lay in his way; and into which none but the + all-powerful Guide and Dispenser of human events could have + prevented his falling." + +Surely, if ever a man had cause for serenity of mind while taking a +retrospect of his public and private life, it was George Washington. +From his youth he had walked in the path of truth and rectitude, and +throughout his long public career of about thirty years, at the time of +his retirement from the army, not a stain of dishonor--not even the +suspicion of a stain--had ever been seen upon his character. His moral +escutcheon was bright, his conscience was unqualifiedly approving, his +country loved him above all her sons. With a sincere desire to spend the +remainder of his days as a simple farmer upon the Potomac, without the +ambition of being famous, or the expectation of being again called into +public life, he resumed his old domestic habits, and prepared for the +enjoyment of the evening of his days undisturbed by the turmoils of +society around him. + +"My manner of living is plain," he wrote to a friend, "and I do not mean to +be put out by it. A glass of wine and a bit of mutton are always ready, and +such as will be content to partake of them, are always welcome. Those who +expect more will be disappointed." + +But Washington's modest dream of quietude and simplicity of life in his +home at Mount Vernon was not realized. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] Life of Washington, iv. 440. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + WASHINGTON'S PRIVATE AFFAIRS--IMPROVEMENTS COMMENCED--REMUNERATION + FOR SERVICES DECLINED--VISITORS FLOCK TO MOUNT VERNON--TOUR TO THE + OHIO--INDIAN SACHEM AND HIS PROPHECY--WASHINGTON'S INTEREST IN + INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS--HIS LETTER TO GOVERNOR HARRISON--ACTION OF + THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE--FORMATION OF COMPANIES--WASHINGTON + DECLINES RECEIVING A DONATION OF STOCK FOR HIS OWN + BENEFIT--DISPOSITION OF IT--DISTINGUISHED VISITORS AT MOUNT + VERNON--WASHINGTON'S CORRESPONDENCE BURDENSOME--MR. LEAR--ARTISTS + AND LITERARY MEN--PINE AND HOUDON AT MOUNT VERNON--AGRICULTURAL + PURSUITS AND IMPROVEMENTS--WASHINGTON'S DOMESTIC LIFE AFTER THE WAR. + + +Washington took a careful survey of all his affairs, on retiring from +the public service, and perceived that much was to be done to retrieve +losses, and to make his estate an agreeable home, and suitable to his +position in life. The mansion, two stories in height, with only four +rooms on a floor, was too small to accommodate the visitors who he well +knew, might be expected at Mount Vernon, and he had already determined +to commence its enlargement with the opening of the spring, as well as +the adornment of the grounds around it, and the improvement of his +farms. To do this required a large outlay of time and money; and, +notwithstanding Washington had an ample fortune for a private gentleman +of moderate tastes, he perceived the necessity of practising economy. +His private affairs had become somewhat deranged, and his fortune +diminished during the war; and he knew that the current expenses of his +household must thereafter be materially increased. + +At this juncture, when economy appeared so necessary, his consistency as +a servant of the public without pecuniary reward, was tested. The +temptation came in the specious form of a proposed testimonial of +public gratitude for his services, and was so delicately presented to +his mind, as almost to leave a doubt of its real purpose. It originated +with the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, who, a few days +before Washington resigned his commission at Annapolis, remarked as +follows in their instructions to the delegates in Congress from that +state:-- + + "Though his excellency, General Washington, proposes in a short + time to retire, yet his illustrious actions and virtues render his + character so splendid and venerable, that, it is highly probable, + the admiration and esteem of the world may make his life in a very + considerable degree public, as numbers will be desirous of seeing + the great and good man, who has so eminently contributed to the + happiness of a nation. His very services to his country, may, + therefore, subject him to expenses, unless he permits her gratitude + to interpose. + + "We are perfectly acquainted with the disinterestedness and + generosity of his soul. He thinks himself amply rewarded for all + his labors and cares, by the love and prosperity of his + fellow-citizens. It is true, no rewards they can bestow can be + equal to his merits. But they ought not to suffer those merits to + be burdensome to him. We are convinced that the people of + Pennsylvania would regret such a consequence. + + "We are aware of the delicacy with which this subject must be + treated. But relying upon the good sense of Congress, we wish it + may engage their early attention." + +President Mifflin forwarded a copy of these instructions to Washington, +because it was thought advisable not to lay them before Congress without +his knowledge and approbation. True to the consistency of his character, +Washington promptly declined the intended favor. "I can not but feel," +he said, in reply to Mifflin, "the greatest obligations to the supreme +executive council of Pennsylvania. But as my sentiments on the subject +of their instructions have been long and well known to the public, I +need not repeat them to your excellency on the present occasion." All +proceedings on the subject were accordingly stopped. + +With the opening of the spring of 1784, numerous visitors began to make +their way to Mount Vernon. Many of them were officers, and some of them +poor soldiers of the war just closed, who went to pay the homage of +their affections to the general under whom they had so long served with +delight. Others were persons of distinction, from the various states and +from abroad; and others went there out of mere curiosity, to see the +great man of the nation in his retirement. Every one received the +attentions of a generous hospitality from the master; and in these +offices he was nobly seconded by Mrs. Washington, whose cheerful good +sense and excellent management, made her home a delightful spot for all +who entered it. + +Of all the visitors who came to Mount Vernon during that first year of +Washington's retirement, none was more cordially welcomed than +Lafayette, who landed in New York early in August, and reached Mount +Vernon on the seventeenth of the same month. He remained there twelve +days, during which time the mansion was crowded with guests who came to +meet the great friend of America; and when he departed for Baltimore, +quite a large cavalcade of gentlemen accompanied him far on his way. + +In September, Washington made quite an extensive tour westward, over the +Alleghany mountains, to visit his lands on the Ohio and Great Kanawha +rivers. He was accompanied by Doctor Craik, his old companion-in-arms in +the French and Indian war, and who had accompanied him to the same +region in 1770. They travelled in true soldier style--tent, pack-horses, +and a few supplies, relying for their food chiefly upon their guns and +fishing-tackle. + +Owing to accounts of discontents and irritation among the Indian tribes, +Washington did not think it prudent to descend the Ohio, and they +proceeded no farther West than the Monongahela, which river they +ascended, and then went southward through the wilderness, until they +reached the Shenandoah valley, near Staunton. They returned to Mount +Vernon on the fourth of October, having travelled on horseback, in the +course of forty-four days, six hundred and eighty miles. + +It was during their first tour, according to the late Mr. Custis, that +Washington was visited by a venerable Indian sachem, who regarded him +with the utmost reverence, as a God-protected hero. He would neither +eat, drink, nor smoke with Washington; and finally, when a fire was +kindled, he arose and addressed him through Nicholson, an interpreter, +in the following terms:-- + + "I am a chief, and the ruler over many tribes; my influence extends + to the waters of the great lakes, and to the far, blue mountains. I + have travelled a long and weary path, that I might see the young + warrior of the great battle. It was on the day, when the white + man's blood, mixed with the streams of our forest, that I first + beheld this chief; I called to my young men, and said, mark yon + tall and daring warrior, he is not of the red-coat tribe--he hath + an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do--himself is + alone exposed. Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. Our + rifles were levelled, rifles which, but for him, knew not how to + miss. It was all in vain, for a power mightier far than we, + shielded him from harm. He can not die in battle. I am old, and + soon shall be gathered to the great council-fire of my fathers, in + the land of shades; but ere I go, there is a something, bids me + speak, in the voice of prophecy. Listen! _The Great Spirit protects + that man, and guides his destinies--he will become the chief of + nations, and a people yet unborn, will hail him as the founder of a + mighty empire!_" + +This prophetic speech made a deep impression upon the companions of +Washington; and always afterward, on the field of battle, Doctor Craik +remembered it, and was fully persuaded that his friend would come out of +the storm of conflict unharmed. And so he did. It is a singular fact, +that Washington never received the slightest wound in battle. + +Washington took an active interest in all that concerned the development +of the internal resources of the country; and one of the objects of his +tour westward in 1784, was the observation of the courses, and the +character of the streams flowing into the Ohio; the distance of their +navigable parts to those of the rivers east of the mountains, and the +distance of the portage between them. He had conceived the idea that a +communication, by canals, might be formed between the Potomac and James +rivers, and the waters of the Ohio, and thence to the great chain of +northern lakes. This idea had assumed the tangible shape of a +well-matured scheme of internal improvement, and he had attempted to +form a company for the purpose, when the kindling of the War for +Independence put a stop to every enterprise of that kind. + +Washington now desired to awaken new interest in the matter, and in a +long and able letter to Benjamin Harrison, then governor of Virginia, +written in October, 1784, he set forth the advantages to be expected by +such a system of inland navigation. This letter was "one of the ablest, +most sagacious, and most important productions of his pen," says Mr. +Sparks, "presenting first a clear statement of the question, and showing +the practicability of facilitating the intercourse of trade between the +East and the West, by improving and extending the water +communications."[7] + +Washington then proceeded, by a train of admirable arguments and +illustrations, to explain the commercial and political value of such a +measure, in giving strength to the union of the states, and promoting +the prosperity of the country, by multiplying the resources of trade. + +"I need not remark to you, sir," he said, "that the flanks and rear of +the United States are possessed by other powers, and formidable ones +too; nor how necessary it is to apply the cement of interest to bind all +parts of the Union together by indissoluble bonds, especially that part +of it which lies immediately west of us, with the middle states. For +what ties, let me ask, should we have upon those people? How entirely +unconnected with them shall we be, and what troubles may we not +apprehend, if the Spaniards on their right, and Great Britain on their +left, instead of throwing stumbling-blocks in their way, as they now do, +should hold out lures for their trade and alliance? What, when they get +strength, which will be sooner than most people conceive (from the +emigration of foreigners, who will have no particular predilection +toward us, as well as from the removal of our own citizens), will be +the consequence of their having formed close connections with both or +either of those powers, in a commercial way? It needs not, in my +opinion, the gift of prophecy to foretell. + +"The western states (I speak now from my own observation) stand, as it +were, upon a pivot. The touch of a feather would turn them any way. They +have looked down the Mississippi, until the Spaniards, very +impolitically, I think for themselves, threw difficulties in their way; +and they looked that way for no other reason, than because they could +glide gently down the stream, without considering, perhaps, the +difficulties of the voyage back again, and the time necessary to perform +it in; and because they have no other means of coming to us but by long +land transportations and unimproved roads. These causes have hitherto +checked the industry of the present settlers; for, except the demand for +provisions, occasioned by the increase of population, and a little +flour, which the necessities of the Spaniards compel them to buy, they +have no incitements to labor. But smooth the road, and make easy the way +for them, and then see what an influx of articles will be poured upon +us; how amazingly our exports will be increased by them, and how amply +we shall be compensated for any trouble and expense we may encounter to +effect it. + +"A combination of circumstances makes the present conjuncture more +favorable for Virginia, than for any other state in the Union, to fix +these matters. The jealous and untoward disposition of the Spaniards on +the one hand, and the private views of some individuals, coinciding with +the general policy of the court of Great Britain on the other, to retain +as long as possible the posts of Detroit, Niagara, and Oswego (which, +though done under the letter of the treaty, is certainly an infraction +of the spirit of it, and injurious to the Union), may be improved to the +greatest advantage by this state, if she would open the avenues to the +trade of that country, and embrace the present moment to establish it. +It only wants a beginning. The western inhabitants would do their part +toward its execution. Weak as they are, they would meet us at least +halfway, rather than to be driven into the arms of foreigners, or to +be made dependent upon them; which would eventually either bring on a +separation of them from us, or a war between the United States and one +or the other of those powers, most probably with the Spaniards." + +Washington's letter had a powerful effect upon the public mind. Governor +Harrison laid it before the Virginia legislature, and that body received +it with the greatest favor. Thus encouraged in his scheme, Washington +hastened to Richmond to give his personal attention to the matter; and +on the morning after his arrival (November sixteenth) he was waited upon +by a committee of the assembly, with Patrick Henry at their head, who, +in the name of the body whom they represented, testified their reverence +for his character and affection for his person. + +The Virginia assembly proceeded to appoint a commission to make the +requisite surveys, and Washington returned to Mount Vernon, accompanied +by Lafayette, whom he had met in Richmond. The marquis remained there a +few days, and then departed for the seaboard, never to visit the United +States again, until he became an old man, and the republic he had +assisted in founding, had grown fifty years older. + +Washington's scheme for internal improvements occupied much of his +attention, and he corresponded largely upon the subject. His plan, at +first, contemplated more especially the interests of Virginia and +Maryland, but it expanded in his mind so as to embrace the whole Union. +In a letter written on the fourteenth of December, to Richard Henry Lee, +then recently elected president of Congress, he urged the necessity of +action by that body, and suggested that the western waters should be +explored, the navigation of them fully ascertained, accurately laid +down, and a perfect map made of the country; that in the sale of public +lands, the United States should make a reservation of all mines, +minerals, and salt-springs, for special sale; and that a medium price +should be adopted for the western lands, sufficient to prevent a +monopoly, but not to discourage actual settlers. He wished to +discountenance the land-jobbers and "roaming speculators," who were +disquieting the Indians, and to encourage the useful citizen. He +perceived the necessity of doing something to regulate the matter, for, +he said, "the spirit of emigration is great. The people have got +impatient, and, though you can not stop the road, it is yet in your +power to mark the way. It is easier to prevent than to remedy an evil." + +Late in December, Washington was invited to Annapolis by the Virginia +assembly, to assist in arranging matters with the assembly of Maryland, +respecting his scheme for uniting the Potomac and James rivers, with +those of the West. He attended the conference, and chiefly through his +exertions two companies were formed for the purpose, under the auspices +of the respective governments, and he was appointed president of both. +They were called respectively, the _Potomac Company_, and the _James +River Company_. Thus it will be seen, that during the first year after +the close of the Revolution, Washington set in motion that vast scheme +of internal improvements, which has had a powerful and salutary +influence upon the destinies of our country. + +Again Washington's consistency was put to the test. Grateful for his +past services, and conscious of the advantages to the Virginia +commonwealth, of the great scheme of improvement which he had now set in +motion, they, by unanimous vote, offered to present to him fifty shares +in the Potomac Company, valued at ten thousand dollars, and one hundred +shares in the James River Company, valued at twenty-five thousand +dollars. Aware of his resolution not to receive any pecuniary gift from +the public, the legislature, in the preamble to the resolution, said:-- + + "It is the desire of the representatives of this commonwealth to + embrace every suitable occasion of testifying their sense of the + unexampled merits of George Washington toward his country; and it + is their wish in particular, that those great works for its + improvement, which, both as springing from the liberty which he has + been so instrumental in establishing, and as encouraged by his + patronage, will be durable monuments of his glory, may be made + monuments also of the gratitude of his country." + +This mark of his countrymen's appreciation, was, of course, gratifying +to Washington, but again, true to his convictions and his vows, he +declined to receive the donation for his own benefit; but, as a matter +of expediency, he offered to accept the shares, provided the legislature +would allow him to appropriate them to the use of some object of a +public nature. The assembly cheerfully acceded to his proposition. As +the encouragement of education was a subject in which he felt deeply +interested, he made over the shares of the James River Company to an +institution in Rockbridge county, called _Liberty Hall Academy_, and +those of the Potomac Company he bequeathed in perpetuity for the +endowment of a university in the District of Columbia, under the +auspices of the general government. _Liberty Hall_ afterward became the +flourishing _Washington College_, but the national university has never +been established. + +Other examples of Washington's interest in educational institutions, are +on record. He cheerfully accepted the chancellorship of William and Mary +college at Williamsburg; during many years he gave two hundred and fifty +dollars annually for the instruction of poor children in Alexandria; and +by his will he left four thousand dollars, the net income of which was +to be used for the same object. "Other examples," says Sparks, after +enumerating these and other benevolent acts of the great and good man, +"might be cited; and from his cautious habit of concealing from the +world his deeds of charity, it may be presumed many others are unknown, +in which his heart and his hand were open to the relief of indigent +merit." + +We have observed that Washington's dreams of repose at Mount Vernon were +not realized. Visitors from the old and the new world constantly +increased, and among them came that champion of liberty, Catharine +Macaulay Graham, whose pen had done noble service in the cause of human +rights. She came with her husband, and professed to have crossed the +Atlantic for the sole purpose of testifying, in person, her respect and +admiration for the character and deeds of Washington. "A visit from a +lady so celebrated in the literary world," he wrote to Knox, "can not +but be very flattering to me." + +His correspondence increased so rapidly, that it soon began to be +burdensome. To Richard Henry Lee he wrote in February, 1785, when +transmitting to him a mass of papers which he had received from the +pious Countess of Huntington, explaining her scheme for Christianizing +the American Indians: "Many mistakingly think that I am retired to ease, +and to that kind of tranquillity which would grow tiresome for want of +employment; but at no period of my life, not in the eight years I served +the public, have I been obliged to write so much myself, as I have done +since my retirement. Was this confined to friendly communication, and to +my own business, it would be equally pleasing and trifling; but I have a +thousand references to old matters, with which I ought not to be +troubled, but which, nevertheless, must receive some answer." + +In a letter to General Knox he amplified this topic a little, saying: +"It is not the letters from my friends which give me trouble, or add +aught to my perplexity. It is reference to old matters with which I have +nothing to do; applications which oftentimes can not be complied with; +inquiries which would require the pen of a historian to satisfy; letters +of compliment, as unmeaning, perhaps, as they are troublesome, but which +must be attended to; and the common-place business, which employs my pen +and my time, often disagreeably. Indeed, these, with company, deprive me +of exercise, and unless I can obtain relief, must be productive of +disagreeable consequences." + +For more than two years after the war, Washington kept neither clerk nor +secretary. At length the labor became insupportable, and through the +kind offices of General Lincoln, he procured the services of Tobias +Lear, a talented young gentleman of New Hampshire, who had recently left +Harvard college with honor. Mr. Lear took a social position at Mount +Vernon, as one of the family at table and among the guests, and became +greatly beloved by Washington. He remained there several years, +accompanied the general to New York when he went there to take the chair +of chief magistrate of the nation, and continued in his family until +after the seat of government was removed to Philadelphia. He was again a +resident at Mount Vernon, after the death of his wife, and was present +when the master of the mansion died. Mr. Lear relieved Washington of +much of the drudgery of the pen, and also took charge of the instruction +of his adopted children, Master and Miss Custis. + +Washington was also annoyed by the applications of artists and literary +men, the former for him to give them sittings for his portrait, and the +latter for materials for either his biography, or a general history of +the Revolution. He positively refused compliance with the latter +request, but occasionally indulged the former. At the solicitation of +Francis Hopkinson, he sat to Robert Edge Pine, a diminutive Englishman +and excellent artist. Pine was a warm republican, and came to America to +collect portraits of distinguished persons for the purpose of painting a +series of pictures illustrative of the War for Independence. + +Soon after Pine left Mount Vernon, Houdon, the eminent French +portrait-sculptor was there, at the request of the legislature of +Virginia, who had ordered a statue of Washington to be executed for the +statehouse at Richmond. For such a purpose, and under such auspices, +Washington was willing to submit to the manipulations of art, even those +so unpleasant as the moulding of the face in plaster, and he wrote to +Houdon, on his arrival in New York: "It will give me pleasure, sir, to +welcome you to the seat of my retirement; and whatever I have, or can +procure, that is necessary to your purpose, or convenient and agreeable +to your wishes, you must freely command, as inclination to oblige you +will be among the last things in which I shall be found deficient, +either on your arrival or during your stay." + +Houdon made a plaster-mould from Washington's face, modelled a complete +head and bust in clay, made a cast from that, took the latter to France, +and from it executed the statue now in the capitol at Richmond. He made +careful measurements of Washington's figure, and in Paris, Gouverneur +Morris stood for it. + +During nearly all of the year 1785, Washington was engaged much of the +time in the ornamentation of the grounds around the mansion he had +greatly enlarged, and in the improvement of his farms. The relief from +the pen afforded him by Mr. Lear, gave him time for pursuits of this +nature, which he so much loved, and his diary abounds with brief records +of his planting of trees and sowing of seeds. His Mount Vernon estate +was divided into five farms, and several hundred acres of woodland. The +mansion-house farm was his great care and delight, yet he managed the +other four with skill and prudence. On them he had over fifty +draught-horses, a dozen mules, more than three hundred head of black +cattle, three hundred and sixty sheep, and a large number of swine that +ran wild in the woods. + +He was fond of improvements of every kind. The king of Spain hearing +that he was anxious to procure the best breed of asses in Europe, for +the propagation of mules on his estate, sent him a magnificent jack and +two jennies. With this jack, and another sent to him by Lafayette, at +about the same time, he raised some noble mules from his coach-mares. In +a few years the Mount Vernon estate became stocked with a very superior +breed, some of them rising to the height of sixteen hands. + +From Arthur Young, an English agriculturist, Washington received many +precious seeds, improved implements, and good advice in the laying out +and management of farms. His early life habits were resumed--his early +rising, his frugal breakfast, his ride over his estate, and his exact +method in everything. He loved amusements still, but of a more quiet +kind than those of his younger days. The pleasures of the chase were +relinquished. His kennel was broken up, and his hounds, some of them a +present from Lafayette, were given away. + +Washington was a most cheerful, companionable man at home, yet always +dignified. "General Washington is, I believe," said Mr. Lear, after two +years residence in his family, "almost the only man of an exalted +character, who does not lose some part of his respectability by an +intimate acquaintance. I have never found a single thing that could +lessen my respect for him. A complete knowledge of his honesty, +uprightness, and candor in all his private transactions, has sometimes +led me to think him more than a man." + +In his family he was peculiarly kind and affectionate. Between himself +and Mrs. Washington the most perfect harmony existed. In all his +intercourse with his wife, he was most considerate. Mrs. Lewis (Nelly +Custis) said she had often seen Mrs. Washington, when she had something +to communicate, or a request to make, at a moment when the general's +mind was entirely abstracted from the present, seize him by the button +to command his attention, when he would look down upon her with a most +benignant smile, and, become at once attentive to her wishes, which were +never slighted. + +Thus, in the management of his estate, the entertainment of his guests, +correspondence with his friends at home and abroad, and the +contemplation of years of peaceful life that lay before him, +Washington's hours glided away for a season. Meanwhile the political +horizon of his country began to darken, and omens of a fearful storm +appeared. The people looked to their ancient pilot for help, and at the +hour when he was dreaming most sweetly of domestic quiet, they called +him to take the helm, for the ship of state was in danger. He was soon +at the post of responsibility, upon the turbulent sea of political life. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] Life of Washington, page 379. + + + + +Chapter V. + + JEALOUSIES OF THE STATES--WEAKNESS OF CONGRESS--VIEWS OF WASHINGTON + AND HIS COMPATRIOTS--WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO JAMES WARREN ON THE + CONFEDERATION--CONFERENCE AT MOUNT VERNON--WASHINGTON SUGGESTS A + NATIONAL COMMERCIAL CONVENTION--HAMILTON'S VIEWS OF THE + CONFEDERATION--THE CONTINENTALIST--HAMILTON RECOMMENDS A GENERAL + CONVENTION OF STATES TO AMEND THE CONFEDERATION--SECONDED BY THE NEW + YORK LEGISLATURE--LETTER OF JAY TO WASHINGTON--WASHINGTON'S + REPLY--AN IMPENDING CRISIS--WASHINGTON'S SECOND LETTER TO + JAY--WASHINGTON'S INFLUENCE IN HIS RETIREMENT--CONVENTION AT + ANNAPOLIS A FAILURE--ANOTHER RECOMMENDED--WASHINGTON APPOINTED A + DELEGATE FROM VIRGINIA--HE HESITATES--CONGRESS RECOMMENDS A + CONVENTION--WASHINGTON ACCEPTS THE APPOINTMENT AND PROCEEDS TO + PHILADELPHIA. + + +We have had occasion, from time to time, to notice the jealousies of +individual states toward the continental Congress during the war, and +the consequent weakness of that body, as an executive of the will of the +people, at times when strength and energetic action were most needed. + +It was with great difficulty that the states were brought to agree to +the _Articles of Confederation_, and nothing but the pressure of a +common danger, which required unity of action, could have induced them +to surrender even so much of their individual sovereignty as those +articles required. When, therefore, the common danger had passed, and +the people felt security in the pursuits of peace, sectional and +provincial pride began to operate powerfully in dissolving the union of +the states. The Congress, doubtful of their power, and but little relied +upon by the great mass of the people as an instrument for the promotion +of national prosperity, were incompetent to execute treaties, to +regulate commerce, or to provide for the payment of debts contracted +for the confederation, amounting in the aggregate, foreign and domestic, +to a little more than forty millions of dollars. And that body itself +was often distracted by party dissentions, and rendered powerless to +exercise even its acknowledged authority, through disagreement. + +To Washington and other sagacious minds, the Articles of Confederation +had been regarded as essentially defective as a system of government, +long before the war had ceased. They perceived the necessity for a +greater centralization of power in the general government; and that +necessity became painfully apparent when peace came, and the people of +the several states found themselves in the condition of independent +sovereignty. The system of credit for the extinction of the national +debt, and to provide for the national expenditures, devised by the +Congress, was tardily accepted by most of the states, and utterly +neglected by others. Local interests and prejudices were consulted +instead of the national welfare; treaty stipulations were disregarded, +and the confederation became, in many respects, a dead letter. + +"The confederation appears to me," Washington wrote to James Warren, in +October, 1785, "to be little more than a shadow without the substance, +and Congress a nugatory body, their ordinances being little attended to. +To me it is a solecism in politics, indeed, it is one of the most +extraordinary things in nature, that we should confederate as a nation, +and yet be afraid to give the rulers of that nation (who are the +creatures of our own making, appointed for a limited and short duration, +and who are amenable for every action, and may be recalled at any +moment, and are subject to all the evils which they may be instrumental +in producing) sufficient powers to order and direct the affairs of the +same. By such policy as this the wheels of government are clogged, and +our brightest prospects, and that high expectation which was entertained +of us by the wondering world, are turned into astonishment; and, from +the high ground on which we stood, we are descending into the vale of +confusion and darkness. + +"That we have it in our power to become one of the most respectable +nations upon earth, admits, in my humble opinion, of no doubt, if we +would but pursue a wise, just, and liberal policy toward one another, +and keep good faith with the rest of the world. That our resources are +ample and increasing, none can deny; but while they are grudgingly +applied, or not applied at all, we give a vital stab to public faith, +and shall sink, in the eyes of Europe, into contempt. + +"It has long been a speculative question among philosophers and wise +men, whether foreign commerce is of real advantage to any country; that +is, whether the luxury, effeminacy, and corruptions, which are +introduced along with it, are counterbalanced by the convenience and +wealth which it brings. But the decision of this question is of very +little importance to us. We have abundant reason to be convinced, that +the spirit of trade which pervades these states, is not to be +restrained. It behooves us, then, to establish just principles; and this +can not, any more than other matters of national concerns, be done by +thirteen heads differently constructed and organized. The necessity, +therefore, of a controlling power is obvious; and why it should be +withheld is beyond my comprehension." + +A little earlier than this, Washington had been engaged in grave +discussions at Mount Vernon, with commissioners who had been appointed +by the assemblies of Virginia and Maryland, to form a compact in +relation to the navigation of the Potomac and Pocomoke rivers, and a +part of Chesapeake bay. During the conference he suggested the idea of a +conjunction of the several states in arrangements of a commercial +nature, over which the Congress, under the Articles of Confederation, +had no control. In this suggestion lay the kernel of future most +important action, which finally led to the great result of a convention +of the states, the abandonment of the old confederation, and the +adoption of the Federal Constitution. + +But earlier far than this, one of the most extraordinary young men of +the last century--indeed, of any century--had, with wonderful sagacity, +perceived the evils that would naturally be developed by a weak central +government, and had pleaded eloquently with the people to give the +Congress more power. That young man was Alexander Hamilton, who, as +early as 1781, put forth his views on the subject in a series of +papers, under the title of _The Continentalist_. He was then only +twenty-four years of age, yet no man in the country appeared to have +clearer views of what constituted true national policy, than he. Indeed, +he spoke with the wisdom of a statesman of threescore years; and with +Washington and others he deeply lamented the mischievous effects of the +practical influence of the doctrine of state rights in its ultra phases. +"An extreme jealousy of power," he said, "is the attendant of all +popular revolutions, and has seldom been without its evils. It is to +this source we are to trace many of the fatal mistakes which have so +deeply endangered the common cause; particularly that defect--a want of +power in Congress." + +The _Continentalist_ was published in the _New York Packet_, printed at +Fishkill, in Duchess county, and the series were devoted chiefly to a +discussion of the defects of the confederation. They excited great local +and general interest; and finally Hamilton succeeded in having the +subject of a general convention brought before the New York legislature, +in 1782, while in session at Poughkeepsie. The idea Was a popular one +with them, and on Sunday, the twenty-first of July, 1782, that body +passed a series of resolutions, in the last of which it was remarked, +"that it is essential to the common welfare, that there should be as +soon as possible, a conference of the whole on the subject, and that it +would be advisable for this purpose to propose to Congress to recommend, +and to each state to adopt, the measure of assembling a GENERAL +CONVENTION OF THE STATES, specially authorized to revise and amend the +CONFEDERATION, reserving the right to the respective legislatures to +ratify their determination." + +This recommendation was pondered in other states, but the public +authorities were not ready to adopt it. At length the suggestion of +Washington, concerning a general commercial convention, was acted upon +by the Virginia legislature. That action drew a letter from John Jay to +Washington, in March, 1786, in which he said:-- + + "Experience has pointed out errors in our national government which + call for correction, and which threaten to blast the fruit we + expected from our tree of liberty. The correction proposed by + Virginia may do some good, and would, perhaps, do more if it + comprehended more objects. An opinion begins to prevail that a + general convention for revising the Articles of Confederation would + be expedient. Whether the people are yet ripe for such a measure, + or whether the system proposed to be attained by it is only to be + expected from calamity and commotion, is difficult to ascertain. I + think we are in a delicate situation, and a variety of + considerations and circumstances give me uneasiness." + +To this Washington responded in May, saying: "I coincide perfectly in +sentiment with you, my dear sir, that there are errors in our national +government which call for correction; loudly, I would add; but I shall +find myself happily mistaken, if the remedies are at hand. We are +certainly in a delicate situation; but my fear is, that the people are +not yet sufficiently _misled_ to retract from error. To be plain, I +think there is more wickedness than ignorance mixed in our councils. +Under this impression I scarcely know what opinion to entertain of a +general convention. That it is necessary to revise and amend the +Articles of Confederation, I entertain no doubt; but what may be the +consequences of such an attempt, is doubtful. Yet something must be +done, or the fabric must fall, for it certainly is tottering." + +It was the general impression, at that time, that an alarming crisis in +public affairs was at hand, and during the whole summer of 1786, +Washington was in constant correspondence with leading minds in +different parts of the country. To Jay he again wrote in August, +saying:-- + + "I do not conceive we can long exist as a nation, without having + lodged somewhere a power, which will pervade the whole Union in as + energetic a manner as the authority of the state governments + extends over the several states. To be fearful of investing + Congress with powers, constituted as that body is, appears to me + the very climax of popular absurdity and madness. Could Congress + exert them for the detriment of the public, without injuring + themselves in an equal or greater proportion? Are not their + interests inseparably connected with those of their constituents? + By the rotation of appointment, must they not mingle frequently + with the mass of citizens? Is it not rather to be apprehended, if + they were possessed of the powers before described, that the + individual members would be induced to use them, on many occasions, + very timidly and inefficaciously, for fear of losing their + popularity and future election? We must take human nature as we + find it. Perfection falls not to the share of mortals. + + "Many are of opinion, that Congress have too frequently made use of + the suppliant, humble tone of requisition in application to the + states, when they had a right to assert their imperial dignity and + command obedience. Be that as it may, requisitions are a perfect + nullity when thirteen sovereign, independent, disunited states, are + in the habit of discussing and refusing compliance with them at + their option. Requisitions are actually little better than a jest + and a by-word throughout the land. If you tell the legislatures + they have violated the treaty of peace, and invaded the + prerogatives of the confederacy, they will laugh in your face. What + then is to be done? They can not go on in the same train for ever. + It is much to be feared, as you observe, that the better kind of + people, being disgusted with the circumstances, will have their + minds prepared for any revolution whatever.... I am told that even + respectable characters speak of a monarchical form of government + without horror. From thinking proceeds speaking; thence to acting + is often but a single step. But how irrevocable and tremendous! + What a triumph to our enemies to verify their predictions!... Would + to God that wise measures may be taken in time to avert the + consequences we have but too much reason to apprehend. + + "Retired as I am from the world," he continued, "I frankly + acknowledge I can not feel myself an unconcerned spectator. Yet, + having happily assisted in bringing the ship into port, and having + been fairly discharged, it is not my business to embark again on a + sea of troubles. Nor could it be expected that my sentiments and + opinions could have much weight on the minds of my countrymen. They + have been neglected, though given as a last legacy in the most + solemn manner," he said, referring to his circular to the governors + of the states in the summer of 1783; "I had then, perhaps, some + claim to public attention, I consider myself as having none at + present." + +His sentiments and opinions _did_ have great weight, and in his +retirement at Mount Vernon, Washington exercised a most powerful +influence. To the patriotic and thoughtful, his words were oracular, and +the ear of the nation leaned in earnest silence toward Mount Vernon at +that crisis, to catch the faintest whisper from the lips of the retired +soldier, who was about to emerge as a sagacious statesman. + +In September, 1786, commissioners met at Annapolis, at the suggestion of +the legislature of Virginia, "to take into consideration the trade of +the United States," and "to report to the several states such an act +relative to this great object, as, when unanimously ratified by them," +would enable "the United States in Congress assembled," effectually to +provide for such a uniform system in their commercial relations as might +be necessary to their common interest and their social harmony. + +Only five states (Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New +York) were represented in the convention. The deputies assembled on the +eleventh, and appointed John Dickenson, of Pennsylvania, chairman. A +committee was appointed to prepare a draft of a report to be made to the +legislatures of the several states there represented. That committee +reported on the fourteenth, when, as a majority of the states were not +represented in the convention, it was thought advisable to postpone +further action. They adjourned, after recommending to the several states +the appointment of deputies to meet in convention for a similar purpose, +in May following. They also prepared a letter to Congress, to accompany +a copy of the report to the several states represented, in which the +defects of the _Articles of Confederation_ were set forth. + +When the Virginia assembly met, they resolved to appoint seven delegates +to represent that state in the proposed convention, and placed +Washington's name at the head of the list of deputies selected. The +appointment was made by the unanimous voice of the assembly, and the +fact was first communicated to him by Mr. Madison. Washington was +embarrassed. He heartily approved of the measure, and was willing to +leave the retirement of private life for a season, to serve his country +in a dark and critical hour; but he could not do so at that time, +without being obnoxious to the charge of inconsistency, and of +disrespect to a class of his fellow-citizens, who, above all others, he +most loved. + +"I presume you have heard, sir," he said to Madison, "that I was first +appointed, and have since been re-chosen, president of the society of the +Cincinnati; and you may have understood, also, that the triennial +general meeting of this body is to be held in Philadelphia the first +Monday in May next. Some particular reasons, combining with the peculiar +situation of my private concerns, the necessity of paying attention to +them, a wish for retirement and relaxation from public cares, and +rheumatic pains which I begin to feel very sensibly, induced me to +address a circular letter to each state society, informing them of my +intention not to be at the next meeting, and of my desire not to be +re-chosen president." + +Under these circumstances, and as the convention was to assemble at the +same place and at about the same time, he felt that he ought to decline +serving, for he could not appear there without giving offence to the +members of the society. They might, with reason, have grounds for +suspecting his sincerity, or even of his having deserted the officers +who had so nobly supported him during the war for independence. He, +therefore, in reply to the governor's official notification of his +appointment, expressed a wish that some other gentleman should be +substituted for himself. + +Washington did not absolutely refuse to serve, and Governor Randolph +suggested that perhaps before the time for the assembling of the +convention the objections in his mind might be removed. His name was +therefore continued at the head of the Virginia convention. + +Time moved on, and the subject of the convention of the states occupied +a large place in the public mind. Washington received many letters. +Some of these from his warm, personal friends expressed doubts of the +propriety of his attending the convention, and others advised against +it. Some thought that, as it did not originate with the supreme +legislature, acting under the articles of confederation which that +convention was called to revise, it would be illegal; and those who were +very tender of Washington's character, and had doubts concerning the +results of such convention, advised against his going, as his brilliant +reputation might suffer, should the whole affair prove abortive; while +others, having heard insinuations that the opposers of the convention +were monarchists, advised his going, to show that he favored it, and to +give the weight of his name to a really republican movement in which the +best interests of his country were involved. + +Circumstances did finally occur which removed all objections from +Washington's mind. The Congress legalized the convention by a resolution +which declared it expedient, and fixing the day for its meeting. That +day was the second Monday in May, and was chosen in reference to the +general meeting of the society of the Cincinnati, which was to take +place a week earlier, that, thereby, Washington might be allowed to meet +with his brothers of the fraternity if he chose. Another circumstance +was the insinuation just alluded to, that the opponents of the +convention were monarchists, who were willing to have the difficulties +and dangers of the country increase, under the weak control of the +confederation, until republicanism should become hateful to the people; +and a third circumstance was a dangerous insurrection in Massachusetts +which had grown out of efforts to enforce federal laws. Washington was +unwilling to be classed among the opponents of the convention, or to +remain inactive, while violence was assuming to defy all law, and when +an era of anarchy in his country seemed about to dawn. Added to these +considerations, and the sanction of the convention by law, his friends, +whose minds had been changed in the course of a few months, now urged +him, by every consideration of patriotism, to come forth from his +retirement, for the salvation of the country depended in a great measure +upon his exertions. Washington no longer hesitated, and prepared to go +to the convention at the head of the Virginia deputies. + +He resolved not to go uninformed upon the great subject that would +engage the attention of that body, and he commenced a course of +preparation. "His knowledge of the institutions of his country and of +its political forms," says Sparks, "both in their general character and +minute affiliated relations, gained by inquiry and long experience, was +probably as complete as that of any other man. But he was not satisfied +with this alone. He read the history and examined the principles of the +ancient and modern confederacies. There is a paper in his handwriting +which contains an abstract of each, and in which are noted, in a +methodical order, their chief characteristics, the kinds of authority +they possessed, their modes of operation, and their defects. The +confederacies analyzed in this paper are the Lycian, Amphictyonic, +Achaen, Helvetic, Belgic, and Germanic. He also read the standard works +on general politics and the science of government, abridging parts of +them, according to his usual practice, that he might impress the +essential points more deeply on his mind." He resolved to do all in his +power, in that convention, to affect a radical cure of the political +maladies with which his country was afflicted. + +Washington set out from Mount Vernon on the ninth of May, in his +carriage, for Philadelphia, to attend the convention. He arrived at +Chester on the thirteenth, and was there met by General Mifflin (who was +then the speaker of the Pennsylvania assembly), Generals Knox and +Varnum, Colonels Humphreys and Meigs, and Majors Jackson and Nicholas, +by whom he was escorted toward Philadelphia. At Gray's ferry, on the +Schuylkill, a company of light-horse under Colonel Miles met and +escorted him into the city, when the bells were rung in honor of his +arrival. On the pressing invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morris, he +took lodgings with them; and as soon as the dust of travel could be +removed, he called upon Doctor Franklin, who was at that time president +of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The following day was the time +appointed for the assembling of the convention. + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON PRESIDING IN THE CONVENTION. 1787] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + THE CONVENTION OF STATES--WASHINGTON CHOSEN PRESIDENT OF THE + CONVENTION--RANDOLPH'S SPEECH AND RESOLUTIONS--NUMBER AND NAMES OF + DELEGATES--NOTICE OF SOME OF THEM--FRANKLIN IN THE CONVENTION OF + 1754--THE LEADING SPEAKERS IN THE CONVENTION--POSITION OF THE + MEMBERS IN REGARD TO PRECEDENTS--SYNOPSIS OF RANDOLPH'S + PLAN--PINCKNEY'S SKETCH--NATIONAL AND STATE-RIGHTS MEN--PATTERSON'S + PLAN--VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY PLANS--HAMILTON DISSENTS FROM + BOTH--HIS CHARACTER, SPEECH, AND SCHEME--ALL PLANS AND AMENDMENTS + REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE FOR REVISION--A CONSTITUTION REPORTED AND + ADOPTED--CRITICAL PERIODS IN THE CONVENTION--SUBJECTS FOR + DIFFERENCES--WASHINGTON'S APPREHENSIONS AND VIEWS--PATRIOTISM OF + HAMILTON--THE CONSTITUTION SIGNED--REMARKS BY WASHINGTON AND + FRANKLIN--CLOSE OF THE CONVENTION. + + +On Monday, the fourteenth day of May, 1787, those delegates to the +convention called to revise the Articles of Confederation who were then +in Philadelphia, assembled in the large room in the statehouse, since +known as Independence hall; but it was not until Friday, the +twenty-fifth, that seven states, the number required by Congress to form +a quorum, were represented, and the convention was organized. On that +day, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and North +and South Carolina, were represented by an aggregate number of +twenty-seven delegates; and on the nomination of Robert Morris, in +behalf of the state of Pennsylvania, Washington was, by unanimous vote, +elected president of the convention. William Jackson was chosen +secretary; and on Monday, the twenty-eighth, Edmund Randolph, of +Virginia, at the request of his colleagues, opened the business of the +convention by an elaborate speech, in which he showed the defects of the +Articles of Confederation, illustrated their utter inadequacy to secure +the peace and safety of the republic, and the absolute necessity of a +more energetic government. When he closed his remarks, he offered for +the consideration of the convention fifteen resolutions; not as a system +of organic law, but as leading principles whereon to form a new +government. + +Very soon after the commencement of the session, eleven states were +represented. New Hampshire sent delegates at the close of June, but the +Rhode Island assembly refused to elect any. Some of the most influential +men of that little commonwealth united in a letter to the convention, in +which they expressed warm sympathy with the movement. + +Sixty-one delegates had been appointed at the beginning of July, but +only about fifty served in the convention.[8] These were among the most +illustrious citizens of the republic, most of whom had been +distinguished for worth of character, talents, and patriotism, during +the late struggle for the independence of the colonies. Eighteen of them +were at that time members of the continental Congress. + +It is not proposed to consider in detail, nor even in a synoptical +manner, the proceedings of that convention, which occupied several hours +each day for four months. We will merely glance at the men and measures, +contemplate the result, and leave the reader to seek, in special +sources, for information concerning the important and interesting +subject of the formation of our federal constitution.[9] + +[Illustration: PORTRAITS OF RUFUS KING, JOHN DICKINSON, GOUVERNEUR +MORRIS, OLIVER ELLSWORTH, AND JOHN RUTLEDGE] + +Next to Washington, the venerable Doctor Franklin, then a little over +eighty-one years of age, was the most conspicuous member. Thirty-three +years before, he had submitted to a convention of colonial delegates, +held at Albany, a plan for a confederation, similar to our federal +constitution, but it was not adopted. It satisfied neither the board of +trade to whom it was submitted, nor the colonial assemblies who +discussed it. "The assemblies did not adopt it," he said, "as they all +thought there was too much _prerogative_ in it, and in England it was +judged to have too much of the _democratic_." + +Dickinson, Johnson, and Rutledge, had been members of the stamp-act +Congress in 1765. The first and last had been compatriots with +Washington in the Congress of 1774, and Sherman, Livingston, Read, and +Wythe, had shared the same honors. The two latter, with Franklin, +Sherman, Gerry, Morris, Clymer, and Wilson, had signed the Declaration +of Independence. Washington, Mifflin, Hamilton, and Cotesworth Pinckney, +represented the continental army; and the younger members, who became +prominent after the Declaration of Independence, were Hamilton, Madison, +and Edmund Randolph. The latter was then governor of Virginia, having +succeeded Patrick Henry. + +The leading speakers in the long and warm debates elicited by the +resolutions of Governor Randolph and others, were King, Gerry, and +Gorham, of Massachusetts; Hamilton and Lansing, of New York; Ellsworth, +Johnson, and Sherman, of Connecticut; Paterson, of New Jersey, who +presented a scheme counter to that of Randolph; Franklin, Wilson, and +Morris, of Pennsylvania; Dickinson, of Delaware; Martin, of Maryland; +Randolph, Madison, and Mason, of Virginia; Williamson, of North +Carolina; and the Pinckneys, of South Carolina. Such were the men with +whom Washington was associated in the contrivance and construction of a +new system of government. + +"At that time," says Curtis, "the world had witnessed no such spectacle +as that of the deputies of a nation, chosen by the free action of great +communities, and assembled for the purpose of thoroughly reforming its +constitution, by the exercise and with the authority of the national +will. All that had been done, both in ancient and in modern times, in +forming, moulding, or modifying constitutions of government, bore little +resemblance to the present undertaking of the states of America. Neither +among the Greeks nor the Romans was there a precedent, and scarcely an +analogy." + +The great political maxim established by the Revolution was the original +residence of all human sovereignty in the people; and the statesmen in +the federal convention had scarcely any precedent, in theory or +practice, by which they might be governed in parcelling out so much of +that sovereignty as the people of the several states should be willing +to dismiss from their local political institutions, in making a strong +and harmonious federal republic, that should be at the same time +harmless toward reserved state-rights. + +Randolph's resolutions proposed: First, To correct and enlarge the +Articles of Confederation, so as to accomplish the original objects of +common defence, security of liberty, and general welfare. Secondly, To +make the right of suffrage in the national legislature proportioned to +the quotas of contribution, or to the number of free inhabitants, as +might seem best in different cases. Thirdly, To make the national +legislature consist of two branches; the members of the first to be +elected by the people of the several states at certain intervals for a +specified term. They were to be of a prescribed age, entitled to liberal +emolument for their public services, and to be ineligible to any office, +state or federal, except such as pertained to the functions of that +first branch, during their service; also to be ineligible to re-election +until after a certain space of time succeeding their term of service. +Fourthly, To have the members of the second branch elected by those of +the first from among those who should be nominated by the state +legislatures; to hold their offices "for a term sufficient to insure +their independency;" to be liberally paid for their services, and to be +subject to restrictions similar to those of the first. Fifthly, To have +each branch invested with power to originate acts; to give the national +legislature the right to legislate in all cases where the state +governments might be incompetent, or in which the harmony of the +confederation might be interrupted by the exercise of individual +legislation; to negative all laws passed by the individual states that +might contravene the articles of union; and to call forth the whole +Union against any member of the confederation that should fail to fulfil +its stipulated duty. Sixthly, To institute a national executive, to be +chosen periodically, liberally remunerated, and to be ineligible to a +second official term. Seventhly, To constitute the executive and a +convenient number of the national judiciary a council of revision, who +should have authority to examine every act of the national legislature +before it should operate, and of every individual legislature before a +negative thereon should be final, the dissent of said council amounting +to a rejection unless such act be again passed, or that of such +particular legislature should be again negatived by a specified number +of members of each branch. Eighthly, To establish a national judiciary, +the members of which should hold office during good behavior; and to +define their duties, powers, privileges, and emoluments. Ninthly, To +provide for the admission of new states into the Union. Tenthly, To +guaranty a republican form of government to each state and territory. +Eleventhly, To provide for a continuation of a Congress with its +delegated powers, until a new constitution should be established. +Twelfthly, To make provision for the amendment of the article of union +whenever it should seem necessary, the assent thereto of the national +legislature to be required. Thirteenthly, To require the legislative, +executive, and judiciary powers within the several states to be bound by +oath to support the Union. Fourteenthly, To submit the amendments made +by the convention, after the approbation of the same by Congress, "to an +assembly or assemblies of representatives, recommended by the several +legislatures, to be expressly chosen by the people, to consider and +decide thereon." + +Upon general principles, the scheme of Randolph, called the "Virginia +plan," was highly approved; but there were many zealous and pure-minded +patriots in that convention, who regarded the preservation of state +sovereignty, in all its integrity, as essential to the stability of the +republic. Holding the "Virginia plan" to be an infringement upon the +prerogatives of such sovereignty, they opposed it with vehemence. This +plan and a sketch submitted by Charles Pinckney, which appears to have +furnished the outline of the constitution as finally adopted, was +referred to a committee. + +The question arose at the beginning, and frequently recurred, "What +limit has the convention in revising the Articles of Confederation? and +has it power to prepare an entirely new system of government?" It was +properly argued, that as a favorably-received resolution in Mr. +Randolph's plan proposed to submit the matter finally to popular +conventions in the several states, that question need not to be +considered. + +The debates were carried on warmly, day after day, in committee of the +whole house, and the convention soon became divided into national and +state-rights men, the representatives of six of the states being in +favor of the broad national view, and five for the state-rights view. + +Randolph's resolutions were taken up consecutively and debated for a +fortnight, when, after many modifications, they were reported back to +the house. Paterson, of New Jersey, then immediately brought forward a +counter scheme, which was called the "New Jersey plan," and embodied the +peculiar views of the state-rights party. It proposed to preserve the +continental Congress as the federal legislature, with additional power +to levy duties on foreign importations; to impose stamp and postage +taxes; to collect, without hinderance, requisitions not promptly met by +the states; and to regulate commerce with foreign nations. It proposed a +plural federal executive and a federal judiciary, and made acts of +Congress and foreign treaties supreme laws. + +Paterson's plan and Randolph's modified resolutions were referred to a +new committee, and the whole question concerning a national government +was again considered. Again debates ran high. In the course of these, +Hamilton, who had come into the convention with more courage and fixed +plan than any other member, avowed his dissent from both the schemes +before the committee. He was listened to with the most profound respect; +and gray-haired men, as they looked upon his delicate form and youthful +features, were filled with wonder at the display of his great genius for +political construction, his extensive knowledge of the means by which +true conservative liberty might be secured, and his thorough +comprehension of the wants and resources of his country. He had come +into the convention fully prepared to propound a solution of the great +questions which he knew would perplex the members; and at the close of +an elaborate and in many respects most extraordinary speech, he offered +a written sketch of a system, not, he said, for discussion in the +committee, nor with the idea that the public mind was yet prepared for +it, but as explanatory of his own views and introductory to some +amendments he intended to propose. He then departed for New York, +leaving his two colleagues, who took the state-rights view of the +matter, to represent his state in the convention. They too soon left, +and never returned. + +Day after day and week after week the debates continued, sometimes with +great courtesy, and sometimes with considerable acrimony, until the +tenth of September, when all plans and amendments which had been adopted +by the convention were placed in the hands of a committee for revision +and arrangement. Hamilton, who had returned to the convention at the +middle of August, was placed upon that committee, having for his +associates Messrs. Madison, King, Johnson, and Gouverneur Morris. To the +latter was intrusted the task of giving the finish to the style and +arrangement of the instrument. It was then reported to the convention, +taken up clause by clause, discussed, somewhat amended, and ordered to +be engrossed. On the fifteenth it was agreed to as amended, by all the +states present, and on the seventeenth a fair copy was brought in to +receive the signatures of the members. + +Many times, during that long session of almost four months, there were +serious apprehensions of failure, the views of members differed so +essentially upon important points. One of the most exciting of these +questions which elicited zealous debates, was a proposition for the +general government to assume the debts of the respective states. The +debts of the several commonwealths were vastly unequal, and the +proposition was therefore distasteful to several. For example, those of +Massachusetts and South Carolina amounted to more than ten and a half +millions of dollars, while those of all the other states did not exceed, +in the aggregate, fifteen millions. + +But the most serious subject for difference was that of representation +in the senatorial branch of the national legislature, the smaller states +claiming, and the larger ones opposing, the exercise of the rule of +equality. For a long time an equal division of votes on that point had +been reiterated, and most of the members began to feel assured that no +compromise could be effected. But the matter was finally adjusted by +mutual concessions, and a plan for the construction of the senate upon +the basis of an equal number of representatives from each of the states, +large and small, was adopted. + +Frequently during the session of the convention, Washington had serious +apprehensions concerning the result. He perceived with much anxiety a +disposition to withhold power from the national legislature, which, in +his opinion, was the chief cause of the inadequacy of the confederation +to fulfil its mission. "Happy indeed will it be," he wrote to David +Stuart on the first of July, "if the convention shall be able to +recommend such a firm and permanent government for this Union, that all +who live under it may be secure in their lives, liberty, and property; +and thrice happy would it be if such a recommendation should obtain. +Everybody wishes, everybody expects something from the convention; but +what will be the final result of its deliberations the book of fate must +disclose. Persuaded I am, that the primary cause of all our disorders +lies in the different state governments, and in the tenacity of that +power which pervades the whole of their systems. Whilst independent +sovereignty is so ardently contended for, whilst the local views of each +state, and separate interests by which they are too much governed, will +not yield to a more enlarged scale of politics, incompatibility in the +laws of different states, and disrespect to those of the general +government, must render the situation of this great country weak, +inefficient, and disgraceful. It has already done so, almost to the +final dissolution of it. Weak at home, and disregarded abroad, is our +present condition, and contemptible enough it is." + +"Thirteen governments," he wrote on the fifteenth of August, "pulling +against each other, and all tugging at the federal head, will soon bring +ruin on the whole; whereas, a liberal and energetic constitution, well +checked and well watched, to prevent encroachments, might restore us to +that degree of respectability and consequence to which we had the +fairest prospect of attaining." And again: "I confess that my opinion of +public virtue is so far changed, that I have my doubts whether any +system, without means of coercion in the sovereign, will enforce due +obedience to the ordinances of a general government, without which +everything else fails." + +Although Washington took no part in the debates of the convention, his +opinions, concurrent with those of Hamilton, were firmly and strongly +expressed, and had great influence. The constitution as finally framed +and adopted did not receive his unqualified approval. He had decided +objections to several of its features; but he accepted it as a whole, as +the best that could be obtained under the circumstances, firmly +persuaded that it was a great step in advance of the confederation, and +that experience in its workings would suggest necessary amendments, for +which ample provision was made. In fact, the instrument did not wholly +please a single member of the convention. It was, to a considerable +extent, a patchwork of compromises, and many doubted its being ratified +by a majority of the states. + +Hamilton regarded the constitution as adopted with feelings of +disappointment. It lacked the strength that he desired it to possess; +but, like Washington, he yielded his private sentiments and impulses to +the consideration of the public good. His own plan, which he had urged +with all his eloquence and energy, differed radically from the one +adopted; yet, with a nobleness of spirit which challenges our highest +admiration, he sacrificed the pride of opinion, and when the +constitution had passed the ordeal of severest criticism and amendment +by the convention, he avowed himself ready to sign it, and urged others, +who hesitated, to do the same "No man's ideas are more remote from the +plan than my own," he said; "but is it possible to deliberate between +anarchy and confusion on one side, and the chance of good on the other." + +A large majority of the members desired that the instrument should go +forth to the people, not only as the act of the convention, but with the +individual sanction and signatures of their representatives. Franklin, +desirous of having it promulgated with such sanction, arose with a +written speech in his hand when the engrossed copy was brought in, in +which, with pleasant words, he endeavored to allay the irritated temper +of some of the delegates, and procure for the constitution unanimous +signature. Mr. Wilson read the speech, and it was closed with a form +suggested by Gouverneur Morris, which might be signed without implying +personal approval of the instrument: "Done by consent of the states +present. In testimony whereof, we have subscribed," et cetera. + +The appeals of Hamilton and Franklin, a few approving words of +Washington, and the example of Madison and Pinckney, secured the +signatures of several dissatisfied members; and all present, except +Mason and Randolph of Virginia, and Gerry of Massachusetts, signed the +constitution.[10] The absence of the colleagues of Mr. Hamilton (Yates +and Lansing), who had left the convention in disgust on the first of +July, caused New York to be regarded as not officially present; but, to +secure for the proceedings the weight of a name so important as that of +Hamilton, in the place that should have been filled by his state, was +recited "Mr. Hamilton of New York." + +"There is a tradition," says Curtis, "that when Washington was about to +sign the instrument, he rose from his seat, and holding the pen in his +hand, after a short pause, pronounced these words: 'Should the states +reject this excellent constitution, the probability is that an +opportunity will never again offer to cancel another in peace--the next +will be drawn in blood.' While the members were signing, Doctor +Franklin, looking toward the chair occupied by Washington, at the back +of which a sun was painted, observed to the persons near him: 'I have +often and often, in the course of the session, and the vicissitudes of +my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that sun behind the +president, without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: +at length I have the happiness to know it is a rising, not a setting +sun.'" + +The great convention adjourned on the seventeenth of September, after +directing a copy of the constitution, with an accompanying letter, to be +sent to the Congress. The journal of the convention was placed in the +hands of Washington (by whom it was afterward deposited in the +department of state); and on the following morning he wrote in his +dairy: "The business being thus closed, the members adjourned to the +City Tavern, dined together, and took a cordial leave of each other; +after which, I returned to my lodgings, did some business with, and +received the papers from, the secretary of the convention, and retired +to meditate on the momentous work which had been executed, after not +less than five, for a large part of the time six, and sometimes seven +hours' sitting every day (except Sundays, and the ten days' adjournment +to give a committee an opportunity and time to arrange the business) for +more than four months." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] The following are the names of the delegates: _New +Hampshire_--John Langdon, John Pickering, Nicholas Gilman, and Benjamin +West. _Massachusetts_--Francis Dana, Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gorham, +Rufus King, and Caleb Strong. _Connecticut_--William Samuel Johnson, +Roger Sherman, and Oliver Ellsworth. _New York_--Robert Yates, John +Lansing, Jr., and Alexander Hamilton. _New Jersey_--David Brearly, +William Churchill Houston, William Paterson, John Neilson, William +Livingston, Abraham Clark, and Jonathan Dayton. _Pennsylvania_--Thomas +Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Jared Ingersoll, Thomas +Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and Benjamin Franklin. +_Delaware_--George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard +Bassett, and Jacob Broom. _Maryland_--James M'Henry, Daniel of St. +Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll, John Francis Mercer, and Luther Martin. +_Virginia_--George Washington, Patrick Henry (refused to serve, and +James M'Clure was nominated in his place), Edmund Randolph, John Blair, +James Madison, Jr., George Mason, and George Wythe. _North +Carolina_--Richard Caswell, Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, +Richard Dobbs Spaight, and Willie Jones: Caswell and Jones having +declined to serve, William Blount and Hugh Williamson were chosen in +their places. _South Carolina_--John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Charles +Cotesworth Pinckney, and Pierce Butler. _Georgia_--William Few, Abraham +Baldwin, William Pierce, George Walton, William Houston, and Nathaniel +Pendleton. + +[9] Curtis's _History of the Origin, Formation, and Adoption of +the Constitution of the United States_ is by far the most ample and +reliable source of information on this subject. + +[10] The following are the names of the delegates who signed +the constitution: GEO. WASHINGTON, _President, and deputy from +Virginia_. _New Hampshire_--John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman. +_Massachusetts_--Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King. _Connecticut_--William +Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman. _New York_--Alexander Hamilton. _New +Jersey_--William Livingston, David Brearly, William Paterson, Jonathan +Dayton. _Pennsylvania_--Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert +Morris, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll, James +Wilson, Gouverneur Morris. _Delaware_--George Reed, Gunning Bedford, +Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom. _Maryland_--James +M'Henry, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll. _Virginia_--John +Blair, James Madison, Jr. _North Carolina_--William Blount, Richard +Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson. _South Carolina_--John Rutledge, Charles +C. Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler. _Georgia_--William Few, +Abraham Baldwin. _Attest_: William Jackson, _Secretary_. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + THE CONSTITUTION SUBMITTED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURES--THE GREAT + CONFLICT OF OPINIONS--WASHINGTON'S LETTERS TO MRS. GRAHAM AND + LAFAYETTE ON THE SUBJECT--HAMILTON PREPARES FOR THE BATTLE--HIS + PRELIMINARY REMARKS--OPPOSITION TO THE CONSTITUTION--_THE + FEDERALIST_--STORMY DEBATES IN STATE CONVENTIONS--RATIFICATION OF + THE CONSTITUTION--MEASURES FOR ESTABLISHING THE NEW + GOVERNMENT--WASHINGTON'S THANKFULNESS FOR THE RESULT--WASHINGTON + SPONTANEOUSLY NOMINATED FOR THE PRESIDENCY--HIS GREAT RELUCTANCE TO + ENTER UPON PUBLIC LIFE AGAIN--LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS ON THE + SUBJECT--WASHINGTON ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED + STATES--PREPARATIONS FOR LEAVING HOME--VISIT TO, AND PARTING WITH + HIS MOTHER--HIS JOURNEY TO THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT LIKE A TRIUMPHAL + PROCESSION--HONORS BY THE WAY--ARRIVAL AND RECEPTION AT NEW + YORK--HIS SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. + + +The Congress, on the twenty-eighth of September, unanimously resolved to +send the constitution adopted by the convention, and the accompanying +letters, to the legislatures of the several states, and to recommend +them to call conventions within their respective jurisdictions to +consider it. And it was agreed, that when nine of the thirteen states +should ratify it, it should become the fundamental law of the republic. + +And now commenced the first great and general conflict of political +opinions since the establishment of the independence of the United +States; and in each of the several commonwealths, men of the first rank +in talent, social position, and sound moral and political integrity, +became engaged in the discussion of the great question of national +government. That conflict had commenced in the general convention, but +the proceedings of that body were under the seal of secrecy. Yet the +positions assumed by the delegates in the general discussion in their +several states, revealed the fact that extreme diversity of opinion had +prevailed in the convention, and that the constitution was composed of +compromises marked with the scars of severe conflict. + +Referring to these differences of opinion in the convention, Washington +remarked to Catharine Macaulay Graham, in a letter written on the +sixteenth of November, that "the various and opposite interests which +were to be conciliated, the local prejudices which were to be subdued, +the diversity of opinions and sentiments which were to be reconciled, +and, in fine, the sacrifices which were necessary to be made on all +sides for the general welfare, combined to make it a work of so +intricate and difficult a nature, that I think it is much to be wondered +at that anything could have been produced with such unanimity as the +constitution proposed.... Whether it will be adopted by the people or +not remains yet to be determined." + +To Lafayette he wrote in February following: "It appears to me little +short of a miracle that the delegates from so many states, different +from each other, as you know, in their manners, circumstances, and +prejudices, should unite in forming a system of national government, so +little liable to well-founded objections." After alluding to its obvious +defects, he continued:-- + + "With regard to the two great points, the pivots upon which + the whole machine must move, my creed is simply: First, that + the general government is not invested with more powers than + are indispensably necessary to perform the functions of a + good government; and, consequently, that no objection ought + to be made against the quantity of power delegated to it. + Secondly, that these powers, as the appointment of all + rulers will for ever arise from, and at short stated + intervals recur to, the free suffrage of the people, are so + distributed among the legislative, executive, and judicial + branches, into which the general government is arranged, + that it can never be in danger of degenerating into a + monarchy, an oligarchy, an aristocracy, or any other + despotic or oppressive form, so long as there shall remain + any virtue in the body of the people. + + "I would not be understood, my dear marquis, to speak of + consequences which may be produced, in the revolution of + ages, by corruption of morals, profligacy of manners, and + listlessness in the preservation of the natural and + inalienable rights of mankind, nor of the successful + usurpations that may be established at such an unpropitious + juncture upon the ruins of liberty, however providently + guarded and secured, as these are contingencies against + which no human prudence can effectually provide. It will at + least be a recommendation to the proposed constitution, that + it is provided with more checks and barriers against the + introduction of tyranny, and those of a nature less liable + to be surmounted, than any government hitherto instituted + among mortals. We are not to expect perfection in this + world; but mankind, in modern times, have apparently made + some progress in the science of government. Should that + which is now offered to the people of America be found an + experiment less perfect than it can be made, a constitutional + door is left open for its amelioration." + +Hamilton, with his usual marvellous sagacity, clearly perceived the +shaping of the conflict to be fought, and at once assumed the panoply of +a most acute contestant in its favor. "The new constitution," he wrote +immediately after the adjournment of the convention, "has in favor of +its success these circumstances: A very great weight of influence of the +persons who framed it, particularly in the universal popularity of +General Washington. The good will of the commercial interest throughout +the states, which will give all its efforts to the establishment of a +government capable of regulating, protecting, and extending the commerce +of the Union. The good will of most men of property in the several +states, who wish a government of the Union able to protect them against +domestic violence, and the depredations which the democratic spirit is +apt to make on property; and who are, besides, anxious for the +respectability of the nation. The hopes of the creditors of the United +States that a general government, possessing the means of doing it, will +pay the debt of the Union. A strong belief, in the people at large, of +the insufficiency of the present confederation to preserve the existence +of the Union, and of the necessity of the Union to their safety and +prosperity; of course, a strong desire of change, and a predisposition +to receive well the propositions of the convention." + +Very soon Hamilton, with other _federalists_, as the supporters of the +constitution were called, found it necessary to put forth all his +intellectual energies in defence of that instrument. Conventions were +speedily called in the several states to consider it, and the friends +and opponents of the constitution marshalled their respective +antagonistic forces with great skill and zeal. + +In Virgina, Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Richard Henry Lee, opposed +the constitution with all their power and influence, chiefly because it +would, in a degree, annul state rights, and base the sovereignty too +absolutely upon the popular will. Mason led in the opposition, and Henry +gave him the support of his eloquence. His arguments were those of all +other opponents; and with the leaders in his own and other states, he +raised the cry, which soon became general, that the new constitution had +no bill of rights and no sufficient guaranties for personal liberty. + +They cited the experience of the past to show, that of all national +governments a democratic one was the most unstable, fluctuating, and +short-lived; and that despotism, arising from a centralization of power +in the national government on one hand, and anarchy, incident to the +instability of democracy--"the levelling spirit of democracy" denounced +by Gerry as "the worst of political evils"--on the other, were the +Scylla and Charybdis between which the republic would, in the opinion of +their opponents, be placed, with almost a certainty of being destroyed. + +These views were ably combated in a series of political essays written +by Hamilton and Madison, with a few numbers by John Jay, which were +published in a New York newspaper, the object being, as stated by +Hamilton in the first number, "A discussion of the utility of the Union; +the insufficiency of the confederation to preserve that Union;" and "the +necessity of a government at least equally energetic with the one +proposed, to the attainment of this object." These essays, under the +general title of _The Federalist_, were written with uncommon ability, +exerted a powerful influence, and present an admirable treatise on the +philosophy of our federal constitution.[11] + +Long and stormy debates occurred in the state conventions; and it was +not until the twenty-first of June, 1788, that New Hampshire, the ninth +state in order, ratified the constitution.[12] It then became the organic +law of the republic. The Congress, when testimonials of ratification +were received from a sufficient number of states, appointed the first +Wednesday of January, 1789, for the people of the United States to +choose electors of a president in accordance with the provisions of the +constitution; the first Wednesday in February following for the electors +to meet and make a choice; and the first Wednesday in March ensuing for +the new government to meet for organization in the city of New York. + +While these discussions were going on, Washington remained at Mount +Vernon, a most anxious spectator of the progress of political events, +especially in his own state, where the opposition to the constitution +was very powerful and well organized. He took no direct part in the +proceedings of his state convention. "There is not, perhaps, a man in +Virginia," he wrote to General Lincoln, "less qualified than I am to +say, from his own knowledge and observation, what will be the fate of +the constitution here; for I very seldom ride beyond the limits of my +own farms, and am wholly indebted to those gentlemen who visit me for +any information of the disposition of the people toward it; but, from +all I can collect, I have not the smallest doubt of its being accepted." + +Washington's views were freely expressed in conversations at Mount +Vernon and in his letters, and they had great weight; and when, finally, +the seal of approbation of the constitution was set by New Hampshire and +his own state, and that instrument became the supreme law of the land, +his heart was filled with gratitude to the Great Disposer of events for +his manifest protection of the American people from the calamities with +which they had so long been threatened. "We may, with a kind of pious +and grateful exultation," he wrote to Governor Trumbull, "trace the +finger of Providence through those dark and mysterious events which +first induced the states to appoint a general convention, and then led +them, one after another, by such steps as were best calculated to effect +the object into an adoption of the systems recommended by that general +convention; thereby, in all human probability, laying a lasting +foundation for tranquillity and happiness, when we had too much reason +to fear that confusion and misery were coming rapidly upon us." + +The people of the Union, as if governed by one impulse, now turned to +Washington as the man who, above all others, was best qualified to +become the chief magistrate of the nation. He was informally nominated +by Hamilton, almost before the members of the convention that framed and +adopted the constitution had reached their homes. In a paper from which +we have just quoted, published immediately after the adjournment of the +convention, Hamilton said: "If the government be adopted, it is probable +General Washington will be the president of the United States. This will +insure a wise choice of men to administer the government, and a good +administration. A good administration will conciliate the confidence and +affection of the people, and perhaps enable the government to acquire +more consistency than the proposed constitution seems to promise for so +great a country." + +It was soon apparent to Washington that the universal sentiment of the +people was in favor of his election to the chief magistracy. Almost +every letter from his friends expressed a desire that he should accept +the office when tendered to him, as it surely would be, by the electors +chosen by the people; and before the elections were held, so general was +the presumption that Washington would be the first president of the +United States, that he received many letters soliciting appointments to +office. These annoyed him exceedingly; for the subject, he said, never +failed to embarrass and distress him beyond measure. The prospect of +again being called into public life, in an arena in which difficulties +more formidable and perplexing than those in a military sphere must be +encountered, gave him great uneasiness. He loved his home, his family, +and the quiet pursuits of agriculture; and he desired, above all earthly +boons, the privilege of reposing among these. + +To Hamilton he wrote, as early as August, 1788: "You know me well +enough, my good sir, to be persuaded that I am not guilty of affectation +when I tell you, that it is my great and sole desire to live and die in +peace and retirement on my own farm." + +In October he again wrote to Hamilton, saying: "In taking a survey of +the subject, in whatever point of light I have been able to place it, I +will not suppress the acknowledgment, my dear sir, that I have always +felt a kind of gloom upon my mind, as often as I have been taught to +expect I might, and perhaps must ere long, be called to make a +decision." + +To Governor Trumbull he wrote in December: "May Heaven assist me in +forming a judgment; for at present I see nothing but clouds and darkness +before me. Thus much I may safely say to you in confidence; if ever I +should, from any apparent necessity, be induced to go from home in a +public character again, it will certainly be the greatest sacrifice of +feelings and happiness that ever was or ever can be made by me." + +To Lafayette he had written several months before, in reply to a hint of +the marquis that he would be called to the presidency, and said: "It has +no enticing charms and no fascinating allurements for me.... At my time +of life and under my circumstances, the increasing infirmities of nature +and the growing love of retirement do not permit me to entertain a wish +beyond that of living and dying an honest man on my own farm. Let those +follow the pursuits of ambition and fame who have a keener relish for +them, or who may have more years in store for the enjoyment." + +As the time approached when he should make a decision, the mind of +Washington was greatly exercised, and to all his friends he sincerely +declared that no other consideration than the solemn requirements of his +country could induce him to accept the office. These sentiments he +expressed with full freedom to his intimate friend, Colonel Henry Lee, +who had written to Washington with great warmth on the subject, and +said: "Solicitous for our common happiness as a people, and convinced as +I continue to be that our peace and prosperity depend on the proper +improvement of the present period, my anxiety is extreme that the new +government may have an auspicious beginning. To effect this, and to +perpetuate a nation formed under your auspices, it is certain that again +you will be called forth. The same principles of devotion to the good of +mankind which have invariably governed your conduct, will, no doubt, +continue to rule your mind, however opposite their consequences may be +to your repose and happiness.... If the same success should attend your +efforts on this important occasion which has distinguished you hitherto, +then, to be sure, you will have spent a life which Providence rarely, if +ever, gave to the lot of man." + +To this Washington replied: "The principal topic of your letter is to me +a point of great delicacy indeed--insomuch that I can scarcely, without +some impropriety, touch upon it.... You are among the small number of +those who know my invincible attachment to domestic life, and that my +sincerest wish is to continue in the enjoyment of it solely until my +final hour. But the world would be neither so well instructed, nor so +candidly disposed, as to believe me uninfluenced by sinister motives, in +case any circumstance should render a deviation from the line of conduct +I had prescribed to myself indispensable. + + "Should the contingency you suggest take place, and (for + argument's sake alone let me say it) should my unfeigned + reluctance to accept the office be overcome by a deference + for the reasons and opinions of my friends, might I not, + after the declarations I have made (and Heaven knows that + they were made in the sincerity of my heart), in the + judgment of the impartial world and of posterity, be + chargeable with levity and inconsistency, if not with + rashness and ambition? Nay, farther, would there not be some + apparent foundation for the two former charges? Now, justice + to myself and tranquillity of conscience require that I + should act a part, if not above imputation, at least capable + of vindication. Nor will you conceive me to be too + solicitous for reputation. Though I prize as I ought the + good opinion of my fellow-citizens, yet, if I know myself, I + would not seek or retain popularity at the expense of one + social duty or moral virtue. + + "While doing what my conscience informed me was right, as it + respected my God, my country, and myself, I could despise + all the party clamor and unjust censure which might be + expected from some, whose personal enmity might be + occasioned by their hostility to the government. I am + conscious that I fear alone to give any real occasion for + obloquy, and that I do not dread to meet with unmerited + reproach. And certain I am, whensoever I shall be convinced + the good of my country requires my reputation to be put in + risk, regard for my own fame will not come in competition + with an object of so much magnitude. If I declined the task, + it would lie upon quite another principle. Notwithstanding + my advanced season of life, my increasing fondness for + agricultural amusements, and my growing love of retirement, + augment and confirm my decided predilection for the + character of a private citizen, yet it would be no one of + these motives, nor the hazard to which my former reputation + might be exposed, nor the terror of encountering new + fatigues and troubles, that would deter me from an + acceptance; but a belief that some other person, who had + less pretense and less inclination to be excused, could + execute all the duties fully as satisfactorily as myself." + +To Lafayette he wrote, after the elections were held in January, 1789, +but before the electoral college met to make choice of a president: "I +can say little or nothing new, in consequence of the repetition of your +opinion, on the expediency there will be for my accepting the office to +which you refer. Your sentiments, indeed, coincide much more nearly with +those of my other friends than with my own feelings. In truth, my +difficulties increase and multiply as I draw toward the period when, +according to the common belief, it will be necessary for me to give a +definitive answer, in one way or another. Should circumstances render it +in a manner inevitably necessary to be in the affirmative, be assured, +my dear sir, I shall assume the task with the most unfeigned reluctance, +and with a real diffidence, for which I shall probably receive no credit +from the world. If I know my own heart, nothing short of a conviction of +duty will induce me again to take an active part in public affairs; and +in that case, if I can form a plan for my own conduct, my endeavors +shall be unremittingly exerted, even at the hazard of former fame or +present popularity, to extricate my country from the embarrassments in +which it is entangled through want of credit, and to establish a general +system of policy which, if pursued, will insure permanent felicity to +the commonwealth. I think I see a path, as clear and as direct as a ray +of light, which leads to the attainment of that object. Nothing but +harmony, honesty, industry, and frugality, are necessary to make us a +great and happy people. Happily, the present posture of affairs, and the +prevailing disposition of my countrymen, promise to co-operate in +establishing those four great and essential pillars of public felicity." + +These sentences, taken from Washington's letters to his most intimate +friends, show how little ambitious he was for the fame of statesmanship, +and how honestly and eagerly he yearned for the quiet and obscurity of +domestic life. At the same time, they reveal the true motives which led +the great patriot to enter upon public employment, namely, a sincere +love for his country, and a ready willingness to labor for the promotion +of its best interests. + +At the prescribed time the elections took place, and the college, by +unanimous voice, made choice of Washington for president of the United +States, and John Adams for vice-president. True to his convictions of +duty, the great leader of the armies of America consented to be the +pilot of the ship of state for four years, and prepared accordingly to +leave his beloved Mount Vernon for the stormy sea of public life. These +preparations were made with sincere reluctance; and the delay of a month +in forming a quorum of Congress, so that the votes for president were +not counted officially until the beginning of April, was regarded by +Washington with heartfelt satisfaction. + +"The delay," he said in a letter to General Knox on the first of April, +"may be compared to a reprieve; for in confidence I tell _you_ (with the +_world_ it would obtain little credit) that my movements to the chair of +government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a +culprit, who is going to the place of his execution; so unwilling am I, +in the evening of a life nearly consumed in public cares, to quit a +peaceful abode for an ocean of difficulties, without that competency of +political skill, abilities, and inclination, which are necessary to +manage the helm. I am sensible that I am embarking the voice of the +people and a good name of my own on this voyage; but what returns will +be made for them, Heaven alone can foretell. Integrity and firmness are +all I can promise. These, be the voyage long or short, shall never +forsake me, although I may be deserted by all men; for of the +consolations which are to be derived from these, under any +circumstances, the world can not deprive me." + +The senate was organized on the sixth of April. The electoral votes were +counted, and Washington was declared duly chosen president of the United +States for four years from the fourth of March preceding. John Langdon, +a senator from New Hampshire, had been chosen president of the senate +_pro tempore_, and he immediately wrote an official letter to Washington +notifying him of his election. This was borne by Charles Thomson, the +secretary of the continental Congress from its first session in 1774. He +reached Mount Vernon at about noon on the fourteenth, and on the evening +of the sixteenth Washington wrote in his diary: "About ten o'clock I +bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life and domestic felicity; and +with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful sensations than I +have words to express, set out for New York with Mr. Thomson and Colonel +Humphreys, with the best disposition to render service to my country in +obedience to its call, but with less hope of answering its +expectations." + +Meanwhile, the illustrious soldier, who was about to assume the most +exalted civil duties that can be delegated to man, had made a quick +journey to Fredericksburg, the residence of his mother, to bid her, what +both of them considered, and what proved to be, a final adieu. She was +then about fourscore years of age, and suffering from an acute and +incurable malady. Their meeting was tender, and their parting peculiarly +touching. "The people, madam," said Washington to his mother, "have been +pleased, with the most flattering unanimity, to elect me to the chief +magistracy of these United States; but, before I can assume the +functions of my office, I have come to bid you an affectionate farewell. +So soon as the weight of public business, which must necessarily attend +the outset of a new government, can be disposed of, I shall hasten to +Virginia, and--" "You will see me no more," said the matron, +interrupting him. "My great age," she continued, "and the disease which +is fast approaching my vitals, warn me that I shall not be long in this +world; I trust in God that I may be somewhat prepared for a better. But +go, George, fulfill the high destiny which Heaven appears to have +intended you for: go, my son; and may that Heaven's and a mother's +blessing be with you always!"[13] + +Washington was accompanied in his journey from Mount Vernon to New York +(the then seat of the federal government) by Secretary Thomson and +Colonel Humphreys, preceded in a stage by his private secretary, Tobias +Lear. He desired to go in as private a manner as possible; but his +wishes were thwarted by the irrepressible enthusiasm and love of his +countrymen along the route. He was met at the very threshold of his own +estate by a cavalcade of citizens of Alexandria--his neighbors and +personal friends--who invited him to partake of a public dinner. He +could not refuse; and, at the table, his feelings were most sensibly +touched by the words of the mayor, who said: "The first and best of our +citizens must leave us; our aged must lose their ornament, our youth +their model, our agriculture its improver, our infant academy its +protector, our poor their benefactor.... Farewell! Go, and make a +grateful people happy; a people who will be doubly grateful when they +contemplate this new sacrifice for their interests." + +Washington's feelings allowed him to make only a short reply. "Words +fail me," he said. "Unutterable sensations must, then, be left to more +expressive silence, while from an aching heart I bid all my affectionate +friends and kind neighbors farewell!" + +All the way to the city of New York, the president's journey was a +continued ovation. At every large town and village he was hailed with +the most joyous acclamations. Deputations of the most valued inhabitants +met him everywhere and formed escorts and processions. At Baltimore he +was greeted by the ringing of bells and the thunders of artillery. At +the frontier of Pennsylvania he was met by General Mifflin (then +governor of the state) and Judge Peters at the head of a large cavalcade +of citizens; and at Chester a grand procession, led by General St. +Clair, formed an escort for the president into Philadelphia. This +swelled in numbers and increased in interest as they approached the +city. + +At Gray's ferry, over the Schuylkill, triumphal arches were reared; and +from one of these, as Washington passed under it, Angelica Peale (a +little daughter of the painter, Charles Willson Peale), who was +concealed in foliage, let down a civic crown upon his head, while the +multitude filled the air with long and loud huzzas. At least twenty +thousand people lined the road from the river to the city; and at every +step the president was saluted with the cries, "Long live George +Washington!" "Long live the father of his people!" + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON ENTERING TRENTON] + +Washington and his suite were entertained at a sumptuous banquet given +at the City Tavern, at which the leading members of the state and city +governments were present. In the evening there was a magnificent display +of fireworks, such as the Philadelphians had never before seen. + +At the banquet, the mayor of the city presented to Washington an +official address, in behalf of himself and the council, in which a +complimentary reference to the president's public services was made. +"When I contemplate the interposition of Providence," said Washington in +reply, "as it was visibly manifested in guiding us through the +Revolution, in preparing us for the reception of the general government, +and in conciliating the good will of the people of America toward one +another after its adoption, I feel myself oppressed and almost +overwhelmed with a sense of Divine munificence. I feel that nothing is +due to my personal agency in all these wonderful and complicated events, +except what can be attributed to an honest zeal for the good of my +country." + +The military of Philadelphia prepared to escort the president to Trenton +the next morning, but rain prevented, and Washington and suite journeyed +in a close carriage. Toward noon the clouds broke, and as they +approached the Delaware the sun beamed out brightly, and a great crowd +of people came to welcome the Father of his Country to the spot where, +many years before, he had given a blow of deliverance, the most +brilliant that was struck during the war. The contrast between the +scenes that now broke upon his vision and those at the same place in the +dark winter of 1776-'77, when hope for the republican cause had almost +expired, and the sun of liberty for his country appeared to be setting +among the clouds of utter despondency, must have created the most lively +sensations of joy in his bosom. Memory with its sombre pencil drew the +picture of the past, while present perception with its brilliant pencil +portrayed passing events, that quickened the pulse and made the heart +leap with pleasure. + +Upon the very bridge over which, less than thirteen years before, +Washington had fled before the troops of Cornwallis, a triumphal arch, +made by the women of New Jersey, was now placed, bearing mementoes of +his triumphs there, and the words: "THE DEFENDER OF THE MOTHERS WILL BE +THE PROTECTOR OF THE DAUGHTERS." And as he passed under that arch, the +way was lined with mothers and daughters, all dressed in white, while +thirteen young girls in like apparel, with wreaths upon their heads, and +holding baskets of flowers in their hands, strewed blossoms in the way +and sang:-- + + "Welcome, mighty Chief! Once more, + Welcome to this grateful shore; + Now no mercenary foe + Aims again the fatal blow-- + Aims at thee the fatal blow. + + "Virgins fair and matrons grave, + Those thy conquering arm did save, + Build for thee triumphal bowers: + Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers! + Strew your hero's way with flowers!" + +Before he left Trenton, the president sent a brief note to the ladies +who prepared this memorable reception, in which he said: "General +Washington can not leave this place without expressing his +acknowledgments to the matrons and young ladies who received him in so +novel and grateful a manner at the Triumphal Arch, for the exquisite +sensations he experienced in that affecting moment. The astonishing +contrast between his former and his actual situation at the same spot, +the elegant taste with which it was adorned for the present occasion, +and the innocent appearance of the white-robed choir who met him with +the gratulatory song, have made such an impression on his remembrance +as, he assures them, will never be effaced." + +[Illustration: RECEPTION OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON AT NEW YORK, APRIL 23, +1789.] + +Over the same route across New Jersey along which Washington fled toward +the close of 1776, with his wasting little army, before an exulting foe, +and in the midst of secret enemies on every side, he now made his way +among a happy and peaceful people, who received him everywhere with the +open arms of love and veneration, while the air was filled with the +shouts of multitudes, the booming of cannon, and the ringing of bells. +He arrived at Elizabethtown point, a few miles from New York, on the +morning of the twenty-third of April, and there he was received by +committees of both houses of Congress, officers of the federal, state, +and municipal governments, and a large number of citizens who had +collected from all parts of the country. A splendid barge had been +constructed for the occasion, to carry the president to New York, and in +it he embarked immediately after his arrival. It was manned by thirteen +masters of vessels in white uniforms, commanded by Commodore James +Nicholson; and other beautiful barges, fancifully decorated, conveyed +the Congressional committees and the heads of departments. Other boats +joined them on the way, some of them bearing musicians; and when they +approached the city, whose shores and wharves, and every part of Fort +George and the Battery, were covered with people, there was a grand +flotilla in the procession, the oars keeping time with instrumental +music. + +All the vessels in the harbor but one were gayly decked with flags, and +upon two of them parties of ladies and gentlemen sang gratulatory odes +as the barge of the president approached. The exception was the Spanish +man-of-war _Galveston_, which displayed no token of respect. A general +feeling of indignation began to prevail, when in an instant, as the +president's barge came abreast of her, her yards were manned as if by +magic; every part of her rigging displayed flags of all nations, with +the effect of an immense shrub bursting suddenly into gorgeous bloom; +and the roar of thirteen cannon, discharged in quick succession, +attested the reverence and respect of the Spanish admiral for the +illustrious Washington. The effect upon the multitude was electrical, +and over bay and city a shout, long and loud, floated upon the noontide +air. + +Washington was received at the stairs of Murray's wharf by his old +friend Governor Clinton; and his loved companion-in-arms, General Knox, +was there to welcome him, with a host of others of the army of the +Revolution, who had come, some of them long distances, to look once more +upon the face of their beloved Chief, to feel the grasp of his hand, and +to hear his voice. + +A carriage was in waiting to convey the president to his lodgings in +Osgood's house, in Cherry-street, and a carpet had been spread, from the +wharf to the vehicle, for him to tread upon. But he preferred to walk. A +long civic and military train followed. From the streets, windows, +balconies, and roofs, he was greeted with shouts and the waving of +handkerchiefs. All the bells in the city rang out a joyful welcome; and +from Colonel Bauman's artillery heavy peals of cannon joined the chorus. +The president and a large company dined with Governor Clinton; and in +the evening, the streets, though very wet after a warm shower, were +filled with people to witness a general illumination of the houses. + +While the name of Washington was spoken with reverence by every lip; +while in the ears of senators were yet ringing the remarkable words of +Vice-President Adams--"If we look over the catalogues of the first +magistrates of nations, whether they have been denominated presidents or +consuls, kings or princes, where shall we find one whose commanding +talents and virtues, whose overruling good fortune, have so completely +united all hearts and voices in his favor; who enjoyed the esteem and +admiration of foreign nations and fellow-citizens with equal unanimity?" +while the occasion of his arrival "arrested the public attention beyond +all powers of description"--"the hand of industry was suspended, and the +pleasures of the capital were centered in a single enjoyment," that +great man, exercised by a modest estimate of his own powers in a degree +amounting almost to timidity, wrote in his diary:-- + + "The display of boats which attended and joined us on this + occasion, some with vocal and some with instrumental music on + board; the decorations of the ships; the roar of cannon, and the + loud acclamations of the people which rent the skies as I passed + along the wharves, filled my mind with sensations as painful + (considering the reverse of this scene, which may be the case, + after all my labors to do good) as they are pleasing." + +And a few days after his inauguration he wrote to Edward Rutledge: + + "Though I flatter myself the world will do me the justice to + believe that, at my time of life and in my circumstances, nothing + but a conviction of duty could have induced me to depart from my + resolution of remaining in retirement, yet I greatly apprehend that + my countrymen will expect too much from me.... So much is expected, + so many untoward circumstances may intervene, in such a new and + critical situation, that I feel an insuperable diffidence in my own + abilities. I feel, in the execution of the duties of my arduous + office, how much I shall stand in need of the countenance and aid + of every friend to myself, of every friend to the Revolution, and + of every lover of good government." + +How nobly, ay, and how sadly, do these feelings of Washington--his +humiliating sense of the great responsibility laid upon him when he +assumed the office of the chief magistrate of the republic--contrast +with the eager aspirations of mere politicians to sit in the seat of +that illustrious and conscientious man! How the spectacle illustrates +the words of the poet:-- + + "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread!" + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[11] "The first number of the _Federalist_," says J. C. Hamilton in his +_History of the Republic of the United States_, "was written by +Hamilton, in the cabin of a sloop, as he was descending the Hudson, and +was published on the 27th of October, 1787. After the publication of the +seventh, it was announced: 'In order that the whole subject of the +papers may be as soon as possible laid before the public, it is proposed +to publish them four times a week.'" It was originally intended to +comprise the series within twenty, or at most twenty-five numbers, but +they extended to eighty-five. Of these Hamilton wrote sixty-five. + +Concerning these papers, Washington wrote to Hamilton, at the close of +August, 1788: "I have read every performance which has been printed on +one side and the other of the great question lately agitated, so far as +I have been able to obtain them; and, without an unmeaning compliment, I +will say, that I have seen no other [than _the Federalist_] so well +calculated, in my judgment, to produce conviction in an unbiassed mind, +as the production of your _triumvirate_. When the transient +circumstances and fugitive performances which attended this crisis shall +have disappeared, that work will merit the notice of posterity, because +in it are candidly and ably discussed the principles of freedom and the +topics of government, which will be always interesting to mankind, so +long as they shall be connected in civil society." + +[12] The several states ratified the constitution in the following +order:-- + +Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, +December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, +1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South +Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; Virginia, June 26, +1788; New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21, 1788; Rhode +Island, May 29, 1790. + +[13] Custis's _Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington_, page +145. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + THE INAUGURATION OF WASHINGTON AS FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED + STATES--NEW YORK CROWDED WITH STRANGERS--PROCEEDINGS ON THE MORNING + OF THE INAUGURATION--DIVINE SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES--MILITARY + PROCESSION FORMED--WASHINGTON ESCORTED TO THE FEDERAL HALL--THE + INAUGURAL CEREMONIES--CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON--ACCLAMATIONS OF THE + PEOPLE--THE PRESIDENT'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS--SERVICES IN ST. PAUL'S + CHURCH--RESPONSES OF CONGRESS TO THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS--WASHINGTON'S + REPLIES--GENERAL VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS--THE VAST LABORS BEFORE THE + PRESIDENT--HIS COUNSELLORS. + + +Thursday, the thirtieth of April, was the appointed day for Washington +to take the oath of office. For almost a fortnight, strangers from every +part of the Union had been making their way to New York to participate +in the inaugural ceremonies; and every place of public entertainment, +and many private houses, were filled to overflowing. "We shall remain +here," wrote a young lady from Philadelphia to her friend, "even if we +have to sleep in tents, as so many will have to do. Mr. Williamson had +promised to engage us rooms at Fraunces's, but that was jammed long ago, +as was every other decent public house; and now, while we are waiting at +Mr. Vandervoort's, in Maiden Lane, till after dinner, two of our beaux +are running about town, determined to obtain the best places for us to +stay at, which can be opened for love, money, or the most persuasive +speeches."[14] + +At dawn on the morning of the thirtieth, Colonel Bauman's artillery +fired a national salute at the Bowling Green, and very soon afterward +the streets were filled with citizens and strangers all dressed for a +gala-day. At nine o'clock all the church bells of the city rang out a +call for the people to assemble in their respective places of public +worship, "to implore the blessings of Heaven on the nation, its favor +and protection to the president, and success and acceptance to his +administration:" and when the throngs left the churches, martial music +enlivened the town, for the military companies were forming into grand +procession to escort Washington to the Federal hall in Wall street, at +the head of Broad street, where the inaugural ceremonies were to be +held. + +At twelve o'clock the procession, under the general command of Colonel +Morgan Lewis, began to form in Cherry street before the president's +house; and at half-past twelve Washington entered his carriage, +accompanied by Colonel Humphreys, his aid-de-camp, and Tobias Lear, his +private secretary, and proceeded to the Federal hall, escorted by a +large number of the military, and followed by heads of departments, +members of Congress, foreign ministers, and other distinguished citizens +and strangers. + +When near the Federal hall, Washington and his attendants alighted from +the carriages, and were conducted by a marshall to the senate-chamber, +at the door of which the president was received by Vice-President Adams +(who had been inaugurated some time before) and conducted to his seat. +In the presence of both houses of Congress then assembled, the +vice-president, addressing Washington, said: "Sir, the senate and house +of representatives of the United States are ready to attend you to take +the oath required by the constitution, which will be administered by the +chancellor of the state of New York." + +Washington responded: "I am ready to proceed;" when the vice-president, +senators, and chancellor, led the way to the open outside gallery at the +front of the hall, in full view of the vast multitude that, with +upturned faces and hushed voices, filled the streets. The scene that +ensued was most solemn and momentous; and the immediate actors in it +felt the weight of great responsibility resting upon them. + +The entrance of the president upon the balcony "was hailed by universal +shouts," says Washington Irving, who, though quite a young child, was +present, and distinctly remembers the scene. "He was evidently moved by +this demonstration of public affection. Advancing to the front of the +balcony, he laid his hand upon his heart, bowed several times, and then +retreated to an arm-chair near the table. The populace appeared to +understand that the scene had overcome him, and were hushed at once into +profound silence."[15] + +After a few moments Washington rose again and came forward, and stood +between two of the supporting pillars of the gallery, in full view of +the people. His noble and commanding form was clad in a suit of fine, +dark-brown cloth, manufactured in Hartford, Connecticut. At his side was +a steel-hilted dress-sword. He wore white silk stockings and plain +silver shoe-buckles, and his hair was dressed in the fashion of the time +and uncovered. On one side of him stood Chancellor Livingston, who had +come out of the Revolution with his soul filled with intense love for +his country, and who was one of the most effective orators of his day. +"His acknowledged integrity and patriotism," says Doctor Francis, +"doubtless added force to all he uttered. Franklin termed him the +American Cicero; and in him were united all those qualities which, +according to that illustrious Roman, are necessary in the perfect +orator."[16] He was dressed in a fall suit of black cloth, and wore the +robe of office. On the other side was the vice-president, in a +claret-colored suit, of American manufacture. Between the president and +the chancellor was Mr. Otis, the secretary of state. He was a small man, +dressed with scrupulous neatness, and held in his hand an open Bible +upon a rich crimson cushion. Near this most conspicuous group stood +Roger Sherman, Richard Henry Lee, Alexander Hamilton, Generals Knox and +St. Clair, the Baron Steuben, and other distinguished men. + +Chancellor Livingston administered the oath with slow and distinct +enunciation, while Washington's hand was laid upon the Bible held by Mr. +Otis. When it was concluded, the president said, in a distinct voice, "I +swear." He then bowed his head, kissed the sacred volume, and as he +assumed an erect posture, he with closed eyes said, with solemn +supplicating tone, "So help me God!" + +"It is done!" said the chancellor; and, turning to the multitude, he +waved his hand, and shouted: "Long live George Washington, president of +the United States!" The exclamation was echoed and re-echoed, long and +loud, by the people. "The scene," wrote an eye-witness, "was solemn and +awful beyond description.... The circumstances of the president's +election, the impression of his past services, the concourse of +spectators, the devout fervency with which he repeated the oath, and the +reverential manner in which he bowed down and kissed the sacred +volume--all these conspired to render it one of the most august and +interesting spectacles ever exhibited." It seemed, from the number of +witnesses, to be a solemn appeal to Heaven and earth at once. + +At the close of the ceremonies, Washington bowed to the people and +retired to the senate chamber, where he read his inaugural address to +both houses of Congress there assembled. It was short, direct, and +comprehensive. He alluded in a most touching manner to the circumstances +which placed him in the position he then held. "On the one hand," he +said, "I was summoned by my country, whose voice I can never hear but +with veneration and love, from a retreat which I had chosen with the +fondest predilection, and, in my flattering hopes, with an immutable +decision, as the asylum of my declining years.... On the other hand, the +magnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my country +called me, being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most experienced +of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could +not but overwhelm with despondence one who, inheriting inferior +endowments from nature, and unpractised in the duties of civil +administration, ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own +deficiencies. In this conflict of emotions, all I dare aver is, that it +has been my faithful study to collect my duty from a just appreciation +of every circumstance by which it might be affected." + +He expressed his devout gratitude to God for his providential +watchfulness over the affairs of his country; declined the exercise of +his constitutional duty of recommending measures for the consideration +of Congress, not being yet acquainted with the exact state of public +affairs, yet called their attention to necessary amendments of the +constitution; and concluded by saying:-- + +"When I was first honored with a call into the service of my country, +then on the eve of an arduous struggle for its liberties, the light in +which I contemplated my duty required that I should renounce every +pecuniary compensation. From this resolution I have in no instance +departed; and being still under the impressions that produced it, I must +decline, as inapplicable to myself, any share in the personal emoluments +which may be indispensably included in a permanent provision for the +executive department, and must accordingly pray that the pecuniary +estimates for the station in which I am placed may, during my +continuance in it, be limited to such actual expenditures as the public +good may be thought to require." To this expression of his disinterested +patriotism he added a renewal of grateful acknowledgments to the Father +of all, and supplication for further aid, protection, and guidance. + +When the delivery of the inaugural address was ended, the president, +with the members of both houses of Congress, proceeded to St. Paul's +church (where the vestry had provided a pew for his use), and joined in +suitable prayers which were offered by Dr. Provost, the lately-ordained +bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of New York, +and who had been appointed chaplain to the senate. From the church +Washington retired to his residence, under the conduct of a committee +appointed for that purpose. The people spent the remainder of the day in +festal enjoyments, and closed it with fireworks, bonfires, and +illuminations. + +When the two houses of Congress reassembled, each appointed a committee +to prepare a response to the president's inaugural address. Mr. Madison +prepared that of the representatives, and it was presented on the eighth +of May, in a private room of the Federal hall. "You have long held the +first place in the esteem of the American people," they said; "you have +often received tokens of affection; you now possess the only proof that +remained of their gratitude for your services, of their reverence for +your wisdom, and of their confidence in your virtues; you enjoy the +highest, because the truest, honor of being the first magistrate, by +the unanimous choice of the freest people on the face of the earth. + +"We well know the anxieties with which you have obeyed a summons, from +the repose reserved for your declining years, into public scenes, of +which you had taken your leave for ever. But the obedience was due to +the occasion. It is already applauded by the universal joy which +welcomes you to your station; and we can not doubt that it will be +rewarded with all the satisfaction with which an ardent love for your +fellow-citizens must review successful efforts to promote their +happiness." + +After referring to his declaration concerning pecuniary emoluments for +his services, they concluded by saying: "All that remains is, that we +join in our fervent supplications for the blessings of Heaven on our +country, and that we add our own for the choicest of these blessings on +the most beloved of her citizens." + +On the eighteenth of May, the entire senate waited upon the president at +his own house, to present their response. After congratulating him on +the complete organization of the federal government, they said:-- + + "We are sensible, sir, that nothing but the voice of your + fellow-citizens could have called you from a retreat chosen with + the fondest predilections, endeared by habit, and consecrated to + the repose of declining years: we rejoice, and with us all America, + that, in obedience to the call of our common country, you have + returned once more to public life. In you all parties confide, in + you all interests unite; and we have no doubt that your past + services, great as they have been, will be equalled by your future + exertions, and that your prudence and sagacity as a statesman will + tend to avert the dangers to which we were exposed, to give + stability to the present government, and dignity and splendor to + that country which your skill and valor, as a soldier, so eminently + contributed to raise to independence." + +To this Washington replied: "The coincidence of circumstances which led +to this auspicious crisis, the confidence reposed in me by my +fellow-citizens, and the assistance I may expect from counsels which +will be dictated by an enlarged and liberal policy, seem to presage a +more prosperous issue to my administration than a diffidence of my +abilities had taught me to anticipate, I now feel myself inexpressibly +happy in a belief that Heaven, which has done so much for our infant +nation, will not withdraw its providential influence before our +political felicity shall have been completed; and in a conviction that +the senate will, at all times, co-operate in every measure which may +tend to promote the welfare of this confederated republic. Thus +supported by a firm trust in the Great Arbiter of the universe, aided by +the collective wisdom of the Union, and imploring the Divine benediction +in our joint exertions in the service of our country, I readily engage +with you in the arduous but pleasing task of attempting to make a nation +happy." + +It was indeed an arduous task, especially for conscientious men like +Washington and his compatriots. The circumstances of the country and the +temper of the people demanded the exercise of great wisdom and +discretion in trying the experiment of a new form of government, +concerning which there was yet a great diversity of sentiment. Doubts, +fears, suspicions, jealousies, downright opposition, were all to be +encountered. The late conflict of opinions had left many wounds. A large +proportion of them were partially healed, others wholly so; but deep +scars remained to remind the recipients of the turmoil, and the causes +which incited it. Although eleven states had ratified the constitution, +yet only three (New York, Delaware, and Georgia) had accepted it by +unanimous consent. In others it was ratified by meagre majorities. North +Carolina hesitated, and Rhode Island had refused to act upon the matter. +The state-rights feeling was still very strong in most of the local +legislatures, and many true friends of the constitution doubted whether +the general government would have sufficient power to control the +actions of the individual states. The great experiment was to be tried +by the representatives of the nation while listening to the sad lessons +derived from the history of all past republics, and beneath the scrutiny +of an active, restless, intelligent, high-spirited people, who were too +fond of liberty to brook any great resistance to their inclinations, +especially if they seemed to be coincident with the spirit of the +Revolution. + +The republic to be governed was spread over a vast territory, with an +ocean front of fifteen hundred miles, and an inland frontier of three +times that extent. Cultivation and permanent settlements formed but a +sea-selvedge of this domain; for beyond the Alleghanies but +comparatively few footsteps of civilized man had yet trodden. In the +valleys of the Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, empires were budding; but +where half the states of the Union now flourish the solitude of the +wilderness yet reigned supreme. + +Could the regions beyond the Alleghanies have remained so, there would +have been less cause for anxiety; but over those barriers a flood of +emigration had begun to flow, broad and resistless; and during the first +years of Washington's administration those wilds became populated with a +hardy race, who found upon the bosom of the Mississippi a grand highway +for carrying the products of their fertile soil to the markets of the +world. + +That great river was controlled by the Spaniards seated at its mouth, +who, in traditions, race, and aspirations, had no affinity with the +people of the new republic. They sat there as a barrier between the +settlers and the sea; and even before Washington left his home on the +Potomac, conflicting rumors had reached him respecting the impatience of +the western settlers because of that barrier. They had urged the +Congress of the Confederation to open it by treaty, but that Congress +was too feeble to comply. Now one tongue of rumor said that they would +soon organize an expedition to capture New Orleans; another tongue +asserted that the Spaniards, aided by British emissaries, were +intriguing with leading men in the great valleys to effect a separation +of the Union, and an attachment of the western portion to the crown of +Spain. These things gave Washington and his co-workers great uneasiness. + +Another cause for anxiety was the refusal of Great Britain to give up +some of the frontier forts, in compliance with an article of the +definitive treaty of peace of 1783, on the plea that the United States +had violated another article of the same treaty in allowing the debts +due to British subjects, which had been contracted before the war, to +remain unpaid. This was regarded by the Americans as a mere pretext to +cover a more important interest, namely, the monopoly of the fur-trade +with the Indians. It was alleged, also, that the hostile attitude toward +the United States then lately assumed by several of the western tribes +was caused by the mischievous influence of the British officers who held +those posts, and their emissaries among the savages. + +At the same time, the finances of the country were in a most deplorable +state. A heavy domestic and foreign debt presented importunate creditors +at the door of government; the treasury was empty; public credit was +utterly prostrated, and every effort of the late government to fund the +public debt had failed. + +The foreign commerce of the country, owing to the feebleness of the +Confederation, was in a most unsatisfactory condition. The conduct of +the British government in relation to trade with the United States had +been, since the conclusion of the war, not only ungenerous, but insolent +and oppressive; and at the same time, the corsairs of the Barbary powers +on the southern shores of the Mediterranean sea, whose princes were +fattening upon the spoils of piracy, were marauding upon American +merchant-vessels with impunity, and carrying the crews into slavery. + +The younger Pitt, in 1783, had proposed a scheme in the British +parliament for the temporary regulation of commercial intercourse with +the United States, the chief feature of which was the free admission +into the West India ports of American vessels laden with the products of +American industry; the West India people to be allowed, in turn, like +free trade with the United States. But the ideas of the old and unwise +navigation laws, out of which had grown the most serious dispute between +the colonies and the mother-country twenty-five years before, yet +prevailed in the British legislature. Pitts's proposition was rejected; +and an order soon went forth from the privy council for the entire +exclusion of American vessels from West India ports, and prohibiting the +importation thither of the several products of the United States, even +in British bottoms. + +Notwithstanding this unwise and narrow policy was put in force, Mr. +Adams, the American minister at the court of St. James, proposed, in +1785, to place the navigation and trade between all the dominions of the +British crown and all the territories of the United States upon a basis +of perfect reciprocity. This generous offer was not only declined, but +the minister was haughtily assured that no other would be entertained. +Mr. Adams immediately recommended his government to pass navigation acts +for the benefit of its commerce; but the Confederation had not power or +vitality sufficient to take action. Some of the states attempted to +legislate upon commercial matters, and the subject of duties for +revenue; but their efforts were fruitless, except in discovering the +necessity of a strong central power, and putting in motion causes which +led to the formation of the federal government. + +The earliest efforts of the new government, as we shall perceive +presently, were directed to the maturing of schemes for imposing +discriminating duties; and the eyes of British legislators were soon +opened to the fact that American commerce was no longer at the mercy of +thirteen distinct legislative bodies, nor subject to foreign control. +They perceived the importance of the American trade, and of a +reciprocity in trade between the two countries. They perceived, also, +that the interests of American commerce were guarded and its strength +nurtured by a central power of great energy; and very soon a committee +of parliament submitted a proposition, asking the United States to +consent to a commercial arrangement precisely such as had been offered +by Mr. Adams a few years before, and rejected with disdain. + +Thus we perceive that, at the very outset, subjects of vast interest +connected with domestic and foreign affairs--the preservation of the +Union, the allaying of discontents, the liquidation of the public debt, +the replenishment of the treasury, the integrity of treaties, the +conciliation of hostile Indian tribes, the regulation and protection of +commerce, the encouragement of trade, the creation of a revenue, the +establishment of an independent national character, and the founding of +a wise policy for the government--presented themselves in stern array +to the mind of Washington, and almost overwhelmed him, by the magnitude +of their proportions, with a sense of his impotence in giving general +direction to the vast labors to be performed. He had few precedents as +an executive officer to guide him, and no experience as the chief of +civil affairs. "I walk, as it were, upon untrodden ground," he said; +but, like a wise man, he asked counsel of those upon whose judgment he +could rely. + +At that moment the president was without constitutional advisers. +Executive departments had not yet been organized; but in John Jay as +secretary for foreign affairs, in General Knox as secretary of war, in +Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston, and Arther Lee, as controllers of the +treasury--all of whom had been appointed by the old Congress--he found +men of large experience, enlightened views, sturdy integrity, and sound +judgment. With these, and Madison and Hamilton, Sherman and Chancellor +Livingston, and other personal friends, Washington commenced with +courage the great task before him. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[14] Griswold's _Republican Court_, page 137. + +[15] Life of Washington, iv. 513. + +[16] Address before the Philolexian Society of Columbia College, 1831. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + WASHINGTON'S NOVEL POSITION--THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE--APPEARANCE OF + THE DEMOCRATIC ELEMENT IN SOCIETY--THE QUESTION OF A TITLE FOR THE + PRESIDENT DISCUSSED IN CONGRESS--THE RESULT--DISCRETION + NECESSARY--WASHINGTON ASKS ADVICE CONCERNING + CEREMONIALS--RESPONSES--WASHINGTON'S ARRANGEMENT FOR VISITS OF + CEREMONY--JEALOUSY OF THE PEOPLE--SILLY STORIES CONCERNING THE POMP + OF THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT--CUSTOMS OF THE LEVEES + ESTABLISHED--GRAND BALLS--MRS. WASHINGTON'S JOURNEY TO NEW YORK--HER + RECEPTION--HER DRAWING-ROOMS--WASHINGTON'S HABITS OF LIVING. + + +Washington's position was a novel one in every particular. He was the +chosen head of a people who had just abolished royal government with all +its pomp and parade, its titles and class immunities, but who were too +refined, and too conscious of their real social and political strength +as a basis for a great nation, to be willing to trample upon all +deferential forms and ceremonies that might give proper dignity to, and +respect for deserving rulers, without implying servility. + +In the convention that framed the constitution, the representatives of +the people exhibited this conservative feeling in a remarkable degree; +and the extreme democratic sentiment, such as afterward sympathized with +the radicals of the French revolution, was yet only a fledgling, but +destined to grow rapidly, and to fly with swift wing over the land. Yet +the spirit was manifest, and its coalescence with the state-rights +feeling made circumspection in the arrangement of the ceremonials +connected with the president and his household extremely necessary. + +Already the question of a title for the president had been discussed in +Congress, and had produced a great deal of excitement in different +quarters. The subject appears to have been suggested by Mr. Adams, the +vice-president; and on the twenty-third of April the senate appointed +Richard Henry Lee, Ralph Izard, and Tristram Dalton, a committee "to +consider and report what style or titles it will be proper to annex to +the offices of president and vice-president of the United States." On +the following day the house of representatives appointed a committee to +confer with that of the senate, and the joint committee reported that it +was "improper to annex any style or title to the respective styles or +titles of office expressed in the constitution." + +The house adopted the report by unanimous vote, but the senate did not +concur. The question then arose in the senate whether the president +should not be addressed by the title of _His Excellency_, and the +subject was referred to a new committee, of which Mr. Lee was chairman. +A proposition in the house to appoint a committee to confer with the new +senate committee elicited a warm debate. The senate committee, +meanwhile, reported in favor of the title of _His Highness the President +of the United States of America, and Protector of their Liberties_; but +they did not press the matter, as the inauguration had taken place in +the meantime, and the house had addressed the chief magistrate, in reply +to his inaugural address, simply as _President of the United States_. +With a view to preserve harmonious action, the senate determined to +address him in the same way; at the same time resolving that, "from a +decent respect for the opinion and practice of civilized nations, +whether under monarchical or republican forms of government, whose +custom is to annex titles of respectability to the office of their chief +magistrate, and that, in intercourse with foreign nations, a due respect +for the majesty of the people of the United States may not be hazarded +by an appearance of singularity, the senate have been induced to be of +opinion that it would be proper to annex a respectable title to the +office of the president of the United States." + +This was the last action in Congress upon the subject, but it was +discussed in the newspapers for some time afterward. The excitement upon +the subject ran high in some places for a while, and Mr. Lee and Mr. +Adams, the reputed authors of the proposition, were quite unpopular. It +gave Washington, who was averse to all titles, much uneasiness, lest, he +said, it should be supposed by some, unacquainted with the facts, that +the object they had in view was not displeasing to him. "The truth is," +he said, "the question was moved before I arrived, without any privity +or knowledge of it on my part, and urged, after I was apprized of it, +contrary to my opinion; for I foresaw and predicted the reception it has +met with, and the use that would be made of it by the adversaries of the +government. Happily this matter is now done with, I hope never to be +revived." + +The effect of this movement upon the public mind gave Washington a +perception of the necessity of great circumspection in the arrangement +of ceremonials, to which allusion has just been made. He also perceived +the greater necessity of so regulating his personal matters as to secure +the most time for attention to public business; for, immediately after +his inauguration, he found that he was master neither of himself nor his +home. "By the time I had done breakfast," he wrote to Dr. Stuart, "and +thence till dinner, and afterward till bed-time, I could not get rid of +the ceremony of one visit before I had to attend to another. In a word, +I held no leisure to read or to answer the despatches that were pouring +in upon me from all quarters." + +As usual, Washington sought the advice of those in whom he had +confidence. To Vice-President Adams, Jay, Hamilton, and Madison, he +addressed a series of nine questions, and desired them to reflect upon +and answer them. These all had reference to his intercourse with the +public: whether a line of conduct equally distant from an association +with all kinds of company on the one hand, and from a total seclusion +from society on the other, would be proper; how such a system should +best be made known to the public; whether one day in every week would +not be sufficient to devote to visits of compliment; whether he should +receive direct applications from those having business with him, setting +apart a certain hour every morning; whether the customs of the +presidents of the old Congress, in giving large dinner-parties to both +sexes twice a-week, ought not to be abolished, and invitations to dine +at the president's house, informal or otherwise, be limited, in regard +to persons, to six, eight, or ten official characters, including in +rotation the members of both houses of Congress, on days fixed for +receiving company; whether the public would be satisfied if he should +give four great entertainments in a year, on such occasions as the +anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the alliance with +France, the peace with Great Britain, and the organization of the +general government; whether the president should make and receive +informal visits from friends and acquaintances, for purposes of +sociability and civility, and, if so, in what way they should be made so +as not to be construed into visits from the president of the United +States; and finally, whether it might not be advantageous for the +president to make a tour through the United States during the recess of +Congress, in order to become better acquainted with the people, and the +circumstances and resources of the country. + +"The president," he said at the close of his queries, "in all matters of +business and etiquette, can have no object but to demean himself in his +public character in such a manner as to maintain the dignity of his +office, without subjecting himself to the imputation of +superciliousness or unnecessary reserve." + +To these queries the gentlemen addressed promptly responded in writing. +The vice-president, who, as minister abroad, had seen much of royal +etiquette, and become somewhat fascinated, as Jefferson said, "by the +glare of royalty and nobility," spoke of chamberlains, aids-de-camp, +and masters of ceremonies; for he regarded the presidential office +"equal to any in the world." "The royal office in Poland," he said, "is +a mere shadow in comparison with it;" and he thought that "if the state +and pomp essential to that great department were not in a good degree +preserved, it would be in vain for America to hope for consideration +with foreign powers." He thought it would be necessary to devote two +days each week to the reception of complimentary visits; that +application to a minister of state should be made by those who desired +an interview with the president; and in every case the character and +business of the visitor should be communicated to the chamberlain or +gentleman in waiting, who should judge whom to admit and whom to +exclude. He thought the time for receiving visits should be limited to +one hour each day; that the president might informally invite small +parties of official characters and strangers of distinction to dine with +him, without exciting public clamor; and that he might, as a private +gentleman, make and receive visits; but in his official character, he +should have no other intercourse with society than such as pertained to +public business. + +Hamilton desired the dignity of the presidential office to be well +sustained, but intimated that care would be necessary "to avoid +extensive disgust or discontent." Although men's minds were prepared, he +said, for a "pretty high tone in the demeanor of the executive," he +doubted whether so high as might be desirable would be tolerated, for +the notions of equality were too strong to admit of a great distance +being placed between the president and other branches of the government. +He advised a public _levee_ of half an hour once a-week; that formal +entertainments should be given, at most, four times a year, on the days +mentioned by Washington; that informal invitations to family dinners +might be given to official characters; that heads of departments, +foreign ministers of some descriptions, and senators, should alone have +direct access to the person of the president, and only in matters +pertaining to the public business. + +The opinions of his friends so nearly coinciding with that of his own, +Washington proceeded to act upon them, but with a wise discretion. He +had already adopted the plan of designating certain times for visits of +compliment, and he gave a public intimation that these would be on +Tuesday and Friday of each week, between the hours of two and three +o'clock. On these occasions there was no ostentatious display. On the +contrary, the president received his visitors in a simple manner; +conversed with them freely after introduction, if opportunities were +afforded; and in every respect, while maintaining perfect dignity, he +made all feel that he was their fellow-citizen. + +"These visits are optional," he said in a letter to Dr. Stuart; "they +are made without invitation.... Gentlemen, often in great numbers, come +and go, chat with each other, and act as they please. A porter shows +them into the room, and they retire from it when they choose, without +ceremony. At their first entrance they salute me, and I them, and as +many as I can, I talk to. What 'pomp' there is in all this I am unable +to discover." + +The last clause refers to a sentence in Dr. Stuart's letter, in which he +spoke of public clamors, in some places in Virginia, originating +generally with the opponents of the constitution and the government +organized under it, on account of alleged practices on the part of the +president and vice-president, which were regarded as monarchical in +their tendency. An untrue report was circulated that the vice-president +(who, it must be confessed, was quite high in his notions) never +appeared publicly except with a coach and six horses! It created much +excitement in Virginia, and the opponents of the government made much +use of it. + +The _levees_ of the president were cited as examples of the rapid growth +of aristocracy. Among other stories, it was alleged that at the first +_levee_ an ante-chamber and presence-room were provided in the +presidential mansion; and that, when those who were to pay court were +assembled, the president, preceded by Colonel Humphreys as herald, +passed through the ante-chamber to the door of the inner room. This was +first entered, according to the untruthful account, by Humphreys, who +called out, with a loud voice, "The president of the United States!" + +Another silly story went abroad, that at the ball given in honor of the +president, soon after his inauguration, he and Mrs. Washington were +seated in state upon a raised sofa at the head of the room; that each +gentleman, when going to dance, led his partner to the foot of the sofa +and made a low bow, and that when the dance was over, he again took his +partner to make obeisance to the president and his lady before they +retired to their chairs! + +The subject of etiquette in the president's home, and in his intercourse +with the public at large, was of far more consequence, under the +circumstances, than might appear at first thought. It seems to have been +left chiefly to Colonel Humphreys, who had lately been Jefferson's +secretary of legation in Paris, to arrange the whole matter; yet several +months elapsed before Washington felt that he was treading upon sure +ground. As late as November, he made the following entry in his diary: +"Received an Invitation to attend the funeral of Mrs. Roosevelt (the +wife of a senator of this state), but declined complying with it--first, +because the propriety of accepting any invitation of this sort appeared +very questionable; and, secondly (though to do it in this instance might +not be improper), because it might be difficult to discriminate in cases +which might thereafter happen." + +The customs established during Washington's administration concerning +_levees_, the president not returning visits, et cetera, have ever since +prevailed, and the chief magistrate of the republic is never seen in the +position of a private citizen. + +We have alluded to the ball given in honor of Washington after his +inauguration. It was a brilliant affair, and surpassed anything of the +kind ever before seen in New York. Preparations had been made by the +managers of the city assemblies to have the ball on the evening of the +inauguration day; but, hearing that Mrs. Washington could not accompany +her husband, it was postponed. The time when she would arrive being +uncertain, the ball was given a week afterward. It was attended by the +president and vice-president, a large majority of the members of both +houses of Congress, the governor and other New York state officers, +foreign ministers, many military characters, and a large number of +distinguished citizens. "The collection of ladies," wrote one who was +present, "was numerous and brilliant, and they were dressed with +consummate taste and elegance." + +"On this occasion," says Griswold, "an agreeable surprise was prepared +by the managers for every woman who attended. A sufficient number of +fans had been made for the purpose in Paris, the ivory frames of which +displayed, as they were opened, between the hinges and the elegant paper +covering, an extremely well-executed medallion portrait of Washington +in profile, and a page was appointed to present one, with the +compliments of the managers, as each couple passed the receiver of the +tickets."[17] + +On the evening of the fourteenth of May, the Count de Moustier, the +French minister, gave a splendid ball in honor of the president, at his +residence in M'Comb's house, in Broadway, afterward occupied by +Washington as the presidential mansion. The whole arrangement was +directed by his sister, the Marchioness de Brienne, who was an amateur +artist of considerable distinction. "I heard the marchioness declare," +wrote a lady who was present, "she had exhausted every resource to +produce an entertainment worthy of France." + +Mrs. Washington did not leave Mount Vernon until Tuesday, the nineteenth +of May, when she set out for New York in her travelling carriage, drawn +by four horses, accompanied by her two grandchildren, Eleanor Parke and +George Washington Parke Custis, and a small escort of horse. She was +everywhere greeted with demonstrations of the greatest affection. When +she approached Baltimore she was met by a cavalcade of citizens. In the +evening, fireworks were discharged in honor of the fair guest, and a +band of musicians serenaded her. When she approached Philadelphia she +was met by the president of the commonwealth, the speaker of the +assembly, two troops of dragoons, and a large number of citizens, who +escorted her toward the Schuylkill. Seven miles from Philadelphia she +was met by a large company of women in carriages, who formed an escort, +and at Gray's ferry all partook of a collation. There Mrs. Robert Morris +joined Mrs. Washington in her carriage, and as the procession entered +the city the bells rang out a merry peal, and cannon thundered a cordial +welcome. + +Mrs. Washington remained in Philadelphia, a guest of Mrs. Morris, until +Monday morning, when she set out for New York, accompanied by that lady. +All through New Jersey she received the most affectionate attentions, +and at Elizabethtown was the guest of Governor Livingston. At +Elizabethtown Point she was met by her husband, who, attended by Robert +Morris and other distinguished men, had come from New York in his +splendid barge to receive her. As they approached the city they were +saluted by thirteen discharges of cannon, and were followed to their +residence by a crowd of the citizens. + +On the day after Mrs. Washington's arrival, the president invited a few +official characters to a family dinner. No clergyman being present, +Washington himself asked a blessing before the company took their seat +at table. The dinner was simple, and no special etiquette was observed +on that occasion. A single glass of wine was offered to each guest, with +the toast which Washington invariably gave on such occasions--"To all +our friends;" and when it was drunk, the president arose, led the way to +the drawing-room, and each one departed when he pleased, without +ceremony. Such continued to be the simple hospitality of President +Washington's table. + +On the evening of the twenty-eighth, two days after her arrival, Mrs. +Washington held her first _levee_, or drawing-room. It was attended by +nearly all of the leading characters in social and political life then +in the federal metropolis. "There was no place for the intrusion of the +rabble in crowds, or for the mere coarse and boisterous partisan," says +Colonel Stone in some remarks upon these receptions. "There was no place +for the vulgar electioneerer or impudent place-hunter. On the contrary, +they were select, and more courtly than have been given by any of +Washington's successors. Proud of her husband's exalted fame, and +jealous of the honors due, not only to his own lofty character, but to +the dignified station to which a grateful country had called him, Mrs. +Washington was careful, in her drawing-rooms, to exact those courtesies +to which she knew he was entitled, as well on account of personal merit +as of official consideration. None, therefore, were admitted to the +_levees_ but those who had either a right by official station to be +there, or were entitled to the privilege by established merit and +character." + +Mrs. Washington's receptions were on Friday evenings, and were always +closed at precisely nine o'clock. Notwithstanding the entire absence of +all pomp or parade on these occasions, cavilers spoke of them sometimes +in ill-natured and offensive terms, as "court levees" and "queenly +drawing-rooms."[18] + +Washington always held the Sabbath-day sacred to worship and repose, and +no visitors were received by him on that day. Sometimes an intimate +acquaintance would spend the evening with him. He usually attended +public worship with his family in the morning, and in the afternoon he +retired to study, to read, to meditate, or to write private letters. + +In public as in private life, he was temperate in all things, and frugal +in his household expenses. He employed the celebrated tavern-keeper, +Samuel Fraunces (whose daughter, it will be remembered, once saved +Washington's life by revealing the murderous intentions of one of his +life-guard) as his steward. Everything was governed by a well-regulated +economy, which had a most salutary effect in restraining extravagant +living, toward which New York society had then a strong tendency. The +president's example in that particular was powerful. + +Washington preserved, in his movements, a certain degree of state, not +offensive to the well-informed or right-minded. He had a fine coach, +and, as at Mount Vernon, he kept superb horses, six of which, on some +few occasions, were driven at one time before his carriage. The family +carriage was generally drawn by four horses, when rides were taken in +the country for exercise, with "Mrs. Washington and the children." His +servants usually wore livery, and he sometimes was accompanied by +outriders. Such was the state in which many wealthy gentlemen moved at +that day, especially in Virginia; and none knew better than those who +made these things an occasion to revile the new government, that nothing +was further from the mind and heart of Washington, in the practice of +these customs, than a desire for ostentatious display. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[17] Griswold's _Republican Court_, page 156. + +[18] The late Mr. Custis, Mrs. Washington's grandson, giving an +account of these receptions at the presidential mansion in Philadelphia, +says:-- + + "When Mrs. Washington received company it was on Friday, commencing + about seven, and ending about nine o'clock. Two rooms were thrown + open. The furniture that was thought handsome in those days would + be considered barely decent in modern times. The principal ornament + was a glass chandelier in the largest room, burning wax lights. The + chair of the lady of the president was a plain arm-chair lined with + green morocco leather. + + "The ladies visiting the drawing-room were always attended by + gentlemen. It was not the habit for very young girls to be present + at the drawing-room, but only those of the age when it is proper + for ladies to go into company. Upon the ladies being introduced + they were seated, and the president, who always attended the + drawing-room, passed round the circle, paying his respects to each + in succession; and it was a common remark, among the chit-chat of + the drawing-room, that the chief was no inconsiderable judge of + female beauty, since he was observed to tarry longer than usual + when paying his compliments to Miss Sophia Chew, a charming belle + of Philadelphia in that time. + + "Refreshments were handed round by servants in livery; and about + that period first appeared the luxury, now so universal, of + ice-cream. Introductions to eminent personages and conversation + formed the entertainments of the drawing-room. Cards were + altogether unknown. + + "But the leading and most imposing feature of the drawing-room was + the men of mark, the 'Revolutionaries,' both civil and military, + who were to be seen there. The old officers delighted to pay their + respects to the wife of Washington, and to call up the + reminiscences of the headquarters, and of the 'times that tried + men's souls.' These glorious old chevaliers were the greatest beaux + of the age, and the recollections of their gallant achievements, + together with their elegant manners, made them acceptable to the + ladies everywhere. They formed the _elite_ of the drawing-room. + General Wayne--the renowned 'Mad Anthony'--with his aids-de-camp, + Lewis and De Butts, frequently attended, with Mifflin, Walter + Stewart, Colonel Hartley, and many others. Indeed, there was often + to be met with at the mansion of the first president an assemblage + of intellect and honor, public virtue and private worth, exalted + merit and illustrious services, such as the world will never see + again." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + WASHINGTON BEGINS HIS OFFICIAL LABORS--THE FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC + RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES--DANGEROUS ILLNESS OF THE + PRESIDENT--PUBLIC ANXIETY AND HIS OWN CALMNESS--SLOW + CONVALESCENCE--DEATH OF WASHINGTON'S MOTHER--PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS + IN REFERENCE TO REVENUE, THE JUDICIARY AND EXECUTIVE + DEPARTMENTS--DEBATES CONCERNING THE APPOINTING POWER--AMENDMENTS OF + THE CONSTITUTION--ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JUDICIARY--WASHINGTON'S + APPOINTMENT OF CABINET AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS--ADJOURNMENT OF + CONGRESS--THANKSGIVING-DAY APPOINTED. + + +With a most earnest desire to be a faithful public servant, Washington +commenced his labors as soon as possible after the inauguration. His +first care was to make himself acquainted with the exact condition of +his country; and for that purpose he personally inspected all of the +most important official documents issued since the establishment of the +Confederacy, and called, unofficially, upon the heads of the several +departments to report, in writing, the condition of things connected +with the operations of their respective bureaux. In this pursuit he +labored almost incessantly, examining with care the archives of the +departments, making notes of important foreign correspondence, and +collating his garnered facts so as to make them most convenient for use. + +The foreign relations of the United States were, on the whole, +satisfactory. With the exception of England, the feeling of the European +powers toward the new republic was friendly. The resentments caused by +the long war with the mother-country were blunted, but by no means +deprived of their strength; and the fact that the British government +still held possession of western posts, in violation of treaty +stipulations, to which allusion has already been made, was a cause of +much irritation on the part of the Americans. And this was increased, as +we have observed, by the supposed malign influence of British officers +over the tribes of Indians between the lakes and the Ohio and +Mississippi rivers, whose military strength was computed at five +thousand warriors, one third of whom were, at the time in question, +standing in open hostility to the United States. In the far southwest, +the powerful Creeks, six thousand strong, were at war with Georgia, +while the entire regular force of the United States did not exceed six +hundred men. + +We have already alluded to the relative position of the Spaniards in the +southwest, and their disposition to exclude the Americans from the +navigation of the southern Mississippi to its mouth. An attempt to open +that navigation by treaty had failed; and there was an almost +undefinable boundary-line between the Spanish possessions and those of +the United States, about which a dispute had arisen that threatened +unpleasant relations with Spain. + +France, the old ally of the new republic, was still friendly; but its +government was then shaken by a terrible revolution just commenced, in +which Lafayette took a conspicuous part. Of this we shall speak +hereafter. + +Up to the time in question, the representatives of France in America had +exhibited the most friendly disposition. Count de Moustier, the +successor of the Chevalier de Luzerne, was assiduous in his attentions; +and Washington had scarcely commenced the exercise of his executive +functions, before that embassador, who had been more than a year in the +country, sought a private interview with him, preparatory, as he said, +to diplomatic negotiations concerning the commerce between the two +nations. He was anxious to secure for his country superior advantages in +commercial arrangements, and seemed to feel that France, as an ally, was +entitled to more consideration than other nations. Washington +reciprocated his expressions of friendship, gave him assurance of the +most friendly feeling toward France on the part of the people and +government of the United States; but, with a wise caution, did not +commit himself to any future policy in regard to commercial or other +intercourse with the nations of Europe. + +While zealously engaged in his public duties, Washington was prostrated +by violent disease, in the form of malignant anthrax or carbuncle boil +upon his thigh, and for several days his life was seriously jeoparded. +Fortunately for himself and the republic, there was a physician at hand, +in the person of Doctor Samuel Bard, by whose well-directed skill his +life was spared. While the malady was approaching its crisis, Doctor +Bard never left his patient, but watched the progress of the disease +with the greatest anxiety. On one occasion, when they were alone in the +room, Washington, looking earnestly in the doctor's face, said: "Do not +flatter me with vain hopes; I am not afraid to die, and therefore can +bear the worst." Bard replied with an expression of hope, but with an +acknowledgment of apprehension. To this the president calmly answered: +"Whether to-night or twenty years hence makes no difference--I know that +I am in the hands of a good Providence." + +While Washington was so calm under his severe affliction--for his +sufferings were intense--the public mind was greatly agitated upon the +subject of his illness; for momentous interests were suspended upon the +result of the disease. Every hour, anxious inquiries were made at the +presidential mansion. People listened with the most intense concern to +every word that was passed from the lips of the physician to the public +ear; and there was a sense of great relief when his convalescence was +announced. But his recovery was very slow. On the twenty-eighth of July +he was enabled for the first to receive a few visits of compliment, +notwithstanding he had considered his health as restored three weeks +earlier. "But," he wrote to Mr. M'Henry, "a feebleness still hangs upon +me, and I am much incommoded by the incision which was made in a very +large and painful tumor on the protuberance of my thigh. This prevents +me from walking or sitting. However, the physician assures me it has had +a happy effect in removing my fever, and will tend very much to the +establishment of my general health." As late as the eighth of September +he wrote to Doctor Craik, saying: + + "Though now freed from pain, the wound given by the incision is not + yet healed." + +Before he had fairly recovered, the president heard of the death of his +mother, who expired at Fredericksburg, on the twenty-fifth of August, at +the age of little more than eighty-two years, forty-six of which she had +passed in widowhood. The event was touchingly alluded to in the pulpits +of New York; and at the first public _levees_ of the president, after +her death was known, members of the two houses of Congress and other +persons wore badges of mourning. + +When Washington had fully recovered, he resumed his labors for the +public good with the greatest ardor. The Congress had been chiefly +employed, meanwhile, in framing laws necessary to the organization of +the government. The most important of these, in the senate, was an act +for the establishment of a judiciary, and in the house of +representatives an act providing a revenue by an imposition of +discriminating duties upon imports. The latter subject had received the +earliest attention of the house, for, in the condition in which the new +government found the national finances, it was an all-important one. Mr. +Madison brought it to the attention of Congress, only two days after the +inauguration, by a suggestion, in the first committee of the whole on +the state of the Union, to adopt a temporary system of imposts, by which +the exhausted treasury might be replenished. Upon the questions which +this proposition gave birth to, long and able debates ensued, in which +the actual state of the trade, commerce, and manufactures of the country +were quite fully developed. From the published reports of these debates +Washington collated a mass of facts which aided him much in his future +labors, and in drawing conclusions concerning public measures. An act +for the collection of revenue through the medium of imposts was finally +passed, and the principle was recognised of discriminating duties for +the protection of American manufactures. The plan then adopted became +the basis of our present revenue system. + +Another important question that engaged Congress during its first +session was the establishment of executive departments, the heads of +which should be the counsellors and assistants of the president in the +management of public affairs. Hitherto these functions had been +performed by those officers who had been appointed, some of them several +years before, by Congress under the old Confederation. John Jay had been +secretary for foreign affairs (an equivalent to secretary of state) +since 1784; General Knox had been at the head of the war department +since the close of 1783, when he succeeded General Lincoln; and the +treasury department was still managed by a board, at that time +consisting of Samuel Osgood, Walter Livingston, and Arthur Lee. + +Congress established three executive departments--treasury, war, and +foreign affairs (the latter afterward called department of state)--the +heads of which were to be styled secretaries, instead of ministers as in +Europe, and were to constitute, with the president of the United States, +an executive council. In the organization of these departments, the +important question arose, in what manner might the high officers who +should fill them be appointed or removed? Many believed that the +decision of this question would materially influence the character of +the new government; and the clause in the act to "establish an executive +department to be denominated the department of foreign affairs," which +declared the secretary thereof to be removable by the president, was +debated with great warmth. It was contended that such a prerogative +given to the president was in its character so monarchical that it +would, in the nature of things, convert the heads of departments into +mere tools and creatures of his will; that a dependence so servile on +one individual would deter men of high and honorable minds from engaging +in the public service; and that the most alarming dangers to liberty +might be perceived in such prerogative. It was feared, they said, that +those who advocated the bestowment of such power upon the president were +too much dazzled with the splendor of the virtues which adorned the then +incumbent of the office; and that they did not extend their views far +enough to perceive, that an ambitious man at the head of the government +might apply the prerogative to dangerous purposes, and remove the best +of men from office. + +The idea that a man could ever be elected by the people of the United +States to the office of chief magistrate, who was so lost to a sense of +right, and so indifferent to public odium, as to remove a good man from +office, was treated by the opposite party as absurd; and after a +discussion which lasted several days, it was decided to give the +removing power to the president, the action of the senate being +necessary only in the matter of appointment. + +Another important matter acted upon during the first session of Congress +was that of amending the constitution. It was brought to the attention +of the national legislature in the president's inaugural speech; for he +conceived that the amendments which had been proposed by the minorities +in the several state conventions called to consider the constitution, +deserved the careful consideration of those in authority, not only +because of the nature of the propositions, but because such a +consideration might be productive of good will toward the government, +even in the minds of its opponents. + +Mr. Madison brought the subject before Congress, pursuant to pledges +which he found himself compelled to give in the Virginia convention in +order to secure the ratification of the constitution. These amendments +amounted in the aggregate to no less than one hundred and forty-seven, +besides separate bills of rights proposed by Virginia and New York. Some +of them, made in different states, were identical in spirit, and +sometimes in form; and yet, it is worthy of remark that not one of these +proposed amendments, judged by subsequent experience, was of a vital +character. How well this fact illustrates the profound wisdom embodied +in our constitution! + +Sixteen amendments were finally agreed to by Congress and submitted to +the several state legislatures. Ten of these were subsequently ratified, +and now form a part of the federal constitution. This early action of +Congress in deference to the opinions of minorities in the several +states had a most happy effect. It reconciled many able men to the new +government, and gave it strength at an hour when it was most needed. + +The senate, meanwhile, had adopted measures for the establishment of a +federal judiciary. A plan embodied in a bill drafted by Ellsworth, of +Connecticut, was, after several amendments, concurred in by both houses. +By its provisions, the judiciary as established consisted of a supreme +court, having one chief justice and five associate justices, who were to +hold two sessions annually at the seat of the federal government. +Circuit and district courts were also established, which had +jurisdiction over certain specified cases. Appeals from these lower +courts to the supreme court of the United States were allowed, as to +points of law, in all civil cases where the matter in dispute amounted +to two thousand dollars. A marshal was to be appointed for each +district, having the general power of a sheriff, who was to attend all +courts, and was authorized to serve all processes. A district attorney, +to act for the United States in all cases in which the federal +government might be interested, was also to be appointed for each +district. Such, in brief outline and in general terms, was the federal +judiciary organized at the commencement of the government, and which is +still in force, with slight modifications. + +The government being completely organized by acts of Congress, and a +system of revenue for the support of the government being established, +Washington proceeded to the important duty of filling the several +offices which had been created. This was a most delicate and momentous +task, for upon a right choice, especially in the heads of the executive +departments, depended much of the success of his administration. He had +contemplated the subject with much deliberation, and when the time came +for him to act he was fully prepared. + +At that time the post of secretary of the treasury was the most +important of all. Everything pertaining to the finances of the country +was in confusion, and needed a skillful hand in re-arranging and +systematizing the inharmonious and incoherent fiscal machinery, so as to +ascertain the actual resources of the treasury, and to adopt measures +for restoring the credit of the country upon a basis of perfect +solvency. "My endeavors," Washington wrote before he assumed the office +of chief magistrate, "shall be unremittingly exerted, even at the hazard +of former fame or present popularity, to extricate my country from the +embarrassments in which it is entangled through want of credit." + +To Robert Morris, the able financier of the Revolution, Washington +turned with a feeling that he was the best man for the head of the +treasury department. Immediately after his inauguration, he inquired of +Morris: "What are we to do with this heavy debt?" "There is but one man +in the United States," replied Morris, "who can tell you--that is +Alexander Hamilton. I am glad," he added, "that you have given me this +opportunity to declare to you the extent of the obligations I am under +to him." + +This hint determined Washington to offer the important position of +secretary of the treasury to Hamilton. At the beginning of his +administration he gave that gentleman assurances that he should call him +to his cabinet in that capacity; and he frequently consulted him in +reference to fiscal matters and cognate subjects during the summer. And +when, in September, the office was formally tendered to Hamilton, he +accepted it, although it was at the sacrifice of the emoluments of a +lucrative profession. Some of his friends remonstrated with him on that +account, because it would not be just to his growing family. "Of that I +am aware," the patriot replied; "but I am convinced it is the situation +in which I can do most good." He entered upon the duties of his office +almost immediately, with a full assurance that he should perform what he +had often expressed a belief that he could do--the restoration of the +public credit. + +General Henry Knox, the efficient leader of the artillery during the +Revolution, the sincere friend of Washington, and a prudent, +industrious, faithful, and honest man, was retained in the office of +secretary of war. + +To Edmund Randolph, Washington offered the responsible position of +attorney-general of the United States. They had differed materially in +their opinions concerning the federal constitution, and it will be +remembered that Randolph refused to sign it; but he had in a great +degree become reconciled to the measure; and at no time was the +friendship between himself and Washington interrupted by their diversity +of political sentiments. Washington knew Randolph's great worth and +eminent abilities, and urged him to accept the office. He complied, and +some months afterward entered upon its duties. + +John Jay, one of the brightest minds of the remarkable century in which +he lived, and an acute lawyer, was chosen to fill the office of chief +justice of the United States. "I have a full confidence," wrote +Washington to Mr. Jay, "that the love which you bear to our country, and +a desire to promote the general happiness, will not suffer you to +hesitate a moment to bring into action the talents, knowledge, and +integrity, which are so necessary to be exercised at the head of that +department which must be considered the keystone of our political +fabric." + +Mr. Jay accepted the office; and for his associates on the bench, the +president selected William Cushing, then chief justice of Massachusetts; +James Wilson, of Pennsylvania, a very conspicuous member of the general +convention of 1787; Robert H. Harrison, then chief justice of Maryland, +who during a large portion of the war for independence had been one of +Washington's most loved confidential secretaries; John Blair, one of the +judges of the court of appeals in Virginia; and John Rutledge, the bold, +outspoken patriot of South Carolina. Harrison declined, and James +Iredell, of North Carolina, was substituted. + +The office of secretary of state remained to be filled. To that +important post the president invited Thomas Jefferson, whose long and +varied experience in public affairs at home and abroad thoroughly +qualified him for the duties of that office. He was then the minister +plenipotentiary of the United States at the French court, having +succeeded Doctor Franklin. He had obtained leave to return home for a +few months. He sailed from Havre to England late in September, and +embarked from Cowes for America. He landed at Norfolk on the +twenty-third of November; and on his way to Monticello, his beautiful +seat near Charlottesville in Virginia, he received a letter from +Washington, dated the thirteenth of October, in which he was invited to +a seat in the cabinet as secretary of state. "In the selection of +characters," the president said, "to fill the important offices of +government, I was naturally led to contemplate the talents and +disposition which I knew you to possess and entertain for the service of +your country; and without being able to consult your inclination, or to +derive any knowledge of your intentions from your letters either to +myself or to any of your friends, I was determined, as well by motives +of private regard as a conviction of public propriety, to nominate you +for the department of state, which, under its present organization, +involves many of the most interesting objects of the executive +authority." + +Mr. Jefferson, who had become enamored with the leaders and the +principles of the French revolution then just inaugurated by the +destruction of the Bastile and other acts, preferred to remain in +Europe; but, yielding to the wishes of the president, he signified his +willingness to accept the office. He was fearful that he would not be +equal to the requirements of the station; but, he said, "my chief +comfort will be to work under your eye, my only shelter the authority of +your name, and the wisdom of measures to be dictated by you and +implicitly executed by me." + +The office of secretary of the navy was not created until early in 1798, +when war with France was anticipated. A navy was then formed, and a +naval department established; and at the close of April, Benjamin +Stoddart, of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, was appointed the +secretary, and became a cabinet officer. The postmaster-general did not +become an executive officer until 1829, the first year of President +Jackson's administration, when William T. Barry entered the cabinet as +the head of the post-office department. Since then a new department has +been established, called the department of the interior, the head of +which is a cabinet officer. + +The Congress adjourned on the twenty-ninth of September, after a session +of more than six months, to meet again on the first Monday in January. +Their last act was to appoint a joint committee to wait on the president +and "request that he would recommend to the people of the United States +a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging +with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, +especially by affording them an opportunity peacefully to establish a +constitution of government for their safety and happiness." + +The president complied, and by proclamation he recommended that the +twenty-sixth of November "be devoted by the people of these states to +the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent +Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may +thus all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for +his kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to +their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies, and the +favorable interpositions of his providence, in the course and conclusion +of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and +plenty, which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational +manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of +government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national +one now recently instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with +which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing +useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors +which He has been pleased to confer upon us." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + WASHINGTON DEPARTS ON A TOUR THROUGH NEW ENGLAND--HIS CORDIAL + RECEPTION EVERYWHERE--HONORS ON THE ROUTE--INVITED TO PARTAKE OF + GOVERNOR HANCOCK'S HOSPITALITY WHILE HE REMAINS IN + BOSTON--WASHINGTON DECLINES, BUT AGREES TO DINE WITH + HIM--CONFLICTING PREPARATIONS FOR RECEIVING THE PRESIDENT AT + BOSTON--WASHINGTON ESCORTED TO THE VERGE OF BOSTON--DELAY OCCASIONED + BY DISPUTES CONCERNING A POINT OF ETIQUETTE--WASHINGTON + DISGUSTED--THE DISPUTE SETTLED--A GRAND RECEPTION--THE GOVERNOR OF A + STATE ASSUMES SUPERIOR DIGNITY TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED + STATES--HIS HUMILIATION--AN EYE-WITNESS'S ACCOUNT OF THE + MATTER--HONORS BESTOWED UPON THE PRESIDENT AT BOSTON--HE JOURNEYS TO + PORTSMOUTH--RETURNS THROUGH THE INTERIOR TO NEW YORK--POSITION OF + NORTH CAROLINA AND RHODE ISLAND. + + +Immediately after the adjournment of Congress, Washington prepared to +make a tour through New England, in order to become better acquainted +with public characters there, the temper of the people toward the new +government, and the circumstances and resources of the country. He had +asked the advice of his counsellors on the propriety of such a journey, +immediately after his inauguration, and now he again talked with +Hamilton and Madison about it. They thought it desirable; and on the +morning of Thursday, the fifteenth of October, he set out in his +carriage drawn by four horses, and accompanied by Major Jackson, his +aid-de-camp, and Tobias Lear, his private secretary, with six servants. +All papers appertaining to foreign affairs he left under the temporary +control of Mr. Jay. + +The president was accompanied some distance out of the city by +Chief-Justice Jay, General Knox, and Colonel Hamilton. His diary kept +during his tour exhibits his constant and minute observations concerning +the agricultural resources, and mechanical and other industrial +operations, of the country through which he passed. At every +considerable town on his route he was greeted by the authorities and the +people, and everywhere he received demonstrations of the greatest +personal respect and affection. On approaching New Haven on Saturday, +the seventeenth, he was met by the governor and lieutenant-governor of +Connecticut (Huntington and Wolcott), and Roger Sherman, the mayor of +the city. The governor and the congregational ministers of the city +presented to him addresses, in which they congratulated him on the +restoration of his health. He remained in New Haven until Monday +morning, and then journeyed on to Hartford accompanied by an escort of +cavalry and citizens. At Middletown and other places on the way he was +received by escorts, and greeted with the ringing of bells, and +sometimes the firing of cannon. Increasing demonstrations of respect met +him as he proceeded. At Hartford all business was suspended during his +stay; and, in all the towns, every class of citizens thronged the places +of his presence to see the face of their beloved friend. + +Grateful as these demonstrations were to the feelings of Washington, as +evidences of personal and official respect, they were not consonant with +his desires. He wished to travel in the quiet manner of a private +citizen, for he was ever averse to ostentatious displays of every kind. +But his wishes could not control the actions of his fellow-citizens, and +he yielded with a good grace to their receptions. + +Near Brookfield, between Palmer and Worcester, the president was met by +a messenger sent by John Hancock, then governor of Massachusetts, to +give notice of measures that had been arranged for the chief +magistrate's reception on his approach to, and entrance into the city of +Boston, the capital of the commonwealth. Governor Hancock also invited +him to make his house his home while in Boston. + +Washington courteously declined the governor's invitation to partake of +his hospitality. "Could my wish prevail," he said, "I should desire to +visit your metropolis without any parade or extraordinary ceremony. From +a wish to avoid giving trouble to private families I determined, on +leaving New York, to decline the honor of any invitation to quarters +which I might receive while on my journey; and, with a view to observe +this rule, I had requested a gentleman to engage lodgings for me during +my stay in Boston." + +On the receipt of this letter, Governor Hancock wrote by the return +courier to the president, expressing his regret that he could not have +the honor of entertaining him at his house as a guest, and begging that +he and his _suite_ would honor him with their company at dinner, _en +famille_, on the day of their arrival. Washington accepted the +invitation, and on Saturday, the twenty-fourth of October, he passed +through Cambridge, and approached Boston toward meridian. + +Preparations had been made for the reception of the president by +Governor Hancock and the municipal authorities of Boston, each +independently of the other, and without consultation. This produced a +disagreeable, but in some respects laughable scene in the ceremonies of +the day. Both parties sincerely desired to pay the highest honors to the +chief magistrate of the nation, but political considerations separated +the governor and the selectmen of Boston. The governor claimed the +right, as chief officer of the state, of receiving and welcoming in +person the expected guest at the entrance to the capital; while the +selectmen said, "You should have met him at the boundary of the _state_; +but when he is about to enter the _town_, it is the right of the +municipal authorities to receive him." + +The controversy was unsettled when the president and _suite_, under a +military escort commanded by General Brooks, passed through Roxbury and +were ready to enter Boston. Washington and Major Jackson had left the +carriage, and had mounted horses prepared for them; and as the whole +procession passed over the Neck it was stopped, without apparent cause, +for a long time. The contending parties, executive and municipal, had +their respective carriages drawn up, each with the determination to +receive and do honors to the president; and for more than an hour aides +and marshals were posting between the leaders of the contending parties, +endeavoring to effect a reconciliation. The sky was cloudy and the +atmosphere raw, sour, and most disagreeable.[19] Washington finally +inquired the cause of the delay, and, being informed, he asked, with +evident impatience, whether there was any other avenue into the town. He +was about to wheel his horse and seek one, and leave the contestants +about etiquette to settle their dispute at leisure--when he was informed +that the matter had been arranged, the governor's party having yielded +to the municipal authorities. + +The war of words being ended, the procession moved on. The president was +formally welcomed by the selectmen, and was received into the city with +acclamations of joy, the ringing of bells, and the firing of cannon. A +magnificent arch was raised for Washington to pass under, and the +streets, doors, and windows were filled with well-dressed people of both +sexes. The president rode with his hat off, and with a calm, dignified +air, without bowing to the people as he passed; but when he had reached +a balcony of the old statehouse, and he was saluted by a long procession +of citizens, he occasionally returned the salutations.[20] When the +ceremonials were over, he was conducted to his lodgings, at Mrs. +Ingersoll's--a fine brick house, at the corner of Tremont and Court +streets--accompanied by the lieutenant-governor and council, and +Vice-President Adams, who was then in Boston. A fine company of +light-infantry, commanded by the distinguished Harrison Gray Otis, was a +guard of honor on the occasion. + +Washington made the following record in his diary that evening: "Having +engaged yesterday to take an informal dinner with the governor to-day, +but under a full persuasion that he would have waited upon me so soon as +I should have arrived, I excused myself upon his not doing it, and +informing me through his secretary that he was too much indisposed to do +it, being resolved to receive the visit. Dined at my lodgings, where the +vice-president favored me with his company." + +This record alludes to an amusing display of official pride on the part +of Governor Hancock, which Washington, in the most dignified way, +completely humbled. Hancock's wealth, public services, and official +position, placed him in the highest rank of social life at that time; +and he had conceived the opinion that, as governor of a state and within +the bounds of his jurisdiction, etiquette made it proper for him to +receive the first visit, even from the president of the United States. +He therefore omitted to meet Washington on his first arrival, or to call +upon him; but, lacking courage to avow the true reason, he pleaded +indisposition. The true cause of the omission had been given to the +president, and he determined to resist the governor's foolish +pretensions. He therefore excused himself from the engagement to dinner, +and dined, as he says, at his own lodgings, with Vice-President Adams as +his guest. + +Hancock soon perceived that he had made a great mistake, and sent three +gentlemen that evening to express to Washington his concern that he had +not been in a condition to call upon him as soon as he entered the town. +"I informed them," says Washington in his diary, "in explicit terms, +that I should not see the governor unless it was at my own lodgings." + +The next day (Sunday), on consultation with his friends, Hancock +determined to waive the point of etiquette; and at noon he sent a +message to Washington that he would do himself the honor of visiting him +within half an hour, notwithstanding it was at the hazard of his health. +Washington immediately returned a note in reply to the governor, +informing him that he would be at home until two o'clock, and adding, +with the most polished irony: "The president need not express the +pleasure it will give him to see the governor; but, at the same time, he +most earnestly begs that the governor will not hazard his health on the +occasion." + +Hancock made the visit within the specified time. After recording in his +diary his attendance upon public worship in the morning and afternoon, +Washington added: "Between the two I received a visit from the governor, +who assured me that indisposition alone prevented him from doing it +yesterday, and that he was still indisposed; but as it had been +suggested that he expected to _receive_ the visit from the president, +which he knew was improper, he was resolved at all hazards to pay his +compliments to-day." Thus the matter ended; and the next day the +president drank tea with the governor, the latter not having been +injured by his exposure in calling upon Washington.[21] + +The president remained in Boston until Thursday, the twenty-ninth, +during which time he received many calls and addresses, and visited the +manufacturing establishments in the city, and the French ships-of-war in +the harbor. On the twenty-seventh he had a busy day. In his diary he +recorded: "At ten o'clock in the morning received the visits of the +clergy of the town. At eleven, went to an oratorio; and between that and +three o'clock received the addresses of the governor and council of the +town of Boston[22]--of the president, et cetera, of Harvard college, and +of the Cincinnati of the state; after which, at three o'clock, I dined +at a large and elegant dinner at Faneuil hall, given by the governor and +council, and spent the evening at my lodgings." + +Of all the addresses, none were so grateful to him as that from his old +companions-in-arms, the members of the Cincinnati. "After the solemn and +endearing farewell on the banks of the Hudson," they said, "which our +anxiety presaged as final, most peculiarly pleasing is the present +unexpected meeting. On this occasion we can not avoid the recollection +of the various scenes of toil and danger through which you conducted us; +and while we contemplate the trying periods of the war, and the triumphs +of peace, we rejoice to behold you, induced by the unanimous voice of +your country, entering upon other trials and other services, alike +important, and in some points of view equally hazardous. For the +completion of the great purposes which a grateful country has assigned +you, long, very long may your invaluable life be preserved; and as an +admiring world, while considering you as a soldier, have wanted a +comparison, so may your virtues and talents as a statesman leave it +without a parallel." + +To these remarks Washington replied: "Dear, indeed, is the occasion +which restores intercourse with my associates in prosperous and adverse +fortune; and enhanced are the triumphs of peace participated with those +whose virtue and valor so largely contributed to procure them. To that +virtue and valor your country has confessed her obligations. Be mine the +grateful task to add to the testimony of a connection which it was my +pride to own in the field, and is now my happiness to acknowledge in the +enjoyment of peace and freedom." + +On board the French vessels in the harbor were about thirty officers who +had served in America during the Revolution, and several of these were +members of the society of the Cincinnati in France. Of these the +admiral, Viscount de Pondevez, the Marquis de Traversay, and the +Chevalier de Braye (the Marquis de Galhsoneire being ill on board his +ship) accompanied the Cincinnati in presenting their address. On the +following day the president was conveyed on board the flag-ship of the +French admiral, in the beautiful barge of the ship _Illustrious_, having +the flag of the United States at the bow, and that of France at the +stern. It was steered by a major and rowed by midshipmen, and the +president was received on board with the homage given to sovereigns. +"The officers," says one account, "took off their shoes, and the crew +all appeared with their legs bared." "Going and coming," says Washington +in his diary, "I was saluted by the two frigates which lay near the +wharves, and by the seventy-fours after I had been on board of them. I +was also saluted, going and coming, by the fort on Castle island." + +Washington continued his tour eastward as far as Portsmouth, in New +Hampshire, passing through Salem and Newburyport on the way. He was +attended nearly the whole distance by military escorts. He left Boston +on the morning of the twenty-ninth. Eight o'clock was the hour appointed +for departure. The escort that was to accompany him was not ready, and +the punctual president, ever deprecating delays, and fearing some other +question of etiquette was to be settled, left the laggards to overtake +him on the road. He enjoyed the hospitalities of the executive of New +Hampshire (General Sullivan) and the citizens of Portsmouth, for several +days. There he gave Mr. Gulligher, a Boston painter, one sitting for his +portrait, at the request of several of the inhabitants of that city, and +also partook of a public dinner and attended a ball given in his +honor.[23] + +From Portsmouth Washington journeyed toward New York by an interior +route, passing through Exeter, Haverhill, Andover, Lexington, Watertown, +Uxbridge, Pomfret (where General Putnam lived), and arrived at Hartford +on Monday, the ninth of November. He reached New York in the afternoon +of the thirteenth, his health much benefitted by the journey, and his +store of knowledge of the people and the country greatly increased. He +had been everywhere received as a father, and he left behind him many +pleasant memories, which the participants cherished as long as life +lasted.[24] + +The excess of adulation to which the president had been exposed during +his tour in New England was deprecated by the more thoughtful, but none +found fault with the matter seriously. Trumbull, the author of McFingal, +said good-naturedly in a letter to his friend Oliver Wolcott: "We have +gone through all the popish grades of worship, and the president returns +all fragrant with the odor of incense." + +It will be observed that in this tour the president avoided Rhode Island +altogether. The reason was that that state, and North Carolina, had not +yet ratified the federal constitution, and were so far regarded as +foreign states that tonnage duties were imposed upon the vessels of each +coming into any port of the other eleven states. But this unpleasant +position of the two commonwealths was soon changed. On the very day when +Washington reached New York from his eastern tour, a convention of North +Carolina voted to ratify the constitution; and on the twenty-ninth of +May following, Rhode Island was admitted into the Union. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[19] Washington took cold on that occasion. In his diary, the following +Monday, he recorded: "The day being rainy and stormy, myself much +disordered by a cold and inflammation in my left eye, I was prevented +from visiting Lexington," etc. Sullivan, in his Familiar Letters, tells +us that, for several days afterward, a severe influenza prevailed at +Boston and in its vicinity, and was called the _Washington influenza_. +It may not be inappropriate to mention that a similar epidemic prevailed +all over New England and a part of New York, after the visit of +President Tyler to Boston, in 1843, which was called the _Tyler grippe_. + +[20] Washington wrote in his diary, under date of Saturday, October +twenty-fourth: "Suffice it to say, that at the entrance of the town I +was welcomed by the selectmen in a body. Then following the +lieutenant-governor and council in the order we came from Cambridge +(preceded by the town corps, very handsomely dressed), we passed through +the citizens classed in their different professions and under their own +banners, till we came to the statehouse, from which, across the street, +an arch was thrown, in the front of which was this inscription, 'To the +man who unites all hearts;' and on the other, 'To Columbia's favorite +Son.' On one side thereof, next the statehouse, in a panel decorated +with a trophy, composed of the arms of the United States, of the +commonwealth of Massachusetts, and our French allies, crowned with a +wreath of laurel, was this inscription--'Boston relieved, March 17, +1776.' This arch was handsomely ornamented, and over the centre of it a +canopy was erected twenty feet high, with the American eagle perched on +the top. After passing through the arch, and entering the statehouse at +the south end and ascending to the upper floor, and returning to the +balcony at the north end, three cheers were given by a vast concourse of +people who by this time had assembled at the arch. Then followed an ode, +composed in honor of the president, and well sung by a band of select +singers. After this three cheers, followed by the different professions +and mechanics, in the order they were drawn up with their colors, +through a lane of the people which had thronged about the arch, under +which they passed. The streets, the doors, the windows, and tops of the +houses, were crowded with well-dressed ladies and gentlemen." + +[21] The venerable Samuel Breck, of Philadelphia, now [1859] in the +eighty-ninth year of his age, communicated to me in a letter dated May +twenty-fifth, 1859, the following interesting reminiscences of +Washington's visit to Boston on the occasion under consideration. After +giving me a most interesting account of matters connected with the +French vessels there, Mr. Breck says:-- + + "At the time when Admiral de Pondevez was lying with his fleet in + the harbor of Boston, General Washington, the first president of + the United States, who was making a tour East during the recess of + Congress, arrived there. He was received with open arms and hearty + cheers by the people. In his honor a triumphal arch was raised, + with appropriate mottoes, near the old statehouse. Under this he + passed in great state. I stood at a window close by, and saw him + enter the balcony of that building and show himself to the + thousands who came from far and near to greet him. I saw all that + passed, heard the fine anthems that were composed for the occasion, + and gazed with admiring eyes upon his majestic figure. + + "The procession that had accompanied him from the entrance of the + town took up its line of march again, after these ceremonies, and + accompanied him to the house selected for his residence, which + stood at the corner of Tremont and Court streets. It was a handsome + brick building. A beautiful company of light-infantry served as a + guard of honor, commanded by the well-known and greatly + distinguished Harrison Gray Otis. + + "Governor Hancock had prepared a great dinner at his house, to + which he invited the French admiral, the officers of the fleet, and + many of the principal citizens. A notion had got into Hancock's + head, that the governor of a state was a kind of king or sovereign + in his own territory, and that it would be derogatory to his + station to pay the first visit to any one, even the president of + the United States; and, acting always upon this rule, he sent an + invitation to General Washington to dine with him, but excused + himself from calling on him, alleging that sickness detained him at + home; thus covering by a lame apology the resolution which he dared + not openly exercise toward the president. Washington, who had + received some hint of this absurd point of etiquette which sought + to exalt the head of a part above the head of the whole, sent his + aid-de-camp, Major William Jackson, with a message to his + excellency, declining the invitation to dinner, and intimating that + if his health permitted him to receive company, it would admit of + his visiting him. + + "My father dined at the governor's, and about sunset brought + Admiral de Pondevez and several of his officers, who spent the + evening with us. The dinner-party went off heavily, owing to the + general disappointment in not meeting the president. Meantime the + French ships-of-war in the harbor were dressed in variegated lamps, + and bonfires blazed in the streets. The ladies wore bandeaux, + cestuses, and ribands, stamped and embroidered with the name of + Washington; some in gold and silver letters, and some in pearls. + + "About ten o'clock I accompanied the admiral to the wharf of + embarkation for his ship. As we passed the house where the + president lodged, De Pondevez and his party expressed great + surprise at the absence of all sort of parade or noise. 'What!' + said he, 'not even a sentinel? In Europe,' he added, 'a + brigadier-general would have a guard; and here this great man, the + chief of a nation, does not permit it!' + + "The next day was Sunday, and immediately after morning service, + Mr. Joseph Russell, an intimate friend of the governor, called at + our house, and told my father that his excellency had swallowed the + bitter pill, and was then on his way to visit the president--to + which step he had been urged by a report that the people generally + condemned his false pride." + +[22] The address from the town was accompanied by a request, in behalf +of the ladies of Boston, that he would sit for his portrait, to be +placed in Faneuil hall, that others might be copied from it for their +respective families. On account of a want of time he was compelled to +decline, but promised to have it painted for them after his return to +New York. + +[23] "At half-after seven," he says in his diary, "I went to the +assembly, where there were about seventy-five well-dressed, and many of +them very handsome ladies, among whom (as was also the case at the Salem +and Boston assemblies) were a greater proportion with much blacker hair +than are usually seen in the southern states." + +[24] Between Uxbridge and Pomfret, the president lodged at an inn kept +by Mr. Taft, where he was so much pleased with the family, that on his +arrival at Hartford he wrote the following letter to Mr. Taft:-- + + "HARTFORD, _8th November, 1789._ + + "SIR: Being informed that you have given my name to one of your + sons, and called another after Mrs. Washington's family, and being + moreover very much pleased with the modest and innocent looks of + your two daughters, Patty and Polly, I do for these reasons send + each of these girls a piece of chintz; and to Patty, who bears the + name of Mrs. Washington, and who waited more upon us than Polly + did, I send five guineas, with which she may buy herself any little + ornament she may want, or she may dispose of them in any other + manner more agreeable to herself. As I do not give these things + with a view to have it talked of, or even to its being known, the + less there is said about the matter the better you will please me. + But, that I may be sure the chintz and money have got safe to hand, + let Patty, who I dare say is equal to it, write me a line, + informing me thereof, directed to 'The President of the United + States at New York.' I wish you and your family well, and am your + humble servant, + + "GEO. WASHINGTON." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + FIRST ACT IN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION--LAFAYETTE'S PARTICIPATION IN + IT--AMERICAN SYMPATHY IN THE MOVEMENT--WASHINGTON'S EXPRESSION OF + FEELINGS--OPENING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF CONGRESS--WASHINGTON'S + MESSAGE--PRECEDENTS ESTABLISHED--HAMILTON'S REPORT ON THE PUBLIC + DEBT AND PUBLIC CREDIT--HIS FINANCIAL SCHEME--THE PLAN BEFORE + CONGRESS--ASSUMPTION OF STATE DEBTS--FINANCIAL MEASURES ADOPTED BY + CONGRESS--EFFECTS OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE SUBJECT--WASHINGTON'S + OPINIONS--HIS LETTER CONCERNING SECTIONAL JEALOUSIES. + + +During the summer of 1789 a revolution had broken out in France, and its +influence was soon materially felt in the politics of the United States. +It was severe at the beginning and terrible in its subsequent course. +For a long time the enormous corruptions of state had been apparent, and +an attempted cure by the most violent means appeared inevitable to the +thoughtful and sagacious. The French monarch was a weak man and governed +much by bad advisers; and he often refused to listen to the true friends +of himself and France when they talked of political and social reforms. +Among these was the good, and brave, and generous Lafayette, who loved +the king for his many virtues, but loved France and her true glory, +based upon the welfare and prosperity of her people, far more. + +Lafayette's principal associates in the scheme of reform were the Duke +de Rochefoucauld and M. Candorcet. These and one or two others were +regarded as the leaders. They aimed to obtain for France a constitution +similar to that of England, which they regarded as the most perfect +model of human government then known. They desired to retain the throne, +but to diminish very materially the power of the monarch. They desired a +house of peers, with legislative powers similar to that of England, but +restricted in number to one hundred members. They desired a house of +representatives, to be chosen by the great body of the people from among +themselves, and to make the government a constitutional monarchy upon a +republican basis. + +With this view Lafayette with his coadjutors had labored for several +months, when, in the assembly of Notables in April, he boldly demanded a +series of reforms, and among others a national assembly. "What!" +exclaimed the Count d'Artois, one of Louis's bad advisers, "do you make +a motion for the states-general?"--"Yes, and even more than that," +quickly responded Lafayette. That _more_ was a charter from the king, by +which the public and individual liberty should be acknowledged and +guarantied by the future states-general. The measure was carried, and +early in May a session of the states-general was opened at Versailles. + +Had the king now listened to the advice of his true friends, and made +concessions, all would have been well. But he ordered the hall of the +national assembly, or states-general, to be closed. He also allowed +German troops from every quarter to gather around Paris, and when +requested by the national assembly to send them away he refused. M. +Necker, the patriotic controller of the treasury, and other ministers +who favored reform were dismissed, and the populace became greatly +excited. For three days there were scenes of violence in the French +capital that presaged the most terrible results. The national assembly +decreed the establishment of an armed militia of forty-eight thousand +men, when no less than two hundred and seventy thousand citizens +enrolled themselves. Arms were seized, and the greatest exasperation +appeared on every side. Again the removal of the troops around Paris was +demanded. "I alone," replied the king, "have the right to judge of the +necessity, and in that respect I can make no change." + +Forbearance was no longer a virtue; and the state-prison, called the +Bastile, being regarded as one of the strongholds of despotism, was +attacked and taken by the people on the fourteenth of July. The +conquering thousands then marched in triumph to the city-hall. The chief +supporters of the king fled, and Louis, finding himself abandoned, +hurried to the national assembly to make peace with it. "Heaven knows," +he exclaimed, "that the nation, and I are one--I confide myself wholly +to you. Help me, in this crisis, to save the state. Relying on the +attachment and security of my subjects, I have ordered the troops to +leave Paris and Versailles. I beseech you to make known my intentions to +the capital!" + +Lafayette and another hurried to the city-hall, in Paris, to inform the +people of the king's declarations. "He has hitherto been deceived," he +said, "but he now sees the merit and justness of the popular cause." The +enthusiasm was general at this announcement. Tears of joy were shed, and +the revolution appeared to be at an end. The king confirmed the +nomination of Lafayette as the commander-in-chief of the national guard, +by which he was put at the head of four millions of armed citizens; and +the nation breathed free with hope. But the wily duke of Orleans, who +desired the destruction of the king for the base purposes of his own +exaltation, excited suspicions among the people, and a demand for the +king's presence at the Tuilleries was made. Louis went voluntarily from +Versailles to Paris, followed by sixty thousand citizens and a hundred +deputies of the assembly, and there formally accepted the Declaration of +the Rights of Man, which was presented to him. This set the minds of the +people at rest, and quiet was restored to the capital and to France. + +But Lafayette was filled with apprehension for the future. To Colonel +John Trumbull, who was about to leave France for the United States at +the close of summer, he communicated a special message to Washington +concerning the state of affairs in France. After speaking of the changes +already effected and the hopes for the future, he said: "Unhappily, +there is one powerful and wicked man, who, I fear, will destroy this +beautiful fabric of human happiness--the duke of Orleans." He had +already been accused, and no doubt justly, of sending hired assassins to +Versailles to murder Louis and the royal family, that he might be made +regent of the kingdom. "He does not, indeed," said Lafayette, "possess +talent to carry into execution a great project; but he possesses +immense wealth, and France abounds in marketable talents. Every city +and town has young men eminent for abilities, particularly in the +law--ardent in character, eloquent, ambitious of distinction, but poor." +Such was the material that composed the leaders in the reign of terror +which speedily followed, and deluged Paris in blood. + +The revolution in France, under the direction of Lafayette and his +associates, was thorough as far as it went, yet it was conservative. It +elicited the warmest sympathies of the American people, and Washington +was rejoiced at the promise thus made of happiness for the French +nation. "The revolution which has taken place with you," he wrote to +Lafayette in October, "is of such magnitude, and of so momentous a +nature, that we hardly yet dare to form a conjecture about it. We +however trust, and fervently pray, that its consequences may prove happy +to a nation in whose fate we have so much cause to be interested, and +that its influence may be felt with pleasure by future generations." To +the Count de Rochambeau he said: "I am persuaded I express the +sentiments of my fellow-citizens, when I offer our earnest prayer that +it may terminate in the permanent honor and happiness of your government +and people." + +The connection of the revolution, the first act of which we have +delineated in outline, with the administration of Washington, will be +developed hereafter. It has been given here because it was appropriate +in the order of time. + +Few public events of importance occurred in the United States, after +Washington's return from his eastern tour, until the reassembling of +Congress, early in January, 1790. The day appointed for that assembling +was the fourth, but there was not a quorum of the two houses until the +eighth, when the session was formally opened by Washington in person, +with an address which he read in the senate chamber. According to a +record in his diary, it was done with considerable state, conformably to +arrangements made by General Knox and Colonel Humphreys.[25] In that +address the president recommended adequate provision for the common +defence, having special reference to Indian hostilities; an +appropriation for the support of representatives of the United States at +foreign courts and other agents abroad; the establishment of a federal +rule of naturalization; measures for the encouragement of agriculture, +manufactures, commerce, and literature; and adequate provision for the +interest on the public debt. As at the opening of the first session, +both houses now waited upon the president with formal answers to his +message, and the various recommendations contained in it were referred +to an equal number of committees. The latter practice has ever since +been adhered to. + +Three important questions, involving the establishment of precedents, +were discussed and decided early in the session of 1790. The first was a +decision, in accordance with the report of a joint committee of both +houses, that the last session of each Congress should expire on the +third of March. The second was in relation to the unfinished business of +the former session. On the report of a joint committee, a rule was +established that everything might be taken up where it had been left off +at the adjournment, except bills which after having passed one house had +stopped in the other. These were to be considered as lost, and were not +to be revived except in the form of new matter. The third question was +as to the official intercourse of the heads of departments with +Congress. The question grew out of an intimation from Mr. Hamilton, the +secretary of the treasury, that he was ready to make a report on the +national debt and the support of the public credit, according to the +requirements of a resolution passed at the last session. The question +was, Shall the report be made orally or in writing? The decision was +that it should be in writing; and ever since, the heads of departments +have held intercourse with Congress only in writing, the secretary of +the treasury reporting directly to Congress, the other secretaries +through the president. + +Hamilton's financial scheme was the most important subject that +occupied the attention of Congress during that session. It was submitted +to the house on the fifteenth of January. It was a most masterly +performance, and commanded the profound attention and respect of the +whole country. It boldly enunciated principles based upon the broad +foundation of common honesty, by which, in the opinion of the secretary, +the United States ought to be governed in relation to the public debt. +The report opened with an able and comprehensive argument in elucidation +and support of these principles the fundamental ground of the whole +argument being the justice and policy of making adequate provision for +the final payment of the federal and state debts. + +These debts amounted in the aggregate to a large sum. Hamilton estimated +the foreign debt due to the account of France, to private creditors in +Holland, and a small sum in Spain, at about eleven and three quarter +millions of dollars. This sum included the arrears of interest (more +than a million and a half of dollars) which had accumulated on the +French and Spanish loans since 1786, and installments of the French loan +overdue. The domestic debt, including interest to the end of 1790, and +an allowance for unliquidated claims of two millions of dollars +(principally unredeemed continental money), he estimated at about +forty-two and a half millions, nearly a third part of which was arrears +of interest. + +The domestic debt was due originally to officers and soldiers of the war +for independence; farmers who had furnished supplies for the army, or +suffered losses by seizure of their products; and capitalists who had +loaned money to the continental Congress during the war, or spent their +fortunes freely in support of the cause. These were sacred debts; but +the position into which the paper which represented these outstanding +claims had fallen, afforded a specious argument against the propriety of +paying their nominal value to the holders. So long had public justice +delayed in liquidating these claims, that they had sunk to one sixth of +their nominal value, and a greater portion of the paper was held by +speculators. It thus lost the power with which it appealed to the public +sympathy when in the hands of the original holders, and there was a +general sentiment against a full liquidation of these claims. It was +therefore suggested that the principle of a scale of depreciation should +be applied to them, as had been done in the case of the continental +money, in paying them--that is, at the rates at which they had been +purchased by the holders. It was especially urged that this principle +should be applied to the arrears of interest, then accumulated to an +amount almost equal to one half the principal. + +In his report, Hamilton took strong grounds against this idea, as being +unjust, dishonest, and impolitic. In the latter point of view, he justly +argued that public credit was essential to the new federal government, +and without it sudden emergencies, to which all governments as well as +individuals are exposed, could not be met promptly and efficiently. +Public credit, he said, could only be established by the faithful +discharge of public debts in strict conformity to the terms of contract. +In the case in question the contract was to pay so much money to the +holders of the certificates, or to their assignees. This was plain, and +nothing but a full and faithful discharge of the nominal value of the +debt could satisfy the contract. Thus he argued concerning the +principal, and he applied the same logic to the accumulated overdue +interest. It ought to have been paid when due, according to contract, +and was as much an honest debt as the principal. + +Hamilton went further. He strongly recommended the assumption of the +state debts by the federal government, amounting in the aggregate, +overdue interest included, to about twenty-five millions of dollars. +Both descriptions of debts, he argued, were contracted for the same +objects, and were in the main the same. Indeed, a great part of the +particular debts of the states had arisen from assumptions by them on +account of the Union, and it was most equitable that there should be the +same measure of retribution for all. The secretary considered such +assumption "a measure of sound policy and substantial justice." The +entire debt, federal and state, foreign and domestic, for the payment of +which he recommended measures of provision, was almost eighty millions +of dollars. + +The secretary, after giving the whole subject a thorough investigation +and discussion, proposed that a loan should be opened to the full amount +of the debt, federal and state, upon the following terms:-- + + "_First._ That for every one hundred dollars subscribed payable in + the debt, as well interest as principal, the subscriber should be + entitled to have two thirds founded on a yearly interest of six per + cent. (the capital redeemable at the pleasure of the government by + the payment of the principal), and to receive the other third in + lands of the western territory at their then actual value. Or, + + "_Secondly._ To have the whole sum funded at a yearly interest of + four per cent., irredeemable by any payment exceeding five dollars + upon the hundred, per annum, both on account of principal and + interest, and to receive as a compensation for the reduction of + interest fifteen dollars and eighty cents, payable in lands as in + the preceding case. Or, + + "_Thirdly._ To have sixty-six and two thirds of a dollar funded at a + yearly interest of six per cent., irredeemable also by any payment + exceeding four dollars and two thirds of a dollar upon the hundred, + per annum, on account both of principal and interest; and to have + at the end of ten years twenty-six dollars and eighty-eight cents, + funded at the like interest and rate of redemption." + +In addition to these propositions, the creditors were to have an option +of vesting their money in annuities on different plans; and it was also +recommended to open a loan at five per cent. for ten millions of +dollars, payable one half in specie and the other half in the debt, +irredeemable by any payment exceeding six dollars upon the hundred, per +annum, both of principal and interest. + +The secretary also proposed an augmentation of the duties on imported +wines, spirits, tea, and coffee, to enable the treasury to meet the +increased demand that would be made upon it; and a duty on domestic +spirits was also recommended. Serious trouble grew out of the latter +measure when adopted and put in force. + +Hamilton's report, sent to Congress on the fourteenth of January, was +taken up for consideration in the house of representatives on the +twenty-eighth; but action was postponed until the eighth of February. +Its propositions, especially the one relating to the assumption of the +state debts, were vehemently opposed, chiefly because of their tendency +to a centralization of power, as giving an undue influence to the +general government, and as being of doubtful constitutionality. Many in +different parts of the Union thought they saw great political evil in +this financial union of the states; and Virginia, above all others, most +earnestly opposed the scheme. It was believed that the funding of the +state debts would materially benefit the northern states, in which was +almost the entire capital of the country, while the southern states +could see no benefit for themselves. + +Finally, on the ninth of March, a bill predicated upon the secretary's +report passed in committee of the whole by a small majority, and went to +the house for discussion. This continued from time to time until August, +when, on the fourth, an act was passed embodying essentially the several +propositions in Hamilton's report. It authorized the president to borrow +twelve millions of dollars, if so much were found necessary, for +discharging the arrears of interest and the overdue installments of the +foreign debt, and for the paying off the whole of that debt, could it be +effected on advantageous terms, the money thus borrowed to be reimbursed +within fifteen years. It also authorized the opening of a new loan, +payable in certificates of the domestic debt at par value, and in +continental bills of credit at the rate of one hundred for one. +Certificates were to be issued for subscriptions in the interest of the +domestic debt to the full amount, redeemable at the pleasure of the +government, and bearing interest at the rate of three per cent., the +interest to be paid quarterly, and to commence with the first day of +January, 1791; all interest becoming due on continental certificates, up +to that time, to be funded as above. Subscriptions in the principal of +the domestic debt were to bear interest at six per cent.; but upon one +third of the amount, entitled "deferred stock," the interest was not to +commence till the year 1800. This interest was not to be redeemable at a +faster rate than eight dollars upon the hundred, annually, including the +yearly interest, and it was left to the option of the public creditors +to subscribe, or not, to this new loan. + +The amount of state debts assumed by the general government, by the act, +was twenty-one millions, five hundred thousand dollars. For this the act +authorized an additional loan, payable in certificates of the state +debts, which were distributed among the states in specific +proportions;[26] but no certificates were to be received except such as +had been issued for services or supplies during the war. + +"The effect of this measure," says Marshall, "was great and rapid. The +public paper suddenly rose, and was for a short time above par. The +immense wealth which individuals acquired by this unexpected +appreciation could not be viewed with indifference. Those who +participated in its advantages regarded the author of a system to which +they were so greatly indebted, with an enthusiasm of attachment to which +scarcely any limits were assigned. To many others, this adventitious +collection of wealth in particular hands was a subject rather of chagrin +than of pleasure; and the reputation which the success of his plans gave +to the secretary of the treasury was not contemplated with unconcern." + +The discussions which Hamilton's report produced in and out of +Congress, in the public press and in private circles, fearfully agitated +the country, and called forth the first regular and systematic +opposition to the principles on which the affairs of the Union were +administered. In this discussion Washington was greatly interested, yet +he avoided all semblance of participation in it. He heartily approved of +Hamilton's plan for restoring the public credit and laying the +foundation of national policy, as the most perfect that human wisdom had +yet devised; but he concealed his opinions in his own breast, except +when in private conversation with intimate friends. He looked with +ineffable disgust upon the sectional jealousies which the discussion +revealed; and in an able letter to Dr. Stuart, written toward the close +of March, in reply to remarks of that gentleman concerning a spirit of +jealousy in Virginia toward the eastern states, he spoke out warmly. The +latter section of the Union had united in favor of Hamilton's scheme, +while Virginia, for reasons already alluded to, opposed it. Stuart +wrote: "It is represented that the northern phalanx is so firmly united +as to bear down all opposition, while Virginia is unsupported even by +those whose interests are similar to hers.[27] Colonel Lee tells me that +many who were warm supporters of the government are changing their +sentiments, from a conviction of the impracticability of union with +states, whose interests are so dissimilar to those of Virginia." + +"I am sorry such jealousies as you speak of should be gaining ground, or +are poisoning the minds of the southern people," Washington wrote in +reply. "But admit the fact, which is alleged as the cause of them, and +give it full scope--does it amount to more than was known to every man +of information before, at, and since the adoption of the constitution? +Was it not always believed that there are some points which peculiarly +interest the eastern states? And did any one who reads human nature, and +more especially the character of the eastern people, conceive that they +would not pursue them steadily by a combination of their force? Are +there not other points which equally concern the southern states? If +these states are less tenacious of their interest, or if, whilst the +eastern move in a solid phalanx to effect their views, the southern are +always divided, which of the two is most to be blamed? That there is a +diversity of interests in the Union none have denied; that this is the +case also in every state is equally certain; and that it even extends to +the counties of individual states can be as readily proved. Instance the +southern and northern parts of Virginia, the upper and lower parts of +South Carolina. Have not the interests of these always been at variance? +Witness the county of Fairfax. Have not the interests of the people of +that county varied, or the inhabitants been taught to believe so? These +are well-known truths; and yet, it did not follow that separation was to +result from the disagreement. + +"To constitute a dispute there must be two parties. To understand it +well, both parties and all the circumstances must be fully heard; and, +to accommodate differences, temper and mutual forbearance are requisite. +Common danger brought the states into confederacy, and on their union +our safety and importance depend. A spirit of accommodation was the +basis of the present constitution. Can it be expected, then, that the +southern or eastern parts of the empire will succeed in all their +measures? Certainly not. But I will readily grant that more points will +be carried by the latter than the former, and for the reason which has +been mentioned, namely, that in all great national questions they move +in unison, whilst the others are divided. But I ask, again, which is +most blameworthy--those who see, and will steadily pursue their +interest, or those who can not see, or seeing will not act wisely? And I +will ask another question, of the highest magnitude in my mind, to wit: +if the eastern and northern states are dangerous in union, will they be +less so in separation? If self-interest is their governing principle, +will it forsake them, or be restrained by such an event? I hardly think +it would. Then, independently of other considerations, what would +Virginia, and such other states as might be inclined to join her, gain +by a separation? Would they not, most unquestionably, be the weaker +party?" + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[25] The following is the record:-- + + "According to appointment, at eleven o'clock I set out for the + city-hall in my coach, preceded by Colonel Humphreys and Major + Jackson in uniform (on my two white horses), and followed by + Messrs. Lear and Nelson in my chariot, and Mr. Lewis, on horseback, + following them. In their rear were the chief justice of the United + States, and secretary of the treasury and war departments, in their + respective carriages, and in the order they are named. At the outer + door of the hall I was met by the doorkeepers of the senate and + house, and conducted to the door of the senate chamber; and passing + from thence to the chair through the senate on the right, and house + of representatives on the left, I took my seat. The gentlemen who + attended me followed and took their stand behind the senators, the + whole rising as I entered. After being seated, at which time the + members of both houses also sat I arose (as they also did) and made + my speech, delivering one copy to the president of the senate, and + another to the speaker of the house of representatives; after + which, and being a few moments seated, I retired, bowing on each + side to the assembly (who stood) as I passed, and descending to the + lower hall, attended as before, I returned with them to my house." + +[26] The following were the amounts: New Hampshire, $300,000; +Massachusetts, $4,000,000; Rhode Island, $200,000; Connecticut, +$1,600,000; New York, $1,200,000; New Jersey, $800,000; Pennsylvania, +$2,200,000; Delaware, $200,000; Maryland, $800,000; Virginia, +$3,000,000; North Carolina, $2,400,000; South Carolina, $4,000,000; +Georgia, $300,000. + +[27] South Carolina joined New England in favor of Hamilton's scheme. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + ARRIVAL OF JEFFERSON AT THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT--HIS REPUBLICANISM + SHOCKED--MONARCHICAL SENTIMENTS ENTERTAINED BY SOME--HAMILTON + INDUCES JEFFERSON TO SUPPORT HIS FINANCIAL MEASURES--LOCATION OF THE + SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AGREED UPON--JEFFERSON'S SUSPICIONS--HIS DISLIKE + OF HAMILTON--WASHINGTON UNSUSPICIOUS OF DISSENTION IN HIS + CABINET--BIRTH OF THE _FEDERAL_ AND _REPUBLICAN_ PARTIES--SLAVERY + AND THE SLAVE-TRADE DISCUSSED--THE RESULT--DIFFICULTIES WITH THE + INDIAN TRIBES--NEGOTIATIONS AND WAR--RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN + AND SPAIN--SECRET SERVICE--GOUVERNEUR MORRIS AND MAJOR BECKWITH. + + +After a tedious journey of a fortnight from Richmond, Mr. Jefferson +arrived at the seat of government on the twenty-first of March, when the +debate on the assumption of the state debts was at its bitterest point. +He had returned to America after several years of diplomatic service in +France, with a sincere desire to spend the remainder of his days in +private life. But he was met at the house of his brother-in-law, on his +way from Norfolk (where he landed) to his home at Monticello, by +Washington's letter, already mentioned, inviting him to his cabinet as +secretary of state. The diplomat was disappointed. He had seen, and in a +degree had participated in, the opening act in the drama of the French +revolution. He had, as we have observed, become deeply enamored of the +leaders in the revolt, and the political sentiments they had proclaimed; +and he preferred to remain in France, if he was to be continued in +public employment. But the terms of Washington's invitation were such, +that Jefferson's sense of duty and reverence for the president would not +allow him to refuse, and after due deliberation he accepted the office. + +On his arrival at New York, Jefferson found many things to surprise +and startle him. A wonderful change had apparently taken place in +political life during his residence in Europe; and being thoroughly +imbued with republican principles and a deep-seated hatred of monarchy, +his suspicions and jealousies were most painfully alive. He saw dangers +to the state lurking in every recess where the full light of clear +perceptions did not fall. "I found a state of things," he wrote some +years afterward, "which, of all I had contemplated, I least expected. I +had left France in the first year of her revolution, in the fervor of +natural rights and zeal for reformation. My conscientious devotion to +these rights could not be heightened, but it had been aroused and +excited by daily exercise. The president received me cordially, and my +colleagues and circle of principal citizens apparently with welcome. The +courtesies of dinner-parties given me, as a stranger newly arrived among +them, placed me at once in their familiar society. But I can not +describe the wonder and mortification with which the table conversations +filled me. Politics were the chief topic, and a preference of kingly +over republican government was evidently the favorite sentiment. An +apostate I could not be, nor yet a hypocrite; and I found myself, for +the most part, the only advocate on the republican side of the question, +unless among the guests there chanced to be some member of that party +from the legislative houses." + +That there were men of character in the United States at that time who +desired a monarchical form of government, evidence is not wanting. Some +of them had been loyalists during the war. Washington spoke of them in +1787, before the assembling of the convention that framed the federal +constitution, as men who either had "not consulted the public mind," or +who lived "in a region more productive of monarchical ideas than was the +case in the southern states." But that any officer of the government, on +Jefferson's arrival, had a desire for kingly rule, there is no positive +evidence. The most earnest advocate for a strong, energetic, +consolidated government, was Alexander Hamilton; yet he never expressed +a _desire_ for a monarchical government in America. In his speech in +the constitutional convention on the eighteenth of June, 1787, he lauded +the British constitution as the best ever devised by man, and said that +he doubted whether anything short of a government like that of Great +Britain (a constitutional monarchy) would do in America. These +sentiments were uttered when everything like order appeared to be on the +verge of destruction, and a strong arm, independent of the popular will, +seemed necessary for the establishment of public strength and individual +security. The crisis was passed, the federal constitution was formed, +and Hamilton gave it his zealous support. Yet, to the close of his life, +he considered the constitution too weak to perform the great duties +assigned it. + +Hamilton was always frank and unreserved in the expression of his +political views; and immediately after Jefferson's arrival at the seat +of government, the secretary of the treasury pressed upon his attention +the importance of the assumption of the state debts--a measure which had +been rejected. "He observed," says Jefferson in his account of the +matter, "that the members of the administration ought to act in concert; +that though this question was not of my department, yet a common duty +should make it a common concern; that the president was the centre on +which all administrative questions ultimately rested; that, the question +having been lost by a small majority only, it was probable that an +appeal from me to the judgment and discretion of some of my friends +might effect a change in the vote, and the machinery of government, now +suspended, might be again set in motion." + +To this Jefferson replied that he was a stranger to the whole matter; +that if the rejection of the proposition really, as Hamilton alleged, +endangered the Union, it was important to reconsider it; and then +proposed that the secretary of the treasury should meet two or three +friends at table the next day to discuss the subject. The dinner and the +discussion took place; and it was "finally agreed," says Jefferson, +"that whatever importance had been attached to the rejection of this +proposition, the preservation of the Union and of concord among the +states was more important, and that therefore it would be better that +the vote of rejection should be rescinded, to effect which, some +members should change their votes." + +At that time the question, Where shall the seat of the federal +government be permanently located? was a subject of violent contest, the +people in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, +wishing it to be in their respective states. Debates had run high upon +the subject in Congress, and the public press had discussed it +vigorously. It being observed at Jefferson's dinner-party that a +reconsideration of the assumption bill, and its adoption, would be "a +bitter pill" to the southern states, it was proposed that "some +concomitant measure should be adopted to sweeten it a little to them." +The location of the seat of government was chosen as the soother. The +contest had narrowed, geographically, so that it lay between +Philadelphia on the Delaware and Georgetown on the Potomac. It was +proposed to give it to Philadelphia for ten years, and to Georgetown +permanently thereafter, believing that "that might, as an anodyne, calm +in some degree the ferment which might be excited by the other measure +alone." "Two of the Potomac members agreed to change their votes," says +Jefferson, "and Hamilton undertook to carry the other point. In doing +this, the influence he had established over the eastern members, with +the agency of Robert Morris with those of the middle states, effected +his side of the engagement." The assumption bill was carried, and the +location of the seat of government was settled. Congress agreed to make +Philadelphia its residence for ten years, during which time the public +buildings should be erected at some point on the Potomac that the +president might select. Subsequently a territory ten miles square, lying +on both sides of the Potomac in Maryland and Virginia, was ceded by +those states to the United States, and called the district of Columbia. +Thus the matter was settled. + +When Jefferson's sensitive republicanism took the alarm to which we have +alluded, he became suspicious of all around him. His feelings toward +Hamilton changed, until he considered him a monarchist in principle, and +regarded all his financial schemes as intended to strengthen the general +government, centralize power, and make the treasury the controlling +lever of public affairs, the chief of which, with almost autocratic +puissance, might direct everything to suit his own political views. With +this impression, retrospection made him angry and resentful. He regarded +the manner in which Hamilton had procured his aid in effecting the +measure of assumption as a snare by which he had been entrapped, and he +characterized the measure itself as a fiscal manoeuvre, to which he +had "ignorantly and innocently been made to hold the candle." + +This was the beginning of those dissentions in his cabinet which +afterward gave the president so much trouble. They had grown to +mischievous proportions at a time when he believed there was perfect +harmony among his constitutional advisers. He had never experienced the +sentiment of jealousy himself, and he was the last man to suspect it in +others; and at the time when Jefferson and Hamilton were regarding each +other with a spirit of rivalry, Washington wrote to Lafayette, saying: +"Many of your old acquaintances and friends are concerned with me in the +administration of this government. By having Mr. Jefferson at the head +of the department of state, Mr. Jay of the judiciary, Hamilton of the +treasury, and Knox of war, I feel myself supported by able coadjutors +who harmonize extremely well." + +Out of the rivalry between Jefferson and Hamilton, and the conflict of +their opinions respecting the national jurisprudence and French +politics, grew the two political parties known respectively, for about +twenty years, as _Federal_ and _Republican_. We shall observe that +growth as we progress in our narrative. + +While Congress and the nation were agitated by discussions concerning +the public debt, another topic elicited a still more exciting +discussion: it was African slavery and the slave-trade. Slavery then +existed in all the states of the Union except Massachusetts, in whose +constitution a clause had been inserted for the purpose of tacitly +abolishing the system from the commonwealth. Pennsylvania had adopted +measures with the same view, and had been imitated by Connecticut, Rhode +Island, and New Hampshire. New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, +had prohibited the further importation of slaves; and in Virginia and +Maryland restrictions upon emancipation had been repealed. A desire to +get rid of the system appeared to prevail throughout the Union. The +Presbyteries of New York and Pennsylvania, composing a united synod, had +constituted themselves as the general assembly of the Presbyterian +church in America; and that representative body issued a pastoral letter +in 1788, in which they strongly recommended the abolition of slavery, +and the instruction of negroes in letters and religion. The Methodist +church, then rising into notice, even refused slaveholders a place in +their communion; and the Quakers had made opposition to slavery a part +of their discipline. In these benevolent movements Washington +sympathized; for he desired to see the system extinguished by some just +method. + +It was only a few days after the commencement of the debate on the +public debt, that a petition from the yearly meeting of the Quakers of +Pennsylvania and Delaware, with another from that of New York, was laid +before the house of representatives. A motion for reference to a special +committee caused a warm debate, and some of those who opposed its +reception spoke sneeringly of "the men in the gallery," who were the +Quaker deputation appointed to look after the petition.[28] It was laid +upon the table that day; and at the opening of the session on the +following morning, another petition on the same subject, from the +Pennsylvania society for the abolition of slavery, was presented. It was +signed by Benjamin Franklin (president of the society), then in the last +weeks of his life. The petition was read, and then the Quaker memorial +was called up. The excitement in the house was very great. The movement +was denominated an improper interference with state rights, or at least +an act of imprudence; and Judge Burke, of South Carolina, declared that +if these memorials were entertained by commitment, the act would "sound +an alarm and blow the trumpet of sedition through the southern states." + +The question was mainly a constitutional one, but the debates took +great latitude. It was finally agreed to commit the memorials, by a vote +of forty-three to eleven. They were referred to a committee consisting +of one member from each of the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, +Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. + +A month afterward, that committee reported seven resolutions: first, +that the general government was expressly restrained from prohibiting +the carrying on of the slave-trade until the year 1808; second, that by +a fair construction of the constitution, Congress was equally restrained +from interfering with slavery, in the matter of emancipation, in the +several states; third, that Congress had no power to interfere in the +internal regulations of slavery in the several states; fourth, that +Congress had the right, by virtue of the revenue laws, to levy a tax of +ten dollars upon every person imported as property under the special +permission of any of the states; fifth, that Congress had power to +regulate or to interdict the African slave-trade, carried on by citizens +of the United States for the supply of foreign countries; sixth, that +Congress had the right to prohibit foreigners from fitting out vessels +in the United States, to be employed in the supply of foreign countries +with slaves from Africa; seventh, that Congress would exercise their +authority to its full extent, to promote the humane objects set forth in +the memorial of the Quakers. + +This report called forth zealous and sometimes angry debates for a whole +week, when it was finally agreed, at the suggestion of Fisher Ames, +seconded by Madison and others, by a vote of twenty-nine to twenty-five, +to enter the report at length upon the journal of the house, where it +might be consulted in the future, and to take no further action. Thus +ended the first agitation of the still pending "slavery question" in +Congress. In a letter to Doctor Stuart, in June, referring to a +complaint of the tardiness of Congress, Washington remarked: "The +introduction of the Quaker memorial respecting slavery was, to be sure, +not only _ill-timed_, but occasioned a great waste of time. The final +decision thereon, however, was as favorable as the proprietors of this +species of property could well have expected, considering the light in +which slavery is viewed by a large part of this Union." + +While topics of a domestic nature agitated the public mind and occupied +the attention of the national legislature, the foreign relations of the +government (in which expression may be included the relations with +hostile Indian tribes) were far from satisfactory. We have already +alluded to the hostile attitude of some of the tribes in the northwest +and southwest, among whom it was suspected British emissaries were at +work. Those of the southwest, especially the Creek nation, had been in a +disturbed state for some time, and difficulties with the authorities of +Georgia had caused an open rupture a little earlier than the period in +question. The Creeks were governed by an accomplished chief, Alexander +M'Gillivray, the son of a loyalist Scotchman, of that name, and a Creek +woman of a leading family. He had been well educated, and his father +designed him for commercial pursuits. He loved study more than ledgers; +and his father owning large possessions in Georgia, the young man looked +forward to wealth and social position. But the revolution swept all +away. His father's property was confiscated, and young M'Gillivray took +refuge with the Creeks, his heart filled with hatred of the republicans. +He was brave, fluent in speech, popular with the leading men, and soon +rose to the rank of head chief; and no doubt he stirred up his nation to +assume an attitude hostile to the Americans. + +The Creeks, with M'Gillivray at their head, had also established a close +alliance with the Spaniards, who held possession of Florida. The Spanish +governor of that province courted the young half-blood chief, and he was +honored with a colonelcy in the military service of Spain. Through the +Spaniards, the Creeks could readily obtain arms and ammunition in +exchange for their furs; and thus, in point of strength, they were the +most formidable enemies to the United States among the Indian nations. + +Good policy caused the United States government to send commissioners to +treat with the Creeks; and in the autumn of 1789, General Lincoln, +Colonel Humphries, and David Griffin--a commission appointed by +Washington--met deputies of that confederacy on the Oconee, to hold a +treaty. M'Gillivray was at the head of the deputation. He received the +American commissioners kindly, and expressed a desire for friendship; +but when he found that they did not propose to restore to the Creeks +their lands about which they had disputed with the Georgians, he +abruptly ended the conference, promising, however, to remain peaceable +until further negotiations could be had. + +In March, 1790, Washington despatched Colonel Marinus Willett on a new +mission to the Creeks. He succeeded in persuading M'Gillivray to go to +New York, to carry on negotiations there. Attended by twenty-eight +sachems, chiefs, and warriors, he arrived at the federal capital on the +twenty-third of June, having been received with much attention at the +principal towns on the line of his journey. The members of the Tammany +society of New York, arrayed in Indian costume, escorted M'Gillivray and +his party into the city; and the Creek chief, being the son of a +Scotchman, was made an honorary member of the St. Andrew's society. + +These attentions, and the gracious manner in which he was received by +the president, made a deep impression on M'Gillivray's mind. General +Knox, the secretary of war, was appointed to negotiate with him. A +satisfactory treaty, founded upon mutual concessions, was made; and one +of the last acts of Washington during the second session of the first +Congress was the approval of that treaty. It was signed by the +contracting parties on the seventh of August, and was ratified on the +thirteenth, the day after Congress adjourned. + +Meanwhile, the aspect of Indian affairs in the country northwest of the +Ohio, into which a stream of emigration was rapidly flowing, claimed the +serious consideration of the government. A territorial government for +that region had been ordained in 1787, and the domain was called the +northwest territory. General Arthur St. Clair was appointed governor. As +we have observed, the Indians in that vicinity had shown much hostility +to the Americans ever since the close of the Revolution. They were +encouraged by Sir John Johnson, then Indian agent on that frontier, and +by Sir Guy Carleton, who was again governor of Canada, to insist upon +re-establishing the Ohio as the Indian boundary. They swarmed upon the +banks of that river, waylaid the boats of emigrants, and even crossed +the stream and made incursions into Kentucky, to attack frontier +stations there. The president was convinced, by long experience with the +Indians, that on the failure of negotiations with them, sound policy and +true economy, not less than humanity, required the immediate employment +of force, which should go as a scourge into the very heart of their +country. Such were now the relations between the northwestern tribes and +the United States; and in the autumn, a military force eleven hundred +strong, under the command of General Harmer, was directed by the +president to march against the Miami village on the Scioto, where +Chilicothe now stands. After some successes and defeats the Americans +withdrew, and the Indians became more insolent and bold. + +At this time a general European war appeared inevitable. A long-pending +controversy between Spain and Great Britain remained unsettled. It was +believed that France would side with Spain; and it was thought to be a +favorable time for the United States to press upon Great Britain the +necessity of complying with the yet unfulfilled articles of the treaty +of 1783. Accordingly, as early as January, 1790, Gouverneur Morris, then +in Paris, was commissioned by Washington to proceed to London, as +private agent of the United States, to sound the British ministry on the +subject. At that time there was no diplomatic intercourse between the +United States and Great Britain. Mr. Adams had returned home, and the +court of St. James had never sent a minister to the United States. +Morris opened a communication with the English minister for foreign +affairs, but was unable to make much satisfactory progress for some +time. As late as the first of July, Washington made the following record +in his diary: + + "Having put into the hands of the vice president of the United + States the communication of Mr. Gouverneur Morris, who had been + empowered to make informal inquiries how well disposed the British + ministry might be to enter into commercial relations with the + United States, and to fulfil the articles of peace respecting our + western posts, and the slaves which had been carried from this + country, he expressed his approbation that this step had been + taken, and added that the disinclination of the British cabinet to + comply with the two latter and to evade the former, as evidently + appears from the correspondence of Mr. Morris with the duke of + Leeds (the British minister for foreign affairs), was of a piece + with their conduct toward him whilst minister at that court, and + just what he expected, and that to have it ascertained was + necessary. + + "He thought, as a rupture between England and Spain was almost + inevitable, that it would be our policy and interest to take part + with the latter, as he was very apprehensive that New Orleans was + an object with the former of their possessing, which would be very + injurious to us; but he observed, at the same time, that the + situation of our affairs would not justify the measure, unless the + people [of the United States] themselves should take the lead in + the business." + +This was also considered a favorable time for the United States to urge +upon Spain their claims to the free navigation of the Mississippi river. +Mr. Carmichael, the American charge d'affaires at the court of Madrid, +was instructed not only to press this point with earnestness, but to use +his best endeavors to secure the unmolested use of that river in future, +by obtaining a cession of the island of New Orleans and of the Floridas, +offering as an equivalent the sincere friendship of the United States, +by which the territories of Spain west of the Mississippi might be +secured to that government. + +Evidence was not wanting that Great Britain apprehended an alliance of +the United States with Spain in the war that seemed to be impending; and +also that, in the event of war, the arms of Great Britain would be +directed against the Spanish settlements in America, to the disadvantage +of the United States. Sir Guy Carleton (now Lord Dorchester) was +continued in the government of Canada. He had asked leave to pass +through New York on his way to England. It was readily granted. And now, +under the pretext of making a formal acknowledgment for the contest, he +despatched his aid-de-camp, Major Beckwith, to sound the American +government, and ascertain, if possible, its disposition toward the two +disputing nations. + +Major Beckwith first approached Hamilton, the secretary of the treasury. +After acknowledging the courtesy of the United States government in +offering to comply with the wishes of Lord Dorchester, he observed that +the prospect of a war between Great Britain and Spain would prevent or +defer his lordship's departure for England. + +"He next proceeded to observe," says Hamilton in his written report of +the interview which he laid before the president, "that Lord Dorchester +had been informed of a negotiation commenced on the other side of the +water, through the agency of Mr. Morris; mentioning, as the subscriber +understood principally by way of proof of Lord Dorchester's knowledge of +the transaction, that Mr. Morris had not produced any regular +credentials, but merely a letter from the president directed to himself; +that some delays had intervened, partly on account of Mr. Morris's +absence on a trip to Holland, as was understood, and that it was not +improbable these delays and some other circumstances may have impressed +Mr. Morris with an idea of backwardness on the part of the British +ministry. That his lordship, however, had directed him to say that an +inference of this sort would not, in his opinion, be well founded, as he +had reason to believe that the cabinet of Great Britain entertained a +disposition, not only toward a friendly intercourse, but toward an +alliance with the United States." + +"Major Beckwith then proceeded to speak of the particular cause of the +expected rupture between Spain and Great Britain, observing it was one +in which all commercial nations must be supposed to favor the views of +Great Britain. That it was therefore presumed, should a war take place, +that the United States would find it to their interest to take part with +Great Britain rather than with Spain." + +Major Beckwith then, in the name of Lord Dorchester, disclaimed any +influence, under the sanction of British authorities, over the western +tribes, unfavorable to the interests of the citizens of the United +States; and concluded by producing a letter signed by Dorchester, which +contained sentiments similar to those expressed by the bearer, with an +assurance that "his lordship knew too well the consequences of such a +step, to have taken it without a previous knowledge of the intentions of +the cabinet." + +Washington's impression of this semi-official overture from Great +Britain is expressed in the following record in his diary on the eighth +of July: "The aspect of this business, in the moment of its +communication to me, appeared simply and no other than this: 'We did not +incline to give any satisfactory answer to Mr. Morris, who was +_officially_ commissioned to ascertain our intentions with respect to +the evacuation of the western posts within the territory of the United +States, and other matters, until by this unauthenticated mode we can +discover whether you will enter into an alliance with us, and make +common cause against Spain. In that case we will enter into a commercial +treaty with you, and _promise perhaps_ to fulfil what we already stand +engaged to perform.'" + +The president referred the matter to his cabinet, with a request that +they would give it their serious consideration. They did so; and on the +fourteenth it was agreed to treat Beckwith's communications very +civilly--to intimate, delicately, that they carried no marks official or +authentic; nor, in speaking of alliance, did they convey any definite +meaning by which the precise object of the British cabinet could be +discovered. "In a word," says Washington in his diary, "that the +secretary of the treasury was to extract as much as he could from Major +Beckwith, and to report to me, without committing, by any assurances +whatever, the government of the United States, leaving it entirely free +to pursue, unreproached, such a line of conduct in the dispute as her +interest and honor shall dictate." + +It was evident that the British government were willing that their +relations with the United States should remain unchanged, until they +should perceive what course European affairs were likely to take. For +about nine months Morris remained in London, endeavoring to accomplish +the objects of his mission; but, at the end of that time, the views of +the British government, on all the main topics of discussion, were as +much hidden in a cloud of uncertainty as when he first presented +Washington's letter to the duke of Leeds, as his credentials. The powers +given to Mr. Morris were withdrawn; because, to further press the +subject of a commercial treaty, or the exchange of ministers, or the +evacuation of the western posts, on the part of the United States, would +be useless and dishonorable; and it was resolved to pause in action +until the government had become strong enough to speak in decisive +tones, and prepare to maintain words with works. + +Finding the French government, then embarrassed by its own internal +difficulties, disinclined to take part in the quarrel with Great +Britain, Spain, unable alone to cope with her foe, yielded every point +in the controversy, and the dispute was settled. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[28] In his diary under date of March the sixteenth, 1790, Washington +recorded: "Exercised on horseback, between ten and twelve o'clock; +previous to this, I was visited (having given permission) by Mr. Warner +Mifflin, one of the people called Quakers, active in pursuit of the +measures laid before Congress for emancipating the slaves. After much +general conversation, and an endeavor to remove the prejudices which, he +said, had been entertained of the motives by which the attending +deputations from their society were actuated, he used arguments to show +the immorality, injustice, and impolicy of keeping these people in a +state of slavery; with declarations, however, that he did not wish for +more than a gradual abolition, or to see any infraction of the +constitution to effect it. To these I replied, that as it was a matter +which might come before me for official decision, I was not inclined to +express any sentiments on the merits of the question before this should +happen." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS--WASHINGTON'S OPINION OF THEIR CONDUCT--HIS + PUBLIC LABORS--TOUR ON LONG ISLAND--SEVERE ILLNESS OF THE + PRESIDENT--VOYAGE TO RHODE ISLAND--IN RETIREMENT AT MOUNT + VERNON--LAFAYETTE'S POSITION--KEY OF THE BASTILE PRESENTED TO + WASHINGTON--WASHINGTON'S HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED + STATES--HIS NEUTRAL POLICY FORESHADOWED--INDIAN WAR IN THE WEST. + + +Congress adjourned on the twelfth of August, after a session of about +seven months, during which time questions of great importance had been +met, discussed, and settled; not always, it must be confessed, in a +conciliatory spirit. In a partial defense of the national legislature, +in a letter to Doctor Stuart, Washington remarked: "I do not mean, +however, from what I have here said, to justify the conduct of Congress +in all these movements; for some of their movements, in my opinion, have +been injudicious, and others unseasonable; whilst the questions of +assumption, residence, and other matters, have been agitated with a +warmth and intemperance, with prolixity and threats, which, it is to be +feared, have lessened the dignity of that body, and decreased that +respect which was once entertained for it. And this misfortune is +increased by many members, even among those who wish well to the +government, ascribing in letters to their respective states, when they +are defeated in a favorite measure, the worst motives for the conduct of +their opponents, who, viewing matters through another medium, may and do +retort in their turn; by which means jealousies and distrusts are spread +most impolitically far and wide, and will, it is to be feared, have a +most unhappy tendency to injure our public affairs, which, if wisely +managed, might make us, as we are now by Europeans thought to be, the +happiest people upon earth." + +The session just closed had been a season of great labor for the +president. The cares of state had been many and important, and the +affairs of France had occupied much of his attention. Some days his +application to public business was so continuous, from early morning +until evening, that he omitted his usual exercise in the open air. He +managed, however, to make a tour of four days, in his carriage, upon +Long Island. He travelled eastward as far as Huntington, making (as +appears by his diary) careful observations of the country and its +resources. He proceeded from Brooklyn, through Flatbush and New Utrecht, +to Gravesend, on the extreme western point of the island, and then +eastward to Jamaica by the middle road. From Jamaica he journeyed to +South Hempstead, and then to Hart's tavern in Brookhaven, from which +place he struck across toward the north shore of the island by Coram to +Setauket. On the third day of his journey (April the twenty-third) he +went through Smithstown to Huntington, where he dined; and then turning +westward, he drove to Oyster bay and lodged. Early the following morning +he passed through Mosquito cove, and breakfasted at Hendrick +Onderdonk's, at the head of a bay, the site of the present village of +Roslyn, or Hempstead harbor. He dined at Flushing, reached Brooklyn +ferry before sunset, and home at twilight. + +Incessant application to business made severe inroads upon the health of +the president, and on the tenth of May he was seized with a severe +illness, which reduced him to the verge of dissolution. He was confined +to his chamber for several weeks, and it was not until the twenty-fourth +of June that he was able to resume his diary. His chief difficulty was +inflammation of the lungs, and he suffered from general debility until +the close of the session of Congress in August. Then, accompanied by +Jefferson, he made a voyage to Newport, Rhode Island, especially for the +benefit of his health, and incidentally to have personal intercourse +with the leading inhabitants there, he having, as we have observed, +avoided the soil of Rhode Island when on his eastern tour, that state +not then being a member of the Union. It had recently entered by +adopting the federal constitution. + +The sea-voyage was beneficial to the health of the president; and soon +after his return, at the close of August, he set out with his family for +Mount Vernon, there to seek repose from the turmoil of public life, and +the sweet recreation which he always experienced in the midst of +agricultural employments in that happy retreat. He carried with him to +Mount Vernon a curious present which he received from his friend +Lafayette, just before the adjournment of Congress. It was the ponderous +iron key of the Bastile--that old fortress of despotism in Paris which +the populace of that city captured the year before, and which had been +levelled to the ground by order of the marquis, who was still at the +head of the revolution in France. + +Washington had watched the course of his friend with great anxiety; for +he loved the marquis as a brother. The career upon which he had entered +was a most difficult and perilous one. "Never has any man been placed in +a more critical situation," the Marquis de Luzerne wrote to Washington. +"A good citizen, a faithful subject, he is embarrassed by a thousand +difficulties in making many people sensible of what is proper, who very +often feel it not, and who sometimes do not understand what it is." + +"He acts now a splendid but dangerous part," wrote Gouverneur Morris. +Lafayette himself felt the perils of his position. "How often, my +well-beloved general," he wrote to Washington early in the year, "have I +regretted your sage counsels and friendly support. We have advanced in +the career of the revolution without the vessel of state being wrecked +against the rocks of aristocracy or faction.... At present, that which +existed has been destroyed; a new political edifice is forming; without +being perfect, it is sufficient to assure liberty. Thus prepared, the +nation will be in a state to elect in two years a convention which can +correct the faults of the constitution." Alas! those two years had +scarcely passed away before the hopeful champion of freedom was a +prisoner, far away from his home, in an Austrian dungeon. But we will +not anticipate. + +Two months later, Lafayette wrote a most hopeful letter to Washington. +"Our revolution," he said, "pursues its march as happily as is possible +with a nation which, receiving at once all its liberties, is yet subject +to confound them with licentiousness." He then spoke of the hinderances +to speedy success in the establishment of a sound republican government, +and said: "After having avowed all this, my dear general, I will tell +you, with the same frankness, that we have made an admirable and almost +incredible destruction of all the abuses, of all the prejudices; that +all which was not useful to the people--all which did not come from +them--has been retrenched; that, in considering the situation, +topographical, moral, and political, of France, we have effected more +changes in ten months than the most presumptive patriots could have +hoped, and that the reports about our anarchy, our internal troubles, +are greatly exaggerated." + +In conclusion, the marquis said: "Permit me, my dear general, to offer +you a picture representing the Bastile, such as it was some days after I +had given orders for its demolition, with the main key of the fortress +of despotism. It is a tribute which I owe as a son to an adopted +father--as an aid-de-camp to my general--as a missionary of liberty to +its patriarch." + +The picture and key were placed in the hands of Thomas Paine, then in +London, who was intending soon to visit the United States. His +destination was changed to France, and after considerable delay he +forwarded the precious mementoes, with a letter, in which he said:-- + + "I feel myself happy in being the person through whom the marquis + has conveyed this early trophy of the spoils of despotism, and the + first ripe fruit of American principles transplanted into Europe, + to his great master and patron. When he mentioned to me the present + he intended for you, my heart leaped with joy.... That the + principles of America opened the Bastile is not to be doubted, and + therefore the key comes to the right place." + +On the receipt of these presents early in August, Washington wrote to +Lafayette, saying: "I have received your affectionate letter of the +seventeenth of March by one conveyance, and the token of the victory +gained by liberty over despotism by another; for both which testimonials +of your friendship and regard, I pray you to accept my sincerest thanks. +In this great subject of triumph for the new world and for humanity in +general, it will never be forgotten how conspicuous a part you bore, and +how much lustre you reflected on a country in which you made the first +displays of your character." + +Referring in the same letter to the treaty which had been concluded with +the Creeks, he said: "This event will leave us at peace from one end of +our borders to the other, except when it may be interrupted by a small +refugee banditti of Cherokees and Shawnees, who can be easily chastised, +or even extirpated, if it shall become necessary." He then added:-- + +"Gradually recovering from the distress in which the war left us, +patiently advancing in our task of civil government, unentangled in the +crooked politics of Europe, wanting scarcely anything but the free +navigation of the Mississippi (which we must have, and as certainly +shall have as we remain a nation), I have supposed that, with the +undeviating exercise of a just, steady, and prudent national policy, we +shall be the gainers, whether the powers of the old world may be in +peace or war, but more especially in the latter case. In that case, our +importance will certainly increase, and our friendship will be coveted." +The last clause foreshadows that neutral policy which Washington assumed +for the government of the United States at a little later period, when +great efforts were made to involve it in the meshes of European +politics, by active sympathy with the democratic movements in France. + +Rest at Mount Vernon was grateful to the wearied chief of the republic. +Yet it was not absolute repose. As a conscientious public servant; as +the chief officer of a government yet in a comparatively formative +state, and charged with the highest trusts that can be committed to +mortal man, he felt most sensibly the care of state, even in his quiet +home on the banks of the Potomac. One subject, in particular, filled him +with anxiety. He had ordered the chastisement of the Indians in the Ohio +country, and troops had gone thither for the purpose. He had deprecated +a war with the deluded savages, but good policy appeared to demand it; +and on the thirtieth of September an expedition set out from Fort +Washington, where the city of Cincinnati now stands, under General +Harmer, a veteran of the Revolution. But from that time until his +arrival in Philadelphia, at the close of November, Washington remained +in profound ignorance of the operations or the fate of the expedition. +On the second of November he wrote to General Knox, the secretary of +war, expressing his surprise that no information of the expedition had +been received, and saying: "This, in my opinion, is an undertaking of a +very serious nature. I am not a little anxious to know the result of +it.... This matter, favorable or otherwise in the issue, will require to +be laid before the Congress, that the motives which induced the +expedition may appear." + +On his arrival in Philadelphia, Washington received a letter from +Governor Clinton, of New York, giving an account of Harmer's ill success +against the Indians, reported by Captain Brant, the celebrated Mohawk +warrior of the Revolution. "If this information of Captain Brant be +true," Washington wrote to Clinton in reply, "the issue of the +expedition against the Indians will indeed prove unfortunate and +disgraceful to the troops, who suffered themselves to be ambuscaded." + +It was even so. The expedition, as we have already observed, failed in +its efforts, and the savages took courage for future operations. An +expensive war of four or five years' duration ensued. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AT PHILADELPHIA--CONSEQUENCES OF THE + REMOVAL--RENTING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL MANSION--WASHINGTON'S PRUDENCE + AND ECONOMY ILLUSTRATED--THE PRESIDENT AND FAMILY IN + PHILADELPHIA--MRS. WASHINGTON'S RECEPTIONS--GAYETY IN THE + METROPOLIS--WASHINGTON AND HIS PUBLIC DUTIES--HIS SECOND ANNUAL + MESSAGE AND ITS SUGGESTIONS--HAMILTON'S NATIONAL BANK + SCHEME--OPPOSITION TO IT--A BANK ESTABLISHED--NEW TARIFF SCHEME + ADOPTED--EXCISE LAW--ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINT--INDIAN AFFAIRS--ST. + CLAIR APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN THE NORTHWEST--ADJOURNMENT OF + CONGRESS. + + +Philadelphia, as we have already observed, was chosen to be the +residence of the federal government for ten years; and there, in the +courthouse, on the first Monday in December, 1790, the first Congress +assembled to hold their third session. + +The removal of the seat of government from New York had caused much +dissatisfaction in that quarter, while many Philadelphians experienced +equal dissatisfaction, but for different reasons. Rents, prices of +provisions, and other necessaries of life, greatly advanced. "Some of +the blessings anticipated from the removal of Congress to this city are +already beginning to be apparent," wrote a Philadelphian. "Rents of +houses have risen, and I fear will continue to rise shamefully; even in +the outskirts they have lately been increased from fourteen, sixteen, +and eighteen pounds, to twenty-five, twenty-eight, and thirty. This is +oppression. Our markets, it is expected, will also be dearer than +heretofore." + +Washington was subjected to considerable personal annoyance by the +change. During the recess of Congress, he commissioned Mr. Lear, his +private secretary, to rent a house for his use in Philadelphia. One +owned by Robert Morris appeared to be the most eligible of all; but, +for a long time, Washington could not procure an answer to his prudent +question, "What will be the rent?" Both the state and city authorities, +through committees, had offered to provide at their own expense a home +for the president; but Washington declined the generous offer. He +preferred the independence of a resident in his own hired house; and he +was also convinced that the offer was made because of a desire to have +Philadelphia become the permanent residence of the government. The +erection of a presidential mansion would be an argument in favor of the +scheme. Washington preferred a more southern location. He was to choose +the spot. He wished to have his views unbiassed; so he refused all +offers to lessen his expenses at the cost of the city of Philadelphia, +or of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. + +Time after time Washington wrote to Lear about the rent of Morris's +house. "He has most assuredly," he said, "formed an idea of what ought +to be the rent of the tenement in the condition he left it; and with +this aid, the committee ought, I conceive, to be as little at a loss in +determining what it should rent for, with the additions and alterations +which are about to be made, and which ought to be done in a plain and +neat, and not by any means extravagant, style." He was satisfied that +the committee were delaying with the intention of having the rent paid +by the public; and he foresaw that he might be subjected to heavy bills +of expense in fixing and furnishing the house in an extravagant manner. + +"Let us for a moment suppose," he said, "that the rooms (the new ones, I +mean) were to be hung with tapestry, or a very rich and costly paper, +neither of which would suit my present furniture; that costly ornaments +for the bow-windows, extravagant chimney-pieces and the like, were to be +provided; that workmen, from extravagance of the times, for every twenty +shillings' worth of work would charge forty shillings; and that +advantage would be taken of the occasion to newly paint every part of +the house and buildings; would there be any propriety in adding ten or +twelve-and-a-half per cent. for all this to the rent of the house in its +original state, for the two years that I am to hold it? If the solution +of these questions is in the negative, wherein lies the difficulty of +determining that the houses and lots, when finished according to the +proposed plan, ought to rent for so much? When all is done that can be +done," he added, "the residence will not be so commodious as that I left +in New York, for there (and the want of it will be found a real +inconvenience at Mr. Morris's) my office was in the front room below, +where persons on business immediately entered; whereas, in the present +case, they will have to ascend two pairs of stairs, and to pass by the +public rooms as well as the private chambers, to get to it."[29] + +It must be remembered that Washington refused to receive a salary for +his services as president of the United States, but stipulated that the +amount of his expenses should be paid by the government. In regulating +these expenses, he was as careful to avoid extravagance as if his +private purse had to be drawn upon to pay. In New York he lived +frugally,[30] and he resolved to continue, in Philadelphia, the same +unostentatious way of living, not only on his own account, but for the +benefit of those connected with the government who could not afford to +spend more than their salaries. His example had a most salutary effect. +An illustrative case may be cited. When Oliver Wolcott, of Connecticut, +was appointed first auditor of the treasury, he, like a prudent man, +would not accept the office until he could visit New York, and ascertain +whether he could live upon the salary of fifteen hundred dollars a year. +He came to the conclusion that he could live upon one thousand, and he +wrote to his wife, saying: "The example of the president and his family +will render parade and expense improper and disreputable." What a +significant commentary! + +The rent of Morris's house was at last fixed at three thousand dollars +a year; and on the twenty-second of November Washington set out for +Philadelphia, accompanied by his family, in a chariot drawn by four +horses. They were allowed to travel without parade, and on reaching +Philadelphia, on the twenty-eighth, they found their house ready for +their reception. Yet it was nearly a month before they were prepared to +receive company. Mrs. Washington's first _levee_ or reception in +Philadelphia was on Friday, the twenty-fifth of December, where, +according to eye-witnesses, there was an assemblage of "the most +brilliant, beautiful, well-dressed, and well educated women that had +ever been seen in America." + +The season opened gayly. "I should spend a very dissipated winter," +wrote the vice-president's wife to a friend, "if I were to accept one +half the invitations I receive, particularly to the routs, or +tea-and-cards." The city, for a few weeks after the assembling of +Congress, appeared to be intoxicated. But Washington and his wife were +proof against the song of the syren. They could not be seduced from +their temperate habits in eating, drinking, and sleeping, by the scenes +of immoderate pleasure around them. They held their respective _levees_ +on Tuesdays and Fridays, as in New York, without the least ostentation; +and Congressional and official dinners were served in a plain way, +without any extravagant displays of plate, ornament, or variety of +dishes. Mrs. Washington's _levees_ always closed at nine o'clock. When +the great clock in the hall struck that hour, she would say to those +present, with a complacent smile, "The general always retires at nine, +and I usually precede him." In a few minutes the drawing-room would be +closed, the lights extinguished, and the presidential mansion would be +as dark and quiet before ten o'clock as the house of any private +citizen. + +Washington entered upon his public duties with great energy on his +arrival in Philadelphia. His health was almost perfectly restored, and +subjects of profound interest demanded the attention of Congress. That +body assembled on the sixth of December, and on the eighth, in the +presence of both houses sitting in the senate-chamber, the president +delivered, in person, his second annual message. He opened by +congratulating Congress on the financial prosperity of the country, the +import duties having produced, in a little more than thirteen months, +the sum of one million, nine hundred thousand dollars. He had without +difficulty obtained a loan in Holland for the partial liquidation of the +foreign debt; and, in consequence of the increasing confidence in the +government, certificates of the domestic debt had greatly increased in +value. He informed them that Kentucky was about to ask for admission +into the Union as a sovereign state. He called their attention to the +Indian war commenced in the northwestern territory; and after some +allusion to the disturbed state of Europe, growing out of recent events +in France, he suggested measures for the protection of American commerce +in the Mediterranean sea, where it was continually exposed to the +depredations of corsairs of the Barbary powers. + +He called their attention to regulations concerning the consular system +that had been proposed and partially established; to the creation of a +mint, the right of coinage being delegated to the federal government +alone; to a uniform system of weights and measures; to a reorganization +of the post-office system, and a uniform militia. + +The two most important measures brought forward at the beginning of the +session were, a plan for a national bank, and a tax on ardent spirits +distilled within the United States. In a former communication to +Congress, the secretary of the treasury recommended the establishment of +a national bank, as a useful instrument in the management of the +finances of the country; and now, at the opening of a new session, he +presented a special report, in which the policy of such a measure was +urged with Hamilton's usual strength and acuteness of logic. He argued +upon premises resting on the alleged facilities afforded to trade by +banks, and the great benefits to be expected from a national one in a +commercial point of view. He chiefly dwelt upon the topic of the +convenience to the government of a paper medium in which to conduct its +monetary transactions, and especially as a ready resource for such +temporary loans as might from time to time be required. + +Such reasons, utterly without force in the light of subsequent +experience, were wise and important at that time, and commended +themselves to the people of the United States, because they had not +forgotten the convenience afforded by the bank of North America, +established by Robert Morris in 1781, chiefly for the purpose of +assistance to himself in the difficult office of superintendent of +finance. That was the first experiment in America in the issue of a +currency redeemable at sight--a promissory note payable on demand--which +had been the practice of the bank of England for nearly a hundred years. +It was a system so much superior to the colonial loan-office plans, and +the scheme upon which the continental paper-money had been issued during +the earlier years of the war for independence, that the people generally +received Hamilton's recommendation with favor. But it met with +determined opposition in Congress. The anti-federal feeling which from +the close of 1789 had manifested itself, principally in criticisms upon +the federal constitution, now assumed the shape of a party opposed to +the financial policy of the administration. At the head of this +opposition was Mr. Jefferson, the secretary of state; and the herald's +trumpet for the tilt was sounded by the Virginia assembly, in the +adoption of a resolution, declaring so much of the late act of Congress +as provided for the assumption of the state debts "repugnant to the +constitution of the United States," and "the exercise of a power not +expressly granted to the general government." That clause of the act for +funding the continental debt, which restrained the government from +redeeming at pleasure any part of that debt, was denounced as "dangerous +to the rights, and subversive of the interests, of the people." + +The bank project encountered very little opposition in the senate, where +the bill originated; but in the house it was assailed vehemently, +chiefly on the ground of its being unconstitutional. Its policy was +questioned, and the utility of banking systems stoutly denied. The +arguments on both sides, in relation to the constitutionality of the +measure (the constitution being utterly silent on the subject), assumed +on frequent occasions an extremely metaphysical tone. It was argued, in +favor of a bank, that the power to establish one was implied in the +powers delegated to Congress by the constitution to collect a revenue, +and to pay the debts of the United States, and in the authority +expressly granted to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying +those powers into execution. + +On the twentieth of January 1791, the bank bill passed the senate +without a division, and on the eighth of February it passed the house of +representatives by a vote of thirty-nine to twenty. Before signing it, +the president requested the written opinion of each member of his +cabinet as to its constitutionality, and his reasons for such opinion. +They promptly complied. The cabinet was divided. Hamilton and Knox +strongly maintained that it was constitutional: Jefferson and Randolph +(the attorney-general) as strongly contended that it was +unconstitutional. Washington examined the whole subject with great +deliberation, and then put his signature to the act. That act gave a +charter to the institution limited to twenty years, and for that period +Congress renounced the power of establishing any other bank. The capital +was to be ten millions of dollars, divided into twenty-five thousand +shares of four hundred dollars each; eight millions to be subscribed by +individuals, and the other two millions by the United States. It was to +be managed by twenty-five directors, chosen annually by the +stockholders, and its headquarters were to be at Philadelphia. + +The opponents of the bank, and especially Mr. Jefferson, presumed to +censure the president because, in the conscientious exercise of his +power, he made the act a law by affixing his signature. The secretary of +state had other than constitutional grounds for his opposition to the +measure. He had conceived an irrepressible distrust of Hamilton. It +seemed almost like a monomania. He considered the bank as one of the +engines in a scheme intended by Hamilton to make the national +legislature subservient to, and under the direction of, the treasury, +for the purpose of promoting his monarchical schemes. He afterward +affirmed that Washington was deceived by Hamilton, and that he did not +perceive the drift or effect of his financial schemes; and ungenerously +and unfairly remarked, that, "unversed in financial projects and +calculations and budgets, his approbation of them was bottomed on his +confidence in the man." + +No person knew better than Mr. Jefferson the unfairness of this +assertion. None knew better than he how little Washington was prone to +be swayed in his judgment by partiality either toward a man or a +measure. He always weighed everything with the greatest care and most +profound wisdom, and the opinions of friends and foes were always +submitted to the alembic of his keen penetration, and the tests of his +almost unfailing sagacity, before they were acted upon. "Hamilton and +myself," wrote Jefferson, "were daily pitted in the cabinet like two +cocks." The personal resentments and consequent prejudices of the +secretary of state appear to have frequently warped his judgment and +fettered his generosity. + +An increase of duties on imported spirits, and an excise tax on those +produced at home, in order to increase the revenue required by the +charges growing out of the assumption of the state debts, recommended by +the secretary of the treasury and submitted to the consideration of +Congress in the form of an act, excited warm discussion. An attempt was +made to strike out the excise, but failed; and after animated and +sometimes violent debates, it was carried by a vote in the house of +thirty-five to twenty-one.[31] The portion of the act relating to excise +was received with indignation in some parts of the country, and led, as +we shall hereafter observe, to actual insurrection in western +Pennsylvania. + +The establishment of a national mint also occupied the attention of +Congress at this session. At the conclusion of the war for independence, +the continental Congress requested Robert Morris, the minister of +finance, to lay before them his views upon the subject of coins and +currency. The labor of preparing a report upon the subject was assigned +to the able assistant financier, Gouverneur Morris. It was prepared with +great care, and presented in 1782. Morris's first effort was to +harmonize the currency of all the states. He ascertained that the one +thousand, four hundred and fortieth part of a Spanish dollar was a +common divisor for the various currencies. Starting with that fraction +as a unit, he proposed the following table of moneys:-- + + Ten units to be equal to one penny. + Ten pence to one bill. + Ten bills, one dollar (about seventy-five cents of our present + currency). + Ten dollars one crown. + +Congress debated the subject from time to time until 1784, when Mr. +Jefferson proposed a different scheme. He recommended four coins upon +the basis of the Spanish dollar, as follows:-- + + A golden piece of the value of ten dollars. + A dollar in silver. + A tenth of a dollar in silver. + A hundredth of a dollar in copper. + +In 1785 Congress adopted Mr. Jefferson's scheme, and in 1786 made +provision for coinage upon that basis. This was the origin of our +decimal currency--the copper _cent_, the silver _dime_ and _dollar_, and +the golden _eagle_. Since then, several other coins of different values, +having the decimal basis, have been made of gold and silver; and a +smaller cent, made of metallic composition, has been coined. + +Mr. Jefferson, soon after he came into the cabinet, urged the necessity +of a uniform and national coinage, "to banish the discordant pounds, +shillings, pence, and farthings of the different states, and to +establish in their stead the new denominations." The subject received +some attention during that session, and was agitated in the next (the +one we are now considering); but it was not until the second of April, +1792, that laws were enacted for the establishment and regulation of a +mint. Thereafter there was much delay, and the mint was not in full +operation until January, 1795. During that interval its performances +were chiefly experimental, and the variety of silver and copper coins, +now so much sought after by collectors, were struck. The most noted of +these is the "Washington cent," so called because it bore the head of +Washington on one side. It was a long time before Congress decided upon +a proper device for the coins, and the debates that occurred upon the +subject were interesting and sometimes amusing. + +During this short session, full official reports of Harmer's expedition +were laid before Congress; and his repulse, and the increasing danger to +the western settlements from the Indians on the frontier, caused that +body to authorize an addition to the standing military force of a second +regiment of infantry, nine hundred strong. By the same act the president +was authorised to appoint, for such term as he should think proper, a +major-general and a brigadier-general, and to call into service, in +addition to the militia, a corps of two thousand six months' levies, and +a body of mounted volunteers. + +The conduct of the troops under Harmer was stigmatized as disgraceful. +It was thought proper to place the new expedition about to be organized +under the command of another officer. St. Clair was then at the seat of +government. He was governor of the Northwestern territory, and well +acquainted with the country and the movements of the Indians; and +Washington, having confidence in his old friend and companion-in-arms, +conferred upon him the general command. Yet suffering chagrin and +mortification because of the disasters to Harmer's expedition on account +of Indian ambuscades, the president, when he took leave of St. Clair, +warned him against them in a most solemn manner, saying: "You have your +instructions from the secretary of war. I had a strict eye to them, and +will add but one word--beware of surprise! You know how the Indians +fight. I repeat it--_beware of a surprise!_" + +At that time, three famous Seneca chiefs from western New +York--Corn-Planter, Half Town, and Big Tree--were at the seat of +government, and offered to visit their dusky brethren in the Ohio +region, and try to persuade them to bury the hatchet. Washington, who +had a most earnest desire for peace with the savages, accepted their +offer, saying: "By this humane measure you will render these mistaken +people a great service, and probably prevent their being swept off the +face of the earth. The United States require that these people should +only demean themselves peaceably." He concluded his remarks with the +following words, which were indicative of a scheme for civilizing the +Indians which had occupied his mind for a long time: "When you return to +your country, tell your nation that it is my desire to promote their +prosperity, by teaching them the use of domestic animals, and the manner +that the white people plough and raise so much corn; and if, upon +consideration, it would be agreeable to the nation at large to learn +those arts, I will find some means of teaching them, at such places +within their country as shall be agreed upon." + +With the admission of Kentucky and Vermont into the Union as sovereign +states, and providing for the increase and pay of the army, the first +Congress closed its labors. They had, within two years, performed a +great work; and no body of men, except those who composed the +continental Congress during the earlier years of the Revolution, so +fairly deserve our sincere gratitude as they. Within that time, with +Washington at their head, they had set in motion the machinery of the +federal government, laid the foundations of its policy, and placed the +United States firmly in the position of a leading nation among the +states of the world. + +The term of service of the first Congress expired on the third of March, +1791; but Washington did not leave Philadelphia for Mount Vernon until +late in the month. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[29] Washington's residence in New York was first at Osgood's house, No. +10 Cherry street, which by subsequent changes was made to front on +Franklin square. He afterward occupied the more commodious house of Mr. +M'Comb, where the French minister, M. de Moustier, had resided. It was +on Broadway, west side, below Trinity church. That was the one alluded +to in Washington's letter. An English traveller who visited the +president there described the drawing-room as "lofty and spacious; but," +he added, "the furniture was not beyond that found in the dwellings of +opulent Americans in general, and might be called plain for its +situation. The upper end of the room had glass doors, which opened upon +a balcony, commanding an extensive view of the Hudson river and the +Jersey shore opposite." + +[30] Mr. Custis relates that Fraunces, the steward, once purchased the +first shad of the season for the president's table, as he knew +Washington to be extravagantly fond of fish. He placed it before +Washington at table as an agreeable surprise. The president inquired how +much he paid for the shad. "Two dollars," was Fraunces's reply. "Take it +away," said the president--"I will not encourage such extravagance in my +house." Fraunces had no scruples of that kind, and the fish was devoured +by himself and other members of the household. + +[31] The act imposed a duty varying from twenty to forty cents a gallon, +according to strength, on imported liquors; and an excise on domestic +liquors varying, according to the strength, from nine to twenty-five +cents a gallon on those distilled from grain, and from eleven to thirty +cents on those made from molasses or other imported product. Stringent +regulations were made for the collection of this excise. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + WASHINGTON JOURNEYS TO MOUNT VERNON--HIS TOUR THROUGH THE SOUTHERN + STATES--VISITS THE MORAVIANS AT SALEM--RESULTS OF HIS + OBSERVATIONS--CONDITION AND RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY--THE FEDERAL + CITY--OPENING OF THE SECOND CONGRESS--LAFAYETTE AND HIS + PERPLEXITIES--THE JACOBIN CLUB--FLIGHT AND ARREST OF THE KING--THE + CONSTITUTION ACCEPTED BY HIM--GRAND FETE ON THE OCCASION--PARTY + LINES DRAWN IN THE UNITED STATES--VIEWS OF HAMILTON AND + JEFFERSON--ADAMS'S _DISCOURSES ON DAVILA_--PAINE'S _RIGHTS OF + MAN_--JEFFERSON'S ENDORSEMENT OF THE LATTER--HIS UNGENEROUS CHARGES + AGAINST ADAMS AND HAMILTON--WASHINGTON DISTURBED BY PARTY FEUDS. + + +Washington left Philadelphia for home on Monday, the twenty-first of +March, prepared for a tour through the southern states. He was +accompanied as far as Chester by Mr. Jefferson, the secretary of state, +and General Knox, the secretary of war--the only heads of departments +then remaining in Philadelphia. He travelled by Chestertown, in +Maryland, to Rock Hall, on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake, where he +and his suite, with horses, carriage, et cetera, embarked for Annapolis. +They arrived at that city on the morning of the twenty-fifth, after a +night of peril on the bay in the midst of a storm of wind, rain, and +lightning. The president was cordially received by the governor and +other dignitaries. On the twenty-eighth he reached Georgetown, and +partook of a public dinner given by the mayor and corporation. There he +met the commissioners appointed under the residence law, and examined +the surveys of the federal city made by Andrew Ellicott, and plans of +public buildings by Major L'Enfant. + +It was left to the discretion of the president, it will be remembered, +to choose a place on the Potomac, between the East branch and +Conococheague, for the federal city. He chose the land between the +villages of Georgetown and Carrollsburg; and on his arrival he found +disputes running very high between the inhabitants of the two places +respecting the location of the public buildings, the landholders in each +desiring their village to be the favored one. Washington requested the +contestants to meet him the next day. He then frankly told them that the +dispute in which they were engaged did not comport with either their own +interest or that of the public; that while each party was aiming to +obtain the public buildings, they might, by placing the matter on a +contracted scale, defeat the measure altogether, not only by +procrastination, but for want of means to carry on the work; that +neither the offer of land from Georgetown or Carrollsburg for the public +buildings, separately, was adequate to the end of insuring the object; +that both together did not comprehend more ground, nor would afford +greater means, than was required for the federal city; and that, instead +of contending which of the two should have it, they had better, by +combining more offers, make a common cause of it, and thereby secure it +to the district. The parties saw the wisdom of the president's +suggestion, that while they were contesting for the shadow they might +lose the substance, and they mutually agreed, in writing, to surrender +for public purposes one half of the land they severally possessed. This +business being finished, Washington rode on to Mount Vernon, where he +arrived on the evening of the thirtieth of March. + +On the seventh of April the president resumed his tour southward. "I was +accompanied," he says in his diary, "by Major Jackson. My equipage and +attendants consisted of a chariot and four horses drove in hand, a light +baggage-wagon and two horses, four saddle-horses, besides a led one for +myself; and five, to wit, my valet-de-chambre, two footmen, coachman, +and postillion." + +Previous to leaving Mount Vernon, he wrote to the secretaries of state, +treasury, and war, giving them information concerning the time when he +expected to be at certain places on his route, and desiring them, in +case of important occurrences, to communicate with him, that he might, +if necessary, return to the seat of government. So judicious were his +arrangements, and so fortunate was the journey, that Washington reached +the several places designated at the time contemplated.[32] + +Honors awaited the president at every step. Receptions, escorts, +artillery salutes, and public dinners, everywhere testified the respect +of the people, and many invitations to private entertainments were given +him: he declined all. Among others was one from his kinsman, William +Washington (a hero of the southern campaign), to make his house in +Charleston his home while there. The president's reply in this case +exhibits the spirit of the whole: "I can not comply with your invitation +without involving myself in inconsistency," he said; "as I have +determined to pursue the same plan in my southern as I did in my eastern +visit, which was, not to incommode any private family by taking up my +quarters with them during my journey. It leaves me unencumbered by +engagements, and, by a uniform adherence to it, I shall avoid giving +umbrage to any, by declining all such invitations." + +At Richmond, Washington inspected the works in progress of the James +River Navigation company, of which he was president, and received from +Colonel Carrington, the marshall of that judicial district, the pleasing +assurance that the people generally were favorable to the federal +government. To ascertain the temper of the people, become personally +acquainted with the leading citizens, and to observe the resources of +the country, were the grand objects of the president's tour, and he was +rejoiced to find evidences that his own state was gradually perceiving +the value and blessings of the Union. At Richmond he was entertained at +a public dinner, and escorted far on toward Petersburg by a cavalcade of +gentlemen. Having been much incommoded by dust, and finding an escort of +horse was preparing to accompany him from Petersburg, Washington caused +inquiries as to the time he would leave the town to be answered, that he +should endeavor to do it before eight o'clock in the morning. He managed +to get off at five, by which means he avoided the inconvenience +above-mentioned. + +At Wilmington, in North Carolina, he was received by a military and +civic escort, entertained at a public dinner, and attended a ball given +in his honor in the evening. At Newbern he received like homage, where +the dinner and the ball were given at the palace built by Governor Tryon +about twenty-five years before. On the morning of the second of May he +breakfasted at the country-seat of Governor Pinckney, a few miles from +Charleston; and when he arrived at Haddrell's point, across the mouth of +the Cooper river, he was met by General Pinckney, Edward Rutledge, and +the recorder of the city, in a twelve-oared barge, rowed by twelve +captains of American vessels, elegantly dressed. This was accompanied by +a great number of other boats with gentlemen and ladies in them; and +the gay scene, as the flotilla proceeded toward the city, was enlivened +by vocal and instrumental music. At the wharf he was met by the governor +and other civil officers, amid the thunder of artillery; and by the +Cincinnati and a civic and military escort he was conducted to his +lodgings. + +Washington remained in Charleston a week, and then departed for +Savannah. There he was greeted by General Wayne, General M'Intosh, and +other companions-in-arms, and remained several days. He left for Augusta +on the fifteenth, dined at Mulberry grove (the seat of Mrs. General +Greene) that day, and reached Augusta on the eighteenth. There Governor +Telfair, Judge Walton, and others, led in offering ceremonial honors to +the illustrious guest. + +On the twenty-first the president turned his face homeward, travelling +by way of Columbia and Camden in South Carolina, Charlotte, Salisbury, +Salem, Guilford and Hillsborough in North Carolina, and Harrisburg, +Williamsburg, and Frederickburg, to Mount Vernon. At Salem, a Moravian +settlement, he halted for the purpose of seeing Governor Martin, who, he +was informed, was on his way to meet the president. He spent a day +there, visiting the social and industrial establishments of the +community, and attended their religious services in the evening. A +committee in behalf of the community presented an address to him, to +which he made a brief reply.[33] He reached home on the twelfth of June, +having made a most satisfactory journey of more than seventeen hundred +miles, after starting from Mount Vernon, in sixty-six days, with the +same team of horses. "My return to this place is sooner than I +expected," he wrote to Hamilton, "owing to the uninterruptedness of my +journey by sickness, from bad weather, or accidents of any kind +whatsoever," for which he had made an allowance of eight days. + +Washington returned to Philadelphia on the sixth of July. "I am much +pleased," he wrote to Colonel Humphreys, then in Paris, on the +twentieth, "that I have undertaken the journey, as it has enabled me to +see with my own eyes the situation of the country through which we +travelled, and to learn more accurately the disposition of the people +than I could from any information." His observations filled his mind +with joy in contemplating the future. "The country appears," he said, +"to be in a very improving state, and industry and frugality are +becoming much more fashionable than they have hitherto been. +Tranquillity reigns among the people, with that disposition towards the +general government which is likely to preserve it. They begin to feel +the good effects of equal laws and equal protection. The farmer finds a +ready market for his produce, and the merchant calculates with more +certainty on his payments. Manufactures have as yet made but little +progress in that part of the country, and it will probably be a long +time before they are brought to that state to which they have already +arrived in the middle and eastern parts of the Union. Each day's +experience of the government of the United States seems to confirm its +establishment, and to make it more popular. A ready acquiescence in the +laws made under it shows in a strong light the confidence which the +people have in their representatives, and in the upright views of those +who administer the government." + +"Our public credit stands on that ground which, three years ago, it +would have been a species of madness to have foretold. The astonishing +rapidity with which the newly-instituted bank was filled gives an +unexampled proof of the resources of our countrymen, and their +confidence in public measures. On the first day of opening the +subscription, the whole number of shares (twenty thousand) were taken up +in one hour, and application made for upwards of four thousand shares +more than were granted by the institution, besides many others that were +coming in from different quarters." + +In reference to the future seat of government the president said: "I am +now happy to add, that all matters between the proprietors of the soil +and the public are settled to the mutual satisfaction of both parties, +and that the business of laying out the city, the grounds for public +buildings, walks, et cetera, is advancing under the inspection of Major +L'Enfant with pleasing prospects." + +L'Enfant, who had served as an engineer in the continental army, and was +employed to furnish a plan for, and make a survey of, the federal city, +spent a week at Mount Vernon, immediately after Washington's return from +his southern tour, in submitting his plans to the president, and in +consulting with him about the future. These plans were approved by +Washington, and met the approbation of Congress when laid before them at +the next session. The city was laid out upon a plot containing eight +square miles. + +The first session of the second Congress commenced at Philadelphia on +the twenty-fourth of October, in conformity to an act of the last +session of the first Congress. Washington had spent a greater portion of +the summer in the federal city, in close attention to public duties; but +for six weeks previous to the assembling of the national legislature he +remained in the seclusion of Mount Vernon. It was not for him a season +of repose. Every mail brought him numerous letters, most of them on +public business. Many of them gave him themes for deep and solemn +meditation; for national affairs at home and abroad were assuming forms +and attitudes that occasioned him much anxiety. + +The French revolution, in which his friend Lafayette was engaged as a +chief actor, was exhibiting a most alarming and disappointing aspect to +the friends of genuine liberty; and the dreams of the marquis, that his +country was speedily to be redeemed from disorder and corrupt rule, were +disturbed by dismal visions of reality. "Whatever expectations I had +conceived of a speedy termination to our revolutionary troubles," he +wrote to Washington as early as the previous March, "I still am tossed +about in the ocean of factions and commotions of every kind; for it is +my fate to be attacked on each side with equal animosity; on the one by +the aristocratic, slavish, parliamentary, clerical--in a word, by all +the enemies to my free and levelling doctrine--and on the other by the +Orleans factions, anti-royal, licentious, and pillaging parties of every +kind: so that my personal escape from amidst so many hostile bands is +rather dubious, although our great and good revolution is, thank Heaven, +not only insured in France, but on the point of visiting other parts of +the world, provided the restoration of public order is soon obtained in +this country, where the good people have been better taught how to +overthrow despotism than they can understand how to submit to the laws. +To you, my dear general, the patriarch and generalissimo of universal +liberty, I shall render exact accounts of the conduct of your deputy and +aid in that great cause." + +In May he wrote: "I wish it were in my power to give you an assurance +that our troubles are at an end, and our constitution totally +established. But, although dark clouds are still before us, we have come +so far as to foresee the moment when the legislative corps will succeed +this convention; and, unless foreign powers interfere, I hope that +within four months your friend will have resumed the life of a private +and quiet citizen. The rage of parties, even among the patriots, is gone +as far as it is possible, short of bloodshed; but, although hatreds are +far from subsiding, matters do not appear so much disposed as they +formerly were towards collision among the supporters of the popular +cause. I myself am exposed to the envy and attacks of all parties--for +this simple reason, that whoever acts or means wrong finds me an +insuperable obstacle. And there appears a kind of phenomenon in my +situation--all parties against me, and a national popularity, which, in +spite of every effort, has remained unchanged.... Given up to all the +madness of license, faction, and popular rage, I stood alone in defence +of the law, and turned the tide into the constitutional channel." + +A little later, Lafayette wrote: "The refugees hovering about the +frontiers; intrigues in most of the despotic and aristocratic cabinets; +our regular army divided into tory officers and undisciplined soldiers; +licentiousness among the people not easily repressed; the capital, that +gives the tone to the empire, tossed about by anti-revolutionary or +factious parties; the assembly fatigued by hard labor, and very +unmanageable--cause me sometimes to be filled with alarm." + +These few sentences lift the curtain slightly from the terrible drama, +then in cautious rehearsal, which was soon openly acted before the great +audience of the nations. In place of constitutional order, there was the +anarchy of faction in the French capital and throughout the provinces. +The club of forty gentlemen and men of letters, who met in the hall of +the Jacobin monks long before the states-general convened, had now grown +up to a vast and popular association known as the Jacobin club. They +were the avowed and determined adversaries of monarchy and all +aristocratic titles and privileges, and contemners of Christianity; and +they had started a journal for the dissemination of their +ultra-democratic and irreligious doctrines, having for its +watchwords--_Liberty and Equality_. It was puissant in spreading the +spirit of revolt and disaffection to the king, and the greatest license +began to prevail among the people. The king and his family were insulted +in public. Lafayette, disgusted with the refractory spirit that began to +prevail among the National Guards, resigned the command of them, but +resumed it at the urgent solicitation of sixty battalions. The +democratic spirit became more and more insolent, and at length the king +and his family fled from Paris in disguise. Terror prevailed among all +classes. A crisis seemed impending. Political dissolution appeared at +hand. But the monarch was arrested at Varennes and taken back to Paris +under an escort of thirty thousand National Guards. The helpless king +assured the assembly that he had no intention of leaving France, but +wished to live quietly at a distance from the capital, until government +should in a degree be restored and the constitution settled. His +justification was that he was subjected to too many insults in the +capital, and that the personal safety of the queen was imperilled. + +The populace were not satisfied. On the twentieth of July they met in +the Elysian Fields, with Robespierre at their head, and petitioned for +the dethronement of the king. Four thousand troops fired upon them and +killed several hundred. Then and there, in the exasperation of the +people and the appearance of Robespierre, the epoch of the Reign of +Terror dawned. Yet Lafayette and his friends held the factions in +check. The constitution was completed early in September, and was +accepted by the king, who solemnly swore that he would "employ all the +powers with which he was intrusted in maintaining the constitution +declared by the national assembly." + +Proclamation of this act was made throughout the kingdom, and a grand +festival in commemoration of the event took place in the Elysian Fields. +One hundred thousand citizens danced on that occasion; festoons of +many-colored lamps were suspended between the trees; every half hour, +one hundred and thirty pieces of cannon thundered along the banks of the +Seine; and on a tree planted upon the site of the Bastile was a placard +inscribed-- + + "Here is the epoch of liberty; + We dance on the ruins of despotism; + The constitution is finished-- + Long live patriotism!" + +On the thirtieth, the king made a speech to the assembly, when the +president proclaimed: "The constituent assembly declares their mission +fulfilled and their sittings terminated." Then opened a new act in the +French revolution. + +While this revolution was thus progressing, half-formed, half-understood +political maxims, that were floating upon the tide of social life in the +United States, were crystallizing into distinct tenets and assuming +strongly antagonistic party positions. The electric forces, so to speak, +which produced this crystallization, proceeded from the president's +cabinet, where the opinions of the secretaries of the treasury and of +the state were at direct variance, and were now making constant war upon +each other. Hamilton regarded the federal constitution as inadequate in +strength to perform its required functions, and believed that weakness +to be its greatest defect; and it was his sincere desire, and his +uniform practice, so to construe its provisions as to give the greatest +strength to the executive in the administration of public affairs. +Jefferson, on the other hand, contemplated all executive power with +distrust, and desired to impair its vitality and restrain its +operations, believing with Paine that a weak government and a strong +people were the best guaranties of liberty to the citizen. He saw in the +funding system, the United States bank, and the excise law, instruments +for enslaving the people, and believed that the rights of the states and +liberties of the inhabitants were in danger. And as Hamilton was the +originator of these measures, and they constituted prominent features of +the administration, Jefferson found himself, at the opening of the new +Congress, arrayed politically with the opposers of the president and the +general government, and in the position of arch-leader. + +Not content with an expression of his opinions, he charged his +opponents, and especially Hamilton, with corrupt and anti-republican +designs, selfish motives, and treacherous intentions; and then was +inaugurated that system of personal vituperation which, from that time +until the present, has disgraced the press and the politicians of our +country, and brought odium upon us as a nation. + +The party of which Jefferson was the head called themselves Republicans, +and warmly sympathized with the radical revolutionists in France; while +the great majority of the people--the conservative men of the +country--who were favorable to Hamilton's financial schemes and the +constitution, were called FEDERALISTS. + +In the adjustment of party lines at this time, there was a very small +party that appeared to be a cross between the two, as manifested by John +Adams in a series of essays which he published in the United States +Gazette, the acknowledged organ (if organ it had) of the administration, +entitled "Discourses on Davila." These were an analysis of Davila's +_History of the Civil Wars in France_ in the sixteenth century; and the +aim of Mr. Adams was to point out to his countrymen the danger to be +apprehended from factions and ill-balanced forms of government. In these +essays he maintained that as the great spring of human activity, +especially as related to public life, was self-esteem, manifested in the +love of superiority and the desire of distinction, applause, and +admiration, it was important in a popular government to provide for the +moderate gratification of all of them. He therefore advocated a liberal +use of titles and ceremonial honors for those in office, and an +aristocratic senate. To counteract any undue influence on the part of +the senate, he proposed a popular assembly on the broadest democratic +basis; and to keep in check the encroachment of each upon the other, he +recommended a powerful executive. He thought liberty to all would be +thus secured. From the premises which formed the basis of his reasoning, +Mr. Adams concluded that the French constitution, which disavowed all +distinctions of rank, which vested the legislative authority in a single +assembly, and which, though retaining the office of king, divested him +of nearly all actual power, must, in the nature of things, prove a +failure. + +In the publication of these essays, Adams was most unfortunate. He +appears not to have presented his ideas concerning his political system +with sufficient clearness to be understood. He was, indeed, greatly +misunderstood, and was charged with advocating a monarchy and a +hereditary senate and presidency; with the greatest inconsistency, +because, in 1787, he had written and published in London an excellent +"Defence of the American Constitution;" and with political heresy, if +not actual apostasy, because of that inconsistency. Twenty years later, +when speaking of these essays, Mr. Adams said: "This dull, heavy volume +still excites the wonder of its author--first, that he could find, amid +the constant scenes of business and dissipation in which he was +enveloped, time to write it; secondly, that he had the courage to oppose +and publish his own opinions to the universal opinion of America, and +indeed of all mankind." Others were no less astonished, for the same +reasons. + +These essays were published in 1790, and filled Jefferson with disgust. +He already began to suspect Hamilton of anti-republican schemes, and he +now cherished the idea that there was a conspiracy on foot, headed by +Adams and Hamilton, to overthrow the republican institutions of the +United States, and on their ruins to erect a mixed government like that +of England, composed of a monarchy and aristocracy. To counteract these +political heresies, Paine's Rights of Man, which he wrote in reply to +Burke's pamphlet on the French Revolution (a performance which Adams +held in "perfect detestation," but which other patriots regarded as one +of which any man might be proud), was reprinted and circulated in the +United States, with a complimentary note from Mr. Jefferson at its +head--"a note which Mr. Jefferson declared he neither desired nor +expected to have printed;" not because he did not approve of Paine's +doctrines, but because he did not wish to take such responsibility at +that crisis and while in his official position. He rejoiced, however, at +the reprint of Paine's essay. + +"Paine's pamphlet," he said in a letter to Mr. Short, the American +_charge d'affaires_ at Paris, "has been published and read with general +applause here;" and then he proceeds to charge "Adams, Jay, Hamilton, +Knox, _and many of the Cincinnati_," with endeavoring "to make way for a +king, lords, and commons." "The second" (Jay), he said, "says nothing; +the third [Hamilton] is open. Both are dangerous. They pant after union +with England, as the power which is to support their projects, and are +most determined anti-Gallicans." This, as time has demonstrated, was a +most unjust and ungenerous charge. So thoroughly was Mr. Jefferson then +imbued with the spirit of the French revolution, in its most democratic +and destructive aspect--so bitter was his hatred of monarchy and +aristocracy--that his judgment seemed entirely perverted, his usual +charity utterly congealed; and every man who differed with him in +opinion was regarded as a conspirator against the rights of mankind. + +In after years, when the passions of the times had passed away, he +reiterated his opinion that Adams and Hamilton were at that time seeking +the subversion of republican institutions in the United States. "The one +[Adams]," he said, "was for two hereditary branches, and an honest +elective one; the other [Hamilton] for an hereditary king, with a house +of lords and commons, corrupted to his will, and standing between him +and the people. Hamilton was indeed a singular character. Of acute +understanding, disinterested, honest, and honorable in all private +transactions, amiable in society, and duly valuing virtue in private +life, yet so bewitched and perverted by British example, as to be under +thorough conviction that corruption was essential to the government of a +nation. Mr. Adams had originally been a republican. The glare of +royalty and nobility, during his mission to England, had made him +believe their fascination a necessary ingredient in government." + +The best refutation of the opinion of Jefferson concerning Hamilton's +views is contained in the whole tenor of that great man's life, and in +the close private and political friendship that existed between the +sagacious Washington and Hamilton until death separated them. + +Paine's original pamphlet was dedicated "to the president of the United +States," and that dedication was retained in the reprint. That and +Jefferson's note produced quite a stir. Because of certain language in +the pamphlet, Paine had been prosecuted for libel by the British +government, and had fled to France; and this apparent endorsement of his +essay by the government of the United States, in the persons of the +president and secretary of state, was offensive to that of Great +Britain. Major Beckwith, the aid-de-camp of Governor Carleton already +mentioned, expressed his surprise that the pamphlet should have been +published under such auspices, because it seemed to imply unfriendliness +toward his government. He was satisfied, however, when assured that the +president knew nothing of the reprint of the pamphlet, and that the +publication of the note by the secretary of state was unauthorized. The +matter disturbed the friendly relations between Mr. Adams and Mr. +Jefferson for a short time. Frank explanations healed the breach for a +moment; but they differed too widely in their ideas concerning some of +the exciting questions of the day to act together as political friends. +Indeed, they soon became decided political antagonists, and Washington +was greatly disturbed by party dissentions in his cabinet and in +Congress. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[32] "I shall be," he said, "on the eighth of April at Fredericksburg, +the eleventh at Richmond, the fourteenth at Petersburg, the sixteenth at +Halifax, the eighteenth at Tarborough, the twentieth at Newbern, the +twenty-fifth at Wilmington, the twenty-ninth at Georgetown, South +Carolina; on the second day of May at Charleston in South Carolina, +halting there five days; on the eleventh at Savannah, halting there two +days. Then leaving the line of mail, I shall proceed to Augusta; and +according to the information I shall receive there, my return by an +upper road will be regulated." + +[33] The following is the address of the Moravians to the president:-- + + "Happy in sharing the honor of a visit from the illustrious + president of the Union to the southern states, the Brethren of + Wachovia humbly beg leave, upon this joyful occasion, to express + their highest esteem, duty, and affection, for the great patriot of + this country. + + "Deeply impressed as we are with gratitude to the great Author of + our being for his unbounded mercies, we can not but particularly + acknowledge his gracious providence over the temporal and political + prosperity of the country, in the peace whereof we do find peace, + and wherein none can take a warmer interest than ourselves; in + particular, when we consider that the same Lord who preserved your + precious person in so many imminent dangers has made you, in a + conspicuous manner, an instrument in his hands to forward that + happy constitution, together with those improvements, whereby our + United States begin to flourish, over which you preside with the + applause of a thankful nation. + + "Whenever, therefore, we solicit the protection of the Father of + mercies over this favored country, we can not but fervently implore + his kindness for your preservation, which is so intimately + connected therewith. + + "May this gracious Lord vouchsafe to prolong your valuable life as + a further blessing, and an ornament of the constitution, that by + your worthy example the regard for religion be increased, and the + improvements of civil society encouraged. + + "The settlements of the United Brethren, though small, will always + make it their study to contribute as much as in them lies to the + peace and improvement of the United States, and all the particular + parts they live in, joining their ardent prayers to the best wishes + of this whole continent that your personal as well as domestic + happiness may abound, and a series of successes may crown your + labors for the prosperity of our times and an example to future + ages, until the glorious reward of a faithful servant shall be your + portion. + + "Signed, in behalf of the United Brethren in Wachovia: + + "FREDERICK WILLIAM MARSHALL, + "JOHN DANIEL KOHLER, + "CHRISTIAN LEWIS BENZIEN. + + "_Salem, the 1st of June_, 1791." + +To which the president of the United States was pleased to return the +following answer:-- + + "_To the United Brethren of Wachovia:_ + + "GENTLEMEN: I am greatly indebted to your respectful and + affectionate expression of personal regard, and I am not less + obliged by the patriotic sentiment contained in your address. + + "From a society whose governing principles are industry and the + love of order, much may be expected towards the improvement and + prosperity of the country in which their settlements are formed, + and experience authorizes the belief that much will be obtained. + + "Thanking you with grateful sincerity for your prayers in my + behalf, I desire to assure you of my best wishes for your social + and individual happiness. + + "G. WASHINGTON." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + THE NEW CONGRESS--AARON BURR SENATOR--SCOPE OF WASHINGTON'S ANNUAL + ADDRESS--ST. CLAIR'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS--CHARACTER OF + HIS ARMY--SURPRISE AND DEFEAT--EFFECT OF THE EVENT ON + WASHINGTON--WAYNE APPOINTED TO SUCCEED ST. CLAIR--APPEARANCE OF + PARTIES IN CONGRESS--OPPOSING NEWSPAPERS--APPORTIONMENT BILL--VETO + FIRST APPLIED--WASHINGTON YEARNS FOR PRIVATE LIFE--EXPRESSES HIS + DESIRES TO JEFFERSON AND MADISON--VALEDICTORY ADDRESS + CONTEMPLATED--MADISON REQUESTED TO PREPARE ONE--A REMARKABLE LETTER + FROM JEFFERSON--WASHINGTON CONSENTS TO A RE-ELECTION. + + +Washington read his third annual address to the assembled Congress on +the twenty-fifth of October. Before him were most of the members of the +previous Congress. Nearly all of the retiring senators had been +re-elected. Among the new ones was Roger Sherman of Connecticut, George +Cabot of Massachusetts, and Aaron Burr of New York. The latter was +elected as the successor to General Schuyler, and now, for the first +time, appeared prominent among statesmen. He had been appointed +attorney-general of New York by Governor Clinton, and, in respect to +talent and influence, was a rising man. Artful and fascinating, he had +secured the votes of a sufficient number of federalists in the state +legislature to gain his election, and he went into Congress a decided +opponent of the administration; not on principle, for that never +influenced him, but on account of personal hostility to the president, +whom he hated because of his virtues. + +In the house there were several new members, and the number of those +opposed to the policy of the administration had been considerably +increased, the elections in several of the states having been warmly +contested. Jonathan Trumbull, son of the patriotic governor of +Connecticut, was chosen speaker. + +In his address, the president congratulated Congress on the general +prosperity of the country, the success of its financial measures, and +the disposition generally manifested to submit to the excise law. He +dwelt at considerable length upon Indian affairs, recommending a just, +impartial, and humane policy toward the savages, as the best means of +securing peace on the frontier. He announced that the site of the +federal capital had been selected and the city laid out on the bank of +the Potomac. He again called their attention to the subject of a +reorganization of the post-office department, the establishment of a +mint, the adoption of a plan for producing uniformity in weights and +measures, and making provision for the sale of the public lands of the +United States. + +The expedition against the Indians in the northwest had, meanwhile, been +in progress, with varying fortunes, sometimes successful and sometimes +not. At length painful rumors, and finally positive statements, came +that a terrible calamity had overtaken St. Clair and his command. These +troops had assembled in the vicinity of Fort Washington (now Cincinnati) +early in September, and consisted nominally of two thousand regulars and +one thousand militia, including a corps of artillery and several +squadrons of horse. They were compelled to cut a road through the +wilderness, and erect forts to keep up communication between the Ohio +and the Wabash, the base of their operations. Desertions were numerous, +and the refuse of western population often filled the places of these +delinquents. Insubordination prevailed; and, to increase St. Clair's +difficulties, he was so afflicted with the gout that he could not walk, +and had to be lifted on and off his horse. + +At length the little army, reduced to fourteen hundred effective men, +rank and file, by desertion and the absence of a corps sent to apprehend +deserters, had penetrated to a tributary of the Wabash fifteen miles +south of the Miami villages, and almost a hundred from Fort Washington. +There, before sunrise on the fourth of November, while the main body +were encamped in two lines on rising ground, and the militia upon a high +flat on the other side of the stream a quarter of a mile in advance, +they were surprised and fiercely attacked by a large number of Indians, +who fell first upon the militia, and then with deadly power upon the +regulars. Great carnage ensued. The enemy, concealed in the woods, +poured a destructive fire upon the troops from almost every point. St. +Clair, unable to mount his horse, was carried about in a litter, and +gave his orders with discretion and the most perfect coolness. Nearly +all the officers and half the army were killed. For two hours and a half +the desperate contest raged. Finally St. Clair ordered a retreat. It at +once became a disorderly flight. The artillery, baggage, and many of the +wounded, were left behind. Many of the troops threw away their arms, +ammunition, and accoutrements. Some of the officers divested themselves +of their fusees, that their flight might not be impeded. The general was +mounted upon a lazy pack-horse, who could not be spurred into a gallop; +but, as the enemy did not pursue more than a mile or two, St. Clair and +the survivors of the battle escaped to Fort Jefferson, a distance of +twenty-five miles. The retreat was continued the next day toward Fort +Washington, where the shattered army arrived on the eighth. The entire +loss was estimated at six hundred and seventy-seven killed, including +thirty women, and two hundred and seventy-one wounded. + +The late Richard Rush, of Philadelphia, has left on record the following +graphic account of the effect which the intelligence of St. Clair's +defeat had upon Washington. It was from an eye-witness:-- + +"An anecdote I derived from Colonel Lear," says Mr. Rush, "shortly +before his death in 1816, may here be related, showing the height to +which Washington's passion would rise, yet be controlled. It belongs to +his domestic life, with which I am dealing, having occurred under his +own roof, while it marks public feeling the most intense, and points to +the moral of his life. I give it in Colonel Lear's words, as near as I +can, having made a note of them at the time. + +"Toward the close of a winter's day in 1791, an officer in uniform was +seen to dismount in front of the president's house, in Philadelphia, +and giving the bridle to his servant, knocked at the door of the +mansion. Learning from the porter that the president was at dinner, he +said he was on public business and had despatches for the president. A +servant was sent into the dining-room to give the information to Mr. +Lear, who left the table and went into the hall, where the officer +repeated what he had said. Mr. Lear replied that, as the president's +secretary, he would take charge of the despatches and deliver them at +the proper time. The officer made answer that he had just arrived from +the western army, and his orders were to deliver them with all +promptitude, and to the president in person; but that he would wait his +directions. Mr. Lear returned, and in a whisper imparted to the +president what had passed. General Washington rose from the table and +went to the officer. He was back in a short time, made a word of apology +for his absence, but no allusion to the cause of it. He had company that +day. Everything went on as usual. Dinner over, the gentlemen passed to +the drawing-room of Mrs. Washington, which was open in the evening. The +general spoke courteously to every lady in the room, as was his custom. +His hours were early, and by ten o'clock all the company had gone. Mrs. +Washington and Mr. Lear remained. Soon Mrs. Washington left the room. + +"The general now walked backward and forward for some minutes without +speaking. Then he sat down on a sofa by the fire, telling Mr. Lear to +sit down. To this moment there had been no change in his manner since +his interruption at the table. Mr. Lear now perceived emotion. This +rising in him, he broke out suddenly: 'It's all over! St. Clair's +defeated--routed; the officers nearly all killed--the men by +wholesale--the rout complete! too shocking to think of!--and a surprise +in the bargain!' + +"He uttered all this with great vehemence. Then he paused, got up from +the sofa, and walked about the room several times, agitated, but saying +nothing. Near the door he stopped short and stood still a few seconds, +when his wrath became terrible. + +"'Yes!' he burst forth, 'HERE, on this very spot, I took leave of him: I +wished him success and honor. "You have your instructions," I said, +"from the secretary of war: I had a strict eye to them, and will add but +one word--beware of a surprise! I repeat it--beware of a surprise! You +know how the Indians fight us." He went off with that as my last solemn +warning thrown into his ears. And yet, to suffer that army to be cut to +pieces, hacked by a surprise--the very thing I guarded him against! O +God! O God! he's worse than a murderer! How can he answer it to his +country? The blood of the slain is upon him--the curse of widows and +orphans--the curse of Heaven!' + +"This torrent came out in tone appalling. His very frame shook. 'It was +awful!' said Mr. Lear. More than once he threw his hands up as he hurled +imprecations upon St. Clair. Mr. Lear remained speechless--awed into +breathless silence. + +"The roused chief sat down on the sofa once more. He seemed conscious of +his passion, and uncomfortable. He was silent; his wrath began to +subside. He at length said, in an altered voice, 'This must not go +beyond this room.' Another pause followed--a longer one--when he said, +in a tone quite low: 'General St. Clair shall have justice. I looked +hastily through the despatches--saw the whole disaster, but not all the +particulars. I will hear him without prejudice: he shall have full +justice.' + +"'He was now,' said Mr. Lear, 'perfectly calm. Half an hour had gone by; +the storm was over, and no sign of it was afterward seen in his conduct +or heard in his conversation.'"[34] + +"The first interview of the president with St Clair after the fatal +fourth of November," says the late Mr. Custis[35] (who was present), "was +nobly impressive. The unfortunate general, worn down by age, disease, +and the hardships of a frontier campaign, assailed by the press, and +with the current of popular opinion setting hard against him, repaired +to his chief, as to a shelter from the fury of so many elements. +Washington extended his hand to one who appeared in no new character; +for, during the whole of a long life, misfortune seemed 'to have marked +him for her own.' Poor old St. Clair hobbled up to his chief, seized the +offered hand in both of his, and gave vent to his feelings in an audible +manner." + +St. Clair's case was investigated by a committee of the house of +representatives, and he was honorably acquitted. But public sentiment +was against him, and he resigned his commission. + +The alarm on the frontier, caused by St. Clair's defeat, produced prompt +and appropriate action in Congress, and an army of five thousand men for +frontier service was authorized. The impetuous General Wayne (of whom +Washington said, at this time, "He has many good points as an officer, +and it is to be hoped that time, reflection, good advice, and above all +a due sense of the importance of the trust committed to him, will +correct his faults, or cast a shade over them") was appointed +commander-in-chief, and Colonel Otho H. Williams, of Maryland, and +Colonel Rufus Putnam, then in the Ohio country, brigadiers under him. +Wayne was then in the prime of life, being forty-seven years of age; and +Washington, believing that an energetic campaign would retrieve the +losses of St. Clair and produce a decisive and salutary effect upon the +Indians, counted much upon the prowess and executive force of that +officer. Nor was he disappointed. + +Additional revenue was required to support the increased army; and upon +a motion being made in Congress to call upon the secretary of the +treasury to report the ways and means of raising it, the first decided +opposition to that officer and the measures of the administration, in +complicity with Jefferson's personal dislike of Hamilton, appeared in +the national legislature. Such report was called for, however; and the +discussions that ensued upon this and other topics were sometimes very +acrimonious, and caused Washington much painful apprehension. The press, +at the same time, was fostering party spirit with the most pernicious +aliment. In the previous autumn, a paper in the interest of the +republican party and in opposition to Fenno's _United States Gazette_, +called the _National Gazette_, was established. Philip Freneau, a warm +whig of the Revolution and a poet of considerable local eminence, who +had been editor of a New York paper, and who was called to Philadelphia +at that time by Mr. Jefferson to fill the post of translating clerk in +the state department, was installed as editor of the new opposition +paper. Jefferson patronized it for the avowed purpose of presenting to +the president and the American people correct European intelligence, +derived from the _Leyden Gazette_ instead of through the alleged +polluted channel of English newspapers. But it soon became the vehicle +of bitter attacks upon all measures of the administration which did not +originate with, or were approved by, Mr. Jefferson; and the character of +the secretary became thereby seriously compromised before the American +people. He was charged, with great plausibility, with being the author +of many anonymous political articles in Freneau's paper; but he solemnly +declared the accusation to be untrue. + +Congress adjourned on the eighth of May. During the session, Washington +had for the first time exercised the veto power intrusted to the +president by the constitution. The occasion was the passage of an +apportionment bill based upon the census of the population of the United +States, lately taken, which in its provisions appeared to conflict with +the constitution. That instrument provided that the representatives +should not exceed one for every thirty thousand persons. This ratio +would leave a fraction in each state (in some more, in some less) +unrepresented. To obviate this difficulty, the senate originated a bill +which exhibited a new principle of apportionment. It assumed as a basis +the total population of the United States, and not the population of +separate states, as that upon which the whole number of representatives +should be determined. This aggregate was divided by thirty thousand. The +quotient giving one hundred and twenty as the number of representatives, +that number was apportioned upon the several states according to their +population, allotting to each one member for every thirty thousand, and +distributing the remaining members, to make up the one hundred and +twenty, among the states having the largest fractions. After much +debate, the house concurred in the senate's bill, and it was submitted +to the president for his signature. The only question that arose was as +to its constitutionality. The president consulted his cabinet. +Jefferson and Randolph decided that it was unconstitutional; Knox could +not express a definite opinion; and Hamilton rather favored the bill. +After due deliberation Washington returned it with his objections. "A +few of the hottest friends of the bill," says Jefferson in his Anas, +"expressed passion, but the majority were satisfied; and both in and out +of doors," he rather ill-naturedly added, "it gave pleasure to have at +length an instance of the negative being exercised." + +The distractions in his cabinet, the increasing virulence of party +spirit continually manifested in Congress, and the cares of government, +began to make Washington thoroughly weary of public life, and early in +1792 he resolved to retire from it at the end of the term for which he +had been elected to the presidency. He had more than a year to serve; +but he determined to let his resolution be made known to the public at +an early day. He first announced it to his nearest friends and +associates. Among these were Jefferson and Madison, the latter a +representative from Virginia, and then taking the position of a +republican leader in the house. To Jefferson, Washington had opened his +mind on the subject as early as the close of February, at the same time +saying that he should consider it unfortunate if his retirement should +cause that of other great officers of the government. At that time, the +president was becoming painfully aware that the differences in his +cabinet were systematic, instead of incidental as at first. + +With Madison, Washington held frequent conversations upon the subject of +his retirement, but nothing definite was determined when they left +Philadelphia at the close of the session. The president went so far, +however, as to ask Madison to revolve this subject in his mind, and +advise him as to the proper time and the best mode of announcing his +intention to the people. But Madison always urged him to relinquish the +idea for the public good, and Jefferson desired him to remain in office +for the same reason. + +Congress having adjourned on Tuesday, the eighth of May, on the tenth +Washington set out alone for Mount Vernon, leaving his family in +Philadelphia. He carried with him several copies of Paine's _Rights of +Man_, already alluded to, fifty of which he received from the author a +day or two before he left Philadelphia.[36] With peculiar delight he sat +down amid the cool shadows and quiet retreats of his loved home on the +Potomac, at the season of flowers; and the desire to leave the turmoils +of public life appears to have taken hold of him with a strength which +he had never felt before. He resolved to be governed by his +inclinations; and on the twentieth he wrote to Madison, announcing his +intention in unequivocal terms, and repeating the request for advice +which he had made before leaving Philadelphia. + +"I have not been unmindful," he said, "of the sentiments expressed by +you in the conversations just alluded to. On the contrary, I have again +and again revolved them with thoughtful anxiety, but without being able +to dispose my mind to a longer continuation in the office I have now the +honor to hold.... Nothing but a conviction that my declining the chair +of government, if it should be the desire of the people to continue me +in it, would involve the country in serious disputes respecting the +chief magistrate, and the disagreeable consequences which might result +therefrom in the floating and divided opinions which seem to prevail at +present, could in any wise induce me to relinquish the determination I +have formed.... Under these impressions, then, permit me to reiterate +the request I made to you at our last meeting, namely, to think of the +proper time and the best mode of announcing the intention, and that you +would prepare the latter. In revolving this subject myself, my judgment +has always been embarrassed.... I would fain carry my request to you +further than is asked above, although I am sensible it would add to your +trouble. But as the recess may afford you leisure, and as I flatter +myself you have dispositions to oblige me, I will without apology +desire, if the measure in itself should strike you as proper, or likely +to produce public good or private honor, that you would turn your +thoughts to a Valedictory Address from me to the public." + +He desired Madison to express, "in plain and modest terms," his +feelings: That having endeavored to do his duty in the office he held, +and age coming on apace, he desired to retire to private life, believing +that rotation in the elective offices might be more congenial with the +ideas of the people, of liberty and safety--that with such views, he +took leave of them as a public man, and invoked the continuance of every +blessing of Providence upon his country, "and upon all those who are the +supporters of its interests, and the promoters of harmony, order, and +good government." + +Washington then suggested four topics to be remarked upon, as follows: +First, That we are all children of the same country, great and rich, and +capable of being as prosperous and happy as any which the annals of +history exhibit; and that the people have all an equal interest in the +great concerns of the nation. Second, That the extent of our country, +the diversity of our climate and soil, and the various productions of +the states, are such as to make one part not only convenient, but +indispensable to other parts, and may render the whole one of the most +independent nations in the world. Third, That the government, being the +work of the people, and having the mode and power of amendment engrafted +upon the constitution, may, by the exercise of forbearance, wisdom, good +will, and experience, be brought as near perfection as any human +institution has ever been; and therefore, that the only strife should +be, who should be foremost in facilitating and finally accomplishing +such great and desirable objects, by giving every possible support and +cement to the Union. Fourth, "That, however necessary it may be to keep +a watchful eye over public servants and public measures, yet there ought +to be limits to it; for suspicions unfounded and jealousies too lively +are irritating to honest feelings, and oftentimes are productive of more +evil than good." + +With these general hints, Washington left the matter in Madison's +hands. At the same time, he asked that friend to give him hints also as +to "fit subjects for communication" in his next annual message to +Congress. In all this we see the acts of an eminently wise man, intent +solely upon the public good, seeking aid in his arduous labors from +those in whom he had confidence. + +A month later, Madison replied to the president's letter, giving his +opinion, that if he was determined to retire, it would be expedient and +highly proper for him to put forth a valedictory address through the +public prints; at the same time he expressed a hope that Washington +would "reconsider the measure in all its circumstances and +consequences," and that he would acquiesce in one more sacrifice, severe +as it might be, to the desires and interests of his country. With the +letter Madison sent a draft of an address, and in reference to it +remarked: "You will readily observe that, in executing it, I have aimed +at that plainness and modesty of language which you had in view, and +which indeed are so peculiarly becoming the character and the occasion; +and that I had little more to do, as to the matter, than to follow the +just and comprehensive outline which you had sketched. I flatter myself, +however, that in everything which has depended on me, much improvement +will be made before so interesting a paper shall have taken its last +form." + +In a letter to the president, written on the twenty-third of May, +Jefferson expressed his concern at the determination of the president. +"When you first mentioned to me your purpose of retiring from the +government," he said, "though I felt all the magnitude of the event, I +was in a considerable degree silent. I knew that to such a mind as yours +persuasion was idle and impertinent; that, before forming your decision, +you had weighed all the reasons for and against the measure, had made up +your mind in full view of them, and that there could be little hope of +changing the result. Pursuing my reflections, too, I knew we were some +day to try to walk alone, and, if the essay should be made while you +should be alive and looking on, we should derive confidence from that +circumstance and resource if it failed. The public mind, too, was then +calm and confident, and therefore in a favorable state for making an +experiment. But the public mind is no longer so confident and serene, +and that for causes in which you are no way personally mixed." He then +went on at great length in denunciation of the funding system, as one +calculated and even _intended_ to "corrupt the legislature," and as the +chief instrument in efforts to establish a monarchical and +aristocratical government upon the ruins of the confederation--of +preparing the way "for a change from the present republican form of +government to that of a monarchy, of which the English constitution is +to be the model." He then said:-- + + "The confidence of the whole Union is centred in you. Your being at + the helm will be more than an answer to every argument which can be + used to alarm and lead the people in any quarter into violence and + secession. North and South will hang together if they have you to + hang on; and if the first corrective of a numerous representation + should fail in its effects, your presence will give time for trying + others, not inconsistent with the union and peace of the states. + + "I am perfectly aware of the oppression under which your present + office lays your mind, and with the ardor with which you pant for + domestic life. But there is sometimes an eminence of character on + which society have such peculiar claims as to control the + predilections of the individual for a particular walk of happiness, + and restrain him to that alone arising from the present and future + benedictions of mankind. This seems to be your condition, and the + law imposed on you by Providence in forming your character, and + fashioning the events on which it was to operate; and it is to + motives like these, and not to personal anxieties of mine or others + who have no right to call on you for sacrifices, that I appeal, and + urge a revisal of it, on the ground of change in the aspect of + things. Should an honest majority result from a new and enlarged + representation; should those acquiesce whose principles or + interests they may control, your wishes for retirement would be + gratified with less danger, as soon as that shall be manifest, + without awaiting the completion of the second term of four years. + One or two sessions will determine the crisis; and I can not but + hope that you can resolve to add more to the many years you have + already sacrificed to the good of mankind."[37] + +These were wise and patriotic words, and, no doubt, had much effect upon +Washington's mind. The critical state of public affairs, the growing +animosities of party spirit, the urgent pleadings of all his friends, +the ardent desires of the people in all parts of the country, and his +willingness to serve his country in any hour of her need, caused him, as +usual, to sacrifice personal inclinations to the public welfare, and he +consented to be a candidate for re-election. + +Washington made a verbal reply to Mr. Jefferson's letter when he met him +in Philadelphia. He dissented from most of the secretary's views of +public policy, and defended the assumption of the state debts and the +excise law. As to the United States bank, he did not believe that +discontents concerning it were found far from the seat of government. He +assured Mr. Jefferson that he had spoken with many people in Maryland +and Virginia during his late journey, and found them contented and +happy. According to notes made by Mr. Jefferson at the time, he and the +president had a friendly discussion of the whole matter. Washington was +very decided in his opinions, having weighed the subject with his sound +judgment. But his words had no effect upon Jefferson. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[34] _Washington in Private Life_, by Richard Rush. + +[35] _Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington_, page 419. + +[36] In his letter accompanying the books, Paine remarked: "The work has +had a run beyond any thing that has been published in this country on +the subject of government, and the demand continues. In Ireland it has +had a much greater. A letter I received from Dublin, tenth of May, +mentioned that the fourth edition was then on sale. I know not what +number of copies were printed at each edition, except the second, which +was ten thousand. The same fate follows me here as I _at first_ +experienced in America--strong friends and violent enemies. But as I +have got the ear of the country, I shall go on, and at least show them, +what is a novelty here, that there can be a person beyond the reach of +corruption." + +[37] Randall's Life of Thomas Jefferson ii 61 + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + JEFFERSON'S LETTER GIVES WASHINGTON PAIN--HIS LETTERS TO LAFAYETTE + AND OTHERS--UNGENEROUS SUSPICIONS--WASHINGTON LAYS BEFORE HAMILTON A + SYNOPSIS OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION--HAMILTON'S + REPLIES--HE DENOUNCES HIS ACCUSERS--COMPLETE RUPTURE BETWEEN + HAMILTON AND JEFFERSON--NEWSPAPER DISPUTES--FRENEAU'S + AFFIDAVIT--WASHINGTON ANNOYED AND ALARMED BY THE FEUD--SEEKS TO HEAL + THE BREACH--CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONTENDING + SECRETARIES--SPIRIT OF THAT CORRESPONDENCE--HOSTILITIES TO THE + EXCISE LAWS--THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION--ANOTHER EFFORT TO + RECONCILE THE DISPUTING SECRETARIES--WASHINGTON UNANIMOUSLY + RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. + + +Those portions of Jefferson's letter which related to public measures +gave Washington a great deal of pain. They formed the first strong +avowal of his able friend and coadjutor of his deep-seated suspicions of +living conspiracies against the liberties of the United States, and his +opposition to the measures which he considered the implements of treason +in the hands of the conspirators. They were the evidences of a schism in +the president's cabinet which destroyed its unity and prophesied of +serious evils. + +Jefferson's correspondence at that period shows the bias of his mind; +and, in the light of subsequent experience, while we view him as a true +patriot, jealous of his country's rights, we can not but regard him as a +monomaniac at that time. He saw in every supporter of Hamilton and his +measures a conspirator, or the dupe of a conspirator; and he seemed, +vain-gloriously, to believe that his own political perceptions were far +keener than those of Washington and all the world beside. To Lafayette +he wrote: "A sect has shown itself among us, who declare they espoused +our constitution, not as a good and sufficient thing in itself, but only +as a step to an English constitution--the only thing good and +sufficient in itself, in their eyes. It is happy for us that these are +preachers without followers, and that our people are firm and constant +in their republican purity. You will wonder to be told that it is from +the eastward chiefly that these champions for a king, lords, and commons +come. They get some important associates from New York, and are puffed +up by a tribe of _Agioteurs_ which have been hatched in a bed of +corruption, made up after the model of their beloved England. Too many +of these stockjobbers and kingjobbers have come into our legislature--or +rather, too many of our legislature have become stockjobbers and +kingjobbers. However, the voice of the people is beginning to make +itself heard, and will probably cleanse their seats at the next +election." + +To others he wrote in a similar vein; and he seemed to be constantly +haunted by the ghost of kings, lords, and commons, sitting in the seat +of the republican president and of the popular Congress. + +Washington pondered these things with great anxiety, and on the +twenty-ninth of July he wrote a private and confidential letter to +Hamilton, in which he set forth, under twenty-one distinct heads, a +summary of objections to the measures of the administration, drawn +chiefly from Jefferson's letter to the president just alluded to. +"These," he said, "as well as my memory serves me, are the sentiments +which, directly and indirectly, have been disclosed to me. To obtain +light and to pursue truth being my sole aim, and wishing to have before +me explanations of, as well as the complaints on, measures in which the +public interest, harmony, and peace, are so deeply concerned, and my +public conduct so much involved, it is my request, and you would oblige +me by furnishing me with your ideas upon the discontents here +enumerated; and for this purpose I have thrown them into heads, or +sections, and numbered them, that those ideas may be applied to the +correspondent numbers." + +Hamilton answered in the required form on the eighteenth of August. "You +will observe here and there," he remarked in his preface, "some +severity appears. I have not fortitude enough always to bear with +calmness calumnies which necessarily include me, as a principal agent in +the measures censured, of the falsehood of which I have the most +unqualified consciousness. I trust I shall always be able to bear as I +ought imputations of errors of judgment; but I acknowledge that I can +not be entirely patient under charges which impeach the integrity of my +public motives or conduct. I feel that I merit them _in no degree_; and +expressions of indignation sometimes escape me in spite of every effort +to suppress them. I rely on your goodness for the proper allowances." + +He then, under the head of _Objections and answers respecting the +administration of the government_, ably justified all measures which +distinguished that administration. When treating upon the charges that +"the funding of the debt had furnished effectual means of corruption of +such a portion of the legislature as turned the balance between the +honest voters whichever way it was directed," he manifested much +indignation. "This is one of those assertions," he said, "which can only +be denied, and pronounced to be malignant and false. No facts exist to +support it. The asserters assume to themselves, and to those who think +with them, infallibility. Take their words for it, they are the only +honest men in the community." "As far as I know," he said, "there is not +a member of the legislature who can properly be called a stockjobber or +a paper-dealer. There are several of them who were proprietors of public +debt in various ways; some for money lent and property furnished for the +use of the public during the war, others for sums received in payment of +debts; and it is supposable enough that some of them had been purchasers +of the public debt, with intention to hold it as a valuable and +convenient property, considering an honorable provision for it as a +matter of course. + + "It is a strange perversion of ideas, and as novel as it is + extraordinary, that men should be deemed corrupt and + criminal for becoming proprietors in the funds of their + country. Yet I believe the number of members of Congress is + very small who have ever been considerable proprietors in + the funds. As to improper speculations on measures + depending before Congress, I believe never was any body of + men freer from them." + +To the charge that the federalists contemplated the establishment of a +monarchy, Hamilton said: "The idea of introducing a monarchy or +aristocracy into this country, by employing the influence and force of a +government continually changing hands towards it, is one of those +visionary things that none but madmen could meditate, and that no wise +man will believe. + + "If it could be done at all, which is utterly incredible, it + would require a long series of time, certainly beyond the + life of any individual, to effect it. Who then would enter + into such a plot? for what purpose of interest or ambition? + + "To hope that the people may be cajoled into giving their + sanctions to such institutions is still more chimerical. A + people so enlightened and so diversified as the people of + this country can surely never be brought to it but from + convulsions and disorders, in consequence of the arts of + popular demagogues. + + "The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a + subversion of the republican system of the country is by + flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their + jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into + confusion and bring on civil commotion. Tired at length of + anarchy or want of government, they may take shelter in the + arms of monarchy for repose and security." + +The rupture between Hamilton and Jefferson was now complete, and the +violence of party spirit manifested by the Gazettes of Fenno and Freneau +was greatly augmented. The latter became more and more personal in his +attacks upon the administration; and Hamilton, who was held up by name +as a monarchist at heart, believing that the assaults originated in the +hostility of Jefferson, in whose office Freneau was employed, at length +turned sharply upon his assailant. Over an anonymous signature he +inquired, in Fenno's paper, whether the government salary given to +Freneau was paid him for translations, or for calumniating those whom +the voice of the nation had called to the administration of public +affairs; whether he was rewarded as a public servant, or as a disturber +of the public peace by false insinuations. "In common life," he said, +"it is thought ungrateful for a man to bite the hand that puts bread in +his mouth; but if a man is hired to do it the case is altered." + +Again he said, after giving a history of the establishment of Freneau's +paper: "An experiment somewhat new in the history of political +manoeuvres in this country; a newspaper instituted by a public +officer, and the editor of it regularly pensioned with the public money +in the disposal of that officer.... But, it may be asked, is it possible +that Mr. Jefferson, the head of a principal department of the +government, can be the patron of a paper the evident object of which is +to decry the government and its measures? If he disapproves of the +government itself, and thinks it deserving of his opposition, can he +reconcile it to his own personal dignity and the principles of probity +to hold an office under it, and employ the means of official influence +in that opposition? If he disapproves of the leading measures which have +been adopted in the course of his administration, can he reconcile it +with the principles of delicacy and propriety to hold a place in that +administration, and at the same time to be instrumental in vilifying +measures which have been adopted by majorities of both branches of the +legislature, and sanctioned by the chief magistrate of the Union?" + +This brought out an affidavit from Freneau, in which he exculpated Mr. +Jefferson from all complicity in the establishment, the conduct, or the +support of his paper. + +The feud between Hamilton and Jefferson gave Washington great concern +and no little mortification. Both ministers discharged the duties of +their respective offices to the entire satisfaction of the president. He +had endeavored, on his own part, not to allow his private views to +interfere with them in the performance of those duties; but he now found +himself compelled to take part in the dispute. That part was the noble +one of pacificator. He desired most earnestly to heal the breach, and on +the twenty-third of August he wrote to Jefferson on the subject. After +referring to the hostilities of the Indians, and the possible intrigues +of foreigners to check the growth of the United States, he said:-- + + "How unfortunate and how much to be regretted is it, that while we + are encompassed on all sides with armed enemies and insidious + friends, internal dissentions should be harrowing and tearing our + vitals. The latter, to me, is the most serious, the most alarming, + and the most afflicting of the two; and, without more charity for + the opinions and acts of one another in governmental matters, or + some more infallible criterion by which the truth of speculative + opinions, before they have undergone the test of experience, are to + be forejudged, than has yet fallen to the lot of fallibility, I + believe it will be difficult, if not impracticable, to manage the + reins of government, or to keep the parts of it together; for if, + instead of laying our shoulders to the machine after measures are + decided on, one pulls this way and another that, before the utility + of the thing is fairly tried, it must inevitably be torn asunder, + and, in my opinion, the fairest prospect of happiness and + prosperity that ever was presented to man will be lost, perhaps for + ever. + + "My earnest wish and my fondest hope, therefore, is that instead of + wounding suspicions and irritating charges there may be liberal + allowances, mutual forbearances, and temporizing yieldings on all + sides. Under the exercise of these, matters will go on smoothly + and, if possible, more prosperously. Without them, everything must + rub; the wheels of government will clog; our enemies will triumph, + and, by throwing their weight into the disaffected scale, may + accomplish the ruin of the goodly fabric we have been erecting. + + "I do not mean to apply this advice or these observations to any + particular person or character. I have given them in the same + general terms to other officers of the government; because the + disagreements, which have arisen from difference of opinion, and + the attacks which have been made upon almost all the measures of + government and most of its executive officers, have for a long time + past filled me with painful sensations, and can not fail, I think, + of producing unhappy consequences at home and abroad." + +To Hamilton he wrote three days afterward, expressing his regret that +subjects could not be discussed with temper on the one hand, or +decisions submitted to without the motives which led to them improperly +implicated on the other. "When matters get to such lengths," he said, +"the natural inference is that both sides have strained the cords beyond +their bearing, and that a middle course would be found the best, until +experience shall have decided on the right way, or (which is not to be +expected, because it is denied to mortals) there shall be some +infallible rule by which we could forejudge events. + +"Having premised these things, I would fain hope that liberal allowances +will be made for the political opinions of each other, and, instead of +those wounding suspicions and irritating charges with which some of our +gazettes are so strongly impregnated, and which can not fail, if +persevered in, of pushing matters to extremity and thereby tearing the +machine asunder, that there may be mutual forbearance and temporizing +yielding _on all sides_. Without these, I do not see how the reins of +government are to be managed, or how the union of the states can be much +longer preserved.... My earnest wish is that balsam may be poured into +all the wounds which have been given, to prevent them from gangrening, +and from those fatal consequences which the community may sustain if it +is withheld." + +These letters were answered by Hamilton and Jefferson on the same day +(September the ninth), one dated at Philadelphia and the other at +Monticello. "I most sincerely regret," wrote Hamilton, "the causes of +the uneasy sensations you experience. It is my most anxious wish, as far +as may depend upon me, to smooth the path of your administration, and to +render it prosperous and happy. And if any prospect shall open of +healing or terminating the differences which exist, I shall most +cheerfully embrace it, though I consider myself as the deeply injured +party. The recommendation of such a spirit is worthy of the moderation +and wisdom which dictated it. And if your endeavors should prove +unsuccessful, I do not hesitate to say that, in my opinion, the period +is not remote when the public good will require _substitutes_ for the +_differing members_ of your administration. The continuance of a +division must destroy the energy of government, which will be little +enough with the strictest union. On my part there will be the most +cheerful acquiescence in such a result. + + "I trust, sir, that the greatest frankness has always + marked, and will always mark, every step of my conduct + toward you. In this disposition, I can not conceal from you + that I have had some instrumentality of late in the + retaliations which have fallen upon certain public + characters, and that I find myself placed in a situation not + to be able to recede _for the present_. + + "I considered myself as compelled to this conduct by + reasons, public as well as personal, of the most cogent + nature. I _know_ that I have been an object of uniform + opposition from Mr. Jefferson, from the moment of his coming + to the city of New York to enter upon his present office. I + know from the most authentic sources that I have been the + frequent subject of the most unkind whispers and + insinuations from the same quarter. I have long seen a + formed party in the legislature, under his auspices, bent + upon my subversion. I can not doubt, from the evidence I + possess, that the _National Gazette_ was instituted by him + for political purposes, and that one leading object of it + has been to render me and all the measures connected with my + department as odious as possible. Nevertheless, I can truly + say, that, except explanations to confidential friends, I + never, directly or indirectly, retaliated or countenanced + retaliation till very lately. I can even assure you that I + was instrumental in preventing a very severe and systematic + attack upon Mr. Jefferson by an association of two or three + individuals, in consequence of the persecution which he + brought upon the vice-president by his indiscreet and light + letter to the printer, transmitting Paine's pamphlet. + + "As long as I saw no danger to the government from the + machinations which were going on, I resolved to be a silent + sufferer of the injuries which were done me. I determined to + avoid giving occasion to anything which could manifest to + the world dissentions among the principal characters of the + government--a thing which can never happen without weakening + its hands, and in some degree throwing a stigma upon it. + + "But when I no longer doubted that there was a formed party + deliberately bent upon the subversion of measures, which in + its consequences would subvert the government; when I saw + that the undoing of the funding system in particular (which, + whatever may be the original merits of that system, would + prostrate the credit and honor of the nation, and bring the + government into contempt with that description of men who + are in every society the only firm supporters of government) + was an avowed object of the party, and that all possible + pains were taking to produce that effect by rendering it + odious to the body of the people, I considered it as a duty + to endeavor to resist the torrent, and, as an effectual + means to this end, to draw aside the veil from the principal + actors. To this strong impulse, to this decided conviction, + I have yielded, and I think events will prove that I have + judged rightly. + + "Nevertheless, I pledge my honor to you, sir, that if you + shall hereafter form a plan to reunite the members of your + administration upon some steady principle of co-operation, I + will faithfully concur in executing it during my continuance + in office; and I will not, directly or indirectly, say or do + anything that shall endanger a feud." + +Mr. Jefferson answered Washington, that no one regretted the dissentions +in the cabinet more than himself. "Though I take to myself," he said, +"no more than my share of the general observations of your letter, yet I +am so desirous even that you should know the whole truth, and believe no +more than the whole truth, that I am glad to seize every occasion of +developing to you whatever I do or think relative to the government, and +shall therefore ask permission to be more lengthy now than the occasion +particularly calls for, or would otherwise, perhaps, justify. + +"When I embarked in the government, it was with a determination to +intermeddle not at all with the legislature, and as little as possible +with my co-departments. The first and only instance of variance from the +former part of my resolution I was duped into by the secretary of the +treasury, and made a tool for forwarding his schemes, not then +sufficiently understood by me; and of all the errors of my political +life, this has occasioned me the deepest regret.... If it has been +supposed that I have ever intrigued among the members of the legislature +to defeat the plans of the secretary of the treasury, it is contrary to +all truth.... That I have utterly, in my private conversations, +disapproved of the system of the secretary of the treasury I acknowledge +and avow; and this was not merely a speculative difference. His system +flowed from principles adverse to liberty, and was calculated to +undermine and demolish the republic by creating an influence of his +department over the members of the legislature. I saw this influence +actually produced, and its first fruits to be the establishment of the +great outlines of his project, by the votes of the very persons who, +having swallowed his bait, were laying themselves out to profit by his +plans; and that, had these persons withdrawn, as those interested in a +question ever should, the vote of the disinterested majority was clearly +the reverse of what they made it. These were no longer the votes, then, +of the representatives of the people, but of deserters from the rights +and interests of the people." + +Mr. Jefferson then proceeded to justify his opinions and conduct, and to +defend himself against Hamilton's charges in Fenno's paper, which were: +first, that he (Jefferson) had written letters from Europe to his +friends in America to oppose the constitution while it was depending; +second, with a desire not to pay the public debt; third, with setting up +a paper to decry and slander the government. Jefferson pronounced all +these charges false. He declared that no man approved of more of the +constitution than himself--vastly more than Hamilton did; and that he +was ever anxious to pay the public debt. "This," he said, "makes exactly +the difference between Colonel Hamilton's views and my own. I would wish +the debt paid to-morrow; he wishes it never to be paid, but always to be +a thing wherewith to corrupt and manage the legislature." + +Mr. Jefferson acknowledged that he favored the establishment of +Freneau's newspaper for reasons already alluded to,[38] because he +thought juster views of European affairs might be obtained through +publications from the _Leyden Gazette_ than any other foreign source. + +"On the establishment of his paper," said Mr. Jefferson, "I furnished +him with the _Leyden Gazettes_, with an expression of my wish that he +would always translate and publish the material intelligence they +contained; and I continued to furnish them from time to time, as +regularly as I received them. But as to any other direction or +indication of my wish, how his press should be conducted, what sort +of intelligence he should give, what essays encourage, I can protest, +in the presence of Heaven, that I never did by myself or any other, +directly or indirectly, write, dictate, or procure any one sentiment +or sentence to be inserted _in his or any other gazette_, to which my +name was not affixed, or that of my office." + +While Jefferson avowed his desire for harmony in the cabinet, he felt +the lash of Hamilton too keenly to accept reconciliation with him. He +avowed his intention to retire from his office at the close of the +president's term; and intimating an intention to make an appeal to the +country over his own signature, he said: "To a thorough disregard of the +honors and emoluments of office I join as great a value for the esteem +of my countrymen; and conscious of having merited it by an integrity +which can not be reproached, and by an enthusiastic devotion to their +rights and liberty, I will not suffer my retirement to be clouded by the +slanders of a man whose history, from the moment at which history can +stoop to notice him, is a tissue of machinations against the liberty of +the country which has not only received and given him bread, but heaped +its honors on his head."[39] + +The spirit of Jefferson's letter afforded Washington no hope for +reconciliation between the secretaries. The contrast between his and +Hamilton's was remarkable. Hamilton held affectionate, courteous, +forbearing, and patriotic language toward the president; Jefferson's +exhibited much of the opposite qualities; and his implacable hatred of +the man whom he had scourged into active retaliation is very marked. It +gave Washington great pain, for he had the highest esteem for the +contestants. + +At that time there were grave reasons why officers of the cabinet +should for the moment forget personal difficulties, and come as a unit +to the aid of the president. There were signs of disorder, and violence, +and serious insurrection in the land. The excise law enacted in 1791, +and modified and made less offensive during the last session of +Congress, was yet vehemently opposed in some parts of the country. In +western Pennsylvania, in particular, hostility to it had become the +sentiment of an organized party, and combinations were formed to prevent +the execution of it. A public meeting was held at Pittsburgh on the +twenty-first of August, at which resolutions were adopted disapproving +of the law, and appointing a committee to correspond with other +committees in different parts of the Union on the subject. It was really +a rebellious movement, as the temper of their closing resolution +indicated.[40] + +Information of these proceedings having reached the secretary of the +treasury, he sent to the president all necessary papers on the subject +for his information, assuring him that he should submit to the +attorney-general the question whether the persons composing the meeting +at Pittsburgh had not committed an indictable offence. He gave it as his +opinion that it was expedient to exert the full form of the law against +the offenders. "If this is not done," he said, "the spirit of +disobedience will naturally extend, and the authority of the government +will be prostrated. Moderation enough has been shown: it is time to +assume a different tune." In subsequent letters he recommends the +issuing of a proclamation on the subject by the president, and sent a +draft of one to Washington. The president approved the measure, +submitted it to Jefferson, and on the fifteenth of September he issued a +proclamation, countersigned by the secretary of state, in which he +warned all persons to desist from such unlawful combinations and +proceedings, and requiring all courts, magistrates, and officers to +bring the offenders to justice. Copies of this proclamation were sent to +the governor of Pennsylvania, and also to the chief magistrates of North +and South Carolina, where a similar defiance of law has been manifested. + +In this matter Washington proceeded with great prudence and caution. He +felt indignant at the great outrage thus offered to the government, but +was unwilling to employ force while more peaceful measures were left +untried. "I have no doubt," he said, "the proclamation will undergo many +strictures; and, as the effect proposed may not be answered by it, it +will be necessary to look forward in time to ulterior arrangements:" +that is to say, the employment of regular troops as a last resort. + +As Washington intimated it might not, the proclamation produced no +salutary effect. Too many of the civil magistrates themselves were +concerned in the insurrectionary movements, and the few who were not +were totally incapable of maintaining the sovereignty of the laws. With +moderation the government instituted legal proceedings against the +offenders; liquors distilled in the rebellious counties were seized on +their way to market by revenue officers; and the agents of the army were +directed to purchase only those spirits upon which a duty had been paid. +Having their interests thus touched, the manufacturers of liquors would +gladly have complied with the laws, but the people would not allow them. +Subsequently, more serious defiance of the laws in western Pennsylvania +compelled the president to order a military force into that region. This +we will consider hereafter. + +At the middle of October, Washington made another and last effort to +restore peace to his cabinet. Jefferson had recently returned to +Philadelphia, and his first care was to forward to the president +extracts from his letter written while the adoption of the constitution +was pending, Washington wrote to him on the eighteenth, and said: "I did +not require the evidence of the extracts, which you enclosed to me, to +convince me of your attachment to the constitution of the United States, +or of your disposition to promote the general welfare of this country: +but I regret, deeply regret, the difference in opinions which have +divided you and another principal officer of the government, and I wish +devoutly there would be an accommodation of them by mutual yieldings. + +"A measure of this sort would produce harmony and consequent good in our +public councils. The contrary will inevitably introduce confusion and +serious mischiefs--and for what? Because mankind can not think alike, +but would adopt different means to attain the same end. For I will +frankly and solemnly declare, that I believe the views of both of you to +be pure and well meant, and that experience only will decide with +respect to the salutariness of the measures which are the subjects of +dispute. Why, then, when some of the best citizens in the United +States--men of discernment, uniform and tried patriots, who have no +sinister views to promote, but are chaste in their ways of thinking and +acting--are to be found some on one side and some on the other of the +questions which have caused these agitations, should either of you be so +tenacious of your opinions as to make no allowances for those of the +other? I could, and indeed was about to, add more on this interesting +subject, but will forbear, at least for the present, after expressing a +wish that the cup which has been presented to us may not be snatched +from our lips by a discordance of action, when I am persuaded there is +no discordance in your views. I have a great, a sincere esteem and +regard for you both, and ardently wish that some line may be marked out +by which both of you could walk." + +Washington's efforts were unavailing. The breach between Hamilton and +Jefferson was too wide and deep to be healed, and the president +determined to check, as much as possible, if he could not control their +hostility. In one thing, however, these men, sincere patriots at heart, +perfectly agreed, namely, a desire that Washington should consent to a +re-election. As we have already observed, such being the universal wish +of the people, Washington reluctantly consented, and he was again chosen +president of the United States by a unanimous vote of the electoral +college. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[38] See page 198 + +[39] For the correspondence in full, see Hamilton's Works, volume iv; +Sparks's Life and Writings of Washington, volume x; Randall's Life of +Jefferson, volume ii. + +[40] The following is the resolution referred to: "That, whereas some +men may be found amongst us, so far lost to every sense of virtue and +feeling for the distresses of this country as to accept offices for the +collection of the duty: _Resolved_, that in future we will consider such +persons as unworthy of our friendship, have no intercourse or dealings +with them, withdraw from them every assistance, withhold all the +comforts of life which depend upon those duties that as men and +fellow-citizens we owe to each other, and upon all occasions treat them +with that contempt they deserve; and that it be, and is hereby, most +earnestly recommended to the people at large to follow the same line of +conduct toward them." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES--EUROPE AND THE UNITED + STATES--THE FEDERALISTS A CONSERVATIVE PARTY--ASPECT OF THE FRENCH + REVOLUTION--WASHINGTON DOUBTS ITS SUCCESS--INCREASE OF THE + REPUBLICAN PARTY--WASHINGTON'S RE-ELECTION--GOUVERNEUR MORRIS IN + FRANCE--OTHER MINISTERS--GLOOMY FOREBODINGS--JEFFERSON'S + IMPATIENCE--TROUBLES OF THE FRENCH KING--LAFAYETTE IN + DIFFICULTY--TUILLERIES ATTACKED AND THE KING DETHRONED--REIGN OF + TERROR--LAFAYETTE'S FLIGHT, ARREST, AND IMPRISONMENT--BLOODY WORK IN + PARIS--JEFFERSON JUSTIFIES THE JACOBINS--WASHINGTON'S SYMPATHY FOR + LAFAYETTE'S FAMILY--APPEAL OF THE MARCHIONESS--WASHINGTON POWERLESS + TO AID. + + +The foreign relations of the United States were at this time peculiar +and somewhat anomalous. Popular sentiment, the expression of the +sovereignty of the nation, was mixed in character and yet crude in form, +and it was difficult to discern precisely in what relation it stood to +the disturbed nationalities of Europe. Separated from the old world by a +vast ocean, the public mind here was not so immediately and powerfully +acted upon by passing events as it would have been, if only an imaginary +line of political demarcation had been drawn between the new republic +and convulsed communities; and its manifestations were less +demonstrative than implied. + +All Europe was effervescing with antagonistic ideas; and the wisest and +the best men in the old world stood in wonder and awe in the midst of +the upheaval of social and political systems that were hoary with age, +and apparently as settled in their places as the oceans and continents. +France, the old ally and friend of the United States, was the centre of +the volcanic force that was shaking the nations; and with instinctive +motion the potentates, alarmed for the stability of their thrones, had +assumed the attitude of implacable enemies to the new power that was +bearing rule in that kingdom. As the car of revolution rolled onward, +carrying King Louis to the scaffold, they felt the hot breath of +avenging justice upon their own foreheads, and they called out their +legions for defence and to utter a solemn and effective protest. The +people were awed in the presence of gleaming bayonets. In the autumn of +1792, nearly all Europe was in arms against France. + +In the United States, where revolution had done its work nobly and +wisely, and the experiment of self-government was working successfully, +sympathy for the struggling people of France and of all Europe was +powerful and untrammelled. Without inquiry, it cheered on the patriots +of France, with Lafayette at their head, when they were struggling for a +constitution; and when it was gained, and the king accepted it, great +satisfaction was felt by every American citizen in whose bosom glowed +the love of freedom for its own sake. With this feeling was mingled a +dislike of Great Britain; first, because the remembrance of her +oppression and her warfare against the independence of the United States +were fresh in the minds of the American people; secondly, because her +government yet refused compliance with the terms of a solemn treaty made +ten years before; and, thirdly, because her attitude was hostile to the +republican movement in France. Thus old alliances and old hatreds, and a +desire to see all people free, made those of the United States +sympathize strongly with those of France in their revolutionary +movements, and to hate the enemies of that nation in its avowed struggle +for liberty. + +But there were wise, and prudent, and thoughtful men in the United +States, who had made the science of government a study, and human nature +their daily reading, who perceived principles of self-destruction in the +French constitution. They saw its want of balances, and the course of +the representatives under it, which must inevitably allow the gallery to +rule the legislature, and mobs to give color to the opinions of the +executive. They clearly perceived, what Lafayette and his compatriots +had already deeply lamented, that the true elements of self-government +did not belong to the French nation; that with liberty they were rapidly +degenerating into licentiousness; and that the constitution must prove +as powerless as a rope of sand in restraining the passions of the +people. And some of them, as we have seen, who wrote or spoke in favor +of a well-balanced and potent government were branded by ungenerous men +as the advocates of royalty and aristocracy, and held up to the people +as traitors to republicanism, and fit subjects for the finger of scorn +to point at. They were charged with blind prejudice in favor of British +institutions, and as conspirators for the re-establishment of British +rule in America. But the conservative or federal party, as they were +called, were more powerful if not so numerous as their opponents; and +when Europe armed against the old ally of the United States, the +government of the latter, professedly representing the popular +sentiment, was so restrained by the wise caution of those who held the +sceptre of political power, that it presented the anomalous character of +a warm-hearted, deeply-sympathizing champion of freedom, apparently in +the ranks of the enemies of liberty. + +Washington had hailed with satisfaction the dawn of popular liberty in +France, and earnestly desired the success of those who were working for +the establishment of republicanism there; but his wisdom and sagacity +evidently made him doubtful of their success, even from the beginning. +In the course of his correspondence, we find him often expressing +earnest _wishes_ for the happy results concerning which Lafayette had +dreamed so fondly, but he never expressed a _hope_, because he never +felt it; and when, in the summer and autumn of 1792, the Revolution in +France assumed a bloody and ferocious character, and the noble goal +toward which his friend the marquis had so enthusiastically pressed was +utterly lost sight of in the midst of the lurid smoke of a +self-constituted tyranny, as bad in feature and act as the foulest on +history's records, he was disgusted, and with the conservative party, +then fortunately holding the reins of executive and legislative power, +he resolved that the government of the United States should stand aloof +from all entanglements with European politics. + +The doctrines of Jefferson and his party, having sympathy with the +French Revolution and enmity to Great Britain among its prime elements, +was rapidly gaining ground in the United States, because the avowed +principles of that party were in accordance with the proclivities of the +great mass of the people, who were moved by passion rather than by +reason. Yet that very people, although aware of the sentiments of +Washington and his supporters in the government, re-elected him by +unanimous voice, thereby showing their great love for, and unbounded +confidence in, the man of men. John Adams, who was again a candidate for +the vice-presidency, was opposed by Governor George Clinton of New York, +and was elected by not a large majority. He received in the electoral +college seventy votes, and Clinton fifty. The Kentucky electors voted +for Jefferson for the same office, and one vote was cast by a South +Carolina delegate for Aaron Burr. + +We have just hinted at the progress of violence in France in the autumn +of 1792. Let us take a nearer view for a moment; for such scrutiny is +necessary to the elucidation of political events in the United States a +few months later. + +Gouverneur Morris, who, as we have seen, was sent on a semi-official +embassy to England, was appointed full minister at the French court, +after Jefferson's retirement from that post. Mr. Morris was a +federalist, and his appointment was not pleasant to Mr. Jefferson and +his political friends. With Morris's commission, the president wrote a +friendly, and at the same time admonitory, letter to the new minister. +He frankly enumerated all the objections that had been made to his +appointment, and intimated that he thought the charge of his being a +favorite with the aristocracy in France, and anti-republican in his +sentiments, especially as regarded the French Revolution, were too well +founded upon the tenor of his conduct. "Not to go further into detail," +he said, "I will place the ideas of your political adversaries in the +light in which their arguments have presented them to me, namely: that +the promptitude with which your lively and brilliant imagination +displays itself allows too little time for deliberation and correction, +and is the primary cause of those sallies which too often offend, and of +that ridicule of character which begets enmity not easy to be +forgotten, but which might easily be avoided if it were under the +control of more caution and prudence. In a word, that it is +indispensably necessary that more circumspection should be observed by +our representatives abroad than they conceive you are inclined to adopt. +In this statement you have the _pros_ and _cons_. By reciting them I +give you a proof of my friendship, if I give none of my policy or +judgment. I do it on the presumption that a mind conscious of its own +rectitude fears not what is said of it, but will bid defiance to shafts, +that are not baited with accusations against honor or integrity. Of my +good opinion and of my friendship and regard you may be assured." + +Count de Moustier had been succeeded as French minister to the United +States by M. Ternant, a more agreeable gentleman; and diplomatic +intercourse had been opened with Great Britain, by the arrival of Mr. +Hammond as minister plenipotentiary of that government, in the previous +autumn, and the appointment, on the part of the United States, of Thomas +Pinckney, of South Carolina, as minister to the court of St. James. Mr. +Hammond was the first minister Great Britain had deigned to send to the +United States, and John Adams was the only person who had been sent in +the same capacity from his government to the British court. For some +years there had been no diplomatic intercourse between the two +countries. + +Mr. Morris arrived in Paris, in May, 1792, and on the second of June he +was introduced to the king and queen. Two days afterward he presented a +letter from the president to his majesty--a letter which, according to +Morris, gave several members of the _corps diplomatique_ a high idea of +Washington's wisdom. "It is not relished by the democrats," Morris wrote +to the president, "who particularly dislike the term '_your people_;' +but it suits well the prevailing temper, which is monarchical." Mr. +Morris was very active in his duties there; and while he communicated +officially to Jefferson and Hamilton everything necessary for them to +know, he kept Washington constantly apprized, by both public and private +letters, of the true state of affairs in France, His accounts revealed +shocking scenes of anarchy and licentiousness in the French capital. He +truly represented that Lafayette, in endeavoring to check excesses, had +lost his popularity. "Were he to appear just now in Paris," he wrote, +"unattended by his army, he would be torn to pieces." These tidings gave +Washington great concern; while Jefferson, because of the gloomy future +which these letters foreshadowed and the unfavorable commentary which +they made upon the French Revolution, was very impatient. With his blind +devotion to democracy, and his ungenerous judgment concerning all who +differed from him, he spoke of Morris as "a high-flying monarchy man, +shutting his eyes and his faith to every fact against his wishes, and +believing everything he desired to be true," and keeping the president's +mind "constantly poisoned with his forebodings." + +Almost the next vessel from Europe rebuked these unfair expressions, by +confirming the most gloomy anticipations of Morris. Anarchy had seized +upon unhappy France. From the head of his army at Maubeuge, Lafayette +had sent a letter to the National Assembly, denouncing in unmeasured +terms the conduct of the Jacobin club as inimical to the king and +constitution; but it was of no avail. Day after day the disorder in the +capital increased; and on the twentieth of June the populace, one +hundred thousand in number, professedly incensed because the king had +refused to sanction a decree of the National Assembly against the +priesthood, and another for the establishment of a camp of twenty +thousand men near Paris, marched to the Tuilleries with pikes, swords, +muskets, and artillery, and demanded entrance. The gates were finally +thrown open, and at least forty thousand armed men went through the +palace and compelled the king, in the presence of his family, to put the +_bonnet rouge_, or red cap of liberty, upon his head. + +Hearing of these movements, Lafayette hastened to Paris, presented +himself at the bar of the National Assembly, and in the name of the army +demanded the punishment of those who had thus insulted the king in his +palace and violated the constitution. But he was powerless. A party had +determined to abolish royalty. On the third of August, _Pelion_, in the +Assembly, demanded that the king should be excluded from the throne. +The unhappy monarch, perceiving the destructive storm that was +impending, endeavored on the sixth to escape from the Tuilleries in the +garb of a peasant. He was discovered by a sentinel, and all Paris was +thrown into the greatest commotion. Two days afterward the Assembly, by +a handsome majority, acquitted Lafayette of serious charges made against +him by the Jacobins. The populace were dissatisfied, and, as they could +not touch the general, they determined that the king whom he supported +should be deposed. Members of the assembly who had voted in favor of +Lafayette were insulted by armed men who surrounded the legislative +hall; and the national legislature declared their sitting permanent +until order should be restored. + +At midnight on the ninth of August the tocsin was sounded in every +quarter, and the _generale_ was beat. Early the next morning the +Tuilleries were attacked by the populace, and the king and his family, +attended by the Swiss guard, fled for protection to the National +Assembly. In the conflict that ensued nearly every man of that guard was +butchered, and the National Assembly decreed the suspension of the +king's authority. + +Monarchy in France was now overthrown, and with it fell Lafayette and +the constitutional party. All were involved in one common ruin. The +Jacobins denounced the marquis in the National Assembly, procured a +decree for his arrest, and sent emissaries to seize him. Then the Reign +of Terror was inaugurated. + +At first Lafayette resolved to go to Paris and boldly confront his +accusers. It would have been madness. He perceived it, and, yielding to +the force of circumstances, set off from his camp at Sedan, with a few +faithful friends, to seek a temporary asylum in Holland until he could +make his way to the United States. But he and his companions were first +detained at Rochefort, the first Austrian post, and afterward cast into +a dungeon at Olmutz. + +When intelligence of these events reached Washington he was greatly +shocked, and the sad fate of his friend grieved him sorely. Every +arrival from Europe brought tidings still more dreadful than the last. +"We have had a week of unchecked murders," Morris wrote to Jefferson on +the tenth of September, "in which some thousands have perished in this +city. It began with two or three hundred of the clergy, who had been +shut up because they would not take the oaths prescribed by the law, and +which they said were contrary to their conscience. Thence _these +executors of speedy justice_ went to the _Abbaye_, where the persons +were confined who were at court on the tenth of August. These were +despatched also, and afterward they visited the other prisons. All those +who were confined either on the accusation or suspicion of crimes were +destroyed." + +Morris then detailed other horrors; yet Mr. Jefferson, looking upon the +whole movement against monarchy and aristocracy as essentially right, +and based upon the same principles as that of the American Revolution, +persisted in regarding the Jacobins, who were the chief promoters of +these bloody deeds, and who had laid violent hands on the constitution +and its supporters, as "republican patriots." He was shocked, but was +neither disappointed nor very sorrowful. He looked upon the whole affair +as an indispensable struggle of freemen in the abolition of monarchy and +all its prerogatives and injustice; and he deplored the death of the +innocent who had fallen, but only as he should have done "had they +fallen in battle." "The liberty of the whole earth," he said, "was +depending on the issue of the contest; and was ever such a prize won +with so little innocent blood? My own affections have been deeply +wounded by some of the martyrs to this cause," he continued; "but rather +than that it should have failed, I would have seen half the earth +desolated. Were there but an Adam and Eve left in every country, and +left free, it would have been better than it now is." + +When fully assured of Lafayette's fate, Washington felt an ardent desire +to befriend his family, consisting of his wife and young children. He +knew that their situation, in the raging storm, must be dreadful at the +best; and on the first information of their probable residence, at the +close of January, 1793, he addressed the following letter to the +marchioness:-- + + "If I had words that could convey to you an adequate idea of my + feelings on the present situation of the Marquis de Lafayette, + this letter would appear to you in a different garb. The sole + object in writing to you now is, to inform you that I have + deposited in the hands of Mr. Nicholas Van Staphorst, of Amsterdam, + two thousand three hundred and ten guilders, Holland currency, + equal to two hundred guineas, subject to your orders. + + "This sum is, I am certain, the least I am indebted for services + rendered to me by the Marquis de Lafayette, of which I never yet + have received the account. I could add much; but it is best, + perhaps, that I should say little on this subject. Your goodness + will supply my deficiency. + + "The uncertainty of your situation, after all the inquiries I have + made, has occasioned a delay in this address and remittance; and, + even now, the measure adopted is more the effect of a desire to + find where you are, than from any knowledge I have obtained of your + residence." + +Soon after this letter was despatched, Washington received one from the +marchioness, dated at Chavaniac on the eighth of October, 1792, which +came by the way of England. It was accompanied by a letter from an +English farmer who had resided several months in the family of +Lafayette, in which, speaking of the marchioness, he said: "Her present +situation is truly affecting; separated from her husband without the +means of hearing from him, herself in captivity under the safeguard of +the municipality, she is anxiously expecting the decision of his and her +own destiny. Under these circumstances, she relies on your influence to +adopt such measures as may effectuate their mutual freedom." + +The marchioness was then a prisoner, in utter ignorance of the real fate +of her husband. She had been commanded by the Jacobins to repair to +Paris about the time when the attack was made upon the Tuilleries and +the destruction of the Swiss guard; but they subsequently allowed her to +reside at the place from which her letter was dated. In that letter she +made a solemn appeal to Washington and the nation to aid her in +procuring the liberty of her husband. "He was taken by the troops of the +emperor," she said, "although the king of Prussia retains him a prisoner +in his dominions. And while he suffers this inconceivable persecution +from the enemies without, the faction which reigns within keeps me a +hostage at one hundred and twenty leagues from the capital. Judge, then, +at what distance I am from him. In this abyss of misery, the idea of +owing to the United States and to Washington the life and liberty of M. +de Lafayette kindles a ray of hope in my heart. I hope everything from +the goodness of the people with whom he has set an example of that +liberty of which he is now made the victim. And shall I dare speak what +I hope? I would ask of them through you for an envoy, who shall go to +reclaim him in the name of the republic of the United States wheresoever +he may be found, and who shall be authorized to make, with the power in +whose charge he may be placed, all necessary engagements for his +release, and for taking him to the United States, even if he is there to +be guarded as a captive. If his wife and his children could be comprised +in this mission, it is easy to judge how happy it would be for her and +for them; but if this would in the least degree retard or embarrass the +measure, we will defer still longer the happiness of a reunion. May +Heaven deign to bless the confidence with which it has inspired me! I +hope my request is not a rash one." + +Washington was powerless to aid his friend. His heart yearned to do so, +but there were no means that, in the then political condition of Europe, +could be used with any hope of success, except giving unofficial +instructions to American ministers abroad to make every effort in their +power to procure his release, and this was done. "The United States," +says Sparks, "had neither authority to make _demands_, nor power to +enforce them. They had no immediate intercourse with Prussia or Austria, +and were in no condition to ask the favors or avenge the tyranny of the +rulers of those countries, who were only responsible for the treatment +of Lafayette, and whose pleasure it was, if not their policy and +interest, to keep him in chains." + +The whole matter was very painful to Washington, especially as a great +delay in his letter made the marchioness feel that she was neglected by +her husband's dearest friend, and that husband deserted by the nation +for whose freedom he had so nobly fought. Referring to a former letter, +she said:-- + + "Has this letter reached you? Was it necessary that it should + arrive to excite your interest? I can not believe it. But I confess + that your silence, and the abandonment of M. de Lafayette and his + family for the last six months, are of all our evils the most + inexplicable to me." Then assuring Washington that the fate of her + husband was in a measure in the hands of the president and + government of the United States, and that she, not allowed to have + any communication with him, could do nothing for him, she said, "I + will only add that my confidence in General Washington, though + severely tried, remains firm, and that I dare make to him a tender + of my homage, and of my high esteem of his character." + +Although Lafayette was a citizen of the United States, an American +officer, and no more in the French service, his adopted government could +do nothing effectual in his behalf, and for three years he lay in the +dungeon at Olmutz. His wife and daughter were permitted to share his +dungeon life; and finally his eldest son, bearing the name of +Washington, came to seek an asylum in the United States. His reception +here we shall consider hereafter. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + CLOUDS GATHERING--JEALOUSY OF EXECUTIVE INFLUENCE--ANGRY PARTY + DEBATES--CALLS FOR INFORMATION RESPECTING FINANCIAL + AFFAIRS--HAMILTON CHARGED WITH BEING A DEFAULTER--HIS REPLY AND THE + RESULT--VENERATION FOR WASHINGTON TOUCHED BY PARTY RANCOR--FORMS TO + BE OBSERVED AT HIS SECOND INAUGURATION--THE CEREMONY--ACCOUNT BY AN + EYE-WITNESS--WASHINGTON CALLED TO MOUNT VERNON--DEATH OF HIS + NEPHEW--INTELLIGENCE OF DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST ENGLAND BY + FRANCE--OF THE DEATH OF KING LOUIS--EXCITEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES + IN FAVOR OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONISTS--POPULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF + SYMPATHY IN BOSTON AND ELSEWHERE--DANGEROUS TENDENCY OF THAT + SYMPATHY--CITIZEN GENET AND HIS MISSION--WASHINGTON HASTENS BACK TO + PHILADELPHIA--CABINET COUNCIL--PROCLAMATION OF + NEUTRALITY--OPPOSITION TO THE MEASURE. + + +When the last session of the second Congress commenced in Philadelphia +on the fifth of November, 1792, ominous clouds were gathering in the +political horizon, which gave Washington many apprehensions of an +impending storm. Party spirit was growing more and more violent; war +with the Indians in the Northwest was progressing; discontents with the +operations of the excise laws were assuming alarming aspects; the +attitude of the European governments brought serious questions to those +who controlled public affairs in the United States; and the cabinet, +where unity of feeling was necessary in order to counsel the president +well, was yet torn by dissentions, with no prospect of their being +healed. + +There was much apparent good feeling among the members of Congress when +they first met, but action upon public business soon aroused party +spirit in all its rancor. It was first summoned from its sleep by a +motion for the secretaries of war and of the treasury to attend the +house, and give such information as they might possess concerning the +conduct of the Indian war in the Northwest, with which there was much +public dissatisfaction. This proposition raised a cry of alarm from +those in the house opposed to the administration. It was resisted as +unconstitutional, and threatening to subject the house to executive +influence that might be dangerous--that heads of departments would +control the legislature. + +A motion to refer the portion of the president's message relating to the +redemption of the public debt to the secretary of the treasury, to +report a plan, called forth still more angry opposition, and Jefferson's +charges of corruption were heard on every side. The secretary of the +treasury was violently assailed; and dark insinuations were made that +members of the house were implicated with Hamilton in dishonest +proceedings in relation to the assumption of state debts, the operation +of the Indian war, etc. And when Hamilton, in his report, offered a +scheme for the redemption of the public debt that effectually silenced +the clamors of his enemies, who had insisted that he regarded that debt +as a public blessing and meant to fix it upon the country as an incubus, +they changed their plans of opposition. + +They called upon the president first for particular information as to +the several sums of money borrowed by his authority, the terms of the +loans, and the application of the money. These questions being +explicitly answered, another call was made by an unscrupulous member of +the opposition, from Virginia, for more minute information upon +financial matters. He made an elaborate speech in presenting the motion, +in which, in effect, he charged the secretary of the treasury with being +a defaulter to the amount of a million and a half of dollars! Other +charges having a similar bearing upon the integrity of Hamilton were +made, and the administration was most foully aspersed. The +speaker--acting, it was believed, under the influence of his superiors +in office--based his charges upon the letter of returns and other +treasury statements. + +These charges were met by Hamilton in a calm and dignified report, which +ought to have disarmed malignity and made implacable party spirit hide +its head in shame. It was baffled for a moment, but not dismayed; and, +selecting points in the secretary's management of the financial +concerns of the government, the accuser already alluded to proceeded to +frame nine resolutions of censure, for which he asked the vote of the +house. The result was, says a careful and candid historian, "much to +raise the character of the secretary of the treasury, by convincing the +great body of impartial men, capable of understanding the subject, that, +both as regarded talent and integrity, he was admirably qualified for +his office, and that the multiplied charges against him had been +engendered by envy, suspicion, and ignorance."[41] + +Up to this time, the opposition had not ventured to show any disrespect +to Washington. He had wisely avoided assuming in any degree the +character of a leader of a party, and had labored with conscientious +zeal for the public good, without the least regard to private +friendships, or with feelings of enmity toward personal friends who had +deserted his administration. Madison was now a leader of the opposition, +yet Washington esteemed him none the less, because he believed him to be +honest and patriotic. + +But now, party rancor was gradually usurping the place of that +veneration which every man felt for the character of Washington; and +that jealousy of everything aristocratic in fact or appearance which was +at that moment inaugurating a republic in France, with a baptism of +blood, hesitated not to show personal disrespect to the president. The +people in different parts of the Union, with spontaneous affection, +prepared to celebrate the birthday of Washington on the twenty-second of +February, 1793, with balls, parties, visits of congratulation, etc. Many +members of Congress were desirous of waiting upon the president, in +testimony of their respect for the chief magistrate of the republic, and +a motion was made to adjourn for half an hour for that purpose, when +quite an acrimonious debate ensued. The opposition, with real or feigned +alarm, denounced the proposition as a species of homage unworthy of +republicans; a tendency to monarchy; the setting up of an idol for +hero-worship, dangerous to the liberties of the nation! Freneau's paper +condemned the birthday celebration; and in view of the great dangers to +which the republic was exposed by the monarchical bias of many leading +men, a New Jersey member of the republican party in the house moved that +the mace carried by the marshall on state occasions--"an unmeaning +symbol, unworthy the dignity of a republican government"--be sent to the +mint, broken up, and the silver coined and placed in the treasury. The +peculiar state of public feeling at that time, irritated by prophets of +evil, affords a reasonable excuse for these jealousies. + +Washington was not unmindful of these signs, and the necessity of paying +due respect even to the prejudices of the people; and as the time for +his second inauguration was drawing near, he asked the opinions of his +cabinet concerning the forms to be used on that occasion. Jefferson and +Hamilton proposed that he should take the oath of office privately at +his own house, a certificate of the fact to be deposited in the state +department. Knox and Randolph proposed to have the ceremony in public, +but without any ostentatious display. Washington's opinion coincided +with the latter; and at a cabinet meeting held on the first of March, +Mr. Jefferson being the only absentee, it was agreed that the oath +should be administered by Judge Cushing, of the supreme court of the +United States, in public, in the senate chamber, on the fourth of the +month, at twelve o'clock at noon, and that the "president go without +form, attended by such gentlemen as he shall choose, and return without +form except that he be preceded by the marshall." + +Accordingly, a little before twelve o'clock, the president rode from his +residence to the Congress hall in his cream-colored coach drawn by six +horses, preceded by the marshall, as proposed, and accompanied by a +great concourse of citizens, and took the oath in the senate chamber. +The heads of departments, foreign ministers, members of Congress, and as +many spectators as could find room in the apartment, were present. +Previous to the administration of the oath by Judge Cushing, Washington +arose and said:-- + + "Fellow-citizens: I am again called upon by the voice of my country + to execute the functions of its chief magistrate. When the occasion + proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high + sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the + confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of the United + States of America. Previous to the execution of any official act of + the president, the constitution requires an oath of office. This + oath I am now about to take, and in your presence; that if it shall + be found, during my administration of the government, I have in any + instance violated, willingly or knowingly, the injunction thereof, + I may, besides incurring constitutional punishment, be subject to + the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn + ceremony." + +The oath was then administered, and the president returned to his +residence as he came.[42] + +It was with sincere reluctance that Washington entered upon the duties +of the office of chief magistrate of the nation for a second term. "To +you," he said in a letter to Colonel Humphreys (then abroad) soon after +his inauguration--"To you, who know my love of retirement and domestic +life, it is unnecessary to say, that in accepting this reappointment I +relinquish those personal enjoyments to which I am peculiarly attached. +The motives which induced my acceptance are the same which ever ruled my +decision when the public desire--or, as my countrymen are pleased to +denominate it, the _public good_--was placed in the scale against my +personal enjoyments and private interest. The latter I have ever +considered as subservient to the former; and perhaps in no instance of +my life have I been more sensible of the sacrifice than at the present; +for at my age the love of retirement grows every day more and more +powerful, and the death of my nephew will, I apprehend, cause my private +concerns to suffer very much."[43] + +On account of this death, Washington made a hurried visit to Mount +Vernon in April, and while there the important intelligence reached him +that France had declared war against England and Holland, an event which +prophesied a general European war. Almost simultaneously with this +intelligence came that of the execution of King Louis, by order of the +National Convention of France. The king, who had been a mere +shuttle-cock of faction for two years, was beheaded on the twenty-first +of January, with circumstances of brutality which make humanity shudder. +His death had been long predestinated by the ferocious men who ruled +France, and, to accomplish it with a semblance of justice, he had been +accused of crimes of which he was utterly innocent. Even at the last +moment, when standing before the implement of death, he was made to feel +the brutality of men in power. He looked complacently upon the vast +multitude who came to see him die, and was about to say a few words, +when the officer in charge, with ferocious emphasis, said, "_No +speeches! come, no speeches!_" and ordered the drums to be beaten and +the trumpets to be sounded. Louis was heard to say, "I forgive my +enemies; may God forgive them, and not lay my innocent blood to the +charge of the nation! God bless my people!" Thus perished a monarch, +patriotic and amiable, but too weak in intellectual and moral power to +control the terrible storm of popular vengeance which a long series of +abuses had engendered. + +For many months Washington had watched with great anxiety the +manifestations of public feeling in the United States while the bloody +work of the French Revolution was progressing. He saw with alarm the +spirit of that Revolution, so widely different from that which had +shaken off the fetters of kingly rule in America, working insidiously +into the constitution of the politics of the United States, and passion +assuming the control of reason in the minds of his people. This was +specially manifested by an outburst of popular feeling when the +proclamation of the French republic reached America, and news that +French arms had made a conquest of the Austrian Netherlands. Forgetting +the friendship of Holland during our war for independence, and the +spirit of genuine liberty (of which that, flaunting its bloody banners +in France, was but a ferocious caricature) which had prevailed in the +Netherlands and made it the asylum of the persecuted for conscience' +sake for centuries, the people of Boston and other places held a +celebration in honor of the temporary victory. In the New England +capital there was a grand barbecue. An ox was roasted whole, and then, +decorated and elevated upon a car drawn by sixteen horses, the flags of +France and the United States displayed from its horns, it was paraded +through the streets, followed by carts bearing sixteen hundred loaves of +bread and two hogsheads of punch. These were distributed among the +people; and at the same time a party of three hundred, with Samuel Adams +(lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts) at their head, assisted by the +French consul, sat down to dinner in Faneuil hall. To the children of +all the schools, who were paraded in the streets, cakes were presented +bearing the inscription, "_Liberty and Equality_." By public +subscription, the sums owed by prisoners for debt, in jail, were paid, +and the victims were set free. There was a general jubilee in Boston on +that barbecue day. + +With a similar spirit the news of the death of the king was hailed by +the leaders of the republican party in the United States; and when +intelligence of the French declaration of war against England went over +the land, a fervor of enthusiasm in favor of the old ally was awakened +which called loudly for compliance with the spirit and letter of the +treaty of 1778, by which the United States and France became allies in +peace and war. By that treaty the United States were bound to guarantee +the French possessions in America; and by a treaty of commerce executed +at the same time, French privateers and prizes were entitled to shelter +in the American ports, while those of the enemies of France should be +excluded. + +There was now a wide-spreading sentiment in favor of an active +participation with France, on the part of the United States, in her +struggles against armed Europe; and many, in the wild enthusiasm of the +moment, would not have hesitated an instant in precipitating our country +into a war. Indeed, for a while, the universal sentiment was a cheer for +republican France, whose Convention had declared, in the name of the +French nation, that they would grant fraternity and assistance to every +people who wished to recover their liberty; and they charged the +executive power to send the necessary orders to the generals "to give +assistance to such people, and to defend those citizens who may have +been, or who may be, vexed for the cause of liberty." + +Filled with the spirit of this declaration, and charged with the +performance of political functions seldom exercised by _diplomats_, +Edmund Charles Genet--"Citizen Genet," as he was termed in the new +nomenclature of the French republic--came to America at this time, as +the representative of that republic, to supersede the more conservative +M. Ternant. Genet was a man of culture, spoke the English language +fluently, possessed a pleasing address, was lively, frank, and +unguarded, and as fiery as the most intense Jacobins could wish. He +arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, on the eighth of April, five days +after the news of the French declaration of war reached New York. His +presence intensified the enthusiasm with which the country was then +glowing; and for a moment, until sober reason assumed the sceptre, all +opposition to the revolutionary sentiment was swept away by the tide of +popular zeal for a cause that seemed identical with that which secured +independence to the United States. "Is it wonderful," says the latest +biographer of Jefferson, "that American popular sympathy swelled to a +pitch of wild enthusiasm, when an emissary came from the new republic, +surrounded with its prestige; proclaiming wild, stirring doctrines; +declaring the unbounded affection of his country for the United States; +scorning the arts of old diplomacy, and mixing freely with the +democratic masses; not declining to talk of the important objects of his +mission in promiscuous assemblies of plain working men; and exhibiting +in his deportment that practical democracy, that fraternity, which men +in his position, of English blood, never exhibit?"[44] + +These events excited the deepest anxiety in the mind of Washington. He +had no confidence whatever in the men at the head of public affairs in +France--the self-constituted government of that unhappy nation. "Those +in whose hands the government is intrusted," he said in a letter to +Governor Lee, "are ready to tear each other to pieces, and will, more +than probably, prove the worst foes the country has." He deeply deplored +the wild enthusiasm which was threatening to involve his country in the +European war then kindling. "Unwise would we be in the extreme," he +wrote to Gouverneur Morris a month before, "to involve ourselves in the +contests of European nations, where our weight would be but small, +though the loss to ourselves would be certain." With such views +Washington hastened back to Philadelphia; for he foresaw the necessity +for announcing the disposition of his country toward the belligerent +powers, and the propriety of restraining as far as possible his +fellow-citizens from taking part in the contest. He immediately +despatched an express to Philadelphia with the following letter to Mr. +Jefferson, the secretary of state:-- + + "Your letter of the seventh was brought to me by the last post. War + having actually commenced between France and Great Britain, it + behooves the government of this country to use every means in its + power to prevent the citizens thereof from embroiling us with + either of those powers, by endeavoring to maintain a strict + neutrality. I therefore require that you will give the subject + mature consideration, that such measures as shall be deemed most + likely to effect this desirable purpose may be adopted without + delay; for I have understood that vessels are already designated as + privateers and are preparing accordingly. Such other measures as + may be necessary for us to pursue, against events which it may not + be in our power to avoid or control, you will also think of, and + lay them before me on my arrival in Philadelphia, for which place I + will set out to-morrow." + +Washington reached Philadelphia on the seventeenth, and on the +nineteenth held a cabinet council, having on the previous day submitted +to each member of his cabinet the following questions for their +consideration:-- + + "I. Shall a proclamation issue for the purpose of preventing + interferences of the citizens of the United States in the war + between France and Great Britain, etc.? Shall it contain a + declaration of neutrality, or not? What shall it contain? + + "II. Shall a minister from the republic of France be received? + + "III. If received, shall it be absolutely without qualifications; + and if with qualifications, of what kind? + + "IV. Are the United States obliged by good faith to consider the + treaties heretofore made with France as applying to the present + situation of the parties? May they either renounce them, or hold + them suspended till the government of France shall be + _established_? + + "V. If they have the right, is it expedient to do either, and which? + + "VI. If they have an option, would it be a breach of neutrality to + consider the treaties still in operation? + + "VII. If the treaties are to be considered as now in operation, is + the guaranty in the treaty of alliance applicable to a defensive + war only, or to war either offensive or defensive? + + "VIII. Does the war in which France is engaged appear to be + offensive or defensive on her part? or of a mixed and equivocal + character? + + "IX. If of a mixed and equivocal character, does the guaranty, in + any event, apply to such a war? + + "X. What is the effect of a guaranty such as that to be found in + the treaty of alliance between the United States and France? + + "XI. Does any article in either of the treaties prevent ships of + war, other than privateers, of the powers opposed to France, from + coming into the ports of the United States to act as convoys to + their own merchantmen? Or does it lay any other restraint upon them + more than would apply to the ships of war with France? + + "XII. Should the future regent of France send a minister to the + United States, ought he to be received? + + "XIII. Is it necessary or advisable to call together the two houses + of Congress, with a view to the present posture of European + affairs? If it is, what should be the _particular_ object of such a + call?"[45] + +The cabinet meeting to consider these questions was held at the +president's house. All the heads of departments and the attorney-general +were present; and after a protracted discussion, it was unanimously +determined that a proclamation should issue forbidding citizens of the +United States to take part in any hostilities on the seas, with or +against any of the belligerent powers, and warning them against carrying +to any such powers any of those articles deemed contraband according to +the modern usage of nations; and enjoining them from all acts and +proceedings inconsistent with the duties of a friendly nation toward +those at war. It was also unanimously agreed that a minister from the +republic of France should be received. The remaining questions were +postponed for further consideration. + +In the excited state of the public mind, and the proclivity of the +popular feeling toward sympathy with France, Washington's proclamation +met with the severest censures. Neither his unbounded popularity nor the +reverence for his character, as a wise, and honest, and patriotic man, +were proof against the operations of that feeling; and the proclamation +was assailed with the greatest vehemence. Every epithet in the +vocabulary of the opposition party was applied to it. It was stigmatized +as a royal edict, an unwarrantable and daring assumption of executive +power, and an open manifestation, of the president and his political +friends, of partiality for England and hostility to France. And it seems +fair to infer, from his letters at that time, that Mr. Jefferson, who +reluctantly voted in the cabinet for the proclamation, governed by his +almost fanatical hatred of Hamilton and his sympathy with the French +regicides, secretly promoted a feeling so hostile to the administration. + +The wisdom of the proclamation,[46] and the position of neutrality which +the government of the United States assumed at that time, was soon +apparent, and has been fully vindicated by the logic of subsequent +events. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[41] Hildreth's History of the United States, Second Series, i, 405. + +[42] An eye-witness of the scene when Washington read his annual message +to Congress has left a pleasant account of it on record. "As the +president alighted, and, ascending the steps, paused upon the platform, +looking over his shoulder, in an attitude that would have furnished an +admirable subject for the pencil, he was preceded by two gentlemen +bearing long white wands, who kept back the eager crowd that pressed on +every side to get a nearer view. At that moment I stood so near that I +might have touched his clothes; but I should as soon have thought of +touching an electric battery. I was penetrated with a veneration +amounting to the deepest awe. Nor was this the feeling of a schoolboy +only; it pervaded, I believe, every human being that approached +Washington; and I have been told that, even in his social and convivial +hours, this feeling, in those who were honored to share them, never +suffered intermission. I saw him a hundred times afterward, but never +with any other than that same feeling. The Almighty, who raised up for +our hour of need a man so peculiarly prepared for its whole dread +responsibility, seems to have put an impress of sacredness upon His own +instrument. The first sight of the man struck the heart with involuntary +homage, and prepared everything around him to obey. When he 'addressed +himself to speak,' there was an unconscious suspension of the breath, +while every eye was raised in expectation. + +"The president, having seated himself, remained in silence, serenely +contemplating the legislature before him, whose members now resumed +their seats, waiting for the speech. No house of worship, in the most +solemn pauses of devotion, was ever more profoundly still than that +large and crowded chamber. + +"Washington was dressed precisely as Stuart has painted him in Lord +Lansdowne's full-length portrait--in a full suit of the richest black +velvet, with diamond knee-buckles, and square silver buckles set upon +shoes japanned with the most scrupulous neatness, black silk stockings, +his shirt ruffled at the breast and wrists, a light dress-sword; his +hair profusely powdered, fully dressed, so as to project at the sides, +and gathered behind in a silk bag, ornamented with a large rose of black +riband. He held his cocked hat, which had a large black cockade on one +side of it, in his hand, as he advanced toward the chair, and when +seated, laid it on the table. + +"At length, thrusting his hand within the side of his coat, he drew +forth a roll of manuscript, which he opened, and rising held it in his +hand, while, in a rich, deep, full, sonorous voice, he read his opening +address to Congress. His enunciation was deliberate, justly emphasized, +very distinct, and accompanied with an air of deep solemnity, as being +the utterance of a mind profoundly impressed with the dignity of the act +in which it was occupied, conscious of the whole responsibility of its +position and action, but not oppressed by it." + +[43] This was George A. Washington, to whom had been intrusted the +management of affairs at Mount Vernon during the master's absence at the +seat of government. He was seized with alarming symptoms of pulmonary +disease early in 1792. He was greatly beloved by Washington, and his +sickness gave the president much pain, and was a frequent topic in +letters to his friends. To Lafayette he wrote as early as June, 1792:-- + + "I am afraid my nephew George, your old aid, will never have his + health perfectly re-established. He has lately been attacked with + the alarming symptoms of spitting large quantities of blood, and + the physicians give no hopes of restoration, unless it can be + effected by a change of air and a total dereliction from business, + to which he is too anxiously attentive. He will, if he should be + taken from his family and friends, leave three fine children, two + sons and a daughter. To the eldest of the boys he has given the + name of Fayette, and a fine-looking child he is." + +To General Knox he wrote:-- + + "I thank you most sincerely for the medicine you were so obliging + as to send for my nephew, and for the sympathetic feeling you + express for his situation. Poor fellow! neither, I believe, will be + of any avail. Present appearances indicate a speedy dissolution. He + has not been able to leave his bed, except for a few moments to sit + in an arm-chair, since the fourteenth or fifteenth of last month. + The paroxysm of the disorder seems to be upon him, and death, or a + favorable turn to it, must speedily follow." + +The sufferer was then residing upon a small estate in Hanover. He +lingered for several weeks, and then expired; and on the twenty-fourth +of February Washington wrote to his widow:-- + + "MY DEAR FANNY: To you, who so well knew the affectionate regard I + had for our departed friend, it is unnecessary to describe the + sorrow with which I was afflicted at the news of his death, + although it was an event I had expected many weeks before it + happened. To express this sorrow with the force I feel it, would + answer no other purpose than to revive in your breast that + poignancy of anguish, which by this time I hope is abated. The + object of this letter is to convey to your mind the warmest + assurance of my love, friendship, and disposition to serve you. + These I also profess to bear in an eminent degree for your + children." + +He then invites her to make Mount Vernon the home of herself and +children. "You can go to no place," he said, "where you will be more +welcome, nor to any where you can live at less expense or trouble." + +The young widow appears to have declined the offer of a home at Mount +Vernon, preferring to keep house in Alexandria, but offering to resign +the charge of her eldest son, Fayette, into Washington's keeping. In +March the president wrote to her, saying:-- + + "The carriage which I sent to Mount Vernon for your use I never + intended to reclaim; and now, making you a formal present of it, it + may be sent for whenever it suits your convenience and be + considered as your own. I shall, when I see you, request that + Fayette may be given up to me, either at that time or as soon after + as he is old enough to go to school. This will relieve you of that + portion of attention which his education would otherwise call + for."--_Mount Vernon and its Associations_, pages 264, 265. + +[44] _The Life of Thomas Jefferson_, by Henry S. Randall, LL.D., ii, 128. + +[45] Sparks's Washington, x, 533, 534. + +[46] The following is copy of the proclamation:-- + + "Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, + Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, on + the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and interest + of the United States require that they should, with sincerity and + good faith, adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial + toward the belligerent powers; + + "I have therefore thought fit by these presents to declare the + disposition of the United States to observe the conduct aforesaid + towards those powers respectively; and to exhort and warn the + citizens of the United States carefully to avoid all acts and + proceedings whatsoever, which may in any manner tend to contravene + such disposition. + + "And I do hereby also make known, that whosoever of the citizens of + the United States shall render himself liable to punishment or + forfeiture under the laws of nations, by committing, aiding, or + abetting hostilities against any of the said powers, or by carrying + to them any of those articles which are deemed contraband by the + modern usage of nations, will not receive the protection of the + United States against such punishment or forfeiture; and further, + that I have given instructions to those officers to whom it + belongs, to cause prosecutions to be instituted against all persons + who shall, within the cognizance of the courts of the United + States, violate the law of nations with respect to the powers at + war, or any of them. + + "In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States + of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same + with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia, the twenty-second + day of April, 1793, and of the independence of the United States + the seventeenth. + + "GEORGE WASHINGTON" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + GENET'S ARRIVAL AND RECEPTION AT CHARLESTON--HIS OBJECT IN LANDING + THERE--HE COMMISSIONS PRIVATEERS--OPERATIONS OF TWO VESSELS--ARRIVAL + OF _L'EMBUSCADE_ AT PHILADELPHIA--GENET'S RECEPTION AT + PHILADELPHIA--HE PRESENTS HIS CREDENTIALS--A BANQUET IN HIS + HONOR--DEMOCRATIC CLUBS--EXTRAVAGANCES--SCENES IN NEW + YORK--CONSERVATIVE FEELING TRIUMPHANT--HAMILTON'S VIEWS OF THE + FRENCH REVOLUTION--GENET'S SPEECH ON PRESENTATION TO THE + PRESIDENT--JEFFERSON'S SUSPICIONS--HIS UNKIND TREATMENT OF + WASHINGTON--GENET'S OFFICIAL LETTER--HIS DEMANDS NOT COMPLIED + WITH--ACTION OF THE CABINET CONCERNING HIS PRIVATEERING SCHEMES. + + +Genet, as we have observed, landed at Charleston, in South Carolina, +instead of a port near the seat of the government to which he came +accredited. The circumstance was not regarded of much consequence at the +time, as it might have been the result of accident; but the development +of his designs, in accordance with secret instructions from his +government, soon revealed the fact that he chose that southern port for +his destination, because its contiguity to the West Indies would give it +peculiar convenience as a resort for privateers, the employment of which +was a part of the programme of his diplomatic functions. + +Genet came in the French frigate _L'Embuscade_, and was received with +most enthusiastic rejoicings by Governor Moultrie and the citizens of +Charleston. This reception, acting upon his ardent nature, made him +forgetful of his relations to the government to which he was sent; and +with a zeal untempered by sound judgment, and a mind mistaking the +evanescent demonstrations of personal respect, and the exhibition of +popular feeling toward the French republic in that southern city for the +settled convictions of the American people, he commenced the +performance of his duties under his secret instructions, before he laid +his credentials before the United States government, and asked for his +reception as the representative of his nation. By these private +instructions, assuming that the American executive might not be +sufficiently compliant with the wishes of the French government, he was +authorized to employ, with the _people_ of the United States, the same +policy which had been so successfully used in Europe in producing +revolutions. + +Genet was provided with blank commissions, both naval and military; and +while enjoying the flattering attentions at Charleston for several days, +he undertook to authorize the fitting out and arming of vessels in that +port as privateers, to depredate upon the commerce of England and other +nations at war with France. For this purpose he granted commissions, +enlisted men, and, by authority assumed by him under a decree of the +convention, he constituted all consuls of France the heads of courts of +admiralty, to try, condemn, and authorize the sale of all property +seized by the privateer cruisers sailing under Genet's _letters of +marque_. Two of these privateers, manned chiefly by Americans, soon put +to sea under the French flag, cruised along the Carolina coasts, and +captured many homeward-bound British vessels and took them into the port +of Charleston. The frigate in which Genet came to America became one of +these privateers, and proceeded northward toward Philadelphia, +plundering the sea on her way. + +The French minister travelled to Philadelphia by land, and reached that +city on the sixteenth of May. His journey was like a continued ovation. +The whole country through which he passed, electrified by the French +Revolution, appeared alive with excitement; and the honors which the +republicans, in their antipathy to aristocracy, had been anxious to +withhold from Washington because it was man-worship, were lavished upon +the person of the representative of the French republic without stint. +On approaching Philadelphia he was met at Gray's ferry, on the +Schuylkill, by a considerable number of persons, who had come to welcome +him to the federal capital, and to escort him to his lodgings;[47] and +on the following day he received addresses from several societies and +from the citizens at large, who waited upon him in a body. + +Meanwhile, _L'Embuscade_ had arrived at Philadelphia with a British +vessel, called _The Grange_, as a prize; and intelligence of Genet's +unwarrantable proceedings at Charleston in authorizing privateers had +been received. Yet so wild and unthinking was the popular enthusiasm +that appeared on the surface of society, that scarcely a word in +condemnation of his conduct was offered. On the contrary, these things +appeared to increase the zeal of his political sympathizers, and made +Genet's reception, in some respects, more flattering to his personal and +national pride. In a letter to Madison at this time, Jefferson, +influenced by the exultation of the movement, and in apparent +forgetfulness of the serious offence which the ardent Genet had +committed against the dignity of the United States and the courtesy of +nations, wrote:-- + + "The war between France and England seems to be producing an effect + not contemplated. All the old spirit of 1776, rekindling the + newspapers from Boston to Charleston, proves this; and even the + monocrat papers are obliged to publish the most furious philippics + against England. A French frigate took a British prize (the + _Grange_) off the capes of Delaware, the other day, and sent her up + here. Upon her coming into sight, thousands and thousands of the + _yeomanry_ of the city crowded and covered the wharves. Never was + there such a crowd seen there; and when the British colors were + seen reversed, and the French flying above them, they burst into + peals of exultation. I wish we may be able to repress the spirit of + the people within the limits of a fair neutrality.... We expect + Genet daily." + +So eager were the republicans of Philadelphia to do honor to Genet, +that, before he had presented his credentials to the president, he was +invited to an evening feast. Indeed, preparations for his reception and +the "republican dinner" had been made several days before, and this +invitation was only a part of the programme. Genet was delighted by this +demonstration--a demonstration (arranged chiefly by the labors of Peter +S. Duponceau, who came to America originally as the secretary of Baron +Steuben, and who was now secretary of a secret society of Frenchmen, +which met at Barney M'Shane's, sign of the bunch of grapes, number +twenty-three North Third street) that should strike with terror the +"cowardly, conservative, Anglo-men, and monarchists," led by President +Washington; and his joy was heightened by reading an approving history +of the proceedings in Freneau's paper, the organ of the secretary of +state. He even seemed for a moment to doubt the expediency of presenting +his credentials at all, because Washington was evidently not ready to +comply with all his wishes, and he believed that the whole American +people were friends of France, and the enemies of all her opponents. + +Genet, however, did present his credentials on the nineteenth of May, +and was officially accredited. In that ceremony his pride was touched +and his enthusiasm was abated. He found in the presence of Washington an +atmosphere of dignity and greatness wholly unexpected, and thoroughly +overpowering. He felt his littleness in the presence of that noble +representative of the best men and the soundest principles of the +American republic, and he returned from the audience abashed and +subdued; for the genuine courtesy exhibited by the president, and the +words of sincere friendship for the French nation which he uttered, had +touched Genet's sensibilities; while the severe simplicity and dignity +of manner, and the absence of that effervescent enthusiasm in the midst +of which he had been cast since his arrival, administered rebuke alike +to the adulators in public places, and his own pretentious aspirations. +He had come with secret instructions to foment war between the United +States and England for the benefit of France, but that single interview +with Washington made him feel, for the time, that his efforts must +result in failure; for the word of the chief magistrate was yet almost +as omnipotent as law with the greater portion of his countrymen. + +Genet was relieved of the chill by the evening banquet, where all was +enthusiasm and boisterous mirth. It was given at Oeller's hotel, and +quite a large number of republicans were at the board. A patriotic ode +written in French, by Duponceau, and translated into English by Freneau, +was sung; and the Marseilles hymn was chanted by Genet and the company, +the minister adding two stanzas composed by himself, and having special +reference to the navy. This followed the reception of a deputation of +sailors from the frigate _L'Embuscade_, who, when they entered the room, +were received by the guests with a "fraternal embrace." The table was +decorated with the tree of liberty and the French and American flags; +and after the last regular toast of the evening was given, the _bonnet +rouge_, or red cap of liberty, was placed first upon the head of Genet, +and then upon each one present in turn, the recipient being expected, +under the inspiration of the emblem of freedom, to utter a patriotic +sentiment. The national flags were finally delivered to the French +sailors, who "swore to defend till death these tokens of liberty, and of +American and French fraternity." + +To the superficial observer, the great mass of the people seemed carried +away with a monomaniac frenzy. Democratic societies were founded in +imitation of Jacobin clubs; everything that was respectable in society +was denounced as aristocratic; politeness was looked upon as a sort of +_lese republicanisme_; the common forms of expression in use by the +_sans culottes_ were adopted by their American disciples; the title +"citizen" became as common in Philadelphia as in Paris; and in the +newspapers it was the fashion to announce marriages as partnerships +between "Citizen" Brown, Smith, or Jones, and the "citess," who had been +wooed to such an association. Entering the house of the president, +Citizen Genet was astonished and indignant at perceiving in the +vestibule a bust of Louis XVI, whom his friends had beheaded, and he +complained of this "insult to France." At a dinner, at which Governor +Mifflin was present, a roasted pig received the name of the murdered +king, and the head, severed from the body, was carried round to each of +the guests, who, after placing the liberty cap on his own head, +pronounced the word "Tyrant!" and proceeded to mangle with his knife +that of the luckless creature doomed to be served for so unworthy a +company! One of the democratic taverns displayed as a sign a revolting +picture of the mutilated and bloody corpse of Marie Antoinette.[48] + +Nor was this enthusiasm confined to Philadelphia. In his admirable +daguerreotype of old New York, the venerable Doctor Francis has given a +vivid picture, from memory, of the effect of Genet's arrival and sojourn +in the country. Speaking of the arrival of _L'Embuscade_, he says: "The +notoriety of the event and its consequences enables me to bring to +feeble recollection many of the scenes which transpired in this city at +that time: the popular excitement and bustle; the liberty cap; the +_entree_ of Citizen Genet; the red cockade; the song of the +_Carmagnole_, in which with childish ambition I united; the _rencontre_ +with the _Boston_ frigate, and the commotion arising from Jay's treaty. +Though I can not speak earnestly from actual knowledge, we must all +concede that these were the times when political strife assumed a +formidable aspect--when the press most flagrantly outraged individual +rights and domestic peace--when the impugners of the Washingtonian +administration received new weapons, with which to inflict their +assaults upon tried patriotism, by every arrival from abroad announcing +France in her progress. The federalists and the anti-federalists now +became the federal and the republican party; the _Carmagnole_ sung every +hour of every day in the streets, and on stated days at the Belvidere +Club-house, fanned the embers and enkindled that zeal which caused the +overthrow of many of the soundest principles of American freedom. Even +the yellow fever, which, from its novelty and its malignity, struck +terror into every bosom, and was rendered more lurid by the absurd +preventive means of burning tar and tar-barrels in almost every street, +afforded no mitigation of party animosity; and Greenleaf with his +_Argus_, Freneau with his _Time-Piece_, and Cobbett with his _Porcupine +Gazette_, increased the consternation, which only added to the +inquietude of the peaceable citizen, who had often reasoned within +himself that a seven-years' carnage, through which he had passed, had +been enough for one life." + +"Much I saw--much has been told me by the old inhabitants now departed," +says Doctor Francis. "When the entire American nation, nay, when the +civilized world at large, seemed electrified by the outbreak of the +Revolution in France, it necessarily followed, as the shadow does the +substance, that the American soul, never derelict, could not but +enkindle with patriotic warmth at the cause of that people whose +loftiest desire was freedom--of that people who themselves had, with +profuse appropriation, enabled that very bosom, in the moment of hardest +trial, to inhale the air of liberty. Successive events had now dethroned +the monarchy of France, and the democratic spirit was now evolved in its +fullest element. It was not surprising that the experienced and the +sober champions who had effected the great revolution of the colonies +should now make the cause of struggling France their own; and as victors +already in one desperate crisis, they seemed ready to enter into a new +contest for the rights of man. The masses coalesced and co-operated. +Cheering prospects of sympathy and of support were held out in the +prospective to their former friends and benefactors abroad. Jealousy of +Britain--affection for France--was now the prevailing impulse, and the +business of the day was often interrupted by tumultuous noises in the +streets. Groups of sailors might be seen collected on the docks and at +the shipping, ready to embark on a voyage of plunder; merchants and +traders, in detached bodies, might be seen discussing the hazards of +commerce; the schools liberated from their prescribed hours of study, +because of some fresh report of _L'Embuscade_ or of _Genet_; the +schoolmaster uttering in his dismissal a new reason for the study of the +classics, by expounding with oracular dignity to his scholars, _Vivat +Respublica_, broadly printed as the caption of the playbill or the +pamphlet just issued."[49] + +But, fortunately for the United States, there were many strong, sober, +and patriotic men, who had looked calmly upon the storms of the French +Revolution, and wisely interpreted its portents. On the same day when +Genet was received by the president and feasted by the republicans, an +address was presented to Washington, signed by three hundred of the +principal merchants and other "solid men" of Philadelphia, declaring +their high sense of the wisdom and goodness which dictated his late +proclamation of neutrality; and that the signers, believing that nothing +was necessary to the happiness of the United States but a continuance of +peace, not only would heed that proclamation themselves, but +discountenance, in the most pointed manner, any contrary disposition in +others. In his reply, Washington, with his usual dignity and discretion, +expressed a hope that, in the critical juncture of public affairs, the +people would evince as much freedom in pursuing peace, as they had +previously displayed valor in vindicating their just rights. + +The conservative class to whom we have alluded was composed of the best +materials of American society. They were firm, consistent, and quiet; +and while the noise that attended the demonstrations in favor of the +French Revolution appeared to the shallow and timid as the voice of the +nation, a very large majority of the people doubtless sympathized with +the restraining measures of the president. + +Among those who had wisely interpreted the teachings of the Revolution +in France, and deprecated the infatuation of his countrymen who had +adopted the doctrines of the Jacobins, was Hamilton. To a friend who had +expressed his sorrow because of the aspect of the public feeling at that +time, he revealed his views freely--views which were held in common with +Washington and the great conservative party of which he was the head. "I +agree with you," Hamilton said, "in the reflections you make on the +tendency of public demonstrations of attachment to the cause of France. +'Tis certainly not wise to expose ourselves to the jealousy and +resentment of the rest of the world, by a fruitless display of zeal for +that cause. It may do us much harm, and it can do France no good +(unless, indeed, we are to embark in the war with her, which nobody is +so hardy as to avow, though some secretly machinate it). It can not be +without danger and inconvenience to our interests, to impress on the +nations of Europe an idea that we are actuated by the _same spirit_ +which has, for some time past, fatally misguided the measures of those +who conduct the affairs of France, and sullied a cause once glorious, +and that might have been triumphant. The cause of France is compared +with that of America during its late Revolution. Would to Heaven that +the comparison were just. Would to Heaven that we could discern in the +mirror of French affairs the same decorum, the same gravity, the same +order, the same dignity, the same solemnity, which distinguished the +cause of the American Revolution. Clouds and darkness would not then +rest upon the issue as they now do. I own I do not like the comparison. +When I contemplate the horrid and systematic massacres of the second and +third of September; when I observe that a Murat and a Robespierre, the +notorious prompters of those bloody scenes, sit triumphantly in the +convention and take a conspicuous part in its measures--that an attempt +to bring the assassins to justice has been abandoned; when I see an +unfortunate prince, whose reign was a continued demonstration of the +goodness and benevolence of his heart, of his attachment to the people +of whom he was the monarch, who, though educated in the lap of +despotism, had given repeated proofs that he was not the enemy of +liberty, brought precipitately and ignominiously to the block without +any substantial proof of guilt, as yet disclosed--without even an +authentic exhibition of motives, in decent regard to the opinions of +mankind; when I find the doctrines of atheism openly advanced in the +convention, and heard with loud applauses; when I see the sword of +fanaticism extended to force a political creed upon citizens who were +invited to submit to the arms of France as the harbingers of liberty; +when I behold the hand of rapacity outstretched to prostrate and ravish +the monuments of religious worship, erected by those citizens and their +ancestors; when I perceive passion, tumult, and violence, usurping those +seats where reason and cool deliberation ought to preside--I acknowledge +that I am glad to believe there is no real resemblance between what was +the cause of America and what is the cause of France; that the +difference is no less great than that between liberty and +licentiousness. I regret whatever has a tendency to confound them, and I +feel anxious, as an American, that the ebullitions of inconsiderate men +among us may not tend to involve our reputation in the issue."[50] + +Genet had scarcely reached the seat of government, before his conduct in +authorizing the fitting out of privateers, and the capture of _The +Grange_ by _L'Embuscade_, called forth complaints from Mr. Hammond, the +British minister at Philadelphia. Genet, in his address to the president +on presenting his credentials, had disavowed any wish to involve the +United States in the pending war. + +"We wish you to do nothing," he said, "but what is for your own good, +and we will do all in our power to promote it. Cherish your own peace +and prosperity. You have expressed a willingness to enter into a more +liberal commerce with us; I bring full powers to form such a treaty, and +a preliminary decree of the National Convention to lay open our country +and its colonies to you, for every purpose of utility, without your +participating in the burden of maintaining and defending them. We see in +you the only person on earth who can love us sincerely, and merit to be +so loved." + +This was uttered while the secret instructions in his pocket authorized +him to foment discord between the United States and Great Britain; to +set the government of our republic at defiance, if necessary; and in the +face of his open insult to the government by his acts at Charleston. And +yet Mr. Jefferson, apparently blinding his eyes to passing events in +Genet's brief career here, said in a letter to Madison, in reference to +the French minister's speech, "It was impossible for anything to be more +affectionate, more magnanimous, than the purport of Genet's +mission.... He offers everything and asks nothing." + +"Yet I know," Jefferson added, "that the offers will be opposed, and +suspect they will not be accepted. In short, my dear sir, it is +impossible for you to conceive what is passing in our conclave; and it +is evident that _one or two_ [meaning Hamilton and Knox] at least, under +pretence of avoiding war on the one side, have no great antipathy to run +foul of it on the other, and to make a part in the confederacy of +princes against human liberty." Thus, on all occasions, the secretary of +state ungenerously charged those of his official associates who could +not lovingly embrace the bloody French Jacobins as brothers, with +monarchical principles, and designs to subvert the government of the +United States. To Washington he expressed the same suspicions; and, from +his own record in his _Anas_, he appears to have been rebuked by the +president, and to have persisted in a most unfriendly course. "He [the +president] observed," he said, "that if anybody wanted to change the +form of our government into a monarchy, he was sure it was only a few +individuals, and that no man in the United States would set himself +against it more than himself; but that this was not what he was afraid +of--his fears were from another quarter--_that there was more danger of +anarchy being introduced_." + +Washington, according to the same record, then spoke with great warmth +concerning the hostility of Freneau as manifested in his newspaper. He +despised all personal attacks upon himself; but, he said, not a solitary +act of the government had escaped the slanderer's assaults. He adverted +to the fact that Freneau (evidently for the impudent purpose of +insulting Washington) sent him three of his papers every day; and Mr. +Jefferson records these facts in a way that shows the enjoyment he +seemed to derive from such evidences of great annoyance displayed by the +president. "He was evidently sore and worn," wrote Mr. Jefferson, "and I +took his intention to be, that I should interpose in some way with +Freneau--perhaps withdraw his appointment of translating clerk in my +office. But I will not do it." + +"It appears to us," says Mr. Irving,[51] "rather an ungracious +determination on the part of Jefferson to keep this barking cur in his +employ, when he found him so annoying to the chief, whom he professed, +and we believe with sincerity, to revere.[52] Neither are his reasons +for so doing satisfactory, savoring as they do of those strong political +suspicions already noticed. 'His [Freneau's] paper,' observed he, 'has +saved our constitution, which was galloping fast into monarchy, and has +been checked by no means so powerfully as by that paper. It is well and +universally known that it has been that paper which checked the career +of the monocrats. The president, not sensible of the designs of the +party, has not, with his usual good sense and _sang froid_, looked on +the efforts and effects of this free press, and seen that though some +bad things have passed through it to the public, yet the good have +preponderated immensely.'" + +On the day succeeding his presentation to the president, Genet addressed +an official letter to Mr. Jefferson, announcing his mission, as +follows:-- + + "Single, against innumerable hordes of tyrants and slaves who + menace her rising liberty, the French nation would have a right to + reclaim the obligations imposed on the United States by the + treaties she has contracted with them, and which she has cemented + with her blood; but strong in the greatness of her means, and of + the power of her principles, not less redoubtable to her enemies + than the virtuous arm which she opposes to their rage, she comes, + in the very time when the emissaries of our common enemies are + making useless efforts to neutralize the gratitude, to damp the + zeal, to weaken or cloud the view of your fellow-citizens; she + comes, I say, that generous nation, that faithful friend, to labor + still to increase the prosperity and add to the happiness which she + is pleased to see them enjoy. + + "The obstacles raised with intentions hostile to liberty, by the + perfidious ministers of despotism--the obstacles whose object was + to stop the rapid progress of the commerce of the Americans and the + extension of their principles, exist no more. The French republic, + seeing in them but brothers, has opened to them, by the decrees now + enclosed, all her ports in the two worlds; has granted them all the + favors which her own citizens enjoy in her vast possessions; has + invited them to participate the benefits of her navigation, in + granting to their vessels the same rights as her own; and has + charged me to propose to your government to establish, in a truly + family compact--that is, in a national compact--the liberal and + fraternal basis on which she wishes to see raised the commercial + and political system of two people, all whose interests are + blended. I am invested, sir, with the powers necessary to undertake + this important negotiation, of which the sad annals of humanity + offer no example before the brilliant era at length opening on + it."[53] + +Notwithstanding the boast, in this letter, of his country being "strong +in the greatness of her means," Genet had opened his diplomatic +correspondence by a request for immediate payment, by anticipation, of +the remaining installments of the debt due France by the United States, +amounting to two millions, three hundred thousand dollars, and offered, +as an inducement, to invest the amount in provisions and other American +products, to be shipped partly to the St. Domingo, and partly to France. +But neither his propositions for an alliance nor his application for +money were received with favor. The United States government well knew +that his assurance that the offered relaxation of commercial +restrictions, as a boon of pure good will toward the Americans, was only +a convenient plan for obtaining needed supplies. The request for money +was met by a candid statement by the secretary of the treasury, that his +government had no means of anticipating the payment of the French debt, +except by borrowing money in Europe, which could not be done then on +reasonable terms. Hamilton also told Genet that, even were there no +other obstacle, the anticipation of payment at that time might be +regarded by Great Britain as a breach of neutrality. + +This reply greatly offended the French minister, and he threatened to +make the debt to France available for his purpose, by giving assignments +of it in payment for provisions and other supplies. Hamilton calmly +replied that his government would decidedly object to that procedure, +and expressed a hope that, in a matter of mutual concern, nothing would +be done but by mutual consent. + +While the British minister, in view of the dereliction of duty on the +part of his government, manifested in its omission to comply with some +of the stipulations of the treaty of 1783, should have been +comparatively silent, the grounds of some of his complaints were too +obviously just, not to be seriously considered. Cabinet meetings were +accordingly held, and the subject was fully discussed. The capture of +_The Grange_ within American waters (in Delaware bay), and the demand, +not only for its restitution, but of all others captured on the high +seas by the privateers authorized by Genet, made by the British +minister, was the chief topic. It was unanimously agreed that _The +Grange_ should be restored, but there was a difference of opinion +respecting the others. Hamilton and Knox, assuming, as a basis for +argument, that it is the duty of a neutral nation to remedy every injury +sustained by armaments fitted out in its ports, were of opinion that the +government should interpose to restore the prizes. Jefferson and +Randolph contended that the case should be left to the decision of +courts of justice; arguing, that if the courts should decide the +commissions given by Genet to be invalid, they would, as a matter of +course, order restitution to be made.[54] + +Washington reserved his decision upon this point, and took time to +deliberate. The cabinet had agreed unanimously that the jurisdiction of +every independent nation, within the limits of its own territory, being +of a nature to exclude the exercise of any authority therein by any +foreign power, the proceedings complained of, not being warranted by any +treaty, were usurpations of national sovereignty and violations of +neutral rights, a repetition of which it was the duty of the government +to prevent. Also, that the efficacy of the laws should be tried against +those citizens of the United States who had joined in perpetrating the +offence. These principles being considered as settled, the president +directed the secretary of state to communicate the fact to the ministers +of France and Great Britain. Circular letters, also, were addressed to +the governors of several states requiring their co-operation, with +military force if necessary, to carry out the principles and rules +agreed upon. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[47] The number of people who met and welcomed Genet at Gray's ferry was +greatly exaggerated, as usual on such occasions, by the friends of the +movement. It was called "a great concourse of citizens," but Hamilton, +who was then in Philadelphia, and whose truthfulness has never been +questioned, placed the number at an insignificant figure. In a letter to +a friend, he said, "It is seldom easy to speak with absolute certainty +in such cases, but from all I could observe, or have been able to learn, +I believe the number would be stated high at a hundred persons." Of a +meeting convened at evening to receive Mr. Genet, Hamilton said, "From +forty to one hundred persons give you the extremes of the number +present." On the ensuing evening a much greater number attended. +Altogether the demonstration, in _numbers_, was a failure. + +[48] Griswold's _Republican Court_, page 350. + +[49] _Old New York, or Reminiscences of the past Sixty Years_, pages +115-119, inclusive. + +[50] Hamilton's Works, v. 566. + +[51] Life of Washington, v. 164. + +[52] A little later, Jefferson wrote to Madison: "The president is not +well; little lingering fevers have been hanging about him for a week or +ten days, and affect his looks most remarkably. He is also extremely +affected by the attacks made and kept up on him in the public papers. I +think he feels these things more than any other person I ever yet met +with. I am sincerely sorry to see them." How utterly insincere appears +the last clause of this paragraph, compared with the one next preceding +it! The most scurrilous of the attacks alluded to proceeded from +Freneau, a clerk in Mr. Jefferson's office! + +[53] _Letter to Mr. Jefferson, Secretary of State_, dated "Philadelphia, +May 23d, 1793, second year of the republic." + +[54] "During these proceedings," says Chief-Justice Jay, "the circuit +court was held at Richmond by the chief justice, who in his charge to +the grand jury explained the obligations of the United States as a +neutral nation, and directed the jury to present all persons within +their district guilty of violating the laws of nations with respect to +any of the belligerent powers. The charge was well calculated to +strengthen the government, by letting the public perceive that the +supreme court would fearlessly discharge its duty, in punishing acts +forbidden by the neutral position of the nation."--_Life and Writings of +John Jay_, i. 302. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + GENET'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON THE SUBJECT OF TREATY + GUARANTIES--THE QUESTION RECONSIDERED BY THE CABINET--THEIR DECISION + AND GENET'S ANGER--GENET SUPPORTED AND MISLED BY THE + REPUBLICANS--HIS INDECOROUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE SECRETARY OF + STATE--MADNESS OF THE POPULACE--HAMILTON AND MADISON--POSITION OF + THE GOVERNMENT ASSAILED--WASHINGTON ON THE DEMOCRATIC + SOCIETIES--CALLED TO MOUNT VERNON--GENET FITS OUT A PRIVATEER AT + PHILADELPHIA--MEASURES TO PREVENT HER SAILING--WASHINGTON RETURNS TO + PHILADELPHIA--A CABINET COUNCIL--GENET DEFIES THE GOVERNMENT--ONE OF + THE AMERICAN PRIVATEERS ACQUITTED--WASHINGTON LAMENTS THE + DISAFFECTION OF THE PEOPLE, BUT SWERVES NOT--DETERMINATION TO HAVE + GENET RECALLED--PROCEEDINGS IN THE CABINET--WASHINGTON'S WRATH. + + +The action of the cabinet gave umbrage to Genet, and he wrote a spirited +letter to the secretary of state. He assented to the restoration of "The +Grange," she having been captured within American waters, but he +protested most vehemently against all interference on the part of the +United States with the privateers at sea. He alleged that they were +armed and furnished by French residents in Charleston, were commanded by +French officers, or Americans who knew of no law or treaty to restrain +their action, and that they had gone to sea with the consent of the +governor of South Carolina. He argued, that as the treaty of commerce +secured to the parties the right of bringing prizes into each other's +ports, it followed that their right to the control and disposal of +prizes so brought in, was conceded to each. As the treaty of 1778 only +forbade each party allowing _enemies_ to fit out privateers in their +respective ports, it was fair to conclude that there was also conceded a +mutual right in the parties themselves to fit out privateers in the +ports of the other. He insisted that the Americans on board the +privateers had, for the time, entered the service of France and +renounced the protection of the United States, and that therefore they +were no longer responsible to their own government for their acts. + +Notwithstanding the want of decorum in some portions of Genet's letter, +the president and his cabinet reconsidered the questions at issue in the +light of the minister's arguments. Their opinions remained unchanged, +and Genet was informed that the privateer then in the Delaware, bearing +his name, must forthwith leave American waters; that orders had been +sent to all the ports of the United States for the seizure of all +vessels fitted out as privateers, and to prevent the sale of any prizes +captured by such vessels; and also for the arrest of Henfield and +Singleterry, two Americans, who had enlisted on board the _Citizen +Genet_ at Charleston. + +The decision and action of the cabinet made Genet very angry, and he +resolved not to acquiesce in it. He was led to believe that the great +body of the American people, grateful for what France had done in times +past, were ready to go all lengths in his favor, short of actual war. He +had heard clamors among the people, and read violent paragraphs in the +republican newspapers against the position of neutrality taken by the +government, and he resolved to encourage privateering, and to defend his +position before the American people by his pen. At that time, Freneau's +paper was assisted in its warfare upon the administration by another +called the _General Advertiser_, known afterward as the _Aurora_. It was +edited by a grandson of Doctor Franklin, whose French education caused +him to favor the fanaticism of that people in their revolutionary +movements. It was sometimes more virulent in its vituperation than +Freneau's _Gazette_, and both urged Genet to go forward, heedless of the +executive and his cabinet, at the same time charging Washington himself +with an intention of joining in the league of kings against the French +republic.[55] + +"I hope," said a writer in Freneau's paper, "the minister of France will +act with firmness and spirit. The _people_ are his friends, or the +friends of France, and he will have nothing to apprehend; for, _as +yet_, the people are the sovereigns of the United States. Too much +complacency is an injury done to his cause; for, as every advantage is +already taken of France (not by the _people_), further condescension may +lead to further abuse. If one of the leading features of our government +is pusillanimity, when the British lion shows his teeth, let France and +her minister act as becomes the dignity of their cause, and the honor +and faith of nations."[56] + +The arrest and indictment of the two Americans on board the _Citizen +Genet_ added greatly to the irritation of the French minister. "The +crime laid to their charge," said Genet in a letter to Jefferson on the +first of June--"the crime which my mind can not conceive, and which my +pen almost refuses to state, is the serving of France, and defending +with her children the common glorious cause of liberty. + +"Being ignorant of any positive law or treaty which deprives Americans +of this privilege, and authorizes officers arbitrarily to take mariners +in the service of France from on board their vessels, I call upon your +intervention, sir, and that of the president of the United States, in +order to obtain the immediate releasement of the above mentioned +officers, who have acquired, by the sentiments animating them, and by +the act of their engagement, anterior to every act to the contrary, the +right of French citizens, if they have lost that of American citizens. I +renew at the same time, sir, the requisition which I made in favor of +another French officer, detained for the same cause and for the same +object." + +To this appeal Jefferson replied by sending Genet a copy of the opinion +of the attorney-general of the United States, who decided that the +prisoners had acted in violation of treaties, and were guilty of an +indictable offence. In a subsequent note, the secretary of state +reiterated the opinion of the president that it was the right of every +nation, and the duty of neutral nations, to prohibit acts of sovereignty +within their limits, injurious to either of the belligerent powers; that +the granting of military commissions within the United States by any +foreign authority was an infringement of their sovereignty, especially +when granted to American citizens as an inducement to act against the +duty which they owed to their country; and that it was expected that the +French privateers would immediately leave the waters of the United +States. + +Genet, with impudent pertinacity, denounced these doctrines as contrary +to right, justice, the law of nations, and even the proclamation of +neutrality by the president; and when he was informed that a French +privateer, fitted out in New York, had been seized by a body of militia +acting under the authority of Governor Clinton, he was greatly enraged, +and demanded its immediate "restitution, with damages and interest, and +also the immediate" "restitution, with damages and interest, of the +French prizes arrested and seized at Philadelphia." But the government +was unmoved. The prisoners were not released, nor the vessels restored; +whereupon Genet ventured to declare that he "would appeal from the +president to the people." His only excuse for this rash assertion was +his utter ignorance of the character of the president and people whose +actions, in concerns so momentous, he assumed to control or defy. He +seemed really to have imagined that the love of France and the sentiment +of republicanism were so strong among the people of the United States, +that he would be able to overthrow the government. He had already said, +in a letter to Jefferson, "Every obstruction by the government of the +United States to the arming of French vessels must be an attempt on the +rights of man, upon which repose the independence and laws of the United +States; a violation of the ties which unite France and America; and even +a manifest contradiction of the system of neutrality of the president; +for, in fact, if our merchant-vessels or others are not allowed to arm +themselves, when the French alone are resisting the league of all the +tyrants against the liberty of the people, they will be exposed to +inevitable ruin in going out of the ports of the United States, which is +certainly not the intention of the people of America. This fraternal +voice has resounded from every quarter around me, and their accents are +not equivocal. They are pure as the hearts of those by whom they are +expressed; and the more they have touched my sensibility, the more they +must interest in the happiness of America the nation I represent; the +more I wish, sir, that the federal government should observe, as far as +in its power, the public engagements contracted by both nations, and +that, by this generous and prudent conduct, they will give at least to +the world the example of a true neutrality, which does not consist in +the cowardly abandonment of their friends in the moment when danger +menaces them, but in adhering strictly, if they can do no better, to the +obligations they have contracted with them. It is by such proceedings +that they will render themselves respectable to all the powers--that +they will preserve their friends, and deserve to augment their numbers." + +All around the French minister there was a sea of passion while the +controversy was progressing. The republican party became more and more +bold in their denunciations. Open expressions of enthusiastic devotion +to France, and of hatred toward all the powers at war with that +republic, were heard on every side. Every measure of the government that +tended to thwart the views of Genet was assailed with the most malignant +zeal. The president's proclamation of neutrality, as we have observed, +was branded as a "royal edict." It was condemned as having been issued +without authority, and in contradiction with the treaties with France; +as contrary to the gratitude which was due to that country by the people +of the United States, and out of time and unnecessary; and a series of +articles written by Hamilton in support of the proclamation, over the +signature of _Pacificus_, were assailed in another series against the +proclamation, written by Madison (at the suggestion of Jefferson) over +the signature of _Helvidius_, as having "been read with singular +pleasure and applause by the foreigners and degenerate citizens among +us, who hate our republican government and the French Revolution." + +The declaration that "the duty and interest of the United States +required that they should, with sincerity and good faith, adopt and +pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powers," +was assailed as a monstrous doctrine, and gave the greatest umbrage to +Genet and his friends. The latter insisted that the French minister's +demands were sanctioned by solemn treaties, and that his interpretation +of the instruments was correct. The wrongs inflicted upon America by +Great Britain, and the aid given to the struggling patriots by France, +were recited in most pathetic terms; and the questions were +significantly asked, "Shall the services of the one, as well as the +injuries of the other, be forgotten? Shall a friend and an enemy be +treated with equal favor? Shall neither gratitude nor resentment +constitute a feature of the American character?" It was concluded that +there was a natural and inveterate hostility between monarchies and +republics; that the present combination against France was a combination +against liberty in every part of the world; and that the destinies of +America were inseparably connected with those of the French republic. +They declared that the conduct of the executive, in withholding +privileges to which France was said to be entitled by the most solemn +engagements, was indicative of a desire to coalesce with despots in a +crusade against liberty, furnishing to the French republic just motives +for war; and that all her moderation and forbearance were required to +restrain her from declaring it against the United States. They went so +far, as we have seen, as to exhort Genet not to relax in his endeavors +to maintain the just rights of his country; and he received assurances +of the steady and affectionate support of the American people. Genet was +taught to believe that Washington was acting under the influence of a +British monarchical faction, and that everything was to be hoped from +the predominance of republicanism in the new Congress then in progress +of being chosen. + +It was now midsummer, and the whole social and political fabric of the +Union was shaken by these party contentions; and the democratic +societies of which we have spoken, secret and open, were exceedingly +active. "That these societies," Washington observed, "were instituted by +the artful and designing members (many of their body, I have no doubt, +mean well, but know little of the real plan), primarily to sow among the +people the seeds of jealousy and distrust of the government, by +destroying all confidence in the administration of it, and that these +doctrines have been budding and blowing ever since, is not new to any +one who is acquainted with the character of their leaders, and has been +attentive to their manoeuvres. + +"Can anything be more absurd, more arrogant, or more pernicious to the +peace of society, than for self-created bodies, forming themselves into +permanent censors, and under the shade of night, in a conclave, +resolving that acts of Congress, which have undergone the most +deliberate and solemn discussion by the representatives of the people, +chosen for the express purpose, and bringing with them from the +different parts of the Union the sense of their constituents, +endeavoring, as far as the nature of the thing will admit, to form +_their will_ into laws for the government of the whole--I say, under +these circumstances, for a self-created _permanent_ body (for no one +denies the right of the people to meet occasionally to petition for, or +remonstrate against, any act of the legislature) to declare that _this +act_ is unconstitutional, and _that act_ is pregnant with mischiefs, and +that all who vote contrary to their dogmas are actuated by selfish +motives or under foreign influence, nay, are traitors to their country? +Is such a stretch of arrogant presumption to be reconciled with laudable +motives, especially when we see the same set of men endeavoring to +destroy all confidence in the administration, by arraigning all its +acts, without knowing on what ground or with what information it +proceeds?" + +While the controversy was at its height, Washington was suddenly called +to Mount Vernon by the death of the chief manager of his estates. He was +absent a little more than a fortnight. Meanwhile, an incident occurred +which brought the controversy between the United States government and +the French minister to a crisis. A British merchant-vessel was captured +by _L'Embuscade_, sent to Philadelphia, and there Genet, under the very +eye of the federal authorities and in direct opposition to the decision +of Washington and his cabinet, undertook to equip her as a privateer, +under the new name of _Le Petite Democrat_. This movement was discovered +by Hamilton on the sixth of July. He communicated the facts to the +cabinet, with whom Washington had left the control of the public affairs +during his absence, and an investigation was ordered. It was ascertained +that the vessel would probably sail on a cruise the next day, and +Governor Mifflin was called upon to interfere. At midnight he sent +Alexander Dallas, his secretary, to request Genet to desist from his +unlawful course, and to inform him that the vessel would be detained by +force if he refused compliance. The minister flew into a rage, declared +that the president was not the sovereign of the country, and had no +right, without consulting Congress, to give such instructions as he had +done to state governors; that he was a misled man, and wholly under the +influence of the enemies of France and human liberty; and then again +expressed his determination to appeal to the people. + +Genet refused to give Mifflin any distinct pledges, and early in the +morning the governor ordered out one hundred and twenty of the militia +to take possession of the privateer. Mr. Jefferson, who perceived the +rashness of Genet's course, now took the matter in hand, and at a +personal interview tried to persuade him to detain the privateer until +the president's return to the seat of government. The secretary of state +was not more successful than the secretary of Governor Mifflin. Genet +stormed like a madman. Jefferson was unable, most of the time, to thrust +in a word, and he sat in silence while the angry minister poured out the +vials of his wrath upon the United States government. He declared that +any attempt to seize the vessel would be resisted by the crew; that he +had been thwarted in all his plans by the government; and that he was +half a mind to leave the country in disgust, as he could not be useful +to his nation here. He censured the president severely, and declared +that on Washington's return he should press him to convene the Congress +immediately. + +Jefferson stopped him at the subject of calling a Congress, and +explained to him the threefold character of the government; assuring him +that all questions which had arisen between himself and the executive +belonged only to that department, and that, were Congress in session, +the matters would not be carried to them, nor would they take any notice +of them. Genet was surprised, and inquired if the Congress were not the +sovereign? Jefferson replied that they were sovereign only in making +laws; that the executive was the sovereign in executing them, and the +judiciary in construing them. "But at least," said Genet, "Congress are +bound to see that the treaties are observed." "There are very few +cases," replied Jefferson, "arising out of treaties, which Congress can +take notice of. The president is to see that treaties are observed." "To +whom then is the nation to appeal, if the president decides against a +treaty?" quickly inquired Genet. "The constitution has made the +president the last appeal," replied Jefferson. Genet was confounded by +his own ignorance, shrugged his shoulders, and, making a bow, remarked +that he would not compliment Mr. Jefferson on such a constitution. + +Genet had now become cool, assured Mr. Jefferson that the privateer was +not yet ready for sea, and, without promising that she should not sail +before the president's return, said that it would be necessary for her +to shift her position to the lower end of the town to receive supplies, +and gave the secretary to understand that she would not leave before +Washington's return to Philadelphia. Jefferson accepted his remarks as +honest assurance, and Governor Mifflin dismissed his soldiers; but +Hamilton and Knox, having no faith in the minister's word, proposed the +immediate erection of a battery below the city, where Fort Mifflin stood +in the Revolution, with guns mounted to prevent the privateer's going +down the river. Jefferson, fearing further to offend Genet, refused to +concur in this measure, and the next day the vessel went down the river +as far as Chester. + +Washington returned to Philadelphia on the eleventh, and received some +papers, concerning the events we have just described, from Mr. +Jefferson, with an intimation that they required "instant attention." +They aroused the president's indignation. "What is to be done in the +case of the _Little Sarah_ [the original name of the _Petite Democrat_] +now at Chester?" he asked, in a note written to Mr. Jefferson on the +spur of the moment. "Is the minister of the French republic to set the +acts of this government at defiance _with impunity_, and then threaten +the executive with an appeal to the people? What must the world think of +such conduct, and of the government of the United States in submitting +to it? + +"These are serious questions. Circumstances press for a decision, and, +as you have had time to consider them (upon me they come unexpectedly), +I wish to know your opinion upon them, even before to-morrow, for the +vessel may then be gone." + +Mr. Jefferson assured Washington that the privateer was not yet ready +for sea, and that Genet had promised that she should not sail before the +decision of the president in her case should be known. In a cabinet +council held the next day, it was resolved to detain in the ports of the +United States all privateers which had been equipped therein, and this +decision was immediately communicated to Genet. In defiance of it, the +French minister sent the privateer to sea; and yet the republicans, +forgetful of all national dignity, commended the representative of a +foreign nation in thus offering a marked insult to the chief magistrate +and the government of the republic. + +At about the same time, Henfield, one of the prisoners indicted, under +the advice of the attorney-general, for having enlisted on board the +French privateer at Charleston, was tried. The populace, instigated by +the opposition leaders, took the part of the prisoner, and the jury +acquitted him. At once the opposition press heaped obloquy upon the +administration, for having attempted what they were pleased to call an +unlawful measure. They asked, scornfully, "What law had been offended, +and under what statute was the indictment supported? Are the American +people already prepared to give to a proclamation the force of a +legislative act, and to subject themselves to the will of the executive? +But," they said, "if the people are already sunk to such a state of +degradation, are they to be punished for violating a proclamation which +had not been published when the offence was committed, if indeed it +could be termed an offence to engage with France combatting for liberty +against the combined despots of Europe?" And when the prisoner was +acquitted, the event was celebrated with extravagant marks of joy and +exultation.[57] + +These events annoyed Washington exceedingly. He perceived the spirit of +the French Revolution animating his own people, making them regardless +of law and justice, and drunk with ideas that tended to anarchy and +confusion. He perceived the futility of attempts to enforce laws in +support of the doctrines of his proclamation of neutrality, and the +disposition of a large class of people to thwart that conservative +policy which he advised as being most conducive to the welfare of the +state. Yet, strong in his consciousness of rectitude, he swerved not a +line from his prescribed course of duty. "As it respects myself," he +said in a letter to Governor Lee on the twenty-first of July, "I care +not; for I have a consolation within, that no earthly efforts can +deprive me of; and that is, that neither ambitious nor interested +motives have influenced my conduct. The arrows of malevolence, +therefore, however barbed and well pointed, never can reach the most +vulnerable point of me; though, whilst I am up as a _mark_, they will be +continually aimed. The publications in Freneau's and Bache's papers are +outrages on common decency; and they progress in that style in +proportion as their pieces are treated with contempt, and are passed by +in silence, by those at whom they were aimed. The tendency of them, +however, is too obvious to be mistaken by men of cool and dispassionate +minds, and in my opinion ought to alarm them, because it is difficult to +prescribe bounds to the effect." + +Matters had now reached a point where forbearance toward the insolent +French minister was no longer required by the most exacting courtesy. +His official communications, and public and private acts, were becoming +too offensive to be longer tolerated by the government, without +virtually abdicating authority and acknowledging its utter incompetency. +So the president called the cabinet together at the beginning of August +to consult upon the matter, when the whole official correspondence +between Jefferson and Genet, and the conduct of the latter, were +thoroughly reviewed. The result was, a determination that the French +government should be requested to recall their minister, because he was +offensive to that of the United States. Jefferson recommended great +delicacy in the terms of this request; the others were favorable to a +peremptory demand for his recall; while Knox, whose indignation had been +thoroughly aroused by the conduct of Genet, proposed to dismiss him at +once without consulting his government. It was at length agreed that a +letter should be written to Gouverneur Morris, the American minister in +Paris, in which should be given a statement of the case, with +accompanying documents, with directions to lay the whole subject before +the Executive Council of France; also that a letter, the same in +substance as the one written to Morris, should be sent to Genet. + +It was also proposed to publish the whole correspondence, as an appeal +to the people of the United States and the world, in justification of +the action of the administration. Jefferson opposed the proposition on +the ground that it would make matters worse. He said Genet would appeal, +also; that anonymous writers would take up the subject; that public +opinion would still be divided; and there would be a difference of +opinion in Congress, likewise, for the matter must be laid before them. +"It would," Jefferson said, "be a contest between the president and +Genet." + +Washington took fire at this last suggestion. Wearied and annoyed by the +continual dissentions in his cabinet, and the unjust abuse of his +political opponents, the idea that he should stand before the world as a +contestant with a man like Genet, and be subjected to the ribaldry of +the press, touched his sensitive nature at the most tender point. At +that moment, Knox, with peculiar mal-appropriateness, "in a foolish, +incoherent sort of speech," says Jefferson, "introduced the pasquinade, +lately printed, called _The Funeral of George Washington_"--a parody on +the decapitation of the French king, in which the president was +represented as placed on a guillotine. "The president," says Mr. +Jefferson, "was much inflamed; got into one of those passions [which +only for a moment and very rarely occurred] where he can not control +himself; ran on much on the personal abuse that had been bestowed upon +him; defied any man on earth to produce one single act of his, since he +had been in the government, which was not done on the purest motives; +that he had never repented but once the having slipped the moment of +resigning his office, and that was every moment since; that he had +rather be in his grave than in his present situation; that he had rather +be on his farm than to be made an emperor of the world." And yet, he +said with most emphatic indignation, "they are charging me with wanting +to be king!" + +When Washington ceased there was a pause. All had remained silent during +this burst of passion, and it was with some difficulty that the +questions at issue were resumed. The president soon recovered his +equanimity, and opened the subject again by saying that there was no +necessity for deciding the question of an appeal to the people on +Genet's recall at that moment. The propositions already agreed to +respecting the letter to Gouverneur Morris might be put into execution, +and events would doubtless show whether an appeal would be necessary or +not. The cabinet agreed to send a circular to all the collectors of +customs, instructing them in their duty respecting ships of the +belligerent nations within the waters of the United States. It was also +agreed that information should be communicated to the British minister +that compensation would be made to the owners of British vessels +captured by French privateers, fitted out within the United States, +previous to the notice given to Genet that such equipments would not be +allowed; but that in future the British government must regard the +efforts of that of the United States, to prevent the arming of +privateers within its waters, as a full discharge of all neutral +obligations. At the same time, Genet was called upon to give up all the +vessels captured previous to the notice above alluded to, as otherwise +the French government would be held responsible for the amount of +necessary indemnities; also, all vessels captured within the waters of +the United States, those waters being defined as within a marine league +from the exterior coast. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[55] Life and Writings of John Jay, i. 303. + +[56] Greenleaf's _Patriotic Register_, at New York, and the _Boston +Chronicle_ echoed these sentiments, and the smaller opposition journals +throughout the country re-echoed the strain. + +[57] Marshall, ii. 273. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + UNPLEASANT RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN--THE UNITED STATES AGGRIEVED + BY THE PRACTICE OF THE BRITISH CRUISERS TOWARD NEUTRALS, AND IN THE + IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN--ALSO, CONCERNING THE GIVING UP OF WESTERN + POSTS, AND TAMPERING WITH THE INDIANS--RELATIONS WITH + SPAIN--THREATENED DISSOLUTION OF THE CABINET--JEFFERSON'S + UNEASINESS--HIS OFFICIAL LETTER TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS--GENET'S ANGER + AND ACCUSATIVE INSINUATIONS--EVENTS IN NEW YORK--GENET'S RECEPTION + THERE--HIS INSOLENT LETTER TO JEFFERSON UNNOTICED--HIS + COMPLAINTS--DECLINE OF HIS POPULARITY--YELLOW FEVER IN + PHILADELPHIA--WASHINGTON RETIRES TO MOUNT VERNON TO AVOID IT--DOCTOR + RUSH--ABATEMENT OF THE FEVER--WASHINGTON RETURNS TO PHILADELPHIA. + + +While Washington's cabinet was thus perplexed by the conduct of the +French minister, it was equally so by the relations of the governments +of the United States and Great Britain. As we have observed, a +diplomatic intercourse between the two governments did not commence +until the federal constitution had established the republic upon a more +solid basis. Then Mr. Hammond was appointed British minister to the +United States, and took up his residence in Philadelphia; and Mr. +Pinckney, appointed United States minister to Great Britain, repaired to +London. We have also observed that the evacuation of some of the western +posts by the British, and other stipulations of the treaty of 1783, yet +remained uncomplied with when Mr. Hammond came. These causes for +complaint on the part of the United States, and the establishment of +just commercial relations between the two governments, had been the +chief subjects for negotiation since his arrival. At the time in +question, no progress had been made toward accommodation, and for this +reason a large number of the Americans felt more disposed to take part +with their old ally, and against their old enemy. + +In fact, the catalogue of grievances suffered by the people of the +United States at the hand of Great Britain had increased, new +difficulties having grown out of the belligerent position of Europe at +the time we are considering. France, as we have seen, by a decree of her +National Convention, had placed the shipping of neutrals during the +pending war on the same footing as that of her own; and, in consequence, +a rich commerce had presented itself to American merchantmen, of which +they took advantage. Great Britain paid no attention to this decree, but +claimed for its cruisers the right to seize French property, even on +board American vessels. The British also refused to recognise as neutral +the trade between France and her West India colonies, carried on in +American bottoms, which the pressure of war had created. + +The British government had also instructed their cruisers to seize and +bring in all vessels employed in carrying breadstuffs to French ports, +even though vessel and cargo should be neutral property; claiming the +right, contrary to modern usage, of preventing, by all means in her +power, supplies being carried to her enemy, her statesmen having +conceived the idea of destroying the French Revolution by starvation. +Such vessels and cargoes were, however, to be paid for on proof being +presented of their neutral character, and bonds being given to land in +countries at peace with Great Britain. It is proper to state, that, at +about the time in question, the French government--under the pressure of +circumstances, and driven to it, they said, "by their implacable and +ferocious enemies"--authorized the same system of seizure, with promises +to pay. The British _did_ pay, the French did _not_, and on that score +the Americans more highly respected the former than the latter. + +A more serious ground of complaint against Great Britain was the +authority given to the commanders of British ships of war to make up any +deficiency in their crews, by pressing into their service British-born +seamen, wherever found, not within the immediate jurisdiction of any +foreign state. Under this authority, many American merchant-vessels were +crippled, while in mid-ocean, by British seamen being taken from them. +Nor were British seamen alone taken. It was sometimes difficult to +distinguish an Englishman from an American; and as the commanders of +vessels-of-war were not very strict in their scrutiny, native-born +Americans were frequently dragged on board British vessels, and kept in +slavery in the royal service for years. American seamen were thus +pressed into foreign service, even within the jurisdiction of the United +States. The remonstrances of the latter government against these +outrages were unheeded, and bitter feelings were engendered. + +And yet another serious cause of difficulty with, and resentment toward +Great Britain existed in the hostile position of the Indian tribes in +the Northwest. Abortive attempts were made by the United States' +commissioners to form a treaty with some of them. The Indians insisted +upon making the Ohio river the boundary between themselves and the white +people, and to this they inflexibly adhered. It was generally believed +that the government of Canada encouraged them to persevere in this +claim. Indeed, information obtained from the Indians themselves made the +suspicion plausible, and the justice of that suspicion was enforced by +the tenacity with which the British held on to the western posts, under +the pretext, however, that the portion of the treaty of 1783 relating to +the payment of debts to British creditors, contracted by Americans +previous to the Revolution, had not yet been fulfilled by the government +of the United States, or promised to be by any decisions of the federal +courts. + +These several causes of complaint against the British government, viewed +superficially by the people, caused great irritation in the public mind, +and a corresponding sympathy for France, the avowed and active enemy of +Great Britain. That sympathy, as we have seen, gave strength to the +insolent pretensions of Genet. Added to this was a decision in the +federal court at Richmond, which declared that, according to the treaty +of 1783, debts due from American citizens to British merchants previous +to the Revolution must be paid. This gave intensity to the excitement, +and the cry of usurpation on the part of the federal judiciary, which +had frequently been raised by the opposition, now went over the land +with vehement cadence. + +The relations of the United States with Spain rather strengthened +Genet's position. The Mississippi river was still closed to the +Americans; and the Creek and Cherokee Indians, evidently encouraged by +Spanish emissaries among them, assumed a position hostile to the United +States. It was also asserted that propositions had been made by Spain to +Great Britain inimical to the United States. These facts and rumors +inflamed the people of the extreme South and West; and as a part of +Genet's programme of operations in this country contemplated an armed +invasion of Louisiana and the opening of the Mississippi, he and his +cause were very popular with the settlers in the great valleys beyond +the mountains of the Southwest. + +While these things were perplexing Washington's cabinet, the dissentions +in that cabinet were more perplexing to the president. And yet, so +profoundly was Washington impressed with the skill, judgment, forecast, +and patriotism of the chief contestants, Jefferson and Hamilton, that he +contemplated the loss of their service, in their respective stations, +with the greatest solicitude. Such contemplations were pressed upon his +mind during the season of contest with Genet, which we have just +considered. Toward the close of June, Hamilton notified the president +that "considerations relative both to the public interest and to his own +delicacy" had brought him to the conclusion of resigning at the close of +the ensuing session of Congress; and on the thirty-first of July, +Jefferson informed him that, at the close of the ensuing month of +September, he should "beg leave to retire to scenes of greater +tranquillity from those for which," he said, "I am every day more and +more convinced that neither my talents, tone of mind, nor time of life +fit me." + +These communications distressed the president; and on the sixth of +August he called upon Mr. Jefferson at his house, a little out of +Philadelphia, and expressed himself greatly concerned because of the +threatened desertion of those on whom he most relied, in this the hour +of greatest perplexity to the government. He did not know where he +should look to find suitable characters to fill up the offices. Mere +talents, he said, did not suffice for the department of state; for its +duties required a person conversant with foreign affairs, and perhaps +with foreign courts. + +"He expressed great apprehensions," says Jefferson in his _Anas_, "at +the fermentation which seemed to be working in the mind of the public; +that many descriptions of persons, actuated by different causes, +appeared to be uniting [alluding to the democratic societies]; what it +would end in he knew not; a new Congress was to assemble, more numerous, +and perhaps of a different spirit; and the first expression of their +sentiments would be important." He then urged Jefferson to remain until +the close of the next session, if no longer. + +Jefferson pleaded his repugnance to public life, and especially the +uneasiness of the position in which he was placed. He and Hamilton were +bitter enemies, and his course, he said, had caused "the wealthy +aristocrats, the merchants connected closely with England, the +newly-created paper factions," to bear him peculiar hatred. Thus +surrounded, he said, his "words were caught, multiplied, misconstrued, +and even fabricated and spread abroad," to his injury. Disclaiming any +knowledge of the views of the republican party at that time, he gave it +as his opinion that they would be found strong supporters of the +government in all measures for the public welfare; that in the next +Congress they would attempt nothing material but to make that body +independent; and that though the manoeuvres of Mr. Genet might produce +some embarrassment, he would be abandoned by the republicans and all +true friends of the country the moment they knew the nature and tendency +of his conduct. + +The want of candor exhibited by Mr. Jefferson in these assurances, +recorded by his own pen, must have been plainly visible to Washington. +The idea that the secretary, the head and front of the republican party, +should be ignorant of their "views," and that the "party" would desert +Genet when they should know "the nature of his conduct," when that party +were his continual backers and supporters, is simply absurd; and it is +difficult to believe that Washington on that occasion, as Mr. Jefferson +says, actually asserted his belief "in the purity of the motives" of +that party.[58] + +Jefferson consented to remain longer in the cabinet, and wrote the +vigorous and high-toned letter to Gouverneur Morris on the subject of +Genet's recall--a letter forming one of the most admirable state papers +ever issued from that department. That letter gave Genet great umbrage, +and in his comments he bitterly reproached Jefferson because he had +allowed himself to be made "an ungenerous instrument" of attack upon +him, after having made him believe that he was his friend, and +"initiating him into the mysteries which had influenced his hatred +against all those who aspired to absolute power." It seems, from other +remarks of Genet, that the tone of Jefferson's private conversations +with the minister upon public topics had differed materially from that +of his official communications. Genet intimated this when he said that +"it was not in his character to speak, _as many people do_, in one way, +and to act in another--to have an official language, and a language +confidential."[59] + +While the subject of Genet's recall was pending, the minister proceeded +to New York. Already the common sense of the people began to prevail +over the nonsense of passion and feeling. Business-men--and the whole +population of the country had interests directly associated with +business-men--began to reflect upon the tendency of the doctrines of +Genet, and clearly perceived that their practical effect would be the +involvement of the United States in a war with England, and the sweeping +of all their commerce from the ocean. From the moment when these +reflections were heeded, there was a pause in the popular expressions of +enthusiasm in favor of Genet. The last libations of fulsome adulation +were poured out on his arrival in New York in September, while the +whole town and surrounding country were wild with excitement. The +frigate _L'Embuscade_, while lying in the harbor of New York, had been +challenged to single combat by the British frigate _Boston_, then +cruising off Sandy Hook. _L'Embuscade_ accepted the challenge; a severe +battle ensued; Captain Courtenay, commander of the _Boston_, was killed; +and the French vessel returned in triumph to New York. Multitudes of +people gathered upon the wharves and greeted her with loud cheers. The +excitement was intensified by the arrival, on the same day, of a French +fleet from Chesapeake bay, which anchored in the Hudson river. The +commander of _L'Embuscade_, and the officers of the other French +vessels, were regarded as almost superhuman by the most enthusiastic +sympathizers with the French Revolution; and tri-colored ribbons and +cockades were seen on every side, while the streets were made resonant +with the Marsellaise Hymn and the Carmagnole. + +While this new phase of excitement was at its culmination, the booming +of cannon and the merry peal of the bells announced the approach of +Citizen Genet. He was at Paulus' Hook (now Jersey City), opposite New +York, and thousands of his friends immediately gathered in "The Fields" +(now City-hall park) to adopt measures for his reception. A committee of +escort was appointed, and Genet entered the city, amid the acclamations +of an excited populace, with all the pomp of a conqueror. "Addresses +were made to him," says Mr. Irving, "expressing devoted attachment to +the French republic, and abjuring all neutrality in regard to its heroic +struggle. 'The cause of France is the cause of America,' cried the +enthusiasts; 'it is time to distinguish its friends from its foes.' +Genet looked around him. The tri-colored cockade figured in the hats of +the shouting multitude; tri-colored ribbons fluttered from the dresses +of females in the windows; the French flag was hoisted on the top of the +Tontine coffee-house (the city exchange), surmounted by the cap of +liberty. Can we wonder that what little discretion Genet possessed was +completely overborne by this tide of seeming popularity?" + +Genet had scarcely touched this cup of delight with his lips, when a +copy of Jefferson's letter to Morris came to embitter the intoxicating +draught. He received the document on the fifteenth of September, with +assurances that, out of regard to the interests of France, the president +would receive Mr. Genet's communications in writing, and respect him as +the representative of his government until his successor should arrive, +as long as his deportment should be of the tenor usually observed by +embassadors toward independent nations. Genet was stung to the quick; +and, three days after the receipt of this letter, he wrote a most angry +reply to Jefferson, in which, as we have just noticed, he accused him of +playing false to his professions of friendship, and charged the disfavor +in which he was held by the government to the machinations of +"aristocrats, partisans of monarchy, partisans of England and her +constitution and consequently enemies of the principles which all good +Frenchmen had imbued with religious enthusiasm;" and who, "instead of a +democratic embassador, would prefer a minister of the ancient _regime_, +very complaisant, very gentle, very disposed to pay court to people in +office, to conform blindly to everything which flattered their views and +projects; above all, to prefer to the sure and modest society of good +farmers, simple citizens, and honest artisans, that of distinguished +personages who speculate so patriotically in the public funds, in the +lands, and in the paper of government." + +Among the twelve enumerated great grievances of which Genet complained, +was, that at his first interview with the president, the latter did not +speak to _him_, specially, but of the friendship of the United States +toward France; that he did not, with partisan enthusiasm, announce a +single sentiment on the French Revolution, "while all the towns from +Charleston to Philadelphia had made the air resound with their most +ardent wishes for the French republic." He complained that the president +had admitted to a private audience, before his arrival, "Noailles[60] and +Talon, known agents of the French counter-revolutionists;" that the +"first magistrate of a free people decorated his parlor with certain +medallions" of the murdered king and his family, "which served at Paris +as signals of rallying;" that when he applied to the secretary of war to +lend his government some cannon and firearms for defensive use in the +Windward islands, that functionary had "the front to answer, with an +ironical carelessness, that the principles established by the president +did not permit him to lend the French so much as a pistol!" and, +lastly, that the president, in spite of the French minister's +"respectful insinuations," had deferred "to convoke Congress immediately +in order to take the true sentiments of the people, to fix the political +system of the United States, and to decide whether they would break, +suspend, or tighten their bonds with France." + +Jefferson, who had become heartily disgusted with Genet, took no notice +of this angry and insolent letter, and the speedily-changed tone of +public feeling toward the writer justified the silence. His threat of +appealing from the president to the people--in other words, to excite an +insurrection for the purpose of overthrowing the government--had shocked +the national pride, and many considerate republicans, who had been +zealous in the cause of the French Revolution, paused while listening to +the audacious words of a foreigner, who presumed to dictate a course of +conduct for the beloved Washington to pursue. + +The rumor of Genet's threat first went abroad in August, and met him, +while on a visit to New York, in the form of a statement in one of the +public papers. His partisans denied the truth of the statement, when +Chief-Justice Jay and Rufus King (the latter a leading member of +Congress) assumed the responsibility of it in a published note dated the +twelfth of August. The fact was thus established, notwithstanding the +violent assaults made by Genet's partisans upon the integrity of Messrs. +Jay and King; and on the very day when, as we have observed, he was +received in New York in the midst of pealing bells and roaring cannon, a +public meeting was held, in which his insolence was rebuked, and the +policy of Washington's proclamation of neutrality strongly commended. +Similar meetings were held throughout the Union, and there soon appeared +a demonstration of public sentiment, the existence of which was not +suspected by the partisans of Genet. His more violent friends attempted +to check the counter-current, but in vain. When they could no longer +deny the fact of his menace, they unwisely advocated his right to appeal +from the president to the people. But this advocacy, and Genet's own +intemperate conduct, damaged his interests past recovery. The tide of +his popularity began rapidly to ebb, and in the public mind there was +commenced a strong and irresistible reaction in favor of the federal +government. + +During the summer of 1793, a malignant fever, with slow but sure steps, +invaded the city of Philadelphia. One after another of the inhabitants +fell before its pestilential breath, until at length physicians and the +voice of daily experience pronounced it infectious. It was, in truth, +the deadly _yellow fever_ that had fastened its fangs upon the doomed +city. With the conviction of imminent peril, the population began to +move. Those whose circumstances permitted them to leave fled to the +country; and as August, with its hot days and cool, moist nights, drew +to a close, its intensity fearfully increased. It respected neither age +nor class. Early in September, Hamilton, the secretary of the treasury, +was prostrated by it, but recovered; and on the ninth, Washington with +his family left for Mount Vernon, leaving directions about his household +with General Knox, who resolved to remain, contrary to the advice of the +president. + +"I think it would not be prudent," said Washington, "either for you or +the clerks in your office, or the office itself, to be too much exposed +to the malignant fever, which, by well-authenticated report, is +spreading through the city.... I sincerely wish and pray that you and +yours may escape untouched, and when we meet again, that it may be under +circumstances more pleasing than the present." + +Washington would have remained longer, but Mrs. Washington, alarmed for +the safety of the whole family (the house in which they lived being in a +manner blockaded by the disorder), prevailed on him to leave. The fever +continued to rage with great violence until late in October, when frost +checked its progress. Before it ceased, between three and four thousand +of the inhabitants of Philadelphia perished. There was mourning in +almost every family; and during the ensuing session of Congress, there +was very little gayety in the federal capital. Some of the physicians +fled like cowards from the field of battle, while others remained and +assumed the two-fold functions of physicians and nurses, during those +dark days of the autumn of 1793. Among the latter was the eminent Doctor +Rush, whose courage and philanthropy are matters of history.[61] + +The progress of the disease in Philadelphia was watched by the +president at Mount Vernon with great solicitude, as the autumn wore +away, for it was near the time for the assembling of a new Congress, and +public affairs demanded their earliest and most serious attention. +September passed away, and much of October had gone, before the fever +abated. Meanwhile, he proposed to call the Congress together at +Germantown, or some other place near Philadelphia, at a safe distance +from the pestilence. He had some doubt concerning his power to change +the place of meeting, or to call them together at all, and asked the +opinion of Mr. Randolph, the attorney-general. That gentleman expressed +his belief that the president had not the power, and suggested the +propriety of the Congress assembling at some place within the limits of +Philadelphia, and then adjourning to some more remote and safe position. +In the event of their not so assembling at the proper time, the +"extraordinary occasion" contemplated by the constitution would occur, +and the president then, clearly, had the right to call them together at +the most suitable place. He also asked the opinions of other members of +his cabinet on the subject; but the abatement of the disease rendered +any change unnecessary. + +At the close of October Washington set out for Philadelphia with his +family, and there, on the second of December, the new Congress +assembled. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[58] In a letter to Richard Henry Lee, written at Mount Vernon a few +weeks later, Washington said: "On fair ground it would be difficult to +assign reasons for the conduct of those [the republican party] who are +arraigning, and, so far as they are able, constantly embarrassing, the +measures of government with respect to its pacific disposition towards +the belligerent powers in the convulsive dispute which agitates them. +But their motives are too obvious to those who have the means of +information, and have viewed the different grounds which they have +taken, to mistake their object. It is not the cause of France, nor I +believe of liberty, which they regard; for, could they involve this +country in war (no matter with whom) and disgrace, they would be among +the first and loudest of the clamorous against the expense and impolicy +of the measure." + +[59] Genet's Letter to Jefferson, September 18, 1793. + +[60] De Noailles was a young French nobleman, who married a sister of +Madame Lafayette, and served with distinction at the siege of Yorktown, +in 1781. Like his brother-in-law, the marquis, he had engaged warmly in +the French Revolution, in its earlier stages, but, like him, found +himself in a proscribed party, and obliged to fly for safety. He came to +the United States by way of England, and early in May he was in +Philadelphia with his friend Talon, seeking an audience with Washington. +The latter, with his usual circumspection, declined any direct +communication with him until the object of his visit should be known. In +a note to Hamilton, Washington remarked, "I pray you intimate to him +[Viscount de Noailles], gently and delicately, that if the letters or +papers which he has to present are, knowingly to him, of a nature which +relates to public matters, and not particularly addressed to me, or if +he has any verbal communications to make of a similar kind, I had rather +they should come through a proper channel. Add thereto, generally, that +the peculiar situation of European affairs at this moment, my good +wishes for his nation aggregately, my regard for those of it, in +particular, with whom I have had the honor of an acquaintance, my +anxious desire to keep this country in peace, and the delicacy of my +situation, render a circumspect conduct indispensably necessary on my +part. I do not, however, mean by this that I am to withhold from him +such civilities as are common to others. Those more marked, +notwithstanding our former acquaintance, would excite speculations, +which had better be avoided." + +[61] Dr. Benjamin Rush was then in the prime of life, being forty-eight +years of age. He had already achieved the highest success in his +profession as a writer and practitioner; and as a member of the +continental Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, he +had a wide-spread popularity. He founded the Philadelphia dispensary in +1786, and was one of the principal founders of Dickinson college, at +Carlisle, in Pennsylvania. He was professor of medical science in the +medical college of Philadelphia, and also in the medical college of +Pennsylvania. He was president of the American Anti-slavery society and +other associations for the good of mankind. + +"In private life," says Doctor John W. Francis, "his disposition and +deportment were in the highest degree exemplary. Admired and courted for +his intellectual endowments, he riveted to him the affections of all who +enjoyed the pleasure of an intimate acquaintance. The affability of his +manners, the amiableness of his temper, and the benevolence of his +character, were ever conspicuous. He was ardent in his friendships, and +forgiving in his resentments; and yet, entertaining a due regard for +himself and a high sense of honor, he possessed a manly independence of +spirit which disdained everything mean and servile. He had an +extraordinary command of language, and always imparted his thoughts in a +peculiarly impressive and eloquent manner. Those who had the happiness +to experience the delights of his conversation will long recollect with +pleasure his unassuming modesty, and the rich stores of knowledge he +poured forth on the most instructive topics. Even when his opinions were +solicited, they were given, not as the dictates or admonitions of a +superior, but as the kind advice of a friend and equal. He never evinced +any of that haughtiness and affectation of importance which sometimes +attaches to men of eminence, and which so materially lessens the +pleasures and comforts of social life."--_Sketch of the Life and +Character of the late Doctor Benjamin Rush_, in the _American Medical +and Philosophical Register_, July, 1813. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + ASSEMBLING OF THE THIRD CONGRESS--ITS CHARACTER--RECOMMENDATIONS IN + WASHINGTON'S ANNUAL MESSAGE--HIS SPECIAL MESSAGE CONCERNING + RELATIONS WITH EUROPE--HIS NOTICE OF GENET--OPINIONS OF THE CABINET + CONCERNING THE MESSAGE--WASHINGTON SUPPORTED BY + CONGRESS--JEFFERSON'S REPORT ON COMMERCIAL RELATIONS--HIS PARTING + MISSILE CAST AT GENET--JEFFERSON'S RETIREMENT FROM + OFFICE--WASHINGTON'S CONFIDENCE IN HIM--CORRESPONDENCE--JEFFERSON AT + HOME--MADISON'S RESOLUTIONS BASED ON JEFFERSON'S REPORT. + + +The third Congress assembled at Philadelphia on the second of December. +In the senate, many of the leading members of former sessions remained, +having their places either by holding over or by re-election. Many of +the old members of the house of representatives had also been re-chosen, +and yet there were a great many changes in that body. The elements of +party strife were active among them all, and it was evident to every man +that a great struggle was impending. The aggressions of the British and +the intrigues of Genet continued to inflame the zeal of the republicans, +and they carried their partiality to France to a degree of absolute +fanaticism. To many minds, open war between England and the United +States appeared inevitable. + +Washington's annual message, delivered at the opening of Congress, was +calculated to still the turbulent waves of faction, had reason and +judgment, and not passion and fanaticism, swayed the opinions of men. He +expressed his sense of the continued confidence of the people in +re-electing him to the high office of chief-magistrate of the nation; +and then, in firm, explicit, and dignified terms, spoke of existing +public affairs, especially the measures he had taken, in consequence of +the war in Europe, to preserve peace at home and to protect the rights +and interests of the United States. He pressed upon Congress the +necessity of placing the country in a condition of complete defence, and +of exacting from other governments the fulfilment of their duties toward +his own. + +"The United States ought not," he said, "to indulge a persuasion that, +contrary to the order of human events, they will for ever keep at a +distance those painful appeals to arms with which the history of every +other nation abounds. There is a rank due to the United States among +nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the +reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to +repel it. If we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful +instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at +all times ready for war." With such suggestions, he urged them to adopt +measures for increasing the amount of arms and ammunition in the +arsenals, and to improve the militia establishment. He assured them that +every reasonable effort had been made to adjust the causes of dissention +with the Indians north of the Ohio, and yet war with them continued. He +alluded to the political connection of the United States with Europe, +and promised to give them, in a subsequent communication, a statement of +occurrences which related to it, that had passed under the knowledge of +the executive. + +The president urged the house of representatives to adopt measures for +the "regular redemption and discharge of the public debt," as a matter +of the first importance; and announced the necessity of an augmentation +of the public revenue to meet all proper demands upon the treasury. He +concluded by saying, "Permit me to bring to your remembrance the +magnitude of your task. Without an unprejudiced coolness, the welfare of +the government may be hazarded; without harmony, as far as consists with +freedom of sentiment, its dignity may be lost. But, as the legislative +proceedings of the United States will never, I trust, be reproached for +the want of temper or of candor, so shall not the public happiness +languish for the want of my strenuous and warmest co-operation." + +On the fifth of December, according to promise, Washington laid before +Congress the documents relating, not only to Genet and his mission, but +to negotiations with England and other European governments. In his +message accompanying these documents, after alluding to the general +feeling of friendship for the United States exhibited by the +representative and executive bodies of France, the president spoke as +follows of the insolent Genet:-- + +"It is with extreme concern I have to inform you, that the proceedings +of the person whom they have unfortunately appointed their minister +plenipotentiary here have breathed nothing of the friendly spirit of the +nation which sent him. Their tendency, on the contrary, has been to +involve us in war abroad, and discord and anarchy at home. So far as his +acts, or those of his agents, have threatened our immediate commitment +in the war, or flagrant insult to the authority of the laws, their +effect has been counteracted by the ordinary cognizance of the laws, and +by an exertion of the powers confided to me. Where their danger was not +imminent, they have been borne with from sentiments of regard to his +nation, from a sense of their friendship toward us, from a conviction +that they would not suffer us to long remain exposed to the action of a +person who has so little respected our mutual dispositions, and from a +reliance on the firmness of my fellow-citizens in their principles of +peace and order." He then alluded to the spoliations which had been +committed upon the commerce of the United States by the cruisers of the +belligerent powers, and the restrictions upon American commerce +attempted to be enforced by the commanders of British vessels pursuant +to instructions of their government. He also called attention to the +inexecution of the treaty of 1783, and the relations of the United +States and Spain. + +"The message," says Hildreth, "as originally drafted by Jefferson, +contained a contrast between the conduct of France and England, +especially in relation to commercial facilities, highly favorable to the +former. This had been objected to by Hamilton, who considered the +disposition of the people toward France a serious calamity, and that the +executive ought not, by echoing her praises, to nourish that +disposition. In his opinion, the balance of commercial favors was +decidedly with the British; the commercial offers made by France were +the offspring of the moment, growing out of circumstances that could not +last. To evade Hamilton's objections, Jefferson consented to some +modifications of the message. Hamilton then insisted that the papers +relating to the non-execution of the treaty of peace, and to the +stopping of the corn-ships, ought not to be communicated, unless in a +secret message, as the matters therein discussed were still unsettled, +and the tendency of the communication was to inflame the public mind +against Great Britain. Jefferson was a good deal alarmed at this +threatened suppression of his diplomatic labors; but Washington decided +that all the papers should be communicated without any restrictions of +secrecy, even those respecting the corn-ships, which all the cabinet +except Jefferson had advised to withhold." + +In a letter to his wife, written on the nineteenth of December, John +Adams, referring to the sentence in Washington's special message in +relation to the French minister, said, "The president has considered the +conduct of Genet very nearly in the same light with Columbus, and has +given him a bolt of thunder. We shall see how this is supported by both +houses. We shall soon see whether we have any government or not in this +country." Doubting whether Washington would be sustained by Congress, +Adams continued: "But, although he stands at present as high in the +admiration and confidence of the people as ever he did, I expect he will +find many bitter and desperate enemies arise in consequence of his just +judgment against Genet." + +In this, Adams was mistaken. The house, where the opposition was most +rampant, determined, and unscrupulous, responded most affectionately to +the president's message, and tacitly rebuked the demagogues for their +personal abuse of Washington. They expressed their satisfaction at his +re-election, and their confidence in the purity and patriotism of his +motives, in all his acts, especially in again consenting, at the call of +his country, to fill the presidential chair. "It is to virtues which +have commanded long and universal reverence, and services from which +have flowed great and lasting benefits, that the tribute of praise may +be paid, without the reproach of flattery; and it is from the same +sources that the fairest anticipations may be derived in favor of the +public happiness." + +Both houses, likewise, in the face of the popular excitement in favor of +France, approved of the president's course in regard to that country and +its representative; and while the lower house was guarded in its terms +of approval of the proclamation of neutrality that had been so loudly +condemned by the partisan press, the senate pronounced it "a measure +well-timed and wise, manifesting a watchful solicitude for the welfare +of the nation and calculated to promote it." + +Jefferson's official connection with Washington was now drawing to a +close. He had consented to remain in the cabinet until the end of the +current year. With the completion and submission of some able state +papers he finished his career as secretary of state. One of them was an +elaborate report called for by a resolution of Congress adopted in +February, 1791, on the state of trade of the United States with +different countries; the nature and extent of exports and imports, and +the amount of tonnage of American shipping. It also specified the +various restrictions and prohibitions by which American commerce was +embarrassed and greatly injured, and recommended the adoption of +discriminating duties, as against Great Britain, to compel her to put +the United States on a more equal footing, she having thus far +persistently declined to enter into any treaty stipulations on the +subject. + +Jefferson's last official act was the administration of a deserved +rebuke to Genet. That meddling functionary had sent to him translations +of the instructions given him by the executive council of France, +desiring the president to lay them officially before both houses of +Congress, and proposing to transmit, from time to time, other papers to +be laid before them in like manner. "I have it in charge to observe," +said Jefferson to Genet in a letter on the thirty-first of December, +"that your functions as the minister of a foreign nation here are +confined to the transactions of the affairs of your nation with the +executive of the United States; that the communications which are to +pass between the executive and legislative branches can not be a +subject for your interference; and that the president must be left to +judge for himself what matters his duty, or the public good, may require +him to propose to the deliberations of Congress. I have, therefore, the +honor of returning you the copies sent for distribution, and of being, +with great respect, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant." +Even this did not keep Genet quiet. + +Throughout all the storm that had agitated his cabinet, and the +hostility of Jefferson and his party to the measures of the +administration, Washington never withheld from the secretary of state +his confidence in his wisdom and patriotism; and the latter left office +with the happy consciousness that he carried with him into retirement +the friendship of one, of whom he said in after years, "His integrity +was most pure, his justice the most inflexible I have ever known; no +motives of interest or consanguinity, of friendship or hatred, being +able to bias his decision. He was indeed, in every sense of the word, a +wise, and good, and great man"[62] + +On the last day of the year, Mr. Jefferson offered his resignation in +the following letter to the president: "Having had the honor of +communicating to you, in my letter of the last of July, my purpose of +retiring from the office of secretary of state at the end of the month +of September, you were pleased, for particular reasons, to wish its +postponement to the close of the year. That time being now arrived, and +my propensities to retirement daily more and more irresistible, I now +take the liberty of resigning the office into your hands. Be pleased to +accept with it my sincere thanks for all the indulgences which you have +been so good as to exercise toward me in the discharge of its duties. +Conscious that my need of them have been great, I have still ever found +them greater, without any other claim on my part than a firm pursuit of +what has appeared to me to be right, and a thorough disdain of all means +which were not as open and honorable as their object was pure. I carry +into my retirement a lively sense of your goodness, and shall continue +gratefully to remember it. + +"With very sincere prayers for your life, health, and tranquillity, I +pray you to accept the homage of great and constant respect and +attachment." + +To this Washington replied the next day as follows: "I yesterday +received, with sincere regret, your resignation of the office of +secretary of state. Since it has been impossible to prevail upon you to +forego any longer the indulgence of your desire for private life, the +event, however anxious I am to avert it, must be submitted to. + +"But I can not suffer you to leave your station without assuring you +that the opinion which I had formed of your integrity and talents, and +which dictated your original nomination, has been confirmed by the +fullest experience, and that both have been eminently displayed in the +discharge of your duty. + +"Let a conviction of my most earnest prayers for your happiness +accompany you in your retirement; and while I accept, with the warmest +thanks, your solicitude for my welfare, I beg you to believe that I +always am, dear sir, &c." + +Edmund Randolph, the attorney-general, took Jefferson's place in the +cabinet, and his own was filled by William Bradford, of Pennsylvania. +Mr. Jefferson left the seat of government as soon as possible after +withdrawing from public life; and a fortnight after his resignation he +arrived at Monticello, his beautiful home in the interior of Virginia, +in full view of the Blue Ridge along a continuous line of almost sixty +miles. He was then fifty years of age. His whole family, with all his +servants, were at his home to receive him; and so delightful was this, +his first experience of private life for many long years, that he +resolved to abandon himself to it entirely. + +He boasted, almost a month after he left Philadelphia, that he had not +seen a newspaper since his flight from the cares of government, and he +declared that he thought of never taking one again. "I think it is +Montaigne," he wrote to Edmund Randolph on the third of February, "who +has said that ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest +his head. I am sure it is true, as to anything political, and shall +endeavor to estrange myself to everything of that character." But his +hatred of Hamilton, and his persistence in regarding the political +friends of that gentleman as necessarily corrupt, would not allow party +feud to sleep in his mind, and he added, in the next sentence, "I +indulge myself on one political topic only; that is, in declaring to my +countrymen the shameless corruption of a portion of the representatives +to the first and second Congress, and their implicit devotion to the +treasury." + +Meanwhile, the report of Jefferson on commercial affairs was eliciting +warm debates in Congress. In that report he had suggested two methods +for modifying or removing commercial restrictions: first, by amicable +arrangements with foreign powers; and, secondly, by counteracting acts +of the legislature. With the design, as we have seen, of distressing +France by cutting off her supplies, two orders in council were issued by +the British government, one in June and the other in November, which +bore heavily upon the commercial prosperity of the United States. By the +first order, British cruisers were instructed to stop all ships laden +with corn, flour, or meal (corn-ships already alluded to), bound to any +French port, and send them to any convenient port, home or continental, +where the cargoes might be purchased in behalf of the British +government. By the second, British ships-of-war and privateers were +required to detain all vessels laden with goods produced in any colony +belonging to France, or with provisions for any such colony, and bring +them to adjudication before British courts of admiralty. These were such +flagrant outrages upon the rights of neutrals, that the United States +government strongly remonstrated against them as unjust in principle and +injurious in their practical effects. It was to these orders in council +and their effects that the president pointed in his annual message, when +urging the necessity of placing the country in a state of defense, and +in a position to assert its just rights.[63] + +Mr. Jefferson's report gave rise to a series of resolutions offered, by +Mr. Madison on the third of January, 1794, the leading idea of which was +that of opposing commercial resistance to commercial injury, and to +enforce a perfect equality by retaliating impositions on the assumption +that the commercial system of Great Britain was hostile to that of the +United States. This scheme embodied the idea of a proposition made by +Madison in the first Congress. His resolutions now took wider range, +however, than did his proposition then. It was now proposed to impose +restrictions and additional duties on the manufactures and navigation of +nations which had no commercial treaties with the United States, and a +reduction of duties on the tonnage of vessels belonging to nations with +which such treaties existed. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[62] Letter to Doctor Walter Jones, January 2, 1814. + +[63] In allusion to the annual and special messages of Washington at +this time, the eminent Charles James Fox made the following remarks in +the British parliament on the thirty-first of January, 1794:-- + + "And here, sir, I can not help alluding to the president of the + United States, General Washington, a character whose conduct has + been so different from that which has been pursued by ministers of + this country. How infinitely wiser must appear the spirit and + principles manifested in his late addresses to Congress than the + policy of modern European courts! Illustrious man! deriving honor + less from the splendor of his situation than from the dignity of + his mind; before whom all borrowed greatness sinks into + insignificance, and all the potentates of Europe (excepting the + members of our own royal family) become little and contemptible! He + has had no occasion to have recourse to any tricks of policy or + arts of alarm; his authority has been sufficiently supported by the + same means by which it was acquired, and his conduct has uniformly + been characterized by wisdom, moderation, and firmness. Feeling + gratitude to France for the assistance received from her in that + great contest which secured the independence of America, he did not + choose to give up the system of neutrality. Having once laid down + that line of conduct, which both gratitude and policy pointed out + as most proper to be pursued, not all the insults and provocations + of the French minister, Genet, could turn him from his purpose. + Intrusted with the welfare of a great people, he did not allow the + misconduct of another with respect to himself, for one moment, to + withdraw his attention from their interest. He had no fear of the + Jacobins; he felt no alarm for their principles, and considered no + precaution as necessary in order to stop their progress. + + "The people over whom he presided he knew to be acquainted with + their rights and their duties. He trusted to their own good sense + to defeat the effect of those arts which might be employed to + inflame or mislead their minds; and was sensible that a government + could be in no danger while it retained the attachment and + confidence of its subjects; attachment, in this instance, not + blindly adopted--confidence not implicitly given, but arising from + the conviction of its excellence, and the experience of its + blessings. I can not, indeed, help admiring the wisdom and fortune + of this great man. By the phrase 'fortune,' I mean not in the + smallest degree to derogate from his merit. But, notwithstanding + his extraordinary talent and exalted integrity, it must be + considered as singularly fortunate that he should have experienced + a lot which so seldom falls to the portion of humanity, and have + passed through such a variety of scenes without stain and reproach. + It must indeed create astonishment, that, placed in circumstances + so critical, and filling for a series of years a station so + conspicuous, his character should never once have been called in + question; that he should in no one instance have been accused + either of improper insolence or of mean submission in his + transactions with foreign nations. For him it has been reserved to + run the race of glory, without experiencing the smallest + interruption to the brilliancy of his career." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + DEBATES ON MADISON'S RESOLUTIONS--THEIR FATE--PROCEEDINGS IN REGARD + TO ALGERINE CORSAIRS--COMMENCEMENT OF A NAVY--FIRST COMMITTEE OF + WAYS AND MEANS--FRIGATES ORDERED TO BE BUILT--NAVAL OFFICERS + APPOINTED--GENET RECALLED--ARRIVAL OF HIS SUCCESSOR--GENET MARRIES + AND BECOMES AN AMERICAN CITIZEN--EXCITEMENT AGAINST GREAT + BRITAIN--APPOINTMENT OF A SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE BRITISH COURT + DISCUSSED--JOHN JAY APPOINTED--BELLIGERENT ACTION IN CONGRESS--JAMES + MONROE APPOINTED MORRIS'S SUCCESSOR IN FRANCE--ADJOURNMENT OF + CONGRESS--WASHINGTON VISITS MOUNT VERNON--REBELLIOUS MOVEMENTS IN + KENTUCKY--WASHINGTON'S COMMENTS THEREON. + + +Madison's resolutions elicited very warm, and at times, violent debates. +The subject was of a purely commercial nature; but the questions it +involved were so interwoven with political considerations, that the +debates inevitably assumed a political and partisan aspect. The +federalists plainly saw that the recommendations in Jefferson's report, +and in the resolutions of Madison, hostility to England and undue favor +toward France, neither position being warranted by a wise policy, nor +consistent with neutrality. The republicans, on the other hand, regarded +the scheme as equitable in itself, and as absolutely necessary for the +assertion of the rights of neutral nations, and the protection of +American commerce from insult, aggression, and plunder. These debates, +which commenced on the thirteenth of January, continued until the third +of February, with few intermissions; and the house was so nearly equally +divided in sentiment, that the first resolution, authorizing commercial +restrictions, was passed by a majority of only five. This was +subsequently rejected in the senate by the casting vote of the +vice-president, and the further consideration of the whole subject was +postponed until March. When it was resumed, the progress of events had +given such new complexion to the whole matter, that it was indefinitely +postponed. + +A new and important subject for legislation was brought up at this time. +Very soon after the close of the Revolution, the piratical practices of +corsairs belonging to the Barbary powers on the southern shores of the +Mediterranean sea, and particularly of Algiers, had suggested the +importance of a naval establishment for the protection of the infant +commerce of the new-born nation. Many American merchant-ships, trading +in the Mediterranean sea, were captured by these corsairs, their cargoes +appropriated by the pirates, and their crews sold into slavery. Toward +the close of 1790, President Washington called the attention of Congress +to the subject, and at the same time Mr. Jefferson, the secretary of +state, who had made himself thoroughly acquainted with the facts when in +France, gave many interesting details in an official report on the +subject. + +Colonel David Humphreys was appointed a commissioner to treat with the +dey or governor of Algiers concerning his corsairs; but that +semi-barbarian--proud, haughty, and avaricious--was not disposed to +relinquish his share of the profitable sea-robberies carried on under +his sanction. "If I were to make peace with everybody," he said, "what +should I do with my corsairs? What should I do with my soldiers? They +would take off my head for the want of other prizes, not being able to +live on their miserable allowance!" + +This was certainly good logic for the perplexed dey, but it did not +convince Humphreys of the justice of piratical practices; and, at the +close of 1793, he wrote to the government of the United States, "If we +mean to have a commerce, we must have a navy to defend it. Besides, the +very _semblance of this_ would tend more toward enabling us to maintain +our neutrality, in the actual critical state of affairs in Europe, than +all the declarations, reasonings, concessions, and sacrifices, that can +possibly be made." + +Washington had communicated to the house on the twenty-third day of +December, in a confidential message, the state of affairs with Algiers; +and its consideration with closed doors brought about a debate as to +whether the public should at any time, or under any circumstances, be +excluded from the galleries of the halls of Congress. This, however, +interrupted the business only for a short time. + +On the second of January, a committee was appointed to report the amount +of force necessary to protect American commerce against the Algerine +corsairs, and the ways and means for its support. This was the first +committee of ways and means ever appointed by Congress, questions of +that sort having been hitherto referred to the secretary of the +treasury. It indicated an opposition majority in the house, but, as we +have seen in the case of Madison's resolutions, it was very small. + +Finally, in the spring of 1794, Congress passed an act to provide for a +naval armament, because, as the preamble recited, "the depredations +committed by the Algerine corsairs on the commerce of the United States, +render it necessary that a naval force should be provided for its +protection." The bill met with strenuous opposition: first, because the +time required to form a navy would be too long, the pressing exigency of +the case requiring immediate action; and, secondly, because it would be +cheaper to purchase the friendship of Algiers by paying a money-tribute, +as had been done for some time by European nations, or to purchase the +protection of those nations. It appears strange that suggestions so +degrading to the character of a free and independent nation should not +have been met with indignant rebuke. + +The bill was passed by a small majority. The president was authorized to +provide four frigates, to carry forty-four guns each, and two to carry +thirty-six guns each, and to equip, man, and employ them. The act also +gave him some discretion about the size and metal of the vessels. +Washington, impressed with the stern necessity that called for this +armament, immediately ordered the six vessels to be built, one each at +Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Portsmouth in Virginia, and Portsmouth +in New Hampshire. He also, with the advice and consent of the senate, +proceeded to appoint six naval commanders and other officers; and thus +was commenced the navy of the United States.[64] + +[Illustration: AMERICAN NAVAL COMMANDERS] + +During the progress of the debates on Madison's resolutions, +Washington communicated to Congress evidences of efforts on the part of +Genet to excite the people of portions of the Union against the Spanish +authorities on its southwestern border, and to organize military +expeditions against Louisiana and the Floridas. It was now determined to +bear with the insolence and mischievous meddling of the French minister +no longer; and, at a cabinet council, it was agreed that his diplomatic +functions should be suspended, the privileges resting thereon to be +denied him, and his person arrested. This was the only course for the +government to pursue for the preservation of its dignity, and perhaps +the safety of the republic. This resolution was about to be put into +execution, when a despatch was received from Gouverneur Morris +announcing Genet's recall. The French minister of foreign affairs had, +as soon as he heard of Genet's misconduct, reprobated it as unauthorized +by his government, and appointed M. Fauchet secretary of the executive +council to succeed him. At the same time the French government asked the +recall of Gouverneur Morris, whose views of democracy, as he saw it +daily in Paris, did not coincide with the doctrines of the Jacobins. +Morris was recalled, and Washington, with a liberal spirit, nominated +James Monroe, a political opponent, as his successor. He knew that +Monroe would be acceptable to the French Convention, and likely, +therefore, to be useful to his government. + +Fauchet was a keen diplomatist, and came as the representative of an +administration more radical in its democracy than the one that appointed +Genet. The Girondists had fallen, and the government of France had +passed into the hands of Danton and Robespierre, the leaders of the +Jacobins. The Reign of Terror was now in full force. The republican +constitution had been suspended, and the Convention had assumed despotic +powers with bloody proclivities. Even the warmest sympathizers with the +French Revolution, in America, stood appalled at the aspect of affairs +there; and many began to doubt, after all, whether English liberty was +not preferable to French liberty.[65] + +Fauchet arrived at Philadelphia in February, and Genet had liberty to +return to France. But he did not choose to trust his person to the +caprices of his countrymen in that time of anarchy and blood, and he +remained in America. He married Cornelia Tappen, daughter of Governor +Clinton, of New York, and became a resident of that state. He at once +disappeared from the firmament of politics, but was an excellent citizen +of his adopted country, and took great interest in agriculture. His +course as minister has been ably defended; but the verdict of impartial +history condemns it as unwise and unwarrantable, to say the least. He +died at his residence in Greenbush, opposite Albany, in July, 1834. + +Another subject now violently agitated the American people. The news of +the British orders in council concerning the French colonial trade had +produced great excitement in commercial circles at Philadelphia and New +York. It was considered a flagrant act of injustice toward neutrals, and +both parties vehemently condemned the British government. In Congress a +resolution was offered for the raising of fifteen thousand men to serve +two years, and for other preparations for war; and it was at this +juncture that Madison's commercial resolutions, as we have observed, +were called up, debated, and indefinitely postponed. While the debates +on these resolutions were pending, the feeling against Great Britain was +further stimulated by the publication, in New York, of a reputed speech +of Lord Dorchester (Carleton), governor of Canada, to a deputation of +Indians of Lower Canada, who had attended a great council of savage +tribes, in the Ohio country, in 1793. In this speech, Dorchester, it was +alleged, openly avowed his opinion that war between the United States +and Great Britain would be commenced that year, and that "a new line +between the two nations must be drawn by the sword." This document was +pronounced a forgery. But it had its intended effect in increasing the +hatred of Great Britain in the hearts of a very large portion of the +American people. Congress, under the excitement of the moment, passed a +joint resolution, laying an embargo for thirty days, and afterward for +thirty days longer, for the purpose of preventing British supply-ships +carrying provisions to their fleet in the West Indies. It was also +proposed to enroll an army of eighty thousand minute-men, to man forts +and be ready for action; also an additional standing army of twenty +thousand men. + +War with Great Britain now seemed inevitable. To avert it, was +Washington's most anxious solicitude; and, firm in his purpose of +preserving for his country neutrality and peace, he resolved to make an +experiment for the maintenance of both, by sending an envoy +extraordinary to England to open negotiations anew. It required great +heroism to attempt such a course; for the popular excitement was +intense, and the idea of holding any further intercourse with England +was scouted as pusillanimous. The tri-colored cockade was seen upon +every side, and the partisans of the French regicides appeared again to +rule the popular will for the hour. + +While the public mind was thus agitated, the president received +despatches from Mr. Pinckney, the resident American minister in London, +advising him that the offensive orders in council of the previous +November, concerning neutral ships, had been revoked, and that Lord +Grenville, in conversation, had assured Mr. Pinckney that that measure +had not been intended for the special vexation of American commerce, but +to distress France. This intelligence subdued the belligerent tone of +the opposition for a moment; yet they showed no reluctance to an open +rupture with Great Britain, affecting to regard Grenville's words as +insincere. Their vehement opposition to the appointment of a special +envoy was speedily renewed, and unscrupulous partisans kept up the +war-cry. The opposition press and the democratic societies used every +means to inflame the populace and increase the exasperation of their +feelings toward Great Britain; and they declared that the crisis had +arrived when decision and energy, not moderation toward that government, +was demanded. + +But these manifestations had no sensible effect upon Washington. His +purpose had been adopted after mature reflection. His sagacious mind +perceived clearly the probability of success, and his moral heroism, as +on all other occasions, was proof against animadversions. He hesitated +only when the question, Who shall be appointed? was presented. + +Washington's first preference for the mission was Hamilton; but the +earliest intimation of this preference that reached the public ear +raised a storm of opposition. The proposed mission itself was condemned +as a cowardly advance to the British government; and a member of the +house of representatives addressed an earnest letter to the president, +opposing the mission in general terms, and in an especial manner +deprecating the appointment of Hamilton as the envoy to be employed. +Senator James Monroe also took upon himself the task of remonstrating +with Washington, in writing, against the nomination of Hamilton, +assuring him that it would be injurious to the public interest and to +the interest of the president himself; and proposed to explain his +reasons at a private interview. Washington declined the interview, but +requested Mr. Monroe to submit to him, in writing, any facts he might +possess which would disqualify the secretary of the treasury for the +mission; and added: "Colonel Hamilton and others have been mentioned, +but no one is yet absolutely decided upon in my mind. But, as much will +depend, among other things, upon the abilities of the person sent, and +his knowledge of the affairs of this country, and as I am alone +responsible for a proper nomination, it certainly behooves me to name +such a one as, in my judgment, combines the requisites for a mission so +peculiarly interesting to the peace and happiness of this country." +Nothing more was heard from Mr. Monroe on the subject. + +Hamilton, with his usual disinterestedness, relieved the president by +advising him to choose, for the proposed envoy, Chief-Justice Jay. In a +long letter to the president, written on the fifteenth of April, in +which he took a general and comprehensive view of national affairs and +the relative position of the country to England, he recommended him to +nominate, as special minister to England, a person who should "have the +confidence of those who think peace still within our reach, and who may +be thought qualified for the mission," with an observation to Congress +that it was done "with an intention to make a solemn appeal to the +justice and good sense of the British government;" at the same time, to +make an "earnest recommendation that vigorous and effectual measures may +be adopted to be prepared for war." + +Hamilton then alluded to the fact that Washington had contemplated +nominating him for the mission; and after saying that he was well aware +of the obstacles that existed, and that he would be "completely and +entirely satisfied with the election of another," he nominated Mr. Jay, +as "the only man in whose qualifications for success there would be +thorough confidence.... I think," he continued, "the business would have +the best chance possible in his hands, and I flatter myself that his +mission would issue in a manner that would produce the most important +good to the nation." + +"Let me add, sir," said Hamilton in conclusion, "that those whom I call +the sober-minded men of the country, look up to you with solicitude on +the present occasion. If happily you should be the instrument of still +rescuing the country from the dangers and calamities of war, there is no +part of your life, sir, which will produce to you more real +satisfaction, or true glory, than that which shall be distinguished by +this very important service." + +Washington took Hamilton's advice, and, in the following message to the +senate, nominated Mr. Jay for the mission:-- + + "_Gentlemen of the Senate:_--The communications which I have made + to you during the present session, from the despatches of our + minister in London, contain a serious aspect of our affairs with + Great Britain. But, as peace ought to be pursued with unremitted + zeal before the last resource, which has so often been the scourge + of nations, and can not fail to check the advancing prosperity of + the United States, is contemplated, I have thought proper to + nominate, and do hereby nominate, John Jay as envoy extraordinary + of the United States to his Britannic majesty. + + "My confidence in our minister plenipotentiary in London continues + undiminished. But a mission like this, while it corresponds with + the solemnity of the occasion, will announce to the world a + solicitude for a friendly adjustment of our complaints, and a + reluctance to hostility. Going immediately from the United States, + such an envoy will carry with him a full knowledge of the existing + temper and sensibility of our country, and will thus be taught to + vindicate our rights with firmness, and to cultivate peace with + sincerity." + +Mr. Jay had recently arrived in Philadelphia from New York, and +consented to accept the nomination. It was confirmed by the senate on +Saturday, the nineteenth of April, by a majority of eighteen to eight; +Aaron Burr being among the few who opposed it, it being his practice to +dissent from every measure proposed by Washington. + +Conscious of the urgency of his mission, Mr. Jay made immediate +preparations for his departure; and on the twelfth of May he embarked at +New York, with Colonel John Trumbull, the artist, as his secretary. He +was accompanied to the ship by about a thousand of his fellow-citizens, +who desired thus to testify their personal respect and their interest in +his mission of peace. A few days preceding, the Democratic Society of +Philadelphia issued a most inflammatory denunciation of the mission and +the minister; and the opposition in the lower house of Congress +succeeded in adopting a resolution to cut off all intercourse with Great +Britain. It was lost in the senate by the casting vote of +Vice-President Adams; "not," as Washington remarked in a letter to +Tobias Lear on the sixth of May, "as it is said and generally believed, +from a disinclination to the ulterior expedience of the measure, but +from a desire to try the effect of negotiation previous thereto." Mr. +Monroe, acting under instructions from the Virginia legislature, +proposed in the senate to suspend by law the article of the treaty of +peace which secured to British creditors the right of recovering in the +United States their honest debts. This proposition was frowned down by +every right-minded man in that chamber. + +Another delicate matter connected with the foreign relations of the +United States now occupied the mind of Washington. The French +government, as we have observed, on recalling Genet, asked that of the +United States to recall Mr. Morris. Washington was anxious to appoint a +judicious successor--one that would be acceptable to the French, and who +would not compromise the neutrality of his own country. He confided in +Pinckney, and desired Mr. Jay, in the event of his mission being +successful, to remain in London as resident minister. Pinckney would +then be sent to France. But Jay would not consent to the arrangement. +Washington then offered the French mission to Robert R. Livingston, +chancellor of the state of New York, who, with his extensive and +influential family connections, was in politics a republican. Livingston +declined, and the president finally offered it to James Monroe. He +consented to serve, and his nomination was confirmed by the senate on +the twenty-eighth of May. Soon after this, John Quincy Adams, son of the +vice-president, was appointed minister at the Hague in place of Mr. +Short, Jefferson's secretary of legation in France, who went to Spain to +ascertain what Carmichael, the American minister there, was doing, his +government being unable to hear from him except at long intervals. + +Mr. Monroe arrived in Paris toward the middle of August, and immediately +sent to the president of the convention the following letter:-- + + "_Citizen-President:_--Having, several days since, arrived with a + commission from the president of the United States of America, to + represent those states in quality of minister plenipotentiary at + the capital of the French republic, I have thought it my duty to + make my mission known as early as possible to the national + representatives. It belongs to them to determine the day, and to + point out the mode, in which I am to be acknowledged the + representative of their ally and sister republic. I make this + communication with the greater pleasure, because it affords me an + opportunity, not only to certify to the representatives of the free + citizens of France my personal attachment to the cause of liberty, + but to assure them at the same time, in the most positive way, that + the government and people of America take the highest interest in + the liberty, success, and prosperity of the French republic." + +Robespierre had lately fallen. His bloody rule was at an end. For some +time he had been hated by the Convention, to which body reason and +conscience were bringing their convictions. On the twenty-eighth of July +the Convention resolved to crush him. Billaud Varennes, in a speech +replete with invective, denounced him as a tyrant; and when Robespierre +attempted to speak, his voice was drowned with cries of "Down with the +tyrant! down with the tyrant!" A decree of outlawry was then passed, and +he and some of his friends were ordered to immediate execution. With +their fall the Reign of Terror ended. The nation breathed freer, and the +curtain fell upon one of the bloodiest tragedies in the history of the +race. + +It was at this auspicious moment that Monroe appeared. The sentiments of +his letter were so much in consonance with the feelings of the hour, +that it is said the president of the Convention embraced Monroe +affectionately when they met. It was decreed that the American and +French flags should be entwined and hung up in the hall of the +Convention, as an emblem of the union of the two republics; and Monroe, +not to be outdone in acts of courtesy, presented the banner of his +country to the Convention in the name of his people. + +Congress adjourned on the ninth of June to the first Monday in the +succeeding November. The session had been a stormy one. Questions of +national policy had arisen, which called forth some of the most animated +and eloquent discussions ever held upon the floor of the house of +representatives; and when the adjournment took place, questions were +pending, the solution of which caused many an anxious hour to the +president and the friends of the republic. + +As soon as Washington could make proper arrangements, he set out on a +flying visit to Mount Vernon. Many persons had predicted that the yellow +fever would reappear in Philadelphia during that summer; and, to guard +his family against the dangers of its presence, he removed them to a +pleasant house at Germantown. On the eighteenth of June he left for the +Potomac; and at Baltimore he wrote a brief letter to Gouverneur Morris, +assuring him of his undiminished personal friendship, notwithstanding +his recall. At Mount Vernon he wrote another, in which Washington +evinced his consciousness that vigilant eyes were upon all his public +movements, and not with friendly intent. "The affairs of this country," +he said to Morris ironically, "can not go wrong; there are so many +watchful guardians of them, and such infallible guides, that no one is +at a loss for a director at every turn." + +Washington did not return to Philadelphia quite as early as he had +anticipated, owing to an injury to his back, received while using +exertions to prevent himself and horse being precipitated among the +rocks at the Falls of the Potomac, at Georgetown, whither he went on a +Sunday morning to view the canal and locks at that place, in which he +felt a deep interest. He was back, however, early in July, and was soon +informed of popular movements in western Pennsylvania and in Kentucky, +which presented the serious question whether the government had +sufficient strength to execute its own laws. + +The movement in Kentucky was the result, in a great degree, of Genet's +machinations, and the influence of the Democratic societies. It is true, +there had been dissatisfaction among the people there for several years, +because the Spanish government kept the Mississippi closed against +American commerce. Now, that dissatisfaction assumed the form of menace. +During the recent session of Congress, the people of that region sent a +remonstrance to the supreme legislature respecting the navigation of the +Mississippi. It was intemperate and indecorous in language. It charged +the government with being under the influence of a local policy, which +had prevented its making a single real effort for the security of the +commercial advantages which the people of the West demanded, and cast +aspersions upon the several departments of government. They also +intimated that they would leave the Union if their grievances were not +speedily redressed, and the "great territorial right" of the free +navigation of the Mississippi secured to them. + +This remonstrance was referred to a committee by the senate, who +reported, that such rights to the navigation of the great river as were +sought by the western people were well asserted in the negotiations then +going on at Madrid; and on the recommendation of the committee, the +senate resolved that the president should be requested to communicate to +the governor of Kentucky such part of the pending treaty between the +United States and Spain as he might deem advisable, and not inconsistent +with the course of the negotiation. The house of representatives also +passed a resolution, expressing their conviction that the president was +doing all in his power to bring about the negotiation as speedily as +possible. + +The demagogues at the West, who hoped to profit by the excitement and +bring about hostilities with the Spaniards in Louisiana, refused to be +soothed by these assurances; and at a convention of a number of the +principal citizens of Kentucky, assembled at Lexington, the following +intemperate and indecorous resolutions were adopted:-- + + "That the general government, whose duty it is to put us in + possession of this right [free navigation of the Mississippi] have, + either through design or mistaken policy, adopted no effectual + measures for its attainment. + + "That even the measures they have adopted have been uniformly + concealed from us, and veiled in mysterious secrecy. + + "That civil liberty is prostituted, when the servants of the people + are suffered to tell their masters, that communications which they + may judge important may not be intrusted to them." + +These resolutions concluded with a recommendation of county meetings, of +county committees of correspondence, and of a convention when it might +be judged expedient, to deliberate on the proper steps for the +attainment and security of their just rights. + +No doubt the leaders in these movements felt indignant because an +expedition, which had been prepared in the West for an invasion of +Louisiana under the auspices of Genet, had been frustrated by the +vigilance of the president, who, when informed of the fact, had ordered +General Wayne, then in the Ohio country, to establish a military post at +an eligible place on the Ohio river, to stop any armed men who should be +going down that stream. This interference with what they had been taught +to believe were their inalienable rights was considered a very great +grievance. + +In a private letter, on the tenth of August, Washington referred to +these movements in Kentucky, and said, after expressing a conviction +that there "must exist a predisposition among them to be dissatisfied:" +"The protection they receive, and the unwearied endeavors of the general +government to accomplish, by repeated and ardent remonstrances, what +they seem to have most at heart--namely, the navigation of the +Mississippi--obtain no credit with them, or, what is full as likely, may +be concealed from them, or misrepresented by those _societies_, which, +under specious colorings, are spreading far and wide, either from real +ignorance of the measures pursued by the government, or from a wish to +bring it, as much as they are able, into discredit; for what purposes, +every man is left to his own conjectures." + +Washington continued: "That similar attempts to give discontent to the +public mind have been practised with too much success in some of the +western counties in this state [Pennsylvania], you are, I am certain, +not to learn. Actual rebellion against the laws of the United States +exists at this moment, notwithstanding every lenient measure, which +could comport with the duties of the public officers, has been +exercised to reconcile them to the collection of taxes upon spirituous +liquors and stills. What may be the consequence of such violent and +outrageous proceedings is painful in a high degree, even in +contemplation. But, if the laws are to be so trampled upon with +impunity, and a minority, a small one too, is to dictate to the +majority, there is an end put, at one stroke, to republican government; +and nothing but anarchy and confusion are to be expected hereafter. Some +other man or society may dislike another law, and oppose it with equal +propriety, until all laws are prostrate, and every one--the strongest, I +presume--will carve for himself." + +Washington alluded to the rebellious movement in western Pennsylvania, +at that time, known in history as "The Whiskey Insurrection." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[64] The following are the names of the officers appointed by +Washington: John Barry, Samuel Nicholson, Silas Talbot, Richard Dale, +Thomas Truxton, James Sever, _commanders_; Joshua Humphreys, George +Cleghorn, Forman Cheeseman, John Morgan, David Stodder, James Hackett, +_naval constructors_; Isaac Coxe, Henry Jackson, John Blagge, W. +Pennock, Jeremiah Yellott, Jacob Sheafe, _navy agents_. + +[65] A striking caricature appeared a little earlier than this, entitled +_The Contrast_. It was in the form of two medallions, one called +_English liberty_, and the other _French liberty_. On the former is seen +Britannia, holding the pileus and cap of liberty in one hand with Magna +Charta, and in the other the scales of justice. At her feet stoops a +lion; and on the placid sea, in the distance, is a British +merchant-vessel under full sail. Under the medallion are the words, +"Religion, Morality, Loyalty, Obedience to the Laws, Independence, +Personal Security, Justice, Inheritance, Protection, Property, Industry, +National Prosperity, Happiness." On the latter medallion is a fury, in +the form of a woman; her hair formed of serpents; flames issuing from +her cestus of snakes; in one hand a bloody sword, in the other a +trident--the head of a man, streaming with blood upon one prong, and a +human heart upon each of the others; while under her feet is a +prostrate, naked, headless man. In the distance is seen a street lamp, +with a man hanging by the neck from its supporting bracket. Under this +medallion are the words, "Atheism, Perjury, Rebellion, Treason, Anarchy, +Murder, Equality, Madness, Cruelty, Injustice, Treachery, Ingratitude, +Idleness, Famine, National and Private Ruin, Misery." Below all is the +significant question, "_Which is best_?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA--A GLANCE AT ITS + PROGRESS--WASHINGTON'S PROCLAMATION--HIS OPINION OF THE INFLUENCE OF + THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES--A MILITARY FORCE CALLED OUT--THEIR + LEADERS--PEACE COMMISSIONERS AND THE RESULT OF THEIR + MISSION--WASHINGTON JOINS THE MILITARY AT CARLISLE--THE VETERAN + MORGAN IN THE FIELD--HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH WASHINGTON--INSURGENTS + ALARMED--WASHINGTON AT FORT CUMBERLAND AND BEDFORD--LEE THE + COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY--WASHINGTON RETURNS TO + PHILADELPHIA--MARCH OF THE ARMY OVER THE MOUNTAINS--THE INSURRECTION + QUELLED WITHOUT BLOODSHED. + + +While the inhabitants of Kentucky were talking of insurrection, those of +some of the western counties of Pennsylvania actually lifted the arm of +defiance against the general government. In August, 1794, acts were +committed in opposition to the ministers of the law, which called for +the interference of the powers of the federal executive, and the episode +in our history known as "The Whiskey Insurrection" was inaugurated. +Properly to understand its character, we must take a brief glance at its +antecedents. Some of these have already been alluded to in our +consideration of the revenue system of the new government. + +Among other taxes recommended by Secretary Hamilton for the support of +the government, and authorized by a bill reported in the house of +representatives in January, 1791, was one upon domestic distilled +spirits and distilleries. As whiskey was almost entirely a luxury, and +not a necessity, it seemed a just subject for levying a duty upon. And +the College of Physicians of Philadelphia advocated it as desirable both +to the morals and bodily health of the people. The bill was passed and +received Washington's signature. It imposed a tax of from nine to +twenty-six cents a gallon upon spirits distilled from grain. +Regulations for the collection of these duties were made and officers +appointed to collect them. Opposition to the law manifested itself in +various parts of the Union immediately after its passage, but nowhere so +prominently as in Pennsylvania. In July, 1791, a public meeting on the +subject was held at Red Stone (Brownsville), when it was arranged that +county committees should be convened at the different shire towns of +Alleghany, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. In August, at +a meeting of another committee already alluded to,[66] one of the +resolutions adopted, as we have seen, declared, after condemning the +law, that whosoever should accept office under it should be considered +an enemy to his country, should be treated with contempt, and all +intercourse with him be dissolved. These resolutions were published in a +Pittsburgh paper and produced a feverish excitement. + +Early in September another meeting was held in Pittsburgh. Twelve +delegates were present, and many complaints against the government, in +connection with the excise law, were recited. They adopted a +representation to Congress, and a remonstrance to the legislature of +Pennsylvania, against the excise on whiskey. Not long after this, a +collector of the revenue for two of the counties before-named was +seized, tarred and feathered, and deprived of his horse, by some armed +men in disguise. The perpetrators were known, however, and processes +were issued against them from the district court of Pennsylvania; but +the public feeling was so strongly against the law, west of the +Alleghany mountains, that, as a marshal to whom the writ was committed +for execution said, "any attempt to serve it would have occasioned the +most violent opposition from a greater portion of the inhabitants;" and +he declared that if he had attempted it, he believed he would not have +returned alive. + +The resistance to law now assumed most alarming aspects. The meetings, +said Secretary Hamilton in a report upon the subject, "composed of very +influential persons, and conducted without moderation and prudence, +were justly chargeable with the excesses which have from time to time +been committed, serving to give consistency to an opposition, which had +at length matured to a point that threatened the foundations of the +government and the Union, unless speedily and effectually subdued." + +The working of the federal government was then merely experimental, and +those who had charge of the complicated and precious machine, and +regarded it as the very ark of freedom, used its powers with wise +caution. Therefore, while occasional outrages in connection with the +excise laws were perpetrated, it was thought best to let coercive +measures against the law-breakers remain untried, until at the next +session of Congress some modifications of the law might be made to allay +excitement. + +In May, 1792, an act of Congress became a law which materially modified +the provisions of the excise act. The duty on whiskey and stills was so +reduced as to silence all complaints on that head. All serious +objections to the old law were considered, and the act was so amended as +to promise peace; but there were men of influence who would not accept +these concessions, and they kept up the opposition excitement. The +well-disposed citizens were intimidated by the violent ones of the +opposition. In August, 1792, a meeting of the malcontents was held at +Pittsburgh, at which resolutions were passed no less objectionable than +those adopted the year before. After denouncing the tax on spirituous +liquors, they concluded by declaring that they considered it their duty +to "persist in remonstrances to Congress and every other legal measure +that might obstruct the operations of the law." Almost daily outrages +were committed, and three or four counties of western Pennsylvania +assumed many of the features of openly rebellious communities. It was +then that Washington, under the advice of Hamilton and others, issued +his proclamation of September the sixteenth, 1792, warning all persons +to desist from such unlawful combinations, _et cetera_.[67] Some legal +steps were taken against the malcontents, but these and the proclamation +were of little effect toward subduing the rebellious and quieting the +excitement. The officers of the law were still defied, denounced, +insulted, and abused. + +At the next session of Congress (1792-'93) inefficient efforts were made +to amend the excise laws. The forbearance of the federal government was +construed by the ringleaders of the opposition as weakness, and they +became more bold. Distillers who were willing to comply with the law +were abused. Finally, the Congress passed an act, which became a law in +1794, calculated to strengthen the executive arm in enforcing obedience. +This law made the opposition still more earnest and bold; and few men in +the district of country where they exercised a sort of reign of terror +dared openly to dissent from their views. So general was the combined +influence of actual disaffection upon one portion of the community, and +dread of the violence of the turbulent, among the others, that out of +the family connection of General Neville, inspector of revenues, the +employees of the government, and two others, there were none in +Pittsburgh who dared to condemn these lawless proceedings, for fear of +personal harm. Mails were robbed; Neville's house was twice attacked and +finally burned by an armed party of lawless men; and preparations were +made to seize Fort Fayette, in that region. Among the leaders of the +insurgents was one Bradford, who, by common consent, appears to have +assumed the position of commander-in-chief. At this time the +insurrectionary spirit had spread into adjoining counties of Maryland +and Virginia, and Bradford and his associate leaders issued a call for +the assembling of the militia on Braddock's field, on the first of +August, with arms and accoutrements, and provisions for four days. +Within three days seven thousand men were assembled, some of them out of +curiosity, but a greater part with the determination to follow, in +resistance to the federal and state governments, wherever Bradford and +others might lead. + +It was Bradford's design to seize Fort Pitt and its arms and ammunition; +but he found most of the militia officers unwilling to co-operate in +such an overt act of treason. But they readily consented to the +perpetration of outrages against excise officers, and the whole country +in that region was governed, for the moment, by the combined powers of +mobocracy and military despotism. + +When intelligence of these proceedings reached the president, he called +his cabinet into council. All regarded the movement as a critical one +for the republic. The example of the insurgents in Pennsylvania might +become infectious; for the Democratic societies, spread all over the +land, while they professed to oppose and deprecate violence, openly +denounced the excise laws, and, no doubt, secretly fomented rebellion +against the federal government. It was agreed in the cabinet council +that forbearance must now end, and the effective power of the executive +be put forth to suppress the rising rebellion. Accordingly, on the +seventh of August, Washington issued a proclamation warning the +insurgents to disperse, and declaring, that if tranquillity should not +be restored in the disturbed counties before the first of September, an +armed force would be employed to compel submission to the laws.[68] At +the same time the president made a requisition on the governors of New +Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, for militia sufficient to +compose an army of twelve thousand men. + +To the chief magistrate of the latter state, his friend and +companion-in-arms, General Henry Lee, Washington wrote privately, from +Germantown, on the twenty-sixth of August, and said, "It is with equal +pride and satisfaction I add, that, as far as my information extends, +this insurrection is viewed with universal indignation and abhorrence, +except by those who have never missed an opportunity, by side-blows and +otherwise, to attack the general government.... I consider this +insurrection as the first formidable fruit of the Democratic societies, +brought forth, I believe, too prematurely for their own views, which may +contribute to the annihilation of them. + +"That these societies were instituted by the artful and designing +members (many of their body, I have no doubt, mean well, but know little +of the real plan), primarily to sow among the people the seeds of +jealousy and distrust of the government, by destroying all confidence in +the administration of it, and that their doctrines have been budding and +blowing ever since, is not new to any one who is acquainted with the +character of their leaders and has been attentive to their manoeuvres. +I early gave it as my opinion, to the confidential characters around me, +that if these societies were not counteracted (not by prosecutions, the +ready way to make them grow stronger), or did not fall into disesteem +from the knowledge of their origin, and the views with which they had +been instituted by their father, Genet, for purposes well known to the +government, they would shake the government to its foundation. Time and +circumstances have confirmed me in this opinion, and I deeply regret the +probable consequences; not as they will effect me personally--for I have +not long to act on this theatre, and sure I am that not a man amongst +them can be more anxious to put me aside than I am to sink into the +profoundest retirement--but because I see, under a display of popular +and fascinating disguises, the most diabolical attempts to destroy the +best fabric of human government and happiness that has ever been +presented for the acceptance of mankind." + +Washington's proclamation had very little effect in suppressing the +lawless acts of the insurgents, and on the twenty-fifth of September +he issued a second proclamation, in which he vividly described the +perverse spirit in which the lenient propositions of the government had +been met, and declared his determination to reduce the refractory and +lawless men to obedience.[69] + +The president now determined to act with vigor against the insurgents. +He appointed Governor Lee, of Virginia, the commander-in-chief. General +Mifflin, of Pennsylvania, was appointed his second in command. Governor +Howell, of New Jersey, the third; and General Daniel Morgan, the veteran +leader of the riflemen in the War for Independence, the fourth. General +Hand, of Pennsylvania, was appointed adjutant-general. + +From the best information that the president could obtain, it was +supposed that there were in the rebellious counties about sixteen +thousand men capable of bearing arms, and that at least seven thousand +of them might be brought into the field. It was therefore resolved to +employ a sufficient force at once to put down all opposition. The number +of militia first called for was twelve thousand; it was subsequently +increased to fifteen thousand. The place of rendezvous appointed for the +New Jersey troops under Howell, and the Pennsylvanians under Mifflin, +was Bedford, in Pennsylvania. Those from Virginia and Maryland--the +former under General Morgan, and the latter under General Smith, the +hero of Fort Mifflin in 1777, and now the Baltimore member of +Congress--assembled at Cumberland, on the Potomac. The latter formed the +left wing of the gathering army, and were directed to march across the +mountains by Braddock's road. Those under Mifflin and Howell composed +the right wing, and were ordered to cross the mountains by the more +northern route, over which Forbes and his army crossed in 1758. + +These martial preparations were made after every peaceful effort had +been exhausted. As we have observed, the president had issued two +proclamations before ordering the militia into the field. He had also, +at the time of issuing the first proclamation, appointed three federal +commissioners--Senator Ross, Mr. Bradford, the attorney-general, and +Yates, a judge of the supreme court of Pennsylvania--to visit the +insurgent counties, with discretionary powers to arrange, if possible, +prior to the fourteenth of September, an effectual submission to the +laws, offering lenient terms to the offenders. These were joined by +Chief-Justice M'Kean and General Irvine, commissioners appointed by the +state of Pennsylvania. At the same time, Governor Mifflin issued two +proclamations--one calling the Pennsylvania legislature together; the +other requiring submission on the part of the rioters, and announcing +his determination to obey the president's call for militia. + +These commissioners had crossed the mountains together, and at +Parkinson's ferry they found representatives from almost every town of +four insurgent counties, two hundred in number, assembled in convention, +having Judge Cook, of Fayette county, for their president, and Albert +Gallatin, afterward a distinguished officer of the federal government, +for their secretary. The business was in charge of a vigilance committee +of sixty. Near the place of meeting, which was upon a commanding +eminence under the shade of trees, stood a liberty-pole, bearing a +placard with the words, "Liberty and no excise! No asylum for cowards +and traitors!" + +The vigilance committee appointed a sub-committee of fifteen to confer +with the state and federal commissioners. On that committee were, +Bradford, the chief leader of the insurgents, Gallatin, Cook, Marshall, +and Brackenridge, the latter a young and ambitious lawyer of Pittsburgh. +All of these, except Bradford, perceiving the dangers with which they +were surrounded, were favorable to submission. Bradford's voice was for +war, and the organization of a separate and independent state west of +the mountains. This committee declared the propositions of the +commissioners to be reasonable, and to the town organizations the whole +matter of submission was referred. These generally refused compliance. +The federal commissioners returned to Philadelphia and reported the +virtual failure of their mission. Then it was that the president issued +his proclamation of the twenty-fifth of September, and prepared to use +coercive measures. + +Washington determined to lead the army in person against the insurgents, +if it should appear to be expedient. He accordingly left Philadelphia at +the beginning of October, accompanied by the secretary of war, whose +department was left in charge of Hamilton, the secretary of the +treasury. Just before he left, the president received a letter from the +venerable Morgan, written at Winchester on the twenty-fourth of +September. "I am sorry to understand," wrote the brave old rifleman, +"the difficulty experienced in the state of Pennsylvania to raise the +quota of men to suppress that horrid insurrection on their frontiers.[70] +The state of Virginia seems to be unanimous and determined to suppress +it; and it is my opinion that we shall, in a very few days, have men +enough to do that business. For my part, I wish I was at Morgantown at +this time with two thousand men, which would be as many as I could ask, +with what would join me at this place, to bring these people to +order.... I wish an accommodation may not be patched up with these +rioters, under an apprehension of not getting troops to suppress them. +Virginia could, and would, furnish an army sufficient for that +purpose.... I don't wish to spill the blood of a citizen; but I wish to +march against these people, to show them our determination to bring them +to order, and to support the laws. I took the liberty to write you this, +lest your intelligence might not be so good, or that this might throw +some light, or be of some service." + +This letter, from his old companion-in-arms, was only one of many of +similar tone that Washington received at that time. Coming from such an +esteemed veteran (with whom was the president's favorite nephew, +Lawrence Lewis, as aid-de-camp), it was peculiarly grateful to +Washington, and he responded in earnest tone, from Carlisle, on the +eighth of October. "Although I regret the occasion," he said, "which has +called you into the field, I rejoice to hear you are there, and because +it is probable I may meet you at Fort Cumberland, whither I shall +proceed as soon as I see the troops at this rendezvous in condition to +advance. At that place, or at Bedford, my ulterior resolution must be +taken, either to advance with the troops into the insurgent counties of +this state, or to return to Philadelphia, for the purpose of meeting +Congress, the third of next month. Imperious circumstances alone can +justify my absence from the seat of government whilst Congress is in +session; but if these, from the disposition of the people in the +refractory counties and the state of the information I expect to receive +at the advanced posts, should appear to exist, the lesser must yield to +the greater duties of my office, and I shall cross the mountains with +the troops; if not, I shall place the command of the combined troops +under the orders of Governor Lee, of Virginia, and repair to the seat of +government." + +In a private letter to Randolph, the secretary of state, on the +following day, the president said, "The insurgents are alarmed, but not +yet brought to their proper senses. Every means is devised by themselves +and their associates to induce a belief that there is no necessity for +troops crossing the mountains; although we have information, at the same +time, that part of the people there are obliged to embody themselves to +repel the insults of another part." + +The Pennsylvania troops moved forward from Carlisle on the tenth of +October, and Washington proceeded to Fort Cumberland, the place of +rendezvous for the Maryland and Virginia troops, where he arrived on the +sixteenth. Quite a large number were already there, and fifteen hundred +more from Virginia were near at hand. There Washington received such +information as convinced him that the spirits of the insurgents were +broken, and that the greatest alarm prevailed in their ranks. He +hastened on to Bedford, thirty miles distant, and there this +intelligence was confirmed. Satisfied that his presence would be no +longer needed with the army, he arranged a plan of operations against +the insurgents, and prepared to return to Philadelphia; "but not," he +said in a letter to Randolph, "because the impertinence of Mr. Bache +[editor of the "General Advertiser," the opposition paper] or his +correspondent has undertaken to pronounce that I can not +constitutionally command the army whilst Congress are in session." + +The command of the army was left with Governor Lee. On the twentieth of +October he received from Washington his instructions, drawn by Hamilton, +with a letter from the president's own hand, in which he said, "I can +not take my departure without conveying to you, through the army under +your command, the very high sense I entertain of the enlightened and +patriotic zeal for the constitution and the laws, which has led them +cheerfully to quit their families, homes, and the comforts of private +life, to undertake, and thus far to perform, a long and fatiguing march, +and to encounter and endure the hardships and privations of a military +life.... No citizens of the United States can ever be engaged in a +service more important to their country. It is nothing less than to +consolidate and to preserve the blessings of that Revolution which, at +much expense of blood and treasure, constituted us a free and +independent nation. It is to give the world an illustrious example, of +the utmost consequence to the cause of mankind." Then cautioning the +troops against committing the least infraction of the laws, or trenching +upon the functions of the civil authorities, he thanked them for the +readiness with which they had seconded him "in the most delicate and +momentous duty the chief magistrate of a free people can have to +perform." + +Hamilton remained with the army as the president's civil representative; +also the secretary of war; and Washington hastened back to Philadelphia, +where he arrived on the twenty-sixth of October. The troops crossed the +Alleghany mountains in a heavy rain, marching sometimes in mud up to +their knees. The two wings formed a junction at Uniontown; and as they +advanced into the insurgent country, all signs of rebellion disappeared. +The leaders fled, and all upon whom rested the eye of suspicion quailed +in its glance and hastened to make excuses. Early in November, Lee +issued a proclamation, confirming an amnesty that had been offered to +those entitled to it, and calling upon all of the inhabitants to take +the oath of allegiance to the United States. Many arrests were soon +afterward made. A large number were dismissed at once because of a want +of evidence against them; others were bound over to keep the peace; and +a few were sent to Philadelphia for trial.[71] Two only were convicted of +capital offences--one of arson, the other of robbing the mails--and +these, because of palliating circumstances, were finally pardoned by the +president. Most of the troops were speedily withdrawn from the +disaffected counties and dismissed; but a body of twenty-five hundred, +under General Morgan, remained encamped in the district through the +winter. + +Thus terminated a rebellion, that at one time threatened the very +existence of the Union, without the shedding of a drop of blood. This +result was owing chiefly to the wisdom, prudence, energy, and personal +popularity of Washington; and that which appeared so ominous of evil was +overruled for the production of good. The government was amazingly +strengthened by the event. The federal authority was fully vindicated; +and the general rally in its support when the chief sounded his +bugle-call, even of those who had hitherto leaned toward the opposition, +was a significant omen of future stability and power. Every honest man +expressed his reprobation of the violent resistance to law; and the +democratic societies, the chief fomenters of the insurrection, showed +symptoms of a desire to be less conspicuous. Hamilton, who had always +distrusted the strength of the government in such an emergency, was now +perfectly convinced of its inherent power; and both he and Washington +regarded the affair as a fortunate circumstance for the nation. + +In relation to this event and its effects, Washington, in a letter to +Mr. Jay, written soon after his return to Philadelphia from the +different rendezvous of the troops, said that the subject would be +represented differently according to the wishes of some and the +prejudices of others, who might exhibit it as an evidence of what had +been predicted, namely, that the people of the new republic were unable +to govern themselves. "Under this view of the subject," he said, "I am +happy in giving it to you as the general opinion that this event having +happened at the time it did was fortunate, although it will be attended +with considerable expense. + +"That the self-created societies," he continued, "which have spread +themselves over this country have been laboring incessantly to sow the +seeds of distrust, jealousy, and of course discontent, thereby hoping to +effect some revolution in the government, is not unknown to you. That +they have been the fomenters of the western disturbances, admits of no +doubt in the mind of any one who will examine their conduct; but, +fortunately, they precipitated a crisis for which they were not +prepared, and thereby have unfolded views which will, I trust, +effectuate their annihilation sooner than it might otherwise have +happened; at the same time, that it has afforded an occasion for the +people of this country to show their abhorrence of the result, and their +attachment to the constitution and the laws; for I believe that five +times the number of militia that was required would have come forward, +if it had been necessary, in support of them. + +"The spirit which blazed out on this occasion, as soon as the object was +fully understood and the lenient measures of the government were made +known to the people, deserves to be communicated. There are instances of +general officers going at the head of a single troop, and of light +companies; of field-officers, when they came to the places of +rendezvous, and found no command for them in that grade, turning into +the ranks, and proceeding as private soldiers, under their own captains; +and of numbers, possessing the first fortunes in the country, standing +in the ranks of private men, and marching day by day with their +knapsacks and haversacks at their backs, sleeping on straw with a single +blanket in a soldier's tent, during the frosty nights which we have had, +by way of example to others. Nay, more; many young Quakers of the first +families, character, and property, not discouraged by the elders, have +turned into the ranks and are marching with the troops. + +"These things have terrified the insurgents, who had no conception +that such a spirit prevailed; but, while the thunder only rumbled at a +distance, were boasting of their strength, and wishing for and +threatening the militia by turns, intimating that the arms they should +take from them would soon become a magazine in their hands. Their +language is much changed indeed, but their principles want correction. + +"I shall be more prolix in my speech to Congress on the commencement and +progress of this insurrection than is usual in such an instrument, or +than I should have been on any other occasion; but as numbers at home +and abroad will hear of the insurrection, and will read the speech, that +may know nothing of the documents to which it might refer, I conceived +it would be better to encounter the charge of prolixity by giving a +cursory detail of facts, that would show the prominent features of the +thing, than to let it go naked into the world, to be dressed up +according to the fancy or inclination of the readers, or the policy of +our enemies."[72] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[66] Page 216 + +[67] See page 216. + +[68] The following is a copy of the proclamation. Its preamble contains +such a complete summary of the causes which called forth the +proclamation, that we give the document entire:-- + + "Whereas, combinations to defeat the execution of the laws laying + duties upon spirits distilled within the United States, and upon + stills, have, from the time of the commencement of those laws, + existed in some of the western parts of Pennsylvania: and whereas, + the said combinations, proceeding in a manner subversive equally of + the just authority of government and of the rights of individuals, + have hitherto effected their dangerous and criminal purpose by the + influence of certain irregular meetings, whose proceedings have + tended to encourage and uphold the spirit of opposition by + misrepresentations of the laws calculated to render them odious; by + endeavors to deter those who might be so disposed from accepting + offices under them through fear of public resentments and of injury + to person and property, and to compel those who had accepted such + offices by actual violence to surrender or forbear the execution of + them; by circulating vindictive measures against all who should + otherwise, directly or indirectly, aid in the execution of the said + laws, or who, yielding to the dictates of conscience and to a sense + of obligation, should themselves comply therewith; by actually + injuring and destroying the property of persons who were understood + to have so complied; by inflicting cruel, humiliating punishments + upon private citizens, for no other cause than that of appearing to + be the friends of the laws; by interrupting the public officers on + the highways, abusing, assaulting, and otherwise ill-treating them; + by going to their houses in the night, gaining admittance by force, + taking away their papers, and committing other outrages; employing + for these unwarrantable purposes the agency of armed banditti, + disguised in such a manner as for the most part to escape + discovery: and whereas, the endeavors of the legislature to obviate + objections to the said laws, by lowering the duties and by other + alterations conducive to the convenience of those whom they + immediately affected (though they have given satisfaction in other + quarters), and the endeavors of the executive officers to + conciliate a compliance with the laws, by expostulation, by + forbearance, and even by recommendations founded on the suggestion + of local considerations, have been disappointed of their effect by + the machinations of persons whose industry to excite resistance has + increased with the appearance of a disposition among the people to + relax in their opposition and to acquiesce in the laws; insomuch + that many persons in the said western parts of Pennsylvania have at + length been hardy enough to perpetrate acts which I am advised + amount to treason, being overt acts of levying war against the + United States; the said persons having, on the sixteenth and + seventeenth of July last, proceeded in arms (on the second day + amounting to several hundred) to the house of John Neville, + inspector of the revenues for the fourth survey of the districts of + Pennsylvania--having repeatedly attacked the said house with the + persons therein, wounding some of them; having seized David Lenox, + marshal of the district of Pennsylvania, who previously thereto had + been fired upon while in the execution of his duty by a party of + men, detaining him for some time prisoner, till for the + preservation of his life and obtaining of his liberty he found it + necessary to enter into stipulations to forbear the execution of + certain official duties, touching processes issuing out of the + court of the United States; and having finally obliged the said + inspector of the revenue and the marshal, from considerations of + personal safety, to fly from this part of the country, in order, by + a circuitous route, to proceed to the seat of government, avowing + as the motives of these outrageous proceedings an intention to + prevent by force of arms the execution of the said laws, to oblige + the said inspector of the revenues to renounce his office, to + withstand by open violence the lawful authority of the government + of the United States, and to compel thereby an alteration in the + measures of the legislature, and a repeal of the laws aforesaid: + and whereas, by a law of the United States entitled, 'An act to + provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the + Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions,' it is enacted, + 'that whenever the laws of the United States shall be opposed, or + the execution thereof obstructed, in any state, by combinations too + powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial + proceedings, or by the power vested in the marshals by that act, + the same being notified by an associate justice or the district + judges, it shall be lawful for the president of the United States + to call forth the militia of said state to suppress such + combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed. And if the + militia of a state, where such combinations may happen, shall + refuse or shall be insufficient to suppress the same, it shall be + lawful for the president, if the legislature of the United States + shall not be in session, to call forth and employ such numbers of + the militia of any other state or states most convenient thereto as + may be necessary; and the use of the militia so to be called forth + may be continued, if necessary, until the expiration of thirty days + after the commencement of the ensuing session; _Provided always_, + that whenever it may be necessary in the judgment of the president + to use the military force hereby directed to be called forth, the + president shall forthwith, and previous thereto, by proclamation, + command such insurgents to disperse, and retire peaceably to their + respective abodes within a limited time:' and whereas, James + Wilson, an associate justice, on the fourth instant, by writing + under his hand, did, from evidence which had been laid before him, + notify to me that 'in the counties of Washington and Alleghany, in + Pennsylvania, the laws of the United States are opposed, and the + execution thereof obstructed, by combinations too powerful to be + suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by + the powers vested in the marshal of that district:' + + "And whereas, it is in my judgment necessary, under the + circumstances of the case, to take measures for calling forth the + militia in order to suppress the combination aforesaid, and to + cause the laws to be duly executed; and I have accordingly + determined so to do, feeling the deepest regret for the occasion, + but withal the most solemn conviction that the essential interests + of the Union demand it, that the very existence of government and + the fundamental principles of social order are materially involved + in the issue, and that the patriotism and firmness of all good + citizens are seriously called upon as occasion may require, to aid + in the effectual suppression of so fatal a spirit: + + "Wherefore, and in pursuance of the provision above recited, I, + George Washington, president of the United States, do hereby + command all persons, being insurgents as aforesaid, and all others + whom it may concern, on or before the first day of September next, + to disperse and return peaceably to their respective abodes. And I + do moreover warn all persons whomsoever against aiding, abetting, + or comforting, the perpetrators of the aforesaid treasonable acts; + and do require all officers, and other citizens, according to their + respective duties and the law of the land, to exert their utmost + endeavors to prevent and suppress such dangerous proceedings. + + "In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States + of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same + with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia, the seventh day of + August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, and of the + independence of the United States of America the nineteenth. + GEORGE WASHINGTON" + +[69] The following is a copy of the second proclamation:-- + + "Whereas, from a hope that the combination against the constitution + and laws of the United States, in certain of the western counties + of Pennsylvania, would yield to time and reflection, I thought it + sufficient, in the first instance, rather to _take measures_ for + calling forth the militia than immediately to embody them; but the + moment is now come when the overtures of forgiveness, with no other + condition than a submission to law, have been only partially + accepted; when every form of conciliation not inconsistent with the + being of government has been adopted without effect; when the + well-disposed in those counties are unable by their influence and + example to reclaim the wicked from their fury, and are compelled to + associate in their own defence; when the proffered lenity has been + perversely misinterpreted into an apprehension that the citizens + will march with reluctance; when the opportunity of examining the + serious consequences of a treasonable opposition has been employed + in propagating principles of anarchy, endeavoring through + emissaries to alienate the friends of order from its support, and + inviting its enemies to perpetrate similar acts of insurrection; + when it is manifest that violence would continue to be exercised + upon every attempt to enforce the laws; when, therefore, government + is set at defiance, the contest being whether a small portion of + the United States shall dictate to the whole Union, and, at the + expense of those who desire peace, indulge a desperate ambition: + + "Now, therefore, I, George Washington, president of the United + States, in obedience to that high and irresistible duty consigned + to me by the constitution 'to take care that the laws be faithfully + executed,' deploring that the American name should be sullied by + the outrages of citizens on their own government, commiserating + such as remain obstinate from delusion, but resolved, in perfect + reliance on that gracious Providence which so signally displays its + goodness toward this country, to reduce the refractory to a due + subordination to the laws, do hereby declare and make known, with a + satisfaction which can be equalled only by the merits of the + militia summoned into service from the states of New Jersey, + Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, that I have received + intelligence of their patriotic alacrity in obeying the call of the + present, though painful, yet commanding necessity; that a force, + which according to every reasonable expectation is adequate to the + exigency, is already in motion to the scene of disaffection; that + those who shall have confided or shall confide in the protection of + government shall meet full succor under the standard and from the + arms of the United States; that those who, having offended against + the laws, have since entitled themselves to indemnity, will be + treated with the most liberal good faith, if they shall not have + forfeited their claim by any subsequent conduct, and that + instructions are given accordingly. + + "And I do moreover exhort all individuals, officers, and bodies of + men, to contemplate with abhorrence the measures leading, directly + or indirectly, to those crimes which produce this resort to + military coercion; to check, in their respective spheres, the + efforts of misguided or designing men to substitute their + misrepresentation in the place of truth, and their discontents in + the place of stable government; and to call to mind, that as the + people of the United States have been permitted, under the Divine + favor, in perfect freedom, after solemn deliberation, and in an + enlightened age, to elect their own government, so will their + gratitude for this inestimable blessing be best distinguished by + firm exertion to maintain the constitution and the laws. + + "And, lastly, I again warn all persons whomsoever and wheresoever, + not to abet, aid or comfort the insurgents aforesaid, as they will + answer the contrary at their peril; and I do also require all + officers and other citizens, as far as may be in their power, to + bring under the cognizance of the laws all offenders in the + premises. + + "In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States + of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same + with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia, the twenty-fifth + day of September, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, and + of the independence of the United States of America the nineteenth. + GEORGE WASHINGTON." + +[70] When the use of military force was first suggested, Randolph, the +secretary of state, expressed his fears that such a measure would bring +on a general collision that might destroy the Union. Governor Mifflin +partook of this fear. "The Pennsylvanians," says Hildreth, "at first, +were rather backward, and a draft ordered by Mifflin seemed likely--by +reason, it was said, of defects in the militia laws--to prove a failure. +But the legislature, on coming together, having first denounced the +insurgents in strong terms, to save the delays attendant on drafting, +authorized the government to accept volunteers, to whom a bounty was +offered. As if to make up for his former hesitation, and with a military +sensibility to the disgrace of failing to meet the requisition, Mifflin, +in a tour through the lower counties, as in several cases during the +Revolutionary struggle, by the influence of his extraordinary popular +eloquence, soon caused the ranks to be filled up. As a further stimulus, +subscriptions were opened to support the wives and children of the +volunteers during their absence,"--_History of the United States_, +second series, i, 570. + +[71] Among these was Herman Husbands, then a very old man, who had +figured conspicuously in the revolutionary movement in North Carolina, +previous to the War for Independence, known as _the Regulator war_. He +was arrested on suspicion of being an active fomenter of the +insurrection. This, however, seems not to have been the case, "I know +that his sentiments were always in favor of the excise law," wrote a +friend of Husbands to the president, "and that he did all that he could +to prevent the people of the western counties from opposing the +execution of the law; and I know he is a good friend of liberty and his +country." Husbands was released, at about the first of January, 1795. + +[72] Washington was so impressed with the sense of danger to be +apprehended by the Democratic Societies, that he contemplated making +them a topic in his forthcoming annual message to Congress. In a letter +to the secretary of state, written at Fort Cumberland on the sixteenth +of October, he said, "My mind is so perfectly convinced, that if these +self-created societies can not be discontinued they will destroy the +government of this country, that I have asked myself, while I have been +revolving on the expense and inconvenience of drawing so many men from +their families and occupations as I have seen on their march, where +would be the impropriety of glancing at them in my speech, by some such +idea as the following: 'That, however distressing this expedition will +have proved to individuals, and expensive to the country, the pleasing +spirit which it has drawn forth in support of law and government will +immortalize the American character, and is a happy presage that future +attempts, of a certain description of people, to disturb the public +tranquillity will prove equally abortive.'" + +Mr. Randolph, though a democrat, was favorable to some such expression +of sentiment regarding these societies. In a letter, to which the +president's was a response, he had intimated the propriety of taking +advantage of the prevailing reprobation of the insurrection, to put down +those societies. "They may now, I believe, be crushed," he said. "The +prospect ought not to be lost." Washington did allude to them in his +annual message, as we shall observe presently. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + MEETING OF CONGRESS--WASHINGTON'S MESSAGE--HIS VIEWS OF THE WHISKEY + INSURRECTION--DENUNCIATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES--DEBATES IN + CONGRESS ON THE SUBJECT--WEAKNESS OF THE OPPOSITION--JEFFERSON'S + ANGRY LETTER TO MADISON--DECLINE OF THE DEMOCRATIC + SOCIETIES--WAYNE'S SUCCESS--END OF THE INDIAN WAR--HAMILTON AND KNOX + RETIRE FROM OFFICE--CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THEM AND + WASHINGTON--THEIR SUCCESSORS--CLOSE OF THE THIRD CONGRESS--A + NATIONAL UNIVERSITY PROPOSED--WASHINGTON'S VIEWS--HIS DISPOSITION OF + NAVIGATION COMPANIES' SHARES. + + +The members of Congress came tardily to the federal capital in the +autumn of 1794; and it was not until the nineteenth of November, sixteen +days after the time appointed for the commencement of the session, that +they were ready to listen to the president's sixth annual message. As he +had intimated to Mr. Jay that he should, Washington, in that message, +dwelt at considerable length on the subject of the late insurrection, +taking a complete outline survey of all the facts and circumstances, and +drawing conclusions therefrom. + +"While there is cause to lament," he said, "that occurrences of this +nature should have disgraced the name, or interrupted the tranquillity, +of any part of our community, or should have diverted to a new +application any portion of the public resources, there are not wanting +real and substantial consolations for the misfortune. It has +demonstrated that our prosperity rests on solid foundations, by +furnishing an additional proof that my fellow-citizens understand the +true principles of government and liberty; that they feel their +inseparable union; that, notwithstanding all the devices which have been +used to sway them from their interest and duty, they are now as ready to +maintain the authority of the laws against licentious invasions, as they +were to defend their rights against usurpation. It has been a spectacle +displaying to the highest advantage the value of republican government, +to behold the most and the least wealthy of our citizens standing in the +same ranks as private soldiers, pre-eminently distinguished by being the +army of the constitution--undeterred by a march of three hundred miles +over rugged mountains, by the approach of an inclement season, or by any +other discouragement. Nor ought I to omit to acknowledge the efficacious +and patriotic co-operations which I have experienced from the chief +magistrates of the states to which my requisitions have been addressed. + +"To every description of citizens, indeed, let praise be given. But let +them persevere in their affectionate vigilance over that precious +depository of American happiness, the constitution of the United States. +Let them cherish it, too, for the sake of those who, from every clime, +are daily seeking a dwelling in our land. And when, in the calm moments +of reflection, they shall have traced the origin and progress of the +insurrection, let them determine whether it has not been fomented by +combinations of men, who, careless of consequences, and disregarding the +unerring truth that those who rouse can not always appease a civil +convulsion, have disseminated, from an ignorance or perversion of facts, +suspicions, jealousies, and accusations of the whole government." + +The boldness of Washington was conspicuous in thus officially denouncing +the Democratic Societies, because he well knew that his words of severe +reprobation would arouse their hottest resentment. But, conscious of his +own integrity, and well assured of the support of all good men, he +hesitated not a moment. Some democratic members of the senate, the most +prominent of whom were Burr and Jackson, showed great ill feeling; but +the majority in that body gave it their approval. In the lower house it +created a good deal of angry altercation, for the opposition were +powerful there. They exhibited their disapprobation on the first draft +of their answer to the president's message, by passing the matter over +in silence. To this draft an amendment was offered, reprobating the +"self-created societies," which, "by deceiving and inflaming the +ignorant and weak, may naturally be supposed to have stimulated the +insurrection." It then denounced them as "institutions not strictly +unlawful, yet not less fatal to good order and true liberty, and +reprehensible in the degree that our system of government approaches to +perfect political freedom." + +It was this amendment that caused the debate. Those who opposed it did +so cautiously, and exhibited their sense of the waning popularity of +these societies, by taking care to disclaim their own personal +connection with them. It was contended that the term "self-created +societies" involved all voluntary associations whatever; that the right +of censure was sacred; and that the societies would retort. Others +contended that the question was not, whether the societies were legal, +but whether they were mischievous. If they were so, the representatives +of the people, presumed to be the guardians of the republic, ought to +declare it, and not, by silence, give an implied contradiction to the +president's statements. + +A motion to strike out the words "self-constituted societies" elicited a +warm debate. "It has been argued," said one of the members (Sedgwick) +who traced the origin of these societies to Genet, "that to censure them +might be construed into an attack on the freedom of public discussion. +He was sorry," he said, "to see a disposition to confound freedom and +licentiousness. Was there not an obvious distinction between a cool, +dispassionate, honest, and candid discussion, and a false, wicked, +seditious misrepresentation of public men and public measures? The +former was within the province of freemen; it was, indeed, their duty; +the latter was inconsistent with moral rectitude, and tended to the +destruction of freedom and to the production of every evil that could +afflict a community." The speaker then described the Democratic +Societies as "self-created, without delegation or control, not emanating +from the people, or responsible to them; not open in their +deliberations; not admitting any but those of their own political +opinions; permanent in their constitution, and of unlimited duration." +These, he said, "modestly assumed the character of popular instructors, +guardians of the people, guardians of the government. Every man in the +administration who had assented to its acts they had loaded with every +species of calumny--slanders--which they knew to be such. They had not +even spared that character supposed to have been clothed with +inviolability--not the paltry inviolability of constitutional +proscription, but an inviolability infinitely more respectable, founded +on the public gratitude, and resulting from disinterested and invaluable +services." + +The motion upon which this debate arose was finally carried in committee +of the whole, but by a very small majority. The struggle was renewed +when it was reported to the house. Finally, a compromise was effected by +inserting in the address a declaration of great concern on the part of +the house, "that any misrepresentations whatever of the government and +its proceedings, either by individuals or combinations of men, should +have been made, and so far have been credited as to foment the flagrant +outrage which had been committed on the laws." + +It was very evident, from the debates and the votes on this and other +questions brought up by the president's message, that the government was +growing stronger, and the opposition in Congress weaker. Jefferson, the +father of the opposition, who had declared that his retiracy from the +political world should be profound, was alarmed at these manifestations +of the declining strength of his party, and he was moved to let his +voice be heard once more. On the twenty-eighth of December he wrote to +Madison, the republican leader in the lower house, an angry letter +concerning the president's remarks about the "self-created societies," +saying:-- + + "The denunciation of the Democratic Societies is one of the + extraordinary acts of boldness of which we have seen so many from + the faction of monocrats. It is wonderful indeed that the president + should have permitted himself to be the organ of such an attack on + the freedom of discussion, the freedom of writing, printing, and + publishing." After making an ungenerous attack upon the Society of + the Cincinnati, he proceeded: "I here put out of sight the persons + whose misbehavior has been taken advantage of to slander the + friends of popular rights; and I am happy to observe that, as far + as the circle of my observation and information extends, everybody + has lost sight of them, and views the abstract attempt on their + natural and constitutional rights in all its nakedness. I have + never heard, or heard of, a single expression or opinion which did + not condemn it as an inexcusable aggression." + +Then, in full sympathy with the whiskey insurrectionists, he said: "And +with respect to the transactions against the excise law, it appears to +me that you are all swept away in the torrent of governmental opinions, +or that we do not know what these transactions have been. We know of +none which, according to the definitions of the law, have been anything +more than riotous. There was, indeed, a meeting to consult about a +separation. But to consult on a question does not amount to a +determination of that question in the affirmative, still less to the +acting on such a determination; but we shall see, I suppose, what the +court lawyers, and courtly judges, and would-be embassadors will make of +it. The excise law is an infernal one. The first error was to admit it +by the constitution; the second, to act on that admission; the third and +last will be, to make it the instrument of dismembering the Union, and +setting us all afloat to choose what part of it we will adhere to. The +information of our militia returned from the westward is uniform, that +though the people there let them pass quietly, they were objects of +their laughter, not of their fear; that one thousand men could have cut +off their whole force in a thousand places of the Alleghany; that their +detestation of the excise law is universal, and has now associated to it +a detestation of the government; and that separation, which perhaps was +a very distant and problematical event, is now near, and certain, and +determined in the mind of every man. I expected to have seen some +justification of arming one part of society against another; of +declaring a civil war the moment before the meeting of that body which +has the sole right of declaring war; of being so patient of the kicks +and scoffs of our enemies, and rising at a feather against our friends; +of adding a million to the public debt, and deriding us with +recommendations to pay it if we can." + +But the medicines of most powerful friends could not cure the mortal +malady that now afflicted the Democratic Societies. As it happened with +Genet, their founder, so it now happened with these societies; the great +mass of the people had learned to reprobate them. The denunciations of +the president, co-operating with the downfall of the Jacobin clubs in +France--kindred societies--soon produced their dissolution. Monroe, in +an official despatch, had set in its true light the character of the +Jacobin clubs, as interfering with the government; and in the United +States, their _confreres_, the Democratic societies, soon sank into +merited obscurity. + +In his message, Washington announced that "the intelligence from the +army under the command of General Wayne was a happy presage to military +operations against the hostile Indians north of the Ohio." Wayne, as we +have seen, had succeeded St. Clair after that veteran's unfortunate +defeat in the autumn of 1791. He marched into the Indian country in +1793, and near the spot where St. Clair was surprised he built Fort +Recovery. There he was attacked by the Indians at the close of June, +1794, but without receiving much damage. General Scott arrived there not +long afterward from Kentucky, with eleven hundred volunteers, and then +Wayne advanced to the confluence of the Maumee and Au Glaize rivers, +"the grand emporium," as he called it, of the Indians. They fled +precipitately; and there Wayne built a strong stockade, for the +permanent occupation of that beautiful country, and called it Fort +Defiance. + +The main body of the Indians had retired down the Maumee about thirty +miles, where they took a hostile attitude. With about three thousand +men, Wayne marched against them, and near the present Maumee City he +fought and defeated them, on the twentieth of August. He then laid waste +their country, and the trading establishment of the British agent in +their midst was burned. There seemed little doubt that he had stirred up +the savages against the Americans. + +Wayne fell back to Fort Defiance three days after the battle; and at the +beginning of November, after a successful campaign of three months, +during which time he had marched three hundred miles along a road cut by +his own army, gained an important victory, driven the Indians from their +principal settlement, and left a strong post in the heart of their +country, he placed his army into winter-quarters at Greenville. The +western tribes were humbled and disheartened; and early in August, the +following year, their principal chiefs and United States' commissioners +met at Greenville and made a treaty of peace. The Indians ceded to the +United States a large tract of land in the present states of Michigan +and Indiana, and for more than ten years afterward the government had +very little trouble with the western savages. + +In his message, Washington urged the adoption of some definite plan for +the redemption of the public debt. "Nothing," he said, "can more promote +the permanent welfare of the nation, and nothing would be more grateful +to our constituents." At his request, Hamilton, the secretary of the +treasury, prepared a plan, digested and arranged on the basis of the +actual revenues for the further support of the public credit. It was one +of the ablest state papers of the many that had proceeded from his pen +during his official career. It was reported on the twentieth of January, +1795, and this was Hamilton's last official act. He had, on the first of +December, immediately after his return from western Pennsylvania, +addressed the following letter to the president:-- + + "I have the honor to inform you that I have fixed upon the last of + January next, as the day for my resignation of my office of + secretary of the treasury. I make this communication now, that + there may be time to mature such an arrangement as shall appear to + you proper to meet the vacancy when it occurs." + +Mr. Hamilton resigned his office on the thirty-first of January. It was +with deep regret, as in the case of Mr. Jefferson, that Washington found +himself deprived of the services of so able an officer. "After so long +an experience of your public services," he said in a note to Hamilton on +the second of February, "I am naturally led, at this moment of your +departure from office (which it has always been my wish to prevent), to +review them. In every relation which you have borne to me, I have found +that my confidence in your talents, exertions, and integrity, has been +well placed. I the more freely render this testimony of my approbation, +because I speak from opportunities of information which can not deceive +me, and which furnish satisfactory proof of your title to public +regard." + +To this Hamilton replied on the following day, saying, "My particular +acknowledgments are due for your very kind letter of yesterday. As often +as I may recall the vexations I have endured, your approbation will be a +great and precious consolation. It was not without a struggle that I +yielded to the very urgent motives which compelled me to relinquish a +station in which I could hope to be, in any degree, instrumental in +promoting the success of an administration under your direction; a +struggle which would have been far greater had I supposed that the +prospect of future usefulness was proportioned to the sacrifices made." + +Justice to a growing family was the chief cause of Hamilton's +resignation. "The penurious provision made for those who filled the high +executive departments in the American government," says Marshall, +"excluded from a long continuance in office all those whose fortunes +were moderate, and whose professional talents placed a decent +independence within their reach. While slandered as the accumulator of +thousands by illicit means, Colonel Hamilton had wasted in the public +service great part of the property acquired by his previous labors, and +had found himself compelled to decide on retiring from his political +station."[73] + +Oliver Wolcott, of Connecticut, who had been the federal comptroller +under Hamilton for some time, was appointed to succeed that officer; and +General Knox, who had offered his resignation as secretary of war at the +close of the year, was succeeded by Timothy Pickering, who was at that +time the postmaster-general. "After having served my country nearly +twenty years," wrote Knox in his letter tendering his resignation on the +twenty-eighth of December, "the greatest portion of which under your +immediate auspices, it is with extreme reluctance that I find myself +constrained to withdraw from so honorable a station. But the natural +and powerful claims of a numerous family will no longer permit me to +neglect their essential interests. In whatever situation I shall be, I +shall recollect your confidence and kindness with all the fervor and +purity of affection of which a grateful heart is susceptible." + +Washington always loved Knox. His frankness and good nature, his eminent +integrity and unswerving faithfulness in every period of his public +career, endeared him to the president; and it was with sincere sorrow +that he experienced the official separation. "The considerations which +you have often suggested to me," Washington wrote in reply to Knox, "and +which are repeated in your letter as requiring your departure from your +present office, are such as to preclude the possibility of my urging +your continuance in it. This being the case, I can only wish it was +otherwise. I can not suffer you, however, to close your public service +without uniting with the satisfaction which must arise in your own mind +from a conscious rectitude, my most perfect persuasion that you have +deserved well of your country. My personal knowledge of your exertions, +whilst it authorizes me to hold this language, justifies the sincere +friendship which I have ever borne for you, and which will accompany you +in every situation in life." + +The last session of the third Congress closed on the third of March, +1795. For a little while, Washington's mind was relieved in a degree +from the pressure of political duties, and a matter of different but +interesting nature occupied it at times. It will be remembered that the +legislature of Virginia presented to Washington, as a testimony of their +gratitude for his public services, fifty shares in the Potomac company, +and one hundred shares in the James River company--corporations created +for promoting internal navigation in Virginia--and that he accepted them +with the understanding that he should not use them for his own private +benefit, but apply them to some public purpose. + +An opportunity for such application, that commended itself to +Washington's judgment, had not occurred until this time, when a plan for +the establishment of a university at the federal capital, on the +Potomac, was talked of. "It has always been a source of serious +reflection and sincere regret with me," he said in a letter to the +commissioners of the federal city on the twenty-eighth of January, "that +the youth of the United States should be sent to foreign countries for +the purpose of education. Although there are doubtless many, under these +circumstances, who escape the danger of contracting principles +unfavorable to republican government, yet we ought to deprecate the +hazard attending ardent and susceptible minds from being too strongly +and too early prepossessed in favor of other political systems, before +they are capable of appreciating their own. + +"For this reason, I have greatly wished to see a plan adopted, by which +the arts, sciences, and belles-lettres, could be taught in their fullest +extent, thereby embracing all the advantages of European tuition, with +the means of acquiring the liberal knowledge which is necessary to +qualify our citizens for the exigencies of public as well as private +life; and (which with me is a consideration of great magnitude) by +assembling the youths from the different parts of this republic, +contributing, from their intercourse and interchange of information, to +the removal of prejudices, which might, perhaps, sometimes arise from +local circumstances." + +Washington then suggested the federal city as the most eligible place +for such an institution; at the same time offering, in the event of the +university being established upon a scale as extensive as he described, +and the execution of it being commenced under favorable auspices in a +reasonable time, to "grant in perpetuity fifty shares in the navigation +of the Potomac river towards the endowment of it." + +About four weeks after this, Washington received a letter from Mr. +Jefferson, on the subject that had a bearing upon the disposition of his +shares, the former having on some occasion asked the advice of the +latter concerning the appropriation of them. Mr. Jefferson now informed +Washington that the college at Geneva, in Switzerland, had been +destroyed, and that Mr. D'Ivernois, a Genevan scholar who had written a +history of his country, had proposed the transplanting of that college +to America. It was proposed to have the professors of the college come +over in a body, it being asserted that most of them spoke the English +language well. + +Jefferson was favorable to the establishment of the proposed new college +within the state of Virginia; but Washington, with practical sagacity, +concluded that it would not be wise to have two similar institutions. He +preferred having one excellent institution, and that at the federal +capital, and gave his reasons at length for his opinion, at the same +time adding--after stating to Mr. Jefferson the fact that he had offered +the fifty shares of the Potomac company to the commissioners--"My +judgment and my wishes point equally strong to the application of the +James River shares [one hundred] to the same object at the same place; +but, considering the source from whence they were derived, I have, in a +letter I am writing to the executive of Virginia on this subject, left +the application of them to a seminary within the state, to be located by +the legislature." + +In his letter to Governor Brooke, above referred to, Washington said: +"The time is come when a plan of universal education ought to be adopted +in the United States. Not only do the exigencies of public life demand +it, but, if it should be apprehended that prejudice would be entertained +in one part of the Union against another, an efficacious remedy will be +to assemble the youth from every part, under such circumstances as will, +by the freedom of intercourse and collision of sentiment, give to their +minds the direction of truth, philanthropy, and mutual conciliation." He +then expressed his preference of the proposed university at the federal +capital, as the object of his appropriation, but left the matter at the +disposal of the legislature. That body, in resolutions, approved of his +appropriation of the fifty shares in the Potomac company to the proposed +university, and requested him to appropriate the hundred shares in the +James River company "to a seminary at such place in the upper country, +as he may deem most convenient to a majority of the inhabitants +thereof."[74] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[73] Life of Washington, ii, 356 + +[74] See page 48 of this volume. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + JAY'S MISSION TO ENGLAND--ITS SPECIFIC OBJECTS--HIS ARRIVAL IN + LONDON--HIS JUDICIOUS CONDUCT THERE--DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF + NEGOTIATION--JAY'S ENCOURAGING LETTER TO WASHINGTON--HIS LETTER TO + THE SECRETARY OF STATE--THE PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY--ITS RECEPTION + BY WASHINGTON--HE KEEPS ITS PROVISIONS SECRET--OPPOSITION TO THE + TREATY--MEETING OF THE SENATE--THE TREATY DISCUSSED AND ITS + RATIFICATION RECOMMENDED--A SYNOPSIS OF ITS CONTENTS MADE PUBLIC. + + +Mr. Jay's mission to England had been from its inception a cause of much +anxiety to Washington. Its object was beneficent and patriotic in the +highest degree, and yet it had been opposed with the bitterest party +spirit, and regarded with distrust even by friends of the +administration, who had watched the ungenerous and despotic course of +the British government toward the United States ever since the peace of +1783. + +Mr. Jay's instructions contemplated three important objects to be +obtained by treaty. These were, compensation for the losses sustained by +American merchants in consequence of the orders in council; a settlement +of all existing disputes in relation to the treaty of peace; and a +commercial treaty. Great discretion was to be given to the envoy. He was +to consider his instructions as recommendatory, not as peremptory. Only +two restrictions were imposed upon him. One was, not to enter into any +stipulation inconsistent with the existing engagements of the United +States with France; the other was, not to conclude any commercial treaty +that did not secure to the United States a direct trade in their own +vessels, of certain defined burdens, with the British West India +islands, in whatever articles were at present allowed to be carried in +British bottoms. + +Mr. Jay was fully impressed with the importance of his mission and the +necessity of prompt action. He arrived at Falmouth on the evening of the +eighth of June, and the same night he forwarded a letter to Lord +Grenville, the secretary for foreign affairs, announcing his arrival. He +reached London a few days afterward, took lodgings at the Royal Hotel, +Pall Mall, and on the fifteenth addressed the following note to Lord +Grenville:-- + + "MY LORD: You have doubtless received a letter which I had the + honor of writing to you from Falmouth. I arrived here this morning. + The journey has given me some health and much pleasure, nothing + having occurred on the road to induce me to make it shorter. + + "Colonel Trumbull does me the favor to accompany me as secretary; + and I have brought with me a son, whom I am anxious should form a + right estimate of whatever may be interesting to our country. Will + you be so obliging, my lord, as to permit me to present them to + you, and to inform me of the time when it will be most agreeable to + your lordship that I should wait upon you, and assure you of the + respect with which I have the honor to be, &c." + +Mr. Jay's appearance in London was at a time when all Europe was in a +state of the most feverish excitement. Robespierre and his bloody +companions were revelling in all the wantonness of irresponsible power. +The Reign of Terror was at its height, and the resentment against France +by all true friends of freedom in Europe, and especially the British +nation, was hot and uncompromising. England, supported by Russia, +Austria, and Spain, was waging war against the revolutionists; and at +the moment of Jay's arrival, the nation was madly rejoicing because of a +splendid victory obtained by Lord Howe over the French fleet. The fact +that a large party in the United States warmly sympathized with France, +the late proceedings of Congress manifesting a disposition hostile to +Great Britain, and the remaining soreness of wounded pride experienced +by England in the loss of her colonies, combined with the stirring +events then occurring in Europe, made the moment apparently +inauspicious for a mission like that of Mr. Jay. It required, on the +part of the minister, the exercise of the most discreet courtesy. + +The views entertained by the two nations as to their rights and +interests were so opposed, on several points, that reconciliation +appeared almost impossible. The Americans complained that, contrary to +express provisions of the treaty of 1783, a large number of negroes had +been carried away by the evacuating British armies at the South, and for +the losses thereby sustained by the owners compensation was demanded. +The British contended that the claim in the treaty referred to did not +apply to negroes who had been set at liberty in the course of the war, +under proclamations of the British commanders; and as those carried away +were all of that kind, no compensation should be allowed. + +The Americans also complained of the continued occupancy of the western +posts by British garrisons, and attributed the protracted hostility of +the Indian tribes, to the influence of the British commanders there. +They also alleged numerous invasions of their neutral rights, not only +under the orders in council, issued as instructions to the commanders of +British cruisers, but in the seizure of many vessels without sufficient +warrant, and their condemnation by the local admiralty courts. They also +complained of the impressment into the British service of seamen from on +board American vessels, and the exclusion of American shipping from the +trade to the British West Indies. + +The British were unwilling to relinquish their right of impressment, as +a means of manning their fleets at that important crisis; and they +regarded the claim of the Americans to an equal participation in the +West India trade as unreasonable, because it would require England to +renounce the long-settled principles of her commercial system. The most +important questions to be settled, and those which involved matters most +dangerous to the peace between the two countries, were those of neutral +rights and the occupancy of the western posts. Such in brief were the +chief points in the controversy to be settled by treaty. + +"By a deportment respectful yet firm," says Marshall, "mingling a +decent deference for the government to which he was deputed, with a +proper regard for the dignity of his own, this minister avoided those +little asperities which frequently embarrass measures of great concern, +and smoothed the way to the adoption of those which were suggested by +the real interests of both nations."[75] + +Mr. Jay found Lord Grenville commissioned by the king to treat with him, +and the sincerity and candor of each soon led to the highest degree of +mutual confidence. "Instead of adopting the usual wary but tedious mode +of reducing every proposition to writing," says Mr. Jay's biographer,[76] +"they conducted the negotiation chiefly by conferences, in which the +parties frankly stated their several views, and suggested the way in +which the objections to these views might be obviated. It was understood +that neither party was to be committed by what passed in these +conversations, but that the propositions made in them might be recalled +or modified at pleasure. In this manner the two ministers speedily +discovered on what points they could agree, where their views were +irreconcilable, and on what principles a compromise might be effected." + +While at Fort Cumberland, in October, Washington received a most +gratifying letter from Mr. Jay, accompanied by despatches from Mr. +Randolph, the secretary of state. They came by the Packet _William +Penn_. Mr. Jay's letter was dated the fifth of August. Concerning the +business of his mission he wrote as follows:-- + + "I am this moment returned from a long conference with Lord + Grenville. Our prospects become more and more promising as we + advance in the business. The compensation cases (as described in + the answer) and the amount of damages will, I have reason to hope, + be referred to the decision of commissioners, mutually to be + appointed by the two governments, and the money paid without delay + on their certificates, and the business closed as speedily as may + be possible. The question of admitting our vessels into the islands + under certain limitations is under consideration, and will soon be + decided. A treaty of commerce is on the carpet. All things being + agreed, the posts will be included. They contend that the article + about the _negroes_ does not extend to those who came in on their + proclamations, to whom (being vested with the property in them by + the right of war) they gave freedom, but only to those who were, + _bona fide_, the property of Americans when the war ceased. They + will, I think, insist that British debts, so far as _injured_ by + lawful impediments, should be repaired by the United States by + decision of mutual commissioners. These things have passed in + conversation, but no commitments on either side, and not to have + any official weight or use whatever. + + "The king observed to me, the other day, 'Well, sir, I imagine you + begin to see that your mission will probably be successful.'--'I am + happy, may it please your majesty, to find that you entertain that + idea.'--'Well, but don't you perceive that it is like to be + so?'--'There are some recent circumstances (the answer to my + representation, etc.) which induce me to flatter myself that it + will be so.' He nodded with a smile, signifying that it was to + those circumstances that he alluded. The conversation then turned + to indifferent topics. This was at the drawing-room. + + "I have never been more unceasingly employed than I have been for + some time past and still am; I hope for good, but God only knows. + The _William Penn_ sails in the morning. I write these few lines in + haste, to let you see that the business is going on as fast as can + reasonably be expected, and that it is very _important_ that peace + and quiet should be preserved for the present. On hearing last + night that one of our Indiamen had been carried into Halifax, I + mentioned it to Lord Grenville. He will write immediately by the + packet on the subject. Indeed, I believe they are endeavoring to + restore a proper conduct toward us _everywhere_; but it will take + some time before the effects will be visible. I write all this to + you in _confidence_, and for your own _private_ satisfaction. I + have not time to explain my reasons, but they are _cogent_. I could + fill some sheets with interesting communications if I had leisure, + but other matters press, and must not be postponed; for 'there is a + tide in the affairs of men,' of which every moment is precious. + Whatever may be the issue, nothing in my power to insure success + shall be neglected or delayed."[77] + +To Mr. Randolph he wrote: "I shall persevere in my endeavors to acquire +the confidence and esteem of this government--not by improper +compliances, but by that sincerity, candor, truth, and prudence, which, +in my opinion, will always prove to be more wise and more effectual than +finesse and chicane. Formal discussions of disputed points should, in my +judgment, be postponed until the case becomes desperate; my present +object is to accommodate, rather than to convert or convince. Men who +sign their names to arguments seldom retract. If, however, my present +plan should fail, I shall then prepare and present such formal, and at +the same time such temperate and _firm_, representations as may be +necessary to place the claims and conduct of the two governments in +their proper point of view." + +A treaty was finally signed at London, on the nineteenth of November, +1794, by Mr. Jay and Lord Grenville, and submitted to their respective +governments for ratification. It was defective in some parts and +objectionable in others; but, as it was the best that could be obtained, +Mr. Jay was induced to sign it. + +In a private letter to Washington, written on the same day that he +signed the treaty, Mr. Jay said, "To do more was impossible. I ought not +to conceal from you," he added, "that the confidence reposed in your +personal character was visible and useful throughout the negotiation." +To the secretary of state he wrote:-- + + "The long-expected treaty accompanies this letter. The difficulties + which retarded its accomplishment frequently had the appearance of + being insurmountable. They have at last yielded to modifications of + the articles in which they existed, and to that mutual disposition + to agreement which reconciled Lord Grenville and myself to an + unusual degree of trouble and application. They who have levelled + uneven ground know how little of the work afterward appears. + + "Since the building is finished, it can not be very important to + describe the scaffolding, nor to go into all the details which + respected the business. My opinion of the treaty is apparent from + my having signed it. I have no reason to believe or conjecture that + one more favorable to us is attainable." + +This treaty provided for the establishment of three boards of +commissioners; one to determine the eastern boundary of the United +States, by deciding which was the river St. Croix named in the treaty of +peace in 1783; another to ascertain the amount of losses which British +subjects had experienced in consequence of legal impediments to the +recovery of debts due them by citizens of the United States, contracted +before the Revolution--such amount, on their report being made, to be +paid by the government of the United States; and a third to estimate the +losses sustained by American citizens in consequence of irregular and +illegal captures by British cruisers, for which the sufferers had no +adequate remedy in suits of law--such losses to be paid by the British +government. + +It was provided that the western posts should be given up to the United +States on the first of June, 1796, in consideration of the adjustment of +the ante-revolutionary debts, the then residents in their respective +neighborhoods having the option of remaining, or of becoming American +citizens. The important Indian traffic in the interior was left open to +both nations, by a mutual reciprocity of inland trade and free +intercourse between the North American territories of the two nations, +including the navigation of the Mississippi. The British were to be +allowed to enter all American harbors, with the right to ascend all +rivers to the highest port of entry. This reciprocity did not extend to +the possessions of the Hudson's Bay company, nor to the admission of +American vessels into the harbors of the British North American +colonies, nor to the navigation of the rivers of those colonies below +the highest port of entry. + +It was stipulated that the subjects or citizens of one government, +holding lands in the dominions of the other government, should continue +to hold them without alienage; nor, in the event of war or other +national differences, should there be any confiscation by either party +of debts, or of public or private stocks, due to or held by the citizens +or subjects of the other. In a word, there should be no disturbance of +existing conditions of property; and merchants and traders on each side +should enjoy the most complete protection and security for their +property. + +The foregoing is the material substance of the first ten articles of the +treaty, which it was declared should be perpetual; the remaining +eighteen, having reference chiefly to the regulation of commerce and +navigation between the two countries, were limited in their operations +to two years after the termination of the war in which Great Britain was +then engaged. + +The commercial portion of the treaty provided for the admission of +American vessels into British ports in Europe and the East Indies, on +terms of equality with British vessels. But participation in the East +Indian coasting trade, and the trade between European and British East +Indian ports, was left to rest on the contingency of British permission. +The right was also reserved to the British to meet the existing +discrimination in the American tonnage and import duties by +countervailing measures. American vessels, not exceeding seventy tons +burden, were to be allowed to trade to the British West Indies, but only +on condition of a renunciation, during the continuance of the treaty, of +the right to transport from America to Europe any of the principal +colonial products. British vessels were to be admitted into American +ports without any further addition to the existing discriminating +duties, and on terms equal to the most favored nations. + +It was also stipulated that privateers should give bonds, with security, +to make equivalent restitution for any injury they might inflict upon +neutrals, in the event of the condemnation of any prize. Other +provisions, favorable to neutral property captured by privateers, were +made; and it was determined that the list of contraband articles should +include, besides ammunition and warlike implements, all articles serving +directly for the equipment of vessels, except unwrought iron and +fir-plank. + +It was also provided that no vessel attempting to enter a blockaded +port should be captured, unless previously notified of the blockade; +that neither nation should allow enlistments within its territory by any +third nation at war with the other; nor should the citizens or subjects +of either be allowed to accept commissions from such third nation, or to +enlist in its service--citizens or subjects acting contrary to this +stipulation to be treated as pirates. Provision was also made for the +exercise of hospitality and courtesy between ships-of-war and privateers +of the two countries; also for prohibiting the arming of privateers of +any nation at war with either of the contracting parties, or fitting +them out in the ports of the other; and for excluding the privateers of +a third nation from the ports of the contracting parties, which had made +prizes of vessels belonging to citizens or subjects of either country. +It was also agreed that neither nation should allow vessels or goods of +the other to be captured in any of its bays or other waters, or within +cannon-shot of its coast. + +It was further stipulated, that in the event of war between the two +nations, the citizens or subjects of each, residing within the limits of +the other, should be allowed to continue peaceably in their respective +employments, so long as they should behave themselves properly. It was +also provided that fugitives from justice, charged with murder or +forgery, should be mutually given up. + +Such was the substance of the famous treaty, the ratification of which +caused a tempest in the political atmosphere, whose fury shook the Union +to its foundation, and proved to the utmost test the stability of the +character and popularity of Washington. + +Rumors of the conclusion of a treaty reached the Congress before its +adjournment in March, 1795; but the treaty itself did not arrive until +two days afterward. The president received it on the fifth of March, but +its contents were kept a profound secret for several months. Washington +studied it carefully, fully digested every article, and resolved to +ratify it, should it be approved by the senate. Parts of it he approved, +parts he disapproved; but he saw in it the basis for a satisfactory +adjustment of the relations of the two governments, and a guaranty of +peace. + +The president issued a circular calling the senate together in June, for +the purpose of considering the treaty. He resolved to keep its +provisions a secret until that time, because there was a predisposition +in the public mind to condemn it. Already, as we have seen, the +appointment of a special envoy to negotiate with Great Britain had been +denounced as a cowardly overture, and degrading to the United States; +and it was declared that the mission of a special envoy, if one was to +be sent, should be to make a formal and unequivocal demand of reparation +for wrongs inflicted on our commerce, the payment of damages to owners +of slaves carried away, and the immediate surrender of the western +posts. + +A large party in the United States had resolved that the treaty, +whatever it might be, especially if it should remove all pretexts for a +war with Great Britain, should be rejected; and, even before its +arrival, preparations for opposition were made. In the course of a few +days after Washington received it, and had submitted it, under the seal +of strict privacy, to Mr. Randolph, the secretary of state, sufficient +information concerning it leaked out to awaken public distrust, and yet +not enough was known for the formation of any definite opinion +concerning it. But instantly the opposition press commenced a crusade +against it. + +"Americans, awake!" cried a writer in one of these. "Remember what you +suffered during a seven-years' war with the satellites of George the +Third (and I hope the last). Recollect the services rendered by your +allies, now contending for liberty. Blush to think that America should +degrade herself so much as to enter into _any kind of treaty_ with a +power, now tottering on the brink of ruin, whose principles are directly +contrary to the spirit of republicanism. + +"The United States are a republic. Is it advantageous to a republic to +have a connection with a monarch? Treaties lead to war, and war is the +bane of a republican government. If the influence of a treaty is added +to the influence which Great Britain has already in our government, we +shall be colonized anew. + +"Commercial treaties are an artificial means to obtain a natural +end--they are the swathing bands of commerce that impede the free +operations of nature. Treaties are like partnerships; they establish +intimacies which sometimes end in profligacy, and sometimes in ruin and +bankruptcy, distrust, strife, and quarrel. + +"_No treaty_ ought to have been made with Great Britain, for she is +famed for perfidy and double dealing; her polar star is interest; +artifice, with her, is a substitute for nature. To make a treaty with +Great Britain is forming a connection with a monarch; and the +introduction of the fashions, forms, and precedents of monarchical +governments has ever accelerated the destruction of republics. + +"If foreign connections are to be formed, they ought to be made with +nations whose influence would not poison the fountain of liberty, and +circulate the deleterious streams to the destruction of the rich harvest +of our Revolution. _France_ is our natural ally; she has a government +congenial with our own. There can be no hazard of introducing from her, +principles and practices repugnant to freedom. That gallant nation, +whose proffers we have neglected, is the sheet-anchor that sustains our +hopes; and should her glorious exertions be incompetent to the great +object she has in view, we have little to flatter ourselves with from +the faith, honor, or justice of Great Britain. The nation on whom _our +political existence depends_, we have treated with indifference +bordering on contempt. _Citizens_, your only security depends on +_France_; and, by the conduct of your government, that security has +become precarious. + +"To enter into a treaty with Great Britain at the moment when we have +evaded a treaty with France; to treat with an enemy against whom France +feels an implacable hatred, an enemy who has neglected no means to +desolate that country and crimson it with blood, is certainly insult. +Citizens of America, sovereigns of a free country, your hostility to the +French republic has been spoken of in the National Convention, and a +motion for an inquiry into it has been only suspended from prudential +motives--the book of account may soon be opened against you. What then, +alas, will be your prospects! To have your friendship questioned by that +nation is indeed alarming!" + +Such was the logic--or rather the mad, seditious cry of +faction--employed to forestall public opinion, and defeat the noble and +humane intentions of the government. The Democratic Societies, though +infirm and tottering, joined in the clamor. One of these in Virginia +exclaimed, "Shall we Americans, who have kindled the spark of liberty, +stand aloof and see it extinguished when burning a bright flame in +France, which hath caught it from us? If all tyrants unite against a +free people, should not all free people unite against tyrants? Yes, let +us unite with France, and stand or fall together." + +The Massachusetts Society, in an address to all sister societies of the +Union, put forth similar sentiments, and declared that the political +interests of the United States and France were "one and indivisible." +The Pennsylvania Society exhorted that of New York to be ready and +oppose the treaty if its provisions should be found dishonorable to the +country; and newspapers and pamphleteers joined in the general cry of +factious opposition. + +The senate, pursuant to proclamation, assembled at Philadelphia on the +eighth of June. Some changes had taken place in the material of that +body, favorable to the government. Mr. Jay's treaty, with accompanying +documents, was laid before it on the first day of the session. That +gentleman had arrived from England a fortnight previously, and found +himself elected governor of the state of New York by a large majority; +and when he landed, he was greeted by thousands of his fellow-citizens, +who gathered to welcome their new chief magistrate, and to testify their +respect to the envoy who had so faithfully, as they believed, executed a +mission of peace. A great crowd attended him to his dwelling, and the +firing of cannon and ringing of bells attested the public joy. He +immediately resigned his seat as chief justice of the United States, and +three days after his arrival home he took the oath of office as governor +of the state of New York. + +The senate held secret sessions when considering the treaty, and for a +fortnight it was discussed in that body with the greatest freedom and +candor. Finally, on the twenty-fourth of June, the senate by a vote of +twenty to ten--precisely a constitutional majority--advised the +ratification of the treaty, that article excepted which related to the +West India trade. + +"An insuperable objection," says Marshall, "existed to an article +regulating the intercourse with the British West Indies, founded on a +fact which is understood to have been unknown to Mr. Jay. The intention +of the contracting parties was to admit the direct intercourse between +the United States and those islands, but not to permit the productions +of the latter to be carried to Europe in the vessels of the former. To +give effect to this intention, the exportation from the United States of +those articles which were the principal productions of the islands was +to be relinquished. Among these was cotton. This article, which a few +years before was scarcely raised in sufficient quantity for domestic +consumption, was becoming one of the richest staples of the southern +states. The senate, being informed of this fact, advised and consented +that the treaty should be ratified on condition that an article be added +thereto, suspending that part of the twelfth article which related to +the intercourse with the West Indies. + +"Although, in the mind of the president, several objections to the +treaty had occurred, they were overbalanced by its advantages; and, +before transmitting it to the senate, he had resolved to ratify it, if +approved by that body. The resolution of the senate presented +difficulties which required consideration. Whether they could advise and +consent to an article which had not been laid before them, and whether +their resolution was to be considered as the final exercise of their +power, were questions not entirely free from difficulty. Nor was it +absolutely clear that the executive could ratify the treaty, under the +advice of the senate, until the suspending article should be introduced +into it. A few days were employed in the removal of these doubts; at the +expiration of which, intelligence was received from Europe which +suspended the resolution which the president had formed. + +"The English papers contained an account, which, though not official, +was deemed worthy of credit, that the order of the eighth of June, +1793, for the seizure of provisions going to French ports, was renewed. +In the apprehension that this order might be construed and intended as a +practical construction of that article in the treaty which seemed to +favor the idea that provisions, though not generally contraband, might +occasionally become so, a construction in which he had determined not to +acquiesce, the president thought it wise to reconsider his decision. Of +the result of this reconsideration there is no conclusive testimony. A +strong memorial against this objectionable order was directed; and the +propositions to withhold the ratification of the treaty until the order +should be repealed; to make the exchange of ratifications dependent upon +that event; and to adhere to his original purpose of pursuing the advice +of the senate, connecting with that measure the memorial which had been +mentioned, as an act explanatory of the sense in which his ratification +was made, were severally reviewed by him. In conformity with his +practice of withholding his opinion on controverted points until it +should become necessary to decide them, he suspended his determination +on these propositions until the memorial should be prepared and laid +before him."[78] + +The senate, on voting to recommend the ratification of the treaty, +removed the seal of secrecy, but forbade any publication of the treaty +itself. Regardless alike of the rules of the senate, and of official +decorum, Senator Mason, of Virginia, sent to Bache, the editor of the +_Aurora_ (the democratic newspaper) a full abstract of the treaty, which +was published on the second of July. In this, Mason had only anticipated +Washington, who, to counteract statements concerning the contents of the +treaty, and malignant comments which began to appear, had resolved to +have the whole document published. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[75] Life of Washington, ii, 360. + +[76] His son, William Jay. + +[77] Life and Writings of John Jay, by his Son, William Jay, i, 323. + +[78] Life of Washington, ii, 361. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + TERMINATION OF JAY'S TREATY--WASHINGTON WITHHOLDS HIS SIGNATURE TO + THE RATIFICATION--EFFORTS TO INTIMIDATE HIM--VIOLENT PROCEEDINGS IN + PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK--PROCEEDINGS OF THE SELECTMEN OF + BOSTON--RIOTOUS PROCEEDINGS IN NEW YORK--HAMILTON AND OTHERS + STONED--OPPOSITION TO THE TREATY--CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN FAVOR OF + THE TREATY--MOVEMENTS IN PHILADELPHIA--DENUNCIATIONS OF JAY AND THE + TREATY IN THE SOUTHERN STATES--DISUNION THREATENED--WASHINGTON'S + LETTER TO THE SELECTMEN OF BOSTON--WASHINGTON AT MOUNT VERNON--HIS + HASTY RETURN TO THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT--FAUCHET'S LETTER + INTERCEPTED--CONFIDENCE WITHDRAWN FROM RANDOLPH--THE RATIFICATION OF + THE TREATY SIGNED--RANDOLPH AND FAUCHET--RANDOLPH'S VINDICATION OF + HIS CONDUCT--HIS REPENTANCE. + + +The publication of the contents of the treaty produced a blaze of +excitement throughout the country. The author of the treaty, the +senators who approved of its ratification, and the president, were all +vehemently denounced. Great indignation had already been expressed +because the entire negotiation had been involved in mysterious secrecy; +because the document had not been immediately made public on its +reception by the president; and because the senate deliberated upon it +with closed doors. The partisans of France had used every effort, during +the spring and summer, to excite the people against Great Britain; and +it was evident, from the tone of opposition writers and declaimers, that +no possible adjustment of difficulties with that country, which might +promise a future friendly intercourse between the two nations, would be +satisfactory.[79] + +It was asserted that any treaty of amity and commerce with Great Britain +under the circumstances, whatever might be its principles, was a +degrading insult to the American people, a pusillanimous surrender of +their honor, and a covert injury to France. They affected to regard the +compact as an alliance; an abandonment of an ancient ally of the United +States, whose friendship had given them independence, and whose current +victories, at that moment challenging the admiration of the world, still +protected them, for an alliance with the natural enemy of that friend, +and with an enemy of human liberty. They spoke of the court of Great +Britain as the most faithless and corrupt in the world, and denounced +the result of Jay's mission as a surrender of every just claim upon a +rapacious enemy for restitution on account of great wrongs. + +These denunciations had great immediate effect. All acknowledged that +the treaty was not as favorable to the United States as the latter had a +right to expect; and "public opinion did receive a considerable shock," +says Marshall. Men unaffected by the spirit of faction felt some +disappointment on its first appearance; therefore, when exposed to the +public view, continues Marshall, "it found one party prepared for a bold +and intrepid attack, but the other not ready in its defence. An appeal +to the passions, prejudices, and feelings of the nation might +confidently be made by those whose only object was its condemnation; +while reflection, information, and consequently time, were required by +men whose first impressions were not in its favor, but who were not +inclined to yield absolutely to those impressions." + +As we have observed, Washington, for a specific purpose, withheld his +signature in ratification of the treaty. The vote of the senate +recommending its ratification, with the stipulation that one article +should be added, suspending so much of another as seemed requisite, and +requesting the president to open without delay further negotiation on +that head, presented serious questions to his mind. He had no precedent +for his guide. Could the senate be considered to have ratified the +treaty before the insertion of the new article? Was the act complete and +final, so as to make it unnecessary to refer it back to that body? Could +the president affix his official seal to an act before it should be +complete? These were important questions, and demanded serious +reflection. + +The opponents of the treaty, aware of the cause of the delay in its +ratification, resolved to endeavor to intimidate the president and +prevent his signing it. The most violent demonstrations, by word and +deed, were made against it. On the fourth of July, a great mob assembled +in Philadelphia, and paraded the streets with effigies of Jay and the +ratifying senators. That of Jay bore a pair of scales: one was labelled +"_American Liberty and Independence_;" and the other, which greatly +preponderated, "_British Gold_." From the mouth of the figure proceeded +the words, "_Come up to my price, and I will sell you my country_." The +effigies were committed to the flames amid the most frightful yells and +groans. + +Public meetings were assembled all over the country to make formal +protests against the treaty. They were called ostensibly to "deliberate +upon it," but they were frequently tumultuous, and always declamatory. A +large meeting was held in Boston on the tenth of July. The chief actors +there denounced the treaty as not containing one single article +honorable or beneficial to the United States. It was disapproved of by +unanimous vote, and a committee of fifteen, appointed to state +objections, in an address to the president, reported no less than +twenty. They were adopted by the meeting without debate, and were sent +to the president accompanied by a letter from the selectmen of Boston. +Only a few of the stable inhabitants of Boston appear to have been +concerned in this matter, and the wealthy merchants and some other rich +men who attended the meeting, and whose fears were excited by the +leaders of the opposition, were made mere tools of on the occasion. + +A meeting for a similar purpose was held in front of the city-hall, in +Wall street, New York, on the eighteenth of July, pursuant to a call of +an anonymous handbill. There the opposition gathered in great numbers, +and there also was a large number of the friends of the treaty, who +succeeded at first in electing a chairman. They were then about to +adjourn to some more convenient place, when Brockholst Livingston, Mr. +Jay's brother-in-law, and a leader of the opposition, urged the meeting +to proceed instantly, as the president might ratify the treaty at any +moment. Indeed, the whole Livingston family, with the eminent chancellor +at their head, were now in the ranks of the opposition, and exerted a +powerful influence. "With more than thoughtless effrontery," says Doctor +Francis, "they fanned the embers of discontent." + +Hamilton, Rufus King, and other speakers, occupied the balcony of the +city-hall. The former, with sweet and persuasive tones, had uttered +conciliatory words, and spoken in favor of adjournment, when the +meeting became a good deal disturbed by conflicting sentiments and +stormy passions. Just then an excited party of the opposition, who had +held a meeting at the Bowling Green, with William L. Smith, a son-in-law +of Vice-President Adams, as chairman, and who had burned a copy of the +treaty in front of the government house, marched up Broadway, with the +American and French flags unfurled, and joined the meeting. The +turbulence of the assembly was greatly increased by this addition; and +while Hamilton and King "were addressing the people in accents of +friendship, peace, and reconciliation, they were treated in return with +a shower of stones, levelled at their persons, by the exasperated mob +gathered in front of the city-hall."[80] + +"These are hard arguments," said Hamilton, who was hit a glancing blow +upon the forehead by one of the stones. A question was finally taken on +a motion to leave the decision on the treaty to the president and +senate, when both sides claimed a majority. Then some person, utterly +ignoring the presence of a chairman, moved the appointment of a +committee of fifteen, to report to another meeting (to be held two days +afterward) objections to the treaty. He read a list of names of +gentlemen that should form that committee, and, at the close of +clamorous shouts, he declared them duly appointed by the vote. The +meeting finally broke up in great confusion. The adjourned meeting was +attended by only the opponents of the treaty; and Brockholst Livingston, +chairman of the committee of fifteen, reported twenty-eight condemnatory +resolutions, which were adopted by unanimous vote. + +"These resolutions," says Hildreth, "while expressing great confidence +in the president's wisdom, patriotism, and independence, were equally +confident that his 'own good sense' must induce him to reject the +treaty, as 'invading the constitution and legislative authority of the +country; as abandoning important and well-founded claims against the +British government; as imposing unjust and impolitic restraints on +commerce; as injurious to agriculture; as conceding, without an +equivalent, important advantages to Great Britain; as hostile and +ungrateful to France; as committing our peace with that great republic; +as unequal toward America in every respect; as hazarding her internal +peace and prosperity; and as derogatory from her sovereignty and +independence."[81] + +On the very next day (July 22), the New York Chamber of Commerce, +representing the commercial interests of that city, adopted resolutions +diametrically opposed to those offered by Livingston. These set forth +that the treaty contained as many features of reciprocity as, under the +circumstances, might be expected; that the arrangements respecting +British debts were honest and expedient; and that the agreement +concerning the surrender of the western posts and for compensation for +spoliations, and their prevention in future, were wise and beneficial. +If the treaty had been rejected, they said, war with all its attendant +calamities would have ensued, and they were satisfied with what had been +done. + +On the twenty-fourth of July a similar meeting was held in Philadelphia. +Among the leaders who denounced the treaty by speech and acts were +Chief-Justice M'Kean, Alexander J. Dallas (the secretary of the +commonwealth), General Muhlenburg (late speaker of the house of +representatives), and John Swanwick (representative elect in Congress). +A committee of fifteen was appointed by the meeting to convey the +sentiments of the assemblage to the president, who was then at Mount +Vernon, in the form of a memorial. That instrument was read twice and +agreed to without debate. The treaty was then thrown to the +populace--consisting chiefly, as Wolcott said in a letter to the +president, of "the ignorant and violent classes"--who placed it upon a +pole, and, proceeding to the house of the British minister, burned it in +the street in front of it. They performed a like ceremony in front of +the dwelling of the British consul, and also of Mr. Bingham, an +influential federalist, with loud huzzas, yells, and groans. + +At the South, equally hostile feelings toward the treaty and its friends +were manifested. John Rutledge, then chief justice of South Carolina, +denounced the treaty in violent language at a public meeting. He said it +was destitute of a single article that could be approved, and reproached +Jay with being either a knave or a fool--with corruption or +stupidity--in having signed it. The stanch old patriot, Christopher +Gadsden, denounced it in terms equally decisive; and Charles Cotesworth +Pinckney, at the close of a violent harangue, moved to request the +president to take steps to have Jay impeached. "If he had not made this +public exposure of his conduct and principles," said Pinckney, "he might +one day have been brought forward, among others, as a candidate for our +highest office: but the general and deserved contempt which his +negotiations have brought both his talents and principles into, would +for ever, he trusted, secure his fellow-citizens from the dangerous and +unwise use which such a man would have made of the powers vested in a +president." + +The meeting appointed a committee of fifteen to report their sentiments +at another gathering. It was done on the twenty-second of July. The +report contained severe criticisms upon the several articles of the +treaty, and recommended a memorial to the president, asking him not to +ratify it. Meanwhile the populace trailed a British flag through the +streets, and then burned it at the door of the British consul. + +While these meetings were occurring in the principal cities, the +opposition press all over the country was alive with the subject, and +its denunciations were sometimes so violent that it was difficult to +find words strong enough to express them. The Democratic Societies, +vivified by the excitement, were also active with a sort of galvanic +life. One of these in South Carolina resolved, "That we pledge ourselves +to our brethren of the republican societies throughout the Union, as far +as the ability and individual influence of a numerous society can be +made to extend, that we will promote every constitutional mode to bring +John Jay to trial and to justice. He shall not escape, if guilty, that +punishment which will at once wipe off the temporary stain laid upon us, +and be a warning to traitors hereafter how they sport with the +interests and feelings of their fellow-citizens. He was instructed, or +he was not: if he was, we will drop the curtain; if not, and he acted of +and from himself, we shall lament the want of a GUILLOTINE." + +The Pendleton Society of the same state declared their "abhorrence and +detestation of a treaty which gives the English government more power +over us as states than it claimed over us as colonists--a treaty, +involving in it pusillanimity, stupidity, ingratitude, and treachery." + +In Virginia, the grand panacea for all political evils of the federal +government, DISUNION, was again presented. The following specimen of the +prescription, taken from a Virginia newspaper, will suffice as an +example:-- + + "Notice is hereby given, that in case the treaty entered into by + that damned arch-traitor, John Jay, with the British tyrant should + be ratified, a petition will be presented to the next general + assembly of Virginia at their next session, praying that the said + state may recede from the Union, and be under the government of one + hundred thousand free and independent Virginians. + + "P. S. As it is the wish of the people of the said state to enter + into a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, with any other + state or states of the present Union who are averse to returning + again under the galling yoke of Great Britain, the printers of the + (at present) United States are requested to publish the above + notification.--_Richmond, July 31, 1795_." + +Even at that early period of the republic, neither newspaper editors, +nor political combinations, nor gatherings of clamorous assemblies, +could make any sensible impression on the real strength of the Union. + +Nor did these individual or public demonstrations move Washington from +his steady march in the line of duty, or in his allegiance to what he +discerned to be truth and justice. On his way to his home on the +Potomac, he was overtaken at Baltimore, on the eighteenth of July, by +the committee from Boston, bearing to him the proceedings of the great +public meeting there on the subject of the treaty. He immediately sent +the papers back to Mr. Randolph, the secretary of state, with a request +that he would confer upon the subject with the other two secretaries and +the attorney-general, and transmit the opinion of the cabinet to him as +early as possible. The whole affair, he had no doubt, was intended to +place him "in an embarrassed situation." The cabinet members, after +consultation, wrote out replies to the Boston authorities in accordance +with their views, and sent them to the president. He weighed them +carefully, and on the twenty-eighth of July he addressed the following +letter to the selectmen of Boston:--[82] + + "In every act of my administration I have sought the happiness of + my fellow-citizens. My system for the attainment of this object has + uniformly been to overlook all personal, local, and partial + considerations; to contemplate the United States as one great + whole; to consider that sudden impressions, when erroneous, would + yield to candid reflection; and to consult only the substantial and + permanent interests of our country. + + "Nor have I departed from this line of conduct, on the occasion + which has produced the resolutions contained in your letter of the + thirteenth instant. + + "With a predilection for my own judgment, I have weighed with + attention every argument which has at any time been brought into + view. But the constitution is the guide, which I never can abandon. + It has assigned to the president the power of making treaties, with + the advice and consent of the senate. It was doubtless supposed + that these two branches of government would combine, without + passion, and with the best means of information, those facts and + principles upon which the success of our foreign relations will + always depend; that they ought not to substitute for their own + conviction the opinions of others, or to seek truth through any + channel but that of a temperate and well-informed investigation. + + "Under this persuasion, I have resolved on the manner of executing + the duty before me. To the high responsibility attached to it I + freely submit; and you, gentlemen, are at liberty to make these + sentiments known as the grounds of my procedure. While I feel the + most lively gratitude for the many instances of approbation from my + country, I can no otherwise deserve it than by obeying the dictates + of my conscience." + +To these noble sentiments Washington firmly adhered, and they were the +basis of his replies to all similar communications. Before this letter +was sent, Washington received many private and public letters on the +subject, as well as newspaper accounts of meetings all over the country. +He perceived that a crisis had arrived, when he must act promptly and +energetically, in accordance with his convictions of right. He saw that +the excitement throughout the Union was becoming formidable, and he +resolved to return to Philadelphia immediately, summon his cabinet, and +propose to ratify the treaty without delay--notwithstanding such return +would be to him a great personal sacrifice. "Whilst I am in office," he +said to Randolph in his letter announcing his determination to return, +"I shall never suffer private convenience to interfere with what I +conceive to be my official duty." This was one of the great maxims of +his life. + +"I view the opposition," he said, "which the treaty is receiving from +the meetings in different parts of the Union, in a very serious light; +not because there is more weight in any of the objections which are made +to it than was foreseen at first, for there is none in some of them, and +gross misrepresentations in others; nor as it respects myself +personally, for this shall have no influence on my conduct, plainly +perceiving, and I am accordingly preparing my mind for it, the obloquy +which disappointment and malice are collecting to heap upon me. But I am +alarmed at the effect it may have on, and the advantage the French +government may be disposed to make of, the spirit which is at work to +cherish a belief in them that the treaty is calculated to favor Great +Britain at their expense. Whether they believe or disbelieve these +tales, the effect it will have upon the nation will be nearly the same; +for, whilst they are at war with that power, or so long as the +animosity between the two nations exists, it will, no matter at whose +expense, be their policy, and it is to be feared will be their conduct, +to prevent us from being on good terms with Great Britain, or her from +deriving any advantages from our trade, which they can hinder, however +much we may be benefitted thereby ourselves. To what length this policy +and interest may carry them is problematical; but when they see the +people of this country divided, and such a violent opposition given to +the measures of their own government pretendedly in their favor, it may +be extremely embarrassing, to say no more of it. + +"To sum the whole up in a few words, I have never, since I have been in +the administration of the government, seen a crisis, which in my +judgment has been so pregnant with interesting events, nor one from +which more is to be apprehended, whether viewed on one side or the +other. From New York there is, and I am told will further be, a counter +current; but how formidable it may appear I know not. If the same does +not take place at Boston and other towns, it will afford but too strong +evidence that the opposition is in a manner universal, and would make +the ratification a very serious business indeed. But, as it respects the +French, even counter resolutions would, for the reasons I have already +mentioned, do little more than weaken in a small degree the effect the +other side would have." + +Two days afterward (the thirty-first of July) he wrote to Mr. Randolph, +informing him that he should not set out for Philadelphia until he +should receive answers to some letters, and then said:-- + + "To be wise and temperate, as well as firm, the present crisis most + eminently calls for. There is too much reason to believe, from the + pains which have been taken, before, at, and since the advice of + the senate respecting the treaty, that the prejudices against it + are more extensive than is generally imagined. This I have lately + understood to be the case in this quarter, from men who are of no + party, but well disposed to the present administration. How should + it be otherwise, when no stone has been left unturned that could + impress on the minds of the people the most arrant + misrepresentation of facts; that their rights have not only been + _neglected_, but absolutely _sold_; that there are no reciprocal + advantages in the treaty; that the benefits are all on the side of + Great Britain; and, what seems to have had more weight with them + than all the rest and to have been most pressed, that the treaty is + made with the design to oppress the French, in open violation of + our treaty with that nation, and contrary, too, to every principle + of gratitude and sound policy? In time, when passion shall have + yielded to sober reason, the current may possibly turn; but, in the + meanwhile, this government, in relation to France and England, may + be compared to a ship between the rocks of Scylla and Charybdis. If + the treaty is ratified, the partisans of the French, or rather of + war and confusion, will excite them to hostile measures, or at + least to unfriendly sentiments; if it is not, there is no + foreseeing all the consequences which may follow as it respects + Great Britain. + + "It is not to be inferred from hence that I am disposed to quit the + ground I have taken, unless circumstances more imperious than have + yet come to my knowledge should compel it; for there is but one + straight course, and that is, to seek truth and pursue it steadily. + + "But these things are mentioned to show that a close investigation + of the subject is more than ever necessary, and that they are + strong evidences of the necessity of the most circumspect conduct + in carrying the determination of government into effect, with + prudence as it respects our own people, and with every exertion to + produce a change for the better from Great Britain." + +Randolph, at Washington's request, had made a rough draft of a memorial, +intended to meet all objections to the treaty. This had been sent to +Mount Vernon, and in reference to it the president said:-- + + "The memorial seems well designed to answer the end proposed; and + by the time it is revised and new-dressed, you will probably + (either in the resolutions, which are or will be handed to me, or + in the newspaper publications, which you promised to be attentive + to) have seen all the objections against the treaty which have any + real force in them, and which may be fit subjects for + representation in the memorial, or in the instructions, or both. + + "But how much longer the presentation of the memorial can be + delayed without exciting unpleasant sensations here, or involving + serious evils elsewhere, you, who are at the scene of information + and action, can decide better than I. In a matter, however, so + interesting and pregnant with consequences as this treaty, there + ought to be no precipitation; but, on the contrary, every step + should be explored before it is taken, and every word weighed + before it is uttered or delivered in writing." + +Washington arrived at Philadelphia on the eleventh of August. His return +was hastened by a mysterious letter from Colonel Pickering, the +secretary of war, dated the thirty-first of July. "On the subject of the +treaty," he said, "I confess I feel extreme solicitude, and for a +_special reason_, which can be communicated to you only in person. I +entreat, therefore, that you will return with all convenient speed to +the seat of government. In the meantime, for the reason above referred +to, I pray you to decide on no important political measure, in whatever +form it may be presented to you. Mr. Wolcott and I (Mr. Bradford +concurring) waited on Mr. Randolph, and urged his writing to request +your return. He wrote in our presence, but we concluded a letter from +one of us also expedient." + +On the day after his arrival, the president called a cabinet meeting. +Mr. Pickering had already explained the mysterious hints in his letter, +by handing to Washington some papers which had excited suspicions +concerning Secretary Randolph's conduct. When the cabinet had convened, +the president submitted the question, "What shall be done with the +treaty?" Randolph not only insisted upon the repeal of the provision +order already alluded to, as a preliminary to ratification, but took the +ground that the treaty ought not to be ratified at all, pending the war +with Great Britain and France. The other members of the cabinet were in +favor of immediate ratification, with a strong memorial against the +provision order. In this opinion Washington coincided, and on the +eighteenth the ratification was signed by the president. Randolph was +directed to complete the memorial which he had commenced, and also +instructions for further negotiations. + +Washington's feelings had been deeply moved by the papers which +Pickering placed in his hands. The chief of these was a despatch of M. +Fauchet, the French minister, to his government, late in the autumn of +1794, and which had been intercepted. In that despatch, Fauchet gave a +sketch of the rise of parties in the United States, in substantial +accordance with Jefferson's views, and then he commented freely upon the +Whiskey Insurrection in western Pennsylvania, then drawing to a close. +Echoing the sentiments of the democratic leaders, Fauchet, professing to +have his information from Randolph, declared that the insurrection grew +out of political hostility to Hamilton. It was Hamilton's intention, he +said, in enforcing the excise, "to mislead the president into unpopular +courses, and to introduce absolute power under pretext of giving energy +to the government." + +In his further comments, the minister, in deprecation of the conduct of +professed republicans, and the general co-operation with the president +in putting down the insurrection, said: "Of the governors whose duty it +was to appear at the head of the requisitions, the governor of +Pennsylvania alone [Mifflin] enjoyed the name of republican. His +opinions of the secretary of the treasury, and of his systems, were +known to be unfavorable. The secretary of this state [Dallas] possessed +great influence in the popular society of Philadelphia, which in its +turn influenced those of other states; of course he merited attention. +It appears that these men, with others unknown to me, were balancing to +decide on their party. Two or three days before the proclamation was +published, and of course before the cabinet had resolved on its +measures, Mr. Randolph came to me with an air of great eagerness, and +made to me the overtures of which I have given an account in my No. +6.[83] + +"Thus, with some thousands of dollars, the republic could have decided on +civil war or on peace! Thus the consciences of the pretended patriots of +America already have their prices! What will be the old age of this +government, if it is thus already decrepit?" + +After speaking of Hamilton's financial schemes as the instrument of +making "of a whole nation a stock-jobbing, speculating, and selfish +people," and asserting that "riches alone here fix consideration, and, +as no one likes to be despised, they are universally sought after," he +makes some exceptions among the leading republicans by name, and +continues:-- + +"As soon as it was decided that the French republic purchased no men to +do their duty, there were to be seen individuals, about whose conduct +the government could at least form uneasy conjectures, giving themselves +up with scandalous ostentation to its views, and ever seconding its +declarations. The popular societies [democratic] soon emitted +resolutions stamped with the same spirit, which, although they may not +have been prompted by love of order, might nevertheless have been +omitted, or uttered with less solemnity. Then were seen, coming from the +very men whom we have been accustomed to regard as having little +friendship for the treasurer, harangues without end, in order to give a +new direction to the public mind." + +This despatch had been intercepted at sea, found its way to the British +cabinet, and was forwarded to Mr. Hammond, the British minister at +Philadelphia. He placed it in the hands of Mr. Wolcott, the secretary of +the treasury, for he ascribed the delay in the ratification of the +treaty to Randolph's influence. It was translated by Mr. Pickering, and +he, as we have seen, submitted it to the president on his arrival at the +seat of government. Washington revolved it in his mind with great +concern; but other matters of greater moment demanding his immediate +attention after his arrival, he postponed all action upon it until the +question of ratifying the treaty should be settled. On the day after the +signing of that instrument, the president, in the presence of all the +cabinet officers, handed the intercepted despatch to Mr. Randolph, with +a request that he should read it and make such explanations as he might +think fit. + +This was the first intimation Mr. Randolph had of the existence of such +a letter. He perused it carefully without perceptible emotion, and with +equal composure he commented upon each paragraph in order. He declared +that he had never asked for, nor received, any money from the French +minister for himself or others, and had never made any improper +communications to Fauchet of the measures of the government. He said +that he wished more leisure to examine the letter, and he proposed to +put further observations in writing. He complained, perhaps justly, of +the president's manner in bringing the subject to his notice, without +any private intimation of such intention; and he added, that in +consideration of the treatment he had received, he could not think of +remaining in office a moment longer. + +On the same day Randolph tendered his resignation to the president. In +his letter accompanying it, he said, "Your confidence in me, sir, has +been unlimited, and, I can truly affirm, unabused. My sensations, then, +can not be concealed, when I find that confidence so suddenly withdrawn, +without a word or distant hint being previously dropped to me. This, +sir, as I mentioned in your room, is a situation in which I can not hold +my present office, and therefore I hereby resign it. + +"It will not, however, be concluded from hence that I mean to relinquish +the inquiry. No, sir--very far from it. I will also meet any inquiry; +and to prepare for it, if I learn there is a chance of overtaking Mr. +Fauchet before he sails, I will go to him immediately.[84] + +"I have to beg the favor of you to permit me to be furnished with a +copy of the letter, and I will prepare an answer to it; which I perceive +that I can not do with the few hasty memoranda which I took with my +pencil. I am satisfied, sir, that you will acknowledge one piece of +justice to be due on this occasion, which is, that until an inquiry can +be made, the affair shall continue in secrecy under your injunction. +For, after pledging myself for a more specific investigation of all the +suggestions, I here most solemnly deny that any overture came from me, +which was to produce money to me or any others for me; and that in any +manner, directly or indirectly, was a shilling ever received by me; nor +was it ever contemplated by me that one shilling should be applied by +Mr. Fauchet to any purpose relative to the insurrection." + +On the following day, Washington wrote to Mr. Randolph: "Whilst you are +in pursuit of means to remove the strong suspicions arising from this +letter, no disclosure of its contents will be made by me, and I will +enjoin the same on the public officers who are acquainted with the +purport of it, unless something will appear to render an explanation +necessary on the part of the government, and of which I will be the +judge." He afterward said, "No man would rejoice more than I, to find +that the suspicions which have resulted from the intercepted letter were +unequivocally and honorably removed." + +A message from Randolph reached Fauchet before he was ready to embark, +and the minister wrote to the late secretary, a declaration, denying +that the latter had ever indicated a willingness to receive money for +his own use, and also affirming that, in his letter to his government, +he did not say anything derogatory to Mr. Randolph's character. With +this declaration from the retiring French minister, and a reliance upon +the general tenor of his conduct while in the cabinet, Randolph +proceeded to prepare his vindication, at the same time publicly boasting +to his friends, with a vindictive spirit, that he would bring things to +view which would affect Washington more than anything which had yet +appeared. Among other things which he proposed to do, in order to damage +the reputation of Washington, was, to undertake to show, by the +president's own letter to him on the twenty-second of July, that he +(Washington) was opposed to the treaty which he had now so eagerly +signed; and that the intercepted despatch had been communicated to +Washington as part of a scheme concocted between the British minister +and the cabinet officers to insure the ratification of the treaty, to +drive Randolph from office, and to crush the republican party in the +United States. + +The paragraph in Washington's letter on which Randolph intended to base +this charge was as follows: "My opinion respecting the treaty is the +same now that it was; namely, not favorable to it, but that it is better +to ratify it in the manner the senate have advised, and with the +reservation already mentioned, than to suffer matters to remain as they +are, unsettled." The letter from which this is copied was on file in the +office of the secretary of state; and Randolph, with evidences of a +strangely bitter feeling toward Washington, applied to him for a copy of +it, that he might publish it in his vindication. "You must be sensible, +sir," he said, "that I am inevitably driven to the discussion of many +confidential and delicate points. I could, with safety, immediately +appeal to the people of the United States, who can be of no party. But I +shall wait for your answer to this letter, so far as it respects the +paper desired, before I forward to you my general letter, which is +delayed for no other cause. I shall also rely that any supposed error in +the general letter in regard to facts will be made known to me, that I +may correct it if necessary, and that you will consent to the whole +affair, howsoever confidential and delicate, being exhibited to the +world. At the same time, I prescribe to myself the condition not to +mingle anything which I do not seriously conceive to belong to the +subject." + +Utterly mistaking the character of Washington, and ungenerously +presuming that the president would withhold his consent to the +publication of the letter referred to, Randolph published in the +_Philadelphia Gazette_, two days after he wrote to Washington, the +paragraph in his application which has just been quoted, and with it a +note to the editor, saying, "The letter from which the enclosed is an +extract relates principally to the requisition of a particular paper. +My only view at present is to show to my fellow-citizens what is the +state of my vindication." + +Washington was then at Mount Vernon, and the letter, an extract from +which was published, could not have reached him when that paragraph was +made public. It passed Washington while on his way to Philadelphia, and +he did not receive it until the twentieth of October, twelve days after +it was written. On the following day, Washington, with a perfect +consciousness of his own rectitude at all times and under all +circumstances, and with a noble generosity to which his assailant showed +himself a stranger, wrote to him as follows:-- + +"It is not difficult, from the tenor of your letter, to perceive what +your objects are. But, that you may have no cause to complain of the +withholding of any paper, however private and confidential, which you +shall think necessary in a case of so serious a nature, I have directed +that you should have the inspection of my letter of the twenty-second of +July, agreeably to your request; and you are at full liberty to publish +without reserve _any_ and _every_ private and confidential letter I ever +wrote to you; nay, more--every word I ever uttered to you, or in your +hearing, from whence you can derive any advantage in your vindication. I +grant this permission, inasmuch as the extract alluded to manifestly +tends to impress on the public mind an opinion that something has passed +between us, which you should disclose with reluctance, from motives of +delicacy with respect to me." + +In reference to Randolph's proposition to submit his vindication to the +inspection of Washington, the latter remarked, "As you are no longer an +officer of the government, and propose to submit your vindication to the +public, it is not my desire, nor is it my intention, to receive it +otherwise than through the medium of the press. Facts you can not +mistake, and, if they are fairly and candidly stated, they will invite +no comments." + +In December the pamphlet appeared, entitled, "A Vindication of Mr. +Randolph's Resignation," in which was a narrative of the principal +events which we have just been considering, the correspondence between +the president and Randolph, the whole of Fauchet's letter, and +Randolph's remarks. "From the nature of the circumstances," says Sparks, +"Mr. Randolph had a difficult task to perform, as he was obliged to +prove a negative, and to explain vague expressions and insinuations +connected with his name in Fauchet's letter." The statements which he +made in proof of his innocence were not such as to produce entire +conviction. "He moreover," continues Sparks, "allowed himself to be +betrayed into a warmth of temper and bitterness of feeling not +altogether favorable to his candor. After all that has been made known, +the particulars of his conversations with Fauchet and his designs are +still matters of conjecture." + +In after life, Mr. Randolph deeply regretted the course that he pursued +toward Washington at this time. In a letter to Judge Bushrod Washington, +written in the summer of 1810, he said: "I do not retain the smallest +degree of that feeling which roused me fifteen years ago against some +individuals. For the world contains no treasure, deception, or charm, +which can seduce me from the consolation of being in a state of good +will towards all mankind; and I should not be mortified to ask pardon of +any man with whom I have been at variance, for any injury which I may +have done him. If I could now present myself before your venerated +uncle, it would be my pride to confess my contrition, that I suffered my +irritation, let the cause be what it might, to use some of those +expressions respecting him, which, at this moment of my indifference to +the ideas of the world, I wish to recall, as being inconsistent with my +subsequent conviction."[85] + +It was thus with all the assaults ever made upon the character of +Washington. They always failed to injure it in the slightest degree; and +the sharpest and best-tempered shafts of malignity fell blunted and +harmless from the invulnerable shield of his spotless integrity. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[79] At a civic feast in Philadelphia, on the first of May, which was +attended by a great number of American citizens, to celebrate the recent +victories of France, the subjoined toasts were given. The managers of +the feast sent the following invitation to President Washington:-- + + "SIR: The subscribers, a committee in behalf of a number of + American, French, and Dutch citizens, request the honor of your + company to a civic festival, to be given on Friday, the seventeenth + of April, appointed to celebrate the late victories of the French + republic, and the emancipation of Holland." The feast was postponed + until the first of May. Washington did not attend; but the occasion + was honored by the presence of the French minister and consul, and + the consul of Holland. The following are the toasts:-- + + "1. The republic of France, whose triumphs have made this day a + jubilee; may she destroy the race of kings, and may their broken + sceptres and crowns, like the bones and teeth of the mammoth, be + the only evidence that such monsters ever infested the earth. + + "2. The republic of France; may the shores of Great Britain soon + hail the tri-colored standard, and the people rend the air with + shouts of 'Long live the republic!' + + "3. The republic of France; may her navy clear the ocean of + pirates, that the common high way of nations may no longer, like + the highways of Great Britain, be a receptacle for robbers. + + "4. The republic of France; may all free nations learn of her to + transfer their attachment from men to principles, and from + individuals to the people. + + "5. The republic of France; may her example, in the abolition of + titles and splendor, be a lesson to all republics to destroy those + leavens of corruption. + + "6. The republic of Holland; may the flame of liberty which they + have rekindled never be permitted to expire for want of vigilance + and energy. + + "7. The republic of Holland; may her two sisters, the republics of + France and America, form with her an invincible triumvirate in the + cause of liberty. + + "8. The republic of Holland; may she again give birth to a Van + Tromp and a De Ruyter, who shall make the satellites of George + tremble at their approach, and seek their safety in flight. + + "9 The republic of Holland; may that fortitude which sustained her + in the dire conflict with Philip the Second, and the success that + crowned her struggles, be multiplied upon her in the hour of her + regeneration. + + "10. The republic of Holland; may that government which they are + about establishing have neither the balances of aristocracy nor the + checks of monarchy. + + "11. The republic of America; may the sentiment that impelled her + to resist a British tyrant's will, and the energy which rendered it + effectual, prompt her to repel usurpation in whatever shape it may + assail her. + + "12. The republic of America; may the aristocracy of wealth, + founded upon the virtues, the toils, and the blood of her + Revolutionary armies, soon vanish, and, like the baseless fabric of + a vision, leave not a wreck behind. + + "13. The republic of America; may her government have public good + for its object, and be purged of the dregs of sophisticated + republicanism. + + "14. The republic of America; may the alliance formed between her + and France acquire vigor with age, and that man be branded as the + enemy of liberty who shall endeavor to weaken or unhinge it. + + "15. The republic of America; may her administration have virtue + enough to defy the ordeal of patriotic societies, and patriotism + enough to cherish instead of denouncing them." + +[80] _Old and New York_, by J. W. Francis, M. D., LL.D. "Edward +Livingston," says Doctor Francis, (afterwards so celebrated for his +Louisiana Code,) "was, I am informed, one of the violent numbers by whom +the stones were thrown." + +[81] History of the United States, Second Series, i, 550. + +[82] The names of the selectmen who addressed him were Ezekiel Price, +Thomas Walley, William Boardman, Ebenezer Seaver, Thomas Crafts, Thomas +Edwards, William Little, William Scollay, and Jesse Putnam. + +[83] In "No. 6," written, it is supposed, some time in August, Fauchet, +alluding to the breaking out of the Whiskey Insurrection, said: "Scarce +was the commotion known when the secretary of state [Mr. Randolph] came +to my house. All his countenance was grief. He requested of me a private +conversation. 'It is all over,' he said to me; 'a civil war is about to +ravage our unhappy country. Four men, by their talents, their influence, +their energy, may save it. But--debtors of English merchants--they will +be deprived of their liberty if they take the smallest step. Could you +lend them instantaneous funds sufficient to shelter them from English +persecution?' This inquiry astonished me. It was impossible for me to +make a satisfactory answer. You know my want of power and my defect of +pecuniary means. I shall draw myself from the affair by some +common-place remarks, and by throwing myself on the pure and +disinterested principles of the republic." + +[84] Fauchet had been superseded by M. Adet, and had gone to New York to +embark for France, when this difficulty occurred. + +[85] Marshall's _Life of Washington_, ii. Appendix, Note xx. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + VIOLENCE OF PARTY SPIRIT--INFLAMMATORY APPEALS TO THE + PEOPLE--WASHINGTON MENACED WITH IMPEACHMENT, AND CHARGED WITH + PLUNDERING THE TREASURY--NEWSPAPER DISCUSSIONS--HAMILTON IN DEFENCE + OF THE TREATY--JEFFERSON'S APPEAL TO MADISON TO COME TO THE + RESCUE--PROCEEDINGS IN BOSTON--RECONSTRUCTION OF THE + CABINET--ARRIVAL OF YOUNG LAFAYETTE--WASHINGTON'S FRIENDSHIP FOR + HIM--CAUTION AND EXPEDIENCY--THE EXILES AND THE CONGRESS--THEIR HOME + AT MOUNT VERNON--THEIR DEPARTURE FOR FRANCE. + + +The ratification of the treaty increased the violence of party spirit. +The batteries of fiercest vituperation were now opened upon the +president, and the habitual courtesy with which he had been treated was +lost sight of in the fury of party hate. + +The opponents of the treaty saw only one more expedient to defeat it, +now that they had failed to intimidate Washington or cause him to +withhold his signature. They started the idea, as a forlorn hope, that +although the president might ratify, it still rested with the house of +representatives to refuse, if they chose, the pecuniary means to carry +the treaty into effect, and thus to nullify it. They, therefore, +resolved to use every effort to accomplish their purposes in this way. +The elections in the several states were not yet completed, and they +felt confident that a majority had already been chosen who were hostile +to the treaty. + +The most inflammatory addresses were circulated, to influence the people +against the president and the treaty, and to form a public opinion that +should bear with potency upon the supreme legislature. "The president," +said one of these addresses, "has thrown the gauntlet, and shame on the +coward heart that refuses to take it up. He has declared war against the +people, by treating their opinions with contempt; he has forfeited his +claim to their confidence, by acting in opposition to their will. Our +liberties are in jeopardy, and we must either rescue them from the +precipice or they will be lost for ever. One hope offers itself to us, +and a consolatory one, too--the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED +STATES. As we have looked in vain for patriotism from the president, let +us turn our eyes toward that body; they are our immediate +representatives; they feel our wants, participate in our injuries, and +sympathize in our distresses. They never will submit to have our country +degraded; they never will be passive under the outrages upon our +constitution; they never will be the instruments of voting away the +people's rights. As our application to the president has been treated +with scorn, let us make our appeal to that body which has the power of +IMPEACHMENT, and we shall not find them step-fathers of their country. A +treaty which has bartered away their rights can not, will not, be +submitted to. Let us then, fellow-citizens, rally round our +representatives, and we may still be free!" + +Such appeals had a powerful effect; and a writer in the _Aurora_ went so +far as to charge Washington with having used the public money for his +own private use! The charge was maintained with the most unblushing +effrontery. When Congress met, petitions were forwarded to the house of +representatives from all parts of the Union, bitterly denouncing the +treaty, and praying that body to stand in the breach and rescue the +country from the usurpations of the president and senate. The newspapers +discussed the subject with great warmth; and Brockholst Livingston, over +the signature of "Decius," assailed the treaty with great ability. This +aroused Hamilton, who had both spoken and written in favor of the +treaty. He came to the tournament most gallantly, and, over the +signature of "Camillus," he dealt such powerful blows with his +battle-axe of fact and logic; that "Decius" was quickly unhorsed. +Jefferson, with his eagle vision, had watched the combat with intense +interest from his eyry at Monticello; and when he saw the force of +Hamilton's reasoning, and the power it must have upon the people, he +shouted to Madison to join the lists and do battle against "Camillus," +and a smaller champion called "Curtius." "Hamilton," he exclaimed in a +letter to Madison on the twenty-first of September, "is really a +colossus to the anti-republican party. Without numbers, he is a host +within himself. They have got themselves into a defile, where they might +be finished; but too much security on the republican part will give time +to his talents and indefatigableness to extricate them. We have had only +middling performers to oppose to him. In truth, when he comes forward, +there is nobody but yourself who can meet him. His adversaries have +begun the attack, he has the advantage of answering them, and remains +unanswered himself. A solid reply might yet completely demolish what was +too feebly attacked, and has gathered strength from the weakness of the +attack." With his usual alarm-bell notes, Jefferson then spoke of +"Hamilton, Jay," etc., as engaged "in the boldest act they ever ventured +on to undermine the government;" and exclaimed, in conclusion, "For +God's sake, take up your pen and give a fundamental reply to 'Curtius' +and 'Camillus.'"[86] + +The opposition found other champions of the treaty to meet than +newspaper writers. The friends of that instrument and the government +rallied in various forms. A few days before the president signed the +ratification, the Boston Chamber of Commerce, like that of New York, +representing a large and influential class to be affected by the treaty, +passed a resolution, with only one dissenting voice, in favor of +ratification. Some violent Boston republicans, to counteract these +expressions, used the mobocratic argument and paraded an effigy of Jay +in the streets, and concluded the performance by burning it, attacking +the house of the editor of a federal paper (from which they were +repulsed by firearms), and keeping the New England capital in a +disturbed state for several days. Philadelphia merchants, on the +contrary, in large numbers, signed a memorial taking ground in favor of +the treaty. This was imitated elsewhere, and these memorials went into +the house of representatives with the denunciatory petitions. + +In the midst of all this storm, Washington remained calm, with his hand +firmly resting upon the helm of state, and his eye steadily fixed upon +the great compass and chart of integrity by which his course was always +determined. In a reply to a friendly letter from General Knox, who +assured him of a changing opinion in New England in favor of the treaty, +he said:-- + + "Next to a conscientious discharge of my public duties, to carry + along with me the approbation of my constituents would be the + highest gratification my mind is susceptible of; but, the latter + being secondary, I can not make the former yield to it, unless some + criterion more infallible than partial (if they are not party) + meetings can be discovered, as the touchstone of public sentiment. + If any power on earth could, or the great Power above would, erect + the standard of infallibility in political opinions, there is no + being that inhabits this terrestrial globe that would resort to it + with more eagerness than myself, so long as I remain a servant of + the public. But as I have found no better guide, hitherto, than + upright intentions and close investigation, I shall adhere to those + maxims while I keep the watch, leaving it to those who will come + after me to explore new ways, if they like or think them better." + +During the autumn, while these public discussions were at their height, +Washington was called upon to reconstruct his cabinet on account of the +resignation of Randolph, the secretary of state, and the death of +Bradford, the attorney-general, both events having occurred in August. +The president found some difficulty in filling Randolph's place. "In the +appointment of the great officers of government," Washington wrote to +Colonel Carrington in October, "my aim has been to combine geographical +situation, and sometimes other considerations, with abilities and +fitness of _known_ characters." He had offered the place successively to +Judge Paterson, of New Jersey, Thomas Johnson, of Maryland, Charles +Cotesworth Pinckney, of South Carolina, and Patrick Henry, of Virginia; +but they all declined. In his letter to Henry, who, it was understood, +was not very well pleased with the treaty, Washington said:-- + + "I persuade myself, sir, it has not escaped your observation that + a crisis is approaching, that must, if it can not be arrested, soon + decide whether order and good government shall be preserved, or + anarchy and confusion ensue. I can most religiously aver, I have no + wish that is incompatible with the dignity, happiness, and true + interest of the people of this country. My ardent desire is, and my + aim has been, as far as depended upon the executive department, to + comply strictly with all our engagements, foreign and domestic; but + to keep the United States free from political connection with every + other country, to see them independent of all, and under the + influence of none. In a word, I want an _American_ character, that + the powers of Europe may be convinced we act for _ourselves_, and + not for others. This, in my judgment, is the only way to be + respected abroad and happy at home; and not, by becoming the + partisans of Great Britain or France, create dissentions, disturb + the public tranquillity, and destroy, perhaps for ever, the cement + which binds the Union." + +After considerable delay, Colonel Pickering was transferred to the +department of state, and James M'Henry, of Maryland, was appointed +secretary of war. At the close of November, Charles Lee, of Virginia, +accepted the office of attorney-general, as the successor of Bradford, +and at the opening of Congress the cabinet was in working order, with +apparently harmonious elements. + +It was during these political agitations that George Washington +Lafayette, a son of the marquis, arrived in the United States, to claim +an asylum at the hands of Washington. He could not have appeared at a +more inopportune moment; for political reasons rendered it inexpedient +for the president, as such, to receive him; and to place him in his +family might cause perplexities, connected with political affairs, +prejudicial to the public tranquillity. + +We have already noticed the flight of Lafayette from France before the +fury of Jacobin fanaticism, and his incarceration in an Austrian +dungeon, while his family were left to be the sport of fortune. In that +dungeon the marquis was confined almost three years, in a cell three +paces broad and five and a half long, containing no other ornament than +two French verses which rhymed with the words "to suffer and to die." +And yet his great soul went out to his suffering fellow-man as free as +the air of heaven; and with a toothpick (for he was deprived of pen and +ink) he wrote to a princess, who sympathized with him, on a scrap of +paper which came to him almost miraculously, and with soot and water, +these noble words: "I know not what disposition has been made of my +plantation at Cayenne, but I hope Madame Lafayette will take care that +the negroes who cultivate it shall preserve their liberty." He had set +them all free. + +The marchioness, as soon as she was allowed the privilege, hastened to +Olmutz with her daughters to share the dungeon with the husband and +father; while their son, whom they had named in honor of their +illustrious friend, came to the United States with his tutor, M. +Frestel, consigned to the fatherly care of Washington. Young Lafayette +was then about seventeen years of age. + +The two exiles arrived at Boston at the close of the summer of 1795, and +they immediately sent information of the fact to the president, who was +just on the point of leaving Philadelphia for Mount Vernon. Washington's +first impulse was to take the young man to his bosom and cherish him as +a son; but, as we have observed, grave reasons of state denied him that +pleasure. After brief reflection, he sent the letters of the exiles, to +Senator Cabot, of Boston, saying:-- + + "To express all the sensibility which has been excited in my breast + by the receipt of young Lafayette's letter, from the recollection + of his father's merits, services and sufferings, from my friendship + for him, and from my wishes to become a friend and father to his + son, is unnecessary."[87] Let me in a few words declare that I will + be his friend; but the manner of becoming so, considering the + obnoxious light in which his father is viewed by the French + government, and my own situation as the executive of the United + States, requires more time to consider, in all its relations, than + I can bestow on it at present, the letters not having been in my + hands more than an hour, and I myself on the point of setting out + for Virginia to fetch my family back, whom I left there about the + first of August. + + "The mode, which at the first view strikes me as the most eligible + to answer his purposes and to save appearances, is, first, to + administer all the consolation to the young gentleman that he can + derive from the most unequivocal assurances of my standing in the + place of, and becoming to him, a father, friend, protector, and + supporter. But, secondly, for prudential motives, as they relate to + myself, his mother and friends whom he has left behind, and to my + official character, it would be best not to make these sentiments + public; and of course it would be ineligible that he should come to + the seat of the general government, where all the foreign + characters (particularly those of his own nation) are residents, + until it is seen what opinions will be excited by his arrival; + especially, too, as I shall be necessarily absent five or six weeks + from it, on business in several places. Thirdly, considering how + important it is to avoid idleness and dissipation, to improve his + mind, and to give him all the advantages which education can + bestow, my opinion and my advice to him are, if he is qualified for + admission, that he should enter as a student in the university in + Cambridge, although it should be for a short time only; the expense + of which, as also for every other means for his support, I will + pay.... Let me pray you, my dear sir, to impress upon young + Lafayette's mind, and indeed upon that of his tutor, that the + reasons why I do not urge him to come to me have been frankly + related, and that their prudence must appreciate them with caution. + My friendship for his father, so far from being diminished, has + increased in the ratio of his misfortunes; and my inclination to + serve the son will be evidenced by my conduct." + +General Knox, then in Boston, took much interest in the young +Lafayette. In a letter to Washington, on the twenty-first of September, +he said, "He goes by the name of Motier [a family name of his father], +concealing his real name, lest some injury should arise to his mother, +or to a young Mr. Russell of this town, now in France, who assisted in +his escape." Knox spoke of the exile as "a lovely young man, of +excellent morals and conduct." + +Mr. Cabot readily undertook the duty solicited by Washington. He found +Lafayette and his tutor in much perplexity. The attempt at concealment +was futile. "Already M. Motier is known to too many persons," wrote Mr. +Cabot, "and a public festival announced by the French consul for Monday +next, at which all their citizens in this vicinity are expected to +attend, occasions serious embarrassments; to which is added, that some +circumstances of delicacy relative to the family in which they are +placed, make an immediate removal proper." He further informed him that +they were about to depart for New York, where they expected to be +accommodated in the country-house of a French gentleman, their friend, +where they would remain in retirement, until they should receive further +directions from Washington. Mr. Cabot gave them letters to Colonel +Wadsworth and Colonel Hamilton, and they departed. + +In November, soon after his return to Philadelphia, Washington wrote an +affectionate letter to young Lafayette, in which, after telling him the +causes which rendered it necessary for them both to be circumspect, and +desiring him to repair with his tutor to Colonel Hamilton, in the city +of New York, who would see that they were well provided for, he said:-- + + "How long the causes which have withheld you from me may continue, + I am not able at this moment to decide; but be assured of my wishes + to embrace you, so soon as they shall have ceased, and that, + whenever the period arrives, I shall do it with fervency. In the + meantime, let me begin with fatherly advice to you to apply closely + to your studies, that the season of your youth may be improved to + the utmost, that you may be found the deserving son of a + meritorious father." To M. Frestel, Washington wrote at the same + time, after directing him to read his letter to his pupil: "To the + above I shall just add, that, as the preceptor and friend of M. de + Lafayette, I pray you to count upon my attentions and friendship, + and learn that it is my expectation that you will accompany him in + whatever situation he may be placed; and moreover that you will let + me know, at all times, what he has occasion for." + +The Congress at length took official notice of the presence of the son +of Lafayette; and on the eighteenth of March, 1796, the house of +representatives passed the following resolution and order:-- + + "Information having been given to this house that a son of General + Lafayette is now within the United States; _Resolved_, that a + committee be appointed to inquire into the truth of the said + information, and report thereon; and what measures it would be + proper to take if the same be true, to evince the grateful sense + entertained by the country for the services of his father. + + "Ordered, that Mr. Livingston, Mr. Sherburne, and Mr. Murray, be + appointed a committee pursuant to the said resolution." + +As chairman of the committee, Mr. Livingston wrote to young Lafayette as +follows:-- + + "SIR: Actuated by motives of gratitude to your father, and eager to + seize every opportunity of showing their sense of his important + services, the house of representatives have passed the resolution + which I have the pleasure to communicate. The committee being + directed to inquire into the fact of your arrival within the United + States, permit me to advise your immediate appearance at this + place, that the legislature of America may no longer be in doubt, + whether the son of Lafayette is under their protection, and within + the reach of their gratitude. + + "I presume to give this advice as an individual personally attached + to your father, and very solicitous to be useful to any person in + whose happiness he is interested. If I should have that good + fortune on this occasion, it will afford me the greatest + satisfaction." + +This letter, and the resolutions of the house of representatives, young +Lafayette forwarded to President Washington, and asked his advice as to +the course he should pursue. Washington advised him to come to +Philadelphia at the opening of the next session of Congress, occupy a +room in his house, but to avoid society as much as possible. He +complied, and remained in Philadelphia until the following spring, when +Washington, on becoming a private citizen, embraced the son of his +friend as if he had been his own child, and bore him to his home on the +Potomac. There he remained until early in October, when the joyful news +of the release of his father from confinement, and his restoration to +his country and friends, caused him to leave for the seaboard to depart +for France. He and M. Frestel sailed from New York on the twenty-sixth +of October, 1797. + +As young Lafayette was about to leave Mount Vernon, Washington placed a +letter in his hands for his father, in which he said:-- + + "From the delicate and responsible situation in which I stood as a + public officer, but more especially from a misconception of the + manner in which your son had left France, till explained to me in a + personal interview with himself, he did not come immediately into + my family on his arrival in America, though he was assured, in the + first moments of it, of my protection and support. His conduct, + since he first set his feet on American ground, has been exemplary + in every point of view, such as has gained him the esteem, + affection, and confidence of all who have had the pleasure of his + acquaintance. His filial affection and duty, and his ardent desire + to embrace his parents and sisters in the first moments of their + release, would not allow him to wait the authentic account of this + much-desired event; but, at the same time that I suggested the + propriety of this, I could not withhold my assent to the + gratification of his wishes to fly to the arms of those whom he + holds most dear, persuaded as he is, from the information he has + received, that he shall find you all in Paris. + + "M. Frestel has been a true Mentor to George. No parent could have + been more attentive to a favorite son; and he richly merits all + that can be said of his virtues, of his good sense, and of his + prudence. Both your son and he carry with them the vows and regrets + of this family and all who know them. And you may be assured that + yourself never stood higher in the affections of the people of this + country than at the present moment."[88] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[86] Randall's Life of Jefferson, ii, 268. + +[87] The late Richard Rush relates an interesting incident, illustrative +of the feelings of Washington on account of the misfortunes of his noble +friend. Mr. Bradford, the attorney-general, who lived directly opposite +the residence of Washington, was spending an evening with the president, +when the conversation reverted to Lafayette. Washington spoke with great +seriousness, contrasted the marquis's hitherto splendid career with that +of his present forlorn and suffering condition; and at length became so +deeply affected that his eyes filled with tears, and his whole great +soul was stirred to its very depths. "Magnanimous tears they were," says +Mr. Rush, "fit for the first of heroes to shed--virtuous, honorable, +sanctified!" Mr. Bradford, who deeply sympathized with the feelings of +Washington, was much affected at the spectacle, and, retiring to his own +house, wrote some simple and touching verses, called the "Lament of +Washington." They were an impromptu effusion from his heart. + +[88] See _Mount Vernon and its Associations_, pages 285-293, inclusive. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + WASHINGTON'S SEVENTH ANNUAL MESSAGE--TREATY WITH THE INDIANS--OTHER + INDIAN RELATIONS--TREATY WITH ALGIERS--TREATY WITH SPAIN--PICTURE OF + NATIONAL PROSPERITY--FORBEARANCE IN CONGRESS RECOMMENDED--RESPONSES + TO THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE--ACTION OF LEGISLATURES ON THE + TREATY--LETTER TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS--WASHINGTON'S POLITICAL + CREED--HE IS PREPARED TO MEET ANY ACTION OF CONGRESS--PRESENTATION + OF THE FRENCH FLAG TO THE UNITED STATES--THE FRENCH CONSTITUTION AND + THE NATIONAL CONVENTION--ACTION IN CONGRESS CONCERNING THE FRENCH + FLAG. + + +On the eighth of December, 1795, Washington read his seventh annual +address to the assembled Congress. It contained a gratifying summary of +the events of the year in which his government and country were +concerned. He had the pleasure of informing them officially of the +"termination of the long, expensive, and distressing war," in which the +army had been engaged with the Indians of the Northwest Territory, by +the treaty made by Wayne at Grenville, to which we have already alluded. +That treaty was doubtless more easily consummated, after Wayne's +victories, because of the knowledge that the western posts were about to +be given up to the United States. By that treaty, a tract of twenty-five +thousand square miles was ceded to the United States, lying in one body +east of a defined line, and including the eastern and southern part of +the present state of Ohio. They also ceded sixteen detached portions of +territory in the region westward of that line, most of them two miles +square, but several of them much larger. These included the sites of +some of our most flourishing villages and cities in the West. As an +equivalent for these cessions, the Indians were to receive goods to the +amount of twenty thousand dollars in presents, and an annual allowance +of articles to the value of nine thousand, five hundred dollars, to be +distributed proportionately among the tribes who were parties to the +treaty. + +"At the exchange of prisoners which took place on this occasion," +(conclusion of the treaty,) says Hildreth, "many affecting incidents +occurred. The war as against Kentucky had lasted for almost twenty +years, during which period a large number of white people had been +carried into captivity. Wives and husbands, parents and children, who +had been separated for years, were now restored to each other. Many of +the younger captives had quite forgotten their native language, and some +of them absolutely refused to leave the savage connections, into whose +families they had been taken by adoption."[89] + +The Indian relations on the southwestern frontier were not so +satisfactory. Former treaties had been confirmed, and there were signs +of permanent peace; but the reckless violence of some of the white +settlers, in perpetrating bloody outrages upon the Indians, kept that +section of the Union in a state of great inquietude. + +In his message, the president announced amicable relations with the new +emperor of Morocco, who in a letter had certified his recognition of a +treaty made with his father. "With peculiar satisfaction I add," said +Washington, "that information has been received from an agent deputed on +our part to Algiers, importing that the terms of a treaty with the dey +and regency of that country had been adjusted, in such a manner as to +authorize the expectation of a speedy peace, and the restoration of our +unfortunate fellow-citizens from a grievous captivity." + +We have already observed the appointment of Colonel Humphreys as the +agent to Algiers alluded to. He was then diplomatic agent of the United +States at Lisbon. He came home for the special purpose of making +arrangements for his negotiation, and returned to Lisbon deputed to +purchase a peace of the Barbary powers. From Lisbon, Humphreys proceeded +to Paris to confer with Mr. Monroe, and to solicit the mediation of the +French government, leaving discretionary powers with Mr. Donaldson, who +had accompanied him as consul to Tunis and Tripoli; to conclude a peace +upon the best terms to be obtained, when a favorable opportunity should +occur. On the fifth of September, 1795, Donaldson signed a treaty, by +which, in consideration of the release of the American captives and a +guaranty of peace in the future, it was agreed to pay to the dey of +Algiers the sum of seven hundred and sixty-three thousand dollars, +besides an annual tribute in stores, which, at their real value, +amounted to about forty-eight thousand dollars. Besides these sums, a +biennial present of nine or ten thousand dollars was required, and +twenty thousand more on the appointment of a consul. + +The president also announced that Mr. Pinckney, who had been sent on a +special mission to Spain concerning the navigation of the Mississippi +river, had been successful, the stipulation being that it should be free +to both parties throughout its entire length. He believed this would +lead the way to the settlement of "a foundation of lasting harmony with +a power whose friendship the United States had uniformly and sincerely +desired to cultivate." + +The treaty which had caused so much commotion throughout the Union was +alluded to in a manner almost as if incidental. "Though not before +officially disclosed to the house of representatives," the president +said, "you, gentlemen, are all apprized that a treaty of amity, +commerce, and navigation has been negotiated with Great Britain, and +that the senate have advised and consented to its ratification upon a +condition which excepts part of one article. Agreeably thereto, and to +the best judgment I was able to form of the public interest, after full +and mature deliberation, I have added my sanction. The result on the +part of his Britannic majesty is unknown. When received, the subject +will without delay be placed before Congress." + +In contemplation of the general relations of the United States, the +president said: "While many of the nations of Europe, with their +American dependencies, have been involved in a contest unusually bloody, +exhausting, and calamitous, in which the evils of foreign war have been +aggravated by domestic convulsion and insurrection, in which many of +the arts most useful to society have been exposed to discouragement and +decay; in which scarcity of subsistence has embittered other sufferings; +while even the anticipations of a return of the blessings of peace and +repose are alloyed by the sense of heavy and accumulating burdens, which +press upon all the departments of industry, and threaten to clog the +future springs of government, our favored country, happy in a striking +contrast, has enjoyed general tranquillity--a tranquillity the more +satisfactory because maintained at the expense of no duty. Faithful to +ourselves, we have violated no obligation to others. Our agriculture, +commerce, and manufactures prosper beyond example, the molestations of +our trade (to prevent a continuance of which, however, very pointed +remonstrances have been made) being overbalanced by the aggregate +benefit which derives from a neutral position. Our population advances +with a celerity which, exceeding the most sanguine calculations, +proportionally augments our strength and resources, and guaranties our +future security. Every part of the Union displays indications of rapid +and various improvement; and with burdens so light as scarcely to be +perceived, with resources fully adequate to our present exigencies, with +governments founded on the genuine principles of rational liberty, and +with mild and wholesome laws, is it too much to say that our country +exhibits a spectacle of national happiness never surpassed, if ever +before equalled." + +With such a picture before them, a picture faithful and true in form and +coloring, how pitiful must have appeared to the wise, and thoughtful, +and generous, those miserable party feuds and personal animosities which +disturbed the peace of the commonwealth--mere loathsome cobwebs, spun by +selfishness, across a piece of gorgeous tapestry--spots upon the sun of +a glorious national career! + +Foreseeing the heats of party strife in the national legislature, the +president, after commending to their consideration several important +objects, counselled temperate discussion, "and mutual forbearance where +there may be a difference of opinion." This advice, always timely, was +especially apposite at that time. + +The senate gave a cordial response to the message; but the opposition +being in the majority in the lower house, a clause in the response +reported by a committee appointed to prepare it, in which was expressed +"undiminished confidence" in the president, was objected to. The +opposition also desired to strike out from the senate's address the +expression of a belief that the president's foreign policy was an +"enlightened, firm, and persevering endeavor to preserve peace, freedom, +and prosperity." Some members affirmed that their confidence in the +president had been very much diminished by "a late transaction" (signing +the ratification of Jay's treaty); and that they believed such was the +case among the people at large. The address of the representatives was +finally, after much debate, recommitted, and the objectionable clause +was modified so as to read thus: "In contemplating that spectacle of +national happiness which our country exhibits, and of which you, sir, +have been pleased to make an interesting summary, permit us to +acknowledge and declare the very great share which your zealous and +faithful services have contributed to it, and to express the +affectionate attachment which we feel for your character." + +Already the legislatures of the different states had taken action on the +treaty. Governor Shelby, in his message to the legislature of Kentucky, +assailed it as containing stipulations that were unconstitutional. The +lower house agreed with him, but the senate would not concur. The +Virginia house of delegates approved of the action of their senators in +voting against the treaty, and rejected a resolution declaring +undiminished confidence in the president. The Maryland legislature +denounced the assaults on the president, and declared their "unabated +reliance on his integrity, judgment, and patriotism." The Pennsylvania +senate took similar action; and the legislature of New Hampshire +denounced the seditious declaimers against the treaty and the +administration. North Carolina would not stand by Virginia in her +action; but the South Carolina legislature declared the treaty "highly +injurious to the general interests of the United States." The matter was +not acted upon by the senate, however, and the subject was not again +taken up. The legislature of Delaware approved of the treaty; while +Governor Samuel Adams, in his address to the general court of +Massachusetts, spoke of the treaty as "pregnant with evil." The +Massachusetts senate considered any action on the subject as an +interference with the powers delegated to the general government; while +the house, by a decided vote, suggested that "respectful submission on +the part of the people to the constituted authorities," was "the surest +means of enjoying and perpetuating the invaluable blessings of our free +and representative government." Rhode Island approved of the action of +the senate and the chief magistrate; and in New York, as well as in +Rhode Island and Massachusetts, a proposition made by resolutions in the +Virginia legislature, that the constitution of the United States should +be so amended as to admit the house of representatives to a share in the +treaty-making power, and otherwise abridging the powers of the +government, was rejected or laid on the table. + +The tardiness of the British government in the performance of its acts +of justice toward the United States, and the present apparent hesitation +in ratifying the treaty, perplexed Washington; for this seeming +unfriendliness was used as a weapon by the opposition. Accordingly, +toward the close of the year, he attempted to remind that government of +its duty, in an unofficial way, through Gouverneur Morris, who, having +been succeeded by Mr. Monroe as minister to the French republic, was now +in England, and on quite intimate terms with Lord Grenville and other +ministers, and members of the privy council. In a letter to Morris, on +the twenty-second of December, after giving at much length a narrative +of the causes of complaint against the British government, Washington +said:-- + + "I give you these details (and if you should again converse with + Lord Grenville on the subject, you are at liberty unofficially to + mention them, or any of them, according to circumstances) as + evidences of the impolitic conduct of the British government + towards these United States, that it may be seen how difficult it + has been for the executive, under such an accumulation of + irritating circumstances, to maintain the ground of neutrality + which had been taken; and at a time when the remembrance of the + aid we had received from France in the Revolution was fresh in + every mind, and while the partisans of that country were + continually contrasting the affections of _that_ people with the + unfriendly disposition of the _British government_. And that, too, + as I have observed before, while _their own_ sufferings during the + war with the latter had not been forgotten. + + "It is well known that peace has been (to borrow a modern phrase) + the order of the day with me since the disturbances in Europe first + commenced. My policy has been, and will continue to be while I have + the honor to remain in the administration, to maintain friendly + terms with, but be independent of, all the nations of the earth; to + share in the broils of none; to fulfil our own engagements; to + supply the wants and be carriers for them all, being thoroughly + convinced that it is our policy and interest to do so. Nothing + short of self-respect, and that justice which is so essential to a + national character, ought to involve us in war; for sure I am, if + this country is preserved in tranquillity twenty years longer, it + may bid defiance in a just career to any power whatever; such, in + that time, will be its population, wealth, and resources.... + + "In a government as free as ours, where the people are at liberty + and will express their sentiments (oftentimes imprudently, and, for + want of information, sometimes unjustly), allowances must be made + for occasional effervescences; but, after the declaration I have + here made of my political creed, you can run no hazard in asserting + that the executive branch of this government never has suffered, + nor will suffer while I preside, any improper conduct of its + officers to escape with impunity, nor give its sanction to any + disorderly proceedings of its citizens. + + "By a firm adherence to these principles, and to the neutral policy + which has been adopted, I have brought on myself a torrent of abuse + in the factious papers of this country, and from the enmity of the + discontented of all descriptions. But, having no sinister objects + in view, I shall not be diverted from my course by these, nor any + attempts which are or shall be made to withdraw the confidence of + my constituents from me. I have nothing to ask; and, discharging + my duty, I have nothing to fear from invective. The acts of my + administration will appear when I am no more, and the intelligent + and candid part of mankind will not condemn my conduct without + recurring to them." + +Fortified by such conscious rectitude, Washington was well prepared to +meet whatever action the supreme legislature of his country might take +concerning the great question at issue. + +We have already observed the cordial reception of Mr. Monroe by the +French government, and the decree of the National Convention that the +respective flags of the American and French republics should be united +and suspended in their hall, as a token of eternal friendship between +the two nations. Mr. Monroe, it will be remembered, reciprocated this +generous feeling, by presenting to the Assembly the flag of the United +States. When, afterward, Mr. Adet came to America as the successor of +Fauchet, the French minister, he bore a letter from the Committee of +Safety to the Congress, and the banner of the French republic for the +government of the United States. He arrived in the summer of 1795, when +the whole country was in a ferment respecting the treaty with Great +Britain; and partly on that account, but chiefly because he supposed his +communication on the subject of the flag must be made to the Congress +direct, he did not announce to the president that complimentary portion +of his mission until late in December. Adet had then been made aware +that the presentation of the colors to the government must be made +through the president only; and as that presentation would be an +occasion for rejoicing, because of a friendly feeling between the two +nations, Washington appointed the first of January, 1796--"a day of +general joy and congratulation"--as the time when he would receive the +token of amity. + +The colors of France were presented to the president for his country, +together with the letter of the French Committee of Safety to the +Congress, at Washington's residence, in the presence of a large number +of distinguished characters. Adet, in a speech on the occasion, +presented in glowing colors the position of France as the great +dispensatory of free opinions in the old world--as "struggling not only +for her own liberty, but for that of the human race. Assimilated to, or +rather identified with, free people by the form of her government," he +said, "she saw in them only friends and brothers. Long accustomed to +regard the American people as her most faithful allies, she sought to +draw closer the ties already formed in the fields of America, under the +auspices of victory, over the ruins of tyranny." + +A reply to this address, under the peculiar circumstances in which +Washington was placed, required the exercise of much discretion. It was +necessary to express generous feelings adapted to the occasion, without +the utterance of sentiments, concerning the powers then at war, +inconsistent with the position of neutrality which the United States had +assumed. The president accordingly said:-- + + "Born, sir, in a land of liberty; having early learned its value; + having engaged in a perilous conflict to defend it; having, in a + word, devoted the best years of my life to its permanent + establishment in my own country, my anxious recollections, my + sympathetic feelings, and my best wishes, are irresistibly + attracted wheresoever, in any country, I see an oppressed nation + unfurl the banners of freedom. But, above all, the events of the + French Revolution have produced the deepest solicitude, as well as + the highest admiration. To call your nation brave, were to + pronounce but common praise. Wonderful people! Ages to come will + read with astonishment the history of your brilliant exploits. I + rejoice that the period of your toils and your immense sacrifices + is approaching. I rejoice that the interesting revolutionary + movements of so many years have issued in the formation of a + constitution,[90] designed to give permanency to the great object + for which you have contended. I rejoice that liberty, which you + have so long embraced with enthusiasm--liberty, of which you have + been the invincible defenders--now finds an asylum in the bosom of + a regularly organized government; a government which, being formed + to secure the happiness of the French people, corresponds with the + ardent wishes of my heart, while it gratifies the pride of every + citizen of the United States by its resemblance to their own. On + these glorious events, accept, sir, my sincere congratulations. + + "In delivering to you these sentiments, I express not my own + feelings only, but those of my fellow-citizens, in relation to the + commencement, the progress, and the issue of the French Revolution; + and they will certainly join with me in purest wishes to the + Supreme Being, that the citizens of our sister-republic, our + magnanimous allies, may soon enjoy in peace that liberty which they + have purchased at so great a price, and all the happiness that + liberty can bestow. + + "I receive, sir, with lively sensibility the symbol of the triumphs + and of the enfranchisements of your nation, the colors of France, + which you have now presented to the United States. The transaction + will be announced to Congress, and the colors will be deposited + with the archives of the United States, which are at once the + evidence and the memorials of their freedom and independence. May + these be perpetual, and may the friendship of the two republics be + commensurate with their existence!" + +Washington transmitted to Congress the letter from the Committee of +Safety, the French colors, and copies of the speeches of Adet and +himself at the presentation, on the fourth of January; whereupon, the +house of representatives, by resolution, requested the president to make +known to the representatives of the French people "the most sincere and +lively sensibility" which was excited by this honorable testimony of the +existing sympathy and affections of the two republics; that the house +rejoiced "in the opportunity thereby afforded to congratulate the French +nation upon the brilliant and glorious achievements" which they had +accomplished during the present afflictive war; and hoped that those +achievements would be attended with a perfect attainment of their +object, and "the permanent establishment of the liberty and happiness of +a great and magnanimous people." + +On the sixth of January, the senate also passed resolutions expressive +of the pleasure they felt on the reception of this evidence of the +continued friendship of the French republic, and of a desire that the +"symbol of the triumphs and enfranchisement of that great people," as +expressed by Washington in his reply to the French minister, might +contribute to cherish and perpetuate the sincere affection by which the +two republics were so happily united. It was at first proposed, in a +resolution offered in the senate, that the president should communicate +the sentiments of that body to the proper organ of the French +government; but this was opposed, because, it was said, the +complimentary correspondence between the two nations had reached a point +where, if ever, it ought to cease. This amendment was carried by a +strict party vote. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[89] History of the United States, second series, i, 566. + +[90] The letter brought by Adet was from the Committee of Safety, which, +under the revolutionary system in France, was the department charged +with foreign intercourse. After his departure a new order of things was +established. On the thirty-first of May, 1795, the revolutionary +tribunal was, by a decree of the National Convention, abolished in +France. On the twenty-third of June, a committee, appointed for the +purpose, presented the draft of a new constitution, modelled in many +respects after that of the United States. The reading of it, which +occupied several hours, was frequently interrupted by the loudest bursts +of applause. At the conclusion, it was decreed that the discussion of +the instrument should be opened on the fourth of July. On the sixth of +September, the people of France met in primary assemblies for the +purpose of accepting or rejecting the new constitution. The armies of +the eastern and western Pyrenees accepted it on that day, and so did a +great majority of the French nation. The result was announced in the +convention on the tenth of September, with information that two thirds +of the members of that body had been re-elected. In consequence of that +acceptance, a dreadful riot broke out in Paris on the sixth of October, +which lasted several days; but the insurgents were finally overpowered +by the convention troops. Many persons were slain on both sides, and +ringleaders of the riot were soon afterward executed. + +The French constitution established an Executive Directory, composed of +five members, who ruled in connection with two legislative chambers, +called respectively The Council of Ancients, and the Council of Five +Hundred. The directory were formally installed at the Luxembourg, in +Paris, on the first of November, 1795. On the same day a pen-picture of +the convention was published at Paris, signed REAL. "The convention," he +said, "has terminated its sittings. Where is the Tacitus who shall write +the history of its glorious actions and its abominable excesses? Obscure +men, sent to devise laws, have during a dictation of three years +displayed an energy, a greatness, and a ferocity, which no longer allow +us to envy either the virtues of ancient Rome or the wild atrocities of +the first Cesars. Physicians, lawyers, and attorneys' clerks, became +suddenly professed legislators, and warriors full of boldness. They have +overturned all Europe, and changed its system. + +"With a daring hand they have signed the death-warrant of the successor +of an hundred kings, and in one day broken the sceptre for which an +existence of fourteen centuries had procured a religious and fanatical +veneration. On that day they threw down the gauntlet before astonished +Europe; and William the Conqueror, when he burnt his fleet, did not +place himself with more audaciousness between victory and death. Without +money, without credit, without arms, artillery, saltpetre, and armies; +betrayed by Dumorier; Valenciennes being taken by the Austrians; Toulon +in the hands of the English; the king of Prussia under the walls of +Landau, and a country of ninety leagues extent devoured by one hundred +and fifty thousand Vendeans, they published a decree, and on a sudden +all France became a vast manufactory of arms and saltpetre; one million, +four hundred thousand men sprang up ready armed; the king of Prussia was +defeated near Landau, the Austrians repulsed near Maubenge, the English +routed near Hondschoote, the Vendeans annihilated at Lavenay, and the +tri-colored flag was hoisted on the walls of Toulon. + +"Their folly disconcerted the wisdom of ancient politics; songs and the +charging step defeated the celebrated tactics of the Germans; generals +just left the ranks--obscure generals, who but a few months before were +simple sergeants--conceived and executed the plan of the campaign of +1795 which will always remain the admiration of military men, and +defeated the most celebrated generals, the pupils and companions of the +great Frederick. Holland was conquered in January by the inexperienced +troops; and what Louis XIV, in the zenith of his glory, did not dare to +conceive, the French, by founding a republic, have carried into effect, +and planted the tri-colored standard on the banks of the Rhine. + +"It is amidst this long tempest, amidst proscriptions and scaffolds, +this dreadful convention has opened the road to glory; after having +desolated the world, it has exhausted against itself its devouring +energy. Two parties, by turns victorious and vanquished, have been sent +to the scaffold by a third, which, embracing always the cause of the +strongest, preserved itself by sometimes striking against the mountain, +sometimes against the plain. + +"Voracious men! your pernicious versatility has produced all the evils +which have devastated France; your wickedness, which you call wisdom, +has overflowed my native land with blood; and posterity will ask, with +wonder, 'What was the political opinion of those who condemned Danton, +Brissot, Lacroix, and Ducos; who advised with Robespierre and Lanjunais, +Billaud de Varennes, and Barrere?' Voracious men! you will be despised +by the present generation, and detested by posterity. Convention! the +murders and atrocities which thy reign has produced will be handed down +to posterity, and will not be credited." + +Such was a life-picture, drawn by a master-hand, of the men and the +government with whose operations the leaders of a strong party in the +United States endeavored with mad zeal, for three years, to involve +their own government; a catastrophe prevented only, so far as human +agency was concerned, by the fearless courage and profound wisdom of +Washington in maintaining neutrality. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + RETURN OF JAY'S TREATY--IT IS PROCLAIMED TO BE THE LAW OF THE + LAND--THE OPPOSITION OFFENDED--HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CALL UPON + THE PRESIDENT FOR ALL PAPERS RELATING TO THE TREATY--DEBATES + THEREON--ACTION OF THE CABINET--THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY--HE REFUSES TO + ACCEDE TO THE CALL OF THE HOUSE--CONSIDERATION OF HIS REFUSAL IN THE + HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--BLOUNT'S RESOLUTIONS--DEBATES ON THE + TREATY--SPEECHES OF MADISON, GALLATIN, AND AMES--EFFECT OF AMES'S + SPEECH--DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE--FINAL VOTE. + + +The treaty with Great Britain, ratified by King George, was returned to +the United States government in February, much to the relief of its +friends, and indeed of all parties. "We are wasting our time in the most +insipid manner, waiting for the treaty," wrote John Adams to his wife on +the tenth of January. "Nothing of any consequence will be done till that +arrives, and is mauled and abused, and then acquiesced in. For the +_antis_ must be more numerous than I believe them, and made of sterner +stuff than I conceive, if they dare hazard the surrender of the posts +and the payment for spoliations, by any resolution of the house that +shall render precarious the execution of the treaty on our part." + +The federal constitution declaring a treaty, when duly ratified by the +contracting powers, to be the law of the land, Washington, on the last +day of February, issued a proclamation announcing the one just concluded +with Great Britain, as such. This had been a mooted point. The +president's proclamation decided that the treaty was law without further +action of Congress; and it now remained for that body to make provision +for carrying it into effect. The president sent it to both houses on the +first day of March, with the following brief message:-- + + "The treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation concluded between + the United States and his Britannic majesty having been duly + ratified, and the ratifications having been exchanged at London on + the twenty-eighth of October, one thousand, seven hundred and + ninety-five, I have directed the same to be promulgated, and + herewith transmit a copy thereof for the information of Congress." + +This action was the signal for both parties to prepare for a great +struggle. The opposition, who had openly denied the right of the +president to even _negotiate_ a treaty of commerce, because, they said, +it practically gave to the executive and senate the power to regulate +commerce, were highly offended because the president had ventured to +issue this proclamation before the sense of the house of representatives +had been declared on the obligations of the instrument. This feeling +assumed tangible form when, on the seventh of March, Edward Livingston, +of New York, offered a resolution calling upon the president for copies +of all papers relating to the treaty. This resolution, as modified on +motion of Madison, was as follows:-- + + "_Resolved_, That the president of the United States be requested + to lay before this house a copy of the instructions given to the + minister of the United States, who negotiated the treaty with Great + Britain, communicated by his message of the first instant, together + with the correspondence and documents relating to the said treaty, + excepting such of said papers as any existing negotiation may + render improper to be disclosed." + +A warm debate immediately arose, and speedily took the form of a +discussion on the nature and extent of the treaty-making power. "The +friends of the administration maintained," says Marshall, "that a treaty +was a contract between two nations, which, under the constitution, the +president, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, had a right +to make; and that it was made when, by and with such advice and consent, +it had received his final act. Its obligations then became complete on +the United States, and to refuse to comply with its stipulations was to +break the treaty and to violate the faith of the nation. + +"The opposition contended that the power to make treaties, if +applicable to every object, conflicted with powers which were vested +exclusively in Congress. That either the treaty-making power must be +limited in its operations, so as not to touch objects committed by the +constitution to Congress, or the assent and co-operation of the house of +representatives must be required to give validity to any compact, so far +as it might comprehend those objects. A treaty, therefore, which +required an appropriation of money or any act of Congress to carry it +into effect, had not acquired its obligatory form until the house of +representatives had exercised its powers in the case. They were at full +liberty to make, or to withhold, such appropriation, or other law, +without incurring the imputation of violating any existing obligation, +or breaking the faith of the nation."[91] + +At the outset, a member had inquired the object of Mr. Livingston's +motion, since on that would depend its propriety. It was contended, that +if the impeachment of either Mr. Jay or the president was intended, it +was a proper motion; but not so if the constitutionality of the treaty +was to be questioned, because that must depend on the treaty itself. It +was further inquired whether the house proposed to consider whether a +better treaty might not have been made. Mr. Livingston did not disavow +either of the objects suggested, but stated as his principal reason, a +firm conviction that the house was vested with a discretionary power, +allowing it to carry the treaty into execution or not. This +consideration was made the chief point in the debate, in which Albert +Gallatin took a leading part in favor of the resolution, well supported +by Madison, Livingston, Giles, and Baldwin, and others of less note. It +was opposed by Smith, of South Carolina, Murray, Harper, Hillhouse, and +others. About thirty speeches on either side were made, and the debate +did not terminate until the twenty-fourth of the month. + +During this debate, the eloquent Fisher Ames was a member of the house, +but was compelled by ill health to be silent. It was a great trial for +the patriot, for he saw the need of soldiers for the contest. He had +been, from the beginning, a warm friend of the government; and now, at +what he deemed a crisis, he wished to lift up his voice in defence of +its measures. To a friend in Springfield he wrote on the ninth of March, +saying:-- + + "I sit now in the house; and, that I may not lose my temper and my + spirits, I shut my ears against the sophisms and rant against the + treaty, and divert my attention by writing to you. + + "Never was there a time when I so much desired the full use of my + faculties, and it is the very moment when I am prohibited even + attention. To be silent, neutral, useless, is a situation not to be + envied. I almost wish ***** was here, and I at home, sorting squash + and pumpkin seeds for planting. + + "It is a new post for me to be in. I am not a sentry, not in the + ranks, not in the staff. I am thrown into the wagon as part of the + baggage. I am like an old gun that is spiked or the trunnions + knocked off, and yet am carted off, not for the worth of the old + iron, but to balk the enemy of a trophy. My political life is + ended, and I am the survivor of myself, or rather the troubled + ghost of a politician, that am condemned to haunt the field of + battle where I fell. Whether the government will long outlive me is + doubtful. I know it is sick, and, many of the physicians say, of a + mortal disease. A crisis now exists, the most serious I ever + witnessed, and the more dangerous because it is not dreaded. Yet, I + confess, if we should navigate the federal ship through this + strait, and get out again into the open sea, we shall have a right + to consider the chance of our government as mended. We shall have a + lease for years--say four or five; not a freehold--certainly not a + fee simple. + + "How will the Yankees feel and act when the day of trial comes? It + is not, I fear, many weeks off. Will they let the casuists quibble + away the very words, and adulterate the generous spirit of the + constitution? When a measure passes by the proper authorities, + shall it be stopped by force? Sophistry may change the form of the + question, may hide some of the consequences, and may dupe some into + an opinion of its moderation when triumphant; yet the fact will + speak for itself. The government can not go to the halves. It would + be another, a worse government, if the mob, or the leaders of the + mob in Congress,[92] can stop the lawful acts of the president, and + unmake a treaty. It would be, either no government, or instantly a + government of usurpation and wrong.... I think we shall beat our + opponents in the end, but the conflict will light up a fierce war." + +Ames grew stronger; and at length, in the final debate in Congress upon +the subject of the treaty, his eloquence was heard, like the tones of a +trumpet, and with great effect, as we shall presently observe. + +Livingston's motion was carried, on the twenty-fourth of March, by the +decisive vote of sixty-two to thirty-seven. A committee of the house, +deputed for the purpose, carried the vote to the president, who replied +that he would take the request into consideration. He immediately +summoned a cabinet council, and laid the matter before them in the form +of two queries; first, on the right of the house, under the +circumstances, to make such a call; and secondly, whether it would be +expedient to furnish the papers, even though the belief might be +entertained that the house had no right to call for them. He also +referred the matter to Colonel Hamilton for his opinion. + +The cabinet members were unanimous in opinion, that he ought not to +comply with the requisitions of the house. Each of them stated, in +writing, the grounds of his opinion; and Chief-Justice Ellsworth, who +had lately been appointed to the bench of the supreme court of the +United States, had, while the debate was in progress, drawn up an +opinion coincident with the views of Washington and his cabinet. +Hamilton also transmitted to the president a long and able paper, in +which, with his usual force of unanswerable logic, he sustained the +action of the cabinet, and fortified the president's views. In +acknowledging the receipt of this paper on the thirty-first of March, +the president said:-- + + "I had from the first moment, and from the fullest conviction in my + own mind, resolved to _resist the principle_, which was evidently + intended to be established by the call of the house of + representatives; and only deliberated on the manner in which this + could be done with the least bad consequences. To effect this, + three modes presented themselves. First, a denial of the papers _in + toto_, assigning concise but cogent reasons for that denial; + secondly, to grant them in whole; or, thirdly, in part; accompanied + in both the last-mentioned cases with a pointed protest against the + right of the house to control treaties, or to call for papers + without specifying their object, and against the compliance being + drawn into a precedent. + + "I had as little hesitation in deciding that the first was the most + tenable ground; but, from the peculiar circumstances of the case, + it merited consideration, if the _principle_ could be saved, + whether facility in the provision might not result from a + compliance. An attentive examination of the subject and papers, + however, soon convinced me that to furnish _all_ the papers would + be highly improper, and that a partial delivery of them would leave + the door open for as much calumny as a refusal of them altogether; + perhaps more, as it might, and I have no doubt would, be said that + all such as were essential to the purposes of the house were + withheld. + + "Under these impressions, I proceeded, with the heads of + departments and the attorney-general, to collect materials, and to + prepare an answer, subject, however, to revision and change + according to circumstances. This was ready on Monday, and proposed + to be sent in on Tuesday; but it was delayed until I should hear + from you, which happened on that day about noon. This induced a + further postponement until yesterday, notwithstanding the apparent + and anxious solicitude, which was visible in all quarters, to learn + the result of the application. + + "Finding that the draft which I had prepared embraced the most if + not all the principles, which were detailed in yours of yesterday, + though not the reasonings; that it would take considerable time to + copy yours; and, above all, having understood that if the papers + were refused, a fresh demand with strictures on my conduct was to + be expected, I sent in the answer, which was ready, and have + reserved yours, as a copious resource, in case the matter should go + any further."[93] + +Washington gave a decided negative to the request of the house. It +appears to have been unexpected. The opposition were not prepared for +such boldness and firmness on the part of the executive, and it +"appeared to break," says Marshall, "the last cord of that attachment +which had theretofore bound some of the active leaders of the opposition +to the person of the president." Amid all the excitements of party +contests, there was real affection and respect for Washington on the +part of those who were politically opposed to him; but this act, so much +like defiance of the popular will as expressed by the house of +representatives, in the eyes of the unreflecting, seemed, for the +moment, to extinguish every lingering spark of affection in the bosom of +his old friends, now his political enemies. + +After a week's delay, the president's message was taken up in committee +of the whole, with two resolutions offered by Blount, of North Carolina, +declaratory of the sense of the house respecting its own power on the +subject of treaties. These embodied doctrines contrary to those +expressed in the message. The first, after disclaiming any pretensions +on the part of the house to "any agency in making treaties," asserted, +that "when a treaty stipulated regulations on any of the subjects +submitted by the constitution to the power of Congress, it must depend +for its execution, as to such stipulations, on a law to be passed by +Congress," and that the house had a right to deliberate on the +expediency or inexpediency of such law, and pass or reject it as they +might determine. The second resolution asserted, that in applications to +the president for information, the house was not bound to specify for +what purpose such information was wanted. + +These resolutions took a rather less untenable position than had been +maintained in argument, and were quite inexplicit on an essential part +of the question. After a brief debate, in which Madison was chief +speaker in favor of the resolutions, they were adopted by a vote of +fifty-seven to thirty-five. + +While this exciting subject was before Congress, the treaties with the +Indians, with the dey of Algiers, and with Spain respecting the +navigation of the Mississippi, had been ratified by the president and +senate, and communicated to the house of representatives. It was moved +to refer them to the committee of the whole house; but, for several days +in succession, the motion was voted down. It was finally carried; and on +the thirteenth of April, the moment the committee of the whole was +organized by the chairman taking his seat, Mr. Sedgwick, of +Massachusetts, arose and moved "that provision ought to be made by law +for carrying into effect, with good faith, the treaties lately concluded +with the dey and regency of Algiers, the king of Great Britain, the king +of Spain, and certain Indian tribes northwest of the Ohio." The +opposition were completely surprised by this unexpected movement, and an +angry altercation ensued. They complained loudly of the manner in which +an attempt was made to force action upon the four treaties together, and +resented what they deemed the ungenerous sharp practice of their +opponents, because it was in contravention of the solemn vote of the +house lately recorded upon their journals, declaratory of their right to +exercise a free discretion over the subject. It was contended, on the +other hand, that, as the four treaties formed part of one system, if one +was rejected, it might be expedient to reject the others also. After a +warm debate, it was agreed to dispose of the other treaties before +taking up that with Great Britain. In accordance with this +determination, the action of the house on the other treaties was such as +not to contradict the claim set up by Blount's resolutions, and they +were disposed of without any difficulty. + +The treaty with Great Britain was taken up on the fifteenth of April. +Its friends, in and out of Congress, supposing that on a subject which +had so long agitated the community, the mind of every member was +settled, and that an attempt to make converts by either party through +debates would be futile, urged an immediate decision of the matter. They +felt confident that the majority would not dare to meet the country on +such an issue as the withholding of means for the execution of the +treaty; but that majority, though knowing they had the power to break +the treaty, were unwilling to do so without first embracing an +opportunity for giving satisfactory reasons for their action. They +therefore called for discussion. "The expectation," says Marshall, +"might not unreasonably be entertained, that the passions belonging to +the subject would be so inflamed by debate as to produce the expression +of a public sentiment favorable to their wishes; and if in this they +should be disappointed, it would be certainly unwise, either as a party +or as a branch of the legislature, to plunge the nation into +embarrassments in which it was not disposed to entangle itself, and from +which the manner of extricating it could not be distinctly perceived." + +The friends of the treaty did not shrink from discussion; and the +debate, which lasted a fortnight, was opened by Madison with a speech, +elaborate in its details and carefully prepared. He maintained that +there was the grossest want of reciprocity exhibited in that part of the +treaty that related to the settlement of disputes growing out of the +compact of 1783. The British, he asserted, got all they asked--the debts +due their merchants with damages in the shape of interest. We got +nothing, he said, for the valuable negroes carried away, and we received +nothing for damages accruing from the long detention of the western +posts. And they, he said, were received with conditions respecting the +Indian trade which made them almost useless to us, as to influence over +the savage tribes, in which alone their greatest value consisted; and he +considered the agreement to pay the American claims for spoliations as +no offset for the loss of the negroes. + +The same want of reciprocity, he said, prevailed in the portion of the +treaty respecting neutral rights and the law of nations. By it we +yielded the favorite principle, long ago enunciated, that "free ships +make free goods," and had actually added naval stores and even +provisions to the list of contraband articles. He severely animadverted +upon the provisions which conceded to British subjects the right to hold +lands within the territory of the United States; the stipulation +concerning the navigation of the Mississippi; and the permission to open +all American ports to British shipping, while our own vessels were +excluded from the colonial harbors. + +The latter measure, allowing Great Britain to retain her colonial +monopoly and preserve intact her colonial system, he denounced as "a +phenomenon which had filled him with more surprise than he knew how to +express." And more vehement than all, because it interfered with his +favorite scheme of commercial coercion, was Madison's denunciations of +the provisions which prevented the Americans from retaliating upon the +British, in the event of their making commercial restrictions to our +disadvantage by further discriminations. He concluded with scouting the +idea that war would ensue if the treaty should be rejected, because the +hostilities England were then waging with France were quite as much as +she was able to manage at that time. + +Madison's speech alarmed the country, especially the sensitive +mercantile classes, for whose losses, by spoliations, the treaty made +provision, and those who were dependant upon trade, because they feared +its influence in causing the inexecution of the treaty, and consequent +war with Great Britain, by which their interests would be seriously +effected. Other classes were also alarmed; indeed, all who loved peace +and deprecated quarrels, much less physical contests, with other +nations, trembled for the fate of the treaty. The country was violently +agitated. Public meetings were held in all parts of the United States, +and the strength of parties was once more fully tried. Petitions were +sent in to Congress from all the great marts of business in the country +in favor of ratification; while counter meetings were held and counter +petitions were sent in from various places. Insurance against captures +on the high seas could no longer be obtained for vessels or goods; and a +sudden blow was given to commerce, which threatened financial ruin. + +To add to the confusion, Bond, the British _charge des affaires_, had +intimated, that if the house of representatives, refused the necessary +appropriation to carry the treaty into effect, the western posts would +not be given up at the stipulated time, now near at hand. He also took +that occasion to insist upon an explanatory article concerning a clause +in Wayne's treaty with the Indians, by which they had agreed to allow no +trader to reside among them, unless licensed by the authorities of the +United States; for it seemed to be in contradiction with the provisions +of the treaty under consideration, a mutual free-trade with the Indian +tribes being guarantied thereby. This menace and this demand created +much irritation; yet it did not in the least affect the tide of popular +sentiment in favor of the treaty which was continually rising. This fact +was clearly discerned by both parties, and the friends of the treaty +protracted the debate, in order that, before the vote should be taken, +public opinion might be so expressed, as to have an omnipotent effect in +its favor. + +At this moment, when the debate had been going on for several days and +the spirit of the opposition began to flag, Albert Gallatin came to the +support of his party, in a speech which at once gave him the position of +republican leader in the house, the honor of which had been divided +between Madison and Giles, of Virginia. Gallatin was a native of Geneva, +in Switzerland, and then only thirty years of age. He had been only +eleven years in the country, two of which he had served the people of +his adoption in a military capacity. After the Revolution he established +himself on the Monongahela, in western Pennsylvania, where his talents +soon caused him to be called into public life. He was engaged, as we +have seen, in the Whiskey Insurrection, but with patriotic intentions, +as he alleged; and by a large popular vote he was elected to a seat in +the house of representatives. Although a foreign accent was plainly +visible when he spoke, he was so fluent in language, so earnest in +manner, and so logical in argument, that his youth and foreign birth +were forgotten for the moment, and he was listened to with the greatest +pleasure. + +Gallatin had heard the speeches on both sides with marked attention, and +was prepared to take new ground in his own. Quoting from Vattel on the +law of nations, he went on to show that slaves, being real estate, were +not a subject of booty, but, on the restoration of peace, fell back to +their former owners, like the soil to which they were attached. He +attempted to excite, evidently for party purposes, sectional hatred by +declaring that while the rights of the South and West had been +sacrificed by the treaty, in respect to negroes, the Indian trade, and +the navigation of the Mississippi, means had been found to protect the +commercial interests of the North. With the same breath, however, he +denounced the commercial articles of the treaty as utterly worthless, +and adroitly charged the senate, by insinuation, with ignorance +respecting the East Indian trade, falsely assuming that because the +treaty did not, by express provisions, secure the East Indian coasting +trade, and the direct voyage from India to Europe by American vessels, +that these privileges had been relinquished. + +Like Madison, he regarded the provision respecting neutrals as yielding +everything to the semi-piratical policy of Great Britain. He contended +strenuously for the dishonest measure of sequestration of private debts +due to British subjects, as a means of coercion, and condemned that most +just provision of the treaty, bearing upon that subject, without stint. +While we have promised full indemnity to England, he said, for every +possible claim against us, we had abandoned every claim of a doubtful +nature, and agreed to receive the western posts under the most degrading +restrictions concerning the trade with the Indians. We had gained +nothing, he said, by the arrangements respecting trade and navigation, +while we had parted with "every pledge in our hands, every power of +restriction, every weapon of self-defence." + +He admitted that if this treaty should be rejected, another as favorable +might not be obtained; but he argued, that while the United States would +lose the western posts and the indemnity for spoliations, they would be +pecuniary gainers by escaping the payment of the British debts. He did +not wish, nor did his party, an utter rejection of the treaty, but a +suspension or postponement of it, until the British should cease their +encroachments, and reparations for such wrongs might be obtained. He +scouted as utterly chimerical, the idea that war would necessarily +follow such postponement, or even a positive rejection; and he treated +the menaces of the dissolution of the Union with scorn. He significantly +asked, Who will dissolve the government? The opposition majority had no +motive for doing it, and he did not believe that the federalists would, +at the first failure of their power, revenge themselves by overthrowing +the government. He expressed his belief that the people, from one end of +the Union to the other, were strongly attached to the constitution, and +that they would punish any party or set of men who should attempt to +subvert it. He rested in full security on the people, against any +endeavor to destroy the Union or the government. He regarded the cry of +disunion and of war as designed only to work upon the fears of Congress, +and force an acquiescence in the treaty. "It was the fear of being +involved in a war," he said, "that the negotiations with Great Britain +had originated; under the impression of fear the treaty had been +negotiated and signed; fear had promoted its ratification; and now, +every imaginary mischief was conjured up to frighten the house, to +deprive it of that discretion which it had the right to exercise, to +force it to carry this treaty into effect." He also charged the +merchants of Philadelphia and other seaports[94] with having formed a +combination to produce alarm, and to make their efforts more effectual, +had also combined to cease insuring vessels, purchasing produce, or +transacting any business, to induce the people to join in the attempt to +force the house to pass laws for carrying the treaty into effect. + +"To listen calmly to this denunciation of Washington and Jay," says +Hildreth, "as having pusillanimously surrendered the honor of their +country--Washington in setting on foot and in ratifying, and Jay in +having negotiated, the treaty--coming as it did from the mouth of one +whose evident youth and foreign accent might alone serve to betray him +as an adventurer, whose arrival in the country could hardly have been +long anterior to the termination of the Revolutionary struggle, was +somewhat too much for human nature to bear. There was also something a +little provoking in the denunciation of the merchants as having +conspired to terrify the house, coming from a man who had first obtained +general notoriety, it was now hardly four years since, by the +publication of his name at the bottom of a series of resolutions, of +which the avowed object was to frighten public officers from the +discharge of their duty by threats of a social interdict and +non-intercourse--a method of proceeding which had ended in violent +resistance to the laws and armed insurrection. Nor is it very +surprising, all things considered, that many of the federalists were +inclined to look on Gallatin as a foreign emissary, a tool of France, +and employed and paid to make mischief."[95] + +Tracy, of Connecticut, replied to the most prominent points of +Gallatin's speech. He denied that Vattel gave any such opinion as to +slaves, as set forth by Gallatin; and called attention to the fact that +the British did not refuse to restore them as booty, but because they +were men set free by having joined the British standard, that freedom +being the chief inducement held out to them. Other points he commented +upon with equal force. He warmed with his theme, and at length became +severely personal. The opposition, he said, ask, with an air of +triumphant complacency, How is there to be war, if we are not disposed +to fight, and Great Britain has no motive for hostilities? "But look at +the probable state of things," he continued: "Great Britain is to +retain the western posts, and with them, the confidence of the Indians; +she makes no compensation for the millions spoliated from our commerce, +but adds new millions to our already heavy losses. Would Americans +quietly see their government strut, look big, call hard names, repudiate +treaties, and then tamely put up with new and aggravated injuries? +Whatever might be the case in other parts of the Union, his constituents +were not of a temper to dance round a whiskey-pole one day, cursing the +government, and to sneak, the next day, into a swamp, on hearing that a +military force was marching against them. They knew their rights, and, +if the government were unable, or unwilling, to give them protection, +they would find other means to secure it. He could not feel thankful to +any gentleman for coming all the way from Geneva to accuse Americans of +pusillanimity." + +This allusion to Gallatin elicited cries of order from many of the +opposition, and for awhile the excitement in the house was intense. The +chairman decided that Mr. Tracy was in order, and desired him to go on. +He disclaimed any intention to be personal, asked pardon for any +improprieties of which he might have been guilty in the heat of debate, +and excused himself with the plea, that such charges against the +American government and people, from such a source, were naturally very +offensive. + +Fourteen days had now been occupied with this debate, when Fisher Ames, +of Massachusetts, whose feebleness of health had kept him away from the +house a part of the session, and made him a quiet spectator until now, +arose in his place, and addressed the assemblage on the great subject. +It was known that he was to speak on that day (twenty-eighth of April), +and the house was crowded with an audience eager to hear the orator. He +was pale, tottering, hardly able to stand on his feet, when he first +arose, but as he became warmed with the subject, his whole being seemed +to gather strength every moment, and he delivered a speech which was +never forgotten by those who heard it. It was the great speech of the +session, exhibiting a wonderful comprehension of human nature and the +springs of political action; logic the most profound; the most biting +ridicule, and pathetic eloquence. His speech exhibits such a summary, in +its allusions, to the scope of the arguments of the opposition, and +throws such light upon the growth and state of parties, that we make +long extracts from it. + +"The suggestion a few days ago," he said, "that the house manifested +symptoms of heat and irritation, was made and retorted as if the charge +ought to create surprise, and would convey reproach. Let us be more just +to ourselves and the occasion. Let us not effect to deny the existence +and the intrusion of some portion of prejudice and feeling into the +debate, when, from the very structure of our own nature, we ought to +anticipate the circumstance as a probability; and when we are admonished +by the evidence of our senses that it is a fact, how can we make +professions for ourselves, and offer exhortations to the house, that no +influence should be felt but that of duty, and no guide respected but +that of the understanding, while the peal to rally every passion of man +is continually ringing in our ears? Our understandings have been +addressed, it is true, and with ability and effect; but, I demand, has +any corner of the heart been unexplored? It has been ransacked to find +auxiliary arguments; and, when that attempt failed, to awaken the +sensibility that would require none. Every prejudice and feeling has +been summoned to listen to some peculiar style of address; and yet we +seem to believe and to consider a doubt as an affront, that we are +strangers to any influence but that of unbiassed reason.... It is very +unfairly pretended, that the constitutional right of this house is at +stake, and to be asserted and preserved only by a vote in the negative. +We hear it said, that this is a struggle for liberty, a manly resistance +against the design to nullify the existence of this assembly, and to +make it a cypher in the government; that the president and senate, the +numerous meetings in the cities, and the influence of the general alarm +of the country, are the agents and instruments of a scheme of coercion +and terror, and in spite of the clearest convictions of duty and +conscience. + +"It is necessary to pause here, and inquire whether suggestions of this +kind be not unfair in their very texture and fabric, and pernicious in +all their influences. They oppose an obstacle in the path of inquiry, +not simply discouraging, but absolutely insurmountable. They will not +yield to argument; for, as they were not reasoned up, they can not be +reasoned down. They are higher than a Chinese wall in truth's way, and +built of materials that are indestructible. While this remains, it is +vain to say to this mountain, be thou cast into the sea. For I ask of +the men of knowledge of the world, whether they would not hold him for a +blockhead, that should hope to prevail in an argument, whose scope and +object is to mortify the self-love of the expected proselyte? I ask +further, when such attempts have been made, whether they have not failed +of success? The indignant heart repels the conviction that is believed +to debase it.... Let me expostulate with gentlemen to admit, if it be +only by way of supposition, and for a moment, that it is barely possible +they have yielded too suddenly to their own alarms for the powers of +this house; that the addresses which have been made with such variety of +forms, and with so great dexterity in some of them, to all that is +prejudice and passion in the heart, are either the effects or the +instruments of artifice and deception, and then let them see the subject +once more in its singleness and simplicity.... + + "The doctrine has been avowed, that the treaty, though formally + ratified by the executive power of both nations, though published + as a law for our own by the president's proclamation, is still a + mere proposition submitted to this assembly, no way + distinguishable, in point of authority or obligation, from a motion + for leave to bring in a bill, or any other original act of ordinary + legislation. This doctrine, so novel in our country, yet so dear to + many precisely for the reason, that in the contention for power, + victory is always dear, is obviously repugnant to the very terms, + as well as the fair interpretation of our own resolution (Mr. + Blount's). We declare, that the treaty-making power is exclusively + vested in the president and senate, and not in the house. Need I + say that we fly in the face of that resolution, when we pretend + that the acts of that power are not valid until we have concurred + in them. It would be nonsense, or worse, to use the language of the + most glaring contradiction, and to claim a share in a power which + we at the same time disclaim, as exclusively vested in other + departments. What can be more strange than to say, that the + compacts of the president and senate with foreign nations are + treaties without our agency, and yet, that those compacts want all + power and obligation until they are sanctioned by our concurrence. + It is not my design, in this place, if at all, to go into a + discussion of this part of the subject. I will, at least for the + present, take it for granted that this monstrous opinion stands in + little need of remark, and, if it does, lies almost out of the + reach of refutation." + +After discussing the subject of bad faith on the part of the United +States, in refusing to execute the treaty, with a clear and +comprehensive view of the obligations of nations, Mr. Ames continued:-- + + "I shall be asked, why a treaty so good in some articles, and so + harmless in others, has met with such unrelenting opposition? and + how the clamors against it, from New Hampshire to Georgia, can be + accounted for? The apprehensions so extensively diffused on its + first publication, will be vouched as proof that the treaty is bad, + and that the people held it in abhorrence. + + "I am not embarrassed to find an answer to this insinuation. + Certainly a foresight of its pernicious operation could not have + created all the fears that were felt or effected: the alarm spread + faster than the publication of the treaty; there were more critics + than readers. Besides, as the subject was examined, those fears + have subsided. The movements of passion are quicker than those of + the understanding: we are to search for the causes of first + impressions, not in the articles of this obnoxious and + misrepresented instrument, but in the state of the public feeling. + + "The fervor of the Revolutionary war had not entirely cooled, nor + its controversies ceased, before the sensibility of our citizens + was quickened with a tenfold vivacity, by a new and extraordinary + subject of irritation. One of the two great nations of Europe + underwent a change which has attracted all our wonder, and + interested all our sympathy. Whatever they did, the zeal of many + went with them, and often went to excess. These impression met with + much to inflame, and nothing to restrain them. In our newspapers, + in our feasts, and some of our elections, enthusiasm was admitted a + merit, a test of patriotism; and that made it contagious. In the + opinion of party, we could not love or hate enough. I dare say, in + spite of all the obloquy it may provoke, we were extravagant in + both. It is my right to avow, that passions so impetuous, + enthusiasm so wild, could not subsist without disturbing the sober + exercise of reason, without putting at risk the peace and precious + interests of our country. They were hazarded. It will not exhaust + the little breath I have left, to say how much, nor by whom, or by + what means they were rescued from the sacrifice. Shall I be called + upon to offer my proofs? They are here. They are everywhere. No one + has forgotten the proceedings of 1794. No one has forgotten the + capture of our vessels, and the imminent danger of war. The nation + thirsted, not only for reparation, but vengeance. Suffering such + wrongs, and agitated by such resentments, was it in the power of + any words of compact, or could any parchment, with its seals, + prevail at once to tranquillize the people? It was impossible. + Treaties in England are seldom popular, and least of all, when the + stipulations of amity succeed to the bitterness of hatred. Even the + best treaty, though nothing be refused, will choke resentment, but + not satisfy it. Every treaty is as sure to disappoint extravagant + expectations, as to disarm extravagant passions; of the latter, + hatred is one that takes no bribes; they who are animated by a + spirit of revenge, will not be quieted by the possibility of + profit. + + "Why do they complain that the West Indies are not laid open? Why + do they lament that any restriction is stipulated on the commerce + of the East Indies? Why do they pretend, that if they reject this, + and insist upon more, more will be accomplished? Let us be + explicit--more would not satisfy. If all was granted, would not a + treaty of amity with Great Britain still be obnoxious? Have we not + this instant heard it urged against our envoy, that he was not + ardent enough in his hatred of Great Britain? A treaty of amity is + condemned because it was not made by a foe, and in the spirit of + one. The same gentleman, at the same instant, repeats a very + prevailing objection, that no treaty should be made with the enemy + of France. 'No treaty,' exclaim others, 'should be made with a + monarch or a despot; there will be no naval security while those + sea-robbers prevail on the ocean; their den must be destroyed; that + nation must be extirpated.' + + "I like this, sir, because it is sincerity. With feelings such as + these we do not pant for treaties. Such passions seek nothing, and + will be content with nothing, but the destruction of their object. + If a treaty left King George his island it would not answer, not if + he stipulated to pay rent for it. It has been said, the world ought + to rejoice if Great Britain was sunk in the sea; if, where there + are now men, and wealth, and laws, and liberty, there were no more + than a sandbank, for the sea-monsters to fatten on--a space for the + storms of the ocean to mingle in conflict. + + "I object nothing to the good sense or humanity of all this. I + yield the point that this is a proof that the age of reason is in + progress. Let it be philanthropy, let it be patriotism, if you + will; but it is no indication that any treaty would be approved. + The difficulty is not to overcome the objections to the terms; it + is to restrain the repugnance to any stipulations of amity with the + party. + + "Having alluded to the rival of Great Britain, I am not unwilling + to explain myself. I effect no concealment, and I have practised + none. While those two great nations agitate all Europe with their + quarrels, they will both equally endeavor to create an influence in + America; each will exert all its arts to range its strength on its + own side. How is this to be effected? Our government is a + democratical republic; it will not be disposed to pursue a system + of politics, in submission to either France or England, in + opposition to the general wishes of the citizens; and if Congress + should adopt such measures, they would not be pursued long, nor + with much success. From the nature of our government, popularity is + the instrument of foreign influence. Without it, all is labor and + disappointment. With that auxiliary, foreign intrigue finds agents, + not only volunteers, but competitors for employment, and anything + like reluctance is understood to be a crime. Has Britain this means + of influence? Certainly not. If her gold could buy adherents, their + becoming such would deprive them of all political power and + importance. They would not wield popularity as a weapon, but would + fall under it. Britain has no influence, and, for reasons just + given, can have none. She has enough; and God forbid she ever + should have more. France, possessed of popular enthusiasm, of party + attachments, has had, and still has, too much influence on our + politics. Any foreign influence is too much, and ought to be + destroyed. I detest the man, and disdain the spirit, that can bend + to a mean subserviency to the views of any nation. It is enough to + be American; that character comprehends our duties, and ought to + engross our attachments. + + "But I would not be misunderstood. I would not break the alliance + with France. I would not have the connection between the two + countries even a cold one. It should be cordial and sincere; but I + would banish that influence, which, by acting on the passions of + the citizens, may acquire a power over the government." + +The speaker then drew a picture of the national disgrace, in the eyes of +the world, that would be caused by a breach of national faith; and he +appealed with inexpressible power to the hearts and understandings of +the members, on this all-important consideration. He probed, with keen +and searching precision, the Jesuitical position assumed by the house, +in disclaiming any participation in the treaty-making power, and yet +claiming the right to decide upon the merits of a treaty, and to defeat +its execution. He then dwelt upon the evils that would accrue, in the +form of a loss to the mercantile community, of five millions of dollars +promised in payment for spoliations; and the renewal of Indian wars on +the frontier, if the western posts should not be given up. + +"On this theme," he said, "my emotions are unutterable. If I could find +words for them, if my powers bore any proportion to my zeal, I would +swell my voice to such a note of remonstrance, it should reach every +log-house beyond the mountains. I would say to the inhabitants, wake +from your false security--your cruel dangers; your more cruel +apprehensions are soon to be torn open again. In the daytime your path +through the woods will be ambushed; the darkness of midnight will +glitter with the blaze of your dwellings. You are a father--the blood of +your sons shall fatten your cornfields. You are a mother--the war-whoop +shall waken the sleep of the cradle. + +"On this subject you need not expect any deception on your feelings. It +is a spectacle of horror which can not be overdrawn. If you have nature +in your hearts, they will speak a language, compared with which, all I +have said, or can say, will be poor and frigid.... By rejecting the +posts, we light the savage fires--we bind the victims. This day we +undertake to render account to the widows and orphans our decision will +make--to the wretches that will be roasted at the stake--to our +country--and I do not deem it too serious to say, to conscience and to +God. We are answerable; and if duty be anything more than a word of +imposture, if conscience be not a bugbear, we are preparing to make +ourselves as wretched as our country.... + +"The idea of war has been treated as a bugbear. This levity is, at +least, unseasonable, and, most of all, unbecoming some who resort to it. +Who has forgotten the philippics of 1794? The cry then was, +reparation--no envoy--no treaty--no tedious delays. Now, it seems, the +passion subsides, or, at least, the hurry to satisfy it. Great Britain, +they say, will not wage war upon us. + +"In 1794, it was urged by those who now say, no war, that if we built +frigates, or resisted the piracies of Algiers, we could not expect +peace. Now they give excellent comfort truly. Great Britain has seized +our vessels and cargoes to the amount of millions; she holds the posts; +she interrupts our trade, say they, as a neutral nation; and these +gentlemen, formerly so fierce for redress, assure us, in terms of the +sweetest consolation, Great Britain will bear all this patiently. But +let me ask the late champions of our rights, will our nation bear it? +Let others exult because the aggressor will let our wrongs sleep for +ever. Will it add, it is my duty to ask, to the patience and quiet of +our citizens, to see their rights abandoned? Will not the disappointment +of their hopes, so long patronized by the government, now in the crisis +of their being realized, convert all their passions into fury and +despair?... + +"Look again at this state of things. On the seacoast, vast losses +uncompensated; on the frontier, Indian war and actual encroachment on +our territory; everywhere discontent; resentments tenfold more fierce +because they will be more impotent and humbled; national discord and +abasement. The disputes of the old treaty of 1783, being left to rankle, +will revive the almost extinguished animosities of that period. Wars in +all countries, and most of all in such as are free, arise from the +impetuosity of the public feelings. The despotism of Turkey is often +obliged by clamor to unsheathe the sword. War might, perhaps, be delayed, +but could not be prevented. The causes of it would remain, would be +aggravated, would be multiplied, and soon become intolerable. More +captures, more impressments would swell the list of our wrongs, and the +current of our rage. I make no calculation of the arts of those whose +employment it has been, on former occasions, to fan the fire; I say +nothing of the foreign money and emissaries that might foment the spirit +of hostility, because this state of things will naturally run to +violence. With less than their former exertion they would be successful. + +"Will our government be able to temper and restrain the turbulence of +such a crisis? The government, alas! will be in no capacity to govern. A +divided people, and divided councils! Shall we cherish the spirit of +peace, or show the energies of war? Shall we make our adversary afraid +of our strength, or dispose him, by the measures of resentment and +broken faith, to respect our rights? Do gentlemen rely on the state of +peace because both nations will be more disposed to keep it? because +injuries and insults still harder to endure, will be mutually +offered?... + +"Is there anything in the prospect of the interior state of the +country, to encourage us to aggravate the dangers of a war? Would not +the shock of that evil produce another, and shake down the feeble and +then unbraced structure of our government? Is this a chimera? Is it +going off the ground of matter of fact to say, the rejection of the +appropriation proceeds upon the doctrine of a civil war of the +departments? Two branches have ratified a treaty, and we are going to +set it aside. How is this disorder in the machine to be rectified? While +it exists its movements must stop; and when we talk of a remedy, is that +any other than the formidable one of a revolutionary interposition of +the people? And is this, in the judgment even of my opposers, to +execute, to preserve the constitution, and the public order? Is this the +state of hazard, if not of convulsion, which they can have the courage +to contemplate and to praise; or beyond which their penetration can +reach and see the issue? They seem to believe, and they act as if they +believed, that our union, our peace, our liberty, are invulnerable and +immortal; as if our happy state was not to be disturbed by our +dissentions, and that we are not capable of falling from it by our +unworthiness. Some of them have, no doubt, better nerves and better +discernment than mine. They can see the bright aspects and happy +consequences of all this array of horrors. They can see intestine +discords, our government disorganized, our wrongs aggravated, +multiplied, and un-redressed, peace with dishonor, or war without +justice, union, or resources, in 'the calm lights of mild +philosophy....' + +"Let me cheer the mind, weary, no doubt, and ready to despond on this +prospect, by presenting another which it is in our power to realize. Is +it possible for a real American to look at the prosperity of this +country without some desire for its continuance, without some respect +for the measures which, many will say, produced, and all will confess, +have preserved it? Will he not feel some dread that a change of system +will reverse the scene? The well-grounded fears of our citizens, in +1794, were removed by the treaty, but are not forgotten. Then they +deemed war nearly inevitable, and would not this adjustment have been +considered, at that day, as a happy escape from the calamity? The great +interest and the general desire of our people was to enjoy the +advantages of neutrality. This instrument, however misrepresented, +affords Americans that inestimable security. The cause of our disputes +are either cut up by the roots, or referred to a new negotiation after +the end of the European war. This was gaining everything. This, alone, +would justify the engagements of the government. For, when the fiery +vapors of war lowered in the skirts of our horizon, all our wishes were +concentrated in this one, that we might escape the desolation of the +storm. This treaty, like a rainbow on the edge of the cloud, marked to +our eyes the space where it was raging, and afforded, at the same time, +the sure prognostic of fair weather. If we reject it the vivid colors +will grow pale; it will be a baleful meteor, portending tempest and war. + +"Let us not hesitate, then, to agree to this appropriation to carry it +into faithful execution. Thus we shall save the faith of our nation, +secure its peace, and diffuse the spirit of confidence and enterprise +that will augment its prosperity. The progress of wealth and improvement +is wonderful, and some will think, too rapid. The field for exertion is +fruitful and vast; and if peace and good government should be preserved, +the acquisitions of our citizens are not so pleasing as the proofs of +their industry, as the instruments of their future success. The rewards +of exertion go to augment its power. Profit is every hour becoming +capital. The vast crop of our neutrality is all seed-wheat, and is sown +again, to swell, almost beyond calculation, the future harvest of +prosperity. In this progress what seems to be fiction is found to fall +short of experience.... When I come to the moment of deciding the vote, +I start back with dread from the edge of the pit into which we are +plunging. In my view, even the minutes I have spent in expostulation, +have their value, because they protract the crisis, and the short period +in which alone we may resolve to escape it. + +"I have thus been led by my feelings to speak more at length than I had +intended. Yet I have, perhaps, as little personal interest in the event +as any one here. There is, I believe, no member who will not think his +chance to be a witness of the consequences greater than mine. If, +however, the vote should pass to reject, and a spirit should rise, as it +will, with the public disorders, to make 'confusion worse confounded,' +even I, slender and almost broken as my hold upon life is, may outlive +the government and constitution of my country." + +With this touching peroration Mr. Ames closed his remarkable speech, and +sat down. For a brief moment there was perfect silence in the house. +"Judge Iredell and I happened to sit together," wrote Vice-President +Adams, describing the scene. "Our feelings beat in unison. 'My God! how +great he is,' says Iredell; 'how great he has been!'--'Noble!' said I. +After some time Iredell breaks out, 'Bless my stars! I never heard +anything so great since I was born.'--'Divine!' said I; and thus we went +on with our interjections, not to say tears, to the end. Tears enough +were shed. Not a dry eye, I believe, in the house, except some of the +jackasses who had occasioned the necessity of the oratory. These +attempted to laugh, but their visages 'grinned horribly ghastly smiles.' +They smiled like Foulon's son-in-law when they made him kiss his +father's dead and bleeding hand. Perhaps the speech may not read as +well. The situation of the man excited compassion, and interested all +hearts in his favor. The ladies wished his soul had a better body."[96] + +The vote was about to be taken, immediately after the conclusion of +Ames's speech, when the opposition, alarmed on account of the effect it +had probably produced, carried an adjournment. There was a little +speaking upon the subject the next day, but no one dared to attempt an +answer to Ames's words, or assail his positions. The vote stood +forty-nine to forty-nine, when General Muhlenburg, chairman of the +committee of the whole, decided the matter by casting his vote for the +resolution. It was reported to the house on the thirteenth of May, and, +after some delay, the resolution, unamended, declaring that it was +expedient to pass laws necessary for carrying the treaty into effect, +was adopted, fifty-one to forty-eight, the northern members voting for +and the southern against it. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[91] Life of Washington. + +[92] He referred to Livingston, the author of the resolutions before the +house, who was one of the leaders of the populace in New York when +Hamilton and King were stoned, while speaking in favor of the treaty, at +a public meeting. + +[93] The following is a copy of Washington's message to the house of +representatives on the thirtieth of March, 1796, assigning his reasons +for not complying with their resolution of the twenty-fourth:-- + + "With the utmost attention I have considered your resolution of the + twenty-fourth instant, requiring me to lay before your house a copy + of the instructions to the minister of the United States who + negotiated the treaty with the king of Great Britain, together with + a correspondence and other documents relative to that treaty, + excepting such of the said papers as any existing negotiation may + render improper to be disclosed. + + "In deliberating upon this subject, it was impossible to lose sight + of the principle, which some have avowed in its discussion, or to + avoid extending my views to the consequences which must flow from + the admission of that principle. + + "I trust that no part of my conduct has ever indicated a + disposition to withhold any information which the constitution has + enjoined upon the president as a duty to give, or which could be + required of him by either house of Congress as a right; and with + truth I affirm that it has been, as it will continue to be while I + have the honor to preside in the government, my constant endeavor + to harmonize with the other branches thereof, so far as the trust + delegated to me by the people of the United States, and my sense of + the obligation it imposes to 'preserve, protect, and defend the + constitution,' will permit. + + "The nature of foreign negotiations requires caution, and their + success must often depend on secrecy; and, even when brought to a + conclusion, a full disclosure of all the measures, demands, or + eventual concessions, which may have been proposed or contemplated, + would be extremely impolitic; for this might have a pernicious + influence on future negotiations, or produce immediate + inconveniences, perhaps danger and mischief, in relation to other + powers. The necessity of such caution and secrecy was one cogent + reason for vesting the power of making treaties in the president, + with the advice and consent of the senate; the principle on which + that body was formed confining it to a small number of members. To + admit, then, a right in the house of representatives to demand, and + to have, as a matter of course, all the papers respecting a + negotiation with a foreign power, would be to establish a dangerous + precedent. + + "It does not occur that the inspection of the papers asked for can + be relative to any purpose under the cognizance of the house of + representatives, except that of an impeachment, which the + resolution has not expressed. I repeat, that I have no disposition + to withhold any information which the duty of my situation will + permit, or the public good shall require, to be disclosed; and, in + fact, all the papers affecting the negotiation with Great Britain + were laid before the senate when the treaty itself was communicated + for their consideration and advice. + + "The course which the debate has taken on the resolution of the + house, leads to some observations on the mode of making treaties + under the constitution of the United States. + + "Having been a member of the general convention, and knowing the + principles on which the constitution was formed, I have ever + entertained but one opinion on this subject; and, from the first + establishment of the government to this moment, my conduct has + exemplified that opinion--that the power of making treaties is + exclusively vested in the president, by and with the advice and + consent of the senate, provided two thirds of the senators present + concur; and that every treaty, so made and promulgated, + thenceforward became the law of the land. It is thus that the + treaty-making power has been understood by foreign nations; and, in + all the treaties made with them, we have declared, and they have + believed, that when ratified by the president, with the advice and + consent of the senate, they became obligatory. In this construction + of the constitution, every house of representatives has heretofore + acquiesced; and, until the present time, not a doubt or suspicion + has appeared, to my knowledge, that this construction was not the + true one. Nay, they have more than acquiesced; for, till now, + without controverting the obligations of such treaties, they have + made all the requisite provisions for carrying them into effect. + + "There is also reason to believe that this construction agrees with + the opinions entertained by the state conventions, when they were + deliberating on the constitution; especially by those who objected + to it because there was not required, in _commercial treaties_, the + consent of two thirds of the whole number of the members of the + senate, instead of two thirds of the senators present; and because, + in treaties respecting territorial and certain other rights and + claims, the concurrence of three fourths of the whole number of + both houses respectively was not made necessary. + + "It is a fact decided by the general convention, and universally + understood, that the constitution of the United States was the + result of a spirit of amity and mutual concession. + + "And it is well known that, under this influence, the smaller + states were admitted to an equal representation in the senate with + the larger states, and that this branch of the government was + invested with great powers; for on the equal participation of those + powers the sovereignty and political safety of the smaller states + were deemed essentially to depend. + + "If other proofs than these, and the plain letter of the + constitution itself, be necessary to ascertain the point under + consideration, they may be found in the journals of the general + convention, which I have deposited in the office of the department + of state. In those journals it will appear that a proposition was + made, 'that no treaty should be binding on the United States which + was not ratified by a law,' and that the proposition was explicitly + rejected. + + "As, therefore, it is perfectly clear to my understanding that the + assent of the house of representatives is not necessary to the + validity of a treaty; as the treaty with Great Britain exhibits, in + itself, all the objects requiring legislative provision, and on + these the papers called for can throw no light; and as it is + essential to the due administration of the government that the + boundaries fixed by the constitution between the different + departments should be preserved, a just regard to the constitution + and to the duty of my office, under all the circumstances of this + case, forbids a compliance with your request. GEORGE WASHINGTON." + +[94] Earnest petitions from these had been sent in to Congress, +representing that the property of merchants of the United States, to the +amount of five millions of dollars, had been taken from them by the +subjects of Great Britain, for which they wanted restitution, and, for +that purpose, prayed for measures to execute the provisions of the +treaty. + +[95] History of the United States, second series, i, 603. + +[96] Letter to Mrs. Adams, April 30, 1796. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + JEFFERSON'S APPREHENSIONS CONCERNING JAY'S TREATY--HIS OPINION OF + GALLATIN--OF THE TREATY-MAKING POWER--HIS LETTER TO MAZZEI--ITS + EFFECTS--DISCLOSURE OF A CONFIDENTIAL PAPER--JEFFERSON DISCLAIMS ANY + PARTICIPATION IN THE ACT--HIS LETTER TO WASHINGTON, AND THE + REPLY--UNGENEROUS ATTACKS ON WASHINGTON'S CHARACTER--PROVISION FOR + CARRYING THE TREATY INTO EFFECT--DIPLOMATIC CHANGES--WASHINGTON AT + MOUNT VERNON--EFFORTS TO PROCURE THE LIBERATION OF + LAFAYETTE--WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO THE EMPEROR OF + GERMANY--WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS--ITS AUTHORSHIP. + + +According to the prediction of Vice-President Adams, the British +treaty, after having been "mauled and abused," was "acquiesced in." +"The treaty will go into operation, and be supported by a great +majority of the people," wrote Jay on the first of May; "a majority +comprising the greater part of the men most distinguished by talents, +worth, and weight."[97] + +But there were many honest men--men who loved their country, were +jealous of its honor, and ready to make personal sacrifices, if +necessary, for the commonwealth--who regarded the triumph of the +government party, on this occasion, as a public calamity. Among these +was Mr. Jefferson, who, from his retirement at Monticello, sent forth, +now and then, the thunderbolts of his wrath against political opponents +and their measures. He had watched the progress of the treaty in every +stage of the ordeal to which it was subjected in Congress, and +occasionally gave his views to his friends. He was deeply enamored of +Gallatin, and with acute perception, as time demonstrated, he foresaw +the value of the young Genevese to his adopted country. "If Mr. +Gallatin," he said, in a letter to Madison on the sixth of March, +concerning the operations of the treasury, "would undertake to reduce +this chaos to order, present us with a clear view of our finances, and +put them into a form as simple as they will admit, he will merit +immortal honor." + +After Gallatin's speech on the treaty, Mr. Jefferson again wrote to +Madison, saying, "It is worthy to be printed at the end of the +Federalist, as the only rational commentary on the part of the +constitution to which it relates." In reference to the power of the +house of representatives, in the matter of treaties, Mr. Jefferson +remarked in the same letter, "I see no harm in rendering their sanction +necessary, and not much harm in annihilating the whole treaty-making +power, except as to making peace. If you decide in favor of your right +to refuse your co-operation in any case of treaty, I wonder on what +occasion it is to be used, if not in one where the rights, the interest, +the honor, and faith of our nation are so grossly sacrificed; when a +faction has entered into a conspiracy with the enemies of their country, +to chain down the legislature at the feet of both; when the whole mass +of your constituents have condemned this work in the most unequivocal +manner, and are looking to you as their last hope to save them from the +effects of the avarice and corruption of the first agent, the +revolutionary machinations of others, and the incomprehensible +acquiescence of the only honest man [the president] who has assented to +it. I wish that his honesty and his political errors may not furnish a +second occasion to exclaim--'curse on his virtues, they have undone his +country.'"[98] + +On the twenty-fourth of April, in a letter to his friend, Philip +Mazzei,[99] then in Florence--a letter which afterward drew down upon +the author the most severe comments--he said, "The aspect of our +politics has wonderfully changed since you left us. In place of that +noble love of liberty and republican government which carried us +triumphantly through the war, an Anglican monarchical and aristocratical +party has sprung up, whose avowed object is, to draw over us the +substance, as they have already done the form, of the British +government. The main body of our citizens, however, remain true to their +republican principles; the whole landed interest is republican, and so +is a great mass of talent. Against us are the executive; the judiciary; +two out of three branches of the legislature; all the officers of the +government; all who want to be officers; all timid men who prefer the +calm of despotism to the boisterous sea of liberty; British merchants, +and Americans trading on British capital; speculators and holders in the +banks and public funds, a contrivance invented for the purposes of +corruption, and for assimilating us in all things to the rotten as well +as the sound parts of the British model. It would give you a fever were +I to name to you the apostates who have gone over to these heresies; men +who were Samsons in the field and Solomons in the council, but who have +had their heads shorn by the harlot England. In short, we are likely to +preserve the liberty we have obtained, only by unremitting labors and +perils. But we shall preserve it; and our mass of weight and wealth on +the good side is so great, as to leave no danger that force will ever be +attempted against us. We have only to awake and snap the Lilliputian +cords with which they have been entangling us during the first sleep +which succeeded our labors."[100] + +A little later, when the government had triumphed in the matter of the +treaty, and the public acquiesced, Mr. Jefferson wrote to Monroe, in +Paris; "You will have seen, by their proceedings, the truth of what I +have always observed to you, that one man outweighs them all in +influence over the people, who have supported his judgment against their +own, and that of their representatives. Republicanism must lie on its +oars, resign the vessel to its pilot, and themselves to the course he +thinks best for them." In this manner the professedly retired statesman, +deceived by demagogues, taking Bache's abusive and unscrupulous "Aurora" +as his compass in current politics, and with his judgment sadly warped +by his prejudices, he threw out, in various directions, ungenerous +insinuations against Washington, who, at that moment, was confiding +implicitly in Jefferson's integrity, justice, sincerity, and personal +friendship. He would not allow himself to be even suspicious of any +duplicity or dishonor on the part of his late secretary, even when that +gentleman himself supposed Washington had reason to suspect him. + +In Bache's "Aurora," on the ninth of June, were disclosed, by an +anonymous writer, a series of questions submitted by Washington, in +strict confidence, to the cabinet in 1793, concerning the reception of +Genet, and the force of the treaty with France. These were published +with the evident design to prejudice the executive in the public mind. +This startled Jefferson, and he thought it necessary to put in an +immediate disclaimer of all participation in the matter. He wrote to +Washington on the nineteenth of June, saying, in reference to the +document, "It having been confided to but few hands, makes it truly +wonderful how it should have got there. I can not be satisfied as to my +own part, till I relieve my mind by declaring--and I attest everything +sacred and honorable to the declaration--that it has got them, neither +through me nor the paper confided to me. This has never been from under +my own lock and key, or out of my own hands. No mortal ever knew from me +that these questions had been proposed." Mr. Jefferson then expressed +his belief, that one who had been their mutual friend "thought it worth +while to sow tares" between the president and himself, and denounced him +as an "intriguer, dirtily employed in sifting the conversations of his +table, where, alone, he could hear him."[101] The person here alluded to +was General Henry Lee, of Virginia, who had lately become attached to +the federal party, and incurred the political enmity of Jefferson. + +This letter drew from Washington a most noble reply. On the sixth of +July he wrote: "If I had entertained any suspicions before, that the +queries, which have been published in Bache's paper, proceeded from you, +the assurances you have given of the contrary would have removed them; +but the truth is, I harbored none. I am at no loss to conjecture from +what source they flowed, through what channel they were conveyed, and +for what purpose they and similar publications appear. They were known +to be in the hands of Mr. Parker in the early part of the last session +of Congress. They were shown about by Mr. Giles during the session, and +they made their public exhibition about the close of it. + + "Perceiving and, probably, hearing, that no abuse in the gazettes + would induce me to take notice of anonymous publications against + me, those who were disposed to do me _such friendly offices_, have + embraced, without restraint, every opportunity to weaken the + confidence of the people; and, by having the whole game in their + hands, they have not scrupled to publish things that do not, as + well as those which do exist, and to mutilate the latter, so as to + make them subserve the purposes which they have in view. + + "As you have mentioned the subject yourself, it would not be + frank, candid, or friendly, to conceal, that your conduct has been + represented as derogating from that opinion I had conceived you + entertained of me; that, to your particular friends and connections + you have described, and they have denounced, me as a person under a + dangerous influence; and that, if I would listen more to some other + opinions, all would be well. My answer invariably has been, that I + had never discovered anything in the conduct of Mr. Jefferson to + raise suspicion in my mind of his insincerity; that, if he would + retrace my public conduct while he was in the administration, + abundant proofs would occur to him, that truth and right decisions + were the sole objects of my pursuit; that there were as many + instances, within his own knowledge, of my having decided + _against_, as in _favor_, of the opinions of the persons evidently + alluded to; and, moreover, that I was no believer in the + infallibility of the politics or measures of any man living. In + short, that I was no party man myself, and the first wish of my + heart was, if parties did exist, to reconcile them." + +This portion of Washington's letter must have been felt by Mr. Jefferson +as a severe rebuke of his real insincerity, in throwing out precisely +such insinuations as Washington here alludes to. Washington continued:-- + + "To this I may say, and very truly, that, until within the last + year or two, I had no conception that parties would, or even could, + go the length I have been witness to; nor did I really believe, + until lately, that it was within the bounds of probability, hardly + within those of possibility, that, while I was using my utmost + exertions to establish a national character of our own, + independent, as far as our obligations and justice would permit, of + every nation of the earth, and wished, by steering a steady course, + to preserve this country from the horrors of a desolating war, I + should be accused of being the enemy of one nation, and subject to + the influence of another; and, to prove it, that every act of my + administration would be tortured, and the grossest and most + insidious misrepresentations of these be made, by giving one side + only of a subject, and that, too, in such exaggerated and indecent + terms as could scarcely be applied to a Nero, a notorious + defaulter, or even to a common pickpocket. But enough of this, I + have already gone further in the expression of my feelings than I + intended."[102] + +When Congress had disposed of the treaty by voting appropriations for +the purpose of executing it, nothing remained to complete the business +but the appointment of the several officers to carry out its provisions. +These were immediately made. David Howell, of Rhode Island, was made +commissioner for ascertaining the true river St. Croix; Messrs. +Fitzsimons and Innes (the latter soon succeeded by Mr. Sitgreaves) were +appointed commissioners on the subject of British debts; and Messrs. +Gore and Pinckney commissioners for settling claims for British +spoliations. + +Some diplomatic changes were made at about this time; Rufus King was +appointed minister to England, in place of Thomas Pinckney, who wished +to return home; Colonel Humphreys was appointed minister to Spain, in +place of Mr. Carmichael, deceased; John Quincy Adams, son of the +vice-president, left the Hague, to which he had been accredited, and +succeeded Humphreys at Lisbon; and Mr. Murray took Adam's place in +Holland. The president was authorized to appoint two or more agents, one +to reside in Great Britain, the others at such points as the executive +might choose, to investigate and report concerning all impressments of +American seamen by British cruisers. + +The interesting session of Congress during which Jay's treaty had been +the chief topic of debate, was now drawing to a close, and Washington +looked to the brief period of repose from public duties, at Mount +Vernon, that would succeed the legislative turmoil, with the greatest +pleasure. That moment of release came on the first day of June, when the +Congress adjourned. + +The president's thoughts now turned toward his long-tried friends, and +the sweet enjoyments of private life toward which he was hastening. +Among the former, the Marquis de Lafayette held a prominent place in his +heart. He was yet a prisoner in a far-off dungeon, and his family in +exile. Feeble was the arm of any man to give him liberty, especially one +stretched toward him from the new republic beyond the sea. Yet +Washington left no means untried to liberate his friend. Compelled by +circumstances and state policy to be cautious, he was, nevertheless, +persevering in his efforts. He well knew that his formal interposition +in behalf of the illustrious captive would be unavailing. But he +employed the American ministers at European courts in expressing, on +every convenient opportunity, unofficially, the interest which the +president took in the fate of his friend, and to use every fair means in +their power to obtain his release. + +While Lafayette was in the hands of the Prussian authorities, James +Marshall was sent to Berlin as a special and confidential agent to +solicit his discharge. Before Marshall's arrival, Lafayette had been +delivered by the king of Prussia into the hands of the emperor of +Germany. Mr. Pinckney, the United States minister in London, was then +instructed to indicate the wishes of the president concerning the +prisoner, to the Austrian minister in England, and to solicit the +powerful mediation of the British cabinet. These efforts failed, and +Washington, disdaining to make further application to the deputies of +sovereignty, whose petty tyranny was proverbial, determined to go to the +fountain-head of power in the dominion where his friend was suffering, +and, on the fifteenth of May, he wrote as follows to the emperor of +Germany:-- + + "It will readily occur to your majesty, that occasions may + sometimes exist, on which official considerations would constrain + the chief of a nation to be silent and passive in relation even to + objects which affect his sensibility, and claim his interposition + as a man. Finding myself precisely in this situation at present, I + take the liberty of writing this private letter to your majesty, + being persuaded that my motives will also be my apology for it. + + "In common with the people of this country, I retain a strong and + cordial sense of the services rendered to them by the Marquis de + Lafayette; and my friendship for him has been constant and sincere. + It is natural, therefore, that I should sympathize with him and his + family in their misfortunes, and endeavor to mitigate the + calamities which they experience; among which, his present + confinement is not the least distressing. + + "I forbear to enlarge on this delicate subject. Permit me only to + submit to your majesty's consideration, whether his long + imprisonment, and the confiscation of his estates, and the + indigence and dispersion of his family, and the painful anxieties + incident to all these circumstances, do not form an assemblage of + sufferings which recommend him to the mediation of humanity? Allow + me, sir, on this occasion to be its organ, and to entreat that he + may be permitted to come to this country, on such conditions, and + under such restrictions, as your majesty may think it expedient to + prescribe. + + "As it is a maxim with me not to ask what, under similar + circumstances, I would not grant, your majesty will do me the + justice to believe, that this request appears to me to correspond + with those great principles of magnanimity and wisdom which form + the basis of sound policy and durable glory. + + "May the Almighty and Merciful Sovereign of the universe keep your + majesty under his protection and guidance." + +This letter was transmitted to Mr. Pinckney, and by him sent to the +emperor, through his minister in Great Britain. "How far it operated," +says Marshall, "in mitigating immediately the rigor of Lafayette's +confinement, or in obtaining his liberation, remains unascertained." + +Washington left Philadelphia for Mount Vernon on the thirteenth of June, +accompanied by his family, and remained there about two months. During +that retirement he made his final arrangements for leaving public life +for ever at the close of his term of office, which would occur in March +following. We have observed his great reluctance to consent to a second +nomination for the chief-magistracy of the republic. The best interests +of the commonwealth seemed to require the sacrifice on his part, and it +was given, but with a full determination not to yield again, unless +there appeared greater danger hovering over his beloved country, which +his instrumentality might avert. To this determination he had adhered; +and it was always with inexpressible satisfaction that he looked forward +to the day when his public labors should cease. But, for cogent reasons, +he never made this declaration publicly, until within the last few +months of his second administration. His confidential friends well knew +his determination, however, and the people generally suspected it. +"Those who dreaded a change of system," says Marshall, "in changing the +person of the chief-magistrate, manifested an earnest desire to avoid +this hazard, by being permitted once more to offer to the public choice +a person, who, amidst all the fierce conflicts of party, still remained +the object of public veneration." But his resolution was fixed. The +safety of the nation did not, at that time, seem to require him to +remain at its head, notwithstanding there were many and great perils +besetting it; and while he was at Mount Vernon he completed the final +draft of a "Farewell Address to the people of the United States," to be +published in time for them to choose his successor at the appointed +season. + +That address had been the subject of deep and anxious thought; and, at +the special request of the president, Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton, Jay, +and perhaps others, had given him suggestions in writing, topical and +verbal. These he took with him to Mount Vernon, and in the quiet of his +library he arranged the address in proper form, using the suggestions of +Madison and Hamilton very freely. In the form in which it finally +appeared, it remains the noblest production of Washington's mind and +heart; and has been pronounced by Alison, the eminent British historian, +unequalled by any composition of uninspired wisdom. It is a political +legacy which not only the countrymen of Washington, but the inhabitants +of the civilized world ought to value as one of the most precious gifts +ever bestowed by man upon his race. It is permeated with the immortal +spirit of a true MAN, a true PATRIOT, and a true CHRISTIAN.[103] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[97] Letter to Lord Grenville. + +[98] Jefferson's Memoirs and Correspondence, iii., 330. + +[99] Mazzei was an Italian, who came to Virginia just before the War for +Independence commenced, bringing with him about a dozen experienced +grape culturists of his own country, for the purpose of attempting that +business in America, and the manufacture of wine. He formed a stock +company, of whom Mr. Jefferson was one, and a considerable sum was +raised for the undertaking. An estate adjoining Mr. Jefferson's was +purchased for the experiment, but the scheme failed. Mazzei went to +Europe as an agent of some kind for the state of Virginia, leaving his +family in America, and did not return. His wife died, and Mazzei wrote +to Mr. Jefferson for legal evidence of her death, and other important +information. In his reply, the strong language concerning political +affairs in America, which we have quoted, was incidentally used in the +conclusion. Mazzei was an ardent republican. He translated that portion +of the letter into Italian, and without asking Jefferson's permission to +do so, published it in a Florentine journal. It was republished in the +French journals, translated into English, and, about a year after it was +written, it appeared in the American federal newspapers, with, it was +alleged, many errors and interpolations. It placed Jefferson in an +unpleasant dilemma, yet he had such faith in Washington's confidence in +him, that he conceived that that great and good man would not construe +any portion of his remarks as aimed at the president, and, by the advice +of his friends, he kept silent, neither avowing or disavowing the letter +as his. It became the subject of fierce attacks for a long time, even +through the canvass in 1800, which resulted in the election of Mr. +Jefferson to the presidency of the United States. + +I have before me a caricature, published as a frontispiece to Robert G. +Harper's "Observations on the Dispute between the United States and +France," printed in 1798, in which is represented Mr. Jefferson on +bended knee before an altar, on which is a flame, fed by papers bearing +the names of _Age of Reason_, _Godwin_, _Aurora_, _Chronicle_, _J. J. +Rousseau_, _Voltaire_, _Ruins of Volney_, _Helvetius_, &c. On the short +shaft is inscribed, "ALTAR TO GALLIC DESPOTISM." It is entwined by a +serpent, who seems to be the instrument of the devil, whose horned head +is seen rising behind the platform of the altar, upon which lies sacks +for consumption, marked, _American spoliations_, _Dutch restitution_, +_Sardinia_, _Flanders_, _Venice_, _Spain_, _Plunder_, &c. Over the flame +on the altar hovers an angry American eagle, gazed upon by the +all-seeing eye. The eagle has just snatched from the hand of Mr. +Jefferson a scroll, on which is written _Constitution and Independence, +U. S. A_., that he was about to commit to the flames. From his other +hand is falling another scroll, inscribed, _To Mazzei_. The composition +is entitled, "THE PROVIDENTIAL DETECTION." + +[100] Jefferson's Memoirs and Correspondence, iii., 333. + +[101] Jefferson's Memoirs and Correspondence, iii., 336. + +[102] Sparks's "Life and Writings of Washington," xi., 137. In a note to +this letter, Mr. Sparks says: "No correspondence, after this date, +between Washington and Jefferson appears in the letter-books, except a +brief note the month following, upon an unimportant matter. It has been +reported and believed, that letters and papers, supposed to have passed +between them, or to relate to their intercourse with each other at +subsequent dates, were secretly withdrawn from the archives of Mount +Vernon, after the death of the former." + +Washington's unlimited confidence in Mr. Jefferson's sincerity appears +to have been finally shaken. In a letter to John Nicholson, in March, +1798, he said, "Nothing short of the evidence you have adduced, +corroborative of intimations which I had received long before through +another channel, could have shaken my belief in the sincerity of a +friendship which I had conceived was possessed for me by the person to +whom you allude." + +[103] The following is a copy of Washington's "Farewell Address." It was +first published in the "Philadelphia Advertiser," in September, 1796. It +occupied, in manuscript, thirty-two pages of quarto letter-paper, sewed +together as a book. + + "FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS:--The period for a new election of a + citizen, to administer the executive government of the United + States, being not far distant, and the time actually arrived, when + your thoughts must be employed in designating the person who is to + be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me proper, + especially as it may conduce to a more distinct expression of the + public voice, that I should now apprize you of the resolution I + have formed, to decline being considered among the number of those + out of whom a choice is to be made. + + "I beg you, at the same time, to do me the justice to be assured, + that this resolution has not been taken, without a strict regard to + all the considerations appertaining to the relation which binds a + dutiful citizen to his country; and that, in withdrawing the tender + of service which silence in my situation might imply, I am + influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest; no + deficiency of grateful respect for your past kindness; but am + supported by a full conviction that the step is compatible with + both. + + "The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, the office to + which your suffrages have twice called me, have been a uniform + sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of duty, and to a deference + for what appeared to be your desire. I constantly hoped, that it + would have been much earlier in my power, consistently with motives + which I was not at liberty to disregard, to return to that + retirement from which I had been reluctantly drawn. The strength of + my inclination to do this, previous to the last election, had even + led to the preparation of an address to declare it to you; but + mature reflection on the then perplexed and critical posture of our + affairs with foreign nations, and the unanimous advice of persons + entitled to my confidence, impelled me to abandon the idea. + + "I rejoice that the state of your concerns, external as well as + internal, no longer renders the pursuit of inclination incompatible + with the sentiment of duty, or propriety; and am persuaded, + whatever partiality may be retained for my services, that in the + present circumstances of our country, you will not disapprove my + determination to retire. + + "The impressions with which I first undertook the arduous trust, + were explained on the proper occasion. In the discharge of this + trust, I will only say, that I have with good intentions, + contributed towards the organization and administration of the + government, the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment + was capable. Not unconscious, in the outset, of the inferiority of + my qualifications, experience in my own eyes, perhaps still more in + the eyes of others, has strengthened the motives to diffidence of + myself; and, every day, the increasing weight of years admonishes + me more and more that the shade of retirement is as necessary to me + as it will be welcome. Satisfied that if any circumstances have + given peculiar value to my services, they were temporary, I have + the consolation to believe, that while choice and prudence invite + me to quit the political scene, patriotism does not forbid it. + + "In looking forward to the moment, which is intended to terminate + the career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to + suspend the deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude which I + owe to my beloved country, for the many honors it has conferred + upon me; still more for the steadfast confidence with which it has + supported me; and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of + manifesting my inviolable attachment, by services faithful and + persevering, though in usefulness unequal to my zeal. If benefits + have resulted to our country from these services, let it always be + remembered to your praise, and as an instructive example in our + annals, that under circumstances in which the passions, agitated in + every direction, were liable to mislead, amidst appearances + sometimes dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often discouraging, in + situations in which not infrequently want of success has + countenanced the spirit of criticism, the constancy of your support + was the essential prop of the efforts, and the guaranty of the + plans by which they were effected. Profoundly penetrated with this + idea, I shall carry it with me to my grave, as a strong incitement + to unceasing vows that Heaven may continue to you the choicest + tokens of its beneficence; that your union and brotherly affection + may be perpetual; that the free constitution, which is the work of + your hands, may be sacredly maintained; that its administration in + every department may be stamped with wisdom and virtue; that, in + fine, the happiness of the people of these states, under the + auspices of liberty, may be made complete, by so careful a + preservation, and so prudent a use of this blessing, as will + acquire to them the glory of recommending it to the applause, the + affection and the adoption of every nation which is yet a stranger + to it. + + "Here, perhaps I ought to stop. But a solicitude for your welfare, + which can not end but with my life, and the apprehension of danger, + natural to that solicitude, urge me, on an occasion like the + present, to offer to your solemn contemplation, and to recommend to + your frequent review, some sentiments, which are the result of much + reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and which appear to + me all important to the permanency of your felicity as a People. + These will be offered to you with the more freedom, as you can only + see in them the disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can + possibly have no personal motives to bias his counsel. Nor can I + forget, as an encouragement to it, your indulgent reception of my + sentiments on a former and not dissimilar occasion. Interwoven as + is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts, no + recommendation of mine is necessary to fortify or confirm the + attachment. + + "The unity of Government which constitutes you one people is also + now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the + edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity + at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of + that very Liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to + foresee, that from different causes and from different quarters, + much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in + your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in + your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and + external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often + covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that + you should properly estimate the immense value of your national + Union, to your collective and individual happiness; that you should + cherish a cordial, habitual and immovable attachment to it; + accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium + of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its + preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may + suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; and + indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to + alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble + the sacred ties which now link together the various parts. + + "For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. + Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has + a right to concentrate your affections. The name of AMERICAN, which + belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the + just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from + local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have + the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You + have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the + Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint councils + and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings, and successes. + But these considerations, however powerfully they address + themselves to your sensibility, are greatly outweighed by those + which apply more immediately to your interest. Here, every portion + of our country finds the most commanding motives for carefully + guarding and preserving the Union of the whole. + + "The _North_, in an unrestrained intercourse with the _South_, + protected by the equal laws of a common government, finds in the + productions of the latter, great additional resources of maritime + and commercial enterprise and precious materials of manufacturing + industry. The _South_ in the same intercourse, benefiting by the + agency of the _North_, sees its agriculture grow and its commerce + expand. Turning partly into its own channels the seamen of the + _North_, it finds its particular navigation invigorated; and while + it contributes, in different ways, to nourish and increase the + general mass of the national navigation, it looks forward to the + protection of a maritime strength, to which itself is unequally + adapted. The _East_, in a like intercourse with the _West_, already + finds, and in the progressive improvement of interior + communications by land and water, will more and more find, a + valuable vent for the commodities which it brings from abroad, or + manufactures at home. The _West_ derives from the _East_ supplies + requisite to its growth and comfort; and, what is perhaps of still + greater consequence, it must of necessity owe the _secure_ + enjoyment of indispensable _outlets_ for its own productions to the + weight, influence, and the future maritime strength of the Atlantic + side of the Union, directed by an indissoluble community of + interest as ONE NATION. Any other tenure by which the _West_ can + hold this essential advantage, whether derived from its own + separate strength, or from an apostate and unnatural connection + with any foreign power, must be intrinsically precarious. + + "While, then, every part of our country thus feels an immediate and + particular interest in Union, all the parties combined can not fail + to find in the united mass of means and efforts greater strength, + greater resource, proportionably greater security from external + danger, a less frequent interruption of their peace by foreign + nations; and, what is of inestimable value, they must derive from + Union an exemption from those broils and wars between themselves, + which so frequently afflict neighboring countries not tied together + by the same governments; which their own rivalships alone would be + sufficient to produce, but which, opposite foreign alliances, + attachments, and intrigues would stimulate and embitter. Hence, + likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military + establishments which, under any form of government, are + inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as + particularly hostile to Republican Liberty. In this sense it is, + that your Union ought to be considered as a main prop of your + liberty, and that the love of the one ought to endear to you the + preservation of the other. + + "These considerations speak a persuasive language to every + reflecting and virtuous mind, and exhibit the continuance of the + UNION as a primary object of patriotic desire. Is there a doubt + whether a common government can embrace so large a sphere? Let + experience solve it. To listen to mere speculation in such a case + were criminal. We are authorized to hope that a proper organization + of the whole, with the auxiliary agency of governments for the + respective subdivisions, will afford a happy issue of the + experiment. It is well worth a fair and full experiment. With such + powerful and obvious motives to Union, affecting all parts of our + country, while experience shall not have demonstrated its + impracticability, there will always be reason to distrust the + patriotism of those, who in any quarter may endeavor to weaken its + bands. + + "In contemplating the causes which may disturb our Union, it occurs + as a matter of serious concern, that any ground should have been + furnished for characterizing parties by _Geographical_ + discriminations, _northern_ and _southern_, _Atlantic_ and + _western_; whence designing men may endeavor to excite a belief + that there is a real difference of local interests and views. One + of the expedients of party to acquire influence within particular + districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other + districts. You can not shield yourselves too much against the + jealousies and heart-burnings which spring from these + misrepresentations: they tend to render alien to each other those + who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection. The + inhabitants of our western country have lately had a useful lesson + on this head: they have seen in the negotiation by the Executive, + and in the unanimous ratification by the Senate of the treaty with + Spain, and in the universal satisfaction at that event throughout + the United States, a decisive proof how unfounded were the + suspicions propagated among them of a policy in the General + Government and in the Atlantic states, unfriendly to their + interests in regard to the MISSISSIPPI: they have been witnesses to + the formation of two treaties, that with Great Britain and that + with Spain, which secure to them everything they could desire, in + respect to our foreign relations, towards confirming their + prosperity. Will it not be their wisdom to rely for the + preservation of these advantages on the UNION by which they were + procured? Will they not henceforth be deaf to those advisers, if + such there are, who would sever them from their brethren, and + connect them with aliens? + + "To the efficacy and permanency of your Union, a government for the + whole is indispensable. No alliances, however strict, between the + parts, can be an adequate substitute: they must inevitably + experience the infractions and interruptions which all alliances in + all times have experienced. Sensible of this momentous truth, you + have improved upon your first essay, by the adoption of a + Constitution of Government better calculated than your former for + an intimate union, and for the efficacious management of your + common concerns. This Government, the offspring of our own choice, + uninfluenced and unawed, adopted upon full investigation and mature + deliberation, completely free in its principles, in the + distribution of its powers, uniting security with energy, and + containing within itself a provision for its own amendment, has a + just claim to your confidence and your support. Respect for its + authority, compliance with its laws, acquiescence in its measures, + are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty. The + basis of our political systems is, the right of the people to make + and to alter their Constitutions of Government. But the + Constitution which at any time exists, till changed by an explicit + and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon + all. The very idea of the power and the right of the people to + establish Government, presupposes the duty of every individual to + obey the established Government. + + "All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations + and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real + design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular + deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are + destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. + They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and + extraordinary force; to put in the place of the delegated will of + the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and + enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the + alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public + administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous + projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and + wholesome plans, digested by common councils, and modified by + mutual interests. However combinations or associations of the above + description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, + in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by + which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to + subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the + reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines which + have lifted them to unjust dominions. + + "Towards the preservation of your government, and the permanency of + your present happy state, it is requisite, not only that you + steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged + authority, but also that you resist with care the spirit of + innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts. One + method of assault may be to effect, in the forms of the + constitution, alterations which will impair the energy of the + system, and thus to undermine what can not be directly overthrown. + In all the changes to which you may be invited, remember that time + and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character of + governments as of other human institutions; that experience is the + surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing + constitution of a country; that facility in changes upon the credit + of mere hypothesis and opinion, exposes to perpetual change from + the endless variety of hypothesis and opinion; and remember, + especially, that for the efficient management of your common + interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a government of as + much vigor as is consistent with the perfect security of liberty, + is indispensable. Liberty itself will find in such a government, + with powers properly distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian. + It is indeed little else than a name, where the government is too + feeble to withstand the enterprises of faction, to confine each + member of the society within the limits prescribed by the laws, and + to maintain all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment of the rights + of person and property. + + "I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the + state, with particular reference to the founding of them on + geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive + view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful + effects of the spirit of party, generally. This spirit, + unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in + the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different + shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled or + repressed; but in those of the popular form, it is seen in its + greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate + domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of + revenge, natural to party dissention, which, in different ages and + countries, has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a + frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and + permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result, + gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in + the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief + of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his + competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own + elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty. + + "Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which + nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and + continual mischiefs of the spirit of party, are sufficient to make + it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and + restrain it. + + "It serves always to distract the Public Councils and enfeeble the + Public Administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded + jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part + against another; foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It + opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a + facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of + party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are + subjected to the policy and will of another. + + "There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful + checks upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep + alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably + true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look + with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But + in those of a popular character, in Governments purely elective, it + is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it + is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every + salutary purpose. And, there being constant danger of excess, the + effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and + assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform + vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of + warning, it should consume. + + "It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free + country should inspire caution in those intrusted with its + administration, to confine themselves within their respective + constitutional spheres, avoiding, in the exercise of the powers of + one department, to encroach upon another. The spirit of + encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments + in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a + real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and + proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart is + sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The + necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, + by dividing and distributing it into different depositories, and + constituting each the Guardian of the Public Weal against invasions + of the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern: + some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve + them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion + of the people, the distribution or modification of the + constitutional powers be, in any particular, wrong, let it be + corrected by an amendment in the way, which the constitution + designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though + this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the + customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The + precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any + partial or transient benefit, which the use can, at any time, + yield. + + "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political + prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In + vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should + labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these + firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere + Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to + cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with + private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, Where is the + security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of + religious obligation _desert_ the oaths, which are the instruments + of investigation in Courts of Justice; and let us with caution + indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without + religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined + education on minds of peculiar structure; reason and experience + both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in + exclusion of religious principle. It is substantially true, that + virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The + rule, indeeds, extends with more or less force to every species of + free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with + indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric? + + "Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions + for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the + structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is + essential that public opinion should be enlightened. As a very + important source of strength and security, cherish public credit. + One method of preserving it is, to use it as sparingly as possible; + avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace, but + remembering, also, that timely disbursements to prepare for danger, + frequently prevent much greater disbursements to repel it; + avoiding, likewise, the accumulations of debt, not only by shunning + occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to + discharge the debts, which unavoidable wars may have occasioned, + not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burthen, which we + ourselves ought to bear. The execution of these maxims belongs to + your representatives, but it is necessary that public opinion + should co-operate. To facilitate to them the performance of their + duty, it is essential you should practically bear in mind, that + toward the payment of debts there must be Revenue; that to have + Revenue there must be taxes; that no taxes can be devised which are + not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant; that the intrinsic + embarrassments inseparable from the selection of the proper object + (which is always a choice of difficulties), ought to be a decisive + motive for a candid construction of the conduct of the government + in making it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the measures for + obtaining revenue, which the public exigencies may at any time + dictate. + + "Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations; cultivate + peace and harmony with all. Religion and Morality enjoin this + conduct; and can it be, that good policy does not equally enjoin + it? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and, at no distant + period, a great Nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too + novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and + benevolence. Who can doubt, that, in the course of time and things, + the fruits of such a plan would richly repay any temporary + advantages, that might be lost by a steady adherence to it? Can it + be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a + Nation with its Virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by + every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas! is it rendered + impossible by its vices? + + "In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential, than + that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, + and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and + that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings toward all + should be cultivated. The nation, which indulges toward another an + habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some decree a + slave. It is a slave to its animosity, or to its affection, either + of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its + interest. Antipathy in one nation against another, disposes each + more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight + causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when + accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence frequent + collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The Nation, + prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the + Government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The + Government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and + adopts, through passion, what reason would reject; at other times, + it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of + hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and + pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, + of Nations has been the victim. + + "So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one Nation for another + produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite Nation, + facilitating the allusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases + where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the + enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in + the quarrels and wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or + justification. It leads, also, to concessions to the favorite + Nation, of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to + injure the Nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting + with what ought to have been retained; and by exciting jealousy, + ill will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom + equal privileges are withheld; and it gives to ambitious, + corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the + favorite nation), facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of + their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; + gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a + commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for + public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, + corruption, or infatuation. + + "As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such + attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and + independent Patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to + tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, + to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the Public Councils! + Such an attachment of a small or weak, toward a great and powerful + nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter. Against + the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe + me, fellow-citizens), the jealousy of a free people ought to be + _constantly_ awake; since history and experience prove that foreign + influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. + But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial; else it becomes + the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a + defence against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, + and excessive dislike for another, cause those whom they actuate to + see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the + arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, who may resist the + intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and + odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence + of the people, to surrender their interests. The great rule of + conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our + commercial relations, to have with them as little _political_ + connection as possible. So far as we have already formed + engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here + let us stop. + + "Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a + very remote relation. Hence she most be engaged in frequent + controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our + concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate + ourselves, by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her + politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her + friendships or enmities. Our detached and distant situation invites + and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one + people, under an efficient government, the period is not far off, + when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we + may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality, we may at + any time resolve upon, to be scrupulously respected; when + belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions + upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we + may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall + counsel. + + "Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our + own to stand on foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny + with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity + in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or + caprice? It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent + alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as + we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as + capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold + the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, + that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let + those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my + own opinion, it is unnecessary, and would be unwise to extend them. + Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, + on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to + temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies. + + "Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by + policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy + should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor + granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural + course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the + streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing, with powers + so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the + rights of our merchants, and to enable the government to support + them, conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present + circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary, and + liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied, as experience + and circumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view, that + it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from + another; that it must pay with a portion of its independence for + whatever it may accept under that character; that, by such + acceptance, it may place itself in the condition of having given + equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with + ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than + to expect, or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It + is an illusion, which experience must cure, which a just pride + ought to discard. + + "In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and + affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and + lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the usual + current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the + course, which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. But, if I + may even flatter myself, that they may be productive of some + partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then + recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the + mischiefs of foreign intrigues, to guard against the impostures of + pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompense for the + solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated. How + far in the discharge of my official duties, I have been guided by + the principles which have been delineated, the public records and + other evidences of my conduct must witness to you and to the world. + To myself, the assurance of my own conscience, that I have at least + believed myself to be guided by them. + + "In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my Proclamation + of the twenty-second of April, 1793, is the index to my Plan. + Sanctioned by your approving voice, and by that of your + representatives in both houses of Congress, the spirit of that + measure has continually governed me, uninfluenced by any attempts + to deter or divert me from it. After deliberate examination, with + the aid of the best lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied + that our country, under all the circumstances of the case, had a + right to take, and was bound in duty and interest to take, a + neutral position. Having taken it, I determined, as far as should + depend upon me, to maintain it, with moderation, perseverance, and + firmness. + + "The considerations, which respects the right to hold this conduct, + it is not necessary, on this occasion, to detail. I will only + observe, that, according to my understanding of the matter, that + right, so far from being denied by any of the Belligerent Powers, + has been virtually admitted by all. The duty of holding a neutral + conduct may be inferred, without anything more, from the obligation + which justice and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in + which it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of + peace and amity toward other nations. The inducements of interest + for observing that conduct will best be referred to your own + reflection and experience. With me, a predominant motive has been + to endeavor to gain time to our country to settle and mature its + yet recent institutions, and to progress without interruption to + that degree of strength and consistency which is necessary to give + it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes. + + "Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am + unconscious of intentional error: I am, nevertheless, too sensible + of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed + many errors. Whatever they may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty + to avert or mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also + carry with me the hope, that my Country will never cease to view + them with indulgence; and that, after forty-five years of my life + dedicated to its service with an upright zeal, the faults of + incompetent abilities will be consigned to oblivion, as myself must + soon be to the mansions of rest. Relying on its kindness in this as + in other things, and actuated by that fervent love towards it, + which is so natural to a man, who views in it the native soil of + himself and his progenitors for several generations; I anticipate + with pleasing expectation that retreat, in which I promise myself + to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of partaking, in the + midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign influence of good laws + under a free government, the ever favorite object of my heart, and + the happy reward, as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors, and + dangers. + + "GEORGE WASHINGTON. + "UNITED STATES, + "_September 17, 1796_." + +There has been some discussion, within a few years past, concerning the +authorship of Washington's Farewell Address, it having been claimed for +General Hamilton, because a draught of it, varying but little in form +and substance from the document under that title which we have given in +the preceding pages, was found, in Hamilton's handwriting, among his +papers, soon after his death in 1804. + +The subject has been thoroughly examined by Horace Binney, Esq., of +Philadelphia, in a volume of two hundred and fifty pages, published in +the autumn of 1859. After a most searching analysis of every fact +bearing upon the subject to be found in the writings of Washington, +Madison, Hamilton, and others, he arrives at an inevitable conclusion, +which he gives in the following words:-- + + "Washington was, undoubtedly, the original designer of the Farewell + Address; and not merely by general or indefinite intimations, but + by the suggestion of perfectly definite subjects, of an end or + object, and of a general outline, the same which the paper now + exhibits. His outline did not appear so distinctly in his own plan, + because the subjects were not so arranged in it as to show that + they were all comprehended within a regular and proportional + figure; but when they came to be so arranged in the present + Address, the scope of the whole design is seen to be contained + within the limits he intended, and to fill them. The subjects were + traced by him with adequate precision, though without due + connection, with little expansion, and with little declared bearing + of the parts upon each other, or toward a common centre; but they + may now be followed with ease in their proper relations and bearing + in the finished paper, such only excepted as he gave his final + consent and approbation to exclude. + + "In the most common and prevalent sense of the word among literary + men, this may not, perhaps, be called authorship; but in the + primary etymological sense--the quality of imparting growth or + increase--there can be no doubt that it is so. By derivation from + himself, the Farewell Address speaks the very mind of Washington. + The fundamental thoughts and principles were his; but he was not + the composer or writer of the paper. + + "Hamilton was, in the prevalent literary sense, the composer and + writer of the paper. The occasional adoption of Washington's + language does not materially take from the justice of this + attribution. The new plan, the different form, proceeded from + Hamilton. He was the author of it. He put together the thoughts of + Washington in a new order, and with a new bearing; and while, as + often as he could, he used the words of Washington, his own + language was the general vehicle, both of his own thoughts, and for + the expansion and combination of Washington's thoughts. Hamilton + developed the thoughts of Washington, and corroborated + them--included several cognate subjects, and added many effective + thoughts from his own mind, and united all into one chain by the + links of his masculine logic. + + "The main trunk was Washington's; the branches were stimulated by + Hamilton; and the foliage, which was not exuberant, was altogether + his: and he, more than Washington, pruned and nipped off, with + severe discrimination, whatever was excessive--that the tree might + bear the fruits which Washington desired, and become his full and + fit representative.... + + "We have explicit authority for regarding the whole Man as + compounded of BODY, SOUL, and SPIRIT. The Farewell Address, in a + lower and figurative sense, is likewise so compounded. If these + were divisible and distributable, we might, though not with full + and exact propriety, allot the SOUL to Washington, and the SPIRIT + to Hamilton. The elementary body is Washington's, also; but + Hamilton has developed and fashioned it, and he has symmetrically + formed and arranged the members, to give combined and appropriate + action to the whole. This would point to an allotment of the soul + and the elementary body to Washington, and of the arranging, + developing, and informing spirit, to Hamilton--the same + characteristic which is found in the great works he devised for the + country, and are still the chart by which his department of the + government is ruled. + + "The Farewell Address itself, while in one respect--the question + of its authorship--it has had the fate of the _Eikon Basilike_, in + another it has been more fortunate; for no Iconoclasts has + appeared, or ever can appear, to break or mar the image and + superscription of Washington, which it bears, or to sully the + principles of the moral and political action in the government of a + nation, which are reflected from it with his entire approval, and + were, in fundamental points, dictated by himself."--_"An Inquiry + into the Formation of Washington's Farewell Address_," by Horace + Binney, page 169. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + WASHINGTON AT MOUNT VERNON--PUBLIC MATTERS CLAIM HIS + ATTENTION--MONROE AND THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT--HIS PUBLIC RECEPTION AS + MINISTER--THE DISPLAY DISAPPROVED OF AT HOME--HIS CONCESSIONS TO THE + FRENCH--HIS INDISCREET PROMISE OF PECUNIARY AID--JAY'S + MISSION--MONROE ASKS JAY FOR A COPY OF HIS TREATY FOR THE FRENCH + GOVERNMENT--JAY'S REFUSAL--MONROE OFFENDED--MISAPPREHENSION AND + RESENTMENT OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT--MONROE RECALLED--MR. PINCKNEY + HIS SUCCESSOR--MONROE'S DEFENCE--WASHINGTON'S JUSTIFICATION OF HIS + OWN COURSE. + + +As we have observed, Washington enjoyed the pleasures of retirement and +partial repose at Mount Vernon, for about two months in the summer of +1796. Yet he was not wholly free from the cares and anxieties incident +to his official station. His Farewell Address to his countrymen, as we +have seen, was then carefully prepared for the public consideration; but +subjects of more immediate importance, connected with national affairs, +demanded and received his attention. + +Jay's treaty had relieved the country from all apprehension of immediate +war with Great Britain, and, at the same time, it had increased the +unfriendly feeling between the government of the United States and that +of France. The latter had discovered that Washington's original +proclamation of neutrality, and his efforts to preserve that position +for his government, were sincere, and not, as had been hoped, mere +tricks to deceive the British cabinet; and the French Directory, and +their partisans in America, were disappointed and greatly chagrined. + +For a long time the administrators of government in France, exercising a +most intolerant and relentless despotism, had been jealous of every act +of friendship, or even of leniency performed toward Great Britain by the +Americans; and Mr. Monroe, an avowed partisan of France, was received, +at first with distrust. But with singular adroitness, discretion, and +good judgment, Monroe managed to place himself, very speedily, high in +the estimation of the government to which he was accredited. We have +already noticed, incidentally, his presentation of the American flag to +the National Convention of France, and the reciprocity of the compliment +by M. Adet, almost a year afterward. The inauguration of these +courtesies by Monroe at Paris, had been immediately followed by a public +display of national amity, in which the representative of the United +States so thoroughly committed his government to a political alliance +with France, as to make Washington's plan of neutrality appear like a +piece of diplomatic finesse. It was ordained that the American minister +should be formally received by the French government, in a public +manner. He was, accordingly, introduced into the National Convention, +where he presented a written address, glowing with the warmest +expressions of friendship for France and the French people, and +admiration of their magnanimity, their fortitude, their valor, and their +wisdom. + +To this the president of the convention replied, with even greater +enthusiasm. He alluded to the union of the two governments, as "not +merely a diplomatic alliance," but as "the sweetest, the most frank +fraternity"--"for ever indissoluble--for ever the dread of tyrants, the +safeguard of the liberties of the world, and the preserver of all the +social and philanthropic virtues. + +"In bringing to us, citizen," continued the president, "the pledge of +this union, so dear to us, you could not fail to be received with the +liveliest emotions. Five years ago, a usurper of the sovereignty of the +people would have received you with the pride which belongs to vice, +thinking it much to have given to the minister of a free people some +token of an insolent protection. But to-day, the sovereign people +themselves, by the organ of their faithful representatives, receive you; +and you see the tenderness, the effusion of soul, that accompanies the +simple and touching ceremony! I am impatient to give you the fraternal +embrace, which I am ordered to give in the name of the French people. +Come and receive it in the name of the American people, and let this +spectacle complete the annihilation of an impious coalition of tyrants." + +At this affectionate appeal Monroe stepped forward, and received the +president's "national embrace," and afterward, the warm congratulations +of the assembly. He was offered the confiscated house of one of the +nobility as a place of residence; and, for a few days, he was the idol +of the French people. Then came the less ethereal operations of the +grave business of his office; and when the pageant was all over--the +apotheosis completed--Mr. Monroe found himself afflicted with many +cares, and assailed by many annoyances. Clamorous American ship-masters +and merchants flocked to his diplomatic residence, and preferred urgent +claims; some for cargoes which they had been compelled to sell to the +French government, and some asking the liquidation of dishonored bills, +drawn by French agents in America, in payment for provision shipped to +France, or the French West Indies. In many forms complaints and claims +were made by Monroe's countrymen upon the French government, and the +minister found a host of unpleasant duties to perform, for he did not +wish to break the charm of that "sweetest, most frank fraternity," to +the preservation of which he had so recently pledged his constituents. +He, therefore, made some extraordinary concessions in relation to claims +founded on breaches of the French treaty, in the seizure of enemy's +goods in American vessels. He asked the French government to rescind the +order authorizing such seizures, not because it would be just--be in +accordance with treaty provisions--but because it would be for the +pecuniary and commercial interests of France to do so. He was even so +careful not to wound French pride, as to assure that government that he +had no instructions to complain of that order as a breach of the treaty; +and that, should it be thought productive of real benefit to France, the +American government and people would bear it, not only with patience, +but with pleasure. + +When intelligence of Monroe's theatrical performances at his reception +reached his government, it produced much mortification, and the +secretary of state, in an official letter, suggested to him that the +American cabinet expected nothing more than a private reception, and an +oral speech; and reminded him that the government he was sent to +represent was neutral, and that such a display might be offensive to +other governments, especially to those of England and Spain, with both +of whom important negotiations were then in progress. He was also +reminded that circumstances might arise, when it would be necessary "to +explain away or disavow an excess of fervor, so as to reduce it down to +the cool system of neutrality." + +The French government, evidently insincere in their "national embraces," +and believing the other party to be equally so, determined to test the +friendship of their allies. At that time the republic was heavily +pressed with pecuniary embarrassments, and the United States were asked +for a loan to relieve that pressure. Monroe, without the least particle +of authority, unhesitatingly expressed his opinion, that his government +would give to their dear ally any aid in their power to bestow; and he +suggested three sources whence money might be obtained, namely: the +separate states, the general government, and individuals. He went so far +as to enter into a formal agreement concerning the equivalent in +services, which France should give for such pecuniary aid, the most +important of which was an active alliance in seizing the western posts +still held by the British, and the conquest of the Louisiana country, +inhabited by the French and Spanish, west of the Mississippi. France was +also to assist the United States through a war with England and Spain, +if one should occur. This would practically place the American republic +in the position of an entire dependent upon the European one--a position +utterly unnecessary, and incompatible with the interests and dignity of +a free and independent nation. + +Mr. Monroe urged his government to loan France five millions of dollars, +in order to secure her good will and active alliance. But his +proposition met with no favor at home, except among the ultra partisans +of the French republic; and he was officially reminded that it had been, +and still was, the invariable policy of the president to have his +country as independent as possible of every nation upon the face of the +earth--a policy which he had pursued from the beginning; "not assumed +now for the first time, but wise at all times, and certain, if steadily +pursued, to protect his country from the effects of commotions in +Europe." + +Jay's mission, from the beginning, had produced uneasiness and distrust +in the diplomatic circles of France and Spain, and perplexed Monroe and +his political friends. Giving greater latitude to the spirit of his +instructions than their letter could possibly warrant, Monroe assured +the French government that Jay's authority was strictly limited to a +demand of reparation for injuries; and this assurance produced the +impression that Jay had no authority to conclude a treaty of navigation +and commerce. Not more than a fortnight after Monroe made these +assurances, intelligence came that a treaty of commerce had actually +been negotiated with the British government, and signed by the +contracting parties. + +Mr. Monroe's imprudence, and his zeal in the cause of France, now placed +him in an unpleasant dilemma. He received from Mr. Jay the assurance +that he would soon send him, in cipher, the principal heads of the +treaty. But that would not be sufficient to appease the offended French +government, and Mr. Monroe immediately sent a confidential person to Mr. +Jay for a complete copy of the document. "'Tis necessary to observe," he +said, "_that as nothing will satisfy this government but a copy of the +instrument itself_, and which, as our ally, it thinks itself entitled +to, so it will be useless for me to make to it any communication _short +of that_. I mention this that you may know precisely _the state of my +engagements here_, and how I deem it my duty to act under them, in +relation to _this object_." + +Mr. Jay, as in duty bound, civilly declined to send a copy of the +treaty; and in his reply to Mr. Monroe's letter, took the occasion to +give that gentleman his views on national independence and the duties of +ministers. + +"You must be sensible," he said, "that the United States, as a free and +independent nation, have an unquestionable right to make any pacific +arrangements with other powers which mutual convenience may dictate, +provided those arrangements do not interdict or oppugn their prior +engagements with other states. + +"Whether this adjustment was consistent with our treaty with France? +struck me as being the only question which would demand or receive the +consideration of that republic; and I thought it due to the friendship +subsisting between the two countries, that the French government should +have, without delay, the most perfect satisfaction on that head." He +then referred to his former communications, and gave him the following +exact and literal extract from the treaty:-- + + "Nothing in this treaty contained, shall, however, be construed or + operate contrary to former and existing public treaties with other + sovereigns or states." + +After speaking of his former intention to communicate to Mr. Monroe some +of the most interesting particulars of the treaty, "but in the most +perfect confidence," Mr. Jay continued:-- + + "As that instrument has not yet been ratified, nor received the + ultimate forms necessary to give it validity; as further questions + respecting parts of it may yet arise, and give occasion to further + discussions and negotiations, so that, if finally concluded at all, + it may then be different from what it now is, the impropriety of + making it public at present is palpable and obvious; such a + proceeding would be inconvenient and unprecedented. It does not + belong to ministers who negotiate treaties to publish them, even + when perfected, much less treaties not yet completed, and remaining + open to alteration or rejection. Such acts belong exclusively to + the governments who form them. + + "I can not but flatter myself, that the French government is too + enlightened and reasonable to expect that any consideration ought + to induce me to overleap the bounds of my authority, or to be + negligent of the respect which is due to the United States. That + respect, and my obligations to observe it, will not permit me to + give, without the permission of their government, a copy of the + instrument in question to any person, or for _any purpose_; and by + no means for the purpose of being submitted to the consideration + and judgment of the councils of a _foreign nation_, however + friendly."[104] + +Soon after this, John Trumbull, Mr. Jay's secretary of legation, was +about to pass through Paris, and he was authorized to make to Mr. Monroe +a confidential communication concerning the provisions of the treaty. +But the incensed minister refused to receive this or any communication +in a form that he could not instantly lay before the French government. +He afterward attempted to obtain a copy of the treaty from Thomas +Pinckney, who passed through Paris on his way to Spain, but that +gentleman would not betray Jay's confidence, and Monroe and the French +government were compelled to wait until the authorized publication of +the treaty the following summer. + +Mr. Monroe felt himself aggrieved by what he deemed the want of +confidence in him by the president and his cabinet, who had appointed +him. He felt that the administration had injured him; and that the honor +and credit of the United States were compromised by their refusal to +redeem his promises of aid to the French republic, their "ally and +friend." His first and natural impulse was to resign his post, but +alleged patriotic, as well as personal considerations, induced him to +remain. He held the most intimate private relations with the members of +the Committee of Public Safety and other officers of the French +government, and appears to have enjoyed their confidence while he +remained there. But, whether from his undue attachment to the French +republic, his opposition to Jay's treaty, or his mistaken notions of +American interests, Mr. Monroe appears to have done little, after his +correspondence with Mr. Jay, to allay ill feeling toward his country on +the part of the French government. He had been specially instructed, +when sent envoy to France, to explain the views and conduct of the +government of the United States in forming the treaty with England; and +for this purpose ample documents were furnished him. But it appears from +his own letters (published in his defence after his return, in +1796),[105] that he omitted to use them. Uninstructed in the truths +which should have been given them, the French government utterly +misinterpreted the actions and misconceived the views of the United +States; and when informed that the house of representatives would +execute the treaty made by Jay, they became very bitter in their +resentment, and exhibited their animosity by allowing a French privateer +to capture an American merchant-vessel. + +Washington and his cabinet were satisfied that the amity between the two +nations would be wholly destroyed, if Mr. Monroe should remain longer in +France, as the accredited representative of his government, and his +recall was resolved upon.[106] To choose a proper person required great +caution, sagacity, and discretion. It was the duty of the president to +make the choice, and to take the responsibility of his appointment, the +Congress not being in session. With great care, after consultation, he +contemplated the character of his contemporaries in public life, and +fixed upon two--John Marshall and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney--either of +whom he considered well fitted for the responsible and delicate station. +Marshall was the first choice, but private considerations compelled him +to decline, when the president addressed the following letter to Mr. +Pinckney:-- + + "The situation of affairs, and the interests of this country, as + they relate to France, render it indispensably necessary that a + faithful organ near that government, able and willing to explain + its views, and to ascertain those of France, should immediately + fill the place of our present minister plenipotentiary in Paris. + Policy requires that this character, to be essentially serviceable, + should be well attached to the government of his own country, and + not obnoxious to the one to which he is sent. Where, then, can a + man be found that would answer this description better than + yourself? + + "It is a fact too notorious to be denied, that the greatest + embarrassments under which the administration of this government + labors, proceed from the counteraction of people among ourselves, + who are more disposed to promote the views of another nation, than + to establish a national character of their own; and that, unless + the virtuous and independent men of this country will come forward, + it is not difficult to predict the consequences. Such is my decided + opinion.... + + "Had not the case been important and urgent, I might have hesitated + longer; but, in finding a character of the description I have + mentioned, you will be at no loss to perceive the difficulty which + occurs. He must be a man whose abilities and celebrity of character + are well known to the people of this country, whose honor and + integrity are unimpeached, and who ought, as far as the nature of + the case will admit, to be acceptable to all parties. Doubtless + many such there are; but those who have been either in the + legislative or executive departments of the general government, and + are best known to me, have been so decisive in their politics, and, + possibly, so frank and public in their declarations, as to render + it very difficult to choose from among them one in whom the + confidence of this country could be placed, and the prejudices of + the others not excited." + +Mr. Pinckney accepted the appointment, and made immediate preparations +for his departure for France. "Though my affairs have not, hitherto, +been arranged as I could wish them," he said in his letter of +acceptance, "the manner in which you state our political situation, and +the interests of this country as they relate to France, oblige me to +accept your appointment without hesitation. I am only apprehensive that +your friendship has been too partial to the little merit I may possess, +and that matters intrusted to me may fail through my want of ability." + +Monroe had the misfortune to lose the confidence of his own government +and that of the French republic at about the same time. Hoping that the +house of representatives would refuse to execute the British treaty, and +thus appease the French Directory, he had been quiet for some time, +when, in February, 1796, he received a communication from De La Croix, +the French minister for foreign affairs, informing him, that since the +ratification of Jay's treaty, the Directory considered the alliance +between France and the United States at an end; that Adet was to be +recalled, and a special minister was to be sent out to make the +announcement, and act as agent for his government. It was intimated, +too, that Monroe could not fulfil the promises he had made, and that all +the assurances of his inaugural as minister were fallacious. Monroe +remonstrated, and in a special interview with the Directory, professed +his willingness to answer all objections that might be made against the +treaty. He was soon afterward furnished with a report on the subject of +American relations, signed by De La Croix, in which the government was +charged with the non-execution of treaty obligations, in several +particulars. To these charges Monroe made a reply, which Washington +considered very satisfactory: but it did not change the course of the +Directory; and in the autumn they issued an "_arret_," ordering the +seizure of British property found on board American vessels, and of +provisions bound for England. This was a direct violation of the +provisions of the treaty between the United States and France, and +exhibited a disposition decidedly hostile. + +This correspondence reached the president soon after his appointment of +Pinckney as Monroe's successor; and a little later he received a letter +from Mr. Monroe, written in cipher, on the twenty-fourth of March, which +had been unaccountably delayed in its transmission. In that +communication Monroe took occasion to say, that a long, private letter, +written by Washington to Gouverneur Morris toward the close of December, +1795, had got into the hands of the French Directory, and produced an +ill effect. Washington replied to this letter on the twenty-fifth of +August. He acknowledged the genuineness of the letter; "but," he said, +"I deny that there is anything contained in it that the French +government could take exception to, unless the expression of an ardent +wish that the United States might remain in peace with all the world, +taking no part in the disputes of any part of it, should have produced +this effect. I also gave it as my further opinion, that the sentiments +of the mass of citizens in this country were in unison with mine. + +"Confidential as this letter was expected to be, I have no objection to +its being seen by anybody; and there is some mistake in saying I had no +copy thereof, when there is a press one now before me, in which I +discover no expression that in the eye of liberality and candor would be +deemed objectionable." + +After summing up the substance of his letter, Washington said, in +conclusion: "My conduct in public and private life, as it relates to the +important struggle in which the latter nation is engaged, has been +uniform from the commencement of it, and may be summed up in a few +words: that I have always wished well to the French Revolution; that I +have always given it as my decided opinion, that no nation had a right +to intermeddle in the internal concerns of another; that every one had a +right to form and adopt whatever government they like best to live under +themselves; and that, if this country could, consistently with its +engagements, maintain a strict neutrality, and thereby preserve peace, +it was bound to do so by motives of policy, interest, and every other +consideration that ought to actuate a people situated as we are, already +deeply in debt, and in a convalescent state from the struggle we have +been engaged in ourselves. + +"On these principles I have steadily and uniformly proceeded, bidding +defiance to calumnies calculated to sow seeds of distrust in the French +nation, and to excite their belief of an influence possessed by Great +Britain in the councils of this country, than which nothing is more +unfounded and injurious." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[104] Letter of Jay to Monroe, dated February 5, 1795.--Life and +Writings of John Jay, vol. i., page 336. + +[105] Entitled "A View of the Conduct of the Executive of the United +States, connected with the Mission to the French Republic, during the +Years 1794, '5, & '6." + +[106] Washington asked the opinion of his cabinet on the subject of a +change of ministers, and at a meeting on the second of July, the three +secretaries, Pickering, Wolcott, and M'Henry, addressed a letter to him, +in which they said:-- + + "On the expediency of this change we are agreed. We think the great + interests of the United States require, that they have near the + French government some faithful organ to explain their real views, + and to ascertain those of the French. Our duty obliges us to be + explicit. Although the present minister plenipotentiary of the + United States at Paris has been amply furnished with documents, to + explain the views and conduct of the United States, yet his own + letters authorize us to say, that he has omitted to use them, and + thereby exposed the United States to all the mischiefs which could + flow from jealous and erroneous conceptions of their views and + conduct. Whether this dangerous omission arose from such an + attachment to the cause of France as rendered him too little + mindful of the interests of his own country, or from mistaken views + of the latter, or from any other cause, the evil is the same. We, + therefore, conceive it to be indispensably necessary, that the + present minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Paris + should be recalled, and another American citizen appointed in his + stead.... In confirmation of our opinion of the expediency of + recalling Mr. Monroe, we think the occasion requires that we + communicate a private letter from him, which came to our hands + since you left Philadelphia. This letter corresponds with other + intelligence of his political opinions and conduct. A minister who + has thus made the notorious enemies of the whole system of + government his confidential correspondents in matters which affect + that government, can not be relied on to do his duty to the latter. + This private letter we received in confidence. Among other + circumstances that will occur to your recollection, the anonymous + letters from France to Thomas Blount and others are very + noticeable. We know that Montflorence was the writer, and that he + was the chancellor of the consul Skipwith; and, from the connection + of Mr. Monroe with those persons, we can entertain no doubt the + anonymous letters were written with his privity. + + "These anonymous communications from officers of the United States + in a foreign country, on matters of a public nature, and which + deeply concern the interests of the United States in relation to + that foreign country, are proofs of sinister designs, and show that + the public interests are no longer safe in the hands of such men." + +The attorney-general, in his letter to the president, said: "I have +formed an opinion that our minister plenipotentiary at Paris ought not +to be permitted to continue there any longer, than until the arrival of +his successor; and that it is not only expedient, but absolutely +necessary, that he should be immediately recalled, and another minister +appointed. Upon this subject I concur in sentiment with the heads of +departments, as expressed in their letter of the second instant." + +The attorney-general then gave, as reasons for his opinion--First, that +"from his letters in the office of the department of state, it appears +he has neglected or failed to justify, or truly represent, to the +republic of France the conduct and motives of his own country, relative +to the treaty with Great Britain." Secondly, that "his correspondence +with the executive of the United States has been, and is, infrequent, +unsatisfactory, reserved, and without cordiality or confidence on his +part." + +"I might add other reasons, if they were necessary," continued the +attorney-general; "for instance, that he corresponds less confidentially +with the executive of the United States, than with the opposers and +libellers of his administration; and that there is too much reason to +believe he is furthering the views of a faction in America, more than +the peace and happiness of the United States." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION APPROACHING--METHOD OF ELECTION--MEASURES OF + POLITICAL PARTIES--SPURIOUS LETTERS REPUBLISHED--WASHINGTON'S + FAREWELL ADDRESS PUBLISHED--RECEPTION OF THE ADDRESS--AFFECTION OF + THE PEOPLE--CANDIDATES FOR THE PRESIDENCY--COCKADE + PROCLAMATION--ADET'S CHARGES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT--APPEAL TO THE + PASSIONS--MEETING OF CONGRESS--THE PRESIDENT'S LAST ANNUAL + MESSAGE--ITS RECOMMENDATIONS--MILITARY ACADEMY--WEST + POINT--RELATIONS WITH FRANCE--ANSWER OF THE TWO HOUSES OF + CONGRESS--PRAISE OF WASHINGTON AND HIS ADMINISTRATION OPPOSED--HIS + FRIENDS IN A LARGE MAJORITY--PERSONAL ABUSE--MALIGNANT LETTER FROM + THOMAS PAINE, AND ADET'S PAMPHLET--WASHINGTON'S REMARKS ON THEIR + PUBLICATION. + + +The appointed hour for a new presidential election was now drawing near. +At that time no nomination for chief-magistrate was formally made, nor +officially announced. The letter of the constitution was adhered to, and +the people were called upon to choose electors only, who, when they +should meet at the time specified by the constitution, should ballot for +whomsoever they pleased for president. Yet the politicians and the +leaders of parties in the Congress usually held up to the view of the +people candidates who afterward received the consideration of the +electoral college. The electors were therefore chosen in reference, +first, to their partisan character, and secondly, to their partiality to +some particular man prominent in the political field. + +It was well known to Washington's more intimate friends, that he would +not consent to re-election. His reserve on that subject, and the long +delay in making a public announcement of his intention to retire to +private life puzzled the politicians. The president's political enemies +were more active than ever. We have already noticed the publication of +certain queries proposed by Washington to his cabinet, respecting the +reception of Genet, by which it was hoped to prejudice him in the +public mind by proving, by implication, his hostility to France. Another +weapon used by his unscrupulous enemies, for the purpose of degrading +him in the eyes of the American people, was the republication of a +series of spurious letters, purporting to have been written by +Washington. They were first published in London, in 1777, and +republished in Rivington's _Royal Gazette_, in February, 1778. These +letters, it was charged, were written by Washington from the army to +members of his family, in which he expressed private views of public +affairs quite inconsistent with his acts as commander-in-chief, or his +professions as a patriot. It was alleged that Billy, his body-servant, +had been captured, and that these letters, or copies of them, were found +in a portmanteau in the servant's possession. But the original +fabricator of the letters missed his aim. It was well known that Billy +had never been in the hands of the enemy;[107] and, in a short time, this +attempt to injure Washington was forgotten, and the letters were buried +in oblivion. But the hyena of political partisanship dragged them from +the grave almost twenty years later, and they were republished with a +new title,[108] and put forth as genuine, very soon after the appearance +of two volumes of Washington's official letters, which had been copied, +by permission, in the office of the secretary of state, carried to +London, and there printed. + +In order to give more force to the intended effect of these spurious +letters, a preface to the new edition was carefully written, which +contained the following paragraph:-- + + "Since the publication of the two volumes of General Washington's + 'Original Letters to the Congress,' the editor has been repeatedly + applied to for the general's 'Domestic and Confidential Epistles,' + first published soon after the beginning of the American war. These + epistles are here offered to the public, together with a copious + appendix, containing a number of official letters and papers, not + to be found in the general's original letters above noticed; but + the collection must certainly be looked upon as in a mutilated + state, so long as it remains unaccompanied with the epistles, etc., + which are now respectfully submitted to the patronage of the + public, and which form a supplement absolutely necessary to make + the work complete. That this collection of 'Domestic and + Confidential Epistles' will be regarded as a valuable acquisition + by a very great majority of the citizens of the United States, is + presumable from the prevailing taste of all well-informed people. + Men not precluded by ignorance from every degree of literary + curiosity, will always feel a solicitude to become acquainted with + whatever may serve to throw light on illustrious personages. + History represents them acting on the stage of the world, courting + the applause of mankind. To see them in their real character we + must follow them behind the scenes, among their private connections + and domestic concerns." + +Nothing in our modern political warfare has equalled, in meanness and +moral turpitude, this assassin-stab at the character of a public man. +Washington, with proper dignity, treated it as he had done other +slanders, with that contemptuous silence which it deserved. But that +very silence was construed into an acknowledgment of the truth of the +words of the calumny. "The malignant commentators on this spurious +text," says Marshall, "would not admit the possibility of its being +apocryphal." + +While political and partisan abuse was pouring most copiously upon the +head of the president, his Farewell Address appeared. It was published, +as we have seen, at about the middle of September, and produced a great +sensation throughout the country. The ribald voice of party-spirit was +for a moment subdued in tone, if not silenced, for it was deprived of +the theme of Washington's renomination, which had been a convenient +excuse for attacks upon his character. In every part of the Union +sentiments of veneration for the author were manifested. Some of the +state legislatures directed the address to be entered at large upon +their journals. It was published in every newspaper in the land, and in +many of those in foreign countries; and in legislative bodies and social +and diplomatic circles abroad, it was for some time a fruitful topic of +remark. From the time of its publication until the expiration of the +term of his presidency, Washington received public addresses from all +the state legislatures which were convened within that period. Many +public bodies, also, addressed him with affectionate words, expressing +cordial approbation of his conduct during the eight years that he had +filled the office of chief-magistrate of the nation.[109] + +Already the strong hold which his person and character had taken of the +affections of his countrymen had been fully evinced. Names of men having +great political influence had been held up to the people in several +states as his successor, but were not satisfactory. "In districts where +the opposition to his administration was most powerful," says Marshall, +"where all his measures were most loudly condemned; where those who +approved his system possessed least influence; the men who appeared to +control public opinion on every other subject found themselves unable to +move it on this. Even the most popular among the leaders of the +opposition were reduced to the necessity of surrendering their +pretensions to a place in the electoral body, or of pledging themselves +to bestow their suffrages on the actual president. The determination of +his fellow-citizens had been unequivocally manifested, and it was +believed to be apparent that the election would again be unanimous, when +he announced his resolution to withdraw from the honors and the toils of +office." + +"The president declining to be again elected," wrote Oliver Wolcott, +"constitutes a most important epoch in our national affairs. The country +meet the event with reluctance, but they do not feel that they can make +any claim for the further services of a man who has conducted their +armies through a successful war; has so largely contributed to establish +a national government; has so long presided over our councils and +directed the public administration, and in the most advantageous manner +settled all national differences, and who can leave the administration +when nothing but our folly and internal discord can render the country +otherwise than happy." + +The federalists and republicans now marshalled their forces for the +election. Their respective chiefs were brought forward. John Adams, +whose official station placed him in the line of promotion, and whose +public services, ability, and sterling integrity were well known to the +nation, was the choice of the federalists for the presidency, and Thomas +Pinckney, the accomplished diplomat, for the vice-presidency. The +republican party chose Mr. Jefferson, to use a modern political phrase, +as their standard-bearer. With these names as watchwords, the party +leaders went into the contest for presidential electors in November. +That contest was warm in every doubtful state. The parties seemed +equally balanced, and the final result of the action of the electoral +college, unlike the operations of the canvass in our day, could not be +determined beforehand. + +While the canvass was in progress, Adet, the French minister, imitating +Genet, attempted to influence the political action of the American +people. The British treaty, the recall of Monroe, and the appointment of +Pinckney as his successor at Paris, offended him, and a few weeks after +the departure of Pinckney, he made a formal communication of the decree +of his government, already mentioned, which evinced a spirit of +hostility. In his accompanying letter he entered into an elaborate +defence of the decree, and renewed complaints which he had before urged, +that British ships-of-war were allowed to recruit their crews by +pressing into their service sailors from American vessels. Further +imitating Genet, by appealing to the people, Adet sent his communication +to be printed in the _Aurora_, at the same time that it was forwarded to +the state department. This was followed, in the course of a few days, by +a proclamation, signed by Adet, calling upon all Frenchmen residing in +America, in the name of the French Directory, to wear the tri-colored +cockade, which he termed "the symbol of a liberty the fruit of eight +years' toil and five years' victories;" and assured those he addressed, +that any Frenchman who should hesitate to comply, should not be allowed +the aid of French consular chanceries, or the national protection. +Immediately after this "cockade proclamation" was issued, that token of +attachment to the French republic abounded. It was worn by many +Americans as well as Frenchmen, and it became the badge of party +distinction for several years. + +Adet followed up his proclamation by another missile, sent +simultaneously to the state department and the _Aurora_, demanding "the +execution of that contract [treaty of 1778] which assured to the United +States their existence, and which France regarded as the pledge of the +most sacred union between two people, the freest upon earth." He assumed +that his government was "terrible to its enemies, but generous to its +allies," and prefaced his summary of alleged violations of the +international compact, by a flourish of rhetoric intended to impress the +American people. + +"When Europe rose up against the republic, at its birth," he said, "and +menaced it with all the horrors of famine; when on every side France +could not calculate on any but enemies, their thoughts turned toward +America, and a sweet sentiment then mingled itself with those proud +feelings which the presence of danger, and the desire of repelling it, +produced in their hearts. In Americans they saw friends. Those who went +to brave tempests and death upon the ocean, forgot all dangers in order +to indulge the hope of visiting that American continent where, for the +first time, the French colors had been displayed in favor of liberty. +Under the guaranty of the law of nations, under the protecting shade of +a solemn treaty, they expected to find in the ports of the United States +an asylum as sure as at home; they thought, if I may use the expression, +there to find a second country. The French government thought as they +did. O hope worthy of a faithful people, how hast thou been deceived! +So far from offering the French the succors which friendship might have +given without compromising itself, the American government, in this +respect, violated the obligations of treaties." + +This exordium was followed by a summary of instances of bad faith on the +part of the United States, beginning, as he said, with the president's +"insidious proclamation of neutrality," and aggravated by the late +treaty with Great Britain. Adet announced the fact that the French +Directory, as an expression of their dissatisfaction with what they +considered equivalent to a treaty of alliance between the United States +and Great Britain, had given him orders to suspend his ministerial +functions, and to return home. "But the cause," he added, "which had so +long restrained the just resentment of the executive directory from +bursting forth, now tempered its effects. The name of America, +notwithstanding the wrongs of its government, still excited sweet +emotions in the hearts of Frenchmen; and the executive directory wished +not to break with a people whom they loved to salute with the +appellation of a friend." Therefore, the suspension of his functions was +not to be regarded as a rupture between France and the United States, +but as a mark of just discontent, which was to last until the government +of the United States "returned to sentiments and to measures more +conformable to the interests of the alliance, and to the sworn +friendship between the two nations." + +This extraordinary letter closed with the following peroration, intended +to stimulate the anti-British feeling among the Americans, and to +influence the action of the electoral college in their choice of +chief-magistrate of the republic:-- + + "Alas! time has not yet demolished the fortifications with which + the English roughened this country, nor those the Americans raised + for their defence; their half-rounded summits still appear in every + quarter, amid plains, on the tops of mountains. The traveller need + not search for the ditch which served to encompass them; it is + still open under his feet. Scattered ruins of houses laid waste, + which the fire had partly respected, in order to leave monuments + of British fury, are still to be found. Men still exist who can + say, 'Here a ferocious Englishman slaughtered my mother; there my + wife tore her bleeding daughter from the hands of an unbridled + Englishman!' Alas! the soldiers who fell under the sword of the + Britons are not yet reduced to dust; the laborer, in turning up his + fields, still draws from the bosom of the earth their whitened + bones, while the ploughman, with tears of tenderness and gratitude, + still recollects that his fields, now covered with rich harvests, + have been moistened with French blood; while everything around the + inhabitants of this country animates them to speak of the tyranny + of Great Britain, and of the generosity of Frenchmen; when England + had declared a war of death, to revenge herself on France for + having consecrated with her blood the independence of the United + States; at such a moment their government makes a treaty of amity + with their ancient tyrant, the implacable enemy of their ancient + ally! O Americans! covered with noble scars! O you, who have so + often flown to death and to victory with French soldiers! you who + know those genuine sentiments which distinguish the true warrior! + whose hearts have always vibrated with those of your companions in + arms! consult them to-day to know what they experience. Recollect, + also, that magnanimous souls, if they resent an affront with + liveliness, know also how to forget one. Let your government return + to itself, and you will still find in Frenchmen faithful friends + and generous allies!" + +The second session of the fourth Congress convened on the fifth of +December, and Washington met both houses, for the last time, on the +seventh. His message was short, but comprehensive, dignified, and +temperate. He took a general view of the condition of the country, in +which he adverted to the existing relations with the Indians; the delay +in delivering up the western posts, according to the provisions of Jay's +treaty; the proceedings of the commissioners to determine the +northeastern boundary of the United States; the action of other +commissioners under the treaty; the appointment of agents to reside in +Great Britain and the West Indies, "for the protection and relief of +American seamen;" and the relations with Algiers. He urged an increase +of the naval force of the United States as indispensable. "It is in our +own experience," he said, "that the most sincere neutrality is not a +sufficient guard against the depredations of nations at war. To secure +respect to a neutral flag requires a naval force, organized and ready to +vindicate it from insult or aggression. This may even prevent the +necessity of going to war, by discouraging belligerent powers from +committing such violations of the rights of the neutral party, as may, +first or last, leave no other option." He advised them to "begin, +without delay, to provide and lay up the materials for the building and +equipping of ships-of-war," and to be prepared for all future +contingencies. + +He urged upon them the importance of measures for fostering and +encouraging domestic manufactures, especially those articles which might +be needed in the event of war. "Ought our country," he said, "to remain +in such cases dependent on foreign supply, precarious, because liable to +be interrupted? If the necessary articles should, in this mode, cost +more in time of peace, will not the security and independence thence +arising form an ample compensation?" + +He also recommended the fostering care of the government in promoting +agriculture, the predominant interest of the country. "In proportion as +nations advance in population and other circumstances of maturity," he +said, "this truth becomes more apparent, and renders the cultivation of +the soil more an object of public patronage. Institutions grow up +supported by the public purse; and to what object can it be dedicated +with greater propriety?" + +He again urged the expediency of establishing a national university and +a military academy. "However pacific the general policy of the nation +may be," he said, in reference to the military school, "it ought never +to be without an adequate stock of military knowledge for emergencies. +The first would impair the energies of its character, and both would +hazard its safety, or expose it to greater evils when war could not be +avoided. Besides, that war might not depend upon its own choice. In +proportion as the observance of pacific maxims might exempt a nation +from the necessity of practising the rules of the military art, ought to +be its care in preserving and transmitting, by proper establishments, +the knowledge of that art. Whatever argument may be drawn from +particular examples, superficially viewed, a thorough examination of the +subject will evince, that the art of war is at once comprehensive and +complicated; that it demands much previous study; and that the +possession of it in its most improved and perfect state, is always of +great moment to the security of a nation. This, therefore, ought to be a +serious care of every government." These and former suggestions on this +subject made by Washington, were finally acted upon by the Congress, and +in March, 1802, an act was passed for the establishment of such an +institution at West Point, in the Hudson Highlands.[110] But little was +done, however, until the breaking out of war, in 1812, when a corps of +professors was appointed, and the institution was organized. + +Washington made the following temperate remarks, in his message, +concerning the disputes with France: "While, in our external relations, +some serious inconveniences and embarrassments have been overcome, and +others lessened, it is with much pain and deep regret I mention, that +circumstances of a very unwelcome nature have lately occurred. Our trade +has suffered, and is suffering, extensive injuries in the West Indies, +from the cruisers and agents of the French republic; and communications +have been received from its minister here, which indicate the danger of +a further disturbance of our commerce by its authority; and which are, +in other respects, far from agreeable. It has been my constant, sincere, +and earnest wish, in conformity with that of our nation, to maintain +cordial harmony, and a perfect friendly understanding with that +republic. The wish remains unabated; and I shall persevere in the +endeavor to fulfil it, to the utmost extent of what shall be consistent +with a just and indispensable regard to the rights and honor of our +country; nor will I easily cease to cherish the expectation, that a +spirit of justice, candor, and friendship, on the part of the republic, +will eventually insure success. In pursuing this course, however, I can +not forget what is due to the character of our government and nation; or +to a full and entire confidence in the good sense, patriotism, +self-respect, and fortitude of my countrymen." + +In conclusion Washington observed: "The situation in which I now stand, +for the last time, in the midst of the representatives of the people of +the United States, naturally recalls the period when the administration +of the present form of government commenced; and I can not omit the +occasion to congratulate you, and my country, on the success of the +experiment, nor to repeat my fervent supplication to the Supreme Ruler +of the Universe, and Sovereign Arbiter of Nations, that his providential +care may still be extended to the United States; that the virtue and +happiness of the people may be preserved; and that the government which +they have instituted for the protection of their liberties may be +perpetual." + +The answer of the senate to this speech embraced all of its topics, and +approved every sentiment it contained. After alluding to the prosperous +condition of the United States, especially in their domestic relations, +the senate said: "While contemplating the causes that produce this +auspicious result, we must acknowledge the excellence of the +constitutional system, and the wisdom of the legislative provisions; but +we should be deficient in gratitude and justice, did we not attribute a +great portion of these advantages to the virtue, firmness, and talents +of your administration, which have been conspicuously displayed in the +most trying times, and on the most critical occasions: it is, therefore, +with the sincerest regrets that we now receive an official notification +of your intentions to retire from the public employments of your +country. + +"When we review the various scenes of your public life, so long and so +successfully devoted to the most arduous services, civil and military, +as well during the struggles of the American Revolution as the +convulsive periods of a recent date, we can not look forward to your +retirement without our warmest affections and most anxious regards +accompanying you; and without mingling, with our fellow-citizens at +large, in the sincerest wishes for your personal happiness that +sensibility and attachment can express. The most effectual consolation +that can offer for the loss we are about to sustain, arises from the +animating reflection that the influence of your example will extend to +your successors, and the United States will thus continue to enjoy an +able, upright, and energetic administration." + +The reply of the house was equally warm in personal compliments. "We +have ever concurred with you," they said, "in the most sincere and +uniform disposition to preserve our neutral relations inviolate, and it +is, of course, with anxiety and deep regret we hear that any +interruption of our harmony with the French republic has occurred; for +we feel, with you and with our constituents, the cordial and unabated +wish to maintain a perfect friendly understanding with that nation. Your +endeavors to fulfil that wish, and by all honorable means to preserve +peace, and to restore that harmony and affection which have heretofore +so happily subsisted between the French republic and the United States, +can not fail, therefore, to interest our attention. And while we +participate in the full reliance you have expressed in the patriotism, +self-respect, and fortitude of our countrymen, we cherish the pleasing +hope that a mutual spirit of justice and moderation will insure the +success of your perseverance. + +"When we advert to the internal situation of the United States," they +continued, "we deem it equally natural and becoming to compare the +present period with that immediately antecedent to the operation of the +government, and to contrast it with the calamities in which the state of +war still involves several of the European nations, as the reflections +deduced from both tend to justify as well as to excite a warmer +admiration of our free constitution, and to exalt our minds to a more +fervent and grateful sense of piety toward Almighty God for the +beneficence of his providence, by which its administration has been +hitherto so remarkably distinguished. + +"And while we entertain a grateful conviction that your wise, firm, and +patriotic administration has been signally conducive to the success of +the present form of government, we can not forbear to express the deep +sensations of regret with which we contemplate your intended retirement +from office. + +"As no other suitable occasion may occur, we can not suffer the present +to pass without attempting to disclose some of the emotions which it can +not fail to awaken. The gratitude and admiration of your countrymen are +still drawn to the recollection of those resplendent virtues and talents +which were so eminently instrumental to the achievements of the +Revolution, and of which that glorious event will ever be the memorial. +Your obedience to the voice of duty and your country, when you quitted, +reluctantly, a second time, the retreat you had chosen, and accepted the +presidency, afforded a new proof of the devotedness of your zeal in its +service, and an earnest of the patriotism and success which have +characterized your administration. As the grateful confidence of the +citizens in the virtues of their chief-magistrate has essentially +contributed to that success, we persuade ourselves that the millions +whom we represent participate with us in the anxious solicitude of the +present occasion. + +"Yet we can not be unmindful that your moderation and magnanimity, twice +displayed, by retiring from your exalted stations, afford examples no +less rare and instructive to mankind, than valuable to a republic. +Although we are sensible that this event, of itself, completes the +lustre of a character already conspicuously unrivalled by the +coincidence of virtue, talents, success, and public estimation; yet we +conceive we owe it to you, sir, and still more emphatically to +ourselves, and to our nation (of the language of whose hearts we presume +to think ourselves, at this moment, the faithful interpreters), to +express the sentiments with which it is contemplated. + +"The spectacle of a free and enlightened nation offering, by its +representatives, the tribute of unfeigned approbation to its First +Citizen, however novel and interesting it may be, derives all its lustre +(a lustre which accident or enthusiasm could not bestow, and which +adulation would tarnish) from the transcendent merit of which it is the +voluntary testimony. + +"May you long enjoy that liberty which is so dear to you, and to which +your name will ever be so dear; may your own virtues and a nation's +prayers obtain the happiest sunshine for the decline of your days, and +the choicest of future blessings. For our country's sake, for the sake +of republican liberty, it is our earnest wish that your example may be +the guide of your successors; and thus, after being the ornament and +safeguard of the present age, become the patrimony of our descendants." + +When the committee presented this address to the house, some of the more +zealous of the opposition, among whom was Mr. Giles, of Virginia, warmly +opposed it. He moved that the whole of it in which the character and +influence of the president were eulogized should be expunged. He +expressed his belief that the _want_ of "wisdom and firmness" in the +administration had conducted the affairs of the nation to a crisis which +threatened greater calamities than any that had before occurred. He did +not regret the president's retiring from office. He hoped he would do +so, and enjoy the happiness that awaited him in retirement. He believed +that it would more conduce to that happiness that he should retire, than +if he should remain in office. He believed that the government of the +United States, founded on the broad basis of the people, required no +single man to administer it. The people were competent to manage +governmental affairs; and they would be in a calamitous situation +indeed, if one man were essential to the existence of the government. He +believed that there were a thousand men in the United States capable of +filling the presidential chair, and he was willing to trust to the +discernment of the people in making a proper choice. Though the voice of +all America should declare the president's retiring a calamity, he could +not join in the declaration, because he did not conceive it to be a +misfortune. He had always, he said, disapproved of the measures of the +administration in regard to foreign relations, and so had many members +of the house, and he should not now disavow former opinions, without +being first convinced of having been in error. He perceived more cause +than ever for adhering to his old opinions. The course of events had +pointed out their propriety; and, if he was not much mistaken, a crisis +was at hand which would confirm them. He desired gentlemen who were +willing to compliment the president to have some respect for the +feelings of others. + +The administration party in the house strenuously opposed the motion to +expunge. They admitted that there might be many who were able to fill +the presidential chair with equal ability with Washington, but there was +not one who possessed, in a similar degree, the confidence of the +people. The regrets of his constituents, because of his proposed +retirement, had been expressed in every part of the Union, and the voice +of the people coincided with the sentiments of the address. The motion +to expunge was lost by a large majority. Only twelve members recorded +themselves in the affirmative, among whom was Andrew Jackson, who had +just taken his seat in the house, as a representative of Tennessee. + +While Adet was fulminating his thunders against the administration, and +the opposition in the house were doing all in their power to injure the +president, the _Aurora_ newspaper was pouring out its venom with +increased malignity. "If ever a nation was debauched by a man," said a +correspondent of that paper, on the twenty-third of December, "the +American nation has been debauched by Washington. If ever a nation was +deceived by a man, the American nation has been deceived by Washington. +Let his conduct, then, be an example to future ages. Let it serve to be +a warning that no man may be an idol. Let the history of the federal +government instruct mankind, that the mask of patriotism may be worn to +conceal the foulest designs against the liberties of the people." + +At about the same time, a malignant pamphlet, in the form of a letter +from Thomas Paine to Washington, was issued from the office of the +_Aurora_. Paine had been a member of the National Assembly of France, +and thrown into prison. Application had been made to the United States +government for his release, but, as in the case of Lafayette, it could +do nothing. This seeming neglect kindled the ire of Paine, who had, at +this time, become an habitual drunkard. He had, in consequence, also +become morose in disposition, and dogmatical in his opinions to an +insufferable degree. Monroe sympathized with him; and under his roof, in +Paris, Paine wrote the virulent letter alluded to, and sent it to Bache, +of the _Aurora_, to print and disseminate. The following extract will be +sufficient to exhibit its tone and temper:-- + + "The part I acted in the American Revolution is well known; I shall + not here repeat it. I know, also, that had it not been for the aid + received from France in men, money, and ships, that your cold and + unmilitary conduct (as I shall show in the course of this letter) + would, in all probability, have lost America; at least she would + not have been the independent nation she now is. You slept away + your time in the field till the finances of the country were + completely exhausted, and you have but little share in the glory of + the final event. It is time, sir, to speak the undisguised language + of historical truth. + + "Elevated to the chair of the presidency, you assumed the merit of + everything to yourself, and the natural ingratitude of your + constitution began to appear. You commenced your presidential + career by encouraging and swallowing the grossest adulation; and + you travelled America, from one end to the other, to put yourself + in the way of receiving it. You have as many addresses in your + chest as James the Second. As to what were your views (for if you + are not great enough to have ambition, you are little enough to + have vanity) they can not be directly inferred from expressions of + your own; but the partisans of your politics have divulged the + secret." + +How false and malignant are the assertions in this paragraph (which is a +fair specimen of the whole letter), the readers of these volumes well +know. It appears strange that a gentleman like Monroe, who was afterward +an honored chief-magistrate of the republic, should have been so +infatuated as to allow such a libel to go from under his roof. + +The _Aurora_ press also issued a pamphlet at this time, entitled "Notes +from Citizen Adet, Minister Plenipotentiary of the French Republic near +the United States of America, to the Secretary of State of the United +States." It was printed in French, with an English translation facing +each page. It contained the correspondence to which we have alluded, and +occupied, in the two languages, ninety-five pages. In reference to this +pamphlet, Washington wrote to his friend, Doctor Stuart, early in +January:-- + + "As to what effect M. Adet's conduct has had, or will have, on the + public mind, you can form a better opinion than myself. One of the + objects which he had in view, in timing the publication, is too + apparent to require explanation. Some of his own zealots do not + scruple to confess that he has been too precipitate, and thereby + injured the cause he meant to enforce; which is to establish such + an influence in this country as to sway the government, and to + control its measures. Evidences of this design are abundant, and + new proofs are exhibiting themselves to illustrate the fact; and + yet, lamentable thought! a large party, under real or pretended + fears of British influence, are moving heaven and earth to aid him + in his designs. It is a fact well known, for history proves it, + that from the restless temper of the French, and the policy of that + nation, they attempt openly or covertly, by threats or soothing + professions, to influence the conduct of most governments. That + they have attempted it with us a little time will show. But, + finding that a neutral conduct had been adopted, and would not be + relinquished by those who administered the government, the next + step was to try the people; and to work upon them, several presses + and many scribblers have been employed to emblazon the improper + acts of the British government and its officers, and to place them + in all the most exaggerated and odious points of view of which they + were susceptible; to complain that there was not only a deficiency + of friendship, but a want of justice also, in the executive toward + France, the cause of which, say they, is to be found in a + predilection for Great Britain. This not working so well as was + expected, from a supposition that there was too much confidence in, + and, perhaps, personal regard for, the present chief-magistrate + and his politics, the batteries latterly have been levelled at him + particularly and personally. Although he is soon to become a + private citizen, his opinions are to be knocked down, and his + character reduced as low as they are capable of sinking it, even by + resorting to absolute falsehoods. As an evidence whereof, and of + the plan they are pursuing, I send you a letter from Mr. Paine to + me, printed in this city, and disseminated with great industry. + Others of a similar nature are also in circulation. + + "To what lengths the French Directory will ultimately go, it is + difficult to say; but, that they have been led to the present point + by our own people, I have no doubt. Whether some, who have done + this, would choose to accompany them any further or not, I shall + not undertake to decide. But I shall be mistaken if the candid part + of my countrymen, although they may be under a French influence, do + not see and acknowledge that they have imbibed erroneous + impressions of the conduct of this government toward France, when + the communication which I promised at the opening of the session, + and which will be ready in a few days, comes before the public. It + will be seen, if I mistake not, also, that country has not such + a claim upon our gratitude as has been generally supposed; and + that this country has violated no engagement with it, been guilty + of no act of injustice toward it, nor been wanting in friendship + when it could be rendered without departing from the neutral + station we had taken and resolved to maintain." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[107] "Although I never wrote, nor even saw one of these letters until +they issued from New York in print," wrote Washington to a friend, in +January, 1797, "yet the author of them must have been tolerably well +acquainted in, or with some person of my family, to have given the names +and some circumstances, which are grouped in the mass of erroneous +details. But, of all the mistakes which have been committed in this +business, none is more palpable, or susceptible of detection, than the +manner in which it is said they were obtained, by the capture of my +mulatto, Billy, with a portmanteau. All the army under my immediate +command could contradict this, and I believe most of them know, that no +attendant of mine, nor a particle of my baggage, ever fell into the +hands of the enemy during the whole course of the war." + +[108] The title was "Epistles, Domestic, Confidential, and Official, +from General Washington; written about the commencement of the American +Contest, when he entered on the Command of the Army of the United +States. New York, printed by G. Robinson and J. Bull. London, reprinted +by F. H. Rivington, No. 62 St. Paul's Churchyard, 1796." In order to +give the affair the appearance of genuineness, and to make a volume of +respectable size, several important public despatches, which actually +passed between Washington and the British commanders; and also, a +selection from several of his addresses, orders, and instructions, were +added. + +[109] A selection from Washington's replies to these addresses may be +found in the twelfth volume of Sparks' "Life and Writings of +Washington." + +[110] For a notice of a general plan of a military academy at West +Point, prepared by Washington, see Sparks's "Life and Writings of +Washington," viii., 417. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + FRIENDLY OVERTURES TO FRANCE--PICKERING'S HISTORICAL AND EXPLANATORY + LETTER TO PINCKNEY--WASHINGTON'S SUGGESTIONS--FRENCH OUTRAGES UPON + AMERICAN COMMERCE--RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION--JOHN ADAMS + THE NATION'S CHOICE--HIS FOREBODINGS RESPECTING HIS + HOUSEHOLD--WASHINGTON'S SALE OF SUPERFLUITIES--MRS. WASHINGTON'S + LAST DRAWING-ROOM--BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES--WASHINGTON'S + EMOTIONS--LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS ON HIS RETIREMENT--FAREWELL + DINNER--HIS DECLARATIONS RESPECTING THE SPURIOUS + LETTERS--INAUGURATION OF ADAMS--WASHINGTON'S PARTING WORDS--ADAMS'S + INAUGURAL ADDRESS--A TINGE OF JEALOUSY--ELEGANT ENTERTAINMENT GIVEN + TO WASHINGTON--VIOLENT ATTACKS UPON HIM BY THE "AURORA"--THE EDITOR + BEATEN AND HUMBLED. + + +Sincerely desirous of maintaining a good understanding with the French, +the president, early in January, requested Mr. Pickering, the secretary +of state, to address a letter to Mr. Pinckney, the United States +minister in France, stating in full the causes of difficulty between the +two governments, examining and reviewing the same, and submitting, with +his letter, a mass of relative documents, by which the whole matter +might be fully understood. Pickering's letter and the documents were +laid before Congress on the nineteenth of January, accompanied by a +message from the President, in which he said that the immediate object +of Mr. Pinckney's mission to France was, "to make to that government +such explanations of the principles and conduct of our own, as by +manifesting our good faith, might remove all jealousy and discontent, +and maintain that harmony and good understanding with the French +republic which it had been his constant solicitude to preserve. A +government which required only a knowledge of the _truth_ to justify its +measures, could but be anxious to have this fully and frankly +displayed." + +Previous to the completion of the letter to Pinckney, Washington wrote +to Pickering, suggesting that some such summing up as the following +might be proper:-- + + "That the conduct of the United States toward France has been, as + will appear from a foregoing statement, regulated by the strictest + principles of neutrality. + + "That there has been no attempt in the government to violate our + treaty with that country, to weaken our engagements therewith, or + to withhold any friendship we could render, consistent with the + neutrality we had adopted. + + "That peace has been our primary object; but, so far has it been + from inducing us to acquiesce silently in the capturing of our + vessels, impressing our seamen, or in the misconduct of the naval + or other officers of the British government, that no instance can + be produced of authenticated facts having passed unnoticed, and, + where occasion required it, without strong remonstrances. + + "That this government, seeing no propriety in the measure, nor + conceiving itself to be under any obligation to communicate to the + ministers of the French republic all the unpleasant details of what + had passed between it and the British minister here, or with the + minister of foreign affairs at the court of London on these + accounts, conscious of its fair dealing toward all the belligerent + powers, and wrapped up in its own integrity, little expected, under + the circumstances which have been enumerated, the upbraidings it + has met with; notwithstanding, it now is, as it always has been, + the earnest wish of the government to be on the best and most + friendly footing with the republic of France; and we have no doubt, + after giving this candid exposition of facts, that the Directory + will revoke the orders under which our trade is suffering, and will + pay the damages it has sustained thereby." + +This allusion to depredations upon American commerce by French cruisers, +hinted at a state of things which the United States government could not +long endure in silence. According to a report made by the secretary of +state toward the close of the session, in which he made a full exhibit +of the wrongs inflicted by the French on American commerce, it appears +that enormous depredations had been committed in the West Indies. All +vessels having contraband articles on board, no matter whither bound, +were decreed to be good prizes; and the cargoes of neutral vessels bound +to or from British ports, or even to Dutch or French settlements in the +possession of the British, or cleared out for the West Indies generally, +were seized and confiscated. The crews of American vessels captured were +generally treated with indignity, and frequently with cruelty. "Bitter +complaints," says Hildreth, "were made of Commodore Barney, then in the +West Indies with his two frigates. He was accused of treating with +contemptuous indifference and neglect his fellow-citizens brought in as +prisoners by the French privateers, and even of having shown his +contempt for his country by hoisting the American ensign union down. +Yet, when he arrived in the Chesapeake for the purpose of learning and +carrying to France the result of the presidential election, though he +boasted of having in his pocket the orders of the French Directory to +capture all American vessels, and declared that if Jefferson was not +chosen president war would be declared by France within three months, he +was not the less, on that account, honored and feasted by infatuated +politicians who read the _Aurora_, and believed Washington to be a +traitor!"[111] + +The votes of the electoral college for president of the United States +were opened and counted in the senate on the eighth of February. The +result showed a very close balance of political parties. The whole +number of votes was one hundred and thirty-eight, making seventy +necessary to a choice. Of these, John Adams, the incumbent +vice-president, received seventy-one, and Thomas Jefferson sixty-nine +votes. Thomas Pinckney, late minister to Great Britain, received +fifty-nine votes, Aaron Burr thirty, Samuel Adams fifteen, Oliver +Ellsworth eleven, George Clinton seven, John Jay five, James Iredell +three, George Washington two, John King two, Samuel Johnson two, and +Charles C. Pinckney, then in France, one. At that time the person who +received the highest number of the electoral votes was declared to be +president, and the person who had the next highest number was declared +to be vice-president. + +After reading the result, Mr. Adams sat down for a moment, and then +rising, said:-- + + "John Adams is elected president of the United States for four + years, to commence with the fourth day of March next; and Thomas + Jefferson is elected vice-president of the United States for four + years, to commence with the fourth day of March next. And may the + Sovereign of the Universe, the Ordainer of civil government on + earth, for the preservation of liberty, justice, and peace, among + men, enable both to discharge the duties of these offices + conformably to the constitution of the United States, with + conscientious diligence, punctuality, and perseverance."[112] + +"The die is cast," wrote the new president elect to his wife, on the +following day, "and you must prepare yourself for honorable trials. I +must wait to know whether Congress will do anything or not to furnish my +house. If they do not, I will have no house before next fall, and then a +very moderate one, with very moderate furniture." He had written to Mrs. +Adams a few days before, saying: "I hope you will not communicate to +anybody the hints I give you about our prospects; but they appear every +day worse and worse. House-rent at twenty-seven hundred dollars a year, +fifteen hundred dollars for a carriage, one thousand for one pair of +horses, all the glasses, ornaments, kitchen furniture, the best chairs, +settees, plateaus, &c., all to purchase; all the china, delph [Delft] or +Wedgewood, glass and crockery, of every sort to purchase." + +Washington now prepared, with feelings of the most exquisite pleasure, +to retire from public life. Everything which would be unnecessary at +Mount Vernon he offered for sale. "The president," wrote Mr. Adams to +his wife, "has a pair of horses to sell; one nine, the other ten years +old, for which he asks a thousand dollars.... He must sell something to +enable him to clear out. When a man is about retiring from public life, +and sees nothing but a ploughshare between him and the grave, he +naturally thinks most upon that. + +"When Charles the Fifth resigned his empire and crown, he went to +building his coffin. When I contemplated a retirement, I meditated the +purchase of Mr. Vesey's farm; and thought of building a tomb in my own +ground, adjoining to the burying-yard. The president is now engaged in +his speculations upon a vault which he intends to build for himself, not +to sleep but to lie down in.... Our friend says she is afraid President +Washington will not live long. I should be afraid, too, if I had not +confidence in his farm and his horse. He must be a fool, I think, who +dies of chagrin when he has a fine farm and a Narragansett mare that +paces and canters. But I don't know but all men are such fools. I think +a man had better wear than rust." + +In February, when he could begin to count the days and hours that lay +between him and that retirement he so much coveted, Washington wrote to +his old and dear friends upon the subject with much feeling; and every +day brought him new proofs of the love and veneration in which he was +held by the people. His birthday was celebrated in Philadelphia in a +manner unequalled before. A grand ball was given at the Amphitheatre, in +the evening, at which Washington and his lady were present. Mrs. +Washington held a "drawing-room" in the afternoon, at which there was a +crowd of people. "It was rendered affecting beyond all expression," said +an eye-witness, "by its being, in some degree, a parting scene. Mrs. +Washington was moved even to tears, with the mingled emotions of +gratitude for such strong proofs of public regard, and the new prospect +of the uninterrupted enjoyment of domestic life: she expressed herself +something to this effect. I never saw the president look better, or in +finer spirits, but his emotions were too powerful to be concealed. He +could sometimes scarcely speak. Three rooms of his house were almost +entirely full from twelve to three, and such a crowd at the door it was +difficult to get in. + +"At the Amphitheatre, at night, it is supposed there were at least +twelve hundred persons. The show was a very brilliant one; but such +scrambling to go to supper that there was some danger of being squeezed +to death. The vice-president handed in Mrs. Washington, and the +president immediately followed. The applause with which they were +received is indescribable. The same was shown on their return from +supper. The music added greatly to the interest of the scene. The +president staid until between twelve and one; the vice-president till +near two. Both were serenaded with repeated huzzas long after they had +been in bed. The latter slept so soundly that he knew nothing of it till +next morning, though it is said 'Yankee Doodle' was one of the tunes +played."[113] + +The eight years of Washington's administration of public affairs, as +chief-magistrate of the republic, were now drawing to a close. They had +been years of toil, anxiety, and vexation. They had been stormy years; +yet, like a rock in the ocean, or the mountain rising from the plain, he +had stood unshaken by the surges or the winds. With that serenity of +mind which arises from the consolations of a conscience void of offence +toward God and man, he took a retrospective view; and with the eagerness +of a prisoner about to be released from his cell, to breathe the free +air of heaven and repose in peace in the bosom of his home, he +approached the hour when he should bid adieu to the incessant labor and +turmoil of political life. To his long-tried and dearly-loved friend, +General Knox, he wrote as follows two days before his retirement:-- + + "To the wearied traveller who sees a resting-place, and is bending + his body to lean thereon, I now compare myself; but to be suffered + to do this in peace is too much to be endured by some. To + misrepresent my motives, to reprobate my politics, and to weaken + the confidence which has been reposed in my administration, are + objects which can not be relinquished by those who will be + satisfied with nothing short of a change in our political system. + The consolation, however, which results from conscious rectitude, + and the approving voice of my country, unequivocally expressed by + its representatives, deprive their sting of its poison, and place + in the same point of view the weakness and malignity of their + efforts.... + + "The remainder of my life, which in the course of nature can not be + long, will be occupied in rural amusements; and, though I shall + seclude myself as much as possible from the noisy and bustling + crowd, none would, more than myself, be regaled by the company of + those I esteem at Mount Vernon; more than twenty miles from which, + after I arrive there, it is not likely that I ever shall be. + + "As early in next week as I can make arrangements for it, I shall + commence my journey for Mount Vernon. To-morrow, at dinner, I + shall, as a servant of the public, take my leave of the president + elect, of the foreign embassadors, the heads of departments, &c., + and the day following, with pleasure, I shall witness the + inauguration of my successor to the chair of government." + +There was a large company of ladies and gentlemen at the dinner, on the +third of March, when Washington, in a somewhat informal manner, bade +them all farewell. "During the dinner," wrote Bishop White, who was one +of the guests, "much hilarity prevailed; but, on the removal of the +cloth, it was put an end to by the president--certainly without design. +Having filled his glass, he addressed the company, with a smile on his +countenance, saying, 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is the last time I +shall drink your health as a public man. I do it with sincerity, and +wishing you all possible happiness.' There was an end to all hilarity, +and the cheeks of Mrs. Liston, wife of the British minister, were wet +with tears." + +On that morning Washington performed an act of justice to himself, which +he had refrained from doing while in office. It was in the form of a +letter to Mr. Pickering, the secretary of state, giving his own +statement concerning the spurious letters which we have already +noticed--their dates, addresses, and signatures, and all the facts in +the case, the chief of which we have already noted. "These well-known +facts," he said, "made it unnecessary, during the war, to call the +public attention to the forgery by any express declaration of mine; and +a firm reliance on my fellow-citizens, and the abundant proofs which +they gave of their confidence in me, rendered it alike unnecessary to +take any formal notice of the revival of the imposition during my civil +administration. But as I can not know how soon a more serious event may +succeed to that which will this day take place, I have thought it a +duty that I owed to myself, to my country, and to truth, now to detail +the circumstances above recited; and to add my solemn declaration that +the letters herein described[114] are a base forgery, and that I never +saw or heard of them until they appeared in print. + + "The present letter I commit to your care, and desire that it may + be deposited in the office of the department of state, as a + testimony of the truth to the present generation and to posterity." + +On the fourth of March, John Adams, Washington's successor, +was inaugurated the second president of the United States. The +event took place in the hall of the representatives, which was +densely crowded with spectators. Mr. Jefferson, the new vice-president, +had just taken his seat as president of the senate. That +body had been convened by Washington for the occasion; and now, +with their presiding officer, they went into the representatives' hall, +where a large audience of ladies and gentlemen were collected to +witness the inaugural ceremonies. In front of the speaker's chair +sat chief-justice Ellsworth, who was to administer the oath, with +three other judges of the supreme court of the United States +(Cushing, Wilson, and Iredell). The new vice-president and secretary +of the senate took their seats on the right; and on the left sat +the speaker and clerk of the late house of representatives. At a +signal the doors were thrown open, and a crowd rushed in and +filled the galleries. Very soon loud cheering was heard in the +streets, and a few moments afterward Washington entered, followed +by the president elect. The whole audience arose and greeted +them with enthusiastic cheers. + +[Illustration: JOHN ADAMS] + +When the two dignitaries were seated perfect silence prevailed. +Washington then arose, and with the most commanding dignity and +self-control, proceeded to read, in a firm, clear voice, a brief +valedictory. An eye-witness yet (1860) living,[115] has made the +following interesting record of this portion of the scene:-- + + "When General Washington delivered his farewell address, in the + room at the southeast corner of Chestnut and Sixth streets, I sat + immediately in front of him. It was in the room Congress occupied. + The table of the speaker was between the two windows on Sixth + street. The daughter of Doctor C----,[116] of Alexandria, the + physician and intimate friend of Washington, Mrs. H----,[117] whose + husband was the auditor, was a very dear friend of mine. Her + brother Washington was one of the secretaries of General + Washington. Young Dandridge, a nephew of Mrs. Washington, was the + other. I was included in Mrs. H----'s party to witness the august, + the solemn scene. Mr. H---- declined going with Mrs. H----, as she + had determined to go early, so as to secure the front bench. It was + fortunate for Miss C----[118] (afterward Mrs. L----)[119], that + she could not trust herself to be so near her honored grandfather. + My dear father stood very near her. She was terribly agitated. + There was a narrow passage from the door of entrance to the room, + which was on the east, dividing the rows of benches. General + Washington stopped at the end to let Mr. Adams pass to the chair. + The latter always wore a full suit of bright drab, with lash or + loose cuffs to his coat. He always wore wrist ruffles. He had not + changed his fashions. He was a short man, with a good head. With + his family he attended our church twice a day. General Washington's + dress was a full suit of black. His military hat had the black + cockade. There stood the 'Father of his Country,' acknowledged by + nations--the first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts + of his countrymen. No marshals with gold-colored scarfs attended + him--there was no cheering--no noise; the most profound silence + greeted him, as if the great assembly desired to hear him breathe, + and catch his breath in homage of their hearts. Mr. Adams covered + his face with both his hands; the sleeves of his coat, and his + hands, were covered with tears. Every now and then there was a + suppressed sob, I can not describe Washington's appearance as I + felt it--perfectly composed and self-possessed till the close of + his address: then, when strong nervous sobs broke loose, when tears + covered the faces, then the great man was shaken. I never took my + eyes from his face. Large drops came from his eyes. He looked to + the youthful children who were parting with their father, their + friend, as if his heart was with them, and would be to the end." + +When Washington concluded his brief valedictory, Mr. Adams arose, took +the oath of office, and then delivered his inaugural address, which he +had prepared with much care--an address that had the rare good fortune +of pleasing all parties. He sketched, with a few brief touches of a +master's pencil, an outline history of the federal constitution, defined +his own position in regard to it from the beginning, and then thus +feelingly alluded to the retiring president:-- + + "Such is the amiable and interesting system of government (and such + are some of the abuses to which it may be exposed), which the + people of America have exhibited to the admiration and anxiety of + the wise and virtuous of all nations, for eight years, under the + administration of a citizen, who, by a long course of great + actions, regulated by prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude, + conducted a people inspired with the same virtues, and animated + with the same ardent patriotism and love of liberty, to + independence and peace, to increasing wealth and unexampled + prosperity, has merited the gratitude of his fellow-citizens, + commanded the highest praises of foreign nations, and secured + immortal glory with posterity. + + "In that retirement which is his voluntary choice, may he long live + to enjoy the delicious recollection of his services, the gratitude + of mankind, the happy fruits of them to himself and the world, + which are daily increasing; and that splendid prospect of the + future fortunes of his country which is opening from year to year. + May his name be still a rampart, and the knowledge that he lives a + bulwark against all open or secret enemies of his country's peace!" + +The hearts of the audience had already been made tender by the farewell +words of Washington; and this allusion to him, in the inaugural address +of his successor, made tears flow copiously--"Scarcely a dry eye but +Washington's, whose countenance was as serene and unclouded as the day," +wrote Adams to his wife. + +With a little tinge of evident jealousy, Adams again wrote to the same +correspondent, a few days afterward, saying: "It is the general report +that there was more weeping than there has ever been at the +representation of any tragedy. But whether it was from grief or joy, +whether from the loss of their beloved president, or from the accession +of an unbeloved one, or from the pleasure of exchanging presidents +without tumult, or from the novelty of the thing, or from the sublimity +of it arising from the multitude present, or whatever other cause, I +know not. One thing I know, I am a being of too much sensibility to act +any part well in such an exhibition. Perhaps there is little danger of +my having such another scene to feel or behold. + + "The stillness and silence astonishes me. Everybody talks of the + tears, the full eyes, the streaming eyes, the trickling eyes, &c., + but all is enigma beyond. No one descends to particulars to say why + or wherefore; I am, therefore, left to suppose that it is all grief + for the loss of their beloved." + +When Washington left the hall and entered his carriage, the great +audience followed, and were joined by an immense crowd in the streets, +who shouted long and loud as the retiring president and his suite moved +toward his dwelling. The new president and all others were forgotten in +that moment of veneration for the beloved friend, upon whose face few in +that vast assemblage would ever look again. "I followed him in the crowd +to his own door," said the late President Duer, of Columbia college, +"where, as he turned to address the multitude, his countenance assumed a +serious and almost melancholy expression, his voice failed him, his +eyes were suffused with tears, and only by his gestures could he +indicate his thanks, and convey his farewell blessing to the people." + +The merchants of Philadelphia, to testify their love for Washington, +gave to him a splendid banquet and other entertainments that evening, in +the Amphitheatre, which had been decorated with appropriate paintings by +Charles Willson Peale, who, twenty-five years before, had painted, at +Mount Vernon, the first portrait ever drawn of Washington, in the +costume of a Virginia colonel. One of the newspapers of the day thus +describes a compliment that was paid to the first president on that +occasion, which had been suggested and executed by Mr. Peale:-- + + "Upon entering the area the general was conducted to his seat. On a + signal given the band played 'Washington's March,' and a scene, + which represented simple objects in the rear of the principal seat, + was drawn up and discovered emblematical paintings. The principal + was a female figure as large as life, representing America, seated + on an elevation composed of sixteen marble steps. At her left side + stood the federal shield and eagle, and at her feet lay the + _cornucopia_; in her right hand she held the Indian calumet of + peace supporting the cap of liberty; in the perspective appeared + the temple of fame; and, on her left hand, an altar dedicated to + public gratitude, upon which incense was burning. In her left hand + she held a scroll inscribed 'Valedictory;' and at the foot of the + altar lay a plumed helmet and sword, from which a figure of General + Washington, large as life, appeared retiring down the steps, + pointing with his right hand to the emblems of power which he had + resigned, and with his left to a beautiful landscape representing + Mount Vernon, in front of which oxen were seen harnessed to the + plough. Over the general appeared a _Genius_, placing a wreath of + laurels on his head." + +The heads of departments, foreign ministers, and distinguished strangers +in Philadelphia, were present on that gala occasion; and with that +display of taste, fashion, gayety, and refinement, ended the public life +of Washington. + +These honors paid to the retiring chief-magistrate with the most +heartfelt sincerity, excited the jealousy, enmity, and malignity of his +political enemies in a most remarkable degree. Nothing was too base for +them to employ in attempts to injure his character, and lower him in the +esteem of his countrymen. A pamphlet written by "Jasper Dwight, of +Vermont," and published in December, 1796, which contained most severe +strictures upon the Farewell Address, was circulated with increased +zeal.[120] + +The _Aurora_ overflowed with gall. Its columns were filled with the most +virulent attacks upon him. His denunciation of the spurious letters made +the calumniators writhe, and, with the fiendish malice of assassins, +they thrust his character with weapons of foulest form. Three days after +his retirement one of the most violent of these attacks appeared in the +_Aurora_, attributed to Doctor Lieb, a republican member of the +Pennsylvania assembly. It was dated on the day of Adams's inauguration. +He said:-- + + "'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes + have seen thy salvation,' was the pious ejaculation of a man who + beheld a flood of happiness rushing upon mankind. If ever there was + a time that would license the reiteration of the exclamation, that + time is now arrived; for the man, who is the source of all the + misfortunes of our country, is this day reduced to a level with his + fellow-citizens, and is no longer possessed of power to multiply + evils upon the United States. If ever there was a period for + rejoicing, this is the moment; every heart in unison with the + freedom and happiness of the people, ought to beat high with + exultation that the name of WASHINGTON, from this day, ceases to + give a currency to political iniquity, and to legalize corruption. + A new era is now opening upon us, an era which promises much to the + people; for public measures must now stand upon their own merits, + and nefarious projects can no longer be supported by a name. When a + retrospect is taken of the Washingtonian administration for eight + years, it is a subject of the greatest astonishment that a single + individual should have cankered the principles of republicanism in + an enlightened people, just emerged from the gulf of despotism, and + should have carried his designs against the public liberty so far, + as to have put in jeopardy its very existence. Such, however, are + the facts, and, with these staring us in the face, this day ought + to be a jubilee in the United States." + +These and similar articles excited the public indignation to the highest +endurable pitch; and Bache, the publisher of the _Aurora_, was severely +beaten, when, a few days afterward, he, with some friends, visited the +frigate _United States_, then on the stocks at the Philadelphia +navy-yard. A son of the contractor gave the flagellation. The public +clamor became so great, that Bache, in mortal fear of further personal +violence, thought it prudent to state, in his paper, that Doctor Lieb's +article was not written by the editor, but came from a correspondent. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[111] History of the United States, Second Series, i., 703. + +[112] Journals of Congress, February 8, 1797. + +[113] Letter of Honorable James Iredell to his wife, February 24, 1797. + +[114] The following is Washington's description of the letters:-- + +"New York, June 12th, 1776. To Mr. Lund Washington, at Mount Vernon, +Fairfax county, Virginia.--G. W." + +"To John Parke Custis, Esq., at the Hon. Benedict Calvert's, Esq., Mount +Airy, Maryland, June 18th, 1776.--GEORGE WASHINGTON." + +"New York, July 8th, 1776. To Mr. Lund Washington, at Mt. Vernon, +Fairfax county, Virginia.--G. W." + +"New York, July 15, 1776. To Mr. Lund Washington.--G. W." + +"New York, July 16, 1776. To Mr. Lund Washington.--G. W." + +"New York, July 22d, 1776. To Mr. Lund Washington--G. W." + +"June 24th, 1776. To Mrs. Washington.--G. W." + +[115] Mrs. Susan R. Echard, daughter of Colonel Read, now (1860) living +in Philadelphia, at the age of eighty-four years. The venerable +Rembrandt Peale, of the same city, who, two years before, painted +Washington's portrait from life, and now in his eighty-third year, was +also present in the gallery on that occasion, and his recollection +agrees with that of Mrs. Echard. + +[116] Craik. + +[117] Harrison. + +[118] Custis. + +[119] Lewis. + +[120] It was in the form of a "Letter to George Washington, President of +the United States." Dwight was a violent republican, and an +uncompromising advocate for the immediate and total abolition of slavery +in the United States. Because Washington was a slaveholder, he +considered him extremely vulnerable on that point, and in his "Letter" +he twice alludes to the fact. + +"Had the French Revolution," he said, "commenced ten years later, or you +retired to the shades of Mount Vernon four years ago, the friends of +public virtue would still proudly boast of one great man free from the +breath of public dispraise, and your fondly partial country, forbearing +to inquire whether or not you were chargeable with mental aberrations, +would vaunt in you this possession of the phoenix." After making +strictures on the events of the past four years, he said: "Would to God! +you had retired to a private station four years ago, while your public +conduct threw a veil of sanctity round you, which you have yourself +rashly broken down. Your fame would have been safe, your country without +reproach, and I should not have the mortifying task of pointing out the +blind temerity with which you come forward to defend the religion of +Christ, who exist in the violation of its most sacred obligations, of +the dearest ties of humanity, and in defiance of the sovereign calls of +morality and liberty--by dealing in HUMAN SLAVES." Again, after +asserting that "posterity will in vain search for the monuments of +wisdom" in his administration, he says they will, on inquiry, find that +had he obtained promotion, as he expected, for the services rendered +after Braddock's defeat, his sword would have been drawn against his +country; and that they would discover "that the great champion of +American freedom, the rival of Timoleon and Cincinnatus, twenty years +after the establishment of the republic, was possessed of FIVE HUNDRED +of the HUMAN SPECIES IN SLAVERY, enjoying the fruits of their labor +without remuneration, or even the consolations of religious +instruction--that he retained the barbarous usages of the feudal system, +and kept men in livery--and that he still affected to be the friend of +the Christian religion, of civil liberty, and moral equality--and to be, +withal, a disinterested, virtuous, liberal, and unassuming man." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + WASHINGTON LEAVES PHILADELPHIA FOR MOUNT VERNON--RECEIVES HONORS BY + THE WAY--HIS ARRIVAL HOME--HIS ENJOYMENT OF PRIVATE LIFE--LETTERS TO + HIS FRIENDS--HIS OWN PICTURE OF HIS DAILY LIFE--ENTERTAINMENT OF + STRANGERS BURDENSOME--INVITES HIS NEPHEW TO MOUNT VERNON--NELLY + CUSTIS AND HER SUITORS--WASHINGTON'S LETTER TO HER--LAWRENCE LEWIS + PREFERRED--WASHINGTON'S DREAM OF PERMANENT REPOSE DISTURBED BY A + GATHERING STORM--EARLY ASSOCIATIONS RECALLED--AGAIN SUMMONED INTO + PUBLIC LIFE. + + +Washington left Philadelphia for Mount Vernon on the ninth of March, a +private citizen and a happy man. He was accompanied by Mrs. Washington +and her grand-daughter, Eleanor Parke Custis; and by George Washington +Lafayette and his preceptor, M. Frestel, whose arrival and residence in +the United States we have already noticed. George Washington Parke +Custis, the brother of Eleanor, or "Nelly," as she was familiarly +called, was then in college at Princeton, where he had been for several +months. The letters which have been preserved by the Custis family, of +the correspondence between Washington and that adopted son, during the +college life of the latter, are very interesting, and exhibit the Father +of his Country in a light in which he is not viewed by history in her +delineation of him, namely, as the father of a talented but wayward boy. + +Ever desirous of giving words of encouragement and the meed of praise to +the deserving, Washington handed to young Bartholomew Dandridge, his +private secretary, on the morning of his departure for Mount Vernon, the +following letter:-- + + "Your conduct, during a six years' residence in my family, having + been such as to meet my full approbation, and believing that a + declaration to this effect would be satisfactory to yourself, and + justice requiring it from me, I make it with pleasure, and in full + confidence that those principles of honor, integrity, and + benevolence, which I have reason to believe have hitherto guided + your steps, will still continue to mark your conduct. I have only + to add a wish, that you may lose no opportunity of making such + advances in useful acquirements as may benefit yourself, your + friends, and mankind; and I am led to anticipate an accomplishment + of this wish, when I consider the manner in which you have hitherto + improved such occasions as offered themselves to you. + + "The career of life on which you are now entering, will present new + scenes and frequent opportunities for the improvement of a mind + desirous of obtaining useful knowledge; but I am sure you will + never forget that, without virtue and without integrity, the finest + talents and the most brilliant accomplishments can never gain the + respect, or conciliate the esteem, of the truly valuable part of + mankind." + +On his journey to the Potomac, the retired president received every mark +of respect, love, and veneration, from the people. "Last evening," said +a Baltimore paper of the thirteenth of March, "arrived in this city, on +his way to Mount Vernon, the illustrious object of veneration and +gratitude, GEORGE WASHINGTON. His excellency was accompanied by his lady +and Miss Custis, and by the son of the unfortunate Lafayette and his +preceptor. At a distance from the city he was met by a crowd of +citizens, on horse and foot, who thronged the road to greet him, and by +a detachment of Captain Hollingsworth's troop, who escorted him through +as great a concourse of people as Baltimore ever witnessed. On alighting +at the Fountain Inn, the general was saluted with reiterated and +thundering huzzas from the spectators."[121] + +"The attentions we met with on our journey," wrote Washington to Mr. +M'Henry, the secretary of war, "were very flattering, and by some, whose +minds are differently formed from mine, would have been highly relished; +but I avoided, in every instance, when I had any previous knowledge of +the intention, and could by earnest entreaties prevail, all parade and +escorts." He seldom succeeded, for intelligence of his approach went +before him, and citizens and soldiers hastened to do homage to the great +Patriot and Chief. + +Washington arrived at Mount Vernon on the evening of the fourteenth of +March. Never did the threshold of his mansion receive a happier man. The +servants flocked around him like children come to greet a returning +father, and there was joy in the household and all over the estate of +Mount Vernon. The master fairly revelled in the luxury of private life +and the repose of domestic enjoyment. Yet he did not sit down, an idle +man and indifferent spectator of passing events. "Let me pray you to +have the goodness," he wrote to Mr. M'Henry, "to communicate to me +occasionally such matters as are interesting, and not contrary to the +rules of your official duty to disclose. We get so many details in the +gazettes, and of such different complexions, that it is impossible to +know what credence to give to any of them." + +Now, escaped from the turmoils of politics, Washington resolved to cast +the burden of speculations concerning them from his mind. During almost +his entire administration, the politics of France had been a constant +source of anxiety to him, and had given him more real vexation, directly +and indirectly, than all other matters of his public life combined. "The +conduct of the French government," he now wrote, "is so much beyond +calculation, and so unaccountable upon any principle of justice, or even +of that sort of policy which is familiar to plain understandings, that I +shall not now puzzle my brains in attempting to develop the motives of +it." + +To Oliver Wolcott he wrote in May: "For myself, having turned aside from +the broad walks of political into the narrow paths of private life, I +shall leave it with those whose duty it is to consider subjects of this +sort [the calling of an extraordinary session of Congress], and, as +every good citizen ought to do, conform to whatsoever the ruling powers +shall decide. To make and sell a little flour annually, to repair houses +(going fast to ruin), to build one for the security of my papers of a +public nature, and to amuse myself in agricultural and rural pursuits, +will constitute employment for the few years I have to remain on this +terrestrial globe. If, also, I could now and then meet the friends I +esteem, it would fill the measure and add zest to my enjoyments; but if +ever this happens, it must be under my own vine and fig-tree." + +Washington was not unsocial, yet he loved to be away from the great +gathering-places of men and the tumults of public life. He loved his +friends warmly; and those for whom he had a thorough esteem--a +friendship based upon the perception of genuine qualities of head and +heart that made them trustworthy--were always most welcome to his +retreat on the banks of the Potomac. With such friends he kept up a +cordial correspondence; and in many of his letters, immediately after +his retirement, he spoke of his domestic employments and pleasures. +"Retired from noise myself," he wrote to General Heath, "and the +responsibility attached to public employment, my hours will glide +smoothly on. My best wishes, however, for the prosperity of our country, +will always have the first place in my thoughts; while to repair +buildings, and to cultivate my farms, which require close attention, +will occupy the few years, perhaps days, I may be a sojourner here, as I +am now in the sixty-sixth year of my peregrinations through life." + +To Secretary M'Henry he wrote, in joyous mood, at the close of May: "I +am indebted to you for several unacknowledged letters; but never mind +that: go on as if you had answers. You are at the source of information, +and can find many things to relate; while I have nothing to say that +would either inform or amuse a secretary of war in Philadelphia. + +"I might tell that I begin my diurnal course with the sun; that, if my +hirelings are not in their places at that time, I send them messages of +sorrow for their indisposition; that, having put these wheels in motion, +I examine the state of things further; that, the more they are probed, +the deeper I find the wounds which my buildings have sustained by an +absence and neglect of eight years; that, by the time I have +accomplished these matters, breakfast (a little after seven o'clock, +about the time I suppose you are taking leave of Mrs. M'Henry) is ready; +that, this being over, I mount my horse and ride round my farms, which +employ me until it is time to dress for dinner, at which I rarely miss +seeing strange faces--come, as they say, out of respect for me. Pray, +would not the word curiosity answer as well? And how different this from +having a few social friends at a cheerful board! The usual time of +sitting at table, a walk, and tea, bring me within the dawn of +candlelight; previous to which, if not prevented by company, I resolve +that, as soon as the glimmering taper supplies the place of the great +luminary, I will retire to my writing-table and acknowledge the letters +I have received; but, when the lights are brought, I feel tired, and +disinclined to engage in this work, conceiving that the next will do as +well. The next night comes, and with it the same causes for +postponement, and so on. + +"This will account for your letters remaining so long unacknowledged; +and, having given you the history of a day, it will serve for a year, +and I am persuaded you will not require a second edition of it. But it +may strike you that, in this detail, no mention is made of any portion +of time allotted for reading. The remark would be just, for I have not +looked into a book since I came home; nor shall I be able to do it until +I have discharged my workmen, probably not before the nights grow +longer, when possibly I may be looking in Doomsday-Book." + +Washington soon became wearied with the continual visits of strangers, +to which he alluded in his letter to Mr. M'Henry, and he resolved to +adopt some plan of relief that should be consistent with the most +genuine hospitality. He had an accomplished and favorite nephew, +Lawrence Lewis, son of his sister Elizabeth. He invited him to make +Mount Vernon his home, and to assume the duties of entertainer of +company when the master should desire repose. "As both your aunt and I," +he said, in his letter of invitation, "are in the decline of life, and +regular in our habits, especially in our hours of rising and going to +bed, I require some person (fit and proper) to ease me of the trouble of +entertaining company, particularly of nights, as it is my inclination to +retire (and, unless prevented by very particular company, I always do +retire), either to bed or to my study, soon after candlelight. In +taking those duties (which hospitality obliges me to bestow on company) +off my hands, it would render me a very acceptable service."[122] + +Young Lewis accepted his uncle's invitation with pleasure, for he loved +the society of such as he knew he should meet at Mount Vernon. There was +also a charmer there for young men, in the person of Nelly Custis, a +gay, beautiful, and accomplished girl of eighteen years, who was the +life of a social party, and a beam of sunshine in the family circle. As +his adopted daughter, Washington had watched over her with parental +solicitude. Tradition says that he frequently inculcated the most +valuable precepts when talking seriously with her; and in his most +playful mood would give her words of wisdom that took root in her mind +and heart. This fact is so well exhibited in the following letter of +his, written to Nelly, when she was about sixteen years of age, that we +give it entire. It was on the occasion of her first attendance at a +ball, an account of which she had given him in a letter:-- + + "PHILA., _January 16, 1795._ + + "Your letter, the receipt of which I am now acknowledging, is + written correctly and in fair characters, which is an evidence that + you command, when you please, a fair hand. Possessed of these + advantages, it will be your own fault if you do not avail yourself + of them; and, attention being paid to the choice of your subjects, + you can have nothing to fear from the malignancy of criticism, as + your ideas are lively, and your descriptions agreeable. Let me + touch a little now on your Georgetown ball; and happy, thrice + happy, for the fair who were assembled on the occasion, that there + was a man to spare; for had there been seventy-nine ladies and only + seventy-eight gentlemen, there might, in the course of the evening, + have been some disorder among the caps, notwithstanding the apathy + which _one_ of the company entertains for the '_youth_' of the + present day, and her determination 'never to give herself a + moment's uneasiness on account of any of them.' A hint here: men + and women feel the same inclinations to each other _now_ that they + always have done, and which they will continue to do until there is + a new order of things; and _you_, as others have done, may find, + perhaps, that the passions of your sex are easier raised than + allayed. Do not, therefore, boast too soon or too strongly of your + insensibility to, or resistance of, its powers. In the composition + of the human frame there is a good deal of inflammable matter, + however dormant it may lie for a time, and like an intimate + acquaintance of yours, when the torch is put to it, _that_ which is + _within you_ may burst into a blaze; for which reason, and + especially, too, as I have entered upon the chapter of advices, I + will read you a lecture drawn from this text. + + "Love is said to be an involuntary passion, and it is therefore + contended that it can not be resisted. This is true in part only, + for, like all things else, when nourished and supplied plentifully + with aliment, it is rapid in its progress; but let these be + withdrawn, and it may be stifled in its birth, or much stinted in + its growth. For example, a woman (the same may be said of the other + sex) all beautiful and accomplished, will, while her hand and heart + are undisposed of, turn the heads and set the circle in which she + moves on fire. Let her marry, and what is the consequence? The + madness _ceases_, and all is quiet again. Why? Not because there is + any diminution in the charms of the lady, but because there is an + end of hope. Hence it follows that love may and therefore ought to + be under the guidance of reason; for, although we can not avoid + first impressions, we may assuredly place them under guard: and my + motives for treating on this subject are to show you, while you + remain Eleanor Parke Custis, spinster, and retain the resolution to + love with moderation, the propriety of adhering to the latter + resolution, at least until you have secured your game, and the way + by which it may be accomplished. + + "When the fire is beginning to kindle, and your heart growing warm, + propound these questions to it: 'Who is this invader? Have I a + competent knowledge of him? Is he a man of good character? a man of + sense?' For, be assured, a sensible woman can never be happy with a + fool. 'What has been his walk of life? Is he a gambler, a + spendthrift, or drunkard? Is his fortune sufficient to maintain me + in the manner I have been accustomed to live, and my sisters do + live, and is he one to whom my friends can have no reasonable + objection?' If these interrogatories can be satisfactorily + answered, there will remain but one more to be asked; that, + however, is an important one, 'Have I sufficient ground to conclude + that his affections are engaged by me?' Without this, the heart of + sensibility will struggle against a passion that is not + reciprocated--delicacy, custom, or call it by what epithet you + will, having precluded all advances on your part. The declaration, + without the _most indirect_ invitation of yours, must proceed from + the man, to render it permanent and valuable; and nothing short of + good sense and an easy, unaffected conduct, can draw the line + between prudery and coquetry. It would be no great departure from + truth to say that it rarely happens otherwise than that a + thorough-paced coquette dies in celibacy, as a punishment for her + attempts to mislead others, by encouraging looks, words, or + actions, given for no other purpose than to draw men on to make + overtures, that they may be rejected. + + "This day, according to our information, gives a husband to your + elder sister, and consummates, it is to be presumed, her fondest + desires. The dawn with us is bright, and propitious, I hope, of her + future happiness, for a full measure of which she and Mr. Law have + my earnest wishes. Compliments and congratulations on this + occasion, and best regards are presented to your mamma, Doctor + Stuart, and family; and every blessing--among which a good husband, + when you want and deserve one--is bestowed on you by yours, + affectionately."[123] + +Young Lewis found a rival in the person of a son of the eminent Charles +Carroll, of Carrollton, whose suit was decidedly encouraged by Mrs. +Washington. This young man had just returned from Europe, where he had +been educated; and he displayed in his deportment and conversation all +the social graces derived from foreign travel. Nelly was also pleased +with the young man; and her brother, then at school in Annapolis, could +not conceal his satisfaction. So he ventured to say, in a letter to +Washington: "I find that young Mr. C---- has been at Mount Vernon, and, +report says, to address my sister. It may be well to subjoin an opinion, +which I believe is general in this place, viz., that he is a young man +of the strictest probity and morals, discreet without closeness, +temperate without excess, and modest without vanity; possessed of those +amiable qualities and friendship which are so commendable, and with few +of the vices of the age. In short, I think it a most desirable match, +and wish that it may take place with all my heart." + +Washington relished neither the interference of the suitor with his +nephew's "current of true love," nor the volunteer opinion of Nelly's +brother; and he abruptly closed the correspondence on the subject with +young Custis, by saying: "Young Mr. C---- came here about a fortnight +ago, to dinner, and left us next morning after breakfast. If his object +was such as you say has been reported, it was not declared here; and +therefore the less is said upon the subject, particularly by your +sister's friends, the more prudent it will be until the subject develops +itself more." + +Other suitors appeared at that time, and the assaults made upon the +young lady's heart seem to have given Washington and his wife much +anxiety. "I was young and romantic then," she said to a lady, from whose +lips Mr. Irving has quoted[124]--"I was young and romantic then, and +fond of wandering alone by moonlight in the woods of Mount Vernon. +Grandmamma thought it wrong and unsafe, and scolded and coaxed me into a +promise that I would not wander in the woods again _unaccompanied_. But +I was missing one evening, and was brought home from the interdicted +woods to the drawing-room, where the general was walking up and down +with his hands behind him, as was his wont. Grandmamma, seated in her +great arm-chair, opened a severe reproof." + +"Poor Miss Nelly," says Mr. Irving, "was reminded of her promise, and +taxed with her delinquency. She knew that she had done wrong, admitted +her fault, and essayed no excuse; but, when there was a slight pause, +moved to retire from the room. She was just shutting the door, when she +overheard the general attempting, in a low voice, to intercede in her +behalf. 'My dear,' observed he, 'I would say no more: perhaps she was +not alone.' + +"His intercession stopped Miss Nelly in her retreat. She reopened the +door, and advanced up to the general with a firm step. 'Sir,' said she, +'you brought me up to speak the truth; and when I told grandmamma I was +alone, I hope you believed _I was alone_.' + +"The general made one of his most magnanimous bows. 'My child,' replied +he, 'I beg your pardon.'" + +As we shall observe presently, Lawrence Lewis triumphed in his suit over +all competitors, and the beautiful Nelly Custis became his bride. + +Without the least suspicion that his sweet dream of repose in the bosom +of his family, amid the quiet scenes of rural life, would ever be +disturbed while he lived, Washington now applied himself to the repairs +of his buildings, and the general improvement of his estate. "At the age +of sixty-five," he wrote to the earl of Radnor, "I am now recommencing +my agricultural and rural pursuits, which were always more congenial to +my temper and disposition than the noise and bustle of public +employments; notwithstanding so small a portion of my life has been +engaged in the former." + +To the Reverend William Gordon he wrote: "Rural employments, while I am +spared--which, in the natural course of things, can not be long--will +now take the place of toil, responsibility, and the solicitude attending +the walks of public life; and with a desire for the peace, happiness, +and prosperity of a country, in whose service the prime of my life has +been spent, and with best wishes for the tranquillity of all nations and +all men, the scene to me will close--grateful to that Providence which +has directed my steps, and shielded me in the various changes and +chances through which I have passed from my youth to the present +moment." + +And now, too, the associations of his earlier life, when he was a farmer +at Mount Vernon, brought pleasing pictures of the past to his memory, +and he seemed to yearn for a renewal of those social pleasures which had +been the delight of his young manhood. To Mrs. Fairfax, in England, who +had resided at ruined Belvoir, and had been a beloved member of the +society of that neighborhood, he wrote, in May, 1798:-- + + "Five-and-twenty years have nearly passed away since I have + considered myself as permanently residing at this place, or have + been in a situation to indulge myself in a familiar intercourse + with my friends by letter or otherwise. During this period, so many + important events have occurred, and such changes in men and things + have taken place, as the compass of a letter would give you but an + inadequate idea of; none of which events, however, nor all of them + together, have been able to eradicate from my mind the recollection + of those happy moments, the happiest of my life, which I have + enjoyed in your company. + + "Worn out in a manner by the toils of my past labor, I am again + seated under my vine and fig-tree, and I wish I could add that + there are none to make us afraid; but those whom we have been + accustomed to call our friends and allies are endeavoring, if not + to make us afraid, yet to despoil us of our property, and are + provoking us to acts of self-defence which may lead to war. What + will be the result of such measures, time, that faithful expositor + of all things, must disclose. My wish is to spend the remainder of + my days, which can not be many, in rural amusements, free from the + cares from which public responsibility is never exempt. + + "Before the war, and even while it existed, although I was eight + years from home at one stretch, except the _en-passant_ visits made + to it on my marches to and from the siege of Yorktown, I made + considerable additions to my dwellinghouse, and alterations in my + offices and gardens; but the dilapidation occasioned by time, and + those neglects which are coextensive with the absence of + proprietors, have occupied as much of my time within the last + twelve months, in repairing them, as at any former period in the + same space; and it is a matter of sore regret, when I cast my eyes + toward Belvoir, which I often do, to reflect that the former + inhabitants of it, with whom we lived in such harmony and + friendship, no longer reside there, and that the ruins can only be + viewed as the memento of former pleasures." + +But, at the very time when he wrote this letter, the clouds of +difficulty between the United States and France were thickening; a storm +of war was evidently brewing, and the mutterings of the thunder were +becoming more and more audible. In that hour of gloom, when the billows +were beating heavily upon the ship of state, and the hurricane began to +howl, his countrymen, remembering the faith, and fortitude, and courage, +and skill, of their venerated pilot for eight years of commotion, turned +anxious eyes and more anxious hearts toward Mount Vernon, wishing to +call him from his retirement to face once more the enemies of their +country; yet tenderly hesitating, because they loved him too well to +disturb unnecessarily the needed repose he was then enjoying. A crisis +came; dangers thickened on every side, and the united voices of his +countrymen again called Washington into public life. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[121] Sparks's Life and Writings of Washington, xi. 197, note. + +[122] MS. letter quoted by Irving, v. 276. + +[123] Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington, by George +Washington Parke Custis, page 41. Washington wrote many other letters to +his sprightly foster-child, but they have been lost or destroyed. These +serve to show how his comprehensive mind had moments of thought and +action to bestow on all connected with him, and how deeply his +affections were interested in the family of his wife, who were cared for +as if they were his own. They were written at a time when the cares of +state, as president of the republic, were pressing heavily upon him. + +[124] Life of Washington, v. 279. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + PROSPERITY OF THE UNITED STATES--TROUBLES WITH FRANCE + CONTINUED--INDIGNITIES OFFERED TO MR. PINCKNEY--MONROE'S + LEAVE-TAKING--INSULTING SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH + DIRECTORY--PINCKNEY LEAVES PARIS--SPECIAL SESSION OF + CONGRESS--PRESIDENT ADAMS'S MESSAGE--HIS + RECOMMENDATIONS--WASHINGTON'S SOLICITUDE--CHANGES IN PUBLIC + SENTIMENT--ACTION OF CONGRESS--SPECIAL ENVOYS SENT TO + FRANCE--WASHINGTON'S OPINIONS CONCERNING THE EMBASSY AND THE CHANCES + OF WAR--LANGHORNE'S CORRESPONDENCE--JEFFERSON'S + POSITION--LAFAYETTE'S RELEASE--ROCHAMBEAU. + + +Washington retired from the chair of state at a time when his country +was enjoying the highest degree of prosperity. Through the wisdom of +Hamilton and the firmness of the president, a sound credit at home had +been created, and an immense floating debt funded in a manner perfectly +satisfactory to the creditors, and to all except ignorant or +unscrupulous partisans. An ample revenue was provided for; all +difficulties which a system of internal taxation is liable to encounter +at the outset, had been removed; and the authority of and thorough +respect for the federal government were firmly established. Means had +been provided for the gradual extinguishment of the public debt; a large +portion of it had been actually discharged; and a system, which had +finally brought about an almost entire extinction of it when the war of +1812 broke out, had been matured. The agricultural and commercial wealth +of the nation had increased beyond all former example; and the numerous +Indian tribes, warlike and hostile, that inhabited the western frontiers +and the immense country beyond, even to the west of the Mississippi, had +been taught, by sad experience, the folly of opposing the power of the +United States, and were then at peace with them. + +The foreign relations of the United States were in a condition more +desirable than at any time since the establishment of the government, +except in regard to France. The differences with Spain had been +adjusted; the free navigation of the Mississippi had been acquired; and +the use of New Orleans as a commercial _depot_, for a specific time, had +been secured. The causes which, at one time, threatened a war between +the United States and Great Britain, had been removed by diplomacy; and +the military posts on the frontier, which served as nuclei of Indian +hostilities, had passed into the possession of the government of the +United States. Treaties not perfectly satisfactory, but nevertheless +advantageous by comparison with the past, had been made with Algiers and +Tripoli; and as Tunisian corsairs had never depredated upon American +commerce, the Mediterranean sea was now opened to the mercantile marine +of the United States. + +Such, in brief outline, were the condition and position of the United +States, when Washington retired from public life; yet over the bright +future, discerned by the eye of faith, hung an ominous cloud, growing +blacker and blacker every day. France, haughty, imperious, dictatorial, +and ungenerous, had severed with ruthless hand the bond of friendship +between itself and the United States, and had cut the tether of legal +restraint which kept her corsairs from depredating upon American +commerce. Her course, unjust and unwise, indicated inevitable war, +unless she should draw back, for peace with her could not be maintained +with honor upon terms which her insolence dictated. Her government had +declared, on the recall of Monroe, that no other minister from the +United States should be received until that power should fully redress +the grievances of which the republic complained; and Pinckney, whose +letter of credence declared that he had been sent "to maintain that good +understanding which, from the commencement of the alliance, had +subsisted between the two nations, and to efface unfounded impressions, +banish suspicions, and restore that cordiality which was at once the +evidence and pledge of a friendly union," was not received. + +Pinckney was not only denied a reception, but was ordered to quit the +territory of France. He claimed the right to a passport and safe escort, +but these were denied, while measures for his expulsion were not put +into operation. In that position he remained some time. Meanwhile, +Monroe, unmindful of the insult offered to his country in the person of +its accredited representative, instead of leaving France indignantly +himself, consented to play a part in another scene more unworthy of him +than that enacted at his reception. The Directory, evidently for the +purpose of treating the United States government with contempt, decreed +a formal audience to Monroe, to present his letters of recall and to +take his leave. On that occasion, Monroe warmly acknowledged "the +important services rendered by France to America;" congratulated the +republic on its victories, and the excellence of its constitution; and +expressed his earnest wishes that a close union and perfect harmony +might exist between the two governments. + +To this the president of the Directory responded in pompous and +high-sounding words. "Minister plenipotentiary of the United States," he +said, "by presenting this day to the executive Directory your letter of +recall, you offer a very strange spectacle to Europe. Rich in her +freedom, surrounded by the train of her victories, strong in the esteem +of her allies, France will not stoop to calculate the consequences of +the condescension of the American government to the wishes of its +ancient tyrants. The French republic expects, however, that the +successors of Columbus, Raleigh, and Penn, always proud of their +liberty, will never forget that they owe it to France. They will weigh +in their wisdom the magnanimous friendship of the French people with the +crafty caresses of perfidious men, who meditate to bring them again +under their former yoke. Assure the good people of America, Mr. +Minister, that, like them, we admire liberty; that they will always +possess our esteem, and find in the French people that republican +generosity which knows how to grant peace as well as how to cause its +sovereignty to be respected. As for you, Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary, +you have ever battled for principles; you have known the true interests +of your country Depart with our regret. We restore in you a +representative to America; we preserve the remembrance of a citizen +whose personal qualities did honor to that title." + +Toward the close of January, 1798, Pinckney was notified that, having +resided in Paris nearly two months without special permission, he was +amenable to law. He immediately applied for and obtained his passports, +and on the third of February he departed for Holland, whence he sent +despatches to his government, presenting the state of his mission. They +were received on the twenty-fifth of March, and produced much +excitement. The indignities to which the United States minister had been +subjected, and the continued capture of American merchant-vessels by +French privateers, some of them commanded by Americans, caused President +Adams to issue a proclamation, convening the Congress in special session +on the fifteenth of May. + +A change in public opinion was now perceptible. The people began to +understand the real character and designs of the French, the chief of +which was to sow the seeds of bitter discord between the _government_ +and the _people_ of the United States--a task in which Genet and Adet +zealously labored. "The speech of the president of the Directory," said +Adams, in his opening address to the Congress, "discloses sentiments +more alarming than the refusal of a minister, because more dangerous to +our independence and union; and, at the same time, studiously marked +with indignities toward the United States. It evinces a disposition to +separate the people from their government; to persuade them that they +have different affections, principles, and interests, from those of +their fellow-citizens whom they themselves have chosen to manage their +common concerns, and thus to produce divisions fatal to our peace. Such +attempts ought to be repelled with a decision which shall convince +France and the world that we are not a degraded people, humiliated under +a colonial spirit of fear, and sense of inferiority, fitted to be the +miserable instruments of foreign influence, and regardless of national +honor, character, and interest.... + +"I should have been happy," he continued, "to throw a veil over the +late transactions of the French government, if it had been possible to +conceal them; but they have passed on the great theatre of the world, in +the face of all Europe and America, and with such circumstances of +publicity and solemnity that they can not be disguised, and will not +soon be forgotten." + +Mr. Adams then expressed his sincere desire for reconciliation with +France, and announced his intention to institute a fresh attempt at +negotiation for that object; but he recommended the Congress to provide, +meanwhile, effectual measures for defence, especially in the increase +and strengthening of the navy. + +From his retirement, Washington looked out upon the moving panorama of +national affairs with great solicitude. He took a lively interest in all +that was passing, in which the welfare of his country was involved. "It +remains to be seen," he said in a letter to Thomas Pinckney, lately +arrived from Europe, "whether our country will stand upon independent +ground, or be directed in its political concerns by any other nation. A +little time will show who are its true friends, or, what is synonymous, +who are true Americans.... The president's speech will, I conceive, draw +forth, mediately or immediately, an expression of the public mind; and, +as it is the right of the people that this should be carried into +effect, their sentiments ought to be unequivocally known, that the +principles on which the government has acted, and which, from the +president's speech, are likely to be continued, may either be changed, +or the opposition, that is endeavoring to embarrass every measure of the +executive, may meet effectual discountenance. Things can not and ought +not to remain any longer in their present disagreeable state. Nor should +the idea that the government and the people have different views, be +suffered any longer to prevail, at home or abroad; for it is not only +injurious to us, but disgraceful also, that a government constituted as +ours is should be administered contrary to their interests, if the fact +be so." + +Public sentiment had now begun to assume a character coincident with +that expressed by Washington. Because of the failure of Jefferson to be +elected president of the United States, the French Directory signified +their disapprobation and resentment, by issuing a decree against +American commerce, equal in its effects to the worst practices of the +British cruisers in their impressment of seamen, and seizure of vessels +and goods of neutrals. It was intended by the French to be little short +of a declaration of war. These outrages and insults of the French +Directory had a powerful effect in arresting the fanaticism in regard to +France that had so long prevailed; while the _Aurora_ and other +democratic newspapers, not daring, in the face of public opinion, to +justify them, attempted to cast all the blame upon Jay's treaty. + +The Congress moved with caution in carrying out the recommendations of +the president. There was a decided federal majority in each branch of +the national legislature, and both houses responded to the president's +speech in terms of approval. Several members, who had usually acted with +the opposition, voted in favor of resolutions for supporting the honor +of the country; and the senate, by unanimous vote, confirmed the +nomination, by the president, of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Elbridge +Gerry, and John Marshall, as special envoys to the French republic, +clothed with ample powers. They were to act jointly and severally as +ministers plenipotentiary, the object of their mission being, as the +president expressed it, to "dissipate umbrages, remove prejudices, +rectify errors, and adjust all differences, by a treaty between the two +powers." + +While the president and Congress were making these peaceful provisions +for maintaining a good understanding, measures for defence were adopted. +An act was passed to prevent American citizens from fitting out or +employing privateers against nations at peace with the United States. +The exportation of arms and ammunition was prohibited, and the +importation of the same encouraged, by law. The president was also +authorized to call out the militia to the number of eighty thousand, and +to accept of the services of volunteers. A small naval force was also +provided for, and means for extraordinary expenses incident to a state +of war. + +Washington had doubts of the success of the new mission. In a letter to +Timothy Pickering, at the close of August, he said: "Candor is not a +more conspicuous trait in the character of governments than it is of +individuals. It is hardly to be expected, then, that the Directory of +France will acknowledge its errors, and tread back its steps +immediately. This would announce at once that there has been +precipitancy and injustice in the measures they have pursued; or that +they were incapable of judging, and had been deceived by false +representations. Pride would be opposed to all these; and I can scarcely +think the Directory will relinquish the hold it has upon those who more +than probably have suggested and promoted the measures they have been +pursuing. I rather suppose that they will lower their tone by degrees, +and, as is usual, place the change to the credit of _French +magnanimity_." + +Yet Washington had no fears concerning a war with France. To Pickering +he wrote: "I can say with truth that my mind has never been alarmed by +any fears of a war with France. I always knew that this government had +no desire to go to war with that or any other country; and I as firmly +believed that no power, without a _semblance of justice_, would declare +war against it. That France has stepped far beyond the line of +rectitude, can not be denied; that she has been encouraged to do so by a +party among ourselves is, to my mind, equally certain; and when it is +considered, moreover, that enriching themselves and injuring Great +Britain were the expected consequences of their spoliation's, I could +account, though not on honorable principles in them, for their going to +a certain point; but I never did believe that they would declare an open +war against us, or compel us, if they foresaw that would be the result, +to declare it against them." + +In the autumn of 1797, Washington received a letter dated "Warren, +Albemarle county," and signed "John Langhorne," in which the writer +condoled with him on the aspersions of his character by his political +opponents, and suggested that he ought not to allow them to disturb his +repose. This letter was a forgery, there being no such person as John +Langhorne, and was evidently intended to draw from Washington some +expressions that might be used to his injury, and serve a party purpose. +But Washington, ever guarded, let fall no word in his reply that could +be so used. "For the divisions which have taken place among us, with +respect to our political concerns," he said, "for the attacks which have +been made upon those to whom the administration of the government has +been intrusted by the people, and for the calumnies which are levelled +at all those who are disposed to support the measures thereof, I feel, +on public account, as much as any man can do, because in my opinion much +evil and no good can result to this country from such conduct. So far as +these attacks are aimed at me personally, it is, I can assure you, a +misconception, if it be supposed I feel the venom of the darts." + +This letter appears to have been written by a person whose name has +never been given to the public. The fraud was discovered by a gentleman +who lived near the residence of Mr. Jefferson. He was informed of a +letter in the Charlottesville post-office, in the well-known handwriting +of Washington, addressed to one whose name was unknown in that +neighborhood; and he immediately apprized Washington, not only of that +fact, but that his reply was sent for by a person whose political +sentiments were averse to those of the late administration. Washington +furnished his informant with a copy of the correspondence; and that +gentleman, on investigation, expressed his opinion that the "plot" +originated with Jefferson. Washington appears to have considered that +opinion of some weight, for, in a response to the letter of his +informant, he said: "If the person whom you _suspect_, was really the +author of the letter under the signature of _John Langhorne_, it is not +at all surprising to me that the correspondence should have ended where +it did; for the penetration of that man would have perceived, at the +first glance, that nothing was to be drawn from that mode of attack. In +what form the next invidious attempts may appear, remains to be +discovered." + +There is no evidence that Mr. Jefferson had any knowledge of the matter +until the forgery was exposed, and his name had been connected with it +by Washington's informant, whom he denominated his "malignant neighbor." +That neighbor was John Nicholas, commonly known as "Clerk John," who, +Mr. Randall says, "was a weak-headed, absurd busybody, with that +restless itching for notoriety which renders a man, destitute of +ability, sense, or delicacy, almost indifferent as to the subject."[125] +Washington was naturally indignant at this attempt to ensnare him, and +his feelings were much disturbed by the alleged secret attacks upon him +and his public measures by Jefferson and his friends. As we have already +observed, he lost confidence in the genuineness of Jefferson's +professions of friendship; and, from this time, there was no +correspondence between them. + +At about this time, Washington received the welcome news of the +liberation of his friend Lafayette, and his expected speedy departure +for America. Also a pamphlet on the "Military and Political Situation of +France," by General Dumas, an officer who had served under Rochambeau at +Yorktown. On the subject of his friend's release, he wrote to M. de La +Colombe, who had been Lafayette's adjutant-general when the latter +commanded the National Guard, and who was then in Philadelphia, saying: +"I congratulate you on the happy event of the liberation of our mutual +friend, whose reception in this country will be, I am sure, cordial from +all descriptions of people; from none more than myself. The answer given +by him to the minister is noble, and worthy of himself.[126] The only +regret I should feel on his arrival in America, if it should happen +soon, would be his disappointment at not finding his son here. + +"I said all I could with decency, both to him and M. Frestel, to induce +their awaiting direct accounts from the prisoners before their +departure; but the eagerness of the former to embrace his parents in the +first moments of their release from a cruel imprisonment, was not to be +restrained." + +These two great men and loving friends never met again on earth. +Circumstances caused Lafayette to remain in Europe, and his visit to +America was deferred more than a quarter of a century, when he came as +the Nation's Guest. + +Dumas's pamphlet, to which we have just alluded, and the author's +accompanying letter, awakened pleasant emotions in the bosom of +Washington, for intelligence of an old companion-in-arms was conveyed. +"General Rochambeau," wrote Dumas, "is still at his country-seat near +Vendome. He enjoys there tolerably good health, considering his great +age, and reckons, as well as his military family, amongst his most dear +and glorious remembrances, that of the time we had the honor to serve +under your command." + +This announcement gave Washington real pleasure, for he had heard from +time to time vague rumors of the vicissitudes of Rochambeau--first as +field-marshal, in command of the revolutionary army of the north; then +as a thwarted and disappointed man, dwelling in retirement; and then as +a victim prepared for the guillotine, but saved by a sudden change in +public affairs. He was glad to know that the general was enjoying repose +in his old age. Rochambeau survived all the tempests of the Revolution, +was honored by Napoleon with the cross of grand officer of the Legion of +Honor, and a marshal's pension, and died in 1807, at the age of +eighty-two years. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[125] Life of Jefferson, ii. 371. + +[126] The emperor of Austria communicated to Lafayette, through the +marquis de Chasteler, his intention to liberate him from his confinement +at Olmutz, on certain conditions, to which the marquis refused to +accede. In his reply to De Chasteler, Lafayette said:-- + + "His majesty, the emperor and king, demands an assurance that, + immediately after my release, I will depart for America. This is an + intention which I have often manifested; but since, in the actual + state of things, an assurance to this effect would seem to + recognise a right to impose this condition upon me, I think it not + proper to satisfy such a demand. + + "His majesty, the emperor and king, has done me the honor to + signify that, as the principles which I profess are incompatible + with the security of the Austrian government, it is his wish that I + should never again enter his dominions without his special + permission. There are duties from which I can not release + myself--duties which I owe to the United States, and above all to + France; nor can I consent to any act which shall derogate from the + rights of my country over my person. + + "With these reservations, I can assure the marquis de Chasteler + that it is my fixed determination never again to set my foot in any + country which yields obedience to his imperial majesty the king of + Bohemia and Hungary."--Sparks's Life of Washington, vol. xi., note + ix. of the Appendix. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + AMERICAN ENVOYS IN PARIS--DIRECTORY SEEKING MONEY--TALLEYRAND AND + HIS AGENTS--PROPOSITIONS FOR AN APOLOGY, LOAN, AND BRIBE--INDIGNANT + REFUSAL--ATTEMPTS TO FRIGHTEN THE ENVOYS--TWO OF THEM ORDERED OUT OF + FRANCE--THEY ALL LEAVE--EXCITEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES--CONGRESS + PREPARES FOR WAR--PATRIOTIC ADDRESSES TO THE PRESIDENT--HAMILTON + CALLS WASHINGTON TO THE RESCUE OF HIS COUNTRY--WASHINGTON'S + RESPONSE--THE PRESIDENT PERPLEXED--HE TURNS TO WASHINGTON--APPEAL OF + THE SECRETARY OF WAR--WASHINGTON'S REPLIES--IS APPOINTED + COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES--HAMILTON + URGES HIM TO ACCEPT--THE PRESIDENT SENDS HIM A COMMISSION--SECRETARY + OF WAR AT MOUNT VERNON--WASHINGTON ACCEPTS THE APPOINTMENT--HIS + SELECTION OF OFFICERS. + + +The three United States envoys--Pinckney, Gerry, and Marshall--met in +Paris on the fourth of October, 1797, and were approached by the wily +diplomat, M. de Talleyrand, minister for foreign affairs, in a spirit +not at all pleasing either to their expectations or their desires. They +had been sent upon a mission of peace, charged with honorable purposes, +and were met with propositions insulting and disgraceful. On their +arrival, the envoys sent a joint letter to Talleyrand, informing him of +their presence and purposes, and requesting him to appoint a time for +receiving copies of their letters of credence. He informed them that he +was then engaged upon a report to the Directory on American affairs, and +that, when it should be completed, he would inform them what was to be +done. At the same time he sent them permits (cards of hospitality) to +reside in Paris meanwhile. + +The Directory had resolved to extort money from the envoys, if possible; +and in the course of a few days after their first communication with +Talleyrand, that minister, through secret agents, began to sound them. +One of these informed them that he had, as if by accident, learned +through Talleyrand's private secretary that the Directory were very much +exasperated at the tone of the president's speech at the opening of the +special session of Congress. Another, a partner in a noted commercial +house in Paris, volunteered to answer their drafts to any amount; a +third called on them, and, in a private interview with Pinckney, said +that he had a message from Talleyrand, suggesting a plan by which a +reconciliation between the two governments might be brought about. That +"plan" proposed that some of the most offensive passages in the +president's speech should be expunged or softened before the envoys +should be received; a loan to be made to the republic; and a _douceur_ +to the Directory of nearly two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The +envoys were astonished, but resolved to treat the matter in such a way +that they might ascertain the real sentiments of the French government, +without exciting suspicions. + +Shortly afterward (October twentieth), Talleyrand's secret agent again +appeared before the envoys, and introduced Mr. Bellamy, a citizen of +Hamburg, who came as an intimate friend of the minister for foreign +affairs, but without, as he said, any diplomatic authority. He assured +the envoys that Talleyrand was well disposed toward the United States; +that if the offensive portions of the president's speech should be +expunged, the loan made, and the _douceur_ given, a new treaty would be +made, and all would be well. "We want money," said Bellamy, speaking for +his principals--"a great deal of money." + +Another conference was held on the following day, when the secret agent +and Bellamy breakfasted with the envoys. It was stated that the +Directory insisted upon an apology, or its equivalent, for the offensive +words of the president; but Bellamy gave it as his private opinion that +the matter might be compromised with money. At that conference the +amount of the loan was fixed at six millions four hundred thousand +dollars, to be secured by Dutch "inscriptions," or obligations extorted +from them by the French; and the _douceur_ to the Directory at two +hundred and fifty thousand dollars. + +"The proposition for a loan can not be met by any construction of our +instructions," said the envoys. "One of us, however, will return home +and consult our government on that point, provided the Directory will +agree to suspend, in the interval, all further captures of American +vessels, and all proceedings on captures already made." The agents of +the Directory were quite surprised at this answer. Bellamy spoke of the +resentment of that body, and said that, if money could not be had from +the envoys, the apology would be expected. To his astonishment, he was +informed that such a proceeding was wholly out of the question; that the +president had exercised his constitutional privilege in giving to +Congress his ideas on national affairs, and that in doing so he had only +stated facts in regard to French relations with which the American +people were already familiar. The agents seemed greatly astonished at +the audacity of the envoys, and withdrew, satisfied that they could +accomplish nothing. + +An interview between the envoys and Talleyrand was arranged for the +twenty-seventh. The minister repeated, in substance, the proposition of +his agents; but the representatives of America were firm. Finally, after +more unofficial interviews with other agents of the Directory, who had +endeavored to frighten the American ministers by menaces of the +hostility of France; who had painted, in glowing colors, the immense +power and resources of the French nation, and the dangers to be +apprehended from its indignation; who claimed that in the friendship of +France alone could America look for safety--the envoys told them +plainly: "Gentlemen, we will not give you a dollar. Before coming here, +we should not have thought it possible that such an offer would have +been made to us. A transaction such as you propose, would be disgraceful +to all parties concerned." And then it was that Pinckney made that terse +and indignant remark which has become proverbial: "Millions for defence, +but not one cent for tribute!" + +Startled by the indignation and boldness of the envoys, the agent of the +executive government intimated that if they would pay, for the private +use of the Directory, the sum named, by way of _fees_, as they would +pay a lawyer, they might remain in Paris until they should receive +further orders from home respecting the loan required for the +government. This base proposition to purchase the services of the +Directory was rejected with disdain; and the French executive +government, in the persons of its agents, withdrew abashed, and did not +prosecute the disgraceful measures any further. Indeed, the envoys +refused to have any further intercourse with them. + +The American ministers remained several months in Paris, urging the +objects of their mission at all proper times, but without success. The +Directory refused to acknowledge them in their official character, and +they were, from time to time, importuned for money by Talleyrand, in his +unofficial visits to them. Finally, perceiving that their reception was +out of the question, they prepared a full statement, in a letter +addressed to Talleyrand, in which they made explanations, and gave +proofs unequivocal of the friendliness of the government of the United +States toward that of France. To this Talleyrand made an elaborate +reply, and the envoys, in April, met it with a rejoinder. + +Talleyrand's tactics were now changed, and he endeavored by various +attempts to induce Pinckney and Marshall, who were federalists, +voluntarily to relinquish their station, and leave negotiations with +Gerry, who belonged to the republican party, and was supposed to +sympathize with the French Directory. In this the wily diplomat did not +succeed. Satisfied that nothing could seduce them from the path of +rectitude, the Directory ordered those two envoys to quit the +territories of the French republic immediately; while, to aggravate the +insult to the American government, Mr. Gerry, because he belonged to a +party favorable to France, was permitted to remain. Gerry, frightened +(as he afterward said, in excuse for his conduct) by Talleyrand's threat +of an immediate declaration of war against the United States by France +if he should leave, consented to remain. Yet he refused to sanction the +expulsion of his colleagues. He would not treat independently of them; +and, finally, the entire embassy returned home. Marshall left France at +the middle of April, Gerry on the twenty-sixth of July, but Pinckney +was detained until October, on account of the ill health of his +daughter. + +During the whole time of these attempts at negotiation, the French +Directory allowed many gross insults to the United States government to +be perpetrated. Open war was waged upon American commerce by French +cruisers; and the American flag floating over a vessel was deemed a +sufficient justification for the capture and condemnation of such +vessel. + +When the final despatches of the envoys reached the public eye and ear +in the United States, there was an outburst of indignation over all the +land, that proclaimed the dignity of true patriotism in the presence of +mere party considerations. The nation felt insulted by the attempt to +degrade the republic into a tributary dependant of France; and the +indignities offered to the representatives of their government, and the +injuries inflicted upon their commerce, were resented with great warmth. +The words of Pinckney were reported, and in every part of the continent +was heard the cry--"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" +And yet there were those slavish enough to justify France, by +criminating the American government. The _Aurora_ was foremost in this +labor; and, preparatory to such defense, it had published Talleyrand's +reply to the statement of the envoys, which had been received by Bache +before it reached the government of the United States. + +It was argued that the intentions of France were not really hostile; +that men under British influence, who wished for war, had misrepresented +her conduct; that, admitting her position to be hostile, she only +demanded those marks of friendship which, at a critical moment, she had +herself afforded America; that the real interests of the United States +required a compliance with the demands of the Directory for a loan and a +bribe; that it would cost more money to resist than to comply; that +resistance would be inevitably ineffectual; and that national honor was +never secured by national defeat. + +But such logic, degrading and unpatriotic in tendency, did not suit the +temper of the American people at that time. A war-spirit was aroused +not easily to be appeased, except by the ministrations of justice. In +Congress, vigorous measures for defence and retaliation were adopted. +Means for administering chastisement for injuries received, and for +repelling those which were threatened, were provided with willing +alacrity. A regular army was authorized. A regiment of artillerists and +engineers was added to the permanent establishment; and the president +was authorized to raise twelve additional regiments of infantry and one +regiment of cavalry, to serve during the continuance of existing +difficulties with France, if not sooner discharged. He was also +authorized to appoint officers for a provisional army, and to receive +and organize volunteer corps, which should be exempt from ordinary +militia duty. + +These measures of Congress were fully approved by the great mass of the +people. The president received addresses from all parts of the Union, +whose spirit attested the patriotic sentiment of the nation; and the +executive, in turn, warmed by like sentiments, made responses that +sustained the ardor of the people. + +Then arose spontaneously in every mind the question, "Who shall command +our army in this crisis?" and in every mind was the same response. All +hearts turned instinctively toward Washington as the only man in the +nation fitted for that important trust. The loud, harsh voice of party +spirit was hushed to a whisper; and men who had joined in the clamor of +reproach against the late president because of his public measures, were +among the first, in this hour of peril, to turn to him as the only +leader in whom they might implicitly trust. Intimations of this nature +reached Washington almost daily while Congress were busy in preparing +for war; and finally, near the close of May, Hamilton, in a confidential +and highly interesting letter, wrote to him, saying:-- + + "At the present dangerous crisis of public affairs, I make no + apology for troubling you with a political letter. Your impressions + of our situation, I am persuaded, are not different from mine. + There is certainly great probability that we may have to enter into + a very serious struggle with France; and it is more and more + evident that the powerful faction which has for years opposed the + government is determined to go every length with France. I am + sincere in declaring my full conviction, as the result of a long + course of observation, that they are ready to _new model_ our + constitution, under the _influence_ or _coercion_ of France; to + form with her a perpetual alliance, _offensive_ and _defensive_; + and to give her a monopoly of our trade, by _peculiar_ and + _exclusive_ privileges. This would be in substance, whatever it + might be in name, to make this country a province of France. + Neither do I doubt that her standard, displayed in this country, + would be directly or indirectly seconded by them, in pursuance of + the project I have mentioned. + + "It is painful and alarming to remark that the opposition faction + assumes so much a geographical complexion. As yet, from the south + of Maryland, nothing has been heard but accounts of disapprobation + of our government, and approbation of our apology for France. This + is a most portentous symptom, and demands every human effort to + change it. + + "In such a state of public affairs, it is impossible not to look up + to you, and to wish that your influence could in some proper mode + be brought into direct action." Hamilton then suggested the + propriety of Washington's taking a tour southward, which would call + out the people in public demonstrations, and would give him an + opportunity of expressing sentiments which would throw the weight + of his character into the scale of the government, and revive an + enthusiasm for his person that might be turned into a right + channel. He concluded by saying: "You ought to be aware, my dear + sir, that in the event of an open rupture with France, the public + voice will again call you to command the armies of your country; + and, though all who are attached to you will, from attachment, as + well as public considerations, deplore an occasion which should + once more tear you from that repose to which you have so good a + right, yet it is the opinion of all those with whom I converse that + you will be compelled to make the sacrifice. All your past labor + may demand, to give it efficacy, this further--this great + sacrifice." + +Notwithstanding these alarm-bell notes from Hamilton, in whose political +sagacity Washington had unbounded confidence, he could not bring +himself to believe that actual war between the two countries would +ensue. "You may be assured," he replied, "that my mind is deeply +impressed with the present situation of our public affairs, and not a +little agitated by the outrageous conduct of France toward the United +States, and at the unparalleled conduct of its partisans, who aid and +abet their measures. You may believe further, from assurances equally +sincere, that, if there was anything in my power, which could be done +with consistency, to avert or lessen the danger of the crisis, it should +be rendered with hand and heart. + +"But, my dear sir, dark as matters appear at present, and expedient as +it is to be prepared at all points for the worst that can happen--and no +one is more disposed to this measure than I am--I can not make up my +mind yet for the expectation of _open war_, or, in other words, for a +formidable invasion by France. I can not believe, although I think them +capable of anything bad, that they will attempt to do more than they +have done; or that, when they perceive the spirit and policy of this +country rising into resistance, and that they have falsely calculated +upon support from a large part of the _people_ thereof to promote their +views and influence in it, they will not desist even from these +practices, unless unexpected events in Europe, and their possession of +Louisiana and the Floridas, should induce them to continue the measure. +And I believe further, that, although the _leaders_ of their party in +this country will not change their sentiments, they will be obliged, +nevertheless, to change their plan, or the mode of carrying it on, from +the effervescence which is appearing in all quarters, and from the +desertion of their followers, which must frown them into silence, at +least for awhile. + +"If I did not view things in this light, my mind would be infinitely +more disquieted than it is; for, if a crisis should arrive when a sense +of duty or a call from my country should become so imperious as to leave +me no choice, I should prepare for the relinquishment, and go with as +much reluctance from my present peaceful abode, as I should do to the +tomb of my ancestors. + +"To say at this time, determinately, what I should do under such +circumstances, might be improper, having once before departed from a +similar resolution; but I may declare _to you_, that, as there is no +conviction in my breast that I could serve my country with more +efficiency in the command of the armies it might levy than many others, +an expression of its wish that I should do so must, somehow or other, be +unequivocally known, to satisfy my mind, that, notwithstanding the +respect in which I may be held on account of former services, a +preference might not be given to a man more in his prime; and it might +well be supposed, too, that I should like precisely to know who would be +my coadjutors, and whether you would be disposed to take an active part, +if arms are to be resorted to."[127] + +President Adams found himself placed in a most perplexing position by +the authority given him by Congress to form a provisional army, with its +complement of major-generals and their subordinate officers. He had no +military knowledge upon which his judgment might rely. Among the +surviving officers of the Revolution, he perceived none in whom he felt +implicit confidence as a wise adviser, or as a proper person for +generalissimo of the new army; and, like all his fellow citizens, he +turned to Washington as the Maecenas upon whose sagacious counsels the +safety of the republic depended in that critical hour. He well knew how +painful it would be for the retired president to be again drawn into +active public life; and he also well knew that it had ever been a +controlling maxim of Washington's life never to allow personal +considerations to interfere with the public welfare. Impressed with this +fact, Adams wrote to Washington on the twenty-second of June, saying: +"In forming an army, whenever I must come to that extremity, I am at an +immense loss whether to call on all the old generals, or to appoint a +young set. If the French come here, we must learn to march with a quick +step, and to attack, for in that way only they are said to be +vulnerable. I must tax you sometimes for advice. We must have your name, +if you will in any case permit us to use it. There will be more +efficiency in it than in many an army." + +Four days afterward, M'Henry, the secretary of war, wrote: "You see how +the storm thickens, and that our vessel will soon require its ancient +pilot. Will you--may we flatter ourselves that, in a crisis so awful +and important, you will accept the command of all our armies? I hope you +will, because you alone can unite all hearts and all hands, if it is +possible that they can be united." + +The letters of the president and of the secretary of war were detained +on the way. They both reached Washington on the fourth of July, and were +answered on the same day. He assured the president that, as far as was +in his power, he should be ready to support the administration; and, "to +render it easy, happy, and honorable," he said, "you may command me +without reserve." After alluding to his former opinion that the United +States were in no danger of invasion from a foreign power, he added: +"But this seems to be an age of wonders; and it is reserved for +intoxicated and lawless France (for purposes of Providence far beyond +the reach of human ken) to slaughter its own citizens, and to disturb +the repose of all the world besides. + +"From a view of the past and the present," he continued, "and from the +prospect of that which seems to be expected, it is not easy for me to +decide satisfactorily on the part it might best become me to act. In +case of _actual invasion_ by a formidable force, I certainly should not +intrench myself under the cover of age and retirement, if my services +should be required by my country to assist in repelling it. If there be +good cause--which must be better known to the government than to private +citizens--to expect such an event, delay in preparing for it might be +dangerous, improper, and not to be justified by prudence." + +After again expressing his conviction that the French would not, in the +face of the unequivocal display of public opinion in the United States +in favor of resenting the national insults, proceed to the extremity of +actual war, he said: "Having with candor made this disclosure of the +state of my mind, it remains only that I should add, that, to those who +know me best, it is best known that, if imperious circumstances should +induce me to renounce the smooth paths of retirement for the thorny ways +of public life--at a period, too, when repose is most congenial to +nature, and a calm indispensable to contemplation--it would be +productive of sensations more easily conceived than expressed." + +Washington concluded his letter with valuable hints about officering the +provisional army. He suggested that the "old set of generals," who were +in the War for Independence, might not have "sufficient activity, +energy, and health," for the widely-different service into which they +would be called; and that the more energetic of younger officers should +be preferred. He specially advised the president to be very judicious in +the choice of the general staff of the army. "If this corps," he said, +"is not composed of respectable characters, who have a knowledge of the +duties of their respective departments--able, active, and firm, and of +incorruptible integrity and prudence, and withal such as the +commander-in-chief can place entire confidence in--his plans and +movements, if not defeated altogether, may be so embarrassed and +retarded as to amount nearly to the same thing." + +To M'Henry, Washington wrote with all the freedom of intimate +friendship, saying: "I see, as you do, that clouds are gathering, and +that a storm may ensue; and I find, too, from a variety of hints, that +my quiet under these circumstances does not promise to be of long +continuance.... As my whole life has been dedicated to my country, in +one shape or another, for the poor remains of it, it is not an object to +contend for ease and quiet, when all that is valuable in it is at stake, +farther than to be satisfied that the sacrifice I should make of them is +acceptable and desired by my country. + +"The principles by which my conduct has been actuated through life would +not suffer me, in any great emergency, to withhold any services I could +render, required by my country; especially in a case where its dearest +rights are assailed by lawless ambition and intoxicated power, contrary +to every principle of justice, and in violation of solemn compacts and +laws, which govern all civilized nations.... In circumstances like +these, accompanied by an actual invasion of our territorial rights, it +would be difficult at any time for me to remain an idle spectator under +the plea of age and retirement. With sorrow, it is true, I should quit +the shades of my peaceful abode, and the ease and happiness I now enjoy, +to encounter anew the turmoils of war, to which, possibly, my strength +and powers might be found incompetent. These, however, should not be +stumbling-blocks in _my own_ way; but there are other things highly +important for me to ascertain and settle before I could give a decided +answer to your question. + +"First, the propriety, in the opinion of the public, so far as that +opinion has been expressed in conversation, of my appearing again on a +public theatre, after declaring the sentiments I did in my Valedictory +Address, of September, 1796. + +"Secondly, a conviction in my own breast, from the best information that +can be obtained, that it is the wish of my country that the military +force of it should be committed to my charge; and-- + +"Thirdly, that the army now to be formed should be so appointed as to +afford a well-grounded hope of its doing honor to the country, and +credit to him who commands it in the field. On each of these heads you +must allow me to make observations." + +Washington then proceeded to give his views in detail, upon these three +points, without reserve. He did not feel at liberty to do so to the +president directly, because his excellency had only _hinted_ his wishes +in delicate terms. His habits of intimacy with the secretary of war, and +that officer's more explicit solicitations, made him feel free to lay +his sentiments before him. At the same time, he gave Mr. M'Henry liberty +to show his letter to the president. + +On the second of July, before Washington had received these letters, +President Adams nominated him to the senate as "lieutenant-general and +commander-in-chief of all the armies raised and to be raised in the +United States." The senate confirmed the nomination, by unanimous vote, +on the same day; and Secretary M'Henry was despatched to Mount Vernon a +few days afterward, to bear the commission to Washington. He also bore a +letter from the president, and open instructions concerning his +interview with the new commander-in-chief.[128] "Mr. M'Henry, secretary of +war," wrote the president, "will have the honor to wait on you in my +behalf, to impart to you a step I have ventured to take, which I should +have been happy to have communicated in person, had such a journey, at +this time, been in my power. My reasons for this measure will be too +well known to need any explanation to the public. Every friend and every +enemy to America will comprehend them at first blush. To you, sir, I owe +all the apology I can make. The urgent necessity I am in of your advice +and assistance--indeed, of your conduct and direction of the war--is all +I can urge; and that is a sufficient justification to myself and to the +world. I hope it will be so considered by yourself. Mr. M'Henry will +have the honor to consult you upon the organization of the army, and +upon everything relating to it." + +On the day of the nomination, M'Henry wrote to Washington, not knowing +at that moment that he would be the bearer of the general's commission. +After speaking of the nomination and the confirmation, he added: "Thus +you are again called upon by all voices to fill a station which all +think you alone qualified for at this moment. I know what must be your +feelings, and how many motives you must have for preferring the privacy +you are in the enjoyment of, to the troubles and perplexities of a +commander of an army. This, however, is the crowning sacrifice which I +pray to God you may agree to make for the sake of your country, and give +the last finish to a fame nothing short of such a call and the present +occasion could have been capable of increasing." + +On the eighth of July, Hamilton wrote to Washington, saying: "I was +surprised that your nomination had been without any previous +consultation of you. Convinced of the goodness of the motives, it would +be useless to scan the propriety of the step. It is taken, and the +question is, 'What, under the circumstances, ought to be done?' I use +the liberty which my attachment to you and to the public authorizes, to +offer my opinion that you should not decline the appointment. It is +evident that the public satisfaction at it is lively and universal. It +is not to be doubted that the circumstances will give an additional +spring to the public mind--will tend much to unite, and will facilitate +the measures which the conjunction requires. On the other hand, your +declining would certainly produce the opposite effects--would throw a +great damp upon the ardor of the country, inspiring the idea that the +crisis was not really serious or alarming. At least, then, let me +entreat you--and in this all your friends, indeed all good citizens, +will unite--that, if you do not give an unqualified acceptance, that you +accept provisionally, making your entering upon the duties to depend on +future events, so that the community may look up to you as their certain +commander. But I prefer a simple acceptance." + +The meeting of Washington and the secretary of war was cordial, and +their communications were free and unreserved. The former had reflected +upon the situation of his country, and its demands upon his services, +and had, though with a heavy heart, determined to accept the +appointment, provided he could be permitted to select for the higher +departments of the army, and especially for the military staff, those +in whom he could place the greatest confidence. M'Henry assured him that +his wishes in that respect would be complied with; and, before the +secretary left, Washington gave him a list of officers, according to an +arrangement which he should recommend.[129] + +On the thirteenth of July, Washington wrote his letter of acceptance to +President Adams, and placed it in the hands of the secretary of war, who +left Mount Vernon on that day. "I can not express," he said, "how +greatly affected I am at this new proof of public confidence, and the +highly flattering manner in which you have been pleased to make the +communication; at the same time, I must not conceal from you my earnest +wish that the choice had fallen on a man less declined in years, and +better qualified to encounter the usual vicissitudes of war. + +"You know, sir, what calculations I had made relative to the probable +course of events on my retiring from office, and the determination I had +consoled myself with, of closing the remnant of my days in my present +peaceful abode. You will, therefore, be at no loss to conceive and +appreciate the sensations I must have experienced to bring my mind to +any conclusion that would pledge me, at so late a period of life, to +leave scenes I sincerely love, to enter upon the boundless field of +public action, incessant trouble, and high responsibility. + +"It was not possible for me to remain ignorant of, or indifferent to, +recent transactions. The conduct of the Directory of France toward our +country, their insidious hostilities to its government, their various +practices to withdraw the affections of the people from it, the evident +tendency of their arts and those of their agents to countenance and +invigorate opposition, their disregard of solemn treaties and the laws +of nations, their war upon our defenceless commerce, their treatment of +our minister of peace, and their demands amounting to tribute, could not +fail to excite in me corresponding sentiments with those which my +countrymen have so generally expressed in their addresses to you. +Believe me, sir, no one can more cordially approve of the wise and +prudent measures of your administration. They ought to inspire universal +confidence; and will, no doubt, combined with the state of things, call +from Congress such laws and means as will enable you to meet the full +force and extent of the crisis. + +"Satisfied, therefore, that you have sincerely wished and endeavored to +avert the war, and exhausted to the last drop the cup of reconciliation, +we can with pure hearts appeal to Heaven for the justice of our cause, +and may confidently trust the final result to that kind Providence which +has heretofore and so often signally favored the people of these United +States. + +"Thinking in this manner, and feeling how incumbent it is upon every +person, of every description, to contribute at all times to his +country's welfare, and especially in a moment like the present, when +everything we hold dear is so seriously threatened, I have finally +determined to accept the commission of commander-in-chief of the armies +of the United States; with the reserve only, that I shall not be called +into the field until the army is in a situation to require my presence, +or it becomes indispensable by the urgency of circumstances. + +"In making this reservation, I beg to be understood that I do not mean +to withhold any assistance to arrange and organize the army which you +may think I can afford. I take the liberty also to mention that I must +decline having my acceptance considered as drawing after it any +immediate charge upon the public, and that I can not receive any +emoluments annexed to the appointment before entering into a situation +to incur expense." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[127] Hamilton expressed his willingness to enter the army, if he should +be invited to a station in which the service he might render might be +proportionate to the sacrifice he was to make. "If you command," he +said, "the place in which I should hope to be most useful is that of +inspector-general, with a command in the line. This I would accept." + +[128] The following were M'Henry's instructions:-- + + "It is my desire that you embrace the first opportunity to set out + on your journey to Mount Vernon, and wait on General Washington + with the commission of lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief of + the armies of the United States, which, by the advice and consent + of the senate, has been signed by me. + + "The reasons and motives which prevailed on me to venture on such a + step as the nomination of this great and illustrious character, + whose voluntary resignation alone occasioned my introduction to the + office I now hold, were too numerous to be detailed in this letter, + and are too obvious and important to escape the observation of any + part of America or Europe. But, as it is a movement of great + delicacy, it will require all your address to communicate the + subject in a manner that shall be inoffensive to his feelings, and + consistent with all the respect that is due from me to him. + + "If the general should decline the appointment, all the world will + be silent, and respectfully acquiesce. If he should accept, all the + world, except the enemies of his country, will rejoice. If he + should come to no decisive determination, but take the subject into + consideration, I shall not appoint any other lieutenant-general + until his conclusion is known. + + "His advice in the formation of a list of officers would be + extremely desirable to me. The names of Lincoln, Morgan, Knox, + Hamilton, Gates, Pinckney, Lee, Carrington, Hand, Muhlenburg, + Dayton, Burr, Brooks, Cobb, Smith, as well as the present + commander-in-chief, may be mentioned to him, and any others that + occur to you. Particularly I wish to have his opinion on the men + most suitable for inspector-general, adjutant-general, and + quartermaster-general. + + "His opinion on all subjects would have great weight, and I wish + you to obtain from him as much of his reflections upon the names + and the service as you can." + +[129] The arrangement was as follows:-- + +ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Inspector. } +CHARLES C. PINCKNEY, } Major-Generals. +HENRY KNOX, or, if either refuses, } +HENRY LEE, } + +HENRY LEE (if not major-general), } +JOHN BROOKS, } +WILLIAM S. SMITH, or } Brigadiers. +JOHN EAGER HOWARD, } + +EDWARD HAND, or } +JONATHAN DAYTON, or } Adjutant-General +WILLIAM S. SMITH (if not brigadier),} + +EDWARD CARRINGTON, Quartermaster-General. +JAMES CRAIK, Director of Hospitals. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + HAMILTON ACTING COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF--ARRANGEMENT OF GENERAL + OFFICERS--MORTIFICATION OF KNOX--HIS LETTER TO WASHINGTON--A + SOOTHING REPLY--KNOX OFFERS HIMSELF AS AID-DE-CAMP--THE PRESIDENT'S + INDECISION--WASHINGTON'S DECIDED LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT--HIS + ARRANGEMENT OF GENERALS CONFIRMED--TARDINESS IN + RECRUITING--REMISSNESS OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR--ANOTHER LETTER TO + KNOX--HE DECLINES SERVING UNDER HAMILTON--GENERAL PINCKNEY'S + GENEROUS COURSE--MEETING OF THE GENERALS IN + PHILADELPHIA--ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ARMY--HAMILTON LEFT IN + COMMAND--WASHINGTON'S SUGGESTIONS--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LAFAYETTE. + + +Having accepted the appointment of commander-in-chief of the provisional +army, Washington entered at once upon the duties of his office by +preparations for its organization. "I have consented to embark once more +on the boundless ocean of responsibility and trouble," he wrote to +Hamilton; and added, "I rely upon you as a coadjutor and assistant in +the turmoils I have consented to encounter." This, as we have observed, +was Washington's desire from the first moment when it appeared probable +that he would be invited to take the leadership of the army; and, as we +have seen, he placed Hamilton first on the list of his generals, in his +suggestions to the secretary of war. His reasons for this selection were +given to the president many weeks afterward, when there appeared to be a +disposition on the part of Adams to reverse the order, and place Knox at +the head of the general staff. + +"Although Colonel Hamilton," he said, "has never acted in the character +of a general officer, yet his opportunities, as the principal and most +confidential aid of the commander-in-chief, afforded him the means of +viewing everything on a larger scale than those whose attention was +confined to divisions or brigades, who knew nothing of the +correspondences of the commander-in-chief, or of the various orders to +or transactions with the general staff of the army. These advantages, +and his having served with usefulness in the old Congress, in the +general convention, and having filled one of the most important +departments of government with acknowledged abilities and integrity, +have placed him on high ground, and made him a conspicuous character in +the United States, and even in Europe.... He is enterprising, quick in +his perceptions, and his judgment intuitively great; qualities essential +to a military character." Thus appreciating Hamilton, Washington did not +hesitate to place him in the position of acting commander-in-chief of +the provisional army, it having been stipulated, as we have observed, +that the lieutenant-general should not be called to the field unless +under certain contingencies. + +Washington's arrangement of the rank of his major-generals was made +solely with reference to the public good. He apprehended that both Knox +and Pinckney (the latter yet in Europe) would feel aggrieved at the +promotion of Hamilton over their heads, they being his seniors in age +and superiors in rank. Yet he could not act otherwise than in accordance +with the convictions of his judgment. And in placing the veteran Knox +below Pinckney, he consulted the interests of his country rather than +his own feelings. + +In communicating to Knox the fact of his appointment, Washington said: +"As you have always found, and I trust ever will find, candor a +prominent part of my character, I must add that causes, which would +exceed the limits of an ordinary letter to explain, are in the way of +such an arrangement as might render your situation perfectly agreeable; +but I fondly hope that the difficulty will not be insurmountable in your +decision." He then informed him that he had chosen Colonel Hamilton as +his second in command, and General Pinckney next; saying of the latter +gentleman, that he was active, spirited, and intelligent, who, it was +understood at the South, had made military tactics as much if not more +his study than any officer in the continental army during the +Revolution. "His character, in other respects, in that quarter," he +said, "before his late embassy, was also high; and throughout the Union +it has acquired celebrity by his conduct as minister and envoy. His +connections are numerous, and their influence extensive. When to these +considerations I add, as my decided opinion, for reasons unnecessary to +enumerate, that if the French intend an invasion of this country in +force, their operations will commence south of Maryland, and probably of +Virginia, you will see at once the importance of embarking this +gentleman and all his connections heartily in all the active scenes that +would follow." He then expressed a hope that, in the impending struggle +for everything that ought to be dear and sacred to freemen, former rank +would be forgotten; and that, among the fit and chosen characters, the +only contention would be, who should be foremost in zeal and patriotism +at that crisis to serve his country, in whatever situation circumstances +might place him. + +Knox was deeply mortified by the preference given to Hamilton and +Pinckney; and, in the moments of irritated pride, and at the impulse of +deeply-wounded feelings, he wrote a warm reply to Washington. +"Yesterday," he said, "I received your favor of the sixteenth instant, +which I opened with all the delightful sensations of affection which I +always before experienced upon the receipt of your letters. But I found, +in its perusal, a striking instance of that vicissitude of human affairs +and friendships which you so justly describe. I read it with +astonishment, which, however, subsided in the reflection that few men +well know themselves, and therefore that for more than twenty years I +have been acting under a perfect delusion. Conscious myself of +entertaining for you a sincere, active, and invariable friendship, I +easily believed it was reciprocal. Nay, more; I flattered myself with +your esteem, and respect in a military point of view. But I find that +others, greatly my juniors in rank, have been, upon a scale of +comparison, preferred before me. Of this, perhaps, the world may also +concur with you, that I have no just reason to complain. But every +intelligent and just principle of society required, either that I should +have been previously consulted on an arrangement in which my feelings +and happiness have been so much wounded, or that I should not have been +dragged forth to public view at all, to make the comparison so +conspicuously odious. + +"I revere the cause of my country far beyond all my powers of +description. I am charmed with its honorable and dignified proceedings +relatively to foreign nations, under the former and present +administrations of the supreme executive; and I shall be proud of an +honorable opportunity of sealing the truth of these opinions with my +blood. It will be to me a malignant shaft of fate, indeed, if I am to be +excluded from active service by a constant sense of public insult and +injury. + +"It would be absurd in me," he said, "to complain of an arrangement +already made, with any view to a change." He then took a general survey +of the whole matter, in an expostulary tone; expressed his belief that +there had been some "management," of which Washington was not apprized; +and that, if there should be an invasion of the South, Mr. Pinckney +might submit to the arrangement for a time. "But, if no such pressure +should exist," he continued, "I have mistaken his character greatly if +he will accept." After many remarks respecting the probable course of +events in connection with the French, he said:-- + + "If such a train of events should occur (and events infinitely less + probable have occurred in thick succession for the last seven + years), all the military energy of America will be required. Then + an opportunity may be afforded in which a better value may be set + upon my services than at the present, and I may be permitted to + exert myself unshackled by any degradation of character. + + "I have received no other notification of an appointment than what + the newspapers announce. When it shall please the secretary of war + to give me the information, I shall endeavor to make him a suitable + answer. At present, I do not perceive how it can possibly be to any + other purport than in the negative.... In whatever situation I + shall be," he said in conclusion, "I shall always remember with + pleasure and gratitude the friendship and confidence with which you + have heretofore honored me." + +This letter gave Washington great pain. He loved Knox very sincerely, +and would not, without good cause, say or do anything to wound his +feelings. He always spoke of him with the warmth of the most +disinterested friendship. "There is no man in the United States," he +wrote to President Adams a few weeks later, "with whom I have been in +habits of greater intimacy, no one whom I have loved more sincerely, nor +any for whom I have had a greater friendship. But esteem, love, and +friendship, can have no influence on my mind, when I conceive that the +subjugation of our government and independence are the objects aimed at +by the enemies of our peace, and where possibly our all is at stake." + +Washington made an early reply to Knox's epistle. "Your letter," he +said, "has filled my mind with disquietude and perplexity in the +extreme; but I will say nothing in reply, intentionally, that shall give +you a moment's pain." He then entered into an elaborate history of the +circumstances under which the appointments were made, showing that such +haste had been exercised, that the first intimation he had of his +own appointment was from a newspaper paragraph and a private note from +the secretary of war; and that it was impossible for him to consult +General Knox, who was then in Boston, previous to the nomination of the +general officers. + +Feeling that his statements in a former letter ought to have been +sufficiently explanatory to General Knox, Washington continued: "I do +not know that these explanations will afford you any satisfaction, or +produce any change in your determination, but it was just to myself to +make them. If there has been any management in the business, it has been +concealed from me. I have had no agency therein, nor have I conceived a +thought on the subject that has not been disclosed to you with the +utmost sincerity and frankness of heart. And now, notwithstanding the +insinuations, which are implied in your letter, of the vicissitudes of +friendship and the inconstancy of mine, I will pronounce with decision +that it ever has been, and, notwithstanding the unkindness of the +charge, ever will be, for aught I know to the contrary, warm and +sincere. + +"I earnestly wished, on account of that friendship, as well as on the +score of military talents, to have had the assistance of you and +Colonel Hamilton in the arduous scenes with which we are threatened. I +wish it still devoutly, as well on public as on private accounts; for +dissentions of this sort will have an unhappy effect among the friends +of government, while it will be sweet consolation to the French +partisans, and food for their pride." + +Washington's letter touched the heart of Knox, and soothed his wounded +spirit. "In your welcome and much-esteemed favor," he wrote in reply, "I +recognize fully all the substantial friendship and kindness which I have +always so invariably experienced from you." His former letter was +written, he said, "under a pressure of various ideas, all sharpened by a +strong sense of the comparison which had been publicly made between +others" and himself. But, he said, in conclusion, "it is certainly far +from my intention to embarrass, or to force myself unbidden into a +station designed for another. It is neither my nature nor practice to +excite dissention. I shall, therefore, submit to any proper authority. +But, if an invasion shall take place, I shall deeply regret all +circumstances which would insuperably bar my having an active command in +the field. But, if such a measure should be my destiny, I shall +fervently petition to serve as one of your aids-de-camp, which, with +permission, I shall do with all the cordial devotion and attachment of +which my soul is capable." + +During the autumn of 1798, Washington's time was alternately devoted to +the business of his estate, and the duties of his responsible office. +The latter occupied much the larger portion of his thoughts and +exertions. Difficulties, which gave him much trouble in the old war, now +appeared--namely, questions of rank, and tardiness in the +recruiting-service. The friends of Knox, lacking that officer's love and +veneration for Washington, importuned the president, in whose hands +resided the power to make military appointments, to reverse the order in +which the lieutenant-general had named the major-generals. Adams was +secretly hostile to Hamilton at that time, and was not favorable to his +promotion; and he was strongly inclined to place Knox at the head of the +military staff, Pinckney second, and Hamilton third. This inclination +produced some dissentions in his cabinet, when the jealous +irritability of his temper, and his egotistical reliance upon his own +judgment, made him resolve to change the order of the major-generals. +When this subject, and the fact that the president intended to appoint +an adjutant-general without the chief's concurrence, came before +Washington in official form, he wrote a decided letter to Adams, giving +him to understand that he should consider a refusal to place Hamilton in +the front rank, a breach of an agreement, not formally made, but fully +implied, by the terms upon which the commander-in-chief accepted the +appointment--a breach sufficient to justify his own resignation. This +settled the matter, and the arrangement of the major-generals made by +Washington was not changed. + +In the same letter, the chief complained of the tardiness in the +recruiting-service. "We are now near the end of September," he said, +"and not a man recruited, nor a battalion-officer appointed, that has +come to my knowledge. The consequence is, that the spirit and +enthusiasm, which prevailed a month or two ago, and would have produced +the _best_ men in a short time, are evaporating fast, and a month or two +hence may induce but a few, and those perhaps of the _worst_ sort, to +enlist. Instead, therefore, of having the augmented force in a state of +preparation, and under a course of discipline, it is now to be raised, +and possibly may not be in existence when the enemy is in the field. We +shall have to meet veteran troops, inured to conquest, with militia or +raw recruits." + +Washington also complained, at this time, of the remissness of the +secretary of war in giving him full information. In a friendly but +decisive tone he wrote to Mr. M'Henry on the subject. "Short letters," +he said, "taking _no notice_ of suggestions or queries, are +unsatisfactory and distressing. Considering the light in which I think +my services have placed me, I should expect more attention from the +_secretary of war_; but from Mr. M'Henry, as a friend and coadjutor, I +certainly shall look for it." + +A month later, Washington wrote a friendly letter to Knox, urging him to +accept the proffered appointment. The president had not, till then, made +his final decision as to the relative position of Knox and Hamilton. +The commander-in-chief again dwelt upon the cause of the selection. "If +an amicable arrangement could have been settled between Generals +Hamilton, Pinckney, and yourself, previous to the nomination, it would +have been perfectly satisfactory to me; but driven as I was to make it +myself, at the time and in the manner it was transmitted, I was governed +by the best views and best evidence I could obtain of the public +sentiment relative thereto. The senate acted upon it under an impression +that it was to remain so, and in that light the matter is understood by +the public; and it would be uncandid not to add that I have found no +cause since to believe that I mistook that sentiment. + +"We shall have," he continued, "either _no war_ or a _severe contest_ +with France. In either case, if you will allow me to express my opinion, +this is the most eligible time for you to come forward. In the first +case, to assist with your counsel and aid in making judicious provisions +and arrangements to avert it; in the other case, to share in the glory +of defending your country, and, by making all secondary considerations +yield to that great and primary object, display a mind superior to +embarrassing punctilios at so critical a moment as the present. + +"After having expressed these sentiments, with the frankness of +undisguised friendship, it is hardly necessary to add that, if you +should finally decline the appointment of major-general, there is none +to whom I would give a more decided preference as aid-de-camp, the offer +of which is highly flattering, honorable, and grateful to my feelings, +and for which I entertain a high sense. But, my dear General Knox--and +here, again, I speak to you in the language of candor and +friendship--examine well your mind upon this subject. Do not unite +yourself to the suite of a man whom you may consider as the primary +cause of what you call a degradation, with unpleasant sensations. This, +while it was growing upon you, would, if I should come to the knowledge +of it, make me unhappy; as my first wish would be, that my military +family and the whole army should consider themselves as a band of +brothers, willing and ready to die for each other." + +Before this letter reached Knox, he had heard of the decision of the +president to place Hamilton in the position for which Washington had +nominated him, and he had written to the secretary of war, declining the +appointment, if compelled to serve under Hamilton and Pinckney, saying, +"No officer can consent to his own degradation by serving in an inferior +station." + +General Pinckney's course was more patriotic and generous. He arrived at +New York, from France, at the middle of October. Washington had awaited +this event with anxiety, for he was fearful that he might have a +repetition of the difficulties with General Knox. But Pinckney +cheerfully acquiesced in the arrangement, and accepted his commission. +He expressed his pleasure at seeing the name of Hamilton at the head of +the major-generals, and applauded the commander-in-chief for his +sagacity and discernment in placing it there. He also expressed his +regret that General Knox had declined his appointment, and that his +feelings had been severely wounded by being outranked. He added, "If the +authority which appointed me to the rank of second major in the army, +will revise the arrangement, and place General Knox before me, I will +neither quit the service nor be dissatisfied." + +At the request of the secretary of war, Washington repaired to +Philadelphia as early in November as a due regard to health would allow, +the yellow fever having prevailed in that city during the autumn. He was +requested to meet there Generals Hamilton and Pinckney, to make +arrangements respecting the provisional army about to be raised. M'Henry +had prepared a series of thirteen questions for their consideration, and +Washington propounded fourteen more, all bearing upon the construction +and disposition of the army. For almost five weeks the three generals +were closely engaged in the consideration of this subject, and thus the +result of their deliberations was reduced to proper arrangement, in the +form of two letters to the secretary of war, which were prepared by +Hamilton and signed by Washington. While in Philadelphia on this +occasion, the latter was present at the opening of Congress. This was +his last visit to the seat of the federal government. + +Washington returned to Mount Vernon about the twentieth of December, +leaving the executive department of the provisional army in the hands of +General Hamilton. He still adhered to the opinion that there would be no +actual war with France, or at least that the people of the United States +need not have any fear of a French invasion; yet he acted upon the wise +principle of being prepared. On his way home, being detained, he wrote +out some general suggestions for the guidance of the secretary of war in +the disposition of the army. + +Arriving at Mount Vernon, Washington was delighted with a letter from +Lafayette, who spoke with much feeling of the pleasure he derived from +conversations with his son about that pleasant home on the Potomac. The +marquis then adverted to politics, and said it was his full persuasion +that the French Directory seriously desired to be at peace with the +United States. Under this conviction, he expressed a hope that +Washington would use his "influence to prevent the breach from widening, +and to insure a noble and enduring reconciliation." In his reply to this +portion of the letter, Washington said, "You have expressed a wish +worthy of the benevolence of your heart." He assured him that no man +could deprecate a rupture between the two governments more than he. "You +add," he said, "that the executive Directory are disposed to an +accommodation of all differences. If they are sincere in this +declaration, let them evidence it by their actions; for words, +unaccompanied therewith, will not be much regarded now. I would pledge +myself that the government and people of the United States will meet +them heart and hand, at a fair negotiation; having no wish more ardent +than to live in peace with all the world, provided they are suffered to +remain undisturbed in their just rights.... On the politics of Europe, I +shall express no opinion, nor make any inquiry who is right or who is +wrong. I wish well to all nations and to all men. My politics are plain +and simple. I think every nation has a right to establish that form of +government under which it conceives it may be most happy, provided it +infracts no right, or is not dangerous to others; _and that no +governments ought to interfere with the internal concerns of another_, +except for the security of what is due to themselves." + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + GLOOMY ASPECT OF AFFAIRS--WASHINGTON'S HOPEFULNESS--THE FRENCH + DIRECTORY ALARMED--NEW MISSION TO FRANCE--OPPOSITION TO + IT--WASHINGTON'S VIEWS--ENVOYS DEPART FOR FRANCE--NAPOLEON BONAPARTE + AT THE HEAD OF FRENCH AFFAIRS--RESULT OF THE MISSION--WASHINGTON AT + HOME--CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOUNG CUSTIS--MARRIAGE OF NELLY + CUSTIS--PREPARATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS--WASHINGTON MAKES HIS + WILL--LETTER TO LAWRENCE LEWIS--PLAN FOR MANAGING HIS + ESTATES--WASHINGTON'S LATEST CORRESPONDENCE. + + +At the opening of the year 1799, the political firmament was dark with +the portentous clouds of war. Washington yet viewed them with calmness, +for he fully believed that they would pass by and leave his country +unscathed by the lightning and the hail. Already they had begun to +break, and let the sunlight through. But these promises were discerned +by few, while they were clear and full to the mental eye of the +commander-in-chief and other sagacious men. They perceived that the +military preparations made so vigorously by the United States had +already begun to produce an effect upon the belligerent feelings of the +French Directory. The appointment of Washington to the chief command of +the American armies had filled the boastful leaders in France with +alarm; and the wily Talleyrand, with a sagacity possessed by few of his +compeers, had already turned his thoughts toward reconciliation, and +made indirect exertions to induce the United States to offer amicable +overtures. He at length wrote to the French secretary of legation at the +Hague, intimating that any minister plenipotentiary which the American +government might be pleased to send to France, to negotiate for the +settlement of existing difficulties between the two countries, would +undoubtedly be received with all due respect. A copy of this letter was +immediately communicated by the secretary to William Vans Murray, the +United States minister at the Hague, who transmitted it to his +government. + +Mr. Murray's despatch gave President Adams much joy. He had been greatly +perplexed by the belligerent attitude assumed by the United States and +France toward each other. He now perceived an open door of escape from +the whole difficulty; and, apparently without considering the +impropriety, under the circumstances, of making any overtures to the +French republic, he laid the whole matter before the senate on the +eighteenth of February, at the same time nominating Mr. Murray to be +minister plenipotentiary to that republic. The president pledged himself +that Mr. Murray should not enter France without having first received +direct and unequivocal assurances from Talleyrand that he should be +received as full minister, and be treated with by an officer of equal +grade. + +This nomination took the country by surprise. Much as Washington desired +peace, he was unwilling to obtain it by a sacrifice of national dignity. +To Timothy Pickering he wrote on the third of March, saying: "The +unexpectedness of the event communicated in your letter of the +twenty-first ultimo did, as you may suppose, surprise me not a little. +But far, very far indeed, was this surprise short of what I experienced +the next day, when, by a very intelligent gentleman, immediately from +Philadelphia, I was informed that there had been no _direct_ overture +from the government of France to that of the United States for a +negotiation; on the contrary, that M. Talleyrand was playing the same +loose and round-about game he had attempted the year before with our +envoys, and which, as in that case, might mean anything or nothing, as +would subserve his purposes best. + +"Had we approached the ante-chamber of this gentleman when he opened the +door to us," he continued, "and there waited for a formal invitation +into the interior, the governments would have met upon equal ground, and +we might have advanced or receded according to circumstances, without +commitment. In plain words, had we said to M. Talleyrand, through the +channel of his communication, 'We still are, as we always have been, +ready to settle by fair negotiation all differences between the two +nations upon open, just, and honorable terms, and it rests with the +Directory (after the indignities with which _our_ attempts to effect +this have been treated), if they are equally sincere, to come forward in +an unequivocal manner, and prove it by their acts'--such conduct would +have shown a dignified willingness on our part to negotiate, and would +have proved their sincerity on the other. Under my present view of the +subject, this would have been the course I should have pursued, keeping +equally in view the horrors of war and the dignity of the government." + +The disposition throughout the country to avoid war if possible, had +great influence upon the president and the senate; but, before the +latter made a decision on the nomination of Mr. Murray, the whole +subject was seriously considered. It was finally concluded to associate +two others with Murray. The president accordingly nominated Oliver +Wolcott and Patrick Henry. These nominations were immediately confirmed +by the unanimous vote of the senate. The latter gentleman declined the +commission, on account of his advanced age and increasing debilities, +but with the assurance that "nothing short of absolute necessity" could +induce him to withhold what little aid he could give "an administration +whose abilities, patriotism, and virtue, deserved the gratitude and +reverence of all their fellow citizens." Governor William R. Davie, of +North Carolina, was appointed in Henry's place; and Mr. Murray, still at +the Hague, was instructed to apprize Talleyrand of the appointments, but +to inform him that the envoys would not embark until the Directory +should give assurances that they would be received with courtesy due to +their rank, and treated with on terms of perfect equality. He was also +instructed not to have any further informal communications with agents +of the French republic. + +It was October before the president received assurances of the proper +reception of the envoys, and they did not leave for France until +November. Meanwhile, although war between the two nations had not been +formally declared, it actually existed upon the ocean. Hostile +collisions had taken place between vessels belonging to the two +governments; and upward of three hundred private American vessels had +been armed for self-defence. + +From the beginning, some of the best friends of Mr. Adams had deprecated +the new mission to France. The nominations had been made by the +president without consulting his cabinet; and both Pickering, the +secretary of state, and M'Henry, the secretary of war, lamented the +occurrence, not only because it was undignified, but because it was +likely to complicate the already perplexing relations with the French. +They remonstrated, but the president refused to listen. Hamilton, +Gouverneur Morris, and other supporters of the administration, were +equally opposed to the measure, but the president paid little heed to +their opinions. This produced a feud between the president and his +cabinet, which made Washington uneasy, for the times were too ominous of +mischief to the government to make such feud otherwise than perilous in +a degree to the commonwealth. "I have, some time past," wrote Washington +to Pickering late in November, just after the departure of the envoys, +"viewed the political concerns of the United States with an anxious and +painful eye. They appear to me to be moving by hasty strides to a +crisis; but in what it will result, that Being, who sees, foresees, and +directs all things, alone can tell. The vessel is afloat, or very nearly +so, and, considering myself as a passenger only, I shall trust to the +mariners (whose duty it is to watch) to steer it into safe port." + +Fortunately for all parties concerned, when the American envoys reached +France, a change in the French government had taken place. Napoleon +Bonaparte was at the head of the civil and military affairs of the +nation, with the title of First Consul. The weak Directory had yielded +to the increasing powers of that wonderful man, and his energy and +audacity had rescued France from impending anarchy and ruin. He promptly +received the United States embassadors; and, several months afterward, +he concluded a treaty with them, and gave them such assurances of +friendship, that, on their return home, the provisional army was +disbanded. The commander-in-chief, meanwhile, had been laid in the +grave. Washington did not live to see the clouds break and disperse +according to the prophecies of his faith. + +We have anticipated events, in order that a glimpse might be given of +the conclusion of the difficulties with France. Let us now turn back to +the beginning of 1799, and consider Washington personally during that +last year of his life. To his family it opened with joy, and closed in +sorrow. + +At the beginning of the year, there were preparations in progress at +Mount Vernon for an event which gave pleasure to Washington--the +marriage of Lawrence Lewis, his favorite nephew, with Nelly Custis, his +adopted daughter, of whose mutual attachment we have already spoken. At +the same time, Washington was much perplexed concerning Nelly's brother +George, who was then a youth of eighteen, talented but wayward. He had +been in college for a few years, first at Princeton and then at +Annapolis; and now, on account of his unwillingness to return to the +latter place, he had been for some time pursuing his studies at home, +under the eye of his foster father, but with indifferent success. The +correspondence between them, for several years, to which allusion has +already been made, reveals the anxiety with which Washington watched the +development of his foster-son--sometimes hoping, sometimes almost +despairing, yet always kind, though firm.[130] + +Nelly Custis was married at Mount Vernon on Friday, the twenty-second +of February, 1799, Washington's birthday. It was a bright and beautiful +day. "The early spring flowers were budding in the hedges, and the +blue-bird, making its way cautiously northward, gave a few joyous notes +in the garden that morning. The occasion was one of great hilarity at +Mount Vernon, for the bride was beloved by all; and Major Lewis, the +bridegroom, had ever been near to the heart of his uncle, since the +death of his mother, who so much resembled her illustrious brother, that +when, in sport, she would place a chapeau on her head, and throw a +military cloak over her shoulders, she might easily have been mistaken +for the chief."[131] + +It was the wish of Nelly that her foster-father should wear, on that +occasion, the splendidly-embroidered uniform which the board of general +officers had adopted as the costume of the commander-in-chief of the +armies of the United States, but he could not be persuaded to wear a +suit bedizened with tinsel. He preferred the plain old continental blue +and buff, and the modest, black-ribbon cockade. Magnificent white +plumes, which General Pinckney had presented to him, he gave to the +bride; and to the Reverend Thomas Davis, rector of Christ church, +Alexandria, who performed the marriage ceremony, he presented an elegant +copy of Mrs. Macaulay's History of England, in eight octavo volumes, +saying, when he handed them to him: "These, sir, were written by a +remarkable lady, who visited America many years ago; and here is also +her treatise on the _Immutability of Moral Truth_, which she sent me +just before her death. Read it, and return it to me." + +With characteristic modesty, Washington made no allusion to the fact +that Mrs. Macaulay (Catharine Macaulay Graham) crossed the Atlantic, in +the spring of 1785, for no other purpose, as she avowed, than to see the +great leader of the American armies, whom she revered as a second +Moses.[132] + +During the spring, Washington made preparations for changes and +improvements in his estate. He appeared at times to feel that the end of +his earthly pilgrimage was near. In a letter written to Mr. M'Henry in +March, after alluding to the inconvenience of leaving home, on public +business, on account of the demands upon his attention by his private +affairs, he said: "This is not all, nor the worst; for, being the +executor, the administrator, and trustee, for others' estates, my +greatest anxiety is to leave all these concerns in such a clear and +distinct form, that no reproach may attach itself to me when I shall +have taken my departure for the land of spirits." + +In April, he surveyed with his own hands, and made a chart of some lands +belonging to him near Alexandria, which he bequeathed to the late Mr. +Custis. "To complete this," he wrote, "employed nearly three days."[133] + +In July, he wrote and executed his last will and testament. It was +written entirely by himself; and at the bottom of each page of the +manuscript he signed his name in full--GEORGE WASHINGTON.[134] + +In September, Lawrence Lewis, who, with his wife, was still residing at +Mount Vernon, applied to Washington for a portion of his estate. Lewis +was then on a visit with his friends at Fredericksburg, and Washington +wrote to him as follows:-- + + "MOUNT VERNON, _20th September, 1799._ + + "DEAR SIR: From the moment Mrs. Washington and myself adopted the + two youngest children of the late Mr. Custis, it became my + intention (if they survived me, and conducted themselves to my + satisfaction) to consider them in my will when I was about to make + a distribution of my property. This determination has undergone no + diminution, but is strengthened by the connection one of them has + formed with my family. + + "The expense at which I live, and the unproductiveness of my + estate, will not allow me to lessen my income while I remain in my + present situation. On the contrary, were it not for occasional + supplies of money in payment for lands sold within the last four or + five years, to the amount of upward of fifty thousand dollars, I + should not be able to support the former without involving myself + in debt and difficulties. + + "But as it has been understood, from expressions occasionally + dropped from Nelly Custis, now your wife, that it is the wish of + you both to settle in this neighborhood, contiguous to her + friends, and as it would be inexpedient as well as expensive for + you to make a purchase of land, when a measure which is in + contemplation would place you on more eligible ground, I shall + inform you that, in the will which I have made, which I have by me, + and have no disposition to alter, that the part of my Mount Vernon + tract which lies north of the public road leading from the Gum + spring to Colchester, containing about two thousand acres, with the + Dogue-river farm, mill, and distillery, I have left you. Gray's + heights is bequeathed to you and her jointly, if you incline to + build on it; and few better sites for a house than Gray's hill and + that range, are to be found in this country or elsewhere. + + "You may also have what is properly Dogue-run farm, the mill, and + distillery, on a just and equitable rent; as also the lands + belonging thereto, on a reasonable hire, either next year, or the + year following--it being necessary, in my opinion, that a young man + should have objects of employment. Idleness is disreputable under + any circumstances; productive of no good, even when unaccompanied + by vicious habits; and you might commence building as soon as you + please, during the progress of which Mount Vernon might be made + your home. + + "You may conceive that building before you have an absolute title + to the land is hazardous. To obviate this, I shall only remark that + it is not likely any occurrence will happen, or any change take + place, that would alter my present intention (if the conduct of + yourself and wife is such as to merit a continuance of it); but be + this as it may, that you may proceed on sure ground with respect to + the buildings, I will agree--and this letter shall be an evidence + of it--that if hereafter I should find cause to make any other + disposition of the property _here_ mentioned, I will pay the actual + cost of such buildings to you or yours. + + "Although I have not the most distant idea that any event will + happen that could effect a change in my present determination, nor + any suspicions that you or Nelly could conduct yourselves in such a + manner as to incur my serious displeasure, yet, at the same time + that I am inclined to do justice to others, it behooves me to take + care of myself, by keeping the staff in my own hands. + + "That you may have a more perfect idea of the landed property I + have bequeathed to you and Nelly in my will, I transmit a plan of + it, every part of which is correctly laid down and accurately + measured, showing the number of fields, lots, meadows, &c., with + the contents and relative situation of each; all of which, except + the mill and swamp, which has never been considered as a part of + Dogue-run farm, and is retained merely for the purpose of putting + it into a better state of improvement, you may have on the terms + before-mentioned. + + "With every kind wish for you and Nelly, in which your aunt, who is + still much indisposed, unites, + + "I remain your affectionate uncle, + + "GEO. WASHINGTON." + +Little did any of the parties concerned then suppose that in less than +three months the hand that penned this letter would be paralyzed by +death; and that the Will, so lately written by that hand, would so soon +call for executors. + +During the autumn, Washington digested a complete system of management +for his estate for several succeeding years, in which were tables +designating the rotation of crops. The document occupied thirty folio +pages, all written in his clear and peculiar style. It was completed +only four days before his death, and was accompanied by a letter to +James Anderson, the manager of his farms, dated on the same day +(December 10th), in which he gave him some special directions, as if the +master was about to depart on a journey. This appears the more singular, +as Washington expected to reside at home, and exercise a personal +supervision of the whole. In his letter to Anderson, Washington +remarked:-- + + "Economy in all things is as commendable in the manager as it is + beneficial and desirable to the employer; and, on a farm, it shows + itself in nothing more evidently or more essentially than in not + suffering any provender to be wasted, but, on the contrary, in + taking care that every atom of it be used to the best advantage; + and likewise in not permitting the ploughs, harness, and other + implements of husbandry, and the gears belonging to them, to be + unnecessarily exposed, trodden under foot, run over by carts, and + abused in other respects. More good is derived from attending to + the minutiae of a farm than strikes people at first view; and + examining the farmyard fences, and looking into the fields to see + that nothing is there but what is allowed to be there, is + oftentimes the means of producing more good, or at least of + avoiding more evil, than can be accomplished by riding from one + working-party or overseer to another. I have mentioned these + things, not only because they have occurred to me, but because, + although apparently trifles, they prove far otherwise in the + result." + +During the year, Washington had conducted the preparations of the +provisional army for the field almost wholly through the medium of +letters. These were numerous and sometimes voluminous, and exhibit his +constant watchfulness and care. One of his later letters to the +secretary of war was in reference to a plan of Hamilton's for _hutting_ +the troops then in the field; and the last letter which, it is believed, +he ever wrote--having been penned on the day when he was attacked by +fatal disease--was to General Hamilton, on a topic of public interest. +Hamilton had communicated to the secretary of war his views concerning +the establishment of a military academy. A copy of this paper he +transmitted to the commander-in-chief, with a request that he would give +it his consideration. To this Washington replied:-- + + "The establishment of an institution of this kind, upon a + respectable and extensive basis, has ever been considered by me as + an object of primary importance to this country; and, while I was + in the chair of government, I omitted no proper opportunity of + recommending it, in my public speeches and otherwise, to the + attention of the legislature. But I never undertook to go into a + detail of the organization of such an academy; leaving this task to + others, whose pursuit in the path of science, and attention to the + arrangement of such institutions, had better qualified them for the + execution of it. For the same reason, I must now decline making any + observations on the details of your plan; and, as it has already + been submitted to the secretary of war, through whom it will + naturally be laid before Congress, it might be too late for + alterations, if any should be suggested. I sincerely hope that the + subject will meet with due attention, and that the reasons for its + establishment, which you have so clearly pointed out in your letter + to the secretary, will prevail upon the legislature to place it + upon a permanent and respectable footing." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[130] The young man alluded to was the late George Washington Parke +Custis, of Arlington House, Virginia, who lived to become the last +surviving executor of Washington's will, and who died at his seat, on +the tenth of October, 1857, when in the seventy-seventh year of his age. +Mr. Custis prepared for the press a series of articles concerning the +public and private life of his foster-father, which the present writer +arranged, annotated, and published, under the title of "Recollections +and Private Memoirs of Washington, by his Adopted Son." In that work is +given a series of letters, composing portions of a correspondence +between Washington and young Custis, during the period when the latter +was in college, first at Princeton, in New Jersey, and then at +Annapolis, in Maryland. From Washington's letters the following extracts +have been taken, to show the parental solicitude which he felt for this +talented but somewhat wayward boy, who was the idol of his grandmother, +Mrs. Washington:-- + + "PHILADELPHIA, _15th November, 1796._ + + "DEAR WASHINGTON: Yesterday's mail brought me your letter of the + twelfth instant, and under cover of this letter you will receive a + ten dollar bill, to purchase a gown, &c., if proper. But as the + classes may be distinguished by a different insignia, I advise you + not to provide these without first obtaining the approbation of + your tutors; otherwise you may be distinguished more by folly than + by the dress. + + "It affords me pleasure to hear that you are agreeably fixed; and I + receive still more from the assurance you give of attending closely + to your studies. It is you yourself who is to derive immediate + benefit from these. Your country may do it hereafter. The more + knowledge you acquire, the greater will be the probability of your + succeeding in both, and the greater will be your thirst for more. + + "I rejoice to hear you went through your examination with + propriety, and have no doubt but that the president has placed you + in the class which he conceived best adapted to the present state + of your improvement. The more there are above you, the greater your + exertions should be to ascend; but let your promotion result from + your own application, and from intrinsic merit, not from the labors + of others. The last would prove fallacious, and expose you to the + reproach of the daw in borrowed feathers. This would be inexcusable + in you, because there is no occasion for it, forasmuch as you need + nothing but the exertion of the talents you possess, with proper + directions, to acquire all that is necessary; and the hours + allotted for study, if properly improved, will enable you to do + this. Although the confinement may feel irksome at first, the + advantages resulting from it, to a reflecting mind, will soon + overcome it. + + "Endeavor to conciliate the good will of _all_ your + fellow-students, rendering them every act of kindness in your + power. Be particularly obliging and attentive to your chamber-mate, + Mr. Forsyth; who, from the account I have of him, is an admirable + young man, and strongly impressed with the importance of a liberal + and finished education. But, above all, be obedient to your tutors, + and in a particular manner respect the president of the seminary, + who is both learned and good. + + "For any particular advantages you may derive from the attention + and aid of Mr. Forsyth, I shall have a disposition to reward. One + thing more, and I will close this letter. Never let an indigent + person ask, without receiving _something_, if you have the means; + always recollecting in what light the widow's mite was viewed." + + PHILADELPHIA, _Nov_. 28, 1796. + + "The assurances you give me of applying diligently to your studies, + and fulfilling those obligations which are enjoined by your Creator + and due to his creatures, are highly pleasing and satisfactory to + me. I rejoice in it on two accounts: first, as it is the sure means + of laying the foundation of your own happiness, and rendering you, + if it should please God to spare your life, a useful member of + society hereafter: and, secondly, that I may, if I live to enjoy + the pleasure, reflect that I have been, in some degree, + instrumental in effecting these purposes. + + "You are now extending into that stage of life when good or bad + habits are formed; when the mind will be turned to things useful + and praiseworthy, or to dissipation and vice. Fix on whichever it + may, it will stick by you; for you know it has been said, and + truly, that 'as the twig is bent so it will grow.' This, in a + strong point of view, shows the propriety of letting your + inexperience be directed by maturer advice, and in placing guard + upon the avenues which lead to idleness and vice. The latter will + approach like a thief, working upon your passions--encouraged, + perhaps, by bad examples--the propensity to which will increase in + proportion to the practice of it, and your yielding. This + admonition proceeds from the purest affection for you; but I do not + mean by it that you are to become a stoic, or to deprive yourself, + in the intervals of study, of any recreations or manly exercise + which reason approves. + + "'Tis well to be on good terms with all your fellow-students, and I + am pleased to hear you are so; but while a courteous behavior is + due to all, select the most deserving only for your friendships, + and, before this becomes intimate, weigh their dispositions and + character _well_. True friendship is a plant of slow growth; to be + sincere, there must be a congeniality of temper and pursuits. + Virtue and vice can not be allied; nor can idleness and industry. + Of course, if you resolve to adhere to the two former of these + extremes, an intimacy with those who incline to the latter of them + would be extremely embarrassing to you: it would be a + stumbling-block in your way, and act like a millstone hung to your + neck, for it is the nature of idleness and vice to obtain as many + votaries as they can. + + "I would guard you, too, against imbibing hasty and unfavorable + impressions of any one. Let your judgment always balance well + before you decide; and even then, where there is no occasion for + expressing an opinion, it is best to be silent, for there is + nothing more certain than that it is at all times more easy to make + enemies than friends. And besides, to speak evil of any one, unless + there are unequivocal proofs of their deserving it, is an injury + for which there is no adequate reparation. For, as Shakespeare + says, 'He that robs me of my good name enriches not himself, but + renders me poor indeed,' or words to that effect. Keep in mind that + scarcely any change would be agreeable to you at _first_, from the + sudden transition, and from never having been accustomed to shift + or rough it; and, moreover, that if you meet with collegiate fare, + it will be unmanly to complain. My paper reminds me it is time to + conclude." + + "MOUNT VERNON, 4_th June_, 1797. + + "Your letter of the twenty-ninth ultimo came to hand by the post of + Friday, and eased my mind of many unpleasant sensations and + reflections on your account. It has, indeed, done more--it has + filled it with pleasure more easy to be conceived than expressed; + and if your sorrow and repentance for the disquietude occasioned by + the preceding letter--your resolution to abandon the ideas which + were therein expressed--are sincere, I shall not only heartily + forgive, but will forget also, and bury in oblivion all that has + passed.... + + "You must not suffer the resolution you have recently entered into, + to operate as the mere result of a momentary impulse, occasioned by + the letters you have received from hence. This resolution should be + founded on sober reflection, and a thorough conviction of your + error; otherwise it will be as wavering as the wind, and become the + sport of conflicting passions, which will occasion such a lassitude + in your exertions as to render your studies of little avail. To + insure permanency, think seriously of the advantages which are to + be derived, on the one hand, from the steady pursuit of a course of + study to be marked out by your preceptor, whose judgment, + experience, and acknowledged abilities, enables him to direct them; + and, on the other hand, revolve as seriously on the consequences + which would inevitably result from an indisposition to this + measure, or from an idle habit of hankering after unprofitable + amusements at your time of life, before you have acquired that + knowledge which would be found beneficial in every situation--I say + _before_, because it is not my wish that, having gone through the + essentials, you should be deprived of any rational amusement + _afterward_; or, lastly, from dissipation in such company as you + would most likely meet under such circumstances, who but too often + mistake ribaldry for wit, and rioting, swearing, intoxication, and + gambling, for manliness." + +Young Custis was placed in the college at Annapolis in the spring of +1798, when Washington wrote to Mr. M'Dowell, the president, as +follows:-- + + "Mr. Custis possesses competent talents to fit him for any studies, + but they are counteracted by an indolence of mind which renders it + difficult to draw them into action. Doctor Stuart having been an + attentive observer of this, I shall refer you to him for the + development of the causes, while justice from me requires I should + add, that I know of no vice to which this inertness can be + attributed. From drinking and gaming he is perfectly free; and if + he has a propensity to any other impropriety, it is hidden from me. + He is generous, and regardful of truth. + + "As his family, fortune, and talents (if the latter can be + improved), give him just pretensions to become a useful member of + society in the councils of his country, his friends, and none more + than myself, are extremely desirous that his education should be + liberal, polished, and suitable for this end." + +Young Custis did not remain long at Annapolis. He was now eighteen years +of age, and his mind was filled with visions of military glory. He +received the appointment of cornet of horse, early in January, 1799, and +was soon afterward promoted to the position of aid-de-camp to General +Pinckney. As the army was not called to the field, he remained at Mount +Vernon, awaiting orders. Meanwhile, Washington endeavored to keep him +engaged in his studies, but with little success, as appears by the +following extract from a letter to Doctor Stuart, young Custis's +stepfather, written on the twenty-second of January, 1799, soon after +the cornet received his appointment:-- + + "DEAR SIR: Washington leaves this to-day on a visit to Hope Park, + which will afford you an opportunity to examine the progress he has + made in the studies he was directed to pursue. + + "I can, and I believe I do, keep him in his room a certain portion + of the twenty-four hours, but it will be impossible for me to make + him attend to his books if inclination on his part is wanting; nor, + while I am out, if he chooses to be so, is it in my power to + prevent it. I will not say this is the case, nor will I run the + hazard of doing him injustice, by saying he does not apply as he + ought to what has been prescribed; but no risk will be run, and + candor requires I should declare it as my opinion that he will not + derive much benefit in any course which can be marked out for him + at this place, without an _able_ preceptor always with him. I + believe Washington means well, but has not resolution to act well." + +For the entire correspondence alluded to, and a vast amount of +information concerning the private life of Washington, the reader is +referred to Custis's _Recollections and Private Memoirs_ of the Father +of his Country. + +[131] Lossing's _Mount Vernon and its Associations_, page 313. + +[132] Ib., page 314. + +[133] The original chart of this survey, made by Washington's own hand, +is preserved by the daughter of Mr. Custis (Mrs. Colonel Robert E. Lee), +at Arlington House. A _facsimile_ of it is published in Custis's +_Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington_. + +[134] The following is a true copy of Washington's will:-- + +IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, GEORGE WASHINGTON, of Mount Vernon, a +citizen of the United States, and lately President of the same, do make, +ordain, and declare this instrument, which is written with my own hand, +and every page thereof subscribed with my name, to be my last WILL AND +TESTAMENT, revoking all others. + +_Imprimis._--All my debts, of which there are but few, and none of +magnitude, are to be punctually and speedily paid; and the legacies, +hereinafter bequeathed, are to be discharged as soon as circumstances +will permit, and in the manner directed. + +_Item._--To my dearly beloved wife, _Martha Washington_, I give and +bequeath the use, profit, and benefit of my whole estate, real and +personal, for the term of her natural life, except such parts thereof as +are specially disposed of hereafter. My improved lot in the town of +Alexandria, situated on Pitt and Cameron streets, I give to her and her +heirs for ever; as I also do my household and kitchen furniture of every +sort and kind, with the liquors and groceries which may be on hand at +the time of my decease, to be used and disposed of as she may think +proper. + +_Item._--Upon the decease of my wife, it is my will and desire that all +the slaves whom I hold _in my own right_ shall receive their freedom. To +emancipate them during her life would, though earnestly wished by me, be +attended with such insuperable difficulties, on account of their +intermixture by marriage with the dower-negroes, as to excite the most +painful sensations, if not disagreeable consequences, to the latter, +while both descriptions are in the occupancy of the same proprietor; it +not being in my power, under the tenure by which the dower-negroes are +held, to manumit them.[137] And whereas, among those who will receive +freedom according to this devise, there may be some who, from old age or +bodily infirmities, and others who, on account of their infancy, will be +unable to support themselves, it is my will and desire that all, who +come under the first and second description, shall be comfortably +clothed and fed by my heirs while they live; and that such of the latter +description as have no parents living, or, if living, are unable or +unwilling to provide for them, shall be bound by the court until they +shall arrive at the age of twenty-five years; and, in cases where no +record can be produced, whereby their ages can be ascertained, the +judgment of the court, upon its own view of the subject, shall be +adequate and final. The negroes thus bound are (by their masters or +mistresses) to be taught to read and write, and to be brought up to some +useful occupation, agreeably to the laws of the Commonwealth of +Virginia, providing for the support of orphan and other poor children. +And I do hereby expressly forbid the sale or transportation out of the +said Commonwealth, of any slave I may die possessed of, under any +pretence whatsoever. And I do, moreover, most pointedly and most +solemnly enjoin it upon my executors hereafter named, or the survivors +of them, to see that this clause respecting slaves, and every part +thereof, be religiously fulfilled at the epoch at which it is directed +to take place, without evasion, neglect, or delay, after the crops which +may then be on the ground are harvested, particularly as it respects the +aged and infirm; seeing that a regular and permanent fund be established +for their support, as long as there are subjects requiring it; not +trusting to the uncertain provision to be made by individuals. And to my +mulatto man, _William_, calling himself _William Lee_, I give immediate +freedom, or, if he should prefer it (on account of the accidents which +have befallen him, and which have rendered him incapable of walking, or +of any active employment), to remain in the situation he now is, it +shall be optional in him to do so; in either case, however, I allow him +an annuity of thirty dollars, during his natural life, which shall be +independent of the victuals and clothes he has been accustomed to +receive, if he chooses the last alternative; but in full with his +freedom, if he prefers the first; and this I give him, as a testimony of +my sense of his attachment to me, and for his faithful services during +the Revolutionary War. + +_Item._--To the trustees (governors, or by whatsoever other name they +may be designated) of the Academy in the town of Alexandria, I give and +bequeath, in trust, four thousand dollars, or, in other words, twenty of +the shares which I hold in the Bank of Alexandria, toward the support of +a free school, established at, and annexed to, the said Academy, for the +purpose of educating such orphan children, or the children of such other +poor and indigent persons, as are unable to accomplish it with their own +means, and who, in the judgment of the trustees of the said seminary, +are best entitled to the benefit of this donation. The aforesaid twenty +shares I give and bequeath in perpetuity; the dividends only of which +are to be drawn for and applied, by the said trustees for the time +being, for the uses above mentioned; the stock to remain entire and +untouched, unless indications of failure of the said bank should be so +apparent, or a discontinuance thereof, should render a removal of this +fund necessary. In either of these cases, the amount of the stock here +devised is to be vested in some other bank, or public institution, +whereby the interest may with regularity and certainty be drawn and +applied as above. And to prevent misconception, my meaning is, and is +hereby declared to be, that these twenty shares are in lieu of, and not +in addition to, the thousand pounds given by a missive letter some years +ago, in consequence whereof an annuity of fifty pounds has since been +paid toward the support of this institution. + +_Item._--Whereas, by a law of the Commonwealth of Virginia, enacted in +the year 1785, the Legislature thereof was pleased, as an evidence of +its approbation of the services I had rendered the public during the +Revolution, and partly, I believe, in consideration of my having +suggested the vast advantages which the community would derive from the +extension of its inland navigation under legislative patronage, to +present me with one hundred shares, of one hundred dollars each, in the +incorporated Company, established for the purpose of extending the +navigation of James River from the tide-water to the mountains; and also +with fifty shares, of L100 sterling each, in the corporation of another +Company, likewise established for the similar purpose of opening the +navigation of the River Potomac from the tide-water to Fort Cumberland; +the acceptance of which, although the offer was highly honorable and +grateful to my feelings, was refused, as inconsistent with a principle +which I had adopted, and had never departed from, viz., not to receive +pecuniary compensation for any services I could render my country in its +arduous struggle with Great Britain for its rights, and because I had +evaded similar propositions from other States in the Union; adding to +this refusal, however, an intimation that, if it should be the pleasure +of the Legislature to permit me to appropriate the said shares to +_public uses_, I would receive them on those terms with due sensibility; +and this it having consented to, in flattering terms, as will appear by +a subsequent law, and sundry resolutions, in the most ample and +honorable manner;--I proceed after this recital, for the more correct +understanding of the case, to declare; that, as it has always been a +source of serious regret with me, to see the youth of these United +States sent to foreign countries for the purpose of education, often +before their minds were formed, or they had imbibed any adequate ideas +of the happiness of their own; contracting too frequently, not only +habits of dissipation and extravagance, but principles unfriendly to +republican government, and to the true and genuine liberties of mankind, +which thereafter are rarely overcome; for these reasons it has been my +ardent wish to see a plan devised, on a liberal scale, which would have +a tendency to spread systematic ideas through all parts of this rising +empire, thereby to do away local attachments and State prejudices, as +far as the nature of things would, or indeed ought to admit, from our +national councils. Looking anxiously forward to the accomplishment of so +desirable an object as this is (in my estimation), my mind has not been +able to contemplate any plan more likely to effect the measure, than the +establishment of a University in a central part of the United States, to +which the youths of fortune and talents from all parts thereof may be +sent for the completion of their education, in all the branches of +polite literature, in arts and sciences, in acquiring knowledge in the +principles of politics and good government, and, as a matter of infinite +importance in my judgment, by associating with each other, and forming +friendships in juvenile years, be enabled to free themselves in a proper +degree from those local prejudices and habitual jealousies which have +just been mentioned, and which, when carried to excess, are +never-failing sources of disquietude to the public mind, and pregnant of +mischievous consequences to this country. Under these impressions, so +fully dilated-- + +_Item._--I give and bequeath, in perpetuity, the fifty shares which I +hold in the Potomac company (under the aforesaid acts of the Legislature +of Virginia), toward the endowment of a University, to be established +within the limits of the District of Columbia, under the auspices of the +general government, if that government should incline to extend a +fostering hand toward it; and, until such seminary is established, and +the funds arising on these shares shall be required for its support, my +further will and desire is, that the profit accruing therefrom shall, +whenever the dividends are made, be laid out in purchasing stock in the +Bank of Columbia, or some other bank, at the discretion of my executors, +or by the Treasurer of the United States for the time being, under the +direction of Congress, provided that honorable body should patronize the +measure; and the dividends proceeding from the purchase of such stock +are to be vested in more stock, and so on, until a sum adequate to the +accomplishment of the object is obtained; of which I have not the +smallest doubt before many years pass away, even if no aid or +encouragement is given by the legislative authority, or from any other +source. + +_Item._--The hundred shares, which I hold in the James River Company, I +have given, and now confirm in perpetuity, to and for the use and +benefit of Liberty Hall Academy, in the County of Rockbridge, in the +Commonwealth of Virginia. + +_Item._--I release, exonerate, and discharge the estate of my deceased +brother, _Samuel Washington_, from the payment of the money which is due +to me for the land I sold to _Philip Pendleton_ (lying in the county of +Berkeley), who assigned the same to him, the said _Samuel_, who by +agreement was to pay me therefor. And whereas, by some contract (the +purport of which was never communicated to me) between the said _Samuel_ +and his son, _Thornton Washington_, the latter became possessed of the +aforesaid land, without any conveyance having passed from me, either to +the said _Pendleton_, the said _Samuel_, or the said _Thornton_, and +without any consideration having been made, by which neglect neither the +legal nor equitable title has been alienated; it rests therefore with me +to declare my intentions concerning the premises; and these are, to give +and bequeath the said land to whomsoever the said _Thornton Washington_ +(who is also dead) devised the same, or to his heirs for ever, if he +died intestate; exonerating the estate of the said _Thornton_, equally +with that of the said _Samuel_, from payment of the purchase money, +which, with interest, agreeably to the original contract with the said +_Pendleton_, would amount to more than a thousand pounds. And whereas +two other sons of my said deceased brother _Samuel_, namely, _George +Steptoe Washington_ and _Lawrence Augustine Washington_, were, by the +decease of those to whose care they were committed, brought under my +protection, and, in consequence, have occasioned advances on my part, +for their education at college and other schools, for their board, +clothing, and other incidental expenses, to the amount of near five +thousand dollars, over and above the sums furnished by their estate, +which sum it may be inconvenient for them or their father's estate to +refund; I do for these reasons acquit them and the said estate from the +payment thereof, my intention being, that all accounts between them and +me, and their father's estate and me, shall stand balanced. + +_Item._--The balance due to me from the estate of _Bartholomew +Dandridge_, deceased (my wife's brother), and which amounted on the +first day of October, 1795, to four hundred and twenty-five pounds (as +will appear by an account rendered by his deceased son, _John +Dandridge_, who was the acting executor of his father's will), I release +and acquit from the payment thereof. And the negroes, then thirty-three +in number, formerly belonging to the said estate, who were taken in +execution, sold, and purchased in on my account, in the year (_blank_), +and ever since have remained in the possession and to the use of _Mary_, +widow of the said _Bartholomew Dandridge_, with their increase, it is my +will and desire shall continue and be in her possession, without paying +hire, or making compensation for the same for the time past, or to come, +during her natural life; at the expiration of which, I direct that all +of them who are forty years old and upward shall receive their freedom; +and all under that age, and above sixteen, shall serve seven years and +no longer; and all under sixteen years shall serve until they are +twenty-five years of age, and then be free. And, to avoid disputes +respecting the ages of any of these negroes, they are to be taken into +the court of the county in which they reside, and the judgment thereof, +in this relation, shall be final, and record thereof made, which may be +adduced as evidence at any time thereafter, if disputes should arise +concerning the same. And I further direct, that the heirs of the said +_Bartholomew Dandridge_ shall equally share the benefits arising from +the services of the said negroes, according to the tenor of this devise, +upon the decease of their mother. + +_Item._--If _Charles Carter_, who intermarried with my niece, _Betty +Lewis_, is not sufficiently secured in the title to the lots he had of +me in the town of Fredericksburg, it is my will and desire, that my +executors shall make such conveyances of them as the law requires to +render it perfect. + +_Item._--To my nephew, _William Augustine Washington_, and his heirs (if +he should conceive them to be objects worth prosecuting), a lot in the +town of Manchester (opposite to Richmond), No. 265, drawn on my sole +account, and also the tenth of one or two hundred-acre lots, and two of +three half-acre lots, in the city and vicinity of Richmond, drawn in +partnership with nine others, all in the lottery of the deceased +_William Byrd_, are given; as is also a lot which I purchased of _John +Hood_, conveyed by _William Willie_ and _Samuel Gordon_, trustees of the +said _John Hood_, numbered 139, in the town of Edinburgh, in the County +of Prince George, State of Virginia. + +_Item._--To my nephew, _Bushrod Washington_,[136] I give and bequeath +all the papers in my possession, which relate to my civil and military +administration of the affairs of this country. I leave to him also such +of my private papers as are worth preserving; and at the decease of my +wife, and before, if she is not inclined to retain them, I give and +bequeath my library of books and pamphlets of every kind. + +_Item._--Having sold lands which I possessed in the State of +Pennsylvania, and part of a tract held in equal right with _George +Clinton_, late governor of New York, in the State of New York, my share +of land and interest in the Great Dismal Swamp, and a tract of land +which I owned in the County of Gloucester,--withholding the legal titles +thereto, until the consideration money should be paid,--and having +moreover leased and conditionally sold (as will appear by the tenor of +the said leases) all my lands upon the Great Kenhawa, and a tract upon +Difficult Run, in the County of Loudoun, it is my will and direction, +that whensoever the contracts are fully and respectively complied with, +according to the spirit, true intent, and meaning thereof, on the part +of the purchasers, their heirs or assigns, that then, and in that case, +conveyances are to be made, agreeably to the terms of the said +contracts, and the money arising therefrom, when paid, to be vested in +bank stock; the dividends whereof, as of that also which is already +vested therein, are to inure to my said wife during her life; but the +stock itself is to remain and be subject to the general distribution +hereafter directed. + +_Item._--To the _Earl of Buchan_ I recommit the "Box made of the Oak +that sheltered the great Sir _William Wallace_, after the battle of +Falkirk," presented to me by his Lordship, in terms too flattering for +me to repeat, with a request "to pass it, on the event of my decease, to +the man in my country, who should appear to merit it best, upon the same +conditions that have induced him to send it to me." Whether easy or not +to select the man, who might comport with his Lordship's opinion in this +respect, is not for me to say; but, conceiving that no disposition of +this valuable curiosity can be more eligible than the recommitment of it +to his own cabinet, agreeably to the original design of the Goldsmiths' +Company of Edinburgh, who presented it to him, and, at his request, +consented that it should be transferred to me, I do give and bequeath +the same to his Lordship; and, in case of his decease, to his heir, with +my grateful thanks for the distinguished honor of presenting it to me, +and more especially for the favorable sentiments with which he +accompanied it. + +_Item._--To my brother, _Charles Washington_, I give and bequeath the +gold-headed cane left me by Dr. _Franklin_ in his will. I add nothing to +it, because of the ample provision I have made for his issue. To the +acquaintances and friends of my juvenile years, _Lawrence Washington_ +and _Robert Washington_, of Chotanck, I give my other two gold-headed +canes, having my arms engraved on them; and to each, as they will be +useful where they live, I leave one of the spyglasses, which constituted +part of my equipage during the late war. To my compatriot in arms, and +old and intimate friend, Dr. _Craik_, I give my bureau (or, as the +cabinet-makers call it, tambour secretary) and the circular chair, an +appendage of my study. To Dr. _David Stuart_ I give my large shaving and +dressing table, and my telescope. To the Reverend, now _Bryan, Lord +Fairfax_, I give a Bible, in three large folio volumes, with notes, +presented to me by the Right Reverend _Thomas Wilson_, Bishop of Sodor +and Man. To General _de Lafayette_ I give a pair of finely-wrought steel +pistols, taken from the enemy in the revolutionary war. To my +sisters-in-law, _Hannah Washington_ and _Mildred Washington_, to my +friends, _Eleanor Stuart, Hannah Washington_, of Fairfield, and +_Elizabeth Washington_, of Hayfield, I give each a mourning ring, of the +value of one hundred dollars. These bequests are not made for the +intrinsic value of them, but as mementoes of my esteem and regard. To +_Tobias Lear_ I give the use of the farm, which he now holds in virtue +of a lease from me to him and his deceased wife (for and during their +natural lives), free from rent during his life; at the expiration of +which, it is to be disposed of as is hereinafter directed. To _Sally B. +Haynie_ (a distant relation of mine) I give and bequeath three hundred +dollars. To _Sarah Green_, daughter of the deceased _Thomas Bishop_, and +to _Ann Walker_, daughter of _John Alton_, also deceased, I give each +one hundred dollars, in consideration of the attachment of their fathers +to me; each of whom having lived nearly forty years in my family. To +each of my nephews, _William Augustine Washington_, _George Lewis_, +_George Steptoe Washington_, _Bushrod Washington_, and _Samuel +Washington_, I give one of the swords, or couteaux, of which I may die +possessed; and they are to choose in the order they are named. These +swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheathe them for the +purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self-defence, or in defence +of their country and its rights: and, in the latter case, to keep them +unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands to the +relinquishment thereof. + +And now, having gone through these specific devises, with explanations +for the more correct understanding of the meaning and design of them, I +proceed to the distribution of the more important parts of my estate, in +manner following; + +FIRST.--To my nephew, _Bushrod Washington_, and his heirs (partly in +consideration of an intimation to his deceased father, while we were +bachelors, and he had kindly undertaken to superintend my estate during +my military services in the former war between Great Britain and France, +that, if I should fall therein, Mount Vernon, then less extensive in +domain than at present, should become his property), I give and bequeath +all that part thereof, which is comprehended within the following +limits, viz. Beginning at the ford of Dogue Run, near my Mill, and +extending along the road, and bounded thereby, as it now goes, and ever +has gone, since my recollection of it, to the ford of Little Hunting +Creek, at the Gum Spring, until it comes to a knoll opposite to an old +road, which formerly passed through the lower field of Muddy-Hole Farm; +at which, on the north side of the said road, are three red or Spanish +oaks, marked as a corner, and a stone placed; thence by a line of trees, +to be marked rectangular, to the back line or outer boundary of the +tract between _Thompson Mason_ and myself: thence with that line +easterly (now double ditching, with a post-and-rail fence thereon) to +the run of Little Hunting Creek; thence with that run, which is the +boundary between the lands of the late _Humphrey Peake_ and me, to the +tide water of the said creek; thence by that water to Potomac River; +thence with the river to the mouth of Dogue Creek; and thence with the +said Dogue Creek to the place of beginning at the aforesaid ford; +containing upwards of four thousand acres, be the same more or less, +together with the mansion-house, and all other buildings and +improvements thereon. + +SECOND.--In consideration of the consanguinity between them and my wife, +being as nearly related to her as to myself, as on account of the +affection I had for, and the obligation I was under to, their father +when living, who from his youth had attached himself to my person, and +followed my fortunes through the vicissitudes of the late Revolution, +afterwards devoting his time to the superintendence of my private +concerns for many years, whilst my public employments rendered it +impracticable for me to do it myself, thereby affording me essential +services, and always performing them in a manner the most filial and +respectful; for these reasons, I say, I give and bequeath to _George +Fayette Washington_ and _Lawrence Augustine Washington_, and their +heirs, my estate east of Little Hunting Creek, lying on the River +Potomac, including the farm of three hundred and sixty acres, leased to +_Tobias Lear_, as noticed before, and containing in the whole, by deed, +two thousand and twenty-seven acres, be it more or less; which said +estate it is my will and desire should be equitably and advantageously +divided between them, according to quantity, quality, and other +circumstances, when the youngest shall have arrived at the age of +twenty-one years, by three judicious and disinterested men; one to be +chosen by each of the brothers, and the third by these two. In the mean +time, if the termination of my wife's interest therein should have +ceased, the profits arising therefrom are to be applied for their joint +uses and benefit. + +THIRD.--And whereas it has always been my intention, since my +expectation of having issue has ceased, to consider the grandchildren of +my wife in the same light as I do my own relations, and to act a +friendly part by them; more especially by the two whom we have raised +from their earliest infancy, namely, _Eleanor Parke Custis_ and _George +Washington Parke Custis_; and whereas the former of these hath lately +intermarried with _Lawrence Lewis_, a son of my deceased sister, _Betty +Lewis_, by which union the inducement to provide for them both has been +increased; wherefore I give and bequeath to the said _Lawrence Lewis_, +and _Eleanor Parke Lewis_, his wife, and their heirs, the residue of my +Mount Vernon estate, not already devised to my nephew, _Bushrod +Washington_, comprehended within the following description, viz. All the +land north of the road leading from the ford of Dogue Run to the Gum +Spring, as described in the devise of the other part of the tract to +_Bushrod Washington_, until it comes to the stone and three red or +Spanish oaks on the knoll; thence with the rectangular line to the back +line (between Mr. _Mason_ and me); thence with that line westerly along +the new double ditch to Dogue Run, by the tumbling dam of my Mill; +thence with the said run to the ford aforementioned. To which I add all +the land I possess west of the said Dogue Run and Dogue Creek, bounded +easterly and southerly thereby; together with the mill, distillery, and +all other houses and improvements on the premises, making together about +two thousand acres, be it more or less. + +FOURTH.--Actuated by the principle already mentioned, I give and +bequeath to _George Washington Parke Custis_, the grandson of my wife, +and my ward, and to his heirs, the tract I hold on Four Mile Run, in the +vicinity of Alexandria, containing one thousand two hundred acres, more +or less, and my entire square, No. 21, in the city of Washington. + +FIFTH.--All the rest and residue of my estate real and personal, not +disposed of in manner aforesaid, in whatsoever consisting, wheresoever +lying, and whensoever found (a schedule of which, as far as is +recollected, with a reasonable estimate of its value, is hereunto +annexed), I desire may be sold by my executors, at such times, in such +manner, and on such credits (if an equal, valid, and satisfactory +distribution of the specific property cannot be made without), as in +their judgment shall be most conducive to the interest of the parties +concerned; and the moneys arising therefrom to be divided into +twenty-three equal parts, and applied as follows, viz. To _William +Augustine Washington_, _Elizabeth Spotswood_, _Jane Thornton_, and the +heirs of _Ann Ashton_, sons and daughters of my deceased brother, +_Augustine Washington_, I give and bequeath four parts; that is, one +part to each of them. To _Fielding Lewis_, _George Lewis_, _Robert +Lewis_, _Howell Lewis_, and _Betty Carter_, sons and daughters of my +deceased sister, _Betty Lewis_, I give and bequeath five other parts; +one to each of them. To _George Steptoe Washington_, _Lawrence Augustine +Washington_, _Harriot Parks_, and the heirs of _Thornton Washington_, +sons and daughters of my deceased brother _Samuel Washington_, I give +and bequeath other four parts; one to each of them. To _Corbin +Washington_, and the heirs of _Jane Washington_, son and daughter of my +deceased brother, _John Augustine Washington_, I give and bequeath two +parts; one to each of them. To _Samuel Washington_, _Frances Ball_, and +_Mildred Hammond_, son and daughters of my brother _Charles Washington_, +I give and bequeath three parts; one part to each of them. And to +_George Fayette Washington_, _Charles Augustine Washington_, and _Maria +Washington_, sons and daughter of my deceased nephew, _George Augustine +Washington_, I give one other part; that is, to each a third of that +part. To _Elizabeth Parke Law_, _Martha Parke Peter_, and _Eleanor Parke +Lewis_, I give and bequeath three other parts; that is, a part to each +of them. And to my nephews, _Bushrod Washington_ and _Lawrence Lewis_, +and to my ward, the grandson of my wife, I give and bequeath one other +part; that is, a third thereof to each of them. And, if it should so +happen, that any of the persons whose names are here enumerated (unknown +to me) should now be dead, or should die before me, that in either of +these cases, the heirs of such deceased person shall, notwithstanding, +derive all the benefits of the bequest, in the same manner as if he or +she was actually living at the time. And, by way of advice, I recommend +it to my executors not to be precipitate in disposing of the landed +property (herein directed to be sold), if from temporary causes the sale +thereof should be dull; experience having fully evinced, that the price +of land, especially above the falls of the river and on the western +waters, has been progressively rising, and cannot be long checked in its +increasing value. And I particularly recommend it to such of the +legatees (under this clause of my will), as can make it convenient, to +take each a share of my stock in the Potomac Company, in preference to +the amount of what it might sell for; being thoroughly convinced myself, +that no uses to which the money can be applied, will be so productive as +the tolls arising from this navigation when in full operation (and thus, +from the nature of things, it must be, ere long), and more especially if +that of the Shenandoah is added thereto. + +The family vault at Mount Vernon requiring repairs, and being improperly +situated besides, I desire that a new one of brick, and upon a larger +scale, may be built at the foot of what is commonly called the Vineyard +Enclosure, on the ground which is marked out; in which my remains, with +those of my deceased relations (now in the old vault), and such others +of my family as may choose to be entombed there, may be deposited. And +it is my express desire, that my corpse may be interred in a private +manner, without parade or funeral oration. + +LASTLY, I constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife, _Martha +Washington_, my nephews, _William Augustine Washington_, _Bushrod +Washington_, _George Steptoe Washington_, _Samuel Washington_, and +_Lawrence Lewis_, and my ward, _George Washington Parke Custis_ (when he +shall have arrived at the age of twenty-one years), executrix and +executors of this my will and testament; in the construction of which it +will be readily perceived, that no professional character has been +consulted, or has had any agency in the draft; and that, although it has +occupied many of my leisure hours to digest, and to throw it into its +present form, it may, notwithstanding, appear crude and incorrect; but, +having endeavored to be plain and explicit in all the devises, even at +the expense of prolixity, perhaps of tautology, I hope and trust that no +disputes will arise concerning them. But if, contrary to expectation, +the case should be otherwise, from the want of legal expressions, or the +usual technical terms, or because too much or too little has been said +on any of the devises to be consonant with law, my will and direction +expressly is, that all disputes (if unhappily any should arise) shall be +decided by three impartial and intelligent men, known for their probity +and good understanding; two to be chosen by the disputants, each having +the choice of one, and the third by those two; which three men, thus +chosen, shall, unfettered by law or legal constructions, declare their +sense of the testator's intention; and such decision is, to all intents +and purposes, to be as binding on the parties as if it had been given in +the Supreme Court of the United States. + +_In witness of all and of each of the things herein contained, I have +set my hand and seal, this ninth day of July, in the year one thousand +seven hundred and ninety,[135] and of the Independence of the United +States the twenty-fourth._ + +GEORGE WASHINGTON. + + * * * * * + +SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY + +_Comprehended in the foregoing Will, which is directed to be sold; and +some of it conditionally is sold; with descriptive and Explanatory Notes +relative thereto._ + +IN VIRGINIA. + + Price. + Acres. Dollars. Dollars. + +Loudoun County, Difficult Run, 300 6,666 _a_ +Loudoun and Fauquier, Ashby's Bent, 2481 10 24,810} _b_ + Chattin's Run, 885 8 7,080} _b_ +Berkeley, South Fork of Bullskin, 1600 + Head of Evan's M., 453 + In Wormeley's Line, 183 + ---- + 2236 20 44,720 _c_ + +Frederic, bought from Mercer, 571 20 11,420 _d_ +Hampshire, on Potomac River, above B., 240 15 3,600 _e_ + + + Acres. Price. Dollars. + +Gloucester, on North River, 400 about 3,600 _f_ +Nansemond, near Suffolk, + one third of 1119 acres, 373 8 2,984 _g_ +Great Dismal Swamp, my dividend thereof, about 20,000 _h_ +Ohio River, Round Bottom, 587 + Little Kenhawa, 2314 + Sixteen miles lower down, 2448 + Opposite Big Bent, 4395 + ------ + 9744 10 97,440 _i_ +Great Kenhawa, + Near the mouth, west, 10990 + East side, above, 7276 + Mouth of Cole River, 2000 + Opposite thereto, 2950 + Burning Spring, 125 + ---- 3075 + ------ 200,000 _k_ + +MARYLAND. +Charles County 600 6 3,600 _l_ +Montgomery County, 519 12 6,228 _m_ + +PENNSYLVANIA. +Great Meadows 234 6 1,404 _n_ + +NEW YORK. +Mohawk River, about 1000 6 6,000 _o_ + +NORTHWEST TERRITORY. +On Little Miami, 839 + Ditto, 977 + Ditto, 1235 + ------ + 3051 5 15,255 _p_ +KENTUCKY. +Rough Creek, 3000 + Ditto, adjoining, 2000 + ------ + 5000 2 10,000 _q_ + + +LOTS. + +CITY OF WASHINGTON. + +Two near the Capitol, Square 634, cost 963 dollars, + and with buildings, 15,000 _r_ +Nos. 5, 12, 13, and 14, the last three water lots on + the Eastern Branch, in Square 667, containing + together 34,438 square feet, at 12 cents, 4,132 _s_ + + +ALEXANDRIA. + +Corner of Pitt and Prince streets, half an acre, laid + out into building lots, three or four of which are + let on ground rent, at three dollars per foot, 4,000 _t_ + +WINCHESTER. + +A lot in the town, of half an acre, and another on the + common, of about six acres, supposed, 400 _u_ + + +BATH, OR WARM SPRINGS. + +Two well-situated and handsome buildings, to the amount + of L150, 800 _v_ + + +STOCK. + Dollars. + +United States 6 per cent. 3,746 + Ditto, deferred, 1,873 + Ditto, 3 per cent. 2,946 + ------ 2,500 + + ------ 6,246 _w_ + +Potomac Company, 24 shares, cost each L100 sterling, 10,666 _x_ +James River Company, 5 shares, each cost 100 dollars, 500 _y_ +Bank of Columbia, 170 shares, 40 dollars each, 6,800} _z_ +Bank of Alexandria, 1,000} _z_ + Besides 20 shares in the free school,--5. + +STOCK LIVING. + +One covering horse, 5 carriage horses, 4 riding horses, 6 brood mares, +20 working horses and mares, 2 covering jacks and 3 young ones, 10 +she-asses, 42 working mules, 15 younger ones, 329 head of horned cattle, +640 head of sheep, and a large stock of hogs, the precise number +unknown. [Symbol: Hand with pointing finger.] My manager has estimated +this live stock at L7000; but I shall set it down, in order to make a +round sum, at 15,653 + -------- + Aggregate amount, $530,000 + + * * * * * + +NOTES. + +(_a_) This tract, for the size of it, is valuable, more for its +situation than the quality of its soil; though that is good for farming, +with a considerable proportion of ground that might very easily be +improved into meadow. It lies on the great road from the city of +Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown, to Leesburgh and Winchester, at +Difficult Bridge, nineteen miles from Alexandria, less from the city of +Georgetown, and not more than three from Matildaville, at the Great +Falls of Potomac. There is a valuable seat on the premises, and the +whole is conditionally sold for the sum annexed in the schedule. + +(_b_) What the selling prices of lands in the vicinity of these two +tracts are, I know not; but, compared with those above the Ridge, and +others below them, the value annexed will appear moderate; a less one +would not obtain them from me. + +(_c_) The surrounding land, not superior in soil, situation, or +properties of any sort, sells currently at from twenty to thirty dollars +an acre. The lowest price is affixed to these. + +(_d_) The observations made in the last note apply equally to this +tract; being in the vicinity of them, and of similar quality, although +it lies in another county. + +(_e_) This tract, though small, is extremely valuable. It lies on +Potomac River, about twelve miles above the town of Bath, or Warm +Springs, and is in the shape of a horseshoe; the river running almost +around it. Two hundred acres of it are rich low grounds, with a great +abundance of the largest and finest walnut trees; which, with the +produce of the soil, might (by means of the improved navigation of the +Potomac) be brought to a shipping port with more ease, and at a smaller +expense, than that which is transported thirty miles only by land. + +(_f_) This tract is of second-rate Gloucester low ground. It has no +improvements thereon, but lies on navigable water, abounding in fish and +oysters. It was received in payment of a debt (carrying interest), and +valued in the year 1789, by an impartial gentleman, at L800. N. B. It +has lately been sold, and there is due thereon a balance, equal to what +is annexed in the schedule. + +(_g_) These 373 acres are the third part of an undivided purchase made +by the deceased Fielding Lewis, Thomas Walker, and myself, on full +conviction that they would become valuable. The land lies on the road +from Suffolk and Norfolk, touches (if I am not mistaken) some part of +the navigable water of Nansemond River. The rich Dismal Swamp is capable +of great improvement, and from its situation must become extremely +valuable. + +(_h_) This is an undivided interest, which I hold in the Great Dismal +Swamp Company, containing about 4000 acres, with my part of the +plantation and stock thereon, belonging to the Company in the said +swamp. + +(_i_) These several tracts of land are of the first quality, on the Ohio +River, in the parts where they are situated; being almost, if not +altogether, river bottoms. The smallest of these tracts is actually sold +at ten dollars an acre, but the consideration therefor not received. The +rest are equally valuable, and sold as high; especially that which lies +just below the Little Kenhawa, and is opposite to a thick settlement on +the west side of the river. The four tracts have an aggregate breadth +upon the river of sixteen miles, and are bounded thereby for that +distance. + +(_k_) These tracts are situated on the Great Kenhawa River, and the +first four are bounded thereby for more than forty miles. It is +acknowledged by all who have seen them (and of the tract containing +10,990 acres, which I have been on myself, I can assert), that there is +no richer or more valuable land in all that region. They are +conditionally sold for the sum mentioned in the schedule, that is, +200,000 dollars; and, if the terms of that sale are not complied with, +they will command considerably more. The tract, of which the 125 acres +is a moiety, was taken up by General Andrew Lewis and myself, for and on +account of a bituminous spring which it contains, of so inflammable a +nature as to burn as freely as spirits, and is nearly as difficult to +extinguish. + +(_l_) I am but little acquainted with this land, although I have once +been on it. It was received (many years since) in discharge of a debt to +me from Daniel Jenifer Adams, at the value annexed thereto, and must be +worth more. It is very level; lies near the river Potomac. + +(_m_) This tract lies about thirty miles above the city of Washington, +not far from Kittoctan. It is good farming land; and, by those who are +well acquainted it, I am informed that it would sell at twelve or +fifteen dollars per acre. + +(_n_) This land is valuable on account of its local situation, and other +properties. It affords an exceeding good stand on Braddock's Road from +Fort Cumberland to Pittsburgh, and, besides a fertile soil, possesses a +large quantity of natural meadow, fit for the scythe. It is +distinguished by the appellation of the Great Meadows, where the first +action with the French in 1754 was fought. + +(_o_) This is the moiety of about 2000 acres, which remains unsold of +6071 acres on the Mohawk River (Montgomery County), in a patent granted +to Daniel Coxe, in the township of Coxborough and Carolina, as will +appear by deed from Marinus Willett and wife to George Clinton, late +governor of New York, and myself. The latter sales have been at six +dollars an acre, and what remains unsold will fetch that or more. + +(_p_) The quality of these lands, and their situations, may be known by +the surveyor's certificates, which are filed along with the patents. +They lie in the vicinity of Cincinnati; one tract near the mouth of the +Little Miami; another seven, and the third ten miles up the same. I have +been informed, that they will command more than they are estimated at. + +(_q_) For the description of these tracts in detail, see General +Spotswood's letters, filed with the other papers relating to them. +Besides the general good quality of the land, there is a valuable bank +of iron ore thereon, which, when the settlement becomes more populous +(and settlers are moving that way very fast), will be found very +valuable, as the Rough Creek, a branch of Green River, affords ample +water for furnaces and forges. + + +LOTS. + +CITY OF WASHINGTON. + +(_r_) The two lots near the Capitol, in square 634, cost me 963 dollars +only. But in this price I was favored, on condition that I should build +two brick houses, three stories high each. Without this reduction, the +selling prices of those lots would have cost me about 1350 dollars. +These lots, with the buildings thereon, when completed, will stand me in +15,000 dollars at least. + +(_s_) Lots Nos. 5, 12, 13, and 14, on the Eastern Branch, are +advantageously situated on the water; and, although many lots, much less +convenient, have sold a great deal higher, I will rate these at 12 cents +the square foot only. + + +ALEXANDRIA. + +(_t_) For this lot, although unimproved, I have refused 3500 dollars. It +has since been laid out into proper sized lots for building on; three or +four of which are let on ground rent for ever, at three dollars a foot +on the street, and this price is asked for both fronts on Pitt and +Prince streets. + + +WINCHESTER. + +(_u_) As neither the lot in the town or common have any improvements on +them, it is not easy to fix a price; but, as both are well situated, it +is presumed that the price annexed to them in the schedule is a +reasonable valuation. + + +BATH. + +(_v_) The lots in Bath (two adjoining) cost me, to the best of my +recollection, between fifty and sixty pounds, twenty years ago; and the +buildings thereon, one hundred and fifty pounds more. Whether property +there has increased or decreased in its value, and in what condition the +houses are, I am ignorant; but suppose they are not valued too high. + + +STOCK. + +(_w_) These are the sums which are actually funded; and though no more +in the aggregate than 7566 dollars, stand me in at least ten thousand +pounds, Virginia money; being the amount of bonded and other debts due +to me, and discharged during the war, when money had depreciated in that +rate,--[symbol of hand with pointing finger] and was so settled by +public authority. + +(_x_) The value annexed to these shares is what they have actually cost +me, and is the price affixed by law; and, although the present selling +price is under par, my advice to the legatees (for whose benefit they +are intended, especially those who can afford to lie out of the money) +is, that each should take and hold one; there being a moral certainty of +a great and increasing profit arising from them in the course of a few +years. + +(_y_) It is supposed that the shares in the James River Company must be +productive. But of this I can give no decided opinion, for want of more +accurate information. + +(_z_) These are the nominal prices of the shares in the Banks of +Alexandria and Columbia; the selling prices vary according to +circumstances; but, as the stocks usually divide from eight to ten per +cent. per annum, they must be worth the former, at least, so long as the +banks are conceived to be secure, although from circumstances they may +sometimes be below it. + +The value of the live stock depends more upon the quality than quantity +of the different species of it, and this again upon the demand, and +judgment or fancy of purchasers. + +GEORGE WASHINGTON. +MOUNT VERNON, _July_ 9, 1799. + +[135] It appears that the testator omitted the word "nine,"--Sparks. + +[136] As General Washington never had any children, he gave the larger +part of his property to his nephews and nieces, and the children of Mrs. +Washington's son by her first marriage. The principal heir was Bushrod +Washington, son of his brother, John Augustine Washington.--SPARKS. + +[137] This paragraph answers the question which has sometimes been +asked, with an unfriendly spirit, "Why did not Washington manumit his +slaves during his lifetime?" He was ever anxious to give them freedom, +and to see the system abolished from the republic. In 1783, he wrote to +Lafayette: "The scheme which you propose, as a precedent to encourage +the emancipation of the black people in this country, from the state of +bondage in which they are held, is a striking evidence of the +benevolence of your heart. I shall be happy to join you, in so laudable +a work." + +To Robert Morris he wrote in October 1786: "There is not a man living, +who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the +abolition of slavery; but there is only one proper and effectual mode by +which it can be accomplished, and that is, by legislative authority; and +this, as far as my suffrage will go, shall never be wanting. But when +slaves, who are happy and contented with their present masters, are +tampered with and seduced to leave them; when masters are taken unawares +by these practices; when a conduct of this kind begets discontent on one +side and resentment on the other; and when it happens to fall on a man +whose purse will not measure with that of the Society [Quakers], and he +loses his property for want of means to defend it; it is oppressive in +such a case, and not humanity in any, because it introduces more evils +than it can cure." + +To John F. Mercer, of Virginia, he wrote, a few months later: "I never +mean, unless some particular circumstances should compel me to it, to +possess another slave by purchase, it being among my first wishes to see +some plan adopted by which slavery in this country may be abolished by +law." + +In 1794, he wrote to Tobias Lear, his private secretary, then in +England, endeavoring to negotiate the sale of some of Washington's wild +lands, that one object he had in view in making sales was to place +himself in a position to emancipate his slaves. "Another motive," he +wrote--"which is, indeed, more powerful than all the rest--is, to +liberate a certain species of property, which I possess, very +reluctantly to my own feelings, but which imperious necessity compels," +&c. + +In 1797, he wrote to his nephew, Lawrence Lewis: "I wish, from my soul +that the legislature of this state could see the policy of a gradual +abolition of slavery. It might prevent much future mischief." + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + WASHINGTON AT THE CLOSE OF HIS LIFE--EXPOSURE TO A STORM--TAKES + COLD--ITS FATAL EFFECTS--TOBIAS LEAR'S ACCOUNT OF HIS SICKNESS AND + DEATH--HIS FUNERAL--INTELLIGENCE OF HIS DEATH REACHES + CONGRESS--PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWO HOUSES--ACTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF + THE UNITED STATES--NATIONAL MOURNING--FUNERAL ORATION BY GENERAL + LEE--EFFECT OF WASHINGTON'S DEATH ABROAD--HONORS TO HIS + MEMORY--FONTANES' FUNERAL ORATION AT PARIS. + + +When the winter of 1799 set in, cold and stormy, toward the middle of +December, and ice began to grow thick in the coves and creeks of the +Potomac, Washington, enjoying a degree of robust health and vigor of +mind and body uncommon for men of his years and labors, was found still +engaged in his out-of-door employments, unmindful of the frosty air and +inclement weather. His whole aspect gave promise of many years of serene +old age. His nephew, Lawrence Lewis, was with him most of the time at +this period, and the family circle at Mount Vernon was full of joy, +contentment, and peace. + +One frosty morning, Washington and his nephew walked out together, when +the former pointed out to the latter some of his projected improvements +near the mansion. Among other places, he showed him the spot where he +proposed to erect a new family burial-vault. He spoke of its form and +dimensions, and then said, "This change I shall make the first of all, +for I may require it before the rest." + +"When I parted from him," said Major Lewis, in long-after years, "he +stood on the steps of the front door, where he took leave of myself and +another. He had taken his usual ride, and the clear, healthy flush on +his cheek, and his sprightly manner, brought the remark from both of us +that we had never seen the general look so well. I have sometimes +thought him decidedly the handsomest man I ever saw; and when in a +lively mood, so full of pleasantry, so agreeable to all with whom he +associated, I could hardly realize that he was the same Washington whose +dignity awed all who approached him." + +Two or three days afterward, the weather changed. In his diary, under +date of December 11th, Washington noted that there was wind and rain; +and that at night, when the clouds had dispersed, there was "a large +circle around the moon." On the following day, a storm of snow set in at +one o'clock, P. M., which soon changed, first to hail, and then to rain. +Washington was caught out in it. As usual, he had been in the saddle +since ten o'clock in the morning, inspecting operations upon the +Mansion-house farm at various places, and returned in time for dinner at +three o'clock. Mr. Lear, his former private secretary, and who had, on +his appointment to the chief command of the army, resumed that post, was +now with him. He had just finished some letters, and given them to +Washington to frank, when he observed snow hanging to the general's hair +about his neck, and he expressed a fear that he might be wet. "Oh, no," +Washington replied; "my great-coat has kept me quite dry." He then +franked the letters, at the same time observing that the storm was +becoming too heavy for a servant to ride in it all the way to the +post-office, at Alexandria. It being late dinner-time, the food all upon +the table, and the family waiting for him, he sat down to the meal +without changing his damp clothes. + +On rising the following morning, Washington complained of a sore throat. +He had evidently taken cold the preceding day. The snow lay three inches +deep upon the ground, and was still falling. He omitted his usual ride, +and remained within-doors until noon, when the clouds broke, and the sun +came out warm. He occupied himself before dinner in marking some trees +on the lawn, between the mansion and the high river-bank, that were to +be cut down; and with his compass and chain he traced out several lines +for improvements. + +A hoarseness, that had troubled him a little all day, grew worse after +dinner; yet he regarded it as of very little importance. At twilight it +was quite distressing, yet he was cheerful all the evening. He sat in +the parlor with Mrs. Washington and Mr. Lear. Mr. Lewis and young Custis +were absent; and Mrs. Lewis, just confined with her first child, was in +her chamber. Newspapers were brought in early in the evening. Washington +looked them over, and, when he found anything interesting, he would read +it aloud as well as his hoarseness would permit. At about nine o'clock, +Mrs. Washington withdrew and went up to Mrs. Lewis's chamber, when the +general requested Mr. Lear to read to him the debates of the Virginia +assembly, then in session, on the election of senator and governor. "On +hearing Mr. Madison's observations respecting Mr. Monroe," says Mr. +Lear, who wrote a detailed account of Washington's sickness and death, +"he appeared much affected, and spoke with some degree of asperity on +the subject, which I endeavored to moderate, as I always did on such +occasions. On his retiring, I observed to him that he had better take +something to remove his cold. He answered: 'No, you know I never take +anything for a cold. Let it go as it came.'" + +Mr. Lear's account of the brief sickness and speedy death of Washington +is so short, yet circumstantial and perspicuous, and may not be +condensed without injury to its completeness, that we will give it in +his own words:-- + +"Between two and three o'clock on Saturday morning" (the fourteenth), +says Mr. Lear, "he awoke Mrs. Washington, and told her that he was very +unwell, and had an ague. She observed that he could scarcely speak, +and breathed with difficulty, and would have got up to call a servant; +but he would not permit her, lest she should take a cold. As soon as the +day appeared, the woman (Caroline) went into the room to make fire, and +Mrs. Washington sent her immediately to call me. I got up, put on my +clothes as quickly as possible, and went to his chamber. Mrs. Washington +was then up, and related to me his being ill, as before stated. I found +the general breathing with difficulty, and hardly able to utter a word +intelligibly. He desired Mr. Rawlins (one of the overseers) might be +sent for, to bleed him before the doctor could arrive. I despatched a +servant instantly for Rawlins, and another for Doctor Craik, and +returned again to the general's chamber, where I found him in the same +situation as I had left him. + +"A mixture of molasses, vinegar, and butter, was prepared, to try its +effects upon his throat; but he could not swallow a drop. Whenever he +attempted it, he appeared to be distressed, convulsed, and almost +suffocated. Rawlins came in soon after sunrise, and prepared to bleed +him. When the arm was ready, the general, observing that Rawlins +appeared to be agitated, said, as well as he could speak, 'Don't be +afraid.' And when the incision was made, he observed, 'The orifice is +not large enough.' However, the blood ran pretty freely. Mrs. +Washington, not knowing whether bleeding was proper or not in the +general's situation, begged that much might not be taken from him, lest +it should be injurious, and desired me to stop it; but, when I was about +to untie the string, the general put his hand to prevent it, and, as he +could not speak, he said,' More, more.' Mrs. Washington being still very +uneasy, lest too much blood should be taken, it was stopped after taking +about half a pint. Finding that no relief was obtained from bleeding, +and that nothing would go down the throat, I proposed bathing it +externally with _sal volatile_, which was done; and in the operation, +which was with the hand, and in the gentlest manner, he observed, 'It is +very sore.' A piece of flannel, dipped in _sal volatile_, was put around +his neck, and his feet bathed in warm water, but without affording any +relief. + +"About eight o'clock in the morning, he expressed a desire to get up. +His clothes were put on, and he was led to a chair by the fire. He found +no relief from that position, and lay down again about ten o'clock. + +"In the meantime, before Doctor Craik arrived, Mrs. Washington desired +me to send for Doctor Brown, of Port Tobacco, whom Doctor Craik had +recommended to be called, if any case should ever occur that was +seriously alarming. I despatched a messenger immediately for Doctor +Brown between eight and nine o'clock. Doctor Craik came in soon after; +and, upon examining the general, he put a blister of cantharides upon +the throat, took some more blood from him, and had a gargle of vinegar +and sage-tea prepared; and ordered some vinegar and hot water, for him +to inhale the steam of it, which he did; but, in attempting to use the +gargle, he was almost suffocated. When the gargle came from the throat, +some phlegm followed, and he attempted to cough, which the doctor +encouraged him to do as much as possible; but he could only attempt it. +About eleven o'clock, Doctor Craik requested that Doctor Dick might be +sent for, as he feared Doctor Brown would not come in time. A messenger +was accordingly despatched for him. About this time the general was bled +again. No effect, however, was produced by it, and he remained in the +same state, unable to swallow anything. + +"Doctor Dick came about three o'clock, and Doctor Brown arrived soon +after. Upon Doctor Dick's seeing the general, and consulting a few +minutes with Doctor Craik, he was bled again. The blood came very slow, +was thick, and did not produce any symptoms of fainting. Doctor Brown +came into the chamber soon after, and, upon feeling the general's pulse, +the physicians went out together. Doctor Craik returned soon after. The +general could now swallow a little. Calomel and tartar-emetic were +administered, but without any effect. + +"About half-past four o'clock, he desired me to call Mrs. Washington to +his bedside, when he requested her to go down into his room, and take +from his desk two wills which she would find there, and bring them to +him, which she did. Upon looking at them, he gave her one, which he +observed was useless, as being superseded by the other, and desired her +to burn it, which she did, and took the other and put it into her +closet. + +"About five o'clock, he was helped up again; and, after sitting about +half an hour, he desired to be undressed and put to bed, which was done. + +"After this was done, I returned to his bedside and took his hand. He +said to me: 'I find I am going. My breath can not last long. I believed +from the first that the disorder would prove fatal. Do you arrange and +record all my late military letters and papers.[138] Arrange my accounts +and settle my books, as you know more about them than any one else; and +let Mr. Rawlins finish recording my other letters, which he has begun.' +I told him this should be done. He then asked if I recollected anything +that was essential for him to do, as he had but a very short time to +continue with us. I told him that I could recollect nothing, but that I +hoped he was not so near his end. He observed, smiling, that he +certainly was, and that, as it was the debt which we must all pay, he +looked to the event with perfect resignation. + +"In the course of the afternoon he appeared to be in great pain and +distress from the difficulty of breathing, and frequently changed his +posture in bed. On these occasions, I lay upon the bed, and endeavored +to raise him, and turn him with as much ease as possible. He appeared +penetrated with gratitude for my attentions, and often said, 'I am +afraid I shall fatigue you too much;' and, upon my assuring him that I +could feel nothing but a wish to give him ease, he replied, 'Well, it is +a debt we must pay to each other; and I hope, when you want aid of this +kind, you will find it....' + +"About five o'clock, Doctor Craik came again into the room, and, upon +going to the bedside, the general said to him: 'Doctor, I die hard, but +I am not afraid to go. I believed, from my first attack, that I should +not survive it. My breath can not last long.' The doctor pressed his +hand, but could not utter a word. He retired from the bedside, and sat +by the fire, absorbed in grief. + +"Between five and six o'clock, Doctor Dick and Doctor Brown came into +the room, and with Doctor Craik went to the bed, when Doctor Craik asked +him if he could sit up in the bed. He held out his hand, and I raised +him up. He then said to the physicians: + +"'I feel myself going. I thank you for your attentions; but I pray you to +take no more trouble about me. Let me go off quietly. I can not last +long.' They found that all which had been done was without effect. He +lay down again, and all retired except Doctor Craik. He continued in the +same situation, uneasy and restless, but without complaining; frequently +asking what hour it was. When I helped him to move, at this time, he did +not speak, but looked at me with strong expressions of gratitude. + +"About eight o'clock, the physicians came again into the room, and +applied blisters and cataplasms of wheat-bran to his legs and feet, +after which they went out, except Doctor Craik, without a ray of hope. I +went out about this time, and wrote a line to Mr. Law and Mr. Peter, +requesting them to come with their wives (Mrs. Washington's +grand-daughters) as soon as possible to Mount Vernon. + +"About ten o'clock, he made several attempts to speak to me before he +could effect it. At length he said: 'I am just going. Have me decently +buried; and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three +days after I am dead.' I bowed assent, for I could not speak. He then +looked at me again, and said, 'Do you understand me?' I replied, +'Yes.'--''Tis well,' said he. + +"About ten minutes before he expired (which was between ten and eleven +o'clock), his breathing became easier. He lay quietly; he withdrew his +hand from mine, and felt his own pulse. I saw his countenance change. I +spoke to Doctor Craik, who sat by the fire He came to the bedside. The +general's hand fell from his wrist. I took it in mine, and pressed it to +my bosom. Doctor Craik put his hands over his eyes, and he expired +without a struggle or a sigh. + +"While we were fixed in silent grief, Mrs. Washington, who was sitting +at the foot of the bed, asked with a firm and collected voice, 'Is he +gone?' I could not speak, but held up my hand, as a signal that he was +no more. ''Tis well,' said she, in the same voice; 'all is over now. I +shall soon follow him; I have no more trials to pass through.'[139] + +"At the time of his decease, Doctor Craik and myself were in the +situation before-mentioned. Mrs. Washington was sitting near the foot of +the bed. The general's servant, Christopher, who had been in the room, +and standing nearly all day, stood near the bedside. Caroline, Molly, +and Charlotte, were in the room, standing near the door. Mrs. Forbes, +the housekeeper, was frequently in the room during the day and +evening.[140] + +"As soon as Doctor Craik could speak, after the distressing scene was +closed, he desired one of the servants to ask the gentlemen below to +come up-stairs. When they came to the bedside, I kissed the cold hand +which I had held to my bosom, laid it down, and went to the other end of +the room, where I was for some time lost in profound grief, until +aroused by Christopher, desiring me to take care of the general's keys, +and other things, which were taken out of his pockets, and which Mrs. +Washington directed him to give to me. I wrapped them in the general's +handkerchief, and took them to my room." + +"It may be asked," says Mr. Custis, "'Why was the ministry of religion +wanting to shed its peaceful and benign lustre upon the last hours of +Washington? Why was he, to whom the observances of sacred things were +ever primary duties through life, without their consolations in his last +moments?' We answer, circumstances did not permit. It was but for a +little while that the disease assumed so threatening a character as to +forbid the encouragement of hope; yet, to stay that summons which none +may refuse, to give still further length of days to him whose +time-honored life was so dear to mankind, prayers were not wanting to +the throne of grace. Close to the couch of the sufferer, resting her +head upon that ancient book with which she had been wont to hold pious +communion a portion of every day for more than half a century, was the +venerable consort, absorbed in silent prayer, and from which she only +arose when the mourning group prepared to lead her from the chamber of +the dead."[141] + +Washington's body was brought down from the chamber at midnight, and +laid out in the drawing-room; and on the following morning (Sunday) a +plain mahogany coffin was procured from Alexandria, and mourning ordered +for the family, the overseers, and the domestics.[142] On the same day, +several of the relatives, who had been sent for, arrived, among whom was +Mrs. Stuart, the mother of Mrs. Washington's grandchildren. Mr. Lewis +and young Custis were in New Kent, and only arrived home in time to be +present at the funeral, a servant having been despatched for them. + +The family wished the burial to be postponed for a week, to give an +opportunity for some of Washington's relatives at a distance to be +there. But the physicians decided that the disease of which he died, +being of an inflammatory nature, it would not be proper to keep the body +so long. The time of the funeral was therefore fixed at twelve o'clock, +meridian, on Wednesday, the eighteenth. The Reverend Mr. Davis, of +Alexandria, who had officiated at a wedding at Mount Vernon ten months +before, was invited to perform the burial service, according to the +beautiful ritual of the Protestant Episcopal Church. + +Having received information from Alexandria that the military and +Freemasons were desirous of showing their respect for their chief and +brother, by following his body to the grave, Mr. Lear ordered provisions +to be prepared for a large number of people, as some refreshment would +be expected by them. And Mr. Robert Hamilton, of Alexandria, wrote to +Mr. Lear that a schooner of his would anchor off Mount Vernon, to fire +minute-guns while the body was passing from the mansion to the tomb. + +The arrangements for the procession at the funeral were made by +Colonels Little, Simms, and Deneale, and Doctor Dick. The old family +vault was opened and cleaned, and Mr. Lear ordered an entrance-door to +be made for it, that it might not be again closed with brick. Mr. +Stewart, adjutant of the Alexandria regiment, of which Washington had +once been colonel, went down to Mount Vernon to view the ground for the +procession. + +The people began to collect at Mount Vernon on Wednesday, at eleven +o'clock; but, owing to a delay of the military, the time for the +procession was postponed until three o'clock. The coffined body of the +illustrious patriot lay, meanwhile, beneath the grand piazza of the +mansion, where he had so often walked and mused. + +Between three and four o'clock the procession moved, and, at the same +time, minute-guns were fired from the schooner anchored in the Potomac. +The pall-bearers were Colonels Little, Simms, Payne, Gilpin, Ramsay, and +Marsteler. Colonel Blackburn preceded the corpse. Colonel Deneale +marched with the military. The procession moved out through the gate at +the left wing of the house, and proceeded round in front of the lawn, +and down to the vault on the right wing of the house. The following was +the composition and order of the procession:-- + + The troops, horse and foot, with arms reversed. + Music. + The clergy, namely, the Rev. Messrs. Davis, Muir, Moffat, and Addison. + The general's horse, with his saddle, holsters, and pistols, + led by two grooms (Cyrus and Wilson), in black. + The body, borne by the Masons and officers. + Principal mourners, namely: + Mrs. Stuart and Mrs. Law, + Misses Nancy and Sally Stuart, + Miss Fairfax and Miss Dennison, + Mr. Law and Mr. Peter, + Mr. Lear and Doctor Craik, + Lord Fairfax and Ferdinando Fairfax. + Lodge No. 23. + Corporation of Alexandria. + All other persons, preceded by Mr. Anderson and the overseers. + +When the body arrived near the vault, at the bottom of the lawn, on the +high bank of the Potomac, the cavalry halted; the infantry moved forward +and formed the in-lining; the Masonic brethren and citizens descended to +the vault, and the funeral services of the church were read by the +Reverend Mr. Davis. He also pronounced a short discourse. The Masons +then performed their peculiar ceremonies, and the body was deposited in +the vault. Three general discharges of arms were then given by the +infantry and the cavalry; and eleven pieces of artillery, which were +ranged back of the vault and simultaneously discharged, "paid the last +tribute to the entombed commander-in-chief of the armies of the United +States." The sun was now setting, and mournfully that funeral assembly +departed for their respective homes.[143] + +The federal Congress was in session at Philadelphia when intelligence of +the death of Washington reached that city. It was first communicated, on +the morning of the eighteenth of December (the day of the funeral), by a +passenger in the stage, to an acquaintance. The news spread rapidly, and +soon reached the house of representatives, when, immediately after the +journals were read, the Honorable John Marshall, of Virginia, arose, and +in a voice tremulous with the deepest emotion said:-- + +"Mr. Speaker, information has just been received that our illustrious +fellow-citizen, the commander-in-chief of the American army, and the +late president of the United States, is no more. Though this distressing +intelligence is not certain, there is too much reason to believe its +truth. After receiving information of this national calamity, so heavy +and so afflicting, the house of representatives can be but ill fitted +for public business. I move you, therefore, that we adjourn." The house +immediately adjourned until the next day at eleven o'clock. + +When the house reassembled on the morning of the nineteenth, Mr. +Marshall addressed them as follows:-- + + "Mr. Speaker, the melancholy event, which was yesterday + announced with doubt, has been rendered but too certain. Our + WASHINGTON is no more! The hero, the patriot, and the sage + of America--the man on whom in times of danger every eye was + turned, and all hopes were placed--lives now only in his own + great actions, and in the hearts of an affectionate and + afflicted people. + + "If, sir, it had even not been usual openly to testify + respect for the memory of those whom Heaven has selected as + its instruments for dispensing good to man, yet such has + been the uncommon worth and such the extraordinary incidents + which have marked the life of him whose loss we all deplore, + that the whole American nation, impelled by the same + feelings, would call with one voice for a public + manifestation of that sorrow which is so deep and so + universal. + + "More than any other individual, and as much as to one + individual was possible, has he contributed to found this + our wide-spreading empire, and to give to the western world + independence and freedom. + + "Having effected the great object for which he was placed at + the head of our armies, we have seen him convert the sword + into the ploughshare, and sink the soldier in the citizen. + + "When the debility of our federal system had become + manifest, and the bonds which connected this vast continent + were dissolving, we have seen him the chief of those + patriots who formed for us a constitution, which, by + preserving the Union, will, I trust, substantiate and + perpetuate those blessings which our Revolution had promised + to bestow. + + "In obedience to the general voice of his country, calling + him to preside over a great people, we have seen him once + more quit the retirement he loved, and, in a season more + stormy and tempestuous than war itself, with calm and wise + determination pursue the true interests of the nation, and + contribute, more than any other could contribute, to the + establishment of that system of policy which will, I trust, + yet preserve our peace, our honor, and our independence. + + "Having been twice unanimously chosen the chief magistrate + of a free people, we have seen him, at a time when his + re-election with universal suffrage could not be doubted, + afford to the world a rare instance of moderation, by + withdrawing from his station to the peaceful walks of + private life. + + "However the public confidence may change, and the public + affections fluctuate with respect to others, with respect to + him they have, in war and in peace, in public and in private + life, been as steady as his own firm mind, and as constant + as his own exalted virtues. + + "Let us, then, Mr. Speaker, pay the last tribute of respect + and affection to our departed friend. Let the grand council + of the nation display those sentiments which the nation + feels. For this purpose I hold in my hand some resolutions, + which I take the liberty of offering to the house. + + "_Resolved_, That this house will wait on the president of + the United States, in condolence of this national calamity. + + "_Resolved_, That the speaker's chair be shrouded with + black, and that the members and officers of the house wear + mourning during the session. + + "_Resolved_, That a joint committee of both houses be + appointed, to report measures suitable to the occasion; and + expressive of the profound sorrow with which Congress is + penetrated on the loss of a citizen, first in war, first in + peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen."[144] + +The house proceeded to appoint a committee of sixteen, with Marshall at +their head, to act conjointly with a corresponding senate committee in +carrying out the last resolution. A message was soon afterward received +from the president, communicating a letter from Mr. Lear that announced +the death of Washington. He sent the same to the senate; and that body, +on the twenty-third, adopted an appropriate address to the executive, +and received from him a response.[145] + +The secretary of war issued an order on the nineteenth, requesting +General Hamilton to carry into effect the directions of Congress +concerning funeral honors to the commander-in-chief, and the wearing of +crape in token of mourning. For that purpose, Hamilton issued general +orders, prefaced by a most touching eulogy of the dead. "The voice of +praise," he said, "would in vain endeavor to exalt a character +unrivalled on the lists of true glory. Words would in vain attempt to +give utterance to that profound and reverential grief which will +penetrate every American bosom, and engage the sympathy of an admiring +world." + +The secretary of the navy also issued orders in accordance with the +resolutions of Congress and the direction of the president. Vessels in +domestic and foreign ports were ordered to "be put in mourning for one +week, by wearing their colors half-mast high," and the officers and +marines were directed to wear crape on the left arm for six months. + +On the twenty-third, both houses of Congress adopted the following joint +resolutions:-- + + "_Resolved_, by the senate and house of representatives of + the United States of America, in Congress assembled. That a + marble monument be erected by the United States at the + capitol of the city of Washington, and that the family of + General Washington be requested to permit his body to be + deposited under it; and that the monument be so designed as + to commemorate the great events of his military and + political life. + + "_And be it further resolved_, That there be a funeral + procession from Congress Hall to the German Lutheran church, + in memory of General GEORGE WASHINGTON, on Thursday, the + twenty-sixth instant, and that an oration be prepared, at + the request of Congress, to be delivered before both houses + that day; and that the president of the senate and speaker + of the house of representatives be desired to request one of + the members of Congress to prepare and deliver the same. + + "_And be it further resolved_, That it be recommended to the + people of the United States to wear crape on their left arm, + as mourning, for thirty days. + + "_And be it further resolved_, That the president of the + United States be requested to direct a copy of these + resolutions to be transmitted to Mrs. Washington, assuring + her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear for her + person and character, of their condolence on the late + afflicting dispensation of Providence; and entreating her + assent to the interment of the remains of General Washington + in the manner expressed in the first resolution.[146] + + "_Resolved_, That the president of the United States be + requested to issue his proclamation, notifying to the people + throughout the United States the recommendation contained in + the third resolution." + +In accordance with the second of the foregoing resolutions. General +Henry Lee, of Virginia, then a member of Congress, and one of the +committee of sixteen, was invited to pronounce the funeral oration. He +was one of Washington's favorites. Throughout the war for independence, +he had been admired and beloved by the commander-in-chief for his manly +and soldierly qualities, and he had ever been a welcome guest at Mount +Vernon. + +The choice of orator was an appropriate one. Both houses of Congress +went in a body to the German Lutheran church, in Fourth street, above +Arch, to listen to the oration.[147] A vast concourse of citizens was +also in attendance; and the M'Pherson Blues, a corps of about three +hundred young men, mostly from the best families of Philadelphia, +attended as a guard of honor on that occasion. Only six of that corps +are known to be alive at this time.[148] + +On the thirtieth of December, the Congress resolved "that it be +recommended to the people of the United States to assemble on the +twenty-second day of February next, in such numbers and manner as may be +convenient, publicly to testify their grief for the death of General +GEORGE WASHINGTON, by suitable eulogies, orations, and discourses, or by +public prayers." + +The president was requested to issue his proclamation in accordance with +this resolution, which he did on the sixth of January; and the birthday +of the illustrious Washington, usually celebrated with gayety and +festivity, was made, in the year 1800, an occasion of funeral +solemnities. + +The death of Washington produced a profound sensation in Europe. The +English newspapers were filled with eulogies on his character. On +hearing of his death, Lord Bridport, who was in command of a British +fleet of almost sixty sail, at Torbay, on the coast of Devon, ordered +every ship to lower her flag to half-mast; and Bonaparte, then First +Consul of France, announced his death to his army, and ordered black +crape to be suspended from all the flags and standards in the French +service for ten days. In Paris, the citizens showed many demonstrations +of respect; and on the "20th Pluviose" (eighth of February, 1800), Louis +de Fontanes pronounced an impassioned funeral oration in his honor, in +the Temple of Mars.[149] + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[138] In a letter to General Hamilton, written a month afterward, Mr. +Lear says: "To Judge Washington the general left by will all his public +and private papers. A few hours before his death he observed to him--'I +am about to change the scene. I can not last long. I believed from the +first the attack would be fatal. Do you arrange all my papers and +accounts, as you know more about these things than any one +else.'"--_Works of Hamilton_, vi. 424. There must have been a change of +the word _me_ to _him_, in transcribing this letter for the press, +because in no account is the judge mentioned as having been present +during Washington's last sickness. + +[139] Mrs. Washington died at Mount Vernon, on the twenty-second of May, +1802, in the seventy-first year of her age. + +[140] A picture of the room in which Washington died, and the bed on +which he expired, may be seen in Lossing's _Mount Vernon and its +Associations_. + +[141] Custis's Recollections, &c., p. 477. + +[142] At the head of the coffin was placed an ornament, inscribed SURGE +AD JUDICUM. At about the middle were the words GLORIA DEO; and upon a +silver plate was the record-- + + GENERAL + + GEORGE WASHINGTON, + + DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 14TH DECEMBER, + + 1799, AET. 68. + + The coffin was lined with lead: and upon a cover of the same + material, to be put on after the coffin was laid in the vault, was + a silver shield, nearly three inches in length, inscribed-- + + GEORGE WASHINGTON, + + BORN FEB. 22, 1732. + + DIED DECEMBER 14, 1799. + +[143] _Mount Vernon and its Associations._ + +[144] These resolutions were drawn by General Henry Lee, who was not +present at the time. + +[145] The following is a copy of the senate's address, and the +president's reply:-- + + _To the President of the United States:_ + + "The senate of the United States respectfully take leave, sir, to + express to you their deep regret for the loss their country + sustains in the death of General George Washington. This event, so + distressing to all our fellow-citizens, must be peculiarly heavy to + you, who have long been associated with him in deeds of patriotism. + Permit us, sir, to mingle our tears with yours. + + "On this occasion it is manly to weep. To lose such a man, at such a + crisis, is no common calamity to the world. Our country mourns a + father. The Almighty Disposer of human events has taken from us our + greatest benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with + reverence to him 'who maketh darkness his pavilion.' + + "With patriotic pride we review the life of our Washington, and + compare him with those of other countries who have been pre-eminent + in fame. Ancient and modern times are diminished before him. + Greatness and guilt have too often been allied; but his fame is + whiter than it is brilliant. The destroyers of nations stood + abashed at the majesty of his virtues. It reproved the intemperance + of their ambition, and darkened the splendor of victory. The scene + is closed, and we are no longer anxious lest misfortune should + sully his glory. He has travelled on to the end of his journey, and + carried with him an increasing weight of honor; he has deposited it + safely, where misfortune can not tarnish it, where malice can not + blast it. Favored of Heaven, he departed without exhibiting the + weakness of humanity. Magnanimous in death, the darkness of the + grave could not obscure his brightness. + + "Such was the man whom we deplore. Thanks to God, his glory is + consummated! Washington yet lives on earth in his spotless example; + his spirit is in heaven. + + "Let his countrymen consecrate the memory of the heroic general, + the patriotic statesman, and the virtuous sage. Let them teach + their children never to forget that the fruits of his labors and + his example are their inheritance." + +THE PRESIDENT'S ANSWER. + + "_23 December, 1799._ + + "_Gentlemen of the Senate:_ + + "I receive with the most respectful and affectionate sentiments, in + this impressive address, the obliging expressions of your regret + for the loss our country has sustained in the death of her most + esteemed, beloved, and admired citizen. + + "In the multitude of my thoughts and recollections on this + melancholy event, you will permit me to say that I have seen him in + the days of adversity, in some of the scenes of his deepest + distress and most trying perplexities. I have also attended him in + his highest elevation and most prosperous felicity, with uniform + admiration of his wisdom, moderation, and constancy. + + "Among all our original associates in that memorable league of this + continent, in 1774, which first expressed the sovereign will of a + free nation in America, he was the only one remaining in the + general government. Although with a constitution more enfeebled + than his, at an age when he thought it necessary to prepare for + retirement, I feel myself alone, bereaved of my last brother, yet I + derive a strong consolation from the unanimous disposition which + appears in all ages and classes to mingle their sorrows with mine + on this common calamity to the world. + + "The life of our Washington can not suffer by a comparison with + those of other countries who have been most celebrated and exalted + by fame. The attributes and decorations of royalty could only have + served to eclipse the majesty of those virtues which made him, from + being a modest citizen, a more resplendent luminary. Misfortune, + had he lived, could hereafter have sullied his glory only with + those superficial minds who, believing that character and actions + are marked by success alone, rarely deserve to enjoy it. Malice + could never blast his honor, and Envy made him a singular exception + to her universal rule. For himself, he had lived long enough to + life and to glory: for his fellow-citizens, if their prayers could + have been answered, he would have been immortal; for me, his + departure is at a most unfortunate moment. Trusting, however, in + the wise and righteous dominion of Providence over the passions of + men and the results of their actions, as well as over their lives, + nothing remains for me but humble resignation. + + "His example is now complete; and it will teach wisdom and virtue + to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age, but + in future generations, as long as our history shall be read. If a + Traian found a Pliny, a Marcus Aurelius can never want biographers, + eulogists, or historians. + + "JOHN ADAMS." + +[146] In compliance with these resolutions, President Adams wrote a +letter to Mrs. Washington on the subject, and received the following +reply:-- + + "MOUNT VERNON, _December 31, 1799._ + + "SIR: While I feel, with keenest anguish, the late dispensation of + Divine Providence, I can not be insensible to the mournful tributes + of respect and veneration which are paid to the memory of my dear + deceased husband; and, as his best services and most anxious wishes + were always devoted to the welfare and happiness of his country, to + know that they were truly appreciated and gratefully remembered + affords no inconsiderable consolation. + + "Taught by the great example which I have so long had before me, + never to oppose my private wishes to the public will, I must + consent to the request made by Congress, which you have had the + goodness to transmit to me; and, in doing this, I need not, I can + not, say what a sacrifice of individual feeling I make to a sense + of public duty. + + "With grateful acknowledgments and unfeigned thanks for the + personal respect and evidences of condolence expressed by Congress + and yourself, I remain, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient, + humble servant, + + "MARTHA WASHINGTON." + +The president transmitted her letter to Congress, accompanied by the +following message:-- + + "_Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of + Representatives:_ + + "In compliance with the request in one of the resolutions of + Congress on the twenty-third of December last, I transmitted a copy + of those resolutions, by my secretary, Mr. Shaw, to Mrs. + Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever + bear to her person and character; of their condolence in the late + afflicting dispensation of Providence; and entreating her assent to + the interment of the remains of General George Washington in the + manner expressed in the first resolution. As the sentiments of that + virtuous lady, not less beloved by this nation than she is at + present greatly afflicted, can never be so well expressed as in her + own words, I transmit to Congress her original letter. + + "It would be an attempt of too much delicacy to make any comments + upon it; but there can be no doubt that the nation at large, as + well as all the branches of the government, will be highly + gratified by any arrangement which may diminish the sacrifices she + makes of her individual feelings. + + "JOHN ADAMS. + + "UNITED STATES, _January 6, 1800_." + +The proposed monument has not been erected. An unsuccessful effort was +made, in 1832, to have the remains of the illustrious dead removed to +the federal capital, and placed beneath such monument. Now that the home +and tomb of Washington have, through the efforts of the women of the +United States, become the property of the nation, every American should +rejoice that his dust will ever remain to consecrate them. + +[147] The following is a copy of General Lee's oration:-- + + "In obedience to your will, I rise, your humble organ, with + the hope of executing a part of the system of public + mourning which you have been pleased to adopt, commemorative + of the death of the most illustrious and most beloved + personage this country has ever produced; and which, while + it transmits to posterity your sense of the awful event, + faintly represents your knowledge of the consummate + excellence you so cordially honor. + + "Desperate, indeed, is any attempt on earth to meet + correspondently this dispensation of Heaven; for while, with + pious resignation, we submit to the will of an all-gracious + Providence, we can never cease lamenting, in our finite view + of Omnipotent Wisdom, the heart-rending privation for which + our nation weeps. When the civilized world shakes to its + centre; when every moment gives birth to strange and + momentous changes; when our peaceful quarter of the globe, + exempt, as it happily has been, from any share in the + slaughter of the human race, may yet be compelled to abandon + her pacific policy, and to risk the doleful casualties of + war--what limit is there to the extent of our loss? None + within the reach of my words to express; none which your + feelings will not disavow. + + "The founder of our federate republic, our bulwark in war, + our guide in peace, is no more! Oh, that this were but + questionable! Hope, the comforter of the wretched, would + pour into our agonizing hearts its balmy dew; but, alas! + there is no hope for us. Our Washington is removed for ever! + Possessing the stoutest frame and purest mind, he had passed + nearly to his sixty-eighth year, in the enjoyment of high + health, when, habituated by his care of us to neglect + himself, a slight cold, disregarded, became inconvenient on + Friday, oppressive on Saturday, and, defying every medical + interposition, before the morning of Sunday, put an end to + the best of men. An end did I say? His fame survives, + bounded only by the limits of the earth and by the extent of + the human mind! He survives in our hearts, in the growing + knowledge of our children, in the affections of the good + throughout the world; and, when our monuments shall be done + away--when nations now existing shall be no more--when + even our young and far-spreading empire shall have + perished--still will our Washington's glory unfaded shine, + and die not, until love of virtue cease on earth, or earth + itself sink into chaos. + + "How, my fellow-citizens, shall I single to your grateful + hearts his pre-eminent worth? Where shall I begin in opening + to your view a character throughout sublime? Shall I speak + of his warlike achievements, all springing from obedience to + his country's will--all directed to his country's good? + + "Will you go with me to the banks of the Monongahela, to see + your youthful Washington supporting, in the dismal hour of + Indian victory, the ill-fated Braddock, and saving, by his + judgment and by his valor, the remains of a defeated army, + pressed by the conquering savage foe? Or, when oppressed + America, nobly resolving to risk her all in defence of her + violated rights, he was elevated by the unanimous voice of + Congress to the command of her armies, will you follow him + to the high grounds of Boston, where, to an undisciplined, + courageous, and virtuous yeomanry, his presence gave the + stability of system, and infused the invincibility of love + of country? Or shall I carry you to the painful scenes of + Long Island, York island, and New Jersey, when, combatting + superior and gallant armies, aided by powerful fleets, and + led by chiefs high in the roll of fame, he stood the bulwark + of our safety, undismayed by disaster, unchanged by change + of fortune? Or will you view him in the precarious fields of + Trenton, where deep glooms, unnerving every arm, reigned + triumphant through our thinned, worn down, unaided ranks, + himself unmoved? Dreadful was the night! It was about this + time of winter. The storm raged; the Delaware, rolling + furiously with floating ice, forbade the approach of man. + Washington, self-collected, viewed the tremendous scene; his + country called. Unappalled by surrounding dangers, he passed + to the hostile shore; he fought--he conquered! The morning + sun cheered the American world. Our country rose on the + event; and her dauntless chief, pursuing his blow, completed + on the lawns of Princeton what his vast soul had conceived + on the shores of the Delaware. + + "Thence to the strong grounds of Morristown he led his small + but gallant band; and through an eventful winter, by the + high efforts of his genius, whose matchless force was + measurable only by the growth of difficulties, he held in + check formidable hostile legions, conducted by a chief + experienced in the art of war, and famed for his valor on + the ever-memorable heights of Abraham, where fell Wolfe, + Montcalm, and, since, our much-lamented Montgomery, all + covered with glory. In this fortunate interval, produced by + his masterly conduct, our fathers, ourselves, animated by + his resistless example, rallied around our country's + standard, and continued to follow her beloved chief through + the various and trying scenes to which the destinies of our + Union led. + + "Who is there that has forgotten the vales of Brandywine, + the fields of Germantown, or the plains of Monmouth? + Everywhere present, wants of every kind obstructing, + numerous and valiant armies encountering, himself a host, he + assuaged our sufferings, limited our privations, and upheld + our tottering republic. Shall I display to you the spread of + the fire of his soul, by rehearsing the praises of the hero + of Saratoga, and his much-loved compeer of the Carolinas? + No; our Washington wears not borrowed glory. To Gates--to + Greene--he gave, without reserve, the applause due to their + eminent merit; and long may the chiefs of Saratoga and of + the Eotaws receive the grateful respect of a grateful + people! + + "Moving in his own orbit, he imparted heat and light to his + most distant satellites; and, combining the physical and + moral force of all within his sphere, with irresistible + weight he took his course, commiserating folly, disdaining + vice, dismaying treason, and invigorating despondency, until + the auspicious hour arrived when, united with the intrepid + forces of a potent and magnanimous ally, he brought to + submission the since conqueror of India; thus finishing his + long career of military glory with a lustre corresponding + with his great name, and in this, his last act of war, + affixing the seal of fate to our nation's birth. + + "To the horrid din of war sweet peace succeeded; and our + virtuous chief, mindful only of the public good, in a moment + tempting personal aggrandizement, hushed the discontents of + growing sedition, and, surrendering his power into the hands + from which he had received it, converted his sword into a + ploughshare--teaching an admiring world that, to be truly + great, you must be truly good. + + "Were I to stop here, the picture would be incomplete, and + the task imposed unfinished. Great as was our Washington in + war, and much as did that greatness contribute to produce + the American republic, it is not in war alone that his + pre-eminence stands conspicuous; his various talents, + combining all the capacities of a statesman with those of a + soldier, fitted him alike to guide the councils and the + armies of our nation. Scarcely had he rested from his + martial toils, while his invaluable parental advice was + still sounding in our ears, when he who had been our shield + and our sword was called forth to act a less splendid but + more important part. + + "Possessing a clear and penetrating mind, a strong and sound + judgment, calmness and temper for deliberation, with + invincible firmness and perseverance in resolutions maturely + formed, drawing information from all, acting from himself + with incorruptible integrity and unvarying patriotism, his + own superiority and the public confidence alike marked him + as the man designed by Heaven to lead in the great political + as well as military events which have distinguished the era + of his life. + + "The finger of an overruling Providence pointing at + Washington was neither mistaken nor unobserved, when, to + realize the vast hopes to which our Revolution had given + birth, a change of political system became indispensable. + + "How novel, how grand the spectacle--independent states + stretched over an immense territory, and known only by + common difficulty, clinging to their Union as the rock of + their safety, deciding by frank comparison of their relative + condition to rear on that rock, under the guidance of + reason, a common government, through whose commanding + protection liberty and order, with their long train of + blessings, should be safe to themselves and the sure + inheritance of their posterity! + + "This arduous task devolved on citizens selected by the + people, from a knowledge of their wisdom, and confidence in + their virtue. In this august assembly of sages and of + patriots, Washington, of course, was found; and, as if + acknowledged to be most wise where all were wise, with one + voice he was declared their chief. How well he merited this + rare distinction--how faithful were the labors of himself + and his compatriots, the work of their hands and our union, + strength, and prosperity--the fruits of that work best + attest. + + "But to have essentially aided in presenting to his country + this consummation of her hopes, neither satisfied the claims + of his fellow-citizens on his talents, nor those duties + which the possession of those talents imposed. Heaven had + not infused into his mind such an uncommon share of its + ethereal spirit to remain unemployed, nor bestowed on him + his genius unaccompanied by the corresponding duty of + devoting it to the common good. To have framed a + constitution, was showing only, without realizing, the + general happiness. This great work remained to be done; and + America, steadfast in her preference, with one voice + summoned her beloved Washington, unpractised as he was in + the duties of civil administration, to execute this last act + in the completion of the national felicity. Obedient to her + call, he assumed the high office with that self-distrust + peculiar to his innate modesty, the constant attendant of + pre-eminent virtue. What was the burst of joy through our + anxious land on this exhilarating event, is known to us all. + The aged, the young, the brave, the fair, rivalled each + other in demonstrations of their gratitude; and this + high-wrought, delightful scene was heightened in its effect + by the singular contest between the zeal of the bestowers + and the avoidance of the receiver of the honors bestowed. + Commencing his administration, what heart is not charmed + with the recollection of the pure and wise principles + announced by himself as the basis of his political life? He + best understood the indissoluble union between virtue and + happiness, between duty and advantage, between the genuine + maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy and the solid + rewards of public prosperity and individual felicity. + Watching with an equal and comprehensive eye over this great + assemblage of communities and interests, he laid the + foundations of our national policy in the unerring, + immutable principles of morality, based on religion; + exemplifying the pre-eminence of free government by all the + attributes which win the affections of its citizens or + command the respect of the world. + + "'O fortunatos dimium sua sibona norint!' + + "Leading through the complicated difficulties produced by + previous obligations and conflicting interests, seconded by + succeeding houses of Congress, enlightened and patriotic, he + surmounted all original obstructions, and brightened the + path of our national felicity. + + "The presidential term expiring, his solicitude to exchange + exaltation for humility returned with a force increased with + increase of age; and he had prepared his farewell address to + his countrymen, proclaiming his intention, when the united + interposition of all around him, enforced by the eventful + prospects of the epoch, produced a further sacrifice of + inclination to duty. The election of president followed, and + Washington, by the unanimous vote of the nation, was called + to resume the chief magistracy. What a wonderful fixture of + confidence! Which attracts most our admiration--a people so + correct, or a citizen combining an assemblage of talents + forbidding rivalry, and stifling even envy itself! Such a + nation deserves to be happy; such a chief must be for ever + revered. + + "War, long menaced by the Indian tribes, now broke out; and + the terrible conflict, deluging Europe with blood, began to + shed its baneful influence over our happy land. To the + first, outstretching his invincible arm, under the orders of + the gallant Wayne, the American eagle soared triumphant + through distant forests. Peace followed victory, and the + melioration of the condition of the enemy followed peace. + Godlike virtue, which uplifts even the subdued savage! + + "To the second he opposed himself. New and delicate was the + conjuncture, and great was the stake. Soon did his + penetrating mind discern and seize the only course + continuing to us all the blessings enjoyed. He issued his + proclamation of neutrality. This index to his whole + subsequent conduct was sanctioned by the approbation of both + houses of Congress, and by the approving voice of the + people. + + "To this sublime policy he invariably adhered, unmoved by + foreign intrusion, unshaken by domestic turbulence. + + "'Justum et tenacem propositi virum, + Non civium ardor prava jubentium, + Non vultus instantis tyranni + Mente quatit solida.' + + "Maintaining his pacific system at the expense of no duty, + America, faithful to herself and unstained in her honor, + continued to enjoy the delights of peace, while afflicted + Europe mourns in every quarter under the accumulated + miseries of an unexampled war--miseries in which our happy + country must have shared had not our pre-eminent Washington + been as firm in council as he was brave in the field. + + "Pursuing steadfastly his course, he held safe the public + happiness, preventing foreign war and quelling internal + disorder, till the revolving period of a third election + approached, when he executed his interrupted but + inextinguishable desire of returning to the humble walks of + private life. + + "The promulgation of his fixed resolution stopped the + anxious wishes of an affectionate people from adding a third + unanimous testimonial of their unabated confidence in the + man so long enthroned in their hearts. When, before, was + affection like this exhibited on earth? Turn over the + records of Greece--review the annals of mighty Rome--examine + the volumes of modern Europe--you search in vain. America + and her Washington only affords the dignified + exemplification. + + "The illustrious personage, called by the national voice in + succession to the arduous office of guiding a free people, + had no difficulties to encounter. The amicable effort of + settling our difficulties with France, begun by Washington + and pursued by his successor in virtue as in station, + proving abortive, America took measures of self-defence. No + sooner was the public mind roused by a prospect of danger, + than every eye was turned to the friend of all, though + secluded from public view and gray in public service. The + virtuous veteran, following his plough, received the + unexpected summons with mingled emotions of indignation at + the unmerited ill-treatment of his country, and of a + determination once more to risk his all in her defence. + + "The annunciation of these feelings, in his affecting letter + to the president, accepting the command of the army, + concludes his official conduct. + + "_First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of + his countrymen_, he was second to none in the humble and + endearing scenes of private life; uniform, dignified, and + commanding, his example was as edifying to all around him as + were the effects of that example lasting. + + "To his equals, he was condescending; to his inferiors, + kind; and to the dear object of his affections, exemplarily + tender. Correct throughout, Vice shuddered in his presence, + and Virtue always felt his fostering hand. The purity of his + private character gave effulgence to his public virtues. + + "His last scene comported with the whole tenor of his life. + Although in extreme pain, not a sigh, not a groan, escaped + him; and with undisturbed serenity he closed his well-spent + life. Such was the man America has lost; such was the man + for whom our nation mourns. + + "Methinks I see his august image, and hear falling from his + venerable lips these deep-sinking words:-- + + "'Cease, sons of America, lamenting our separation. Go on + and confirm by your wisdom the fruits of our joint councils, + joint efforts, and common dangers; reverence religion; + diffuse knowledge throughout your lands; patronize the arts + and sciences; let Liberty and Order be inseparable + companions. Control party spirit, the bane of free + government; observe good faith to, and cultivate peace with, + all nations; shut up every avenue to foreign influence; + contract rather than extend national connections; rely on + yourselves only; be Americans in thought, word, and deed. + Thus will you give immortality to that Union which was the + constant object of my terrestrial labors; thus will you + preserve undisturbed to the latest posterity the felicity of + a people to me most dear; and thus will you supply (if my + happiness is now aught to you) the only vacancy in the round + of pure bliss high Heaven bestows.'" + +[148] May, 1860. The following are the names and present ages of the +survivors: Samuel Breck, eighty-nine; S. Palmer, eighty; S. F. Smith, +eighty; Charles N. Bancker, eighty-four; Quentin Campbell, eighty-four; +and John F. Watson, the annalist of Philadelphia and New York, +eighty-one. + +[149] "France," said Fontanes, "unbiassed by those narrow prejudices +which exist between nations, and admiring virtue wherever it be found, +decrees this tribute of respect to the manes of Washington. At this +moment she contributes to the discharge of a debt due by two nations. No +government, whatever form it bears, or whatever opinions it holds, can +refuse its respect to this great Father of Liberty. The people who so +lately stigmatized Washington as a rebel, regard even the +enfranchisement of America as one of those events consecrated by history +and by past ages. Such is the veneration excited by great characters. +The American Revolution, the contemporary of our own, is fixed for ever. +WASHINGTON began it with energy, and finished it with moderation. He +knew how to maintain it, pursuing always the prosperity of his country; +and his aim alone will justify, at the tribunal of the Most High, +enterprises so extraordinary. + +"To pronounce the eulogy of the hero of America, requires the sublimest +eloquence of the first of orators. I reflect, with sentiments of +admiration, that this Temple, ornamented with the trophies of valor, was +raised up in an age of genius--an age which produced as many great +writers as illustrious commanders. Then, the memory of heroes was +intrusted to orators whose genius gave immortality. Now, military glory +shines with lustre, and in every country the glory of the fine arts is +shrouded in darkness. My voice is too feeble to be heard on an occasion +so solemn and momentous, and so new to me. But as that voice is pure--as +it has never flattered any species of tyranny--it has never been +rendered unworthy of celebrating heroism and virtue." + +"Nevertheless, these funeral and military honors will speak to all +hearts. It needs not the aid of speech, to raise strong and +indescribable emotions. The mourning which the First Consul orders for +WASHINGTON, declares to France that Washington's example is not lost. It +is less for the illustrious general, than for the benefactor and friend +of a great people, that the crape of mourning now covers our banners and +the uniform of our warriors. Neither do we prepare that unmeaning pomp, +so contrary to policy and humanity, in which insult is offered to +misfortune, contempt to venerable ruins, and calumny to the tomb. Every +exalted idea, every useful truth, is seen in this assembly. I speak, +before warriors, the honorable praise of a warrior, firm in adversity, +modest in victory, and magnanimous in every stage of fortune. + +"Before the ministers of the French republic I speak the praises of a +man whom ambition never swayed and whose every care tended to the +welfare of his country; a man who, unlike others that have changed +empires, lived in peace in his native land; and in that land which he +had freed, and in which he had held the highest rank, died as a simple +individual. + +"General WASHINGTON offers examples not less worthy of imitation. Amid +all the disorders of camps, amid all the excesses inseparable from a +civil war, humanity took refuge in his tent, and was never repulsed. In +triumph and in defeat, he was always as tranquil as wisdom, as simple as +virtue. The finer feelings of the heart never abandoned him, even in +those moments when his own interest would seem to justify a recurrence +to the laws of vengeance.... + +"It is these extraordinary men, who appear at intervals on this vast +scene, with characters commanding and illustrious. An unknown and +superior cause sends them when it is fit, to lay the foundations of new +or to build up the ruins of old empires. It is in vain that these men +step aside or mingle with the crowd. Destiny leads them on; they are +carried from obstacle to obstacle, from triumph to triumph, until they +arrive at the summit of power. Something supernatural animates all their +thoughts. An irresistible movement is given to all their enterprises. +The multitude still seek them among themselves, and find them not; they +raise their eyes, and see in a sphere, dazzling with light and glory, +those whom their ignorance and envy would call rash. + +"WASHINGTON had not those high and commanding traits which strike every +mind. He displayed more order and justice, than force and elevation, in +his ideas. He possessed, above all, in an eminent degree, that quality +which some call vulgar, but which very few possess--that quality not +less useful to the government of states than to the conduct of life, and +which gives more tranquillity than emotion to the soul, and more +happiness than glory to those who possess it. It is of good sense that I +speak. Audacity destroys, genius elevates, good sense preserves and +perfects. Genius is charged with the glory of empires; but good sense +alone assures their safety and repose. His end portrayed all the +domestic virtues, as his life had been an illustrious example in war and +politics. America regarded with respect the mansion which contained her +defender. From that retreat, where so much glory dwelt, sage counsels +issued, which had no less weight than in the days of his power. But +death has swept all away; he died in the midst of those occupations +which sweeten domestic life, and support us in the infirmities of age. + +"From every part of that America he delivered, the cry of grief is +heard. It belonged to France to echo back the mournful sound; it ought +to vibrate on every generous heart. The shade of WASHINGTON, on entering +beneath this lofty dome, will find a Turenne, a Catinat, a Conde, all of +whom have fixed their habitation here. If these illustrious warriors had +not served in the same cause during life, yet the fame of all will unite +them in death. Opinions, subject to the caprices of the world and to +time--opinions, weak and changeable, the inheritance of humanity--vanish +on the tomb; but glory and virtue live for ever. When departed from this +stage, the great men of every age and of every place become in some +measure compatriots and contemporaries. They form but one family in the +memory of the living; and their examples are renewed in every successive +age. Thus, within these walls, the valor of WASHINGTON attracts the +regard of CONDE; his modesty is applauded by TURENNE; his philosophy +draws him to the bosom of CATINAT. A people who admit the ancient dogma +of a transmigration of souls will often confess that the soul of Catinat +dwells in the bosom of Washington. + +"The voice of Republicanism, which resounds from every part of these +walls, ought to please, above all, the defenders of America. Can they +not love these soldiers who, after their example, repelled the enemies +of their country? We approach with pleasure those veterans, whose +trophies add lustre to these walls, and some of whom have gained laurels +with Washington in the wilds of Carolina and Virginia. + +"But there is something more due to the memory of WASHINGTON: it is the +union of France and America.[150] It is the happiness of each; it is +peace between the two nations. It now seems to me that WASHINGTON calls +to all France from the very summit of this dome: 'Magnanimous people! +you, who know so well how to honor glory, I have conquered for +independence; the happiness of my country was the reward of that +victory. Imitate not the first half of my life; it is the second that +recommends me to posterity.' + +"Yes, thy counsels shall be heard, O WASHINGTON! O warrior! O +legislator! O citizen without reproach! He who, _while yet young_, +rivals thee in battles, shall, like thee, with his triumphant hands, +heal the wounds of his country. Even now we have his disposition, his +character, for the pledge; and his warlike genius, unfortunately +necessary, shall soon lead sweet Peace into this temple of War. Then the +sentiment of universal joy shall obliterate the remembrance of +oppression and injustice. Already the oppressed forget their ills, in +looking to the future. The acclamations of every age will be offered to +the hero who gives happiness to France, and seeks to restore it to a +contending world." + +[150] The new American envoys were then in Paris, on a mission of +reconciliation and brotherhood. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + WASHINGTON'S CHARACTER. + + +Our chronicle of the career of Washington is finished. We have traced +the details of that career, from his birth through all the vicissitudes +of an eventful life of more than sixty years, with conscientious +fidelity to truth and justice. + +We have seen him first a generous, truthful boy; and then a handsome, +robust, manly youth, perfectly self-reliant, bearing the implements of a +professional surveyor's vocation through the forests of Virginia, and +gaining that knowledge of woodcraft which afterward proved of essential +service to him. + +We have seen him, at the age of twenty-one years, traversing a portion +of the same wilderness and beyond, bearing the commission and +responsibilities of a military officer, and intrusted with service the +most delicate yet most arduous, requiring for its performance the +combined abilities of pioneer, soldier, and diplomat. We have seen him +returning, crowned with success, and receiving the applause of his +countrymen. + +We have seen him, a little later, leading a military expedition into +that wilderness, to roll back a wave of French encroachment supported by +deluded savages, and exhibiting the wisdom of a veteran in his marches, +conflicts, and retreats. And, later still, we have seen him wisely +advising a British general how to fight, but to be answered with +contempt. We have seen him left to act upon the principles involved in +that advice, when his commander was laid low, and permitted to save, by +most brave and judicious management, the remnant of the broken army. + +We have seen him in other campaigns of that old French and Indian War, +always judicious, brave, and successful, and always evidently +God-protected; and we have seen that devotion to his country rewarded by +the love and admiration of his fellow-men, and the affections and +fortune of one of the loveliest of Virginia's daughters who became his +wife, and was his companion, solace, and joy, during the remaining forty +years of his life. + +We have seen him a chosen member of the Virginia house of burgesses year +after year, always remarkable for his wisdom, his patriotism, and his +prudence; always conservative, yet never lagging when a crisis demanded +action--one of the most decisive when reconciliation with the +mother-country was evidently impossible, and a resort to arms absolutely +necessary. + +We have seen him at the kindling of that war, a sage and influential +member of the grand national council; and soon afterward called by that +body to the supreme leadership of the armies formed to fight for liberty +and independence. We have seen him so devoted to the high and holy trust +committed to his case, that for more than six years he never crossed the +threshold of his delightful mansion on the Potomac, where he had enjoyed +many long years of connubial happiness, the pleasures of social +intercourse, and the delights of rural pursuits. + +We have seen him at the close of a successful seven years' war for +independence, venerated and almost worshipped by a grateful people, +refusing a proffered crown, resigning his commission into the hands of +the power that gave it, and retiring to private life at his own dear +Mount Vernon. And we have seen him in that delightful retreat, +entertaining friends and strangers with the most generous hospitality, +and receiving the homage of the great and the good of all lands. + +We have seen him called from that retirement to take the lead in the +formation of a new code of organic laws for the government of the infant +nation in whose nativity he had performed the most conspicuous part; and +then, by the spontaneous voice of the whole people, summoned to the helm +of state under that more perfect form of government which he and his +compatriots had devised. We have seen him as the chief magistrate of +the republic, firm almost beyond precedent in his loyalty to the best +interests of his country, unmoved by the appeals of sympathy, unseduced +by the wiles of politicians, unappalled by the shocks of faction and the +surges of popular commotions. We have seen him leave the cares and +honors of office, even while the nation was imploring him to remain, and +retiring to private life with the blessed assurance of repose and a +serene old age. We have seen him leaving that repose at the call of the +people, and again cheerfully preparing to serve his country, as the +leader of its armies, to repel hostile invasion. And we have seen him go +down into the grave, without any of the infirmities of old age--with +step elastic, eye undimmed, countenance fresh and youthful in +appearance, and intellect unclouded, until the last--leaving to his +countrymen the image of an almost perfect man, in all the beautiful +proportions of mental, moral, and physical vigor, while the world +lamented, and eulogy found him one of its noblest and most suggestive +themes. + +It remains for us now to consider his character and his habits of life +in the social relations. Historians, biographers, essayists, and +personal friends, have drawn pictures of that wonderful man (whose +proportions, in comparison of others, grow more colossal every day) with +pencils somewhat partial, perhaps, as is natural, but graphic and +generally truthful. It is not for us, at this remote distance from the +period and theatre of his life, to attempt to delineate him with any +expectation of improving upon these originals. We will be content to +group some of their pictures, in whole and in part, in such a way, that +all knowledge essential to a just appreciation of the _whole_ character +of WASHINGTON may be obtained by the reader who may have followed us in +the long narrative of his public life, recorded on the pages of these +volumes. In making up the group, we shall borrow freely from the +limners, beginning with the graphic outline of one of his most devoted +and well-appreciated personal friends, and his first biographer, +Chief-Justice Marshall. + +"His manners were rather reserved than free, though they partook nothing +of that dryness and sternness which accompany reserve when carried to +an extreme; and on all proper occasions he could relax sufficiently to +show how highly he was gratified by the charms of conversation and the +pleasures of society. His person and whole deportment exhibited an +unaffected and indescribable dignity, unmingled with haughtiness, of +which all who approached him were sensible; and the attachment of those +who possessed his friendship and enjoyed his intimacy was ardent, but +always respectful. His temper was humane, benevolent, and conciliatory; +but there was a quickness in his sensibility to anything apparently +offensive, which experience had taught him to watch and to correct. + +"In the management of his private affairs he exhibited an exact yet +liberal economy. His funds were not prodigally wasted on capricious and +ill-examined schemes, nor refused to beneficial though costly +improvements. They remained, therefore, competent to that expensive +establishment which his reputation, added to a hospitable temper, had in +some measure imposed upon him, and to those donations which real +distress has a right to claim from opulence. He made no pretensions to +that vivacity which fascinates, or to that wit which dazzles, and +frequently imposes on the understanding. More solid than brilliant, +judgment rather than genius constituted the most prominent feature of +his character. Without making ostentatious professions of religion, he +was a sincere believer in the Christian faith, and a truly devout man. + +"As a military man, he was brave, enterprising, and cautious. That +malignity which has sought to strip him of all the higher qualities of a +general, has conceded to him personal courage, and a firmness of +resolution which neither dangers nor difficulty could shake. But candor +will allow him other great and valuable endowments. If his military +course does not abound with splendid achievements, it exhibits a series +of judicious measures adapted to circumstances, which probably saved his +country. + +"Placed, without having studied the theory or been taught in the school +of experience the practice of war, at the head of an undisciplined, +ill-organized multitude, which was impatient of the restraints and +unacquainted with the ordinary duties of the camp, without the aid of +officers possessing those lights which the commander-in-chief was yet to +acquire, it would have been a miracle indeed had his conduct been +absolutely faultless. But, possessing an energetic and distinguishing +mind, on which the lessons of experience were never lost, his errors, if +he committed any, were quickly repaired; and those measures which the +state of things rendered most advisable, were seldom if ever neglected. +Inferior to his adversary in the number, the equipment, and in the +discipline of his troops, it is evidence of real merit that no great and +decisive advantages were ever obtained over him; and that the +opportunity to strike an important blow never passed away unused. He has +been termed the American Fabius; but those who compare his actions with +his means, will perceive at least as much of Marcellus as Fabius in his +character. He could not have been more enterprising, without endangering +the cause he defended; nor have put more to hazard, without incurring +justly the imputation of rashness. Not relying upon those chances which +sometimes give a favorable issue to attempts apparently desperate, his +conduct was regulated by calculations made upon the capacities of his +army and the real situation of his country. + +"In his civil administration, as in his military career, ample and +repeated proofs were exhibited of that practical good sense, of that +sound judgment, which is perhaps the most rare and is certainly the most +valuable quality of the human mind. Devoting himself to the duties of +his station, and pursuing no object distinct from the public good, he +was accustomed to contemplate at a distance those critical situations in +which the United States might probably be placed; and to digest, before +the occasion required action, the line of conduct which it would be +proper to observe. Taught to distrust first impressions, he sought to +acquire all the information which was attainable, and to hear, without +prejudice, all the reasons which could be urged for or against a +particular measure. His own judgment was suspended until it became +necessary to determine; and his decisions, thus maturely made, were +seldom if ever to be shaken. His conduct therefore was systematic, and +the great objects of his administration were steadily pursued. + +"Respecting, as the first magistrate of a free government must ever do, +the real and deliberate sentiments of the people, their gusts of passion +passed over without ruffling the smooth surface of his mind. Trusting to +the reflecting good sense of the nation for approbation and support, he +had the magnanimity to pursue its real interests, in opposition to its +temporary prejudices; and, though far from being regardless of popular +favor, he could never stoop to retain, by deserving to lose it. In more +instances than one, we find him committing his whole popularity to +hazard, and pursuing steadily, in opposition to a torrent that would +have overwhelmed a man of ordinary firmness, that course which had been +dictated by a sense of duty. + +"In speculation, he was a real republican, devoted to the constitution +of his country, and to that system of equal political rights on which it +is founded. But between a balanced republic and a democracy the +difference is like that between order and chaos. Real liberty, he +thought, was to be preserved only by preserving the authority of the +laws and maintaining the energy of government. Scarcely did society +present two characters which, in his opinion, less resembled each other, +than a patriot and a demagogue. + +"No man has ever appeared upon the theatre of public action whose +integrity was more incorruptible, or whose principles were more +perfectly free from the contaminations of those selfish and unworthy +passions which find their nourishment in the conflicts of party. Having +no views which required concealment, his real and avowed motives were +the same; and his whole correspondence does not furnish a single case +from which even an enemy would infer that he was capable, under any +circumstances, of stooping to the employment of duplicity. No truth can +be uttered with more confidence than that his ends were always upright, +and his means always pure. He exhibits the rare example of a politician +to whom wiles were absolutely unknown, and whose professions to foreign +governments and to his own countrymen were always sincere. In him was +fully exemplified the real distinction which for ever exists between +wisdom and cunning, and the importance as well as truth of the maxim, +'Honesty is the best policy.' + +"If Washington possessed ambition, that passion was, in his bosom, so +regulated by principles or controlled by circumstances, that it was +neither vicious nor turbulent. Intrigue was never employed as the means +of its gratification, nor was personal aggrandizement its object. The +various high and important stations to which he was called by the public +voice, were unsought by himself; and, in consenting to fill them, he +seems rather to have yielded to a general conviction that the interests +of his country would be thereby promoted, than to an avidity for power. + +"Neither the extraordinary partiality of the American people, the +extravagant praises which were bestowed upon him, nor the inveterate +opposition and malignant calumnies which he encountered, had any visible +influence upon his conduct. The cause is to be looked for in the texture +of his mind. To him, that innate and unassuming modesty which adulation +would have offended, which the voluntary plaudits of millions could not +betray into indiscretion, and which never intruded upon others his +claims to superior consideration, was happily blended with a high and +correct sense of personal dignity, and with a just consciousness of that +respect which is due to station. Without exertion, he could maintain the +happy medium between that arrogance which wounds and that facility which +allows the office to be degraded in the person who fills it. + +"It is impossible to contemplate the great events which have occurred in +the United States under the auspices of Washington, without ascribing +them, in some measure, to him. If we ask the causes of the prosperous +issue of a war, against the successful termination of which there were +so many probabilities; of the good which was produced, and the ill which +was avoided, during an administration fated to contend with the +strongest prejudices that a combination of circumstances and of passions +could produce; of the favor of the great mass of his fellow-citizens, +and of the confidence which, to the last moment of his life, they +reposed in him--the answer, so far as these causes may be found in his +character, will furnish a lesson well meriting the attention of those +who are candidates for political fame. + +"Endowed by nature with a sound judgment and an accurate, discriminating +mind, he feared not that laborious attention which made him perfectly +master of those subjects, in all their relations, on which he was to +decide. And this essential quality was guided by an unvarying sense of +moral right, which would tolerate the employment only of those means +that would bear the most rigid examination; by a fairness of intention +which neither sought nor required disguise; and by a purity of virtue +which was not only untainted, but unsuspected. + +"Washington's character, so perfect in its harmonious combination of the +best and greatest qualities that constitute the true man, has endured +the test of criticism for three quarters of a century; and every time it +passes through the crucible of severe analysis, in the hands of masters, +it appears more perfect than before the ordeal. To this task the best +minds of Europe have brought their keenest powers of research, and the +conclusion is always the same." + +"The bold and successful passages of the Delaware, and the surprise of +the Hessians," says one of our most accomplished essayists, "awaked in +Frederick of Prussia the sympathy and high appreciation which he +manifested by the gift of a sword, with an inscription exclusively in +praise of Washington's generalship. The moderation of his nature, the +heroic balance of his soul, whereby elation was kept in abeyance in the +hour of success, not less nobly than despair in the day of misfortune, +attracted the French philosopher, habituated as he was, in the history +of his own nation, to the association of warlike and civic fame with the +extremes of zeal and indifference, of violence and caprice. In his +estimation, the good sense and moral consistency of Washington and his +compatriots naturally offered the most remarkable problem. Accordingly, +Guizot bears witness chiefly to this unprecedented union of +comprehensive designs and prudential habits, of aspiration and patience, +in the character of Washington; and, doubtless through the contrast with +the restless ambition which marks the lives of his own illustrious +countrymen, is mainly struck with the fact that, 'while capable of +rising to the level of the highest destiny, he might have lived in +ignorance of his real power, without suffering from it.' The Italian +patriot, obliged to vent his love of country in terse dramatic +colloquies, and through the lips of dead heroes, is thrilled with the +grand possibilities of action, through the realization of his sentiments +by achievement, opened to Washington. Even the poor Indians, so often +cajoled out of their rights as to be thoroughly incredulous of good +faith among the pale-faces, made him an exception to their rooted +distrust. 'The white men are bad,' said an aboriginal chief, in his +council-speech, 'and can not dwell in the region of the Great Spirit, +_except Washington_.' And Lord Brougham, in a series of analytical +biographies of the renowned men of the last and present century, which +indicate a deep study and philosophical estimate of human greatness, +closes his sketch of Washington by the emphatic assertion that the test +of the progress of mankind will be their appreciation of his +character."[151] + +At his installation as chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, in the +spring of 1860, Lord Brougham, in his address, after speaking of +Napoleon and Wellington, said: "But in Washington we may contemplate +every excellence, military and civil, applied to the service of his +country and of mankind--a triumphant warrior, unshaken in confidence +when the most sanguine had a right to despair; a successful ruler in all +the difficulties of a course wholly untried--directing the formation of +a new government for a great people, the first time so vast an +experiment had ever been tried by man; voluntarily and unostentatiously +retiring from supreme power with the veneration of all parties, of all +nations, of all mankind, that the rights of men may be conserved, and +that his example might never be appealed to by vulgar tyrants. It will +be the duty of the historian and the sage, in all ages, to omit no +occasion of commemorating this illustrious man; and until time shall be +no more, will a test of the progress which our race has made in wisdom +and in virtue be derived from the veneration paid to the immortal name +of WASHINGTON." + +One of the most beautiful of the many eulogies of the Great Patriot was +written, soon after his death, by an unknown hand (supposed to be that +of an English gentleman), on the back of a cabinet profile likeness of +Washington, executed in crayon, by Sharpless. It is in the form of a +monumental inscription. The following is a copy of it:-- + + WASHINGTON, + The DEFENDER OF HIS COUNTRY, + The FOUNDER OF LIBERTY, + The FRIEND OF MAN. + HISTORY and TRADITION are explored in vain + For a Parallel to his Character. + In the Annals of MODERN GREATNESS + He stands alone, + And the noblest Names of Antiquity + Lose their Lustre in his Presence. + + Born the _Benefactor of Mankind_, + He was signally Endowed with all the Qualities + Appropriate to his _Illustrious Career_. + _Nature_ made him _Great_, + And, Heaven-directed, + He made _himself Virtuous_. + + Called by his Country to the _Defence_ of her _Soil_, + And the _Vindication_ of her _Liberties_, + He led to the Field + _Her Patriot Armies_; + And, displaying in rapid and brilliant succession + The United Powers + Of _Consummate Prudence_ and Heroic Valor, + He triumphed in Arms + Over the most powerful Nation of Modern Europe; + His Sword giving _Freedom to America_, + His Counsels breathing _Peace to the World_. + + After a short repose + From the _tumultuous Vicissitudes_ + Of a sanguinary War, + The astounding Energies of + WASHINGTON + Were again destined to a _New Course_ + Of _Glory and Usefulness_. + + _The Civic Wreath_ + Was spontaneously placed + By the _Gratitude_ of the _Nation_ + On the Brow of the DELIVERER _of his_ COUNTRY. + He was twice _solemnly invested_ + With the POWERS of _Supreme Magistracy_, + By the _Unanimous Voice_ of + _A Free People_; + And in his EXALTED and ARDUOUS Station, + His _Wisdom_ in the _Cabinet_ + Transcended the _Glories of the Field_. + + The _Destinies_ of _Washington_ + Were now complete. + Having passed the Meridian of a _Devoted Life_, + Having founded on the Pillars + Of NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE + The _Splendid Fabric_ + Of a GREAT REPUBLIC, + And having firmly Established + The Empire of the West, + He solemnly deposited on the _Altar of his Country_ + His _Laurels_ and his _Sword_, + And retired to the _Shades_ + Of PRIVATE LIFE. + A _Spectacle_ so _New_ and so _Sublime_, + Was contemplated by _Mankind_ + With the _Profoundest Admiration_; + And the Name of WASHINGTON, + Adding new _Lustre_ to _Humanity_, + Resounded + _To the remotest Regions of the Earth_. + + _Magnanimous in Youth_, + Glorious through Life, + Great in Death, + His highest Ambition + The _Happiness of Mankind_, + His _noblest Victory_ + The _Conquest of Himself_. + Bequeathing to America + The _Inheritance_ of his _Fame_, + And building his _Monument_ + In the _Hearts of his Countrymen_, + He Lived, + The _Ornament_ of the Eighteenth Century; + He Died, + LAMENTED BY A MOURNING WORLD. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[151] _Essays, Biographical and Critical; or, Studies of Character_. By +Henry T. Tuckerman. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + WASHINGTON'S HABITS AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE. + + +Washington, as we have observed in the earlier portion of this work, was +passionately fond of field-sports; and during the first years of his +married life, and even to the kindling of the Revolution, he frequently +indulged in the pleasures of the chase. He was an admirable equestrian, +but was not a successful sportsman. He engaged in the chase more for the +pleasure produced by the excitement, than for the honors of success. He +had quite a large kennel of hounds, and a fine stud of horses. Of these +he kept, with his own hand, a careful register, in which might be found +the names, ages, and marks of each. With these, his companions of the +chase, he was as carefully punctual in his attentions as to any other +business of his life. Among the names of his horses were those of +Chinkling, Valiant, Ajax, Magnolia, Blueskin, etc. Magnolia was a +full-blooded Arabian, and was used for the saddle upon the road. Among +the names of his hounds were Vulcan, Ringwood, Singer, Truelove, Music, +Sweetlips, Forester, Rockwood, etc. It was his pride (and a proof of his +skill in hunting) to have his pack so critically drafted, as to speed +and bottom, that in running, if one leading dog should lose the scent, +another was at hand immediately to recover it; and thus, when in full +cry, to use a racing-phrase, you might "cover the pack with a blanket." + +Mr. Custis, in his _Recollections of Washington_, has given some +interesting incidents of his life as a sportsman. "During the season," +he says, "Mount Vernon had many sporting guests from the neighborhood, +from Maryland, and elsewhere. Their visits were not of days, but weeks; +and they were entertained in the good old style of Virginia's ancient +hospitality. Washington, always superbly mounted, in true sporting +costume, of blue coat, scarlet waistcoat, buckskin breeches, top-boots, +velvet cap, and whip with long thong, took the field at daybreak, with +his huntsman, Will Lee, his friends and neighbors." They usually hunted +three times a week, if the weather was favorable. + +On the hunting-mornings, breakfast was served at candlelight. Washington +seldom partook of anything but Indian-corn cakes and milk. At dawn the +whole cavalcade would leave Mount Vernon, and frequently before sunrise +the dogs would be in full cry after a fox, Washington usually rode a +horse named _Blueskin_, a fiery animal, of great endurance, and of a +dark, iron-gray color. Billy (who was Washington's body-servant during +the war) always kept with the hounds; "and, mounted on _Chinkling_," says +Custis, "a French horn at his back, throwing himself almost at length on +the animal, with his spurs in flank, this fearless horseman would rush +at full speed, through brake and tangled wood, in a style at which +modern huntsmen would stand aghast." When the chase was ended, the party +would return to Mount Vernon to dinner, where other than sporting guests +were frequently assembled to greet them. The table was always furnished +generously; and the expensive style in which Washington kept up his +establishment before the Revolution may be inferred from an entry in his +diary, in 1768, in which he says, "Would any one believe that, with a +_hundred and one cows_, actually reported at a late enumeration of the +cattle, I should still be obliged to buy butter for my family?" During +the war, these pleasures were suspended, nor was the sporting +establishment ever revived, to any great extent. Lafayette sent +Washington some hounds in 1785, but increasing private and public duties +caused the master of Mount Vernon to neglect the pleasures in which he +once took such delight. + +It must not be supposed that, during those years of social enjoyment, +Washington neglected any duties. As a member of the Virginia house of +burgesses, he was assiduous, punctual, and faithful. As a farmer, he was +careful, prudent, and skilful; and he managed his estate of eight +thousand acres with such signal industry and ability, that he was +considered a model agriculturist. He did not leave his farms to the +entire care of his overseers. He continually exercised a general +supervision of his affairs, except when absent on public business; and +even then, through weekly reports, which he required his manager to +transmit to him regularly, he had a perfect knowledge of all operations, +and sometimes gave lengthy and minute directions. + +While Washington's table was always bountifully supplied for his guests, +he seldom partook of those preparations of the cook which specially +please the appetite. He was very abstemious, and never indulged to +excess in eating or drinking. His breakfast-hour was seven o'clock in +summer, and eight in winter. He usually made a frugal meal of Indian +cakes, honey, and tea or coffee, then mounted his horse and visited +every part of his estate, where the current operations seemed to require +his presence, leaving his guests to enjoy themselves with books and +papers, or otherwise, according to their choice. He rode upon his farms +entirely unattended, opening the gates, pulling down and putting up the +"bars," and inspecting with careful eye every agricultural operation. +Sometimes the tour of his farms in the course of the morning might +average, in distance, twelve or fifteen miles. The late Mr. Custis has +left on record a description of his appearance on one of these +occasions, in the latter years of his life, which he gave to a gentleman +who was out in search of Washington. "You will meet, sir" said young +Custis to the inquirer, "with an old gentleman riding alone, in plain +drab clothes, a broad-brimmed white hat, a hickory switch in his hand, +and carrying an umbrella with a long staff, which is attached to his +saddle-bow--that person, sir, is General Washington." + +He dined at three o'clock, when he always ate heartily, but of simple +food. His usual beverage was small-beer and cider, and Madeira wine. Of +the latter he often drank several small glasses at a sitting. He took +tea and toast, or a little well-baked bread, early in the evening; +conversed with or read to his family when there were no guests; and +usually, whether there was company or not, retired for the night at +about nine o'clock. He was an early riser, and might be found in his +library from one to two hours before daylight in winter, and at dawn in +summer. His toilet, plain and simple, was soon made. A single servant +prepared his clothes, and laid them in a proper place at night, for use +in the morning. He always dressed and shaved himself, and a servant +combed and tied his hair. Always neat in his dress and appearance, yet +he never wasted precious moments upon his toilet; for he regarded time, +not as a gift, but a loan, for which he must account to the Great +Master. + +The economy practised at Mount Vernon was always exercised by Washington +while in public office. He had engaged Samuel Fraunces, the noted +innkeeper in New York, as the steward of his household when he was +president of the United States. "We are happy to inform our readers," +said Fenno's _Gazette_, "that the president is determined to pursue that +system of regularity and economy in his household which has always +marked his public and private life. As a proof of this, we learn that +the steward is obliged, by his articles of agreement, to exhibit weekly +a fair statement of the receipts and expenditures of moneys by him, for +and on account of the president's household, to such person as the +president may appoint to inspect the same; together with the several +bills and receipts of payment for those articles which may be purchased +by him, when such bills and receipts can be obtained. And it is likewise +strongly inculcated on the steward to guard against any waste or +extravagance that might be committed by the servants of the family."[152] + +The late Reverend Ashbel Green has left on record the following +personal reminiscences of Washington during his residence in +Philadelphia as chief magistrate of the nation: "After a great deal of +talking, and writing, and controversy, about the permanent seat of +Congress, under the present constitution, it was determined that +Philadelphia should be honored with its presence for ten years, and that +afterward its permanent location should be in the city of Washington, +where it now is. In the meantime, the federal city was in building; and +the legislature of Pennsylvania voted a sum of money to build a house +for the president--perhaps with some hope that this might help to keep +the seat of the general government in the capital, for Philadelphia was +then considered as the capital of the state. What was lately the +University of Pennsylvania, was the structure erected for this purpose. +But as soon as General Washington saw its dimensions, and a good while +before it was finished, he let it be known that he would not occupy +it--that he should certainly not go to the expense of purchasing +suitable furniture for such a dwelling; for it is to be understood, in +those days of stern republicanism, nobody thought of Congress +_furnishing_ the president's house; or, if perchance such a thought did +enter into some aristocratic head, it was too unpopular to be uttered. + +"President Washington, therefore, rented a house of Mr. Robert Morris, +in Market street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, on the south side, +and furnished it handsomely, but not gorgeously. There he lived, with +Mrs. Washington; Mr. Lear (his private secretary) and his wife, and Mrs. +Washington's grandchildren, making a part of the family. Young Custis +had a private tutor, employed by the president, who was engaged to +attend on his pupil one hour in the winter mornings, before breakfast; +and who, then, commonly breakfasted with the president and his family. +The president ate Indian-cakes for breakfast, after the Virginia +fashion, although buckwheat-cakes were generally on the table. +Washington's dining parties were entertained in a very handsome style. +His weekly dining-day, for company, was Thursday, and his dining-hour +was always four o'clock in the afternoon. His rule was, to allow five +minutes for the variation of clocks and watches, and then go to the +table, be present or absent whoever might. He kept his own clock in the +hall, just within the outward door, and always exactly regulated. When +lagging members of Congress came in, as they often did, after the guests +had sat down to dinner, the president's only apology was, 'Gentlemen (or +sir), we are too punctual for you. I have a cook who never asks whether +the company has come, but whether the hour has come,' The company +usually assembled in the drawing-room, about fifteen or twenty minutes +before dinner, and the president spoke to every guest personally on +entering the room. + +"He was always dressed in a suit of black, his hair powdered and tied in +a black queue behind, with a very elegant dress-sword, which he wore +with inimitable grace. Mrs. Washington often, but not always, dined with +the company, sat at the head of the table, and if, as was occasionally +the case, there were other ladies present, they sat each side of her. +The private secretary sat at the foot of the table, and was expected to +be quietly attentive to all the guests. The president himself sat half +way from the head to the foot of the table, and on that side he would +place Mrs. Washington, though distant from him, on his right hand. He +always, unless a clergyman was present, at his own table, asked a +blessing, in a standing posture. If a clergyman were present, he was +requested both to ask a blessing, and to return thanks after dinner. The +centre of the table contained five or six large silver or plated +waiters, those of the ends circular or rather oval on one side, so as to +make the arrangement correspond with the oval shape of the table. The +waiters between the end-pieces were in the form of parallelograms, the +ends about one third part of the length of the sides; and the whole of +these waiters were filled with alabaster figures, taken from the ancient +mythology, but none of them such as to offend, in the smallest degree, +against delicacy. On the outside of the oval, formed by the waiters, +were placed the various dishes, always without covers; and outside the +dishes were the plates. A small roll of bread, enclosed in a napkin, was +laid by the side of each plate. The president, it is believed, generally +dined on one dish, and that of a very simple-kind. If offered something, +either in the first or second course, which was very rich, his usual +reply was, 'That is too good for me.' He had a silver pint cup or mug of +beer placed by his plate, which he drank while dining. He took one glass +of wine during dinner, and commonly one after. He then retired (the +ladies having gone a little before him), and left his secretary to +superintend the table till the wine-bibbers of Congress had satisfied +themselves with drinking. His wines were always the best that could be +obtained. Nothing could exceed the order with which his table was +served. Every servant knew what he was to do, and did it in the most +quiet and yet rapid manner. The dishes and plates were removed and +changed with a silence and speed that seemed like enchantment." + +Washington's personal appearance, and deportment in public and private +life, have often been the theme of description. In the year 1790, an +English gentleman, of intelligence and culture, was a guest at the +presidential mansion, in New York, after Washington had left Franklin +square, and taken up his abode in "M'Comb's house," on the west side of +Broadway, near Trinity church. The following account of that visit, +supposed to be from the pen of Hazlitt, appeared in the London _New +Monthly Magazine_: "I remember my father telling me he was introduced to +Washington, in 1790, by an American friend. A servant, well looking and +well dressed, received the visitants at the door, and by him they were +delivered over to an officer of the United States service, who ushered +them into the drawing-room, in which Mrs. Washington and several ladies +were seated. There was nothing remarkable in the person of the lady of +the president; she was matronly and kind, with perfect good breeding. +She at once entered into easy conversation, asked how long he had been +in America, how he liked the country, and such other familiar but +general questions. In a few minutes the general was in the room. It was +not necessary to announce his name, for his peculiar appearance, his +firm forehead, Roman nose, and a projection of the lower jaw, his height +and figure, could not be mistaken by any one who had seen a full-length +picture of him, and yet no picture accurately resembled him in the +minute traits of his person. His features, however, were so marked by +prominent characteristics, which appear in all likenesses of him, that +a stranger could not be mistaken in the man. He was remarkably dignified +in his manners, and had an air of benignity over his features which his +visitant did not expect, being rather prepared for sternness of +countenance. + +"After an introduction by Mrs. Washington, without more form than common +good manners prescribes, 'he requested me,' said my father, 'to be +seated; and, taking a chair himself, entered at once into conversation. +His manner was full of affability. He asked how I liked the country, the +city of New York; talked of the infant institutions of America, and the +advantages she offered, by her intercourse, for benefiting other +nations. He was grave in manner, but perfectly easy. His dress was of +purple satin. There was a commanding air in his appearance which excited +respect, and forbade too great a freedom toward him, independently of +that species of awe which is always felt in the moral influence of a +great character. In every movement, too, there was a polite gracefulness +equal to any met with in the most polished individuals in Europe, and +his smile was extraordinarily attractive. It was observed to me that +there was an expression in Washington's face that no painter had +succeeded in taking. It struck me no man could be better formed for +command. A stature of six feet, a robust but well-proportioned frame, +calculated to sustain fatigue, without that heaviness which generally +attends great muscular strength and abates active exertion, displayed +bodily power of no mean standard. A light eye and full--the very eye of +genius and reflection, rather than of blind, passionate impulse. His +nose appeared thick, and, though it befitted his other features, was too +coarsely and strongly formed to be the handsomest of its class. His +mouth was like no other that I ever saw; the lips firm, and the under +jaw seeming to grasp the upper with force, as if its muscles were in +full action when he sat still. Neither with the general nor with Mrs. +Washington was there the slightest restraint of ceremony. There was less +of it than I ever recollect to have met with where perfect good breeding +and manners were at the same time observed. To many remarks Washington +assented with a smile or inclination of the head, as if he were by +nature sparing in his conversation, and I am inclined to think this was +the case. An allusion was made to a serious fit of illness he had +recently suffered; but he took no notice of it. I could not help +remarking that America must have looked with anxiety to the termination +of his indisposition. He made no reply to my compliment but by an +inclination of the head. His bow at my taking leave I shall never +forget. It was the last movement which I saw that illustrious character +make, as my eyes took their leave of him for ever, and it hangs a +perfect picture upon my recollection. The house of Washington was in the +Broadway, and the street front was handsome. The drawing-room in which I +sat was lofty and spacious; but the furniture was not beyond that found +in dwellings of opulent Americans in general, and might be called plain +for its situation. The upper end of the room had glass doors, which +opened upon a balcony, commanding an extensive view of the Hudson river, +interspersed with islands, and the Jersey shore on the opposite side. A +grandson and daughter resided constantly in the house with the general, +and a nephew of the general's, married to a niece of Mrs. Washington, +resided at Mount Vernon, the general's family-seat in Virginia; his +residence, as president, keeping him at the seat of government.' The +levees held by Washington, as president, were generally crowded, and +held on Tuesday, between three and four o'clock. The president stood, +and received the bow of the person presented, who retired to make way +for another. At the drawing-room, Mrs. Washington received the ladies, +who courtesied, and passed aside without exchanging a word. Tea and +coffee, with refreshments of all kinds, were laid in one part of the +rooms; and, before the individuals of the company retired, each lady was +a second time led up to the lady-president, made her second silent +obeisance, and departed. Nothing could be more simple, yet it was +enough." + +The late Mr. Custis, in his _Recollections of Washington_, says: "With +all its developments of muscular power, the form of Washington had no +appearance of bulkiness; and so harmonious were its proportions, that he +did not appear so passing tall as his portraits have represented. He +was rather spare than full during his whole life; this is readily +ascertained from his weight. The last time he weighed was in the summer +of 1799, when, having made the tour of his farms, accompanied by an +English gentleman, he called at his mill and was weighed. The writer +placed the weight in the scales. The Englishman, not so tall, but stout, +square built, and fleshy, weighed heavily, and expressed much surprise +that the general had not outweighed him, when Washington observed that +the best weight of his best days never exceeded from two hundred and ten +to two hundred and twenty pounds. In the instance alluded to, he weighed +a little rising two hundred and ten. In the prime of life, Washington +stood six feet two inches, and measured precisely six feet when attired +for the grave. + +"The power of Washington's arm was displayed in several memorable +instances: in his throwing a stone from the bed of the stream to the top +of the Natural Bridge; another over the Palisades into the Hudson; and +yet another across the Rappahannock, at Fredericksburg. Of the article +with which he spanned this noble and navigable stream, there are various +accounts. We are assured that it was a piece of slate, fashioned to +about the size and shape of a dollar, and which, sent by an arm so +strong, not only spanned the river, but took the ground at least thirty +yards on the other side. Numbers have since tried this feat, but none +have cleared the water. 'Tis the 'Douglas cast,' made in the days when +Virginia's men were strong, as her maids are fair; when the hardy sports +of the gymnasium prepared the body to answer the 'trumpet-call to war,' +and gave vigor and elevation to the mind; while our modern habits would +rather fit the youth 'to caper nimbly in a lady's chamber.' + +"While the late and venerable Charles Willson Peale was at Mount Vernon, +in 1772, engaged in painting the portrait of the provincial colonel, +some young men were contending in the exercise of pitching the bar. +Washington looked on for a time, then grasping the missile in his +master-hand, whirled the iron through the air, which took the ground +far, very far, beyond any of its former limits; the colonel observing, +with a smile, 'You perceive, young gentlemen, that my arm yet retains +some portion of the vigor of my earlier days.' He was then in his +fortieth year, and probably in the full meridian of his physical powers; +but those powers became rather mellowed than decayed by time, for 'his +age was like a lusty winter, frosty yet kindly;' and, up to his +sixty-eighth year, he mounted a horse with surprising agility, and rode +with the ease and gracefulness of his better days. His personal prowess, +that elicited the admiration of a people who have nearly all passed from +the stage of life, still serves as a model for the manhood of modern +times. + +"In the various exhibitions of Washington's great physical powers, they +were apparently attended by scarcely any effort. On one occasion, when +quite a young man, he was present while others were trying their +strength in wrestling. He had retired to the shade of a tree, intent +upon the perusal of a favorite volume; and it was only when the champion +of the games strode through the ring, calling for nobler competitors, +and taunting the student with the reproach that it was the fear of +encountering so redoubted an antagonist that kept him from the ring, +that Washington closed his book, and, without divesting himself of his +coat, calmly walked into the arena, observing that fear formed no part +of his being. Then, grappling with the champion, the struggle was +fierce, but momentary, 'for,' said the vanquished hero of the arena, 'in +Washington's lion-like grasp, I became powerless, and was hurled to the +ground with a force that seemed to jar the very marrow in my bones;' +while the victor, regardless of the shouts that proclaimed his triumph, +leisurely retired to his shade, and the enjoyment of his favorite +volume. + +"Washington's powers were chiefly in his limbs: they were long, large, +and sinewy. His frame was of equal breadth from the shoulders to the +hips. His chest, though broad and expansive, was not prominent, but +rather hollowed in the centre. He had suffered from a pulmonary +affection in early life, from which he never entirely recovered. His +frame showed an extraordinary development of bone and muscle; his joints +were large, as were his feet; and could a cast have been preserved of +his hand, to be exhibited in these degenerate days, it would be said to +have belonged to the being of a fabulous age. During Lafayette's visit +to Mount Vernon in 1825, he said to the writer: 'I never saw so large a +hand on any human being, as the general's. It was in this portico, in +1784, that you were introduced to me by the general. You were a very +little gentleman, with a feather in your hat, and holding fast to _one +finger_ of the good general's remarkable hand, which was all you could +do, my dear sir, at that time.'" + +A late anonymous writer says: "I saw this remarkable man four times. It +was in the month of November, 1798, I first beheld the Father of his +Country. It was very cold, the northwest wind blowing hard down the +Potomac, at Georgetown, D. C. A troop of light-horse, from Alexandria, +escorted him to the western bank of the river. The waves ran high, and +the boat which brought him over seemed to labor considerably. Several +thousand people greeted his arrival with swelling hearts and joyful +countenances. The military were drawn up in a long line to receive him; +the officers, pressed in regimentals, did him homage. I was so fortunate +as to walk by his side, and had a full view of him. Although only about +ten years of age, the impression his person and manner then made on me +is now perfectly revived. He was six feet and one inch high, broad and +athletic, with very large limbs, entirely erect, and without the +slightest tendency to stooping; his hair was white, and tied with a silk +string; his countenance lofty, masculine, and contemplative; his eye +light gray. He was dressed in the clothes of a citizen, and over these a +blue surtout of the finest cloth. His weight must have been two hundred +and thirty pounds, with no superfluous flesh; all was bone and sinew; +and he walked like a soldier. Whoever has seen, in the patent-office at +Washington, the dress he wore when resigning his commission as +commander-in-chief, in December, 1783, at once perceives how large and +magnificent was his frame. During the parade, something at a distance +suddenly attracted his attention; his eye was instantaneously lighted up +as with the lightning's flash. At this moment I see its marvellous +animation, its glowing fire, exhibiting strong passion, controlled by +deliberate reason. + +"In the summer of 1799, I again saw the chief. He rode a purely white +horse, seventeen hands high, well proportioned, of high spirit: he +almost seemed conscious that he bore on his back the Father of his +Country. He reminded me of the war-horse whose 'neck is clothed with +thunder.' I have seen some highly-accomplished riders, but not one of +them approached Washington; he was perfect in this respect. Behind him, +at the distance of perhaps forty yards, came Billy Lee, his +body-servant, who had perilled his life in many a field, beginning on +the heights of Boston, in 1775, and ending in 1781, when Cornwallis +surrendered, and the captive army, with inexpressible chagrin, laid down +their arms at Yorktown. Billy rode a cream-colored horse, of the finest +form; and his old Revolutionary cocked hat indicated that its owner had +often heard the roar of cannon and small-arms, and had encountered many +trying scenes. Billy was a dark mulatto. His master speaks highly of him +in his will, and provides for his support. + +"Some time during this year, perhaps, I saw him at Seeme's tavern, in +Georgetown. The steps, porch, and street, were crowded with persons +desirous of beholding the man. I viewed him through a window. The most +venerable, dignified, and wealthy men of the town were there, some +conversing with him. Washington seemed almost a different being from any +of them, and, indeed, from any other person ever reared in this country. +His countenance was not so animated as when I first saw him, for then +his complexion was as ruddy as if he were only twenty years old. + +"A few months before his death, I beheld this extraordinary man for the +last time. He stopped at the tavern opposite the Presbyterian church, in +Bridge street, Georgetown. At that time, a regiment of soldiers was +stationed in their tents, on the banks of Rock creek, and frequently +attended Doctor Balch's church, dressed in their costume, and powdered +after the Revolutionary fashion. I attended their parade almost every +day; and, on one of these occasions, I recognised Washington riding on +horseback, unaccompanied by any one. He was going out to see his houses +on Capitol hill, as I supposed. They were burnt by the British, in 1814. +My youthful eye was riveted on him until he disappeared, and that for +ever. I was surprised that he did not once look at the parade, so far as +I could discover; on the contrary, he appeared indifferent to the whole +scene." + +"Of the remarkable degree of awe and reverence that the presence of +Washington always inspired," says Mr. Custis, "we shall give one out of +a thousand instances. During the cantonment of the American army at the +Valley Forge, some officers of the fourth Pennsylvania regiment were +engaged in a game of 'fives.' In the midst of their sport, they +discovered the commander-in-chief leaning upon the enclosure, and +beholding the game with evident satisfaction. In a moment, all things +were changed. The ball was suffered to roll idly away; the gay laugh and +joyous shout of excitement were hushed into a profound silence, and the +officers were gravely grouped together. It was in vain the chief begged +of the players that they would proceed with their game; declared the +pleasure he had experienced from witnessing their skill; spoke of a +proficiency in the manly exercise that he himself could have boasted of +in other days. All would not do. Not a man could be induced to move, +till the general, finding that his presence hindered the officers from +continuing the amusement, bowed, and, wishing them good sport, retired." + +A writer in the _National Intelligencer_, a few years ago, gave the +following sketch of the personal appearance of Washington:-- + + "The description given by 'R' [a correspondent of the _Intelligencer_] + of Washington's approach to the hall of Congress in Philadelphia, + has freshly awakened my own reminiscences of the same scene. + Its vivid truth can not be surpassed. I stood with him on that + same stone platform, before the door of the hall, elevated by a + few steps from the pavement, when the carriage of the president drew + up. It was, as he describes it, white, or rather of a light + cream-color, painted on the panels with beautiful groups, by + Cipriani, representing the four seasons. The horses, according to + my recollection, were white, in unison with the carriage, 'R.' says + they were bays; perhaps he is more correct. As he alighted, and, + ascending the steps, paused upon the platform, looking over his + shoulder, in an attitude that would have furnished an admirable + subject for the pencil, he was preceded by two gentlemen bearing + long white wands, who kept back the eager crowd that pressed on + every side to get a nearer view. At that moment I stood so near, + that I might have touched his clothes; but I should as soon have + thought of touching an electric battery. I was penetrated with a + veneration amounting to the deepest awe. Nor was this the feeling of + a schoolboy only; it pervaded, I believe, every human being that + approached Washington; and I have been told that, even in his social + and convivial hours, this feeling in those who were honored to share + them never suffered intermission. I saw him a hundred times + afterward, but never with any other than that same feeling. The + Almighty, who raised up for our hour of need a man so peculiarly + prepared for its whole dread responsibility, seems to have put an + impress of sacredness upon his own instrument. The first sight of + the man struck the heart with involuntary homage, and prepared + everything around him to obey, When he 'addressed himself to speak,' + there was an unconscious suspension of the breath, while every eye + was raised in expectation. + + "At the time I speak of, he stood in profound silence, and had that + statue-like air which mental greatness alone can bestow. As he + turned to enter the building, and was ascending the staircase + leading to the Congressional hall, I glided along unperceived, + almost tinder cover of the skirts of his dress, and entered + instantly after him into the lobby of the house, which was of course + in session to receive him. On either hand, from the entrance, stood + a large cast-iron stove; and, resolved to secure the unhoped-for + privilege I had so unexpectedly obtained, I clambered, boy-like, on + this stove (fortunately then not much heated), and from that + favorable elevation enjoyed, for the first time (what I have since + so many thousands of times witnessed with comparative indifference), + an uninterrupted view of the American Congress in full session, + every member in his place. Shall I be pardoned for saying its aspect + was very different from what we now witness? There was an air of + decorum, of composure, of reflection, of gentlemanly and polished + dignity, which has fled, or lingers only with here and there a + 'relic of the olden time.' + + "The house seemed then as composed as the senate now is when an + impressive speech is in the act of delivery. On Washington's + entrance, the most profound and death-like stillness prevailed. + House, lobbies, gallery, all were wrapped in the deepest attention; + and the souls of that entire assemblage seemed peering from their + eyes on the noble figure which deliberately, and with an unaffected + but surpassing majesty, advanced up the broad aisle of the hall + between ranks of standing senators and members, and slowly ascended + the steps leading to the speaker's chair. I well remember, standing + at the head of the senate, the tall, square, somewhat gaunt form of + Mr. Jefferson; conspicuous from his scarlet waistcoat, bright blue + coat, with broad, bright buttons, as well as by his quick and + penetrating air, and high-boned, Scottish cast of features. There, + too, stood General Knox, then secretary of war, in all the sleek + rotundity of his low stature, with a bold and florid face, open, + firm, and manly, in its expression. But I recollect that my boyish + eye was caught by the appearance of De Yrujo, the Spanish + embassador. He stood in the rear of the chair, a little on one side, + covered with a splendid diplomatic dress, decorated with orders, and + carrying under his arm an immense _chapeau-bras_, edged with white + ostrich-feathers. He was a man totally different in his air and + manner from all around him, and the very antipode especially of the + man on whom all eyes but his seemed fixed as by a spell. I saw many + other very striking figures grouped about and behind the speaker's + chair, but I did not know their names, and had no one to ask: + besides, I dared not open my lips. + + "The president, having seated himself, remained in silence, serenely + contemplating the legislature before him, whose members now resumed + their seats, waiting for the speech. No house of worship, in the + most solemn pauses of devotion, was ever more profoundly still than + that large and crowded chamber. + + "Washington was dressed precisely as Stuart has painted him in Lord + Lansdowne's full-length portrait--in a full suit of the richest + black velvet, with diamond knee-buckles, and square silver buckles + set upon shoes japanned with the most scrupulous neatness, black + silk stockings, his shirt ruffled at the breast and wrists, a light + dress-sword, his hair profusely powdered, fully dressed, so as to + project at the sides, and gathered behind in a silk bag, ornamented + with a large rose of black ribbon. He held his cocked hat, which had + a large black cockade on one side of it, in his hand, as he advanced + toward the chair, and, when seated, laid it on the table. + + "At length, thrusting his hand within the side of his coat, he drew + forth a roll of manuscript, which he opened, and rising, held it in + his hand, while in a rich, deep, full, sonorous voice, he read his + opening address to Congress. His enunciation was deliberate, justly + emphasized, very distinct, and accompanied with an air of deep + solemnity, as being the utterance of a mind profoundly impressed + with the dignity of the act in which it was occupied, conscious of + the whole responsibility of its position and action, but not + oppressed by it. There was ever about the man something which + impressed the observer with a conviction that he was exactly and + fully equal to what he had to do. He was never hurried; never + negligent; but seemed ever prepared for the occasion, be it what it + might. If I could express his character in one word, it would be + appropriateness. In his study, in his parlor, at a _levee_, before + Congress, at the head of the army, he seemed ever to be just what + the situation required him to be. He possessed, in a degree never + equalled by any human being I ever saw, the strongest, most + ever-present sense of propriety. It never forsook him, and deeply + and involuntarily impressed itself upon every beholder. His address + was of moderate length. The topics I have, of course, forgotten; + indeed, I was not of an age to appreciate them: but the air, the + manner, the tones, have never left my mental vision, and even now + seem to vibrate on my ear. + + "A scene like this, once beheld, though in earliest youth, is never + to be forgotten. It must be now fifty years ago, but I could this + moment sit down and sketch the chamber, the assembly, and _the_ man. + + "Having closed the reading, he laid down the scroll, and, after a + brief pause, retired, as he had entered; when the manuscript was + handed, for a second reading, to Mr. Beckley, then clerk of the + house, whose gentlemanly manner, clear and silver voice, and sharp + articulation, I shall ever associate with the scene. When shall we + again behold such a Congress and such a president?" + +To make the picture of the personal appearance of Washington more +complete, the following, from _Sullivan's Familiar Letters_, is added: + + "The following are recollections of Washington, derived from + repeated opportunities of seeing him during the last three years of + his public life. He was over six feet in stature; of strong, bony, + muscular frame, without fullness of covering, well formed and + straight. He was a man of most extraordinary physical strength. In + his own house, his action was calm, deliberate, and dignified, + without pretension to gracefulness or peculiar manner, but merely + natural, and such as one would think it should be in such a man. His + habitual motions had been formed before he took command of the + American armies, in the wars of the interior, and in the surveying + of wilderness lands, employments in which grace and elegance were + not likely to be acquired. At the age of sixty-five, time had done + nothing toward bending him out of his natural erectness. His + deportment was invariably grave; it was sobriety that stopped short + of sadness. His presence inspired a veneration and a feeling of awe + rarely experienced in the presence of any man. His mode of speaking + was slow and deliberate, not as though he was in search of fine + words, but that he might utter those only adapted to his purpose. It + was the usage of all persons in good society to attend Mrs. + Washington's _levee_ every Friday evening. He was always present. + The young ladies used to throng around him, and engage him in + conversation. There were some of the well-remembered _belles_ of + that day who imagined themselves to be favorites with him. As these + were the only opportunities which they had of conversing with him, + they were disposed to use them. One would think that a gentleman and + a gallant soldier, if he could ever laugh or dress his countenance + in smiles, would do so when surrounded by young and admiring + beauties. But this was never so: the countenance of Washington never + softened, nor changed its habitual gravity. One, who had lived + always in his family, said that his manner in public life was always + the same. Being asked whether Washington _could_ laugh, this person + said this was a rare occurrence, but one instance was remembered + when he laughed most heartily at her narration of an incident in + which she was a party concerned, and in which he applauded her + agency. The late General Cobb, who was long a member of his family + during the war, and who enjoyed a laugh as much as any man could, + said that he never saw Washington laugh, excepting when Colonel + Scammel (if this was the person) came to dine at headquarters. + Scammel had a fund of ludicrous anecdotes, and a manner of telling + them, which relaxed even the gravity of the commander-in-chief. + + "General Cobb also said that the forms of proceeding at + headquarters were exact and precise, orderly and punctual. At the + appointed moment, Washington appeared at the breakfast-table. He + expected to find all the members of his family (Cobb, Hamilton, + Humphreys, were among them) awaiting him. He came dressed for the + day, and brought with him the letters and despatches of the + preceding day, and a short memoranda of the answers to be made; also + the substance of orders to be issued. When breakfast was over, these + papers were distributed among his aids, to be put into form. Soon + afterward he mounted his horse to visit the troops, and expected to + find on his return, before noon, all the papers prepared for his + inspection and signature. There was no familiarity in his presence; + it was all sobriety and business. His mode of life was abstemious + and temperate. He had a decided preference for certain sorts of + food, probably from early associations. Throughout the war, as it + was understood in his military family, he gave a part of every day + to private prayer and devotion. + + "While he lived in Philadelphia, as president, he rose at four in + the morning; and the general rule of his house was, that the fires + should be covered and the lights extinguished at a certain hour: + whether this was nine or ten is not recollected. + + "In the early part of his administration, great complaints were made + by the opposition of the aristocratic and royal demeanor of the + president. Mr. Jefferson makes some commentaries on this subject, + which do no credit to his heart or his head. These are too _little_ + to be transcribed from the works of this '_great and good man_.' + Doctor Stuart, of Virginia, wrote to him of the dissatisfaction + which prevailed on this subject in Virginia. In the fifth volume of + Marshall, page 164, will be found an extract of Washington's + vindication of his conduct, and a most satisfactory one, which shows + the proper character of Mr. Jefferson's 'Anas.' These complaints + related, in particular, to the manner of receiving such visitors as + came from respect or from curiosity, of which there were multitudes. + The purpose of Washington was, that such visitors should accomplish + their objects without a sacrifice of time, which he considered + indispensable to the performance of his public duties. + + "He devoted one hour every other Tuesday, from three to four, to + these visits. He understood himself to be visited as the _president_ + of the United States, and not on his own account. He was then to be + seen by anybody and everybody; but required that every one who came + should be introduced by his secretary, or by some gentleman whom he + knew himself. He lived on the south side of Chestnut street, just + below Sixth. The place of reception was the dining-room in the rear, + twenty-five or thirty feet in length, including the bow projecting + into the garden. Mrs. Washington received visitors in the two rooms + on the second floor, from front to rear. + + "At three o'clock, or at any time within a quarter of an hour + afterward, the visitor was conducted to this dining-room, from which + all seats had been removed for the time. On entering, he saw the + tall figure of Washington, clad in black velvet; his hair in full + dress, powdered and gathered behind in a large silk bag; yellow + gloves on his hands; holding a cocked hat, with a cockade in it, and + the edges adorned with a black feather about an inch deep. He wore + knee and shoe buckles; and a long sword, with a finely-wrought and + polished steel hilt, which appeared at the left hip; the coat worn + over the blade, and appearing from under the folds behind. The + scabbard was white polished leather. + + "He stood always in front of the fireplace, with his face toward the + door of entrance. The visitor was conducted to him, and he required + to have the name so distinctly pronounced, that he could hear it. He + had the very uncommon faculty of associating a man's name and + personal appearance so durably in his memory as to be able to call + any one by name who made him a second visit. He received his visitor + with a dignified bow, while his hands were so disposed as to + indicate that the salutation was not to be accompanied with shaking + hands. This ceremony never occurred in these visits, even with the + most near friends, that no distinctions might be made. + + "As visitors came in, they formed a circle around the room. At a + quarter past three the door was closed, and the circle was formed + for that day. He then began on the right, and spoke to each visitor, + calling him by name, and exchanging a few words with him. When he + had completed his circuit, he resumed his first position, and the + visitors approached him in succession, bowed, and retired. By four + o'clock this ceremony was over. + + "On the evenings when Mrs. Washington received visitors, he did not + consider _himself_ as visited. He was then as a private gentleman, + dressed usually in some colored coat (the only one recollected was + brown, with bright buttons), and black on his lower limbs. He had + then neither hat nor sword; he moved about among the company, + conversing with one and another. He had, once a fortnight, an + official dinner, and select companies on other days. He sat, it is + said, at the side, in a central position; Mrs. Washington opposite; + the two ends were occupied by members of his family, or by his + personal friends." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[152] Fraunces was a man of taste in his profession, and was fond of +display, regardless of expense. On this account the president had +frequent occasion to reprove him. He desired to live conformably to his +high station, but he naturally abhorred waste and extravagance, and +insisted that his household should be conducted with due regard to +economy and usefulness. An illustrative anecdote is given. The first +shad of the season was bought by Fraunces for the table of Washington, +who was very fond of fish. It was served for breakfast in the best +style, and set before the president, who asked the steward, "What kind +of fish is this?"--"A fine shad," replied Fraunces. "It is very early in +the season for shad," said the president; "how much did you pay for +it?"--"Two dollars," responded the steward. "Two dollars!" exclaimed the +president. "I can never encourage this extravagance at my table; take it +away--I will not touch it." The shad was removed; and the steward, who +felt no repugnance to the fish on account of its cost, made of it a +hearty breakfast for himself. + + + + +WASHINGTON MEMORIALS. + + +In the Doric Hall of the Massachusetts State House, in Boston, near +Chantrey's statue of Washington, may be seen two stones with +inscriptions commemorative of the father and uncle of the two +Washingtons who emigrated to America in 1657, as mentioned on page 20 of +Volume I. The history of these stones is revealed in the following +correspondence: + + EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, COUNCIL CHAMBER, BOSTON, March 15, 1861. + _To the Honorable House of Representatives:_ + + I have the honor to present to the General Court, as a gift to the + Commonwealth of Massachusetts from one of its citizens, certain + memorials of great historic interest. + + The home and resting-place of the ancestors of GEORGE WASHINGTON + were until recently unvisited by and unknown to Americans. In the + genealogical table appended to the "Life of Washington" by our + distinguished fellow-citizen, Mr. Jared Sparks, it is stated that + Lawrence Washington, the father of John Washington (who emigrated + to Virginia in 1657), was buried at Brington; but though both Mr. + Sparks and Washington Irving visited Sulgrave, an earlier home of + the Washingtons, neither of these learned biographers appear by + their works to have repaired to this quiet parish in + Northamptonshire. + + Our fellow-citizen, the Honorable Charles Sumner, on a recent visit + to England, identified certain inscriptions in the parish church of + Brington, near Althorp, as being those of the father and uncle of + John Washington, the emigrant to Virginia, who was the + great-grandfather of the Father of his Country. + + Earl Spencer, the proprietor of Althorp, so honorably known as an + early advocate of parliamentary reform, sought out the quarry from + which, more than two centuries ago, these votive tablets were + taken, and caused others to be made which are exact _facsimiles_ + of the originals. These he has presented to Mr. Sumner, who has + expressed the desire that memorials so interesting to all Americans + may be placed where they may be seen by the public, and has + authorized me to offer them to the Commonwealth, if it be the + pleasure of the Legislature to order them to be preserved in some + public part of the State House. + + I send with this a letter addressed to myself by the learned + historian of Washington, bearing testimony to the great interest of + these memorials, and expressing the desire that they may (Mr. + Sumner assenting) be placed in the Capitol. + + A letter from Mr. Sumner to Mr. Sparks also accompanies this + Message, describing the church at Brington, and some of the + associations which cluster around the resting-place of the + ancestors of our Washington. + + JOHN A. ANDREW. + + * * * * * + + MR. SPARKS TO THE GOVERNOR. + + CAMBRIDGE, February 22, 1861. + + DEAR SIR: I enclose a copy of a highly interesting letter from Mr. + Charles Sumner, describing the church at Brington, near Althorp, in + Northamptonshire. In this church were deposited the remains of + Lawrence Washington, who was the father of John and Lawrence + Washington, the emigrants to America, and who was therefore the + last English ancestor of George Washington. A copy of the + inscription on the stone which covers the grave of Lawrence + Washington, and also of another inscription over the grave of his + brother Robert Washington, who was buried in the same church, are + given with exactness in Mr. Sumner's letter. As far as I am aware, + these inscriptions are now for the first time made known in this + country. + + The Earl Spencer has sent to Mr. Sumner two stones, being from the + same quarry, and having the same form and dimensions as the + originals, and containing a _facsimile_ of the inscriptions. It + has been suggested that these stones ought to be placed in the + State House, where they may be accessible to the public, and my + opinion on the subject has been asked. As they are unquestionably + genuine memorials of the Washington family, and possess on this + account a singular historical interest, I cannot imagine that a + more appropriate disposition of them could be made. I understand + that Mr. Sumner would cheerfully assent to such an arrangement, and + I cannot doubt that your Excellency will be well inclined to take + such measures as may effectually aid in attaining so desirable an + object. + + I am, Sir, + Very respectfully yours, + + JARED SPARKS. + His Excellency John A. Andrew, + _Governor of Massachusetts._ + + * * * * * + + MR. SUMNER TO MR. SPARKS. + + BOSTON, November 22, 1860. + + MY DEAR SIR: Since our last conversation, the Earl Spencer has + kindly sent to me precise copies of the two "Memorial Stones" of the + English family of George Washington, which I have already described + to you as harmonizing exactly with the pedigree which has the + sanction of your authority. These are of the same stone and of the + same size with the originals, and have the original + inscriptions--being in all respects _facsimiles_. They will, + therefore, give you an exact idea of these most interesting + memorials in the parish church of Brington, near Althorp, in + Northamptonshire. + + The largest is of Lawrence Washington, the father of John + Washington, who emigrated to America. It is a slab of bluish-gray + sandstone, and measures five feet and nine inches long, and two feet + and seven inches broad. Here is the inscription: + + HERE LIETH THE BODI OF LAVRENCE + WASHINGTON SONNE AND HEIRE OF + ROBERT WASHINGTON OF SOVLGRAVE + IN THE COUNTIE OF NORTHAMPTON + ESQUIER WHO MARRIED MARGARET + THE ELDEST DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM + BUTLER OF TEES IN THE COUNTIE + OF SUSSEXE ESQUIER, WHO HAD ISSU + BY HER 8 SONNS AND 9 DAUGHTERS + WHICH LAVRENCE DECESSED THE 13 + OF DECEMBER A. DNI 1616. + + THOU THAT BY CHANCE OR CHOYCE + OF THIS HAST SIGHT + KNOW LIFE TO DEATH RESIGNES + AS DAYE TO NIGHT; + BUT AS THE SUNNS RETORNE + REVIVES THE DAY + SO CHRIST SHALL US + THOUGH TURNDE TO DUST & CLAY. + + Above the inscription, carved in the stone, are the arms of the + Washingtons, with an additional quartering of another family. + + The other is of Robert Washington, and of Elizabeth his wife. Robert + was the uncle of the emigrant. This is a slab of the same sandstone, + and measures three feet and five inches long, and two feet and six + inches broad. The inscription is on a small brass plate set into the + stone, and is as follows: + +[Illustration: DECORATION] + + HERE LIES INTERRED Y^E BODIES OF ELIZAB. WASHINGTON WIDDOWE WHO + CHANGED THIS LIFE FOR IMORTALITIE Y^E 19^TH OF MARCH 1622. AS + ALSO Y^E BODY OF ROBERT WASHINGTON GENT. HER LATE HUSBAND SECOND + SONNE OF ROBERT WASHINGTON OF SOLGRAVE IN Y^E COUNTY OF NORTH. + ESQ^R. WHO DEPTED THIS LIFE Y^E 10^TH OF MARCH 1622. AFTER THEY + LIVED LOVINGLY TOGETHER MANY YEARS IN THIS PARISH. + + On a separate brass, beneath the inscription, are the arms of the + Washingtons without any addition. These, as you are well aware, have + the combination of stars and stripes, and are sometimes supposed to + have suggested our national flag. In heraldic language, there are + bars of gules and argent, with three mullets, or stars. + +[Illustration: HERE.LIETH.THE.BODI.OF.LAVRENCE +WASHINGTON.SONNE.&.HEIRE.OF +ROBERT.WASHINGTON.OF.SOVLGRAVE +IN.THE.COVNTIE.OF.NORTHAMPTON +ESQVIER.WHO.MARIED.MARGARET +THE.ELDEST.DAVGHTER.OF.WILLIAM +BVTLER.OF.TEES.IN.THE.COVNTIE +OF.SVSSEXE.ESQVIER.WHO.HAD.ISSV +BY.HER.8.SONNS.&.9.DAVGHTERS +WHICH.LAVRENCE.DECESSED.THE.13 +OF.DECEMBER.A: D[^N]I:1616 + +THOV.THAT.BY.CHANCE.OR.CHOYCE +OF.THIS.HAST.SIGHT +KNOW.LIFE.TO.DEATH.RESIGNES +AS.DAYE.TO.NIGHT +BVT.AS.THE.SVNNS.RETORNE +REVIVES.THE.DAYE +SO.CHRIST.SHALL.VS +THOVGH.TVRNDE.TO.DVST.&.CLAY] + + In the interesting chapter on the "Origin and Genealogy of the + Washington Family," which you give in the Appendix to your "Life of + Washington," it appears that Lawrence, the father of the emigrant, + died 13th December, and was buried at Brington, 15th December, 1616. + But the genealogical tables, which you followed, gave no indication + of the locality of this church. Had it appeared that it was the + parish church of the Spencer family in Northamptonshire, the + locality, which I believe has not been heretofore known in our + country, would have been precisely fixed. + + In point of fact, the slab which covers Lawrence Washington is in + the chancel of the church, by the side of the monuments of the + Spencer family. These are all in admirable preservation, with + full-length effigies, busts, or other sculptural work, and exhibit + an interesting and connected series of sepulchral memorials from the + reign of Henry VIII. to the present time. Among them is a monument + of the early English sculptor, Nicholas Stone; another from + Nollekins from a design by Cipriani, and another by Flaxman, with + exquisitely beautiful personifications of Faith and Charity. Beneath + repose the successive representatives of this illustrious family, + which has added to its aristocratic claims by services to the state, + and also by the unique and world-famous library collected by one of + its members. In this companionship will be found the last English + ancestor of our Washington. + + The other slab, covering Robert, the uncle of the emigrant, is in + one of the aisles of the nave, where it is scraped by the feet of + all who pass. + + The parish of Brington is between seven and eight miles from the + town of Northampton, not far from the centre of England. It is + written in Domesday Book "Brinintone" and also "Brintone." It + contains about 2,210 acres, of which about 1,490 acres belong to + Earl Spencer, about 326 acres to the rector in right of the church, + and about 130 acres to other persons. The soil is in general a + dark-colored loam, with a small trace of clay towards the north. + Nearly four-fifths of the whole is pasture and feeding land. + + In the village still stands the house said to have been occupied by + the Washingtons when the emigrant brother left them. You will see a + vignette of it on the title-page of the recent English work entitled + "The Washingtons." Over the door are carved the words, "The Lord + giveth; the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord;" + while the Parish Register gives a pathetic commentary by showing + that, in the very year when this house was built, a child had been + born and another had died in this family. + + The church, originally dedicated to the Virgin, stands at the + northeast angle of the village, and consists of an embattled tower + with five bells, a nave, north and south aisles, a chancel, a + chapel, and a modern porch; the tower is flanked by buttresses of + two stages. The present fabric goes back in its origin to the + beginning of the 14th century, nearly two hundred years before the + discovery of America. The chancel and chapel, where repose the + Spencers and Lawrence Washington, were rebuilt by Sir John Spencer, + the purchaser of the estate, at the beginning of the 16th century. + They afford one of the latest specimens of the Tudor style of + architecture. The church is beautifully situated on the summit of + the highest ground of Brington, and is surrounded by a stone wall + flanked on the inside by trees. Dibdin says that a more complete + picture of a country churchyard is rarely seen. A well-trimmed walk + encircles the whole of the interior, while the fine Gothic windows + at the end of the chancel fill the scene with picturesque beauty. + + The Register of the Parish, which is still preserved, commences in + 1560. From this it appears that Wm. Proctor was the rector from 1601 + to 1627, covering the period of the last of the Washingtons there. + The following further entries occur relating to this family: + + 1616. "Mr. Lawrence Washington was buried XVth day of December." + + 1620. "Mr. Philip Curtis & Mis Amy Washington were married August 8." + + 1622. "Mr. Robert Washington was buried March ye 11th." + + ---- "Mrs. Elizabeth Washington, widow, was buried March ye 20th." + + Of one of the ministers in this church we have an interesting + glimpse in Evelyn's "Memoirs" (vol. i. p. 612), where the following + entry will be found, under date of July, 1688: "Dr. Jeffreys, the + minister of Althorp, who was my lord's chaplain when Embassador in + France, _preached the shortest discourse I ever heard_; but what was + defective in the amplitude of his sermon, he had supplied in the + largeness and convenience of the parsonage-house." + + At a short distance--less than a mile--is Althorp, the seat of the + Spencers, surrounded by a park of five hundred acres, of which one + of the gates opens near the church. There are oak-trees bordering on + the churchyard, which were growing at the time of the purchase of + the estate in the reign of Henry VII. Evelyn was often here a + delighted visitor. On one occasion he speaks of "the house or rather + palace at Althorp" (vol. i. p. 612). In another place he describes + it as "placed in a pretty open bottom, very finely watered, and + flanked with stately woods and groves in a park" (vol. i. p. 451). + Let me add that there is an engraving of Althorp at this time, by + the younger Vosterman, a Dutch artist. + +[Illustration: THE WASHINGTON HOUSE, BRINGTON.] + +[Illustration: INSCRIPTION OVER THE DOOR OF THE WASHINGTON HOUSE, +BRINGTON.] + + There is one feature of the park which excited the admiration of + Evelyn, and at a later day of Mrs. Jameson, who gives to it some + beautiful pages in her "Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad." It + is the record of the time when different plantations of trees was + begun. While recommending this practice in his "Sylva," Evelyn + remarks, "The only instance I know of the like in our country, is in + the park at Althorp." There are six of these commemorative stones. + The first records a wood planted by Sir John Spencer, in 1567 and + 1568; the second, a wood planted by Sir John Spencer, son of the + former, in 1589; the third, a wood planted by Robert, Lord Spencer, + in 1602 and 1603; the fourth, a wood planted by Sir William Spencer, + Knight of the Bath, afterwards Lord Spencer, in 1624. The latter + stone is ornamented with the arms of the Spencers, and on the back + is inscribed, "Up and bee doing, and God will prosper." It was in + this scenery and amidst these associations that the Washingtons + lived. When the emigrant left in 1657, these woods must have been + well-grown. It was not long afterwards that they arrested the + attention of Evelyn. + + The Household Books at Althorp show that for many years the + Washingtons were frequent guests there. The hospitality of this seat + has been renowned. The Queen of James I. and the Prince Henry, on + their way to London, in 1603, were welcomed there in an + entertainment, memorable for a masque from the vigorous muse of Ben + Jonson (Ben Jonson's Works, vol. vi. p. 475). Charles I. was at + Althorp, in 1647, when he received the first intelligence of the + approach of those pursuers from whom he never escaped until his life + had been laid down upon the scaffold. In 1698, King William was + there for a week, and, according to Evelyn, was "mightily + entertained" (vol. ii. p. 50). At least one of the members of this + family was famous for hospitality of a different character. Evelyn + records that he used to dine with the Countess of Sunderland--the + title then borne by the Spencers--"when she invited _fire-eaters_, + stone-eaters, and opera-singers, after the fashion of the day" (vol. + i. pp. 458, 483, 579). + + The family was early and constantly associated with literature. + Spencer, the poet, belonged to it, and to one of its members he has + dedicated his "Tears of the Muses." It was for Alice Spencer that + Milton is said to have written his "Arcades," and Sir John + Harrington has celebrated her memory by an epigram. The Sacharissa + of Waller was the Lady Dorothy Sidney, wife of the first Earl of + Sunderland, the third Lord Spencer, who perished fighting for King + Charles I. at Newbury. I do not dwell on the other associations of a + later day, as my object is simply to allude to those which existed + in the time of the Washingtons. + + "The nobility of the Spencers has been illustrated and enriched by + the trophies of Marlborough; but I exhort them to consider the + 'Fairy Queen' as the most precious jewel of their coronet." Thus + wrote Gibbon in his memoirs, and all must feel the beauty of the + passage. Perhaps it is not too much to say that this nobility may + claim another illustration from its ties of friendship and + neighborhood with the family of Washington. It cannot doubt that + hereafter the parish church of Brington will be often visited by our + countrymen, who will look with reverence upon a spot so closely + associated with American history. + + I trust that this little sketch, suggested by what I saw at Althorp, + during a brief visit last autumn, will not seem irrelevant. Besides + my own personal impressions, and the volumes quoted, I have relied + upon Dibdin's "AEdes Althorpianae," so interesting to all + bibliographical students, and especially upon Baker's "History of + Northamptonshire"--one of those magnificent local works which + illustrate English history--to which you refer in your Appendix, but + which was not completed till some time after the "Life of + Washington" appeared. + + Of course, the Memorial Stones which I have received from Lord + Spencer are of much historic value, and I think that I shall best + carry out the generous idea of the giver by taking care that they + are permanently placed where they can be seen by the public; perhaps + at the State House, near Chantrey's beautiful statue of + Washington--if this should be agreeable to the Commonwealth. + + Pray pardon this long letter, and believe me, my dear Sir, with much + regard, + + Ever sincerely yours, + + CHARLES SUMNER. + + JARED SPARKS, Esq. + +The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by its Representatives, thanked Mr. +Sumner, and directed the Memorial Stones to be placed where they now +are. + + + + +ANALYTICAL INDEX. + + +A. + + Abercrombie, Major-General, letter of Dinwiddie to, recommending + Washington for promotion into the royal army, i. 216; + on unity in the colonies, i. 230; + dilatory movements of--haughtiness of, toward the provincials, i. 231; + Lord Loudoun superseded by, in 1758, i. 252; + his expedition against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, i. 262; + cowardice of, at Ticonderoga, i. 265; + Fort George erected by, i. 266; + the calumniator of Americans in England, i. 267. + + Academy, military, establishment of one urged on Congress by Washington, + iii. 455; + Washington's letter to Hamilton in relation to, iii. 549. + + Acadia, early history of, i. 178; + removal of the population of, i. 179. + + Acadians, cruelties perpetrated by, on the English frontier settlers, + i. 180. + + Accounts of Washington, i. 307, 318, iii. 34. + + Ackland, Lady, visit of, to the American camp at Bemis's heights, + ii. 534; + biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 535. + + Ackland, Major, wounded at Hubbardton, ii. 467; + death of, at Saratoga (_note_), ii. 535. + + Adams, John, prediction of, in 1755, i. 70; + extract from the Autobiography of (_note_), i. 432; + his account of the choice, by Congress, of a commander-in-chief, + i. 533; + his admiration of Washington, i. 538; + movements of Washington on the Schuylkill criticised by, ii. 516; + treaty of peace signed by, in 1782, iii. 15; + liberal commercial offer made by, to the British government, iii. 101; + opinions of, on presidential etiquette, iii. 106; + his "Discourses on Davila," iii. 188; + elected vice-president in 1792, iii. 222; + a candidate for the presidency in 1796, iii. 451; + letters of, to his wife, on learning his election to the presidency, + iii. 468; + inauguration of, iii. 472; + jealous of the popularity of Washington, iii. 475; + special session of Congress convened by, in 1798, iii. 494; + letter of, to Washington, anticipating war with France, iii. 509; + advice of Washington to, respecting the choice of generals, iii. 511; + Washington nominated by, as commander-in-chief, in 1798, iii. 512; + inclination of, to reverse Washington's arrangement of the + major-generals, iii. 522; + anxiety of, to avert a war with France, iii. 528; + feud between, and his cabinet, iii. 530; + message of, to Congress, in relation to Mrs. Washington and funeral + honors to her husband, iii. 565. + + Adams, John Quincy, appointed minister to the Hague in 1794, iii. 301. + + Adams, Mrs. John, lament of, for the death of Warren, i. 571; + remarks of, on the personal appearance of Washington, i. 586; + her description of the cannonade of Boston, ii. 63. + + Adams, Samuel, integrity of, i. 345; + active in throwing the tea overboard in Boston harbor, i. 388; + noble sentiments expressed by, i. 437; + outlawed by a proclamation of General Gage, i. 552; + not concerned in _Conway's Cabal_ (_note_), ii. 589; + part taken by, in celebrating the French victories in Holland, + iii. 237. + + Addresses of the second continental Congress to the people of Great + Britain and Ireland, i. 606, 610. + + Address, Washington's Farewell, iii. 427. + + Adet, M., colors of France presented to Washington by, iii. 385; + reply of Washington to the speech of, iii. 386; + attempts of, to influence the American people, iii. 451; + extraordinary letter addressed by, to the _Aurora_ and to the state + department, iii. 452; + pamphlet issued by, from the press of the _Aurora_, iii. 463. + + Agriculture, Congress urged by Washington to foster, iii. 455. + + Aix-la-Chapelle, boundaries in America left unsettled by the treaty of, + i. 59; + violation of the treaty of, by the French, i. 176. + + Albany, congress of delegates from the colonies assembled at, in 1754, + i. 127. + + Alexandria, Washington stationed at, in 1754, i. 94; + Washington introduced to the assembled governors at, in 1755, i. 145; + bequest of Washington to the academy in, iii. 536; + lots owned by Washington in, at the time of his death, iii. 543. + + Algiers, attention of Congress called by Washington to relations + with--Colonel Humphreys appointed to treat with the dey of, iii. 293; + payment of tribute to, advocated in Congress in 1794, iii. 294; + treaty adjusted with, in 1795, iii. 379. + + Aliquippa, Queen, interview of Washington with, i. 91. + + Allen, Colonel Ethan, expedition of, against Ticonderoga, i. 524; + disappointed in his desire to invade Canada, i. 531; + retreat of, from St. John on the Sorel, i. 647; + letter of, to the provincial congress of New York, urging the invasion + of Canada, i. 650; + an outlaw by act of the New York legislature--admitted to the floor of + the provincial congress of New York, i. 653; + letter of thanks from, to the provincial congress of New York, i. 654; + letter of, to Governor Trumbull, in relation to the invasion of + Canada--disappointment of, at his rejection by the Green Mountain + Boys, i. 658; + remark of Montgomery respecting, i. 659; + body of Canadians raised by--unauthorized attempt upon Montreal made + by, i. 672; + defeated and made prisoner, i. 673; + brutal treatment of, by Prescott, i. 674; + his letter of remonstrance to Prescott, i. 675; + subsequent history of (_note_), i. 675; + Schuyler and Washington on the insubordination of, i. 675, 676; + letter of Washington to Howe, in relation to the harsh treatment + of--lenient treatment of, in England, ii. 28. + + "American Association," articles of, i. 441; + the signers of (_note_), i. 445; + the Quakers adverse to, i. 457; + measures for the enforcement of, adopted in all the colonies in 1775, + i. 464; + popularity of, in New York, i. 515. + + "American Continental Army" constituted, i. 531. + + Ames, Fisher, letter of, in relation to the Congressional debates on + Jay's treaty, iii. 393; + speech of, in the house of representatives, on the subject of Jay's + treaty, iii. 405; + extracts from the speech of, iii. 405-416; + powerful impression produced by the speech of, iii 416. + + Amherst, Major-General Sir Jeffery, expedition of, against Louisburg, + in 1758, i. 260; + biographical notice of (_note_), i. 262; + appointed to the chief command in America in 1759, i. 290; + Ticonderoga taken possession of by, i. 292; + fortifications built at Crown Point by, i. 292. + + Ancestry of Washington traceable for six hundred years, i. 18. + + Anderson, Captain Ephraim, fire-ships constructed by, ii. 236. + + Anderson, James, Washington's farm manager, letter of Washington to, + iii. 548. + + Andre, Major John, among the prisoners taken at St. John on the Sorel, + i. 680; + correspondence of Mrs. Arnold with, ii. 689; + sent by Sir Henry Clinton to confer with Arnold--arrest of, at + Tarrytown, ii. 690; + condemned to the death of a spy, ii. 693; + execution of, ii 694; + names of the captors of, ii. 695. + + Annapolis, Irving's description of fashionable society in, before the + Revolution, i. 307; + first theatrical performance in America at, in 1752, i. 308; + journey of Washington to, from New York, in 1783--ball given at, in + honor of Washington, iii. 35; + short stay of young Custis at the college at (_note_), iii. 533. + + Anthrax, malignant, Washington attacked by, in 1789, iii. 116. + + Appearance, personal, of Washington, i. 46, iii. 584, 590, 595, 597, 601. + + Arbuthnot, Admiral, arrival of, in New York, with troops, ii. 661; + fleet of, damaged off Cape Hatteras, ii. 671; + French blockaded by, in Newport, ii. 681. + + Armstrong, Colonel John, Kittanning destroyed by, in 1756, i. 226; + medal presented to, i. 227. + + Armstrong, Major John, addresses to the continental army written by, in + 1783, iii. 16, 18. + + Arnold, Benedict, expedition undertaken by, against + Ticonderoga--disappointment of, at finding Allen in the field + before him, i. 524; + a volunteer in Allen's expedition, i. 525; + protest sent by, to the provincial congress of Massachusetts, i. 526; + St. John on the Sorel captured and afterward abandoned by, i. 646; + experience of, at sea in early life, i. 647; + proposition of, to the continental Congress, for the invasion of + Canada, i. 648; + dislike of, for Allen (_notes_), i. 648, 652; + commission thrown up by, i. 649; + friendly reception of, by Washington, i. 682; + letter of General Gates to, at Watertown (_note_), i. 682; + expedition against Quebec intrusted to, i. 683; + instructions of Washington to, on his departure for Quebec, i. 683; + address of, to the inhabitants of Canada (_note_), i. 684; + private letter of Washington to, i. 687; + departure of, from Newburyport, i. 688; + army of, reduced by sickness and desertion, i. 689; + treachery of Indian messengers of, i. 690; + desertion of, by Colonel Enos, with his whole division--unparalleled + hardships endured by the troops of, i. 692; + encampment of, on the eastern shore of Lake Megantic, i. 693; + destruction of vessels of, while descending the Chaudiere--message of, + to Montgomery, carried by young Aaron Burr, i. 694; + joined at Sertignan by Norridgewock Indians, i. 695; + friendly reception of, by the _habitans_ of the valley of the + Chaudiere--approach of, known in Quebec through Indian + treachery--fears excited in Quebec by the arrival of the troops of, + at Point Levi, i. 696; + names of men in the expedition of, afterward distinguished, i. 697; + operations of, at Quebec, delayed by a snowstorm--Heights of Abraham + scaled by, i. 701; + reliance of, on the friendliness of the people of Quebec, i. 702; + retirement of, from before Quebec--communication of, with Montgomery, + i. 703; + commendation of, by Washington for his conduct in the Quebec + expedition, i. 713; + wounded in the attempt to storm the fortifications of Quebec, i. 720; + withdrawal of, to an entrenched camp--attempts of, to cut off supplies + from the garrison of Quebec, i. 723; + made brigadier-general, ii. 95; + his urgent request of reinforcements from Wooster--letter of, to + Congress, urging further efforts for the conquest of Canada, ii. 98; + sorties from Quebec repelled by--compelled to resort to continental + money for the purchase of supplies, ii. 99; + ineffective fire opened by, upon Quebec--small-pox in the camp + of--arrival of General Wooster at the camp of--departure of, for + Montreal, ii. 100; + letter of Schuyler to, expressing regret at the conduct of Wooster, + ii. 101; + efforts of, to obtain a surrender of prisoners, from Captain Forster, + ii. 149; + warning given to, at Montreal, of the approach of the British, ii. 164; + goods of Montreal merchants seized by (_note_), ii. 165; + retreat of, from Montreal, ii. 165; + narrow escape of, from the British at Longueuil, ii. 166; + the last man that left the shores of Canada, ii. 167; + flotilla constructed by, at Ticonderoga--post taken by, with his + flotilla, at _Isle-aux-Tetes_, ii. 255; + great intrepidity displayed by, in a naval engagement on Lake + Champlain, ii. 334; + destruction of the vessels of--Crown Point abandoned by, ii. 336; + complaints of, ii. 403; + Washington's concern at the neglect of, by Congress, ii. 429; + letter of, to Washington, in relation to his claims to promotion, + ii. 480; + wonderful escape of, while harassing Tryon's retreat from Danbury, + ii. 436, 437; + made major-general by Congress--appointed by Washington to the command + at Peekskill, ii. 438; + recommended by Washington to take the place of St. Clair, ii. 470; + boldness and activity of, at Bemis's Heights, ii. 524; + jealousy of General Gates excited against, ii. 526; + deprived of his command by Gates, ii. 527; + letters of, to Gates, urging him to attack Burgoyne, ii. 528, 529; + activity of, at the second battle near Bemis's Heights, ii. 531; + wounded at Bemis's Heights in the leg maimed at Quebec, ii. 533; + Philadelphia taken possession of by, on the departure of Clinton, + ii. 618; + expensive habits of, in Philadelphia--marriage of, to Miss + Shippen--charges preferred against, by the people of + Philadelphia--sentenced by a court-martial to a reprimand, ii. 688; + cautious advances made by, to Clinton, ii. 689; + command at West Point solicited by, ii. 689; + price of the treason of, ii. 690; + letter of Jameson received by, while at breakfast--escape of, from + West Point, ii. 692; + attempt to abduct, made by Sergeant Champe, ii. 694; + hated and despised by the British, ii. 695; + persons suspected of complicity with, ii. 697; + predatory excursion of, to Virginia--efforts of, to capture Governor + Jefferson, ii. 711; + ravaging expedition of, on the shores of Connecticut, ii. 727. + + Arnold, Mrs., early correspondence of, with Major Andre, ii. 689, 695; + ordered by the executive council of Pennsylvania to leave the state, + ii. 695. + + _Articles of Confederation_, adoption of, ii. 710; + substance of (_note_), ii. 710; + considered defective by Washington as a system of government--letter + of Washington to James Warren, in relation to, iii. 54; + letters of Washington and Jay in relation to a revision of, iii. 56; + convention to amend, proposed by commissioners at Annapolis, iii. 59. + + Asgill, Captain, selected by lot for execution--sympathies of Washington + excited for, iii. 14. + + Ashe, General, surprised by Prevost, at Brier creek, ii. 651. + + Asses, sent to Washington by the king of Spain and by Lafayette, iii. 51. + + Atlee, Colonel Samuel J., made prisoner at the battle of Long + Island--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 274. + + _Aurora_, abstract of Jay's treaty sent to the editor of, by + Senator Mason, iii. 347; + libel of Washington published in, iii. 369; + confidential questions of Washington to his cabinet relating to the + reception of Genet, published in, iii. 420; + extraordinary letter of Adet addressed to, in 1796, iii. 452; + malignant language of, in 1796, in relation to Washington--malignant + letter of Paine to Washington issued from the press of, iii 461; + a pamphlet issued from the press of, by Adet, iii. 463; + virulent attacks upon the character of Washington, published in, in + 1797, iii. 477; + public indignation excited against--editor of, severely beaten, + iii. 478; + American government criminated by, in defence of France, iii. 505. + + Awe, inspired by the presence of Washington, iii. 597, 598. + + +B. + + Bache, editor of the _Aurora_, Washington's opinion of his journal, + iii. 268; + severely beaten, iii. 478. + + Baker, Captain Remember, prisoners made by, i. 645. + + Baird, Sir James, his brutal treatment of General Woodhull when a + prisoner (_note_), ii. 277. + + Ball in honor of Washington's inauguration, iii. 109; + in celebration of the birthday of Washington in 1797, iii. 469. + + Baltimore, effect of the news of the battle of Lexington at, i. 517; + Continental Congress adjourned to, ii. 362; + reception of Washington at, on his way to Mount Vernon, in 1797, + iii. 480. + + Bank, national, advocated by Hamilton, iii. 171; + popularity of Hamilton's plan for--opposition of Jefferson to, + iii. 172; + bill creating, signed by Washington, iii. 173. + + Barbados, visit of Lawrence and George Washington to, in 1751, i. 62. + + Barbary powers, impunity of their piracies in 1789, iii. 100. + + Bard, Doctor, assiduous attention of, to Washington, during his illness + in 1789, iii. 116. + + Barney, Commodore, bad conduct of, in the West Indies, iii. 467. + + Barnsfare, Captain, death of Montgomery in the attempt to surprise the + battery of, i. 718. + + Barre, Isaac, Wolfe's adjutant-general at Quebec, i. 293; + "conciliatory bill" of Lord North denounced by, i. 498. + + Barren Hill, escape of Lafayette from the British at, ii. 615. + + Barrett, Colonel, militia assembled under, at Concord, i. 506. + + Barry, William T., placed at the head of the post-office department in + 1829, iii. 123. + + Barton, Lieutenant-Colonel William, General Prescott made prisoner by, + ii. 474. + + Baskingridge, surprise and capture of General Lee at, ii. 358. + + Bassett, Colonel, death of J. P. Custis at the house of, at Eltham, + iii. 5. + + Bastile, in France, destruction of, iii. 136; + key of, sent to Washington by Lafayette, iii. 163. + + Bath, buildings owned by Washington in, at the time of his death, + iii. 543. + + Baume, Colonel, sent by Burgoyne to seize provisions at Bennington, + ii. 486; + death of, at the battle of Bennington, ii. 487. + + Baylor, Colonel, party of horse under, surprised by General Grey, + ii. 643. + + Beckwith, Major, mission of, to the United States, in 1790, iii. 158; + Washington's opinion of the mission of--action of Washington's cabinet + with regard to, iii. 159. + + Bedell, Colonel, fort at Chamblee captured by a party under the command + of, i. 677; + stationed at the Cedars with New Hampshire troops, ii. 148; + cowardice of, ii. 148, 149. + + Beekman, James, headquarters of General Howe in New York, at the house + of, ii. 297. + + Belvoir, seat of Honorable William Fairfax, i. 43; + mansion of, destroyed by fire, i. 454; + regret of Washington for the destruction of, iii. 490. + + Bellamy, Mr., agent of Talleyrand in the attempt to extort money from + American envoys, iii. 502; + astonishment of, at the boldness of the envoys, iii. 503. + + Beman, Nathan, Ethan Allen's guide at Ticonderoga, surviving in 1846 + (_note_), i. 525. + + Bemis's Heights, entrenched camp established on, by Gates, by the advice + of Kosciuszko, ii. 522; + force and position of the army of Gates at--arrival of Burgoyne in the + neighborhood of, ii. 523; + inactivity of Gates at, ii. 524; + anxiety of Arnold to renew the battle at--comparative loss of the + British and Americans in the battle at, ii. 525; + retirement of Burgoyne from, ii. 526; + second battle near, begun by Morgan and his riflemen, ii. 530. + + Bennington, Colonel Baume sent by Burgoyne to seize provisions at, + ii. 486; + disastrous consequences to Burgoyne, of Colonel Baume's defeat at, + ii. 487. + + Bequests left by Washington to various persons as mementoes, iii. 539. + + Bernard, Governor, attempts of, to bribe the leading men of Boston, + i. 345; + petitioned by the Massachusetts assembly to remove the troops from + Boston--departure of, for England, in 1769, i. 367. + + Beverage of Washington, iii. 586. + + Beverly, skirmish of the _Nautilus_ with a privateer at, i. 732. + + Bigelow, Major, mountain ascended by, in expectation of a distant view + of Quebec, i. 691. + + Billy, body-servant of Washington, spurious letters of Washington alleged + to have been found in the possession of, iii. 448. + + Bingham, Mr., Jay's treaty burned in front of the house of, in + Philadelphia, iii. 353. + + Binney, Horace, conclusions arrived at by, respecting the authorship of + Washington's Farewell Address (_note_), iii. 434. + + Birthday of Washington, acrimonious debate in Congress respecting the + celebration of, in 1793, iii. 322; + celebration of, in 1797, iii. 469. + + Birthplace of Washington, i. 17, 23. + + Bishop, the body-servant of Washington, transferred to him by Braddock, + i. 277. + + Blair, John, appointed associate judge of the supreme court in 1789, + iii. 122. + + "Blockade of Boston," a farce composed by the British officers during + the siege--not written by Burgoyne (_note_), ii. 49; + turned into a tragedy by Knowlton's attack on Charlestown, ii. 50. + + Blount, resolutions offered in Congress by, respecting the treaty-making + power, iii. 397; + resolutions of, adopted, iii. 398. + + Board of Trade and Plantations, attempts of, to control the colonies, + i. 314. + + Bonaparte, Napoleon, treaty concluded by, with the American envoys, + iii. 530; + honors paid to the memory of Washington by, iii. 570. + + Bond, British _charge_, threat and complaint of, in relation to + Jay's treaty, iii. 401. + + Boquet, Colonel, letter of Washington to, in relation to a proposed + new road to Fort Duquesne, i. 271. + + Boscawen, _Alcide_ and _Lys_ taken by, i. 177; + at the siege of Louisburg in 1758--biographical notice of (_note_), + i. 260. + + Boston, reception of Washington in, in 1756--population of, in 1756, + i. 200; + troops landed at, in 1768, under cover of cannon from the ships-of-war, + i. 346; + "massacre" at, i. 366; + troops removed from, after the "massacre"--vengeance threatened + against, for the destruction of tea in the harbor, i. 388; + port of, closed by act of Parliament, i. 389; + sympathy with, in Virginia, i. 392, 395; + money sent from London to assist the suffering poor of, i. 397; + the only spot in Massachusetts in 1774 where the king's government was + obeyed, i. 417; + rumored bombardment of, i. 426; + removal of troops from, advocated by Lord Chatham, i. 489; + intercourse of, with the country, cut off by General Gage, i. 514; + position of the British and American forces at the siege of, i. 619; + scarcity and sickness in the British army in, i. 636; + sufferings of the patriots in, during the siege, i. 637; + a portion of the inhabitants of, sent away by General Gage--number of + residents and troops in, during the siege (_note_), i. 638; + question as to the bombardment of, submitted by Washington to the + committee of Congress, i. 736; + desecration of churches in, by British troops during the siege, i. 745; + oppressive measures of General Howe toward the people of, i. 746; + secret expedition fitted out by General Howe in the harbor of, ii. 29; + anxiety of Washington to drive the British out of, ii. 29, 32, 47; + the small-pox in the British army in--ammunition expended by the + British in the defence of (_note_), ii. 48; + anxiety of Washington for a direct assault upon--council of war adverse + to an attack upon, ii. 53; + cannonade and bombardment of, in anticipation of the attempt upon + Dorchester Heights--cannonade of, heard at the distance of a hundred + miles, ii. 62; + resolution of General Howe to evacuate, ii. 67; + consternation of the tories of, at Howe's preparations for departure + from, ii. 68; + spared by General Howe on condition of his being allowed to depart + unmolested, ii. 69; + outrages committed by Howe's troops at the evacuation of, ii. 70; + scene presented at the evacuation of--prizes taken at sea by the + Americans during the siege of (_note_), ii. 71: + sorrow of the tories on leaving--troops glad to get away from, ii. 72; + entrance of the Americans into, ii. 73; + visitors prohibited from entering without passes, ii. 74; + damage done to buildings in--"Liberty-tree" at, cut down (_note_), + ii. 75; + large amount of property left behind by Howe at the evacuation + of--efforts of Washington to establish order in, ii. 76; + address of the selectmen of, to Washington--congratulatory letters, in + relation to the evacuation of, addressed to Washington (_note_), + ii. 77; + measures of Washington for the defence of, ii. 81; + apprehensions of the people of, of the return of Howe--operations for + the defence of, carried on by Colonel Gridley, ii. 82; + plan of General Lincoln for driving the British fleet from the harbor + of--British store-ships captured in the harbor of, ii. 83; + effect in England of the news of the flight of the army from, ii. 84; + speech of the duke of Manchester on the abandonment of, ii. 86; + the ministry attacked by Barre and Burke in relation to the abandonment + of, ii. 86; + reception of Washington in, on his tour in 1789--dispute between the + selectmen of, and Governor Hancock, in relation to the reception of + Washington, iii. 127; + influenza prevalent at, a few days after Washington's visit (_note_), + iii. 128; + reminiscences of Samuel Breck, of Washington's visit to, in 1789 + (_note_), iii. 130; + letter of Washington to the selectmen of, in relation to Jay's treaty, + iii. 356. + + _Boston_, French frigate _L'Embuscade_ challenged by, iii. 277. + + "Boston Massacre," history of, i. 366-368; + anniversary of, fixed upon for taking possession of Dorchester Heights, + ii. 61; + anniversaries of, observed in Boston (_note_), ii. 65. + + Boston Neck, defence of, by Colonel Robinson, i. 513; + fortifications erected on, by Howe, i. 745; + fortifications on, demolished by order of Washington, ii. 81. + + Botetourt, Lord, arrival of, in Virginia, in 1768--Junius's description + of--remark of Walpole respecting--his erroneous impressions of the + colonists, i. 351; + palace of, at Williamsburg--parade of, on opening the Virginia + assembly, i. 352; + illusions of, rapidly dispelled, i. 353; + Virginia assembly dissolved by, i. 354; + good faith and justice of--statue erected to the memory of, i 356; + death of, followed by a change of public sentiment in Virginia, i. 374. + + Botta, Charles, eloquent remarks of, on the achievements of Washington in + the Jerseys, ii. 394. + + Boudinot, Elias, commissary general of prisoners, in the summer of 1777, + ii. 412. + + Bowdoin, James, characteristic letter of General Lee to, ii. 342. + + Boyd, Colonel, defeated by Colonel Pickens, ii. 651. + + Braddock, Edward, father of General Braddock--daughters of, i. 135. + + Braddock, General, Walpole's description of, i. 135; + heartlessness of--in the battle of Fontenoy--stationed at Gibraltar in + 1753, i. 136; + anecdote of Anne Bellamy, illustrating the character of--arrival of, in + Hampton roads, i. 137; + conference of, with Governor Dinwiddie at Williamsburg--first general + orders of, issued from Alexandria--anxiety of, to procure the + services of Washington, i. 138; + invitation of, to Washington to become one of his family--Washington's + reasons for joining, i. 139; + meeting of, with the colonial governors, at Alexandria, i. 140; + three distinct expeditions planned by, i. 141; + letter of, to Lord Halifax, in relation to Pennsylvania and Maryland, + i. 144; + disappointments and difficulties of--appoints Washington his + aid-de-camp, i. 146; + irritation of, at the indifference of the colonies, i. 147; + Franklin in the camp of, at Fredericktown--his extreme confidence of + success--conversation of Franklin with, in relation to his + expedition, i. 148; + Franklin urged by, to procure wagons for the use of the army, i. 149; + his commendation of Washington and Franklin, i. 150; + war-dance of Indians in the camp of, at Will's Creek--effective force + of, at Will's Creek, i. 151; + names of men afterward distinguished, in the camp of, i. 152; + delay at Will's Creek fatal to, i. 156; + slow march of the army of, i. 157; + advice of Washington to, to press forward rapidly, i. 158; + illness of Washington on his march with--Washington left at the + Youghiogany by the orders of, i. 159; + continued fears of ambuscades in the army of, i. 160; + son of Monacatoocha killed by grenadiers of, by mistake, i. 161; + funeral honors paid by, to the son of Monacatoocha, i. 162; + his fatal rejection of Indian aid--forces of, greatly exaggerated in + the French camp, i. 163; + location of the camp of, on the eve of his defeat, i. 165; + details of the defeat of, i. 166-170; + bravery displayed by, on the field of battle, i. 168; + mortal wound received by, i. 169; + death of, near Great Meadows, on the 14th of July, 1755--funeral + service at the grave of, read by Washington--grave of, still to be + seen (_note_), i. 171; + depressing influence of the memory of the defeat of, i. 205. + + Bradford, a leader in the Whiskey Insurrection, iii. 310; + in favor of forming an independent western state, iii. 316. + + Bradford, William, successor of Randolph as attorney-general, iii. 289; + lines written by, on the sufferings of Lafayette, iii. 373. + + Bradstreet, Colonel, expedition of, against Fort Frontenac--assistance + lent to, by General Stanwix--joined by Red Head and his Indian + warriors, i. 267; + surrender of the fort to--malignant fever among the troops of, i. 268; + Detroit relieved by, in 1764, i. 320. + + Brand, bishop of Quebec, refusal of, to issue a _mandement_ in the + interest of the British government, i. 644. + + Brandywine, movements of the American and British armies in the + neighborhood of, ii. 501; + battle of--Lafayette a volunteer in the battle of, ii. 505; + Lafayette wounded at the battle of, ii. 506; + skilful movement of General Greene at the battle of--retreat of the + American army from, to Chester, ii. 507; + opinion of General Knox in regard to the battle of--Sullivan censured + for allowing himself to be surprised at--killed and wounded at the + battle of--letter of Washington to Congress, in relation to the + battle at, ii. 508; + conspicuous bravery of Count Pulaski at the battle of, ii. 510. + + Brant, Joseph, biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 106. + + Brant, and Walter Butler, Cherry Valley desolated by, ii. 642. + + Breadstuffs, neutral vessels carrying, seized by the cruisers of England + and France in 1793, iii. 272. + + Breakfast-hour of Washington, iii. 586. + + Breck, Samuel, his reminiscences of Washington's visit to Boston in 1789 + (_note_), iii. 130. + + Breed's hill, fortified by Colonel Prescott, instead of Bunker's hill, + i. 556; + Neal's lines on the fortification of--fire opened upon, from + ships-of-war, i. 557; + excitement in Boston during the cannonade upon, i. 558: + troops at, reinforced by Stark's regiment--New England flag hoisted at + (_note_), i. 559; + preparations for the attack upon, i. 560; + suspicion of treachery among the defenders of--arrival of Doctor Warren + and General Pomeroy at, i. 561; + arrival of Colonel Stark at the rail-fence breastwork at--British plan + of attack upon, i. 563; + carnage among the British at, i. 564; + second attack upon, under General Howe, i. 565; + second retreat of the British from--numerous spectators of the battle + on, i. 560; + watched by Sir Henry Clinton from Copp's hill--failure of ammunition of + Americans at, i. 567; + rapid retreat of the Americans from, i. 569; + terrible price paid by the British for their victory at--immense gain + of the Americans by the battle of--British loss at, according to + General Gage (_note_), i. 570. + + Bridport, Lord, flags of the fleet of, at Torbay, lowered to half-mast, + at the death of Washington, iii. 570. + + Brienne, Marchioness de, ball in honor of Washington directed by, + iii. 110. + + Brier Creek, General Ashe surprised by Prevost at, ii. 651. + + Brooke, Governor, letter of Washington to, in relation to education, + iii. 333. + + Brooklyn, defensive works prepared by General Greene at, ii. 171; + appeal made by Washington to the troops at (_note_), ii. 203; + Sullivan superseded in command at, by Putnam--disorderly conduct of the + troops at, on the approach of the British, ii. 264; + description of the defensive works in the neighborhood of--roads in the + rear of--minute description of the defensive works near, where to be + found (_note_), ii. 265; + plan of the British march upon, ii. 266; + Putnam's camp at, visited by Washington, ii. 267; + American works at, taken possession of by the British, ii. 285. + + Brougham, Lord, panegyric pronounced by, upon the character of + Washington, iii. 581. + + Broughton, Captain, the first naval commission granted to, by Washington, + in 1795, i. 740. + + Brown, Doctor, of Port Tobacco, Washington attended by, in his last + illness, iii. 554. + + Brown, Major John, sent by General Schuyler into Canada as confidential + agent, i. 659; + letter of, to Governor Trumbull, in relation to the invasion of + Canada--report of, as to the defenceless condition of Canada, i. 660; + unauthorized attempt made upon Montreal by, in concert with Ethan + Allen, i. 672. + + Brunswick, duke of, mercenaries furnished by, ii. 6. + + Brunswick, one bed occupied by Franklin and Adams at, ii. 290; + critical position of the American army at, ii. 346; + disappointment of Cornwallis in not finding Washington at, ii. 392; + headquarters of Sir William Howe at, ii. 443. + + Brush, Crean, ordered by Howe to seize clothing in Boston, ii. 70. + + Buchan, earl of, box of the oak that sheltered Wallace recommitted to, by + the will of Washington, iii. 539. + + Buffalo river, fort built on, by the French, in 1752, i. 74. + + Buford, Colonel, massacre of a body of troops under, by Colonel Tarleton, + ii. 676. + + Bull, Governor, letters of the British government to, seized and sent to + Congress, i. 500. + + Bunker's hill, occupied by the British the night after the battle of + Lexington, i. 510; + fortification of, intrusted to Colonel Prescott, i. 556; + intrenchments commenced on, by Putnam, i. 559; + battle of, see _Breed's hill_; + cruel treatment by General Gage, of prisoners taken at, i. 630; + General Sir Henry Clinton placed in command of a redoubt on, i. 744. + + Burgoyne, General, biographical notice of, i. 620; + interview with General Lee proposed by, i. 630; + intelligence of the movements of, in Canada, sent to Washington by + Schuyler--doubts of Washington as to the force of, ii. 453; + New York invaded by, ii. 459; + composition of the army of--doubts of Schuyler as to the intentions + of--Indians unwillingly employed by, ii. 460; + faithlessness of the Indians employed by, ii. 481, 485; + Crown Point taken possession of by, pompous proclamation issued by, + ii. 461; + proclamation of Washington in reply to, ii. 462; + Mount Hope and Sugar-Loaf hill taken possession of, by, ii. 464; + fate of, foretold by Washington--progress of, toward Fort Edward, + ii. 480, 481; + Indian allies of, troublesome--humanity of, ii. 481; + large bounty offered by, for prisoners--humane instructions of, to his + Indian allies (_note_), ii. 482; + want of provisions in the army of, ii. 485; + defeat of Baume at Bennington a disastrous blow to, ii. 487; + perplexity and alarm of, after the battle of Bennington, ii. 521; + silent march of, down the valley of the Hudson, ii. 522; + retirement of, from Bemis's Heights--cheering news received by, from + Sir Henry Clinton, ii. 526; + anxiety of, to hear from Clinton, ii. 528; + compelled to fight or fly, ii. 529; + deplorable situation of, ii. 583; + buildings of Schuyler at Saratoga burned by, ii. 535; + arms laid down by the army of--army of, marched to Virginia as + prisoners-of-war--reception of, and his officers, in the American + camp, ii. 537: + impression made upon, by the generosity of Schuyler--a guest at the + house of Schuyler at Albany, ii. 538; + importance of the surrender of, to the republican cause, ii. 539; + effect in Congress and in Parliament of the news of the surrender + of--speech of Chatham in relation to the surrender of--effect on the + continent of Europe of the news of the surrender of, ii. 540. + + Burke, Edmund, on the conduct of the British naval commanders, i. 322; + eloquence of, in opposition to the stamp-act, i. 334; + extract from a speech of, on American taxation (_note_), i. 342; + conciliatory resolutions presented by, in Parliament, i. 498; + despondent view taken by, of American affairs, ii. 396. + + Burke's History of Virginia, terms of the association to exclude British + merchandise printed in, i. 355. + + Burr, Aaron, sent with a verbal message to Montgomery by Arnold, i. 694; + with Arnold in his Quebec expedition, i. 697; + forlorn hope placed under the command of, by Montgomery, i. 717; + not with Montgomery when he fell (_note_), i. 719; + troops of Putnam led out of New York by, ii. 296; + a senator in the Congress of 1791--personal hostility of, to + Washington, iii. 192; + systematic opposition of, to Washington, iii. 300. + + Butler, Colonel Zebulon, defence of Wyoming attempted by, ii. 641. + + Butler, John, massacre at Wyoming by tories and Indians under the command + of, ii. 641. + + Butler, Walter, and Brant, Cherry Valley desolated by, ii. 642. + + Buttrick, Major, attack made by, upon the British at Concord, i. 507. + + Byron, Admiral, arrival of, at New York, as successor to Lord Howe, + ii. 644. + + Byron, Lord, lines of, in allusion to Washington's refusal of + compensation, i. 538. + + +C. + + Cabinet of Washington, dissentions in, in 1790, iii. 151. + + Cadwalader, General, duel of, with Conway, ii. 590. + + Caghnawaga tribe of Indians, efforts of Schuyler to conciliate, i. 665; + mistake of Captain Baker respecting (_note_), i. 666. + + Caldwell, Reverend James, murder of the wife of, at Connecticut Farms, + ii. 677. + + Callbeck, Mr., and others, made prisoners by Captains Broughton and + Selman--letter of thanks addressed by, to Washington, i. 742. + + Cambridge, departure of Washington from Philadelphia to take command of + the army at, i. 541; + confusion at, on the approach of the British to Breed's hill, i. 560; + reflections on the mission of Washington, on his taking command of the + army at, i. 573; + journey of Washington, to, performed on horseback, i. 574; + reception of Washington at--dwelling occupied by Washington at, i. 584; + arrival of Gates and Sullivan in the camp at, i. 587; + letters of Washington to Congress from the camp at, i. 587-595; + declaration of Congress read to the troops in camp at, i. 617; + arrival of southern riflemen at the camp at, i. 618; + army at, arranged by Washington into three grand divisions--the + headquarters of Washington at the siege of Boston--Putnam's division + stationed at, i. 619; + inactivity of the army at, i. 724; + officers of the army at, consulted by Washington, as to an attack upon + the British in Boston, i. 725; + council of war held at, adverse to an attack--letter of Washington to + Congress in relation to the state of the army at, i. 726; + efforts of Washington to reorganize the army at, i. 747; + deficiency of skilful engineers at, i. 749; + artillery and stores conveyed to, from Lake Champlain, by Colonel Knox, + i. 750; + trials of Washington in the camp at, i. 752; + difficulties attending the reorganization of the army at, i. 755; + bad condition of arms and ammunition at, i. 760; + intrenchments thrown up by the army at, i. 762; + improved state of affairs at--letter of General Greene on the + privations of the troops at (_note_), i. 763; + fruit-trees in the neighborhood of, consumed as firewood (_note_), + i. 764; + Mrs. Washington in the camp at, i. 768; + burning of the king's speech at, ii. 2; + weakness of the army at, in January, 1776, ii. 13, 14; + extraordinary difficulties of Washington while in command of the army + at, ii. 44; + councils of war held at, ii. 47, 52. + + Camden, set on fire and abandoned by Lord Rawdon, ii. 719. + + Campbell, Captain John, death of, in the battle at Moore's-Creek Bridge, + ii. 118. + + Campbell, Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald, and seven hundred men, made + prisoners in Boston harbor, ii. 83; + letter of, to Washington, complaining of his treatment as a prisoner, + ii. 407. + + Campbell, Lord, royal power abdicated by, in South Carolina, ii. 186; + badly wounded in the attack upon Fort Sullivan, ii. 193. + + Canada, conquest of, urged upon the British government by Franklin + (_note_), ii. 144; + surrender of, to the English, in 1760, i. 301; + prediction of the duke de Choiseul in relation to the loss of, i. 302; + people of, indisposed to revolution, i. 522; + address of the second continental Congress to the people of--resolution + of the second continental Congress not to invade, i. 531; + loyalty of the people of, to the British crown, i. 642; + address of Congress to, contrasted with its language to the people of + England, i. 643; + efforts of Sir Guy Carleton to secure the loyalty of the people of, + i. 644; + auspicious moment for the conquest of, i. 645; + proposition to invade, made by Colonel Ethan Allen, i. 650; + cautious proceedings of Congress in relation to the invasion of, + i. 652; + tardy gathering of the troops for--letter of Ethan Allen to Governor + Trumbull in relation to the invasion of, i. 658; + secret agents sent into, by General Schuyler, i. 659; + delays in the invasion of, i. 660; + address of General Schuyler to the inhabitants of, i. 665; + defenceless condition of, i. 667; + address of Arnold to the inhabitants of (_note_), i. 684; + measures of Congress with regard to, ii. 93; + exertions made for the relief of the troops in, ii. 94; + General Lee named by Washington for command in, ii. 95; + chief command of the troops in, given to Lee by Congress--change of + plans of Congress with regard to, ii. 96; + alienation of the people of, ii. 97; + committee of civilians appointed by Congress to visit, ii. 98; + abandonment of, considered necessary by Schuyler, ii. 103; + total disaffection of the people of, toward the cause of the patriots, + ii. 142; + troops sent toward, under General Thompson, ii. 143; + commissioners appointed to form a union with--instructions of the + commissioners sent to, ii. 145; + indisposition of the people of, to a union with the colonies, ii. 146; + committee of Congress confer with Washington, Gates, and Mifflin, on + affairs in, ii. 159; + efforts of Congress to retain possession of, ii. 160; + letter of Washington to Schuyler in relation to affairs in--deplorable + condition of the American army in, ii. 161; + defeat of General Thompson in, ii. 163; + end of the invasion of, ii. 168; + plan of Congress for the invasion of, abandoned by the advice of + Washington, ii. 644; + opposition of Washington to the French plan for the invasion of, + ii. 647. + + Canadians, battalion of, authorized by Congress to be raised, ii. 93. + + Canes, gold-headed, left by Washington to various persons, iii. 539. + + Capital, the federal, location of, determined in 1790, iii. 150; + surveys and plans of buildings of, examined by Washington--location of, + chosen by Washington, iii. 178; + land surrendered for, by Georgetown and Carrollsburg, iii. 179. + + Cardillac, incredulity of, as to the profitable navigation of the western + rivers, i. 68. + + Carleton, Sir Guy, at the head of Wolfe's grenadiers at Quebec, i. 293; + efforts of, to secure the loyalty of the Canadians, i. 644; + defeat of, by Colonel Seth Warner at Longueuil, i. 679; + Montreal abandoned by, on the approach of Montgomery, i. 699; + escape of, to Quebec, i. 700; + opportune arrival of, at Quebec, i. 714; + determination of, to defend Quebec, i. 715; + his humane treatment of prisoners taken at the siege of Quebec, i. 721; + reliance of, upon reinforcements from England for the defence of + Quebec, ii. 99; + pursuit of the Americans by, on their retreat from before + Quebec--stores and prisoners taken by--great humanity of, toward the + sick and prisoners, ii. 102; + noble proclamation of, with regard to sick fugitives, ii. 103; + not the policy of, to make prisoners (_note_), ii. 167; + efforts of, to create a navy on Lake Champlain, ii. 333; + Crown Point taken possession of by, on its abandonment by Arnold, + ii. 336; + army of reserve, under the command of, in Canada, ii. 459; + successor of Sir Henry Clinton as British commander-in-chief, iii. 7; + personal interview of Washington with, at Tappan, iii. 22. + + Carlisle and Roberts, Quakers, hanged as spies, i. 462. + + _Carmagnole_ sung in the streets of New York in 1793, iii. 248. + + Carmichael, Mr., _charge d'affaires_ at Madrid in 1790, iii. 157. + + Carpenters' Hall, in Philadelphia, first place of meeting of the + continental Congress, i. 420. + + Carroll, Charles, in the commission appointed to form a union with + Canada, ii. 144; + son of, a suitor for the hand of Nelly Custis, iii. 486. + + Carroll, Reverend John, associated with the commission to form a union + with Canada, ii. 145; + return of, from Canada, in company with Franklin, ii. 146. + + Carter, Charles, mention made of, in Washington's will, iii. 538. + + Caswell, Colonel, in command of minute-men in the battle at Moore's-Creek + Bridge--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 117. + + Catawba Indians, bad conduct of, in the expedition against Fort Duquesne + in 1758 (_note_), i. 273. + + Catholics, generally the friends of liberty during the Revolutionary + struggle, i. 464. + + Cedars, Colonel Bedell stationed at, with a body of New Hampshire troops, + ii. 148. + + Ceremonials, opinions of Adams, Jay, Hamilton, and Madison, sought by + Washington in relation to, iii. 105. + + Chamberlayne, Mr., Washington introduced to Martha Custis by, i. 277. + + Chamblee, capture of the fort at, by a party under Colonel Bedell--arms + and ammunition taken at, i. 677; + flag of the seventh British regiment found in the fort at--letter of + Montgomery to Robert Livingston, relating to the fort at (_note_), + i. 678; + retreat of Sullivan from, ii. 166. + + Character of Washington, iii. 573. + + Charleston, arms and ammunition in the magazines of, seized by the + patriots, i. 521; + activity of the patriots in, ii. 185; + Admiral Parker's unsuccessful attack upon, ii. 188; + saved by the dilatory movements of the British, ii. 189; + siege of, by Sir Henry Clinton, ii. 671; + bombardment of--surrender of, to the British--General Lincoln and his + army made prisoners at--ill treatment by the British of the prisoners + taken at, ii. 673; + effect in the South of the fall of, ii. 674; + evacuation of, by the British, iii. 12; + reception of Washington at, on his southern tour in 1791, iii. 181. + + Charlestown, set on fire by order of General Gage--description of the + carcass used at (_note_), ii. 565. + + Charlotte, General Greene at, ii. 699. + + Chase, the, Washington's chief amusement before the Revolution, i. 309. + + Chase, Samuel, in the commission appointed to form a union with Canada, + ii. 144. + + Chastellux, chevalier de, his description of hospitality as it was at + Mount Vernon, i. 288; + letter of Washington to, respecting his northern tour in 1783, iii. 27. + + Chatham, earl of, Revolutionary measures deprecated by (_note_), i. 366; + extract from a speech of, on the free spirit of the colonies, i. 371; + on the infatuation of government in provoking resistance in the + colonies, i. 412; + language of, in commendation of the proceedings of the continental + Congress, i. 448; + his commendation of the state-papers of the first continental Congress, + i. 450; + correspondence of, with Lady Chatham, in relation to American affairs, + i. 487; + letter of, to Lord Stanhope, relative to American affairs--Franklin + introduced into the house of lords by, i. 488; + proposition made by, in the house of lords, that the troops should be + removed from Boston--extraordinary speech of, in support of his + proposition, i. 489; + little influence of the speech of, within the house, i. 491; + profound sensation caused out of doors by the speech of--remark of + Franklin respecting the speech of--friends of, in the house of + lords--plan of, for the settlement of troubles in America--Franklin + consulted by, in the preparation of his plan of settlement + (_note_), i. 492; + hurried rejection of the plan of, in the house of lords--plan of, + approved by Franklin, i. 493; + confined to his house with the gout, ii. 7; + last speech of, in Parliament, ii. 608. + (See _William Pitt_.) + + Chatham, Lady, unwillingness of, that Lord Pitt should bear arms against + the colonists (_note_), i. 686. + + Chaudiere, valley of the, reminiscences of the "good Bostonians" still + preserved in, i. 696. + + Cherokees, Colonel Montgomery sent against in 1760--subdued by Colonel + Grant in 1761, i. 302. + + Cherry Valley desolated by Butler and Brant, ii. 642. + + Chesapeake bay, arrival of the British fleet in--movements of his army + directed toward, by Washington, ii. 495; + landing of Sir William Howe and his army at the head of, ii. 497; + night of peril passed on, by Washington, on his southern tour, + iii. 178. + + Chester, retreat of the American army to, from the Brandywine, ii. 507. + + Chew, Chief Justice, banishment of, to Fredericksburg, i. 461. + + Chew's house, loss of the battle of Germantown owing to the delay at, + ii. 554. + + Childhood, frame of Washington precociously large in, i. 57. + + Christ church, in Philadelphia, divine service attended at, by the second + continental Congress, i. 609. + + Christianity, Washington a sincere believer in, iii. 576. + + Church, Doctor Benjamin, placed by Congress at the head of the army + hospital, i. 612; + convicted of treasonable correspondence (_note_), i. 613. + + Church of England, Washington a communicant of, i. 336. + + Cilley, Colonel, captured cannon turned upon the British by, at Bemis's + Heights, ii. 531. + + _Cincinnati, Society of_, instituted--deep interest felt by Washington + in--Washington and Hamilton successive presidents of, iii. 23; + address from the members of the, in Boston, iii. 131. + + _Citizen Genet_, a privateer fitted out at Charleston by Genet--the + arrest of American citizens on board, iii. 259; + irritation of Genet at the arrests on, iii. 260. + + City Tavern, Philadelphia, meeting at, of delegates to the first + continental Congress, i. 454; + convention to form the constitution adjourn to, iii. 73; + Washington and suite entertained at, in 1789, iii. 86. + + Clarke, Major George Rogers, operations of, in the West, ii. 652; + biographical notice of, ii. 653. + + Clergy, sides taken by the various denominations of, during the progress + of the Revolution, i. 463. + + Clinton, Colonel James, at Fort Constitution, ii. 219; + bayonet-wound received by, ii. 545. + + Clinton, General George, energy and activity of, in defence of New York, + ii. 219; + troops assembled by, at Fort Montgomery, ii. 220; + at Fort Montgomery with New York militia, ii. 235; + efforts of, to prevent the passing of the _Rose_ and _Phoenix_, + ii. 236; + three thousand men under the command of, at Kingsbridge, ii. 241; + silver bullet taken by, from a spy--silver bullet still in possession + of the family of (_note_), ii. 547; + letter of Washington to, communicating the news of the signing of the + treaty of peace, iii. 21; + northern tour of Washington in company with, in 1783, iii. 27; + reception of Washington by, in New York, in 1789, iii. 89; + a candidate for the vice-presidency in 1792, iii. 222. + + Clinton, General Sir Henry, a volunteer at Breed's hill, i. 567; + biographical notice of, i. 620; + placed in command of a redoubt on Bunker's hill, i. 744; + arrival of, in the harbor of New York--peaceful professions of, and + departure, ii. 42; + Robert Howe and Cornelius Harnett excepted from the proclamation of + pardon by, ii. 185; + proclamation offering pardon laughed at by the people of Charleston, + ii. 190; + night-march of, from Flatlands to the heights overlooking Bedford, + ii. 269; + capture of the fortresses in the Hudson Highlands by, ii. 542, 545; + messenger of, bearing a silver bullet to Burgoyne, hanged as a spy, + ii. 547; + activity of, in New York--scheme of Washington for the abduction of, + ii. 606; + Washington dissuaded by Hamilton from attempting the abduction of, + ii. 607; + reduction of the force under the command of, ii. 617; + evacuation of Philadelphia admirably managed by, ii. 617; + slow march of, through New Jersey, ii. 619; + emissaries of, to the Pennsylvania mutineers, hanged as spies, ii. 709. + + Clothes of Washington, before the Revolution, obtained from London, + i. 306. + + Coach, fine one kept by Washington in 1789, iii. 113. + + Cobble hill, intrenchments cast up on, by troops under Generals Putnam + and Heath, i. 761. + + Cochran, Captain, powder-receiver at Charleston (_note_), i. 521. + + Cochran, Doctor John, letter of Washington to, on the style of living at + West Point (_note_), ii. 660. + + Coffin of Washington, inscriptions on, iii. 558. + + Cohoes falls, retreat of Schuyler to, ii. 484. + + Collier, Sir George, ravages by the squadron of, on Elizabeth river, + ii. 653; + assistance rendered by, to Sir Henry Clinton on the Hudson--ravages of, + in Connecticut, ii. 654; + destruction of an American flotilla by, in Penobscot bay, ii. 661. + + Collins, Captain, powder belonging to the province of Virginia seized by, + in 1775, i. 518. + + Colonies, new era in the history of, i. 69; + pay of troops raised in (_note_), i. 102; + growth of democratic ideas in, i. 228; + a viceroyalty suggested for, i. 229; + little indebted to the mother-country, i. 315; + cost of the French and Indian war to (_note_), i. 316; + commercial policy of England toward, i. 321. + + Colonists, French and English, characteristics of, i. 67, 68. + + Commission as colonel resigned by Washington in 1754, i. 126; + commission as commander-in-chief received by Washington, form of + (_note_), i. 540; + resignation of, by Washington, iii. 35. + + "Common Sense," a pamphlet by Thomas Paine, powerful influence of, + ii. 12; + General Lee's opinion of it (_note_), ii. 41. + + Concord, troops sent by General Gage to seize the stores at, i. 503; + preparations made at, to resist the troops under Colonel Smith--militia + assembled at, under Colonel Barrett, i. 506; + British attacked by Major Buttrick at--stores at, partially secured, + i. 507. + + Confederation, old, discussions that led to the abandonment of, iii. 55; + resolutions of the New York legislature in relation to, iii. 56. + + Congregationalists opposed to the rule of Great Britain, i. 463. + + Congress, general colonial, proposition for, by the Massachusetts + assembly, i. 327; + copy of the circular letter of Massachusetts, inviting (_note_), + i. 330; + meeting of, in New York--names of the delegates to (_note_), i. 331; + proceedings of, applauded by the provincial assemblies, i. 332; + recommended by Franklin, i. 390, 392. + + Congress, continental, proposed by Virginia in 1774, i. 390; + simultaneous proposition for, by Virginia and Massachusetts, i. 393; + the first, importance of, to the best interests of mankind, i. 408; + almost simultaneous declaration of the colonies in favor of, i. 409; + names of the delegates to (_note_), i. 411: + assembling of, at Philadelphia, in 1774, i. 413; + journeys of the delegates to, like ovations--journey of Washington to, + in company with Patrick Henry and Edmund Pendleton, i. 417; + reception of the delegates to, in Philadelphia--honors paid to the + delegates to, from Massachusetts, i. 419; + account of the organization of, i. 420-422; + Peyton Randolph chosen president of--Charles Thomson chosen secretary + of, i. 421; + noble character of the men composing, i. 422; + opening speech of Patrick Henry in, i. 423; + regulations adopted by, i. 425; + Mr. Duche requested to read prayers in, i. 426; + Washington the only delegate who knelt during prayer in, i. 429; + names of the first committee appointed by--difficult points to be + decided at, i. 430; + resolves of the Suffolk county convention laid before, i. 432; + resolution of, limiting its action to infringed rights--duration of the + sessions of (_note_), i. 484; + non-importation resolutions offered in, by R. H. Lee, i. 435; + dangerous plan of union submitted to, by Joseph Galloway, i. 435, 437; + non-exportation proposed and debated in, i. 430; + great diversity of opinion in, among the delegates--loyal address to + the king resolved on by--opposition of the Virginia delegates in, to + non-exportation (_note_), i. 438; + declaration of rights unanimously adopted by, i. 440; + the _American Association_ signed by every delegate present at, + i. 441; + the petition of Congress to the king, the last public act of, i. 446; + profound sensation produced everywhere by the publication of the + proceedings of, i. 447; + sympathy with, expressed by Chatham in a letter to Stephen Sayre, + i. 448; + no record of the part Washington took in, i. 449; + Washington the best informed man in, i. 450; + state-papers of, i. 450, 485. + + Congress, second continental, journey of Washington to, in company with + Patrick Henry and Benjamin Harrison--organization of--secrecy of the + proceedings of, i. 528; + resolution of, respecting the spoils taken at Ticonderoga by Ethan + Allen, i. 529; + Washington appointed chairman of the committees of, on military + affairs--"conciliatory resolutions" of Lord North laid + before--vigorous preparations of, for the defence of the + country--resolution of, to petition the king, i. 530; + address of, to the inhabitants of Canada--day of fasting and prayer + appointed by, i. 531; + resolution of, to raise companies of riflemen, i. 532; + John Adams's account of the deliberations of, as to the choice of a + commander-in-chief, i. 533-535; + instructions of, to Washington, as commander-in-chief (_note_), + i. 540; + major generals appointed by, i. 545-547; + brigadier-generals appointed by, i. 548; + measures of, in relation to the issue of paper money, i. 549; + regulations of, for the army, i. 551; + letters of Washington to, i. 578, 587-595, 726; + loyalty to the king declared by, i. 600; + declaration adopted by, setting forth the causes for armed resistance, + i. 600; + the idea of reparation from the mother-country repudiated by, + i. 603, 607; + letter of thanks of, to the lord-mayor and corporation of London, + i. 603; + petition to the king, written by John Dickinson, adopted by, i. 605; + address to the people of Great Britain adopted by, i. 606; + commissioners of Indian affairs appointed by--services at Christ church + attended by, on the fast-day, i. 609; + addresses of, to the assembly of Jamaica, and to the people of + Ireland--"conciliatory resolution" of the house of commons taken into + consideration by, i. 610; + Franklin placed at the head of the post-office department by--army + hospital established by, i. 612; + adjournment of, i. 613; + wise caution of, i. 614; + "declaration" of, read to the troops in camp, i. 617; + jealous of concentrated military power--deference of, to the opinions + of Washington in military matters, i. 621; + refusal of Washington to part with detachments for coast-defence, + sanctioned by, i. 624; + Colonels Allen and Warner introduced upon the floor of, i. 652; + the Green Mountain Boys recommended by, for the invasion of Canada, + i. 653; + members of, in the camp at Cambridge, i. 681, 729; + questions submitted by Washington to the committee of, sitting at + Cambridge, i. 735; + resolutions adopted by, for a reorganization of the army at Cambridge, + i. 738; + attention of, called to the necessity of organizing a naval force, + i. 740; + letters of Washington to i. 744, ii. 363; + resolution of thanks of, to Washington, on the evacuation of Boston, + ii. 78; + medal in gold ordered by, ii. 79; + action of, with regard to loyalists and tories, ii. 92; + the attention of, drawn to affairs in Canada, ii. 93; + committee appointed by, for the purpose of maintaining a European + correspondence, ii. 124; + Washington invited to the floor of--recommendations of Washington + adopted by, ii. 159; + "Board of War and Ordnance" appointed by, ii. 160; + resolution of, in relation to the claims of Generals Schuyler and + Gates, ii. 248; + measures taken by, for a more permanent organization of the army, + ii. 305; + adjourned to Baltimore--almost unlimited powers granted by, to Putnam + in Philadelphia, ii. 362; + create Washington dictator for six months, ii. 364; + of 1777 inferior to that of 1774-'5, ii. 431; + increased powers granted to Washington by, after the battle of the + Brandywine, ii. 509; + letter of Hamilton to George Clinton on the degeneracy of, ii. 592; + degeneracy of, lamented by Washington, ii. 648, 670; + adjournment of, to Princeton, iii. 26; + little confidence of the mass of the people in, iii. 53. + + Congress, federal, scene in on the occasion of Washington's opening + address, iii. 95, 590; + executive departments established by, in 1789, iii. 118; + Hamilton's report on finance made to, in writing, iii. 139; + remarks of Washington upon that of 1790, iii. 161; + messages of Washington to, iii. 171, 192, 378, 454; + party spirit manifested in, iii. 199, 230; + charges brought against Hamilton in, iii. 231; + defensive measures urged upon, by Washington, iii. 284; + language of Washington to, respecting Genet, iii. 285; + debate in, as to the propriety of the consideration of any question + with closed doors--the first committee of ways and means appointed + in--act passed by, in 1794, for providing a naval + armament--money-tribute to Algiers advocated in, iii. 294; + debate in, respecting the treaty-making power--debate in, respecting a + resolution offered by Edward Livingston, iii. 391; + message of Washington to, on refusing to furnish papers relating to + Jay's treaty (_note_), iii. 396; + last annual message of Washington to, iii. 454; + language of the two houses of, in reply to Washington's last annual + message, iii. 457; + special session of, convened by President Adams, in 1798--extract from + the address of Adams to, iii 494; + measures of, for national defence, in 1798, iii. 506; + Washington present at the opening of, in 1798, iii. 525; + resolutions of, on the occasion of the death of Washington, + iii. 562, 564. + + Congress, provincial, of Massachusetts, John Hancock president + of--Benjamin Lincoln secretary of--address of, to General Gage, + i. 468; + explanations made to, by General Gage--preparations for armed resistance + made by, i. 469; + proceedings of, denounced by General Gage--minute-men enrolled by, + i. 470. + + Connecticut, opposed to Franklin's plan for the union of the colonies, + i. 128; + ill feeling toward General Schuyler among the troops from, (_note_), + i. 705; + minute-men summoned to supply the place of troops from, i. 759; + Governor Trumbull and General Greene on the conduct of the troops of + (_note_), i. 760; + arrival in the camp at New York of a troop of light-horse from, ii. 231; + refusal of the troop from, to do duty, ii. 232; + bad conduct of troops from, at Kip's bay, ii. 295. + + Connolly, Doctor John, the side of the crown taken by, ii. 20; + imprisoned at Baltimore, ii. 21. + + Constitutional Society of England, money sent by, by the hand of Franklin, + for the sufferers at Lexington--John Horne Tooke, the philologist, a + prominent member of (_note_), i. 737. + + Constitution, federal, convention to form, iii. 56-73; + names of the signers of (_note_), iii. 72; + anecdote of Franklin in connection with the signing of, iii. 73; + submitted by Congress to the state legislatures, iii. 74; + Henry, Mason, and Lee, adverse to, iii. 77; + when ratified by the several states (_note_), iii. 78; + backwardness of some of the states in ratifying, iii. 98; + subject of the amendment of, before Congress, in 1789, iii. 119; + adopted by Rhode Island in 1790, iii. 162; + considered by Hamilton inadequate to its functions, iii. 187. + + Contemplations, Moral and Divine, extracts from, i. 30-34. + + Continental army, condition and discipline of--dress and accoutrements of + (_note_), i. 553; + position and numbers of, when adopted by Congress, i. 554; + command of, formally taken by Washington, i. 586; + letters of Washington to Congress respecting the condition and position + of, i. 587-595; + first general order issued by Washington to (_note_), i. 588; + hunting-shirts recommended by Washington for the use of, i. 592; + dissatisfaction produced in, by several appointments of general + officers--returns of, presented by General Gates (_note_), i. 593; + deficiency in the numbers, discipline, and stores of, i. 594; + details respecting its condition, by a chaplain, i. 595; + great deficiency in its supply of ammunition, i. 596, 625; + disposition of, by Washington, at the siege of Boston, i. 619; + want of powder in, i. 625; + trouble caused in, by sectional jealousies--petty conspiracies among the + subordinate officers of, i. 756; + letter of Washington to Colonel Reed, complaining of the mercenary + spirit pervading, i. 757; + early departure of the Connecticut troops from, i. 758; + weakness of, in January, 1776, ii. 13, 14; + letter of Washington to Colonel Reed on the condition of, ii. 15; + names of officers of the new regiments of (_note_), ii. 403; + excellent footing of, in the spring of 1777, ii. 404; + kind of punishments inflicted in (_note_), ii. 501; + personal popularity of Washington in, ii. 604; + committee appointed by Congress to inquire into the condition of, + ii. 667; + great reduction in the force of, ii. 668, 699; + destitution of, ii. 669; + necessities of, supplied by Pennsylvania, ii. 670; + measures adopted by Congress to increase the efficiency of, ii. 699; + winter-quarters of the various divisions of, in 1780-'81, ii. 702; + discontents in, in 1782, iii. 7, 15; + gradual disbandment of, in 1783, iii. 22; + circular letter of Washington to state governors in relation to the + disbandment of, iii. 23; + last general order of Washington to (_note_), iii. 29. + + Continental money, great depreciation of--the whole country flooded with + counterfeits of, ii. 666. + + Continental Village, destruction of, by Governor Tryon (_note_), ii. 548. + + _Continentalist_, a series of papers written by Alexander Hamilton, + iii. 56. + + Contrecoeur, French commandant at Fort Le Boeuf, in 1754, i. 97. + + Convention, commercial, suggestion of Washington concerning, iii. 55, 56. + + Convention, National, of France, pen-picture of (_note_), iii. 387. + + Convention to amend the confederation proposed, iii. 59; + Washington placed at the head of the Virginia delegation to, iii. 60; + circumstances which induced Washington to attend, iii. 61; + books read by Washington before attending, iii. 62; + meeting and organization of--Washington elected president of, iii. 63; + names of the delegates to (_note_), iii. 64; + Franklin a conspicuous member of--distinguished men in, iii. 65; + resolutions of Edmund Randolph in, iii. 66; + warm debates in--part taken by Hamilton in, iii. 68; + apprehensions of Washington as to the final result of, iii. 70; + influence of Washington in, iii. 71; + adjournment of, iii. 73. + + Conway, General, letter of Washington to Congress, adverse to his + appointment as major-general, ii. 575; + supposed author of a pamphlet injurious to the character of + Washington--anonymous letters in disparagement of Washington written + by, ii. 576; + appointed inspector-general, and raised to the rank of major-general, + by Congress, ii. 578; + short and sharp letter of Washington to--dismay in the _Cabal_ caused + by Washington's letter to, ii. 581; + thorough exposure of the character of--resignation of, accepted by + Congress, ii. 589; + severely wounded in a duel with Cadwalader--penitent letter written to + Washington by, while in the expectation of speedy death--recovery of, + and return to France, ii. 690. + + _Conway's Cabal_, history of, ii. 574; + existence of, discovered by Washington--Colonel Wilkinson's agency in + exposing, ii. 579; + exposure of, to the world, ii. 584; + letter of Washington to Patrick Henry in relation to, ii. 590. + + Cook, Captain James, the navigator, with Wolfe at Quebec, i. 293. + + Cooke, Governor Nicholas, of Rhode Island, cheering letter written to + Washington by, i. 597; + supply of powder sent by, to the camp at Cambridge, i. 628; + acting governor of Rhode Island in place of Governor Wanton (_note_), + i. 729. + + Cornstalk, night-attack of, upon Colonel Lewis, i. 473. + + Cornwallis, Lord, embarkation of, for North Carolina, with seven + regiments, ii. 90; + outrages committed by the troops of, in North Carolina--Robert Howe's + plantation desolated by, ii. 185; + march of, into Philadelphia, ii. 517; + congratulations of the Quakers offered to, ii. 518; + disappointment of, at not finding boats at Trenton--carelessness of, in + stationing his troops in detachments, ii. 360; + hears "thunder" from Princeton, ii. 386; + stinging reply of Washington to, in relation to the brutal conduct of + his troops, ii. 397; + attempt of, to surprise General Lincoln at Boundbrook, ii. 433; + weak and wicked policy of, in South Carolina, ii. 685; + dependence placed by, upon Tarleton and Ferguson, ii. 702; + alarm of, at the movements of Marion, ii. 703; + dangerous position of, ii. 705; + perilous situation of, at Yorktown, ii. 734; + surrender of, at Yorktown, ii. 734; + devastations of, in the South (_note_), ii. 736. + + Correspondence, committees of, originated in Massachusetts, i. 382, 383. + + Correspondence, intercolonial committees of, first appointed in Virginia, + i. 382, 383; + Rhode Island first after Virginia in appointing--severe condemnation of, + by "Massachuttensis," i. 883. + + Correspondence, burdensome nature of Washington's, in 1784, iii. 49; + extracts from Washington's with George W. P. Custis (_note_), iii. 531. + + Council, executive, organization of, in 1789, iii. 118. + + Courtship, Washington's, account of, by G. W. P. Custis, i. 276. + + Coventry, earl of, prophetic speech of, ii. 9. + + Cowpens, defeat of Tarleton by Morgan at, ii. 714. + + "Cragie house," now Longfellow's (_note_), i. 584. + + Craik, Doctor James, at Great Meadows, i. 114; + at the battle of the Monongahela, i. 168: + Braddock's wounds dressed by, i. 170; + warning of, to Washington, as to his attack of dysentery in 1757, + i. 245; + with Washington on his visit to the Ohio country in 1770, i. 358; + Indian chief seen by, who at the battle of the Monongahela had fired at + Washington fifteen times, i. 360; + letter of, to Washington, in relation to the _Conway Cabal_, ii. 586; + western tour of, in company with Washington, in 1784, iii. 42; + Washington attended by, in his last illness, iii. 554. + + Cramahe, approach of Arnold to Quebec disbelieved by, i. 696; + in Quebec during the siege by Arnold, i. 702. + + Creeks, at war with Georgia in 1789, iii. 115; + difficulties of the United States with, in 1790--alliance of, with the + Spaniards, iii. 154; + United States commissioners sent to treat with--Colonel Marinus Willett + sent on a mission to--treaty made with, in 1790, iii. 155. + + Cresap, Colonel, Washington a guest of, in 1748, i. 54; + innocent of the murder of Logan's relatives (_note_), i. 473. + + "_Crisis_," an anti-ministerial journal published in London and New York, + in 1775 (_note_), i. 637. + + "_Crisis_," a series of pamphlets written by Thomas Paine in 1776-'7 + (_note_), ii. 202. + + Croghan, George, envoy from Pennsylvania to the Miamis, i. 71. + + Cross Creek, in North Carolina, commission granted by Governor Martin to + Highlanders at, ii. 114. + + Crown Point, movements of the expedition against, under Colonel Johnson, + i. 180; + Dieskau defeated, severely wounded, and made prisoner, while marching to + the defence of, i. 182; + fortifications erected on, by Amherst, in 1759, i. 292; + surrender of, to Colonel Warner, in 1775, i. 526; + remains of the army of the north assembled at, ii. 250; + wretched condition of the troops at, ii. 250, 251; + Sullivan informed of his being superseded by General Gates at--efforts + of Schuyler and Gates to reorganize the army of the north + at--dilapidated condition of the fort at, ii. 251; + Washington unfavorable to the abandonment of--letters of Washington to + Schuyler and Gates, in relation to the abandonment of, ii. 252; + possession taken of, by General Carleton, ii. 336. + + Cully, old, his recollections of Washington's courtship, i. 278. + + Culpepper county minute-men, description of the dress of, ii. 23. + + Currency, continental, i. 549; + form of the bills of (_note_), i. 550. + + Currency, decimal, origin of the, iii. 175. + + Curtis, remarks of, on the convention to amend the federal confederation, + iii. 65. + + Cushing, William, appointed associate judge of the supreme court in 1789, + iii. 122. + + Custis, Daniel Parke, father of Martha Custis, i. 278. + + Custis, Eleanor Parke, adopted by Washington, iii. 5; + Washington accompanied by, to Mount Vernon in 1797, iii. 479; + precepts inculcated by Washington into the mind of--letter of Washington + to, on love and marriage, iii. 484; + a son of Charles Carroll of Carrollton a suitor for the hand of, + iii. 486; + anecdote respecting, told by Mr. Irving, iii. 487; + preparations for the marriage of, with Lawrence Lewis, iii. 531; + marriage of, at Mount Vernon, on Washington's birthday, in 1799, i. 432; + continental blue-and-buff suit worn by Washington at the wedding of, + iii. 534. + + Custis, George Washington Parke, adopted by Washington, iii. 6; + in college at Princeton in 1797--interesting correspondence of + Washington with, preserved in the Custis family, iii. 479; + correspondence of, with Washington, respecting the attentions paid by + young Carroll to his sister, iii. 487; + anxiety of Washington for the welfare of--negligence of, in the pursuit + of his studies--extracts from the correspondence of Washington with + (_note_), iii. 531; + aid-de-camp to General Pinckney in 1799, iii. 533; + lands bequeathed to, by Washington, near Alexandria, iii. 535, 541; + lands bequeathed to, surveyed by Washington's own hands in 1799, + iii. 535; + absent from Mount Vernon at the time of Washington's death--his + description of Washington's personal appearance when riding over his + farms, iii. 586. + + Custis, John Parke, son of Mrs. Washington, difficult task of Washington + as the guardian of--plans of travel of, opposed by Mrs. + Washington--particulars of the estate of, according to a letter of + Washington (_note_), i. 376; + enamored of Miss Calvert--letter of Washington to Mr. Calvert, + recommending a postponement of the marriage of, i. 377; + at King's college, in New York--Hamilton a fellow-student with--effect + upon, of the death of his sister, i. 378; + marriage of, to Miss Calvert, in 1774--letter of Washington to Doctor + Cooper, in relation to the marriage of, i. 379; + Washington's aid, ii. 730; + death of, at Eltham--children of, adopted by Washington, iii. 5. + + Custis, Martha, introduction of Washington to, i. 277; + marriage of, to Washington, in January, 1759, i. 287. + + Custis, Miss, daughter of Mrs. Washington, sickness of, i. 375; + death of, at Mount Vernon, in 1773, i. 378. + + Customs commissioners mobbed in Boston, i. 345. + + +D. + + Dagworthy, Captain, position of, settled by Governor Shirley, i. 201. + + Dallas, Alexander J., hostility of, to Jay's treaty, iii. 353. + + Dalrymple, Colonel, reserve of troops left under the command of, at + Staten Island, ii. 263. + + Danbury, expedition to destroy stores at, under Governor Tryon, ii. 433; + private as well as public property destroyed at, ii. 435. + + Dancing-days of Washington over in 1799 (_note_), i. 310. + + Dandridge, Bartholomew, private secretary of Washington--letter of + Washington to, expressing approbation of his conduct, iii. 479; + provision in the will of Washington respecting the heirs of, iii. 538. + + Dartmouth, Lord, instructions of, to General Gage, as to his conduct in + Massachusetts, i. 415; + reply of an American to a remark of, as to the number of delegates to + the first Congress (_note_), i. 441. + + D'Aubrey, Colonel, defeated and made prisoner by Sir William Johnson near + Fort Niagara, i. 291. + + Davenant, Sir William, expedition of, intercepted by Cromwell's fleet + (_note_), i. 20. + + Davidson, John, Indian interpreter with Washington on his Ohio + expedition, i. 76, 78. + + Davie, Governor William R., associated with Murray as envoy to France in + 1799, iii. 529. + + Davis, Reverend Thomas, volumes presented to, by Washington, at the + marriage of Nelly Custis, iii. 534; + invited to officiate at the funeral of Washington, iii. 558. + + Deane, Silas, sent to Paris as a secret agent of Congress--his unfitness + for the trust, ii. 125; + embarrassing engagements entered into by, ii. 444. + + Dearborn, Captain, his dog eaten by famishing soldiers in Arnold's Quebec + expedition (_note_), i. 694; + made prisoner at the siege of Quebec, i. 721. + + Death of Washington, iii. 556; + why no clergyman was present at, iii. 557; + action of Congress on receiving intelligence of, iii. 562; + sensation produced in Europe by the news of (_note_), iii. 570. + + De Beaujeu, Captain, intrusted with the ambuscade at the battle of the + Monongahela, i. 166; + death of, in the battle, i. 167. + + De Berdt, Dennis, letter of, brought from England by Lord Howe, ii. 223; + a copy of the letter of, sent to Washington and to Congress, ii. 224. + + Deborre, General, disaster brought upon the American army by, at the + battle of the Brandywine, ii. 510. + + Debt, foreign, of the United States in 1790, according to + Hamilton--domestic, in 1790, iii. 140. + + Declaration of Independence, ii. 209; + copies of, signed only by John Hancock, distributed throughout the + country--signed on the second of August, 1776, ii. 213; + proofs of the allegations contained in, where to be found + (_note_),--names of the delegates who signed (_note_),--original + parchment of, much injured by a writing-master in 1818 (_note_), + ii. 213; + order issued by Washington to the troops in New York in relation to, + ii. 214; + publicly read in New York on the tenth of July--influence of, upon the + popular mind in Europe, ii. 215; + comments of Mirabeau and Napoleon upon, ii. 216; + read to the army of the north at Fort Independence, ii. 254. + + Declaration of Rights adopted by the first continental Congress, written + by Samuel Adams (_note_), i. 453. + + Declaratory act, why supported by William Pitt--condemnation of, by + Gadsden, i. 340; + apprehensions of Washington respecting, i. 341; + right claimed by, denied by the colonial assemblies, i. 343. + + Decoudray, Major-General, his expectations of rank in the American + army--letter of Washington to Congress in relation to the claims + of--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 445. + + De Fermoy, folly of, at Ticonderoga, ii. 465. + + De Grasse, arrival of the fleet of, in the Chesapeake, ii. 729; + Admiral Graves attacked by, off the capes of Virginia, ii. 730; + visit of Washington to, ii. 731. + + De Heister, part taken by, in the battle of Long Island, ii. 272. + + De Kalb, Baron, slow march of, to the relief of Charleston, ii. 676; + mortally wounded in the battle at Sanders's creek--biographical notice + of (_note_), ii. 683. + + Delaplace, Ticonderoga surrendered by, to Ethan Allen, i. 525. + + Delaware river, baggage and stores of Washington removed across, ii. 353; + army sent across by Washington during the night--boats on, destroyed by + order of Washington, ii. 354; + weakness of Washington's army at the time of his retreat over, ii. 361; + gravity of Washington after his retreat over, ii. 366; + Washington's plan for attacking the British posts on, ii. 368; + Christmas-day appointed by Washington for attacking the British on, + ii. 369; + troops ferried over by Colonel Glover and Marblehead fisherman, + ii. 370, 371; + letter of Gates presented to Washington at, by Wilkinson, ii. 370; + voice of Knox heard across, ii. 371; + passage of the American army to the Jersey side, ii. 381; + attempt of Sir William Howe to destroy the obstructions in, ii. 551; + efforts of Howe to get possession of the forts on, ii. 559; + loss of the forts on, owing to the selfish ambition of General Gates, + ii. 561, 563; + destruction of the American fleet on--full possession of, obtained by + the British, ii. 563; + crossed by Washington in pursuit of Sir Henry Clinton, ii. 618; + rapid march of the allies toward, ii. 726. + + De Levi, march of, upon Quebec, i. 300; + rapid retreat of, to Montreal, i. 301. + + Departments, executive, not organized in 1789, iii. 102; + when established by Congress, iii. 118. + + Desertions, frequency of, from the continental army, ii. 416. + + D'Estaing, Count, arrival of the fleet of, in the Delaware--departure of, + for Sandy Hook, ii. 686; + correspondence of, with Washington--attempt to destroy the British fleet + in Raritan bay abandoned by, ii. 637; + arrival of, at Newport--departure of, from Newport, to meet the fleet of + Lord Howe--return of, to Newport, and subsequent departure for Boston, + ii. 638; + exasperation caused by the conduct of, ii. 639; + letter of, to Congress, relative to his abandonment of Rhode + Island--soothing letter written to, by Washington, ii. 640; + departure of, for the West Indies, ii. 644. + + Detroit, relieved by Colonel Bradstreet in 1764, i. 267. + + Devotion, private, of Washington, iii. 602. + + De Wessingtons, knights of the palatinate of Durham, i. 18. + + De Yrujo, Spanish embassador, dress of, iii. 599. + + Diary of Washington, extract from, in relation to his visit to Boston in + 1789 (_note_), iii. 128, 129; + extract from, describing the opening of Congress in 1790 (_note_), + iii. 138; + extract from, in relation to Morris's mission to England, iii. 157. + + Dick, Doctor, called in, at Washington's last illness, iii. 554. + + Dickinson, John, of Pennsylvania, influence of his Quaker friends upon + (_note_), i. 463; + petition to the king written by, adopted by the continental Congress, + i. 605; + views of, on the terms of reconciliation brought by Lord Howe, ii. 224. + + Dictator, Washington made, ii. 364; + emotions of Washington on receiving the resolution conferring the powers + of, ii. 380; + wise exercise by Washington of his powers as, ii. 400. + + Dieskau, Baron, departure of, from France, for the St. Lawrence, in 1755, + i. 177; + defeat of, by Colonel William Johnson, at Lake George--wounded and a + prisoner, i. 182; + subsequent history of (_note_),--designs of, in case of success + (_note_), i. 183; + General Lyman's share in the defeat of, i. 182, 184; + defeated by New England men, i. 184; + parliamentary grants to the provinces that contributed to the defeat + of, i. 229. + + Diet of Washington when at Cambridge, i. 616. + + Dignity of manner of Washington, iii. 576. + + Dinner, farewell, of Washington, on the eve of his retirement from the + presidency, iii. 471. + + Dinner-hour of Washington, iii. 586. + + Dinner-table of Washington, iii. 588. + + Dinwiddie, Governor, measures against the French on the Ohio recommended + by, i. 74; + Washington sent by, to the French commandant on the Ohio, i. 75; + efforts of, in anticipation of the French and Indian war, i. 93; + disputes of, with the Virginia house of burgesses, i. 94; + efforts of, to raise troops to meet the French on the Ohio, i. 95; + letter of Washington to, complaining of the inadequate pay of the + colonial army officers, i. 102; + measures of, after the surrender of Fort Necessity, i. 124; + remark of, respecting colonial assemblies, i. 129; + duplicity of, in his conduct toward Washington, i. 131, 237, 244; + refusal of, to give up the prisoners taken by Washington in the skirmish + with Jumonville, i. 132; + conduct of, in relation to prisoners, retaliated by Contrecoeur, i. 133; + letter of Washington to, after the battle of the Monongahela, i. 173; + opposed to the command of the Virginia forces being given to + Washington, i. 187; + his recommendation of Washington for promotion, i. 194; + ambiguous orders of, to Washington, i. 217; + letters of Washington to, recommending offensive war on the Ohio, + i. 221, 223; + correspondence of Washington with, in relation to Lord Loudonn, i. 236; + contemptible conduct of, toward Washington, i. 241; + letter of Washington to, in relation to certain slanders, i. 243; + departure of, for England--contrast between his character and that of + Washington--death of, in 1770 (_note_), i. 246. + + "Discourses on Davila," essays published by John Adams, iii. 188. + + Dismal swamp, project of Washington for draining--description of, i. 311; + the "Green sea" of, explored by Washington, i. 312. + + District of Columbia, funds bequeathed by Washington for the endowment of + a university in, iii. 48. + + Districts, military, of Virginia, Washington in charge of one in 1751, + i. 61. + + Disunion, threatened in Virginia, in case Jay's treaty should be + ratified, iii. 355. + + Divine service, Washington a regular attendant upon, i. 337. + + Documents, public, careful examination of, by Washington, iii. 114. + + Donaldson, Mr., treaty with Algiers signed by, in 1795, iii. 380. + + Donop, Count, mortally wounded in an attack upon Fort Mercer, ii. 560. + + Donville, sent toward Fort Cumberland with a party of Indians--humane + instructions of Dumas to--defeat of, by a Virginian named Paris--death + of--scalp of, sent to Washington, and by him forwarded to Governor + Dinwiddie, i. 209. + + Dorchester Heights, proposed to be taken possession of and fortified, + ii. 54; + preparations for the attempt upon, ii. 60, 61; + taken possession of, at night, by General Thomas--lines of fortification + upon, drawn by Gridley, ii. 64; + alarm of Howe on seeing the American fortifications on--reinforcements + taken to, by Washington, in anticipation of an attack by Earl Percy, + ii. 65; + fortifications upon, strengthened by Washington, ii. 66; + British attack upon, prevented by a tempest, ii. 67. + + Dorchester Neck, houses on, destroyed by order of General Howe, ii. 59; + cannonade upon Boston from, ii. 69. + + Dress of Washington when president, iii. 589, 600, 603. + + Drucour, Chevalier de, the defender of Louisburg, i. 261. + + Drummond, Lord, flag of truce borne by--account of the previous movements + of, ii. 257; + parole of honor violated by--reproof administered to, by Washington, + ii. 258; + rumors respecting the mission of--subsequent acquaintance of, with + General Lee (_note_), ii. 259. + + Duche, Reverend Jacob, invited to read prayers in the continental + Congress, i. 428, 528; + psalm read by, and prayer of, i. 429; + sermon preached by, on the fast-day, in Christ church, Philadelphia, + before the continental Congress--extract from the sermon of, preached + before Congress (_note_)--tory party subsequently joined by (_note_), + i. 609; + republicanism abjured by (_note_), ii. 564; + letter of, to Washington, advising his abandonment of the Revolution + (_note_)--death of, in Philadelphia, in 1794 (_note_), ii. 565. + + Duer, President, incident related by, in connection with the retirement + of Washington from office, iii. 475. + + Dumas, General, pamphlet written by, on the military and political + situation of France, iii. 499; + letter of, to Washington, iii. 500. + + Dumas, M., letter of Franklin to, requesting him to become a diplomatic + agent--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 124. + + Dumas, successor of Contrecoeur at Fort Duquesne--humane instructions of, + to Donville, i. 209. + + Dunbar, Colonel, cowardly conduct of, after Braddock's defeat, + i. 171, 172; + remark of Franklin on the retreat of, i. 172. + + Dunmore, earl of, successor of Lord Botetourt as governor of + Virginia--dislike of the people of Virginia for, i. 374; + unsuited for his position as governor, i. 375; + friendly relations of, with Washington, i. 375, 395; + claims of the soldiers to bounty-lands urged on, by Washington, i. 375; + assembly of Virginia dissolved by, i. 383, 392; + court circle of, at Williamsburg, i. 391; + ball in honor of the wife of, attended by Washington, i. 394; + training of the independent companies in Virginia warmly commended by, + i. 471; + expedition of, against the Indians on the Scioto, in 1774, i. 472; + willingness of, to make peace, i. 473; + suspicions excited against, by his conduct of the campaign, i. 474; + powder of the province seized by, i. 517; + flight of, from Williamsburg, i. 520; + enmity of, toward the colonists, ii. 21; + defeat of the forces sent by, to destroy Hampton, ii. 22; + freedom proclaimed by, to slaves--republican printing-press, stolen by, + from Norfolk, ii. 23; + defeat of, by the Virginians, near Norfolk, ii. 24; + Norfolk laid in ashes by, ii. 25; + atrocious plans of, discovered by means of an intercepted letter, + ii. 26; + cruelties of, on the coasts of the southern states, ii. 108; + movements of, on the Elizabeth river, ii. 109; + ravages of, ii. 109, 110; + driven from Gwyn's island by General Andrew Lewis--Mount Vernon + threatened by--slaves kidnapped by, from Virginia plantations--final + departure of, from America, ii. 110. + + Duquesne, French and English civilization contrasted by (_note_), i. 72. + + Dwight, Doctor, on the popular feeling with regard to independence + (_note_), ii. 200. + + Dwight, Jasper, severe strictures by, upon Washington's Farewell + Address--extract from a pamphlet by, charging Washington with being a + slaveholder (_note_), iii. 477. + + Dysentery, Washington attacked by, in 1757, i. 245. + + +E. + + _Eagle_, Lord Howe's flag-ship, attempt to destroy (_note_), ii. 285. + + Eastchester, Hessian chasseurs attacked near, by Colonel Hand, ii. 315. + + East India Company, proposition of, to Parliament, in relation to the + tea-tax--brief notice of (_note_), i. 386; + tea from the vessels of, not allowed to be sold, i. 387; + tea of, thrown overboard in Boston harbor--compensation offered to, by + the colonies, for the destruction of their tea, i. 388. + + Easton, Colonel, despatched by Montgomery to the mouth of the Sorel, to + intercept Carleton, i. 699; + capture of Carleton's fleet by, with prisoners and stores--General + Prescott taken prisoner by--escape of Carleton from, to Quebec, + i. 700. + + Echard, Mrs. Susan, interesting record left by, of the scene at the + reading of Washington's Valedictory in 1797, iii. 473. + + Eden, Governor, of Maryland, government of Maryland abdicated + by--treasonable correspondence of, ii. 184. + + Education, early, of Washington, i. 24. + + Education, interest taken by Washington in the cause of, iii. 48. + + Elizabeth river, ravages of Sir George Collier on, ii. 653. + + Elizabethtown Point, reception of Washington at, in 1789, by members of + Congress, iii. 88. + + Ellicott, Andrew, surveys of the federal city made by, iii. 178. + + Embargo laid on British shipping in 1794, iii. 297. + + Enos, Colonel, his desertion of Arnold on the march to Canada, i. 692. + + Episcopacy, proposed by Bute and others to be established in the colonies + (_note_), i. 314. + + Episcopal clergy, generally loyal during the Revolutionary struggle, + i. 463. + + Estate of Washington, portions directed by his will to be sold, iii. 541. + + Etiquette, queries of Washington in relation to, addressed to Adams, Jay, + Hamilton, and Madison, iii. 105. + + Eulogy, anonymous, on the character of Washington, on the back of a + likeness by Sharpless, iii. 582. + + Eutaw Springs, battle at, iii. 3. + + Everett, Mr., remarks of, in relation to Washington's expedition to the + Ohio, i. 92. + + Excise act, passed in 1791, iii. 174, 307; + opposition made to, at Pittsburgh and elsewhere, in 1792, iii. 216; + measures of Washington for the enforcement of, iii. 217; + modification of, in 1792, iii. 309; + resistance to, in western Pennsylvania, iii. 307-320; + further efforts in Congress to amend, iii. 310; + denounced by the Democratic societies--proclamation of Washington in + support of (_note_), iii. 311. + + Executors of the will of Washington, iii. 542. + + +F. + + Fairfax, Bryan, urged by Washington to become a candidate for the + Virginia house of burgesses--much attached to the British government + (_note_), i. 399; + letters of Washington to, urging the uselessness of petitions to the + throne, i. 400, 405, 406; + conservative and timid, i. 400; + letter of, to Washington, in relation to the Revolutionary agitation, + i. 414; + visit of, to Valley Forge--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 603. + + Fairfax county courthouse, resolutions adopted at, by Washington and + others, in 1774, i. 401-405; + resolutions adopted at, readopted at the Williamsburg convention, + i. 406. + + Fairfax, George William, educated in England, i. 49; + Washington's first surveying expedition undertaken in company with, + i. 53; + departure of, for England, to take possession of estates, i. 454. + + Fairfax, Honorable William, father-in-law of Lawrence Washington, i. 43; + biographical notice of (_note_), i. 49. + + Fairfax, Mrs., letter of Washington to, from Mount Vernon, in 1798, + iii. 489. + + Fairfax, Thomas, the sixth lord, antiquity of the family of--brief + biographical notice of, i. 47; + personal appearance of, i. 48; + splendid fortune and large estates of, i. 48, 52, 220; + liberality and mode of living of, i. 49; + young Washington his companion in hunting, i. 50; + regard of, for young Washington, i. 51; + a contributor to the _Spectator_ (_note_), i. 220. + + Fairfax, Thomas, the tenth lord, at Woodburne, Maryland, in 1855 (_note_), + i. 49. + + Falls of the Potomac, hurt received by Washington at, iii. 303. + + Falmouth, bombarded and burnt by a squadron under Lieutenant Mowatt, + i. 733; + conduct of Mowatt at, disapproved of by the British ministry, i. 734. + + Farewell Address, Washington's, iii 427; + authorship of, according to Horace Binney (_note_), iii. 434; + sensation produced by, iii. 449; + strictures upon, by Jasper Dwight, of Vermont, iii. 477. + + Farewell dinner of Washington on the eve of his retirement from office, + iii. 471. + + Farms of Washington, admirably managed by him, iii. 586. + + Farnum, Jonathan, body of Doctor Warren identified by, i. 572. + + Fauchet, M., appointed by the French government to succeed + Genet--intercepted papers written by, placed in the hands of + Washington--suspicion thrown on the integrity of Randolph by the + papers of (_note_), iii. 361; + a mercenary spirit charged upon Americans by, iii. 362. + + Fauquier, Governor, arrival of, from England, i. 258; + letter of Washington to, in relation to the abandonment of Fort + Duquesne, i. 285; + Washington resigns his commission to, after the capture of Fort + Duquesne, i. 286; + opposed to the stamp-act--adverse to a colonial Congress, i. 331. + + Febiger, at the battle of Breed's hill, i. 568; + with Arnold at Quebec, i. 697. + + _Federal_ and _Republican_ parties, origin of, iii. 151. + + _Federalist_, a series of essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, iii. 77; + Washington's opinion respecting (_note_), iii. 78. + + _Federalists_, Hamilton their leader, iii. 188. + + Ferguson, Captain Patrick, party of infantry under Count Pulaski surprised + by--expedition of, against Little Egg Harbor, ii. 643; + dependence placed upon, by Cornwallis--body of tories raised by, in aid + of Cornwallis--encampment of, at King's mountain, ii. 702; + defeat and death of, at King's mountain, ii. 703. + + Field-sports, fondness of Washington for, iii. 584. + + Finances, deplorable state of, in 1789, iii. 100. + + Flatbush, halt of the British at, on the way to Brooklyn, ii. 264. + + Fleury, Louis, a captain in the continental army, ii. 497; + bravery displayed by, at the battle of the Brandywine, ii. 510. + + Folsom, Nathan, commander of New-Hampshire forces, i. 515. + + Fontanes, Louis de, funeral oration pronounced by, in Paris, in honor of + Washington, iii. 570. + + Forbes, General, appointed by Pitt to command the expedition against Fort + Duquesne in 1758, i. 253; + an early commencement of the campaign urged upon, by Washington-- + excessive caution of, i. 256; + advice of Washington to, in relation to military movements, i. 271; + anecdote of Indians in connection with the sickness of (_note_)--respect + of, for the opinions of Washington, i. 279; + sickness and weariness of, on his approach to Fort Duquesne, i. 282; + death of, in Philadelphia (_note_), i. 285. + + Forbes, the gunsmith, disclosures made by, of a tory conspiracy, ii. 175. + + Forster, Captain, surrender of the fort at the Cedars to, ii. 149. + + Fort Anne, retreat of the Americans from, to Fort Edward, ii. 467. + + Fort Constitution, General Greene left in command of, ii. 314. + + Fort Cumberland, Washington ordered to, i. 125, 224; + Donville sent toward, i. 209; + Virginia troops assembled at, i. 269; + letter of Washington from, to Colonel Boquet, in relation to regimental + clothing, i. 270; + a rendezvous of troops sent against the Whiskey Insurrection in 1794, + iii. 318. + + Fort Duquesne, effect at, of the news of Jumonville's death, i. 113; + expedition against, proposed by Braddock, i. 141; + history of Braddock's expedition against, i. 141-171; + M. Dumas, successor of Contrecoeur at, i. 209; + General Forbes appointed to command the expedition against, in 1758, + i. 253; + new road to, from Raystown, decided upon by General Forbes, i. 271; + Washington in favor of Braddock's road to, i. 273; + delays in the expedition against, i. 274, 279, 281; + effect in the camp at, of the news of the victory at Louisburg, i. 275; + Major Grant sent by Colonel Boquet to reconnoitre--sortie from, upon + Grant's Highlanders, i. 280; + admirable conduct at, of the Virginians under Captain Bullitt, i. 281; + French at, deserted by the Indians--reward offered by General Forbes for + a deserter from--British flag planted on the smoking ruins of, by + Washington, on the 25th of November, 1758, i. 283; + name of changed to Fort Pitt--Pittsburgh now stands upon the site of, + i. 284. + + Fort Edward, cowardice of General Webb at, i. 250; + approach of Burgoyne to, ii. 480. + + Fort Frontenac, expedition undertaken against, by Colonel + Bradstreet--description of, i. 267; + surrender and demolition of--important influence of the surrender of, + i. 268. + + Fort Galpin, capture of, by Lee, iii. 2. + + Fort George, at Coram, Long Island, surprised by Major Tallmadge, ii. 701. + + Fort George, in New York, cannon removed from, by Captain Lamb, ii. 129. + + Fort George, on Lake George, erected by Abercrombie in 1758, ii. 266; + letter of Washington to Schuyler, in relation to the abandonment of + (_note_), ii. 470. + + Fort Griswold, massacre at, ii. 727. + + Fort Independence, opposite Ticonderoga, constructed by the advice of + Colonel John Trumbull (_note_), ii. 252, 254. + + Fort Independence, near Kingsbridge, disregard of the garrison of, of + Heath's summons to surrender, ii. 399. + + Fort Johnson, near Charleston, republican flag raised on, the first in + the South--description of the flag raised on (_note_), ii. 186. + + Fort Johnston taken possession of, by militia-men under Colonel John + Ashe, ii. 113. + + Fort Le Boeuf, Washington at, in 1753, i. 83. + + Fort Lee, evacuation of, ordered by Washington--landing of Cornwallis + near, ii. 337; + precipitate flight of the Americans from, ii. 338. + + Fort Loudoun, erected by Washington at Winchester, in 1756, i. 214. + + Fort Mercer, attack upon, by Hessians under Count Donop--gallant defence + of, by Colonel Greene--Count Donop mortally wounded in the attack + upon, ii. 560; + ineffectual attempt of General Greene to relieve, ii. 562. + + Fort Mifflin, British attack upon, ii. 561; + escape of the garrison of, to Fort Mercer, ii. 562. + + Fort Montgomery, completion of the obstructions at, recommended by Greene, + Knox, and others, ii. 442; + vessels at, abandoned and burned by the republicans, ii. 545; + obstructions at, destroyed by the British fleet, ii. 546. + + Fort Moultrie, formerly called Fort Sullivan, ii. 196. + + Fort Necessity, letters of Washington from, to Governor Dinwiddie, i. 110; + Queen Aliquippa at, i. 113; + military road prepared near, by Washington, i. 116; + Washington determines to await the approach of De Villiers at, i. 118; + strengthened by Captain Robert Stobo--deserted by the Indians on the + approach of the French, i. 120; + great caution of the French in attacking--capitulation of Washington + at, i. 121; + terms of capitulation at, supposed to have been intentionally + mistranslated by Van Braam, i. 122; + abandoned by Washington on the 4th of July, 1754, i. 123. + + Fort Niagara, expedition against, in 1759, under Prideaux and + Johnson--death of Prideaux before, i. 290; + skill and courage displayed by Sir William Johnson at the siege + of--defeat of French and Indians near--capitulation of, to Sir William + Johnson--garrison of, sent prisoners to New York, i. 291. + + Fort Pitt, a portion of Washington's command left at, in 1758, in + garrison, i. 284; + besieged by Shingis in 1763, i. 320; + visit of Washington to, in 1770, on his way to the Ohio country--White + Mingo and George Croghan met by Washington at, i. 358. + + Fort Putnam, Long Island, conflict witnessed by Washington from, ii. 273. + + Fort Recovery, built by General Wayne in 1793, iii. 328. + + Fort Schuyler, invested by St. Leger with a body of tories and Indians, + ii. 484. + + Fort Sullivan, erected by Colonel Moultrie, ii. 187; + attack made upon, by a British fleet, ii. 190; + the attack upon, as described by a British writer, ii. 192; + deficient supply of ammunition in--great loss of life in the British + ships engaged in the attack upon, ii. 193; + name of, changed to Fort Moultrie, ii. 196; + great importance of the American victory at, ii. 197. + + Fort Washington, Washington against attempting its defence, ii 330; + surrender of, to General Howe--comparative loss of British and Americans + at, ii. 331; + attack upon, proposed by Lafayette, ii. 701. + + Fort William Henry, besieged by Montcalm in 1757--brave defence of, by + Colonel George Monro, i. 250; + massacre at, by Montcalm's Indians (_note_)--total demolition of, by + Montcalm, i. 251. + + Forts, western, refusal of the British to give up according to the treaty + of 1783, iii. 99. + + Fosdyke, Captain, attempt of, to destroy the _Rose_ and _Phoenix_, + ii. 238. + + Fox, Charles James, his commendation of American resistance, i. 339; + remarks of, on the character of Washington (_note_), iii. 290. + + Fox-hunting at Mount Vernon, i. 309. + + Frame of Washington, iii. 594. + + France, designs of, against the English colonies, i. 65; + war declared against, by England, in 1756, i. 228; + sentiments of, toward England and the colonies, ii. 121; + communication made by a secret agent of, to Jay, Franklin, and + Jefferson--letter of Captain William Hull, in relation to secret agents + of (_note_), ii. 123; + arms and ammunition furnished by, in aid of the Americans, ii. 444; + selfish policy of the government of, toward England and America, + ii. 541; + fete in the camp at Valley Forge, in celebration of the treaty with, + ii. 611; + danger of relaxation of American efforts, on the conclusion of the + treaty with, ii. 612; + the alliance with, a source of uneasiness to Washington, ii. 646; + commercial advantages sought by, in 1789, iii. 115; + disappointment caused to Lafayette by the course of the Revolution in, + iii. 184; + progress of the Revolution in, 184-187; + nearly all Europe in arms against, in 1792--sympathy in the United + States for the people of, iii. 220, 249, 273; + thoughts of wise men respecting the Revolution in, iii. 220; + disgust of Washington at the bloody character assumed by the Revolution + in, iii. 221; + gloomy accounts of the Revolution in, written by Gouverneur Morris, from + Paris, iii. 223; + efforts of Lafayette for the preservation of order in, iii. 224; + influence of the Revolution in, on American politics, iii. 236; + war declared by, against England, in 1793--king of, put to death by the + National Convention, iii. 236; + enthusiasm in favor of, in the United States, in 1793--possessions of, + in America, guarantied by the treaty of 1778, iii. 237; + little confidence of Washington in the government of, iii. 239; + cabinet meeting held by Washington to consider relations with, iii. 240; + British orders in council in relation to the colonial trade of, + iii. 296; + toasts given at a civic feast in Philadelphia to celebrate the victories + of (_note_), iii. 348; + a constitution established in, in 1795 (_note_), iii. 386; + pen-picture of the Convention of (_note_), iii. 387; + action of Congress on the presentation of colors of, by Adet, iii. 388; + annoyance of the government of, at the execution of Jay's treaty, + iii. 442; + Charles Cotesworth Pinckney appointed minister to, in 1796, iii. 443; + depredations committed by the cruisers of, on American commerce, iii. + 466, 492, 505; + war with, threatened in 1798, iii. 490; + address of the Directory of, to Monroe, on receiving his letters of + recall, iii. 493; + Mr. Pinckney notified to leave--designs of the government of, toward the + United States, iii. 494; + change in public opinion in regard to, iii. 495; + three special envoys sent to, in 1798, iii. 496; + attempts of the government of, to extort money from American envoys, + iii. 501; + loan and bribe sought by the Directory of, iii. 502; + indignation of the American people excited against--conduct of, + justified by the _Aurora_, iii. 505; + sustained by public sentiment in the southern states, iii. 507; + disbelief of Washington in the probability of war with, iii. 508, 510, + 526, 527; + actual existence of war with, in 1799, iii. 529; + new mission to, deprecated by the friends of Adams--termination of the + difficulties with, iii. 530. + + Francis, Doctor, reminiscences of, in relation to the arrival of Genet, + iii. 248, 249. + + Franklin, Benjamin, his plan of union of the colonies, i. 127; + his opinion of the colonial governors--on the progress of the + colonies--on the proprietaries of Pennsylvania, i. 144; + in the camp of Braddock--conversation of, with Braddock, i. 148; + urged by Braddock to procure wagons for the use of the army, i. 149; + provisions obtained through the efforts of, for the regiments of + Dunbar and Halket--first meeting of, with Washington, at + Fredericktown, in 1755--highly spoken of, by Braddock, in his + despatches, i. 150; + his little confidence in Braddock's success, i. 165; + remark of, on Dunbar's retreat, after the defeat of Braddock, i. 172; + short military career of (_note_), i. 225; + Washington welcomed to Philadelphia by, in 1757, i. 239; + efforts of, in London, in opposition to the stamp-act, i. 324; + letter of, to Charles Thomson, in relation to the stamp-act, i. 325; + examination of, before a committee of Parliament, i. 334; + opinion of, as to the tea-tax, i. 369; + duplicity of Governor Hutchinson exposed by, i. 385; + insulted by Solicitor-General Wedderburne (_note_)--office of + postmaster-general of the colonies taken from (_note_), i. 386; + general congress proposed by, i. 390, 392; + activity of, in circulating the state papers of the continental + Congress, i. 485; + introduced by Lord Chatham into the house of lords, i. 488; + remark of, in relation to a speech of Lord Chatham's--compliment paid + to, by Lord Chatham, in the house of lords (_note_), i. 492; + interviews of, with Admiral Howe and Miss Howe (_note_), i. 498; + letters of, to Mr. Strahan and Doctor Priestley (_note_), i. 605; + placed by the second continental Congress at the head of the post-office + department--post-office account-book of, still preserved (_note_), + i. 612; + letter of, to Doctor Priestley, on the progress of British arms in + America, i. 641; + on the committee appointed by Congress to visit the camp at Cambridge, + i. 729; + balance of salary paid to, by Massachusetts, for services as colonial + agent--money sent from England by the hands of, for the sufferers at + Lexington, i. 737; + at the head of a commission appointed to form a union with Canada, + ii. 144; + return of, from Canada, in company with the Reverend John Carroll, + ii. 146; + treaty of peace signed by, in 1782, iii. 15; + meeting of Washington with, in 1785, iii. 62. + + Fraser, General, mortally wounded at the second battle near Bemis's + Heights, on the 7th of October, 1777, ii. 532; + funeral of, at twilight, ii. 533. + + Fraunces, Samuel, Washington's steward in New York, in 1789, + iii. 112, 587; + anecdote of (_note_), iii. 169, 587. + + Fraunces's Tavern, parting of Washington and his officers at, in New York, + iii. 33. + + Frazier, trading-house of, on the Monongahela, i. 77, 91. + + Frederick the Great, contempt of, for the German mercenaries, ii. 10; + his opinion of Washington's achievements in the Jerseys (_note_), + ii. 394; + his appreciation of Washington as a general, iii. 580. + + Fredericksburg (Patterson), camp of Washington at, ii. 642. + + Fredericktown, Washington and Franklin meet at, for the first time, in + 1756, i. 150. + + Freemasons, desirous of being present at the funeral of Washington, + iii. 538. + + French and Indian War, cost of, to the colonies, i. 316. + + French officers, blank commissions for, sent to Washington by Congress, + ii. 446. + + Freneau, Philip, editor of the _National Gazette_ in 1791, iii. 197; + Jefferson's own account of his connection with the journal of, iii. 215; + Washington annoyed by the attacks of, iii. 253; + good done by the paper of, according to Jefferson--remarks of Irving + respecting Jefferson's support of, iii. 254; + Washington's opinion of the journal of, iii. 268. + + Frestel, M., arrival of, in the United States, with young Lafayette, in + 1795, iii. 373; + letter of Washington to, in relation to young Lafayette, iii. 375; + encomium bestowed upon, by Washington, iii. 377; + with young Lafayette at Mount Vernon in 1797, iii. 479. + + Fry, Colonel Joshua, commander of the troops destined for the Ohio in + 1754--Washington his second in command, i. 96; + sudden death of, i. 113; + biographical notice of (_note_), i. 114. + + Funeral honors paid by Congress to the memory of Washington, iii. 563. + + "_Funeral of George Washington_," a pasquinade, introduced by Knox + at a cabinet council, iii. 269. + + Funeral of Washington, iii. 558; + order of the procession at, iii. 559. + + Funeral orations at the death of Washington, iii. 566, 570. + + +G. + + Gadsden, Colonel Christopher, control of troops in Charleston assumed by, + ii. 187; + confinement of, in the castle of St. Augustine, ii. 673; + hostility of, to Jay's treaty, iii. 354. + + Gage, Colonel Thomas (afterward General), with Braddock in his expedition + against Fort Duquesne, i. 152; + friendly letter of, to Washington, i. 197; + troops of, brought into Boston, to awe the inhabitants, i. 345; + governor of Massachusetts in 1774, i. 396; + received in Boston with respect, i. 397; + contest of, with the Massachusetts assembly--fortifications built by, + on Boston Neck, i. 398; + instructions of Lord Dartmouth to, as to his conduct in Massachusetts, + i. 415; + fruitless attempts of, to prevent political assemblages, i. 416; + letter of Doctor Warren to, in relation to an agreement violated by him, + i. 514; + martial law declared by, i. 552; + Charlestown set on fire by order of, i. 565; + anxiety of, to escape to New York, i. 627; + had been a personal friend of Washington, i. 630; + letters of Washington to, in relation to his treatment of prisoners, + i. 631, 683; + verses on the cattle-stealing of, i. 638; + summoned to England by the king--biographical notice of (_note_), + i. 730. + + Gallatin, Albert, secretary of a convention in opposition to the excise + laws in 1794, iii. 316; + resolution of Edward Livingston, demanding papers relating to Jay's + treaty, sustained by, iii. 392; + conspicuous part taken by, in the debates on Jay's treaty, iii. 401; + remarks of Hildreth on the speech of--replied to, by Tracy, of + Connecticut, iii. 404; + regard of Jefferson for, iii. 417. + + Galloway, Joseph, dangerous plan of union of, i. 435; + plan of union of, opposed by Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams, i. 437; + plan of, rejected by a majority of one, i. 438; + subsequently a violent loyalist (_note_), i. 445; + agents of, hanged as spies and traitors, i. 462. + + Gardner, Colonel, death of, while marching to the help of Prescott, at + Breed's hill, i. 568. + + _Gaspe_, account of the burning of the, i. 381. + + Gates, Captain Horatio (afterward General), with Braddock in his + expedition against Fort Duquesne, i. 152; + chosen by Congress adjutant-general--biographical notice of, i. 546; + at the camp at Cambridge, i. 587; + appointed by Congress to the command of the army in Canada, + ii. 153, 246; + sent to Philadelphia by Washington, to confer with Congress, ii. 156; + appointed major-general by Congress, ii. 157; + ambitious character of, ii. 245, 367, 420; + insinuations of, calculated to injure Schuyler, ii. 249; + extraordinary powers granted to, by Congress--unpleasant feelings + produced in the army by the unusual powers granted to (_note_), + ii. 246; + surprise of Schuyler at the conduct of--duplicity of, ii. 247, 420; + letter of Schuyler to Washington in relation to the claims of, ii. 248; + letter of, to Washington, in relation to the abandonment of Crown Point, + ii. 253; + order and discipline restored by, to the army of the North, ii. 254; + appointed by Congress to the command of the army at Ticonderoga, + ii. 420; + slanders of Schuyler written by--impertinent letter written by, to + Washington, ii. 423; + refusal of, to act under Schuyler--admitted to the floor of Congress + through the instrumentality of Roger Sherman, ii. 424; + machinations of, against Schuyler, ii. 477; + chosen by Congress to command the northern army, ii. 479; + literary vanity of (_note_), ii. 483; + military movements of, criticised by John Adams, ii. 516; + courteous reception of, by Schuyler, ii. 520; + estimate of the character of, by Gouverneur Morris, ii. 521; + force and position of the army of, at Bemis's Heights, ii. 523; + jealousy of, greatly excited against Arnold, ii. 526; + inactivity of, until after the capture of the Hudson highlands, ii. 528; + letter of Washington to, requesting the aid of Morgan's corps, ii. 549; + desire of, to see Washington entirely defeated, ii. 550; + conspiracy in Congress and the army to elevate, over Washington, + ii. 564; + correspondence of, with Washington, in relation to a letter of Conway, + ii. 582; + challenge sent to, by Wilkinson (_note_),--placed at the head of a new + board of war, ii. 584; + intention of the friends of, to have him made + commander-in-chief--expedition against Canada planned by, to detach + Lafayette from Washington, ii. 585; + appointed by Congress to command the army of the South--prophetic + warning of General Lee to, ii. 681; + great things expected from, in the South, ii. 682; + combined attack of Cornwallis and Rawdon upon--total defeat of, at + Sanders's creek, ii. 683; + letter of, to Washington, after his defeat, ii. 684; + inquiry into the conduct of, at Camden, ii. 698; + meeting of officers at Newburg presided at by, iii. 18. + + Genealogy of the Washington family, i. 17. + + _General Advertiser_, edited by a grandson of Franklin--action of Genet + supported by, iii. 259. + + Genet, Edmund Charles, arrival of, at Charleston, in 1793--practical + democracy of, iii. 288; + secret reasons of, for landing at Charleston--enthusiastic reception + of, iii. 243; + _letters of marque_ issued by, iii. 244; + reception of, at Philadelphia, iii. 244, 246; + abashed in the presence of Washington, iii. 246; + banquet given in honor of, in Philadelphia--offended at seeing a bust of + Louis XVI. in the house of the president, iii. 247; + Doctor Francis on the reception of, in New York, iii. 248, 249; + complaints of Mr. Hammond of the conduct of--duplicity of, iii. 252; + Jefferson's opinion of the mission of, iii. 253; + letter of, to Jefferson, announcing his mission, iii. 254; + propositions of, not received with favor by the United States + government, iii. 255; + letter of, to the secretary of state, in relation to privateers, + iii. 258; + privateer fitted out by, ordered to leave American waters, iii. 259; + letter of, to Jefferson, in relation to the arrest of American citizens + on board the _Citizen Genet_, iii. 260; + appeal of, from the president to the people--letter of, to Jefferson, on + neutrality, iii. 261; + party contentions respecting the claims of, iii. 262; + outrageous conduct of, with regard to _Le Petit Democrat_-- + misapprehensions of, corrected by Jefferson, iii. 265; + government determines to request the recall of--irritation of Washington + at the idea of a contest with, iii. 269; + required to give up all vessels captured by his privateers, iii. 270; + popularity of, in the Southwest, iii. 274; + visit of, to New York, iii. 276; + angry letter written by, to Jefferson, iii. 278; + Jefferson disgusted with, iii. 279; + revulsion of public feeling with regard to, iii. 280; + rebuke administered to, by Jefferson--Washington's course in relation + to, approved by Congress, iii. 287; + recalled by the government of France--M. Fauchet appointed to succeed, + iii. 295; + marriage of, to the daughter of Governor Clinton--death of, at + Greenbush, in 1834, iii. 296. + + _Gentlemen Associators_, inactivity of, i. 213, 251, 220. + + George II., biographical notice of (_note_), i. 314. + + George III., determination of, to bring the colonies into unconditional + submission, i. 485; + caricature of, published in England, i. 486; + speech of, at the opening of Parliament in 1776, ii. 2; + electoral troops of (_note_), ii. 4; + goodness of heart of, ii. 10; + leaden statue of, in New York, converted into bullets, ii. 214; + portrait of, in Nassau Hall, Princeton, injured by a cannon-shot + (_note_), ii. 389; + conversation of Jay with, in 1795, iii. 338; + ratification of Jay's treaty by, in 1790, iii. 390. + + Georgia, colony of, planted in the year of Washington's birth, i. 17; + personal description of representatives from, in the continental + Congress, in 1775 (_note_), i. 727; + invasion of, by Colonel Campbell--General Robert Howe, in command of the + Americans in--command of the royal forces in, taken by General + Prevost, ii. 650. + + Germain, Lord George, his approbation of General Howe's abandonment of + Boston, ii. 86, 89. + + German mercenaries, high price paid for, by the British government, ii. 6; + employment of, condemned in the house of commons, ii. 7; + departure of, from England, for the St. Lawrence, ii. 89. + + Germantown, army of Washington encamped at, ii. 489; + retreat of Washington to, after the battle of the Brandy wine--thirty + hogsheads of rum sent to the troops at, by order of Congress, ii. 511; + account of the battle at, ii. 552-557; + the delay at Chew's house the cause of the loss of the battle of, + ii. 554; + retreat of the American army at, covered by General Greene--comparative + losses of the British and Americans at, ii. 556; + the British almost defeated at, ii. 557; + impression produced in Europe by the battle at, ii. 559; + proposed assemblage of Congress at, in 1793, iii. 282; + family of Washington at, in 1794, iii. 333. + + Gerry, Elbridge, special envoy to France in 1798, iii. 496; + detention of, in France, by a threat of Talleyrand, iii. 504. + + Gibbon, the historian, doubts of, as to British success in + America--political character of (_note_), i. 495. + + Giles, Mr., motion of, in Congress, to expunge certain language + complimentary to Washington, iii. 460; + motion of, sustained by Andrew Jackson, iii. 461. + + Gist, Christopher, employed by the Ohio Company, in 1750, to explore + their lands, i. 71; + Washington's guide in his Ohio expedition, i. 76; + his narrative of adventures in company with Washington, i. 88; + guide of General Braddock, i. 161. + + Glover, Colonel, evacuation of New York by patriot troops commenced under + the superintendence of, ii. 294; + troops ferried over the Delaware by, ii. 370, 371. + + Gordon, Doctor, letter of Washington to, denying any intention to resign + the command of the army (_note_), ii. 588; + letter of Washington to, from Mount Vernon, in 1798, iii. 488. + + Goshen meeting-house, retreat of Washington from, ii. 513. + + Governors, colonial, meeting of, at New York, i. 201. + + Governor's Island, taken possession of, by a body of continentals, ii. 84. + + Grafton, duke of, advice given to the king by, ii. 5. + + Graham, Catharine Macaulay, visit of, to Mount Vernon, iii. 48; + letter of Washington to, on the formation of the Federal Constitution, + iii. 75. + + Grahame, Doctor, on the character of Washington, i. 346, 536. + + _Grange_, the, a British vessel, captured by _L'Embuscade_, iii. 245; + complaints of Mr. Hammond respecting the capture of, iii. 252; + restoration of, determined on by the American government, iii. 256. + + Grant, Colonel (afterward General), Cherokees subdued by, in 1701, i. 302; + at the battle of Long Island, ii. 266, 271; + foolish boast of, in the house of commons, heard by Lord Stirling + (_note_), ii. 266. + + Grattan, the champion of civil and religious freedom, i. 370. + + Graves, Admiral, arrival of, at New York, ii. 680; + attacked by De Grasse off the capes of Virginia, ii. 730. + + Gray's ferry, triumphal arches reared at, in honor of Washington, in 1789, + iii. 86. + + Great Britain, suspected policy of, in relation to the American colonies, + i. 67; + address of the second continental Congress to the people of, i. 606; + unsettled relations with, in 1793, iii. 271; + treatment of neutral shipping by, in 1793--services of British-born + seamen claimed by, iii. 272; + western posts retained by--irritation of the American people against, + in 1793--judicial decision respecting debts due to merchants of, + before the Revolution, iii. 273; + war with, imminent in 1793-'4, iii. 283, 297; + discriminating duties as against, recommended by Jefferson, iii. 287; + subjects in dispute with, in 1795, iii. 336. + + Great Kenawha, voyage of Washington down the Ohio to the mouth of, in + 1770, i. 359; + ascended by Washington fourteen miles--Indian met with at, who had fired + at Washington fifteen times, i. 360; + night-attack upon Colonel Lewis at, i. 473; + tour of Washington to visit, in 1784, iii. 42. + + Great Meadows, Washington at, i. 104; + Fort Necessity erected at, i. 109; + rumored approach of De Villiers toward, with twelve hundred men, i. 117; + inactivity of South-Carolinians at, i. 118, 119; + Washington's comments on De Villiers's account of the affair at + (_note_), i. 122; + killed and wounded at, i. 123; + Washington's conduct at, approved by the governor and council, i. 124. + + Greaton, Captain, forage belonging to the British destroyed by, i. 617. + + Greenburg hills, encampment of the allied armies among, ii. 723. + + Greene, Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher, with Arnold in his expedition + against Quebec, i. 683, 697; + murder of, ii. 721. + + Greene, Nathanael, services of, in the field, commenced after the battle + of Lexington, i. 513; + appointed brigadier-general in the continental army, i. 548; + address made by, to Washington, welcoming him to the camp at Cambridge, + i. 615; + conduct of the New England troops defended by, i. 758; + defensive works prepared by, at Brooklyn, ii. 171; + sickness of, when the British landed on Long Island, ii. 264; + urgency of, for the destruction of New York, ii. 287; + tour of inspection of, to the forts on the Hudson Highlands, ii. 441; + skilful movement of, at the battle of the Brandywine, ii. 507; + retreat of the American army at Germantown covered by, ii. 556; + important service rendered by, to the army at Valley Forge, as + quartermaster, ii. 599; + chosen to supersede Gates in command of the southern forces, ii. 698; + arrival of, at Charlotte, ii. 699; + confidence inspired among the southern republicans by the presence of, + ii. 702; + retreat of, from the Catawba to Virginia, followed by Cornwallis--return + of, to North Carolina, ii. 716; + repulse of, by Cornwallis, at Guilford courthouse--surprise and defeat + of, by Lord Rawdon, at Hobkirk's hill, ii. 719; + siege of Ninety-Six by, iii. 2; + letters of Washington to, urging the necessity for preparations for a + campaign in 1782, iii. 6; + Charleston taken possession of by, iii. 12. + + Greene, Mrs. General, visit of Washington to, on his southern tour, + iii. 181. + + Green Mountain Boys, recommended by Congress for the invasion of Canada, + i. 653; + Ethan Allen rejected by, i. 658; + insubordination of, i. 669, 670. + + Green, Reverend Ashbel, his personal reminiscences of Washington, + iii. 587. + + Greenway Court, hospitality of Lord Fairfax at, i. 48; + letter of Washington from, at the age of fifteen, i. 49; + library at, accessible to young Washington, i. 57. + + Grenville, George, the stamp-act submitted to the house of commons by, + i. 322; + reply of Pitt to an interrogatory of--christened "the gentle shepherd," + i. 324. + + Grey, General, party of horse under Colonel Baylor surprised by, ii. 643. + + Gridley, Captain Samuel, inefficiency of (_note_), i. 562. + + Gridley, Colonel, good discipline of his corps of artillery, i. 553; + lines of the intrenchments on Breed's hill drawn by, at night, i. 557; + wounded at Breed's hill, i. 569; + lines of fortification upon Dorchester Heights drawn by, ii. 64. + + Grier, Mrs., fortitude displayed by, while accompanying Arnold's Quebec + expedition, i. 693. + + Griffiths, David, warning of Lee's treachery at Monmouth given by, on the + eve of the battle, ii. 623. + + Grimes, Miss, afterward Mrs. Lee, supposed youthful passion of Washington + for, i. 47. + + Guilford courthouse, battle of, ii. 717. + + Guizot, encomium pronounced by, upon the character of Washington, + iii. 580. + + Gulligher, Mr., one sitting given to, by Washington, at Portsmouth, in + 1789, iii. 133. + + Gunpowder, Gage's seizure of, at Cambridge, i. 426. + + +H. + + Habits of Washington, iii. 584. + + Hale, Captain Nathan, sent by Washington as a spy to Long Island, + ii. 294; + manner of the death of, ii. 297. + + Hale, Colonel, apology for the surrender of, to an inferior force + (_note_), ii. 466. + + Halifax, General Howe at, ii. 84. + + Halket, Major, letter of Washington to, in relation to the route to Fort + Duquesne, i. 273. + + Halket, Sir Peter, death of, at the battle of the Monongahela, i. 168. + + Hamilton, Alexander, concerned in the seizure of cannon at Fort George, + in New York, ii. 129; + commencement of Washington's acquaintance with (_note_)--high + commendation of, by General Greene, ii. 301; + at the battle of White Plains, ii. 318; + false information put into the hands of a spy, by a trick of (_note_), + ii. 415; + admitted to the military family of Washington at Middlebrook--confidence + of Washington in--Captain Graydon's recollections of, ii. 456; + saved by the speed of his horse--letter of, to Congress, giving warning + of the rapid approach of Howe, ii. 513; + sent to Philadelphia by Washington to procure supplies for the + troops--note of instructions of Washington to, ii. 517; + sent by Washington to Gates for reinforcements--obstructed by Putnam, + ii. 550; + authority assumed by, by the advice of Governor Clinton, ii. 551; + misunderstanding between Washington and (_note_), ii. 712; + _The Continentalist_ written by, iii. 56; + opinions of Washington concurrent with, on the new constitution, + iii. 71; + success of the new constitution argued by, iii. 76; + informal nomination of Washington for the presidency by, iii. 79; + opinions of, with regard to presidential etiquette, iii. 107; + testimony of Robert Morris to the financial ability of--made secretary + of the treasury by Washington, iii. 121; + financial scheme of, presented to Congress in 1790, iii. 140; + discussions caused by the financial report of, iii. 143, 144; + admiration of, for the British constitution, iii. 149; + hostility of Jefferson to, iii. 150, 173, 174, 206, 208; + a national bank advocated by, iii. 171; + at the head of the _Federalists_, iii. 188; + re-election of Washington desired by, iii. 218; + letter of Washington to, in relation to his feud with Jefferson, + iii. 211; + charges brought against, in Congress, in 1792, iii. 282; + falsity of the charges brought against, iii. 232; + remarks of, in relation to the Revolution in France, iii. 250; + intention of, to resign his position in the cabinet, iii. 274; + attacked with yellow fever in 1793, iii. 280; + wish of Washington to send him as envoy extraordinary to + England--nomination of, opposed by Monroe, iii. 298; + letter of, to Washington, nominating Jay as minister to England, + iii. 299; + with the army sent to put down the Whiskey Insurrection, in 1794, + iii. 319; + plan prepared by, for the redemption of the public debt--office resigned + by, in 1795, iii. 329; + succeeded by Oliver Wolcott, iii. 330; + stones thrown at, while addressing a meeting in New York, iii. 352; + Jay's treaty defended by, through the press, iii. 369; + letter of Washington to, giving reasons for not furnishing to Congress + papers relating to Jay's treaty, iii. 394; + suggestions of, used by Washington in the preparation of his Farewell + Address, iii. 426; + letter of, to Washington, in 1798, in relation to the troubles with + France, iii. 506; + willing to accept the office of inspector-general in 1798 (_note_), + iii. 509; + letter of, to Washington, urging his acceptance of the commission of + commander-in-chief, iii. 514; + placed by Washington at the head of his list of generals, in + 1798--Washington's high appreciation of, iii. 517; + conference of, with M'Henry and Pinckney, in relation to the provisional + army in 1798, iii. 525; + executive department of the provisional army left by Washington in the + hands of, iii. 526; + adverse to Adams's hasty sending of envoys to France, iii. 530; + last letter written by Washington addressed to, iii. 549. + + Hamilton, Robert, minute-guns fired from the schooner of, at Washington's + funeral, iii. 559. + + Hammond, Mr., minister plenipotentiary from England to the United States + in 1792, iii. 223; + attention paid to the complaints of, iii. 256; + unsettled relations with England on the arrival of, iii. 271; + intercepted papers of M. Fauchet's placed by, in the hands of Mr. + Wolcott, iii. 362. + + Hampton, unsuccessful attempt of Lord Dunmore to destroy, ii. 22. + + Hancock, John, desire of, to be appointed commander-in-chief, i. 533, 534; + outlawed by General Gage, i. 552; + appointed major-general of Massachusetts militia--desirous of military + distinction (_note_), ii. 60; + the Declaration of Independence first printed with his name + alone--letter of, to Washington, enclosing the Declaration of + Independence, ii. 213; + official pride of, iii. 129; + visit paid by, to Washington, in Boston, iii. 130. + + Handbills, incendiary, dispersed in the British camp at Boston, i. 637. + + Hand, Colonel, Hessian chasseurs attacked by, near Eastchester, ii. 315; + stationed near the present site of Fort Hamilton, with riflemen, + ii. 261; + stacks of wheat and hay burned by--biographical notice of, ii. 262; + march of the British checked by, at Flatbush, ii. 264; + appointed adjutant-general in the force sent against the whiskey + insurgents, in 1794, iii. 315. + + Hands, great size of Washington's, iii. 595. + + Harlem heights, fortified camp of Washington upon, ii. 297; + letters of Washington from, to Congress, on the state of the army, + ii. 301. + + Harlem plains, battle on, ii. 299. + + Harmar, General, expedition of, against Indians on the Scioto, in 1790, + iii. 156; + ill success of the expedition of, in the Ohio country, in 1790, + iii. 166. + + Harrington, Jonathan, fifer of the minute-men at Lexington (_note_), + i. 506. + + Harrison, Benjamin, Washington's journey to the second continental + Congress in company with, i. 528; + his condemnation of the petition of Congress to the king, i. 606; + letter of Washington to, in relation to inland navigation, iii. 44. + + Harrison, Robert H., appointed associate judge of the supreme court in + 1789, iii. 122. + + Hartford, journey of Washington to, to confer with French officers, + ii. 686; + reception of Washington in, in 1789, iii. 126. + + Hartley, David, scheme of, for conciliating the colonies, i. 499. + + Harvard College, degree of Doctor of Laws conferred upon Washington by, + ii. 80; + names attached to the instrument conferring the degree (_note_), + ii. 81. + + Haviland, Colonel, with Amherst at the siege of Montreal, in 1760, i. 301. + + Hawley, Major Joseph, words of, quoted by Patrick Henry (_note_), i. 480. + + Hazelwood, Captain, fire-ships constructed by, on the Hudson, ii. 237. + + Hazlitt's description of Washington's personal appearance, iii. 590. + + Head of Elk, Sir William Howe at, ii. 497; + risk of capture run by Washington at, ii. 498. + + Heath, General, militia under the command of, at the battle of Lexington, + i. 509; + appointed brigadier general in the continental army, i. 548; + brief biographical notice of, i. 549; + despatched with troops for the defence of New York, ii. 82; + dislike of General Lee for, ii. 344, 345; + graphic account written by, of an interview with General Lee (_note_), + ii. 345; + commendation of, by Washington--picture given by, of the destitution of + the American army (_note_), ii. 346; + disregard paid to his summons by the garrison of Fort Independence, + ii. 399; + letter of Washington to, after his retirement to private life, iii. 482. + + Hedges, Solomon, primitive style of living of, i. 54. + + Heights of Abraham, scaled by Arnold at the siege of Quebec, i. 701. + + Hendrik, sachem of the Mohawks, speech of, i. 128. + + Henfield, arrest of, for enlisting on the privateer _Citizen Genet_, + iii. 259; + trial and acquittal of, iii. 267. + + Henry, Judge John Joseph, extract from his narrative relating to Arnold's + Quebec expedition, i. 693. + + Henry, Patrick, resolutions offered by, in the Virginia assembly, in + relation to the stamp-act, i. 327; + Washington present at the debate on the resolutions offered by, i. 329; + the friends of the resolutions of, re-elected, i. 331; + Washington's journey to the first and second continental Congresses in + company with, i. 417, 528; + powerful speech of, at the opening of the first continental Congress, + i. 423; + his opinion of Washington and Rutledge, i. 450; + resolutions offered by, at the second Virginia convention, i. 477; + payment for the powder seized by Lord Dunmore, obtained by, i. 519; + predictions of, on the subject of independence, ii. 200; + letter of Washington to, revealing the weakness of his army, ii. 578; + anonymous letter received by, from the _Conway Cabal_, ii. 587; + adverse to the constitution, iii. 77; + letter of Washington to, in 1795, when offering him the office of + secretary of state, iii. 371; + mission to France declined by, in 1799, iii. 529. + + Herbert, Mr., remarks of, on hunting in America (_note_), i. 50. + + Herrick, Captain, expedition of, against Skenesborough, i. 645. + + Hertburn, William de, of Wessington manor, i. 18. + + Hesse Cassel, landgrave of, mercenaries furnished by, ii. 6. + + Hesse, prince of, mercenaries furnished by, ii. 6. + + Hessians, reliance placed on, by the British ministry, ii. 8; + land offered to such as would leave the British service--resolution of + Congress printed and circulated among, as tobacco papers (_note_), + ii. 260; + kind treatment by Washington of those made prisoners at Trenton, + ii. 377; + brutal conduct of, in New Jersey, ii. 398. + + Hewling, J. M., song written by, ii. 13. + + Hickey, Thomas, arrested on a charge of conspiracy against the life of + Washington, ii. 175; + condemnation and execution of, ii. 176. + + Highlanders, Scotch, loyalty of, ii. 104, 114. + + Highland passes, measures of General George Clinton for the defence of, + ii. 219. + + Highlands of the Hudson, measures taken to repress insurrection in, + ii. 310; + imminent peril of the country below, ii. 311; + measures taken by Washington for the defence of, ii. 323; + impression made upon Washington by the grandeur of their scenery, + ii. 324. + + Hildreth, remarks of, respecting Washington's message to the third + Congress, iii. 285. + + Hinman, Colonel, placed in command of the lake forts by Governor + Trumbull--difficulties of, with Arnold, i. 648; + want of discipline among the troops of, i. 656. + + Hobby, first schoolmaster of Washington, i. 24, 27. + + Hobkirk's hill, defeat of Greene by Lord Rawdon at, ii. 719. + + Holland, noble conduct of the states-general of, ii. 6; + sentiments of, toward England and the colonies, ii. 121; + gunpowder shipped from, to America, in gin-bottles, ii. 122. + + "_Home_," a term used by Washington when speaking of England, as late as + 1769, i. 348. + + Homestead of the Washington family in Virginia, i. 23. + + Hopkins, Commodore Esek, squadron under the command of--his disobedience + of orders, ii. 108; + dismissed from the service, ii. 109. + + Horsemanship of Washington, iii. 596. + + Horses, fine stud kept by Washington, iii. 584. + + Hotham, Commodore, departure of, for America, with Hessians, ii. 90. + + Houdon, the sculptor, at Mount Vernon--the statue of Washington at + Richmond executed by, iii. 50. + + Hounds, kennel of, kept by Washington, iii. 584; + sent by Lafayette to Washington in 1785, iii. 585. + + Howe, Admiral Lord, sent with a fleet to co-operate with General + Howe--unwillingness of, to serve against the Americans, ii. 89; + powers of, as a peace-commissioner, ii. 222; + efforts of, to communicate with Washington--letter of Dennis de Berdt + to Joseph Reed, brought from England by, ii. 223; + refusal of Washington to receive the letter sent by, ii. 225, 227; + "circular" and "declaration" of, directed by Congress to be published, + ii. 228; + terms of reconciliation offered by, such as could not be accepted, + ii. 229; + no part of his design to attack New York with the shipping (_note_), + ii. 267; + committee appointed by Congress to confer with, ii. 290; + account of the conference with, published in England (_note_), + ii. 294; + letter of Franklin to, in relation to the question of reconciliation + (_note_), ii. 292; + in the Delaware with his fleet, ii. 551. + + Howe, Colonel Robert, in command of patriot troops in Norfolk, ii. 24, 25. + + Howe, General Sir William, with Wolfe at the siege of Quebec, i. 293; + address of, to his soldiers, at Breed's hill, i. 563; + disposition of, friendly toward the Americans--friendship between + Franklin and, i. 620; + successor to General Gage, i. 730; + confidence of, in the strength of his position in Boston, ii. 48; + evacuation of Boston by, ii. 68, 85; + departure of, from Boston, hastened by the fear of a general assault, + ii. 71; + intentions and movements concealed by, ii. 81, 143, 256, 427, 473, + 475, 490; + British prisoners and store-ships taken in Boston harbor through the + negligence of, ii. 83; + retirement of, to Halifax, ii. 84: + defence of, in Parliament, by the duke of Manchester, ii. 87; + arrival of, in the harbor of New York, ii. 178; + assistance expected by, from the loyalists, ii. 179; + Colonel Patterson sent to Washington by, with a letter from Lord Howe, + ii. 226; + large and well-appointed army under the command of, at Staten Island, + ii. 240; + proclamation issued by, to the people of Long Island, ii. 266; + misgivings of, as to ultimate success, ii. 300; + humanity of--efforts of, to recruit his army with tories, ii. 309; + advances of, on the East river, ii. 311; + movements of, at White Plains, ii. 316; + houses in New Jersey burned by, ii. 452; + landing of, at the head of Chesapeake bay, ii. 497; + march of, hindered by the want of horses and wagons--proclamation + issued by, ii. 499; + dilatoriness of--humanity of (_note_), ii. 512; + marching and counter-marching of, along the Schuylkill, ii. 515; + march of, upon Philadelphia, ii. 516; + supplies from the country cut off from, ii. 597; + resignation of, accepted by the British ministry--Sir Henry Clinton the + successor of--fete at Philadelphia, in honor of, on his departure, + ii. 614. + + Howe, Lord Edward, in the expedition against Ticonderoga, under General + Abercrombie, i. 262; + death of--money appropriated in Massachusetts for a monument to, in + Westminster Abbey, i. 264. + + Howe, Richard and William, commissioners for restoring peace to the + colonies, ii. 90. + + Howell, David, appointed commissioner for ascertaining the true river + St. Croix, iii. 423. + + Howell, Governor, third in command in the force sent to put down the + Whiskey Insurrection in 1794, iii. 315. + + Hubbardton, battle at, ii. 466; + Major Ackland wounded at, ii. 467. + + Huddy, Captain, hanged by loyalists under Captain Lippincott, iii. 13. + + Hudson Highlands, account of the capture of, by Sir Henry Clinton, + ii. 542-545. + + Hudson's river, commencement of fortifications on, ii. 126, 127; + measures of General Howe for taking possession of, ii. 218; + vessels sent up, by General Howe, anchored in Tappaan sea, ii. 221; + movements of the _Rose_ and _Phoenix_ on, ii. 235; + obstructions placed in, ii. 237, 440; + attempt of Captains Fosdyke and Thomas to destroy the _Rose_ and + _Phoenix_, ii. 238; + property destroyed on, by British vessels-of-war, ii. 547. + + Huguenot settlers, descendants of, on the side of the patriots in the + Revolutionary struggle, i. 464. + + Humphreys, Colonel, subject of presidential etiquette intrusted to, + iii. 109; + letter of Washington to, after his southern tour, in 1791, iii. 182; + letter of Washington to, speaking of his love of retirement, iii. 235; + appointed a commissioner to treat with the dey of Algiers--formation + of a navy recommended by, iii. 293; + appointed minister to Spain in 1796, iii. 423. + + Hunting-costume of Washington before the Revolution, iii. 585. + + Hunting-days at Mount Vernon before the Revolution, iii. 585. + + Hunting-shirts recommended by Washington for the continental army, i. 592. + + Huntington, countess of, papers transmitted to Washington by, in relation + to the Christianization of the Indians, iii. 49. + + Husbands, Herman, arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the Whiskey + Insurrection (_note_), iii. 320. + + Hutchinson, Governor, an enemy to free institutions, though a + native--duplicity of, discovered by Doctor Franklin--letters of, read + in secret session of the Massachusetts assembly, by Samuel Adams, + i. 385; + removal of, petitioned for--excitement in England on the publication + of the letters of (_note_), i. 396; + superseded by General Gage, i. 396; + hung in effigy at Boston, i. 397. + + +I. + + Illness of Washington in 1789, iii. 116; + in 1790, iii. 162. + + Improvements, internal, attention of Washington given to, iii. 46. + + Inauguration, Washington's first, iii. 92; + solemnity of the scene at, iii. 94; + address of Washington at, iii. 95; + ball given at, in honor of Washington's, iii. 109. + + Inauguration. Washington's second--address of Washington at, iii. 233; + description of, by an eye-witness (_note_), iii. 234. + + Independence, not aimed at by the first continental Congress--sentiments + of delegates in regard to (_note_), i. 452; + letter of Joseph Reed to Dartmouth, in relation to, i. 453; + the idea of, not prevalent out of New England, i. 536; + not aimed at by the second continental Congress, i. 607; + advocated by Thomas Paine, in his "Common Sense," ii. 11; + growing desire for, in the public mind, ii. 52, 199, 202; + subject of, brought before Congress by Richard Henry Lee--testimony of + Doctor Dwight, as to the popular feeling on the subject of + (_note_)--predictions of Patrick Henry with regard to, ii. 200; + Otis, Samuel Adams, Franklin, and John Adams, early in favor of, + ii. 201; + steps taken in various colonies in relation to, ii. 203; + resolution in relation to, offered by John Adams in Congress, ii. 204; + committee appointed by Congress to prepare a declaration of--resolution + of, adopted on the second of July, 1776, ii. 206; + continued debates in Congress on the subject of, ii. 207; + friends and opponents of, in Congress--unanimous vote of the thirteen + colonies in favor of the declaration of, ii. 208; + declaration of, as voted for, ii. 209-213; + reluctant consent of George III. to, iii. 15. + + Indian prophecy respecting the destinies of Washington, iii. 43. + + Indians, insight into the character of, acquired by Washington while + surveying, i. 58; + their views of French and English claims, i. 66; + necessity of conciliating, urged by Washington, i. 193; + power of, for mischief, i. 207; + necessity of employing, to oppose Indians, i. 210; + anecdote illustrating the simplicity of (_note_), i. 279; + commissioners appointed by the second continental Congress to treat + with, i. 608; + hostility of, in 1789, iii. 115; + desire of Washington to civilize, iii. 177; + hostile position of, in the Northwest, in 1793, iii. 273; + the use of, recommended by Washington to General Schuyler, ii. 143. + + Ingersoll, Jared, his resignation of his office as + stamp-distributor--advice of Franklin to (_note_), i. 332. + + Innes, Colonel, Washington under the orders of, when at Great Meadows, + i. 114; + personal attachment of Dinwiddie to, i. 187; + anxiety of Dinwiddie that he should supplant Washington in the command + of the Virginia troops, i. 211, 216. + + Iredell, James, description by, of a ball in celebration of Washington's + birthday, iii. 469. + + Ireland, troops voted by the Parliament of, for the American service, + ii. 6; + address of the second continental Congress to the people of, i. 610. + + Iroquois, early friendship of, with the English, i. 66, 69. + + Irving, Washington, the inauguration of Washington witnessed by, iii. 93; + remarks of, on Jefferson's support of Freneau, iii. 254; + anecdote of Nelly Custis told by, iii. 488. + + Isle aux Noix, expedition of Schuyler and Montgomery against, i. 663; + address issued from, by General Schuyler, to the inhabitants of + Canada, i. 665; + retreat of the American army to, from Canada, ii. 166. + + Isle la Motte, retreat of Sullivan to, ii. 167. + + +J. + + Jack, Captain, the Wild Hunter of the Juniata, anecdote of (_note_), + i. 153. + + Jackson, Andrew, his view of the character of Washington in 1796, + iii. 461. + + Jackson. Major, aid-de-camp of Washington in 1789, iii. 125. + + Jackson, Robert, letter of, in relation to young Washington's going + to sea, i. 44. + + Jacobs, Captain, a chief of the Delaware Indians, death of, at Kittanning, + i. 226; + death of the giant son of, at Kittanning, i. 227. + + Jamaica, address of the second continental Congress to the assembly of, + i. 610. + + _James River Company_, Washington president of--one hundred shares in, + offered to Washington by the Virginia legislature, iii. 47; + works of, examined by Washington in 1791, iii. 180. + + Jasper, Sergeant, extraordinary courage displayed by, ii. 194; + sword presented to, by Governor Rutledge, ii. 195; + death of, at Savannah, supporting the colors of his regiment (_note_), + ii. 196. + + Jay, John, treaty of peace signed by, in 1782, iii. 15; + correspondence of, with Washington, on the revision of the Articles + of Confederation, iii. 56; + a contributor to _The Federalist_, iii. 77; + appointed chief-justice by Washington, iii. 122; + envoy extraordinary to England in 1794--mission of, denounced by the + Democratic Society of Philadelphia, iii. 300; + letter of Washington to, in relation to the Whiskey Insurrection, + iii. 320; + anxiety of Washington respecting the mission of, iii. 334; + letters addressed by, to Lord Grenville, iii. 335; + conversations of, with Lord Grenville--letter of, to Washington, + stating the progress of negotiations in London, iii. 337; + conversation of, with George III., iii. 338; + treaty signed by, at London, iii. 339; + elected governor of the state of New York, iii. 345; + burned in effigy in Philadelphia, iii. 350; + suggestions of, used by Washington in preparing his Farewell + Address, iii. 426; + letter of, to Mr. Monroe in Paris, on refusing a copy of his treaty, + iii. 439. + + Jay's treaty, provisions of, iii. 340-342; + language of the opposition press in relation to, iii. 343; + hostility of the Democratic Societies to, iii. 345; + ratification of, recommended by the senate, iii. 346; + abstract of, published in the _Aurora_, iii. 347; + violent opposition to, throughout the country, iii. 348; + meetings of the enemies of, held in Boston and New York, iii. 351; + resolutions adverse to, adopted at a meeting held in New York, iii. 352; + resolutions in favor of, adopted by the New-York Chamber of + Commerce--copies of, burned in the streets of Philadelphia, iii. 353; + opposition to, in South Carolina, iii. 354; + letter of Washington in relation to, to the selectmen of Boston, + iii. 356; + letters of Washington to Randolph, in relation to, iii. 357, 358; + objections to, answered in a memorial written by Randolph, iii. 359; + ratification of, signed by Washington, iii. 360; + virulence of party spirit in relation to, iii. 368; + the Boston Chamber of Commerce in favor of the ratification + of--memorial in favor of, signed by the merchants of Philadelphia, + iii. 370; + letter of Washington to General Knox in relation to, iii. 371; + assailed by Governor Shelby, of Kentucky--action of the various state + legislatures in relation to, iii. 382; + delay in the ratification of, on the part of the British government, + iii. 383; + ratification of, by George III., in 1796, iii. 390; + conspicuous part taken by Albert Gallatin in the debates on, + iii. 392, 401; + message of Washington to Congress, on refusing to furnish papers + relating to (_note_), iii. 396; + speech of Tracy, of Connecticut, on, iii. 404; + speech of Fisher Ames on, iii. 405; + extracts from Ames's speech on, iii. 405-416; + powerful impression produced by the speech of, iii. 416; + commissioners appointed to carry out the provisions of, iii. 423; + unfriendly feeling with France increased by, iii. 435; + hostile demonstrations of the French Directory on the ratification + of, iii. 444. + + Jefferson, Thomas, resolutions of, adopted by the Virginia house of + burgesses in 1769 (_note_), i. 354; + letter of Washington to, in relation to Arnold's incursion, ii. 713; + narrow escape of, from Tarleton, at Monticello, ii. 720; + appointed secretary of state by Washington, iii. 122; + admiration of, for the leaders of the French Revolution, iii. 147; + suspicions and jealousies of, iii. 148, 150; + question of the assumption of the state debts pressed upon, by + Hamilton, iii. 149; + change of the feelings of, toward Hamilton, iii. 150; + voyage of, to Newport, in 1790, in company with Washington, iii. 162; + dislike of, for Hamilton, iii. 173; + new coins recommended by, in 1784, iii. 175; + executive power distrusted by, iii. 187; + personal vituperation indulged in by--at the head of the _Republicans_, + iii. 188; + disgust of, with Adams's "Discourses of Davila," iii. 189; + imbued with the spirit of the French Revolution--language of, in + after-years, respecting Adams and Hamilton, iii. 190; + antagonism of, toward Adams, in 1791, iii. 191; + desire of, that Washington should remain in office, iii. 199; + letters of, to Washington, iii. 202, 213; + vanity of--letter of, to Lafayette, iii. 205; + letters of Washington to, iii. 210, 217, 239, 289, 421; + re-election of Washington desired by, iii. 218; + Jacobins in Paris called "patriots" by, iii. 226; + Freneau's annoyance of Washington enjoyed by, iii. 253; + insincerity of (_note_), iii. 254; + letter of Genet to, in relation to the arrest of Americans on the + _Citizen Genet_, iii. 260; + intention of, to resign his position in the cabinet--unwillingness + of Washington to accept the resignation of, iii. 274; + want of candor of, displayed toward Washington, iii. 275; + letter written by, to Gouverneur Morris, in relation to Genet's + recall, iii. 276; + rebuke administered by, to Genet, iii. 287; + encomium pronounced by, upon the character of Washington--resignation + of, as secretary of state, iii. 288; + letter of, from Monticello, to Edmund Randolph, iii. 289; + debates in Congress on the report of, on commercial affairs, iii. 290; + letter of, to Madison, in relation to self-created societies, iii. 326; + sympathy of, with the Whiskey Insurrectionists, iii. 327; + apprehensions entertained by, concerning Jay's treaty--his admiration + of Gallatin, iii. 417; + letter of, to Madison, in relation to Jay's treaty, iii. 418; + caricature of, printed in 1798 (_note_), iii. 419; + insinuations thrown out by, against Washington--disclaimer by, of any + agency in furnishing to the _Aurora_ certain confidential matter, + iii. 420; + confidence of Washington in the sincerity of, iii. 422; + Washington's confidence in, finally shaken (_note_), iii. 423; + suggestions of, used by Washington in preparing his Farewell Address, + iii. 426; + a candidate for the presidency in 1796, iii. 451; + elected vice-president in 1797, iii. 468; + non-election of, to the presidency, offensive to the French Directory, + iii. 495; + suspected of being the real author of the letter to Washington from + "John Langhorne," iii. 498; + confidence lost by Washington in the professions of friendship of, + iii. 499. + + Jervis, afterward Earl St. Vincent, with Wolfe at Quebec, i. 293. + + Johnson, Colonel Guy, body of savages collected by, on the frontier, + ii. 105; + in Canada, with warriors of the Six Nations, ii. 106. + + Johnson, Colonel William, expedition under, against Crown Point, proposed + by General Braddock, i. 141; + agency of, with the Six Nations--biographical notice of (_note_), + i. 142; + his defeat of Dieskau, i. 182; + made a baronet by the British government--his defeat of Dieskau + principally by the aid of New-England men--applause bestowed on, due + to others, i. 184; + Fort Niagara taken by, in 1759, i. 291; + sway maintained by, over the Six Nations--death of, by apoplexy, in + 1774, i. 581. + + Johnson, Sir John, loyalty of, and of his brothers-in-law, i. 581; + his Scotch Highlanders disarmed by Schuyler, ii. 105; + escape of, to Canada, ii. 107. + + Johnson, Doctor Samuel, author of "Taxation no Tyranny," ii. 112. + + Johnson Hall, fortified by Sir John Johnson, ii. 104. + + Johnson, Lady, detained as a hostage in Albany (_note_), ii. 107. + + Johnson, Thomas, office of secretary of state offered to, by Washington, + in 1795, iii. 371. + + Joncaire, Captain, French Indian agent, i. 79; + Washington entertained by, at Venango, i. 80; + efforts of, to detach Tanacharisson from Washington's party on the Ohio, + i. 81. + + Jonquiere, Marquis de la, governor of Canada, i. 72. + + Judiciary, federal, Ellsworth's plan of, iii. 120. + + Jumonville, attack of Washington upon, i. 105; + misrepresentations in relation to the death of--Bancroft on Washington's + attack upon, i. 106; + defence of Washington in relation to his attack on, i. 106-108; + papers found on the person of, i. 107; + Washington's attack on, vindicated by Mr. Sparks, i. 108. + + "_Jumonville_," a poem in French, by Thomas, i. 108. + + _Junius_, notice of the Letters of (_note_), i. 364; + extract from the Letters of, i. 370. + + +K. + + Kalm, Peter, independence of the colonies foretold by, in 1748, i. 67. + + Kennedy, Captain, house, No. 1 Broadway, New York, built by (_note_), + ii. 43. + + Kennel, Washington's, broken up in 1785, iii. 51. + + Kentucky, dissatisfaction among the people in, in 1794, iii. 303; + intemperate resolutions passed at a convention of the citizens of, + iii. 304; + letter of Washington in relation to the popular movements in, iii. 305. + + Kiashuta, Washington at the hunting-camp of, in the Ohio country, in 1770, + i. 360. + + King, Rufus, stones thrown at, while addressing a meeting in New York, on + the subject of Jay's treaty, iii. 352; + appointed minister to England, in place of Pinckney, iii. 423. + + King's Bridge, fortifications erected at, ii. 171; + secret attack upon the British at, planned by Washington, ii. 442. + + King's mountain, defeat of a body of tories, under Ferguson, at--important + influence of the victory at, ii. 703. + + Kingston, extreme fatigue of the troops of Washington on the march from, + to Pluckemin, ii. 391. + + Kip's bay, landing of the British at--bad conduct of the militia and + Connecticut troops at, ii. 295. + + Kirkland, Moses, important papers found in possession of, ii. 27. + + Kittanning, destruction of, in 1756, by Colonel Armstrong, i. 226. + + Knapp, Sergeant Uzal, the last survivor of Washington's life-guard + (_note_), ii. 178. + + Knowlton, Captain, breastwork constructed by, at Breed's hill, i. 562; + British guard surprised by, at Charlestown, ii. 49; + death of, on Harlem plains, ii. 299. + + Knox, Captain Henry (afterward General), service performed by, at Breed's + hill, i. 567; + appointed to command the artillery at Cambridge, i. 749; + artillery and ordnance-stores transported by, from Lake Champlain to + Cambridge, i. 750; + recommended by Washington to the general command of the artillery, + ii. 363; + powerful voice of, ii. 371; + sent to Massachusetts to hasten the raising of a battalion of artillery, + ii. 415; + idea of the Society of the Cincinnati conceived by, iii. 23; letters + of Washington to, iii. 39, 84; + retained by Washington as secretary of war in 1789, iii. 121; + stay of, in Philadelphia, during the presence of the yellow fever in + 1793, iii. 280; + succeeded by Timothy Pickering as secretary of war--cause of the + resignation of, iii. 330; + letter of Washington to, on the occasion of the resignation of, + iii. 331; + letter of Washington to, in relation to Jay's treaty, iii. 371; + interest taken by, in the welfare of young Lafayette, iii. 374; + letter of Washington to, on the eve of retirement from office, + iii. 470; + letter of Washington to, informing him of his position in the + provisional army, iii. 518; + mortification of, at the preference given to Hamilton and Pinckney--warm + reply written by, to Washington, iii. 519; + esteem of Washington for--second letter of Washington to, in relation to + his appointment as major-general, iii. 521; + President Adams petitioned by the friends of, to reverse Washington's + order of the major-generals, iii. 522; + letter of Washington to, urging his acceptance of the appointment + proffered, iii. 524; + determination of, not to serve under Hamilton and Pinckney, iii. 525. + + Knyphausen, General, garrison at New York left under the command of, + ii. 664; + Springfield, in New Jersey, set on fire by, ii. 678. + + Kosciuszko, Thaddeus, first interview of, with Washington, ii. 448; + subsequent history of, ii. 449; + at the siege of Ninety-Six, iii. 2. + + +L. + + La Colombe, M. de, letter of Washington to, announcing the liberation + of Lafayette, iii. 499. + + Lacy, General, orders of Washington to, for the arrest of Quakers near + Valley Forge, i. 461. + + Lafayette, George Washington, asylum sought by, in the United States, + iii. 229; + arrival of, in the United States, in 1795, iii. 372; + letter of Washington to Senator Cabot, of Boston, in relation to the + reception of, iii. 373; + attempted _incognito_ of, under the name of Motier--letter of + Washington to, iii. 375; + official notice taken of, by Congress--letter of a committee of Congress + addressed to, iii. 376; + the guest of Washington at Philadelphia and Mount Vernon--letter of + Washington respecting, to his father, iii. 377; + with Washington at Mount Vernon in 1797, iii. 479. + + Lafayette, Madame, invited by Washington to visit Mount Vernon, iii. 38; + letter of Washington to, in 1792, iii. 226; + letter of, to Washington, iii. 227; + second letter of, to Washington--shares the prison of Lafayette at + Olmutz, iii. 229. + + Lafayette, Marquis de, Washington's first acquaintance with, ii. 491; + vessel fitted out at the expense of, ii. 492, 493; + visit of, to London, ii. 492; + voyage of, to America, in company with De Kalb and other + officers--commissioned major-general of the continental army, ii. 493; + impatience of, for actual command (_note_), ii. 496; + appointed to the command of an expedition against Canada, ii. 586; + hostility of Gates toward Washington discovered by, ii. 591; + escape of, from the British at Barren hill, ii. 615; + the honor of leading the advance at Monmouth solicited by, ii. 619; + departure of, for France, to procure aid for the Americans, ii. 648; + letters of Washington to, ii. 662; iii. 38, 75, 83, 164, 526; + fruits of the secret mission of, to the court of Versailles, ii. 679; + escape of Cornwallis prevented by, ii. 730; + return of, to France, in 1781, iii. 7; + visit of, to Mount Vernon, in 1784, iii. 42; + jack sent to Washington by, iii. 51; + conspicuous part taken by, in the French Revolution, iii. 115, 135; + commander-in-chief of the National Guard in Paris, in 1789--language of, + respecting the duke of Orleans, iii. 137; + conservative influence of, iii. 138; + key of the Bastile sent to Washington by--difficult position of, in + France, in 1790, iii. 163; + hopeful letter written by, to Washington, iii. 164; + disappointment of, at the course of the French Revolution, iii. 184; + letters of, in relation to his position in France, addressed to + Washington, iii. 185; + efforts of, to preserve order in France, iii. 224; + acquitted by the National Assembly, of charges made against him by the + Jacobins--attempt of, to escape to the United States, by way of + Holland--in prison at Olmutz, iii. 225; + desire of Washington to befriend the family of, iii. 226; + Washington powerless to aid, iii. 228; + confinement of, in an Austrian dungeon, iii. 372; + incident showing Washington's feelings toward (_note_), iii. 373; + efforts of Washington to obtain the liberation of, iii. 424; + liberation of, from the prison at Olmutz--reply of, to De Chasteler + with regard to proposed conditions of release (_note_), iii. 499; + letter received by Washington from, at the close of 1798, iii. 526; + hounds sent by, to Washington, in 1785, iii. 585. + + La Force, a meddlesome French commissary, i. 82; + energy and activity of, i. 132; + escape of, from prison at Williamsburg (_note_), i. 183. + + Lake Champlain, efforts of Sir Guy Carleton to create a navy on, ii. 333; + naval engagement on, between Arnold and Captain Pringle, ii. 334. + + "Lake of the Dismal Swamp," lines from, i. 311. + + Lamb, Captain, severely wounded in the assault upon Quebec, under + Montgomery and Arnold, i. 721; + cannon removed by, from Fort George, in New York, ii. 129. + + Lancaster, meeting of recruits at, iii. 26. + + Land-grants to soldiers engaged in the French and Indian War, efforts + of Washington to secure, i. 356. + + Langdon, President, "declaration" of Congress read by, to the troops at + Cambridge, i. 617. + + "Langhorne, John," letter of condolence of, addressed to Washington in + 1798, iii. 497. + + La Salle, French claims to the Ohio based on the discoveries by, i. 80. + + Laurens, Colonel John, sent to Europe, to seek more aid in men and money, + ii. 700; + influence with the French government of, Washington's letter to, + ii. 710; + death of--biographical notice of, iii. 11. + + Laurens, Henry, treaty of peace signed by, in 1782, iii. 15. + + Lear, Tobias, secretary of Washington at Mount Vernon, iii. 49; + Master and Miss Custis educated by, iii. 50; + admiration of, for the private character of Washington, iii. 51; + Washington's power to control his feelings witnessed by, iii. 194; + use of a farm left to, by Washington, iii. 539; + resident at Mount Vernon in 1799, iii. 551; + account written by, of the last illness of Washington, iii. 552-557. + + Lechmere's Point, intrenchment commenced on, by Putnam, i. 764. + + Ledyard, Colonel, murder of, by Major Bromfield, ii. 727. + + Lee, Arthur, address of Wilkes, lord-mayor of London, written by, i. 604. + + Lee, Charles, of Virginia, successor of Bradford, as attorney-general, + in 1795, iii. 372. + + Lee, General Charles, talents and acquirements of, i. 542; + account of the early life of, i. 542-545; + estate purchased by, in Virginia--appointed second major-general by the + second continental Congress, i. 545; + remarks of Mrs. Mercy Warren on the personal appearance of (_note_), + i. 586; + disgust of Washington at the impiety of, i. 617; + a personal interview proposed to, by Burgoyne, at Boston Neck, i. 630; + sent to New York to disarm the tories, ii. 35; + ambition of, ii. 37; + letter of, to Washington, in relation to the Long-Island tories, ii. 38; + headquarters of, in New York, ii. 43; + appointed by Congress commander-in-chief of the southern department, + ii. 82, 96; + named by Washington for the chief command of the army in Canada, ii. 95; + Washington's opinion of the military abilities of, ii. 97; + activity of, in improving the defences of New York, ii. 126; + differences of, with the city authorities of New York, ii. 130; + letters of, to Washington, in relation to the defences of New York, + ii. 131, 133; + cannon removed by, from the Grand battery at New York, ii. 131; + contempt of, for official titles (_note_), ii. 183; + little regard paid by, to the provincial congress of New York, + ii. 132, 133; + high-handed measures of, with regard to tories, ii. 134; + anxiety of, to attack Lord Dunmore on the Elizabeth river, ii. 183; + joyful reception of, in Charleston, ii. 188; + exertions of, to put Charleston in a state of defence, ii. 189; + his opinion of Fort Sullivan, ii. 190; + great deference paid to the opinions of, on military affairs-- + self-esteem and impertinence of, ii. 313; + instructions given by Washington to, at North Castle, ii. 324; + duplicity of, toward Washington, ii. 332; + reliance of Washington on--excuses of, for disobeying Washington's + orders, ii. 341; + characteristic letter of, to James Bowdoin, ii. 342; + disingenuous use made by, of a letter from Washington (_note_), ii. 343; + letter written by Washington to, from Newark, ii. 344; + dislike of, to General Heath, ii. 344, 345; + letter of, to Colonel Reed, reflecting on Washington, ii. 347; + neglect of, to join Washington in New Jersey, ii. 350; + Congress in the dark concerning the movements of--impudence and + heartlessness of, ii. 352; + attempt of, to disparage Washington to Governor Cook, of Rhode Island, + ii. 353; + selfish ambition of, ii. 355; + urged by Washington to join him in order to defend Philadelphia, + ii. 356; + found by Wilkinson at Baskingridge--ill-natured letter concerning + Washington written by, to General Gates, ii. 357; + surprise and capture of, by a party of British dragoons at Baskingridge, + ii. 358; + various opinions respecting the capture of--suspicions of the fidelity + of, ii. 359; + capture of, providential, ii. 360; + rigorous confinement of, by the British, as a deserter, ii. 405; + letter of, to Congress, professing to have important matter to + communicate--captivity of, not hard to be borne, ii. 406; + treacherous conduct of, ii. 407; + letter of Washington to General Howe, offering Hessian officers in + exchange for, ii. 410; + perplexity of Howe as to what should be done with (_note_), ii. 411; + exchanged for General Prescott--hesitation of, to take the oath of + allegiance, ii. 613; + adverse to an attack upon Sir Henry Clinton in New Jersey, ii. 618; + the command of the corps of, given to Lafayette, ii. 619; + command of his corps resumed by, ii. 620; + unaccountable retreat of, before the British--mysterious warning given + to Washington with respect to Lee, ii. 623; + extreme irritation of Washington at the conduct of, ii. 624; + disrespectful letters of, to Washington, ii. 627, 628; + placed under arrest, ii. 628; + great ability of his defence, ii. 629; + suspended from all command for a year--"Queries, Political and + Military," published by (_note_)--letter of Washington to Joseph Reed + respecting, ii. 630; + his expulsion from the army--duel fought by, with Colonel Laurens + (_note_)--impudent letter of, to Congress (_note_)--curious + will of (_note_)--death of, in 1782, ii. 631; + proved to have been a traitor, by a document recently discovered--his + plan for the subjugation of the colonies, ii. 632; + willing to be a traitor to both parties, ii. 634; + guarantied against loss by Congress (_note_), ii. 635. + + Lee, General Henry, letter of Washington to, in relation to democratic + societies, iii. 313; + commander-in-chief of the force sent to put down the Whiskey + Insurrection in 1794, iii. 315; + instructions of Washington to--proclamation issued by, after crossing + the Alleghanies, iii. 319; + enmity of Jefferson toward, iii. 421; + funeral oration pronounced by, on the occasion of the death of + Washington, iii. 566. + + Lee, Richard Henry, letter of Washington to, seeking statistical + information as to Virginia, i. 413; + resolutions of sympathy with Massachusetts offered by, in the + continental Congress, i. 432; + non-importation resolution offered by, in the continental Congress, + i. 435; + encouraging letter of, to Washington, in camp at Cambridge, i. 597; + letter of thanks from Congress to the city of London written by, i. 605; + adverse to the constitution, iii. 77; + letter of Washington to, in relation to the "republican" party (_note_), + iii. 276. + + Lee, William, mulatto man, liberated by the will of Washington, iii. 536. + + _L'Embuscade_, arrival of Genet in, at Charleston, iii. 243; + _The Grange_, an English ship, taken by, iii. 245; + Doctor Francis on the arrival of, in New York, iii. 248; + challenged by the British frigate _Boston_, iii. 277. + + L'Enfant, plans of public buildings in the federal city drawn by, + iii. 178, 184; + plans of, approved by Washington, iii. 184. + + _Le Petit Democrat_, a privateer fitted out by Genet, iii. 264; + sent to sea by Genet, in violation of his pledge, iii. 267. + + Leslie, Captain, death of, at the battle of Princeton, ii. 391. + + Leslie, Colonel, unsuccessful attempt of, to seize arms at Salem, i. 502. + + Letters, spurious, charged to have been written by Washington, iii. 448; + denounced by Washington, iii. 471. + + Levees, Mrs. Washington's, iii. 111, 112, 170. + + Levees of Washington, iii. 108, 109, 592. + + Lewis, Lawrence, invited by Washington to reside at Mount Vernon, + iii. 483; + marriage of, with Nelly Custis, iii. 532; + strong personal resemblance between the mother of, and Washington, + iii. 534; + property left to, by Washington, iii. 538, 541; + absent from Mount Vernon at the time of Washington's death, iii. 558. + + Lewis, Major Andrew, unsuccessful expedition of, to the town of the + Shawnees, i. 208; + night-attack upon, by Cornstalk, i. 472; + Lord Dunmore suspected of having contrived the attack upon, i. 474; + Dunmore driven from Gwyn's island by, ii. 110; + biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 110. + + Lewis, Mrs., testimony of, to the amiability of Washington at home, + iii. 52. + + Lexington, Samuel Adams and John Hancock in danger at--warning of the + approach of troops sent to, by Doctor Warren--minute-men collected + at, under Captain Parker, i. 504; + minute-men killed at, by troops under Major Pitcairn--the British fired + first at (_note_), i. 505; + losses of the British and Americans at, i. 510; + effect in England of the news of the battle of, i. 511; + the battle of, the beginning of the Revolutionary War, i. 512; + resolutions of various colonies, after the battle of, to raise troops, + i. 514-517; + effect of the news of the battle of, at Mount Vernon, i. 527. + + Lexington, Kentucky, intemperate resolutions passed at a convention of + citizens at, in 1794, iii. 304. + + Liberty, English and French, contrasted (_note_), iii. 296. + + _Liberty Hill Academy_, shares made over to, by Washington, iii. 48. + + Liberty-tree, at Boston, account of (_note_), i. 416; + lines alluding to (_note_), ii. 75; + fourteen cords of wood furnished by, ii. 76. + + Lieb, Doctor, violent attack upon the character of Washington, in the + _Aurora_, attributed to, iii. 477. + + Life-guard, Washington's, conspiracy of several members of, against the + life of Washington--organization of (_note_)--flag and uniform of + (_note_), ii. 177; + Sergeant Uzal Knapp the last survivor of (_note_), ii. 178. + + Lillington, Colonel, in command of minute-men in the battle at + Moore's-creek bridge--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 117. + + Lincoln, General Benjamin, plan of, for driving the British fleet from + Boston harbor, ii. 83; + commissioned major-general in the continental army--attempt by Lord + Cornwallis to surprise, at Boundbrook, ii. 433; + in command of the republican troops in the South, ii. 650; + pursuit of General Prevost by, ii. 651; + a prisoner-of-war to the British at Charleston, ii. 673; + surrender at Yorktown conducted by, ii. 736. + + Lineage of Washington traceable for six hundred years, i. 18. + + Liston, Mrs., tears shed by, at Washington's farewell dinner, iii. 471. + + Litchfield jail, Connecticut, Mathews, mayor of New York, and other + tories, sent to, ii. 222. + + Little Egg Harbor, expedition against, under the command of Captain + Patrick Ferguson, ii. 643. + + Little Meadows, Washington at, in 1754, i. 101. + + Little Miami, lands owned by Washington on, at the time of his death, + iii. 543. + + Livery, order of Washington for, i. 196. + + Live stock owned by Washington at the time of his death, iii. 544. + + Livingston, Brockholst, hostility of, to Jay's treaty, iii. 351; + Jay's treaty assailed by, through the press, iii. 369. + + Livingston, Chancellor, oath administered to Washington by, in 1789, + iii. 94. + + Livingston, Edward, resolution offered in Congress by, demanding papers + relating to Jay's treaty, iii. 391, 394; + letter of Washington to Hamilton respecting the resolution of, iii. 394. + + Livingston, Governor, of New Jersey, letter of sympathy from, to + Washington, ii. 351. + + Logan, the Mingo chief, relatives of, killed, i. 472; + speech sent by, to Lord Dunmore, i. 473. + + Logstown, Washington at, in 1753 and in 1770, i. 359. + + London, transcript of an order of Washington to his agent in (_note_), + i. 307; + petition of the merchants of, in relation to American affairs, i. 612. + + Long Island, instructions of Washington to Putnam, relative to the seizure + of tories on, ii. 158; + British troops landed on, ii. 260, 262, 263; + tories at the west end of, ordered by the New-York convention to be + arrested, ii. 261; + the best of Washington's troops at the battle of, never before engaged, + ii. 267; + reliance of Washington on Providence, expressed on the eve of the battle + of, ii. 268; + American loss in the battle of, not accurately known--causes of the loss + of the battle of, ii. 276; + evacuation of, by the American army, ii. 279; + "dreadful mistake" made by Colonel Scammel during the evacuation of, + ii. 280; + evacuation of, facilitated by a heavy fog, ii. 282; + condition of the army after the battle of, ii. 284; + tour of Washington in, in 1790, iii. 162. + + Longueuil, narrow escape of Arnold from the British at, ii. 166. + + Loudoun, Lord, Washington recommended to, for promotion--biographical + notice of (_note_), 230; + almost viceregal power of, i. 231; + indolence and indecision of, i. 235, 240; + letter addressed by Washington to, i. 237; + flattering acknowledgment of Washington's letter to--Washington at the + council held by, in Philadelphia, i. 239; + disappointment of Washington as to the results of his interview + with--remark of Franklin in relation to, i. 240; + insolent speech of, in the northern council of governors, i. 247; + mystery drawn by, around his plans--at the head of six thousand + provincial troops in 1757--delays and indecision of--determines upon + an expedition against Louisburg, i. 248; + embargo laid by, on all ships in American ports--suspected of sharing + the profits of army and navy contractors--failure of his expedition + against Louisburg, i. 249; + close of his inglorious campaign in the North--superseded, in 1758, by + General Abercrombie, i. 252. + + Louisburg, Lord Loudoun's expedition against, in 1757, i. 248; + Amherst's expedition against, in 1758--Wolfe, Boscawen, and Montgomery, + at the siege of, i. 260; + present condition of the site of the fortress of--French standards + taken at, hung in St. Paul's cathedral at London, i. 262. + + Louis, Colonel, a Caghnawaga chief, farewell taken of, by Arnold and + others, ii. 167. + + Louisiana, invasion of, contemplated by Genet, iii. 274; + an expedition for the invasion of, in 1794, frustrated by Washington, + iii. 305. + + Lovell, James, a leader of _Conway's Cabal_, in Congress--spirit of + _Conway's Cabal_ revealed by a letter of, to Gates, ii. 577. + + Loyalists, action of Congress with regard to, ii. 92; + largely relied on by the British ministry, ii. 428. + + Luzerne, Chevalier de, arrival of, at West Point, ii. 662. + + Lyman, General, his share in the defeat of Dieskau, i. 182, 184. + + +M. + + Macaulay, Mrs., History of England written by, presented by Washington to + Reverend Thomas Davis, iii. 534. + + M'Crea, Jane, death of, ii. 481; + General Gates's false statement as to the manner of her death, ii. 482; + false account of the manner of her death told by Burke--popular story + respecting the death of (_note_), ii. 483. + + M'Donald, Allan, the husband of FLORA, among the Scotch loyalists + in North Carolina, ii. 114; + made prisoner at the battle at Moore's-creek bridge, ii. 119. + + M'Donald, Donald, commander-in-chief of the loyal Highlanders in North + Carolina, ii. 115; + royal ensign set up by, at Cross creek, ii. 116; + retreat of, pursued by Moore, ii. 117; + made prisoner after the battle at Moore's-creek bridge, ii. 119. + + M'Donald, Flora, biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 114. + + M'Dowell, president of the college at Annapolis, letter of Washington to, + respecting young Custis (_note_), iii. 583. + + M'Gillivray, Alexander, head chief of the Creek Indians in 1790--made a + colonel in the service of Spain, iii. 154; + made an honorary member of the St. Andrew's Society in New York--treaty + negotiated with, by General Knox, iii. 155. + + M'Ginnes, Captain, death of, i. 183. + + M'Henry. James, appointed secretary of war in 1795, iii. 372; + letters of Washington to, after his retirement to private life, + iii. 480-482; + urgency of, with Washington, to resume the command of the army, + iii. 510, 513; + despatched to Mount Vernon with Washington's commission as + commander-in-chief, iii. 512; + instructions of Adams to, on setting out for Mount Vernon (_note_), + iii. 513; + interview of, with Washington, at Mount Vernon, iii. 514; + list of officers given to, by Washington (_note_), iii. 515; + negligent correspondence of, as secretary of war, complained of by + Washington, iii. 523; + conference of, with Hamilton and Pinckney, respecting the provisional + army, in 1798, iii. 525; + letter of Washington to, expressing anxiety respecting his various + trusts, iii. 535. + + Machias, British vessels captured at, i. 732. + + Mackay, Captain, letter of Washington to Dinwiddie, in relation to the + claims of, i. 115; + respect of Washington for, i. 116; + in the trenches at Fort Necessity, i. 120. + + M'Kean, Chief-Justice, hostility of, to Jay's treaty, iii. 353. + + Mackenzie, Captain Robert, correspondence of, with Washington, + i. 450, 451. + + Maclean, Colonel, march of, to the relief of St. John on the Sorel, + i. 678; + driven back by Majors Brown and Livingston, i. 679; + arrival of, at Quebec, during the siege by Arnold, i. 701; + and his Scotch Highlanders the only reliable defence of Quebec, i. 702; + Arnold's summons to surrender disregarded by, i. 703; + stationed at Deschambault with an advanced corps, ii. 147. + + M'Leod, Alexander, a leader among the Scotch Highlanders in North + Carolina, ii. 115; + killed in the battle at Moore's-creek bridge, ii. 118. + + M'Neare, doorkeeper of the second continental Congress, i. 528. + + M'Pherson, plan of, for the destruction of the British fleet in Boston + harbor, i. 748. + + M'Pherson Blues, survivors of, in May, 1860 (_note_), iii. 568. + + Madison, a contributor to _The Federalist_, iii. 77; + desire of, that Washington should remain in office, iii. 199; + letter addressed to, by Washington, in relation to his desire to retire + from public life, iii. 200; + esteem of Washington for, iii. 232; + resolutions of, in relation to commercial restrictions and duties, + iii. 291; + debates in Congress on the resolutions of, iii. 292; + urged by Jefferson to attack Jay's treaty though the press, iii. 370; + speech of, denouncing Jay's treaty, iii. 399; + alarm occasioned by the speech of, iii. 400; + suggestions of, used by Washington in the preparation of his Farewell + Address, iii. 426. + + Magaw, Colonel, Fort Washington left in charge of, ii. 313; + his surrender of Fort Washington, ii. 331. + + Malmedy, Monsieur, Washington annoyed by the importunities of, ii. 448. + + Mamaroneck, attack made upon Rogers at, by Colonel Haslet, ii. 314. + + Manchester, duke of, his speech in Parliament, on the evacuation of + Boston, ii. 86. + + Mandamus councillors obnoxious to the whigs (_note_), i. 427. + + Manly, Captain, English store-ship captured by--brass mortar taken by, + christened _Congress_ by Putnam and Mifflin, i. 741. + + Manufactures, Congress urged by Washington, in 1796, to foster, iii. 455. + + Marion, General Francis, movements of, in the South, ii. 682, 703; + repulse of, at Georgetown, on Winyaw bay, ii. 703; + camp of, on Snow's island--flight of Colonel Watson before, ii. 704. + + Markoe, Captain, Washington escorted by, on his way to Cambridge, i. 574. + + Marshall, John, mission to France declined by, iii. 443; + special envoy to France in 1798, iii. 496; + ordered to leave the territories of the French republic, iii. 504; + death of Washington announced in Congress by, iii. 560; + character of Washington, as given by, iii. 575. + + Martin, Governor, of North Carolina, alarm and perplexity of, ii. 111; + letter of, to General Gage, intercepted--cannon in front of the palace + of, carried off by the patriots--flight of, to Fort Johnston, on + Cape-Fear river--accessory in inciting a servile insurrection on + Tar river, ii. 112; + flight of, on board the British sloop-of-war _Cruiser_--confidence + of, in the loyalty of many in North Carolina--assistance expected by, + from Clinton and Cornwallis, ii. 113; + proclamation sent forth by, from on board the _Scorpion_--commissions + sent by, to the Highlanders and other loyalists in North Carolina, + ii. 114; + the last royal governor of North Carolina--biographical notice of + (_note_), ii. 120. + + Maryland, government of, abdicated by Eden, ii. 184; + property owned by Washington in, at the time of his death, iii. 543. + + Mason, George, correspondence of, with Washington, in relation to the + exclusion of British merchandise, i. 347; + as a statesman (_note_), i. 355; + adverse to the constitution, iii. 77. + + Massachusetts, heavy taxes paid by the people of, in 1758, i. 259; + action of the British Parliament toward, i. 353; + persons charged with treason in, to be sent to England for + trial--sympathy of Virginia with, i. 354; + assembly of, adjourned by Governor Bernard to Cambridge, i. 367; + committees of correspondence originated in, i. 382, 383; + oppressive measures adopted by Parliament toward, i. 389; + first steps toward revolution taken by, i. 468; + noble action of the provincial congress of, i. 501; + preparations for war made by the provincial congress of, i. 503; + general assembly of, how constituted (_note_), i. 623; + promptness of the militia of, in supplying vacancies in the camp at + Cambridge, i. 762. + + Mathews, David, mayor of New York, arrest of, i. 174; + removed from New York to Litchfield--kind treatment of, in Connecticut + (_note_), ii. 222. + + Maxims of Washington in youth, i. 37; + Chief-Justice Marshall's opinion of--remarks of Mr. Sparks respecting, + i. 42. + + Mazzei, Philip, letter of Jefferson to, asserting the growth of a + monarchical party--biographical notice of (_note_), iii. 418; + Jefferson's letter translated by, and published in Florence (_note_), + i. 419. + + Medal in gold ordered by Congress in commemoration of the evacuation of + Boston, ii. 80. + + Megantic, Lake, encampment of Arnold on the eastern shore of, i. 693. + + Meigs, Lieutenant-Colonel, British stores at Sag Harbor destroyed by, + ii. 439. + + Melvin, James, hardships endured in Arnold's Quebec expedition described + by, i. 692. + + Mercer, Colonel, death of, at Oswego, i. 234. + + Mercer, Doctor Hugh, with Braddock in his expedition against Fort + Duquesne, i. 152; + at the destruction of Kittanning, i. 226; + commissioned a brigadier-general, ii. 172; + backwardness of recruits for the flying camp of, at Amboy, ii. 231; + watch to be kept by, over West Jersey, ii. 308; + night-march on Princeton led by, ii. 386; + attacked by Colonel Mawhood at Princeton, ii. 387; + left for dead in a bayonet-charge of Mawhood's men, ii. 388; + biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 391. + + Merchandise, British, refusal of the colonists to purchase, i. 322, 333; + associations with the object to exclude, i. 347, 355; + views of Washington on the exclusion of, i. 347; + letter of George Mason to Washington, on the exclusion of, i. 350. + + Mercier, Chevalier de, architect of Fort Duquesne, i. 98. + + Methodist Church, early opposition of, to slavery, iii. 152. + + Middlebrook, camp of Washington established at--strength of the army at, + ii. 443; + ample equipments of the army at--vigilance of Washington when at, + ii. 444; + forces concentrated by Washington at, ii. 450; + anxiety of General Howe to draw Washington from his camp at, ii. 451; + perplexity of Washington at, with regard to the movements of the + British, ii. 454, 455; + Captain Graydon's account of a visit to the American army at, ii. 457; + headquarters of Washington at, in 1778, ii. 645. + + Mifflin, Thomas, urgency of, though a Quaker, to resort to arms if + necessary, i. 460; + invited for the first time to a council of war, ii. 61; + commissioned brigadier-general by Congress, ii. 157; + appointed major-general in the continental army, ii. 403; + leader of _Conway's Cabal_, in the army, ii. 576; + duties as quartermaster neglected by, ii. 599; + address of, as president of Congress, to Washington, on the latter's + resigning + his commission, iii. 36; + second in command in the force sent against the Whiskey Insurrection + in 1794, iii. 315. + + Militia, Washington's opinion of, i. 222; ii. 281, 286, 303, 353, 415; + panic in Colonel Rufus Putnam's regiment of, at White Plains, ii. 317; + refusal of, to man the lines at Fort Washington, ii. 331; + complaint of Washington at having to depend upon, ii. 415; + President Adams authorized to call out eighty thousand, iii. 496. + + Militia, Virginia, unrestricted power given to Washington to draft, in + 1758, i. 256. + + Mint, national, establishment of, iii. 174, 176. + + Minute-men, origin of the, i. 399; many enrolled in Massachusetts in + 1775, i. 470; + monument to the memory of, at Lexington (_note_), i. 506; + summoned to supply the place of Connecticut troops, i. 759; + proposal to enroll eighty thousand in 1794, iii. 297. + + Mirabeau, remarks of, on the Declaration of Independence, ii. 216. + + "_Mischianza_," the, a fete at Philadelphia, in honor of the brothers + Howe, ii. 614. + + Mississippi river, control of, in the hands of the Spaniards in 1789, + iii. 99; + claims to the free navigation of, urged upon Spain, iii. 157; + free navigation of, demanded by the people of Kentucky in 1794, + iii. 304; + free navigation of, secured by treaty with Spain in 1795, iii. 380. + + Mohawk river, land owned by Washington on, at the time of his death, + iii. 543. + + Monacatoocha, captured while with Braddock's army, i. 160; + a son of, killed by mistake--son of, buried with military honors, + i. 161. + + Money, continental, measures of Congress in relation to the issue of, + i. 549; + form of the bills of (_note_), i. 550. + + Monmouth, account of the battle of, ii. 619-626; + bad conduct of General Lee at, ii. 623; + death of Colonel Monckton at--losses of the British and Americans at, + ii. 625; + advance of Washington from, to Brunswick, ii. 626. + + Monongahela, fort built at the fork of, by the advice of Tanacharisson, + i. 72; + battle of the, miraculous escapes of Washington at, i. 168; + consequences of the battle of the, i. 173; + reputation of Washington increased by his conduct at the battle of the, + i. 174; + the defeat at the, balanced by the victory at Lake George, i. 183. + + Monro, Colonel George, his brave defence of Fort William Henry against + Montcalm, i. 251; + capitulation of, to Montcalm, i. 251. + + Monroe, James, sent as minister to France in 1794--letter of, on his + arrival in Paris, to the president of the National Convention, + iii. 301; + auspicious moment of his arrival in France, iii. 302; + reception of, by the French government--address of the National + Convention to, iii. 436; + cares and annoyances of--mortification caused to the American government + by the conduct of, in France, iii. 437; + imprudent assurances given by, to the French government, iii. 438; + application of, for a copy of Jay's treaty, refused by Mr. Jay, + iii. 439; + little good accomplished by, in France, iii. 441; + recall of, determined upon--letter addressed to Washington respecting, + by officers of the government (_note_), iii. 442; + the confidence of the French government lost by, iii. 444; + letter addressed to, by Washington, defending his policy toward + France--satisfactory reply made by, to the charges of the French + government, iii. 445; + refusal of the French government to receive any other minister, on the + recall of, iii. 492; + unworthy part played by, on presenting his letters of recall to the + French government, iii. 493. + + Montcalm, Marquis de, successor to Dieskau in Canada, i. 232; + siege of Oswego by, i. 233; + humanity and politeness of--faithlessness of, according to Graham + (_note_), i. 234; + Fort William Henry besieged by, in 1757, i. 250; + force of, at Quebec, i. 294; + vigilance of--unsuccessful attempt of Wolfe to storm the intrenchments + of, i. 295; + incredulity of, as to Wolfe's having scaled the Heights of Abraham, + i. 298; + mortal wound received by--letter of, to General Townshend, recommending + prisoners to humane treatment--and Wolfe, monument erected to, i. 300. + + Montgomery, Richard, by the side of Wolfe in the attack upon Louisburg in + 1758, i. 261; + appointed brigadier-general in the continental army--brother-in-law of + Robert R. Livingston, i. 548; + letter of, to General Schuyler, in relation to his movement on Isle aux + Noix--Schuyler's affection for and confidence in, i. 663; + siege of St. John on the Sorel conducted by, i. 670; + insubordination in the camp of, at St. John, i. 671, 676; + blamed for generosity toward prisoners, i. 680, 705; + determination of, to advance on Montreal, i. 698; + anxiety of, on his entering Canada, for a junction with Arnold--troops + of, unwilling to follow him to Canada--Montreal abandoned by Sir + Guy Carleton on the approach of--large quantities of woollen clothing + found in Montreal by--anxiety of, to proceed to Quebec, i. 700, 701; + mortification of, at the unwillingness of his troops to advance on + Quebec, i. 703; + letter of, to Schuyler, complaining of the want of _gentlemen_ among + his officers, i. 704; + deserted by many of his New-England troops and Green Mountain Boys, + i. 705; + determination of, to retire from the public service--major-general's + commission bestowed upon, by Congress, i. 706; + junction of, with Arnold, at Point aux Trembles, i. 708; + departure of, for Quebec, from Point aux Trembles, in a + snowstorm--Holland House the headquarters of, at the siege of + Quebec--inadequate means of, for the investment of Quebec, i. 709; + letters of, to the citizens of Quebec, conveyed within the walls by the + agency of a woman, i. 714; + breast-works of ice erected by, destroyed, i. 715; + plan of, for an assault, delayed by dissentions among his officers--last + letter written by, to General Schuyler (_note_), i. 716; + plans of, made known to Carleton by deserters--plan of attack changed + by, i. 717; + death of, while heading an attack upon a battery in charge of Captain + Barnsfare, i. 718; + party led by, driven back to Wolfe's cove, i. 719; + remains of, subsequently removed to New York--monument erected to the + memory of, by order of Congress--British officers affected by the + death of--eulogium pronounced over the remains of, by Governor + Carleton, i. 722. + + Monticello, retirement of Jefferson to, in 1793, iii. 289. + + Montour, an Indian interpreter with Washington at Great Meadows, i. 114. + + Montreal, siege of, by Amherst, in 1760--capitulation of, i. 301; + a provincial congress recommended to the people of, by Montgomery, + i. 712; + Arnold in command at, ii. 101; + arrival at, of the commissioners to form a union with the colonies, + ii. 145; + retreat of Arnold from, on the approach of the British--goods + of merchants of, seized by Arnold (_note_), ii. 165. + + Moore, Colonel James, Donald M'Donald pursued by, to Moore's creek, + ii. 117. + + Moore's-creek bridge, the battle at, the first of the Revolution below + the Roanoke, ii. 119; + impulse given by the victory at, to the Revolution in the South, + ii. 182. + + Moravians, of Salem, in North Carolina, address of, to Washington + (_note_), iii. 182. + + Morgan, Doctor John, successor of Doctor Church at the head of the army + hospital, i. 613. + + Morgan, General Daniel, with Braddock in his expedition against Fort + Duquesne, i. 152; + anecdote of, i. 152, 618; + arrival of, at Cambridge, with a body of southern riflemen--marks upon + the back and breast of, i. 618; + with Arnold in his expedition against Quebec, i. 683, 697; + made prisoner at the siege of Quebec, i. 721; + sent with his riflemen to the assistance of Gates, ii. 495; + at Bemis's Heights, ii. 530; + testimony of Gates to the value of the corps of, ii. 550; + pursuit of, by Tarleton, ii. 713; + defeat of Tarleton by, at the Cowpens, ii. 714; + escape of, from Cornwallis, ii. 715; + fourth in command in the force sent against the Whiskey Insurrection + in 1794, iii. 315; + correspondence of, with Washington, in relation to the Whiskey + Insurrection, iii. 317. + + Morocco, relations with, in 1795, iii. 379. + + Morris, Gouverneur, stands to Houdon, in Paris, for Washington's statue, + iii. 50; + agent of the United States in London, in 1790, iii. 156; + extract from the diary of Washington in relation to the mission of, + iii. 157; + mission of, unsuccessful, iii. 160; + report of, on the currency, in 1782, iii. 175; + successor of Jefferson at the French court, iii. 222; + gloomy accounts written by, from Paris, iii. 223; + language of Jefferson respecting, iii. 224; + recall of, demanded by the French government, iii. 295; + James Monroe appointed the successor of, iii. 295, 301; + letter of Washington to, expressing anxiety for the ratification of + Jay's treaty, iii. 383; + private letter of Washington to, intercepted by the French government, + iii. 445; + adverse to Adams's hasty sending of envoys to France in 1799, iii. 530. + + Morris, Robert, letter of Washington to, complaining of defection in the + republican ranks, ii. 366; + important service rendered by, to Washington, at Trenton, by a loan of + money, ii. 381; + declension in the character of Congress remarked by, ii. 432; + money borrowed by, of Rochambeau, ii. 726; + lodgings taken by Washington at the house of, in 1785, iii. 62; + testimony of, to the abilities of Hamilton, iii. 121; + house of, in Philadelphia, selected for the residence of Washington, + iii. 167; + rent of house of, iii. 170. + + Morris, Roger, headquarters of Washington at the house of, on Harlem + Heights, ii. 297. + + Morristown, design of Washington to make his winter-quarters in the + neighborhood of--activity of Washington at, ii. 392; + headquarters of Washington in the Freemasons' Tavern at--military family + of Washington at, ii. 398; + precautions taken by Washington against small-pox in the camp at, + ii. 401; + the bulk of the army at, composed of militia, ii. 413; + letters of Washington in relation to the condition of the army at, + ii. 414; + camp at, broken up, ii. 442; + sufferings of the republicans at, ii. 666, 706; + meeting of the Pennsylvania troops at, ii. 707. + + Mother of Washington, character and habits of--her single weakness, i. 29; + Sir Matthew Hale's "Contemplations" a favorite book of, i. 30; + opposition of, to George's entering the navy, i. 44; + fondness of, for fine horses, i. 46; + her son's visit to, on his return from Great Meadows, i. 124; + opposition of, to her son's joining Braddock, i. 140; + opposed to her son's taking any part in the frontier wars, i. 188; + visit of Washington to, at Fredericksburg, in 1789, iii. 85; + death of, in 1789, iii. 117. + + Moultrie, Colonel, fort on Sullivan's island, in Charleston harbor, taken + possession of by--national flag made under the directions of (_note_), + ii. 186; + strong fort erected by, on Sullivan's island, ii. 187; + defence of Fort Sullivan by, ii. 190; + pair of colors presented to, by the ladies of Charleston--colors + presented to, now in the Tower of London (_note_)--biographical + notice of (_note_), ii. 196. + + Mount Defiance, works at Ticonderoga, and on Mount Independence, commanded + by, ii. 464. + + Mount Vernon, the home of Washington in his nineteenth year, i. 57; + return of Washington to, after Braddock's defeat, i. 186; + Washington an invalid at, in 1758, i. 252; + Washington arrives at, with its future mistress, i. 288; + life of Washington at, at the close of the French and Indian War, + i. 303; + became Washington's by the death of the daughter of his brother Lawrence + (_note_)--as it was when the abode of Washington, i. 304; + agricultural products of the estate of, i. 306; + generous scale of hospitality at, before the Revolution--names of + distinguished visitors at, i. 308; + tranquil years passed by Washington at, before the Revolution, i. 310; + return of Washington to, on the dissolution of the first continental + Congress, i. 454; + the headquarters of military councils in the winter of 1774-'75, i. 471; + busy life of Washington at, in 1775, i. 475; + news of the battle of Lexington at, i. 527; + alarm occasioned at, by the movements of Lord Dunmore (_note_), ii. 26; + threatened by Lord Dunmore, ii. 110; + return of Washington to, at the conclusion of the war, iii. 37; + numerous visitors at, in 1784, iii. 42, 48; + visit of Lafayette to, iii. 42; + Washington's improvements at, in 1785, iii. 50; + influence of Washington on public affairs while in retirement at, + iii. 59; + young Lafayette and M. Frestel at, in 1797, iii. 479; + habits of Washington at, after his retirement to private life, iii. 482; + Lawrence Lewis invited by Washington to reside at, iii. 483; + occupation of Washington at, in 1798, iii. 488; + Washington recalled from, to public life, in 1798, iii. 490. + + Moustier, Count de, ball given in honor of Washington by, iii. 110. + + Muhlenburg, General, hostility of, to Jay's treaty, iii. 353. + + Murray, General, with Amherst at the siege of Montreal in 1760, i. 301. + + Murray, Mr., successor of Adams as minister to Holland in 1796, iii. 423; + copy of a letter of Talleyrand transmitted by, to the government at + Washington--nominated by Adams minister plenipotentiary to France, + iii. 528; + Oliver Wolcott, and Governor Davie, of North Carolina, associated with, + as envoys to France, iii. 529. + + Muse, Adjutant, the manual exercise acquired by Washington with, + i. 46, 62; + with Washington at Great Meadows, i. 113; + alleged cowardice of, i. 124; + caustic letter of Washington to (_note_), i. 361. + + +N. + + Nantasket road, stay of the British fleet in, after the evacuation of + Boston, ii. 81. + + Nash, General, death of, at Germantown, ii. 556; + biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 557. + + Natanis, chief of the Norridgewock Indians, with Arnold in his Quebec + expedition--made prisoner at Quebec (_note_), i. 695. + + _National Gazette_, Philip Freneau editor of, in 1791, iii. 197. + + Natural Bridge, in Virginia, Washington's initials carved upon, in 1750, + i. 56. + + Navigation, inland, ideas of Washington in relation to, iii. 43. + + Navy, Washington at the age of fifteen about to enter, i. 44; + measures taken by the continental Congress for the organization and + regulation of, i. 743; + commencement of, in 1794, iii. 294; + officers of, appointed by Washington in 1794 (_note_), iii. 295; + increase of, urged by Washington, in 1796, iii. 455; + increase of, recommended by Adams, in the prospect of a war with + France, iii. 495. + + Neal, John, lines by, on the fortification of Breed's hill, i. 557. + + Nelson, Governor, patriotism displayed by, at the siege of Yorktown, + ii. 734. + + Netherlands, rejoicings in Boston, in 1793, at the conquest of, by + France, iii. 237. + + Neutrality, efforts of Washington to preserve, in 1793, iii. 239; + proclamation of Washington enjoining, iii. 241; + laws in relation to, sustained in 1793, iii. 257. + + Neville, General, house of, at Pittsburgh, burned by insurgents, in + 1794, iii. 310. + + Newark, entrance of Cornwallis into, at the moment of Washington's + retreat from, ii. 346. + + New Berne, North Carolina, spirit of opposition to British rule prevalent + in, in 1774--provincial convention of republicans called + at--assemblage of the legislature at, ii. 111; + visit of Washington to, on his southern tour, in 1791, iii. 181. + + Newburg, Washington with the army at, iii. 7; + discontents in the army at, iii. 15; + addresses of Armstrong to the army at, iii. 16, 18; + address read by Washington to a meeting of officers at (_note_), + iii. 18; + resolutions of a meeting of officers at, iii. 20; + letter of Washington to the president of Congress in relation to the + meeting at, iii. 21. + + Newburyport, departure of Arnold from, for the invasion of Canada, i. 688. + + Newcastle, duke of, his ignorance and incapacity--anecdote of, told by + Horace Walpole (_note_), i. 129; + Horatio Gates consulted by, in relation to the colonies--advice of Mr. + Hanbury to, i. 130. + + New England, liberality and heroism of, in colonial times, i. 175; + Dieskau defeated by men principally from, i. 184; + tour of Washington through, in 1789, iii. 125; + demonstrations of respect paid to Washington in, iii. 126, 134. + + Newfoundland, measures of Lord North hostile to the New-England fisheries + at, i. 496. + + New Hampshire, late ratification of the federal constitution in, iii. 78. + + New-Hampshire Grants, history of, i. 523. + + New Haven, rejection of Washington in, in 1789, iii. 126. + + New Jersey, treasury of the province of, taken possession of by the + people, after the battle of Lexington, i. 516; + measures taken by Washington for the defence of, ii. 323; + despondency of the people of, ii. 350; + Governor Livingston powerless in, ii. 351; + British protections taken by persons in (_note_), ii. 366; + indignation of the people of, at the brutal conduct of the Hessians, + ii. 397; + proclamation issued in, by Washington, in relation to loyalists, + ii. 400; + course of conduct of Washington censured by members of the legislature + of, ii. 401; + Americans left in possession of, by General Howe, ii. 453; + remonstrance of troops from, with the legislature--mediation of + Washington in favor of troops from, ii. 657; + sum of money raised by the ladies of, for the army, ii. 679; + mutiny of troops of, at Pompton, ii. 709. + + Newport, threatened by Captain Wallace, ii. 16; + tories of, deprived of their arms by General Lee--oath administered by + General Lee to the tories of, ii. 17; + the French blockaded in, by Admiral Arbuthnot, ii. 681; + voyage of Washington to, in 1790, accompanied by Jefferson, iii. 162. + + New Rochelle, post taken at, by Lord Howe, ii. 312. + + New York, population of, in 1756, i. 198; + powers of the governor and legislature of, suspended--sympathy of all + the other colonies with, i. 342; + British ministers misled by the loyal bearing of the assembly of, i 487; + loyalty of, in 1775, i. 496; + refusal of the assembly of, to sanction the proceedings of the first + continental Congress--provincial congress assembled in, i. 515; + functions of government assumed by the provincial congress of--large + proportion of troops furnished by, for the continental army (_note_), + i. 516; + arrival of Washington in the city of, on his way to Cambridge--address + of the president of the provincial congress of, to Washington, i. 577; + peculiar position of the province of--influence of the loyalists in, + i. 579; + plan of the British ministry for taking possession of, ii. 30; + measures recommended by Congress for the defence of--machinations of + Tryon in, ii. 31; + alarm occasioned in, by the action of Lee against the tories, ii. 39; + flight of tories from, ii. 39, 41; + effect in, of the news of the evacuation of Boston, ii. 78; + measures of Washington for the defence of, ii. 82; + respect paid to Washington on his way to, from Boston--fortified by + Lord Stirling, ii. 84; + extreme caution of the provincial congress of, ii. 127; + list of names of the vigilance committee appointed by the whigs of, + ii. 128; + alarm occasioned in, by broadsides from the _Asia_, ii. 129; + temporizing policy of the provincial congress of, ii. 130; + batteries in and near, in March, 1776 (_note_), ii. 137; + placed under martial law by General Putnam, ii. 138; + headquarters of Washington in--society broken up in, ii. 139; + communications between the people of, and the king's ships, ii. 140; + measures of Congress for the defence of, ii. 170; + schemes of the tories in, under the direction of Tryon, ii. 172, 173; + inadequacy of the force at, for its defence, ii. 179, 180; + Declaration of Independence read to the troops in--statue of George III. + in, destroyed by a party of soldiers and citizens, ii. 214; + excitement caused in, by broadsides from British ships, ii. 218; + arrival of Lord Howe at--tories in prison in, removed to the interior, + ii. 221; + sectional jealousies in the camp at, ii. 230, 242; + backwardness of recruits in joining the camp at, ii. 231; + defensive works in the neighborhood of, ii. 233; + the abandonment of, by Washington, recommended by the state convention, + ii. 234; + fire-ships constructed to destroy British vessels in the harbor of, + ii. 236; + deficiency in numbers and discipline of the army of Washington at, + ii. 241; + alarm occasioned in, by the firing in the battle of Long Island, + ii. 273; + destruction of, proposed by Washington, and urged by General Greene, + ii. 286, 287, 289; + desertions from the American army at, after the battle of Long Island, + ii. 285, 287; + Washington directed by Congress not to destroy--rumors respecting the + burning of, in the British camp, ii. 287; + letter of Washington respecting the designs of the British + against--evacuation of, proposed by Washington, ii. 288; + inhabitants of, recommended by Washington to remove from, ii. 262; + evacuation of, commenced under the superintendence of Colonel Glover, + ii. 294; + more than seven years in the possession of the British, ii. 297; + great fire in, immediately after its occupation by the British--origin + of the great fire in (_note_), ii. 300; + New York and Rhode Island, the British confined to, ii. 645; + harbor of, frozen over in the winter of 1779-'80, ii. 665; + movements of the allies in the neighborhood of, ii. 722-724; + relief to the southern states by the movements at, ii. 725; + evacuation of, by the British, iii. 32; + legislature of, in favor of a closer federal union, iii. 56; + journey of Washington to, in 1789, iii. 85; + reception of Washington at, in 1789, iii. 89; + frugal habits of Washington in, iii. 169; + houses occupied by Washington in (_note_), iii. 169. + + New Windsor, headquarters of Governor Clinton at, ii. 546. + + Niagara, expedition against, under Governor Shirley, proposed by General + Braddock, i. 141; + failure of Shirley's expedition against, i. 185. + + Nicola, Colonel Lewis, letter of, to Washington, urging his assumption of + the title of king, iii. 8; + reply of Washington to, iii. 9. + + Ninety Six, siege of, by General Greene, iii. 2. + + Noailles, Viscount de, refuge taken by, in America (_note_), iii. 278. + + Norfolk, distress of the loyalists on board the ships at, ii. 24; + laid in ashes by Lord Dunmore, ii. 25; + destroyed by the republicans under Colonel Stevens--barracks erected at, + by Lord Dunmore, ii. 109. + + North Carolina, "Regulators" of, in 1770, i. 371; + loyalty of, in 1775, i. 496; + provincial congress formed in, i. 520; + embarkation of Cornwallis for, with seven regiments, ii. 90; + outrages of Cornwallis in, ii. 185; + increase of the revolutionary feeling in, ii. 111; + Martin the last royal governor of, ii. 120; + hesitation of, to ratify the federal constitution, iii. 98. + + North Castle, retreat of Washington from White Plains to, ii. 322; + perplexity of Washington at, as to the movements of General Howe, + ii. 323. + + Northern American army, bad condition of, in the autumn of 1776, ii. 243. + + North, Lord, chosen prime minister in 1770, i. 364; + character and personal appearance of--early opposition of, to the + Americans (_note_), i. 365; + proposal of, to continue the duty on tea, i. 366; + large majority of, in the house of commons, in 1774, i. 485; + caricatures of, published in England, i. 486; + preparatory measures of, for the coercion of the colonies, i. 493; + address to the king relative to American affairs moved by. i. 494; + bill hostile to the trade of New England brought forward by, i. 496; + "conciliatory bill" brought forward by, i. 497; + misrepresentations of the evacuation of, Boston made by. ii. 85; + decisive conciliatory measures proposed by, in relation to the + colonies--opposition to the measures of, by Lord Chatham, ii. 608; + Washington's opinion of the proposed measures of, ii. 609; + the bills of, treated with scorn throughout the country, ii. 610; + resignation by, of the premiership, after the surrender at Yorktown, + ii. 740. + + Northwest territory, General Arthur St. Clair appointed governor + of--hostility of the Indians in--force sent against, under General + Harmar, iii. 156; + peace made with the Indians in, in 1794, iii. 329; + lands owned by Washington in, at the time of his death, iii. 543. + + Nova Scotia, conquest of, by General Winslow, in 1755, i. 178; + Washington adverse to a proposed expedition against, i. 629; + embarkation of tories for, in 1783, iii. 22. + + +O. + + Ogden, Matthias, with Arnold in his expedition against Quebec, i. 697. + + Ohio, account of Washington's mission to the French commander on the, + in 1753, i. 75-92. + + Ohio Company, object and constitution of, i. 60; + movements of, in 1750, i. 71. + + Ohio country, journey of Washington to the, in 1770, i. 358; + abundance of game in the, i. 359. + + Ohio expedition, perils and sufferings of Washington and his party while + on the, i. 90. + + Ohio, policy of driving the French beyond the, advocated by Washington, + i. 205. + + "Old Dominion," why so called (_note_), i. 236. + + Old South Church, in Boston, used as a riding-school by Burgoyne's + dragoons, i. 745. + + Onondaga towns, destruction of, ii. 655. + + Orders in council, British, in 1794, iii. 296; + revocation of, iii. 297. + + Orme, Captain, letter of, to Washington, urging him to become one of the + family of General Braddock, i. 139; + his opinion of colonial troops--biographical notice of (_note_), i. 151. + + Orne, Azar, appointed major-general of Massachusetts militia, ii. 60. + + Oswegatchie river, fort at the mouth of, a rendezvous of Indians and + tories, ii. 148. + + Oswego, supplies thrown into, by Bradstreet, i. 232; + siege of, by Montcalm, in 1756, i. 233; + death of Colonel Mercer at--capitulation of the fort at, i. 234. + + Otis, James, eloquent speeches made by, i. 317, 344; + misfortunes and death of (_note_), i. 318. + + +P. + + Paine, Thomas, "Common Sense" written by, ii. 11; + influence of his writings in keeping alive the spirit of the Revolution + (_note_), ii. 202; + agency of, in transmitting the key of the Bastile from Lafayette to + Washington--letter of, to Washington, accompanying the key, iii. 164; + malignant letter addressed to Washington by, iii. 461; + extracts from the letter of, written from the house of Monroe, in + Paris, iii. 462. + + Palfrey, William, letter of Washington to, respecting the tories in + Portsmouth, i. 746. + + Pall-bearers at the funeral of Washington, iii. 559. + + Paris, a Virginian, defeat of Donville by, i. 209. + + Paris, treaty of, vast extent of territory given to England by, i. 313. + + Parker, Captain, minute-men at Lexington under the command of, i. 504. + + Parker, Captain, sent up the Hudson river in the _Phoenix_ by General + Howe, ii. 218, 309. + + Parker, Sir Peter, arrival of, with a British fleet, off Charleston bar, + ii. 188; + attack of the fleet of, upon Fort Sullivan, ii. 190; + wounded in the attack upon Fort Sullivan, ii. 193. + + Parliament, accordance of, with the king, in measures against + Massachusetts, i. 449; + confidence of, that the "rebellion" would soon subside, ii. 395. + + Parsons, General, biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 548. + + Paterson, Judge, office of secretary of state offered to, by Washington, + in 1795, iii. 371. + + Paulus's Hook, capture of, by Captain Henry Lee, ii. 660. + + Peace, negotiations for, commenced at Paris, iii. 10; + commissioners appointed to negotiate a treaty of, iii. 15; + treaty of, signed by Franklin, Adams, Jay, and Henry Laurens, iii. 15; + news of the treaty of, iii. 21; + definitive treaty of, when signed, iii. 29. + + Peace of 1763, Washington introduced into a wider field of action by, + i. 321. + + Peale, Angelica, civic crown placed upon the head of Washington by, + iii. 86. + + Peale, Charles Willson, earliest portrait of Washington painted by, + iii. 476. + + Peekskill, unsuccessful attempt of the British to seize stores at, + ii. 426; + recommended by Washington as a point for the concentration of troops, + ii. 428; + eight regiments of the forces from Massachusetts ordered by Washington + to, ii. 429. + + Pemberton, Israel, objection of, to the Sunday-laws of New England, + i. 455; + warm answer to the objections of, by John Adams, i. 456. + + Pendleton, Edmund, Washington's journey to the first continental Congress + in company with, i. 417. + + Penn, Governor, friendly to the patriots (_note_), i. 457; + banished to Fredericksburg, in Virginia, i. 461; + petition intrusted to, for presentation to the king, i. 606. + + Pennibecker's Mill, Washington's army encamped at, ii. 551. + + Pennsylvania, early popularity of Washington in, i. 197; + Indian depredations on the frontier of, in 1756, i. 225; + peace secured on the frontier of, by the destruction of Kittanning by + Colonel Armstrong, i. 227; + conduct of the troops from, ii. 347, 500, 708; + weakness of Washington's army in, ii. 365; + necessities of the continental army supplied by, ii. 670; + mutiny at Morristown of the troops from, ii. 707; + proposal of the executive council of, to bestow a pecuniary reward on + Washington, iii. 41; + resistance in the western parts of, to the excise laws, in 1792, + iii. 217; + letter of Washington respecting rebellious movements in, in 1794, + iii. 305; + commencement of the "Whiskey Insurrection" in the western counties of, + iii. 307; + volunteers raised in, in 1794, through the eloquence of Mifflin + (_note_), iii. 317; + property owned by Washington in, at the time of his death, iii. 543. + + Penobscot bay, destruction of an American flotilla in, by Admiral Collier, + ii. 661. + + Percy, Lord, British reinforcements brought up by, at the battle of + Lexington, i. 508; + narrow escape of, at Cambridge, i. 509. + + Peyroney, Chevalier de, with Braddock in his expedition against Fort + Duquesne, i. 152. + + Philadelphia, number of houses in, in 1756, i. 198; + private entertainments in, in 1774 (_note_), i. 419; + measures taken by the people of, after the battle of Lexington, i. 517; + the continental army marched by Washington through the streets of, + ii. 495; + application of Hamilton to the ladies of, for clothing for the troops, + ii. 517; + march of Cornwallis into--fortifications of, taken possession of by the + British--cannonade opened upon, by frigates in the Delaware, ii. 518; + the capture of, disastrous to the British cause, ii. 519; + Washington urged to make an attack upon, ii. 566; + language of Marshall, in relation to Washington's prudence in not + attacking, ii. 567; + preparations of the British for leaving, ii. 616; + evacuation of, by Sir Henry Clinton, by order of the British ministry, + ii. 617; + sum of money raised by the ladies of, for the patriot army, ii. 678; + reception of Washington at, in 1789, iii. 86; + chosen in 1790 as the seat of government for ten years, iii. 150; + effects of the removal of the seat of government to, iii. 167; + arrival of Washington in, in 1790--Mrs. Washington's first _levee_ in, + iii. 170; + Washington's proclamation in 1793 approved by the "solid men" of, + iii. 250; + yellow fever in, in 1793, iii. 280; + left by Washington during the visit of the yellow fever in 1793, + iii. 281; + banquet given by the merchants of, on Washington's retirement from + office, iii. 476; + last visit of Washington to, iii. 525. + + Philipse family in New York, great landed estates of (_note_), i. 202. + + Philipse, Mary, Washington's admiration of, i. 199; + undeclared passion of Washington for, i. 201. + + Pickens, Colonel, Colonel Boyd defeated by, ii. 651. + + Pickering, Colonel, letter of, to Washington, hinting suspicions of + Randolph, iii. 360; + successor of Randolph, as secretary of state, in 1795, iii. 372; + letters of Washington to, iii. 496, 528, 530. + + Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth, hostility of, to Jay's treaty, iii. 354; + office of secretary of state offered to, by Washington, in 1795, + iii. 371; + letter of Washington to, urging his acceptance of the mission to France, + iii. 443; + refusal of the French government to receive, iii. 492; + ordered to leave France, iii. 493, 504; + notified by the French government to leave Paris, iii. 494; + special envoy to France in 1798, iii. 496; + indignant reply of, to the agents of the French Directory, iii. 503; + appointed major-general in the provisional army, in 1798 (_note_), + iii. 515; + encomium passed by Washington upon the character of, iii. 518; + willingness of, to serve as major-general under Hamilton--conference of, + with M'Henry and Hamilton, respecting the provisional army, in 1798, + iii. 525. + + Pinckney, Thomas, minister to the court of St. James in 1792, iii. 223; + a candidate for the vice-presidency in 1796, iii. 451; + letter of Washington to, in relation to the troubles with France, + iii. 495. + + Pine, Robert Edge, portrait of Washington painted by, iii. 50. + + Pitcairn, Major, sent by General Gage to seize stores at Concord, i. 503; + attack made by the soldiers of, upon the minute-men at Lexington, + i. 505. + + Pitt, Lord, unwillingness of Lady Chatham that he should bear arms against + the colonists (_note_), i. 686; + instructions of Washington to Arnold respecting, i. 686. + + Pitt, William, placed at the head of the British ministry--Lord Loudoun + recalled by--expeditions proposed by, against Louisburg, Ticonderoga, + and Fort Duquesne--General Forbes appointed by, to lead the expedition + against Fort Duquesne, i. 253; + measures of the Virginia assembly in response to the wishes of, i. 255; + conquest of Canada aimed at by, i. 259; + effect upon, of the news of the disaster at Ticonderoga, i. 266; + design of, to complete the conquest of Canada in 1759, i. 289; + his plan of the campaign in America in 1759, i. 290; + on the American "_subjects_," i. 321; + opposition of, in the house of commons, to the stamp-act--reply of, + to an interrogatory of Grenville, i. 324; + his commendation in Parliament of the colonists for resisting the + stamp-act, i. 339; + his denial of the right of England to tax the colonies, i. 340; + made earl of Chatham--medley cabinet of, in 1766, described by Burke + (_note_), i. 342; + various oppressive measures toward the colonies attempted by the + cabinet of, i. 343; + declining popularity of, as earl of Chatham--foolish fondness of, for + display (_note_), i. 363; + astonishing effect of the return of, to public life, in 1770, i. 364; + opposition of, to Lord North, i. 364, 365. + (See _Lord Chatham_.) + + Pitt, William (the younger), liberal commercial policy of, in 1783, + iii. 100. + + Pittsburgh, a noble monument to the memory of William Pitt, i. 284; + resolution adopted at, in 1792, in relation to the excise law (_note_), + iii. 216; + resistance in, to the excise law, iii. 308. + + Ploughed hill, occupied by Washington at the siege of Boston, i. 640. + + Poacher, Washington's chastisement of a, i. 309. + + Pohick Church, in Truro parish, Virginia, history of--characteristic + anecdote of Washington in connection with, i. 337; + condition of, when visited by the author in 1848 (_note_)--extract + from the record-book of (_note_), i. 338. + + Polson, William, with Braddock in his expedition against Fort Duquesne, + i. 152. + + Pomeroy, Seth, appointed brigadier-general in the continental army--brief + biographical notice of, i. 548; + courage displayed by, at Breed's hill, i. 562; + retirement and death of, i. 593. + + Pondevez, Viscount de, reception of Washington by, on board the + _Illustrious_, in 1789, iii. 132. + + Pontiac, hostile confederation brought about by, among the Indian + tribes--frontier forts seized by Indians under the direction of, + i. 319; + Detroit besieged by, in 1768--death of, at Cahokia, i. 320. + + Pope's creek, domain of Washington's ancestors on, i. 17, 35. + + Poplopen's creek, fortress erected at the mouth of, ii. 170. + + Porterfield, Captain, with Arnold in his expedition against Quebec, + i. 697. + + Portsmouth, New Hampshire, fort at, taken possession of by Sullivan and + Langdon, i. 484; + Sullivan sent to prepare the fort at, for the defence of the town, + i. 734; + visit of Washington to, in 1789, iii. 133. + + Post, Christian Frederick, an emissary of General Forbes among the western + Indians (_note_), i. 284. + + Post-office department, Franklin placed at the head of, by the second + continental Congress, i. 612. + + Potomac, barge kept on, by Washington, at Mount Vernon, i. 310. + + Potomac Company, fifty shares in, offered to Washington by the Virginia + legislature--Washington president of, iii. 47. + + Pott's Grove, Washington at, ii. 516. + + Potts, Isaac, the house of, the headquarters of Washington at Valley + Forge, ii. 602; + iron foundry and forge of, called "Valley Forge" (_note_)--Washington + seen by, in the woods, at prayer (_note_), ii. 602. + + Pownall, Governor, statement of, of the number of troops in the French + forts and settlements (_note_), i. 282. + + Prayers read by Washington in camp near Fort Necessity, i. 117. + + Presbyterian Church, abolition of slavery recommended by, in 1788, + iii. 152. + + Presbyterians almost all whigs during the progress of the Revolution, + i. 403. + + Prescott, Colonel William, fortification of Bunker's hill intrusted + to--personal appearance of--Breed's hill chosen by, instead of + Bunker's, i. 556; + voluntary exposure of, at Breed's hill (_note_), i. 558; + narrow escape of, at Breed's hill, i. 569. + + Prescott, General, capture of, by Rhode-Island republicans, ii. 473; + exchange of, for General Lee, ii. 474, 613. + + Preston, Captain, Boston mob fired upon by the soldiers of--and his men + tried for murder, and acquitted, by a Boston jury, i. 368; + his obstinate defence of the fort at St. John on the Sorel, i. 678; + honorable terms of surrender granted to, by Montgomery, i. 680. + + Prevost, General, invasion of South Carolina by, ii. 651. + + Price, Mr., assistance rendered by, to Montgomery, at Montreal, i. 712. + + Priestley. Doctor, letters of Franklin to (_note_), i. 605, 641. + + Princeton, troops left at, by Washington, under Lord Stirling and General + Adam Stephen, ii. 351; + night-march of Washington upon--advance led by Mercer in the night-march + on, ii. 386; + troops at, animated by the presence of Washington, ii. 388; + defeat of the British at, ii. 389; + strong impression produced on the public mind by the battle at, ii. 390; + Captain Leslie, son of the earl of Devon, killed at--American losses at, + ii. 891; + long-continued quiet of the two armies after the battle at, ii. 413; + adjournment of Congress to, iii. 26; + address of Congress to Washington at, iii. 28. + + Prisoners, cruel treatment of, by General Gage, i. 630; + correspondence between Washington and Gage in relation to the treatment + of, i. 630-635; + ill treatment of, retaliated by Washington, i. 633; + numbers taken by the British and Americans respectively, down to the + close of 1776, ii. 404; + letter of Washington to General Howe, relative to an exchange of--cruel + treatment of, by the British, ii. 405; + letter of Washington to the president of Congress, in relation to the + treatment of, ii. 408; + letter of Washington to Lord Howe, in relation to the treatment of, + ii. 409; + reply of Lord Howe to the letter of Washington, ii. 410; + joint commission proposed, to settle questions in relation to--refusal + of Washington to exchange an equal number of healthy for sickly, + ii. 412; + difficulties respecting the exchange of, ii. 605; + commissioners appointed to regulate the exchange of, ii. 606. + + Privateers fitted out by order of Washington, i. 740; + decision of Washington's cabinet, in 1793, respecting, iii. 270; + act of Congress in relation to, in 1798, iii. 496. + + Proclamation issued by Washington, enjoining neutrality, in 1798--language + of (_note_), iii. 241; + approved by the "solid men" of Philadelphia, iii. 250; + controversy respecting, between Hamilton and Madison, iii. 262. + + Proclamations issued by Washington in 1794, addressed to the insurgents in + Pennsylvania (_note_), iii. 311, 314. + + Property of Washington directed by his will to be sold, iii. 542; + notes of Washington in relation to, iii. 544. + + Prophecy, Indian, respecting the destinies of Washington, iii. 48. + + Prospect hill, shell thrown to, from Boston, by the British, ii. 62. + + Providence, Washington's acknowledgment of a, i. 387. + + Provincials, admirable conduct of, at the battle of the Monongahela, + i. 167, 169. + + Provost, Doctor, prayers offered by, at the inauguration of Washington, + iii. 96. + + Pulaski, Count, awaiting an appointment to a troop of horse, ii. 497; + conspicuous bravery of, at the battle of the Brandywine, ii. 510; + force of infantry under the command of, surprised and massacred by + Ferguson, ii. 643; + mortally wounded at the siege of Savannah, ii. 663. + + Putnam, Colonel Rufus, appointed brigadier under Wayne in 1791, iii. 197. + + Putnam, General Israel, at the defeat of Dieskau, i. 182, 184; + with Abercrombie at Ticonderoga, i. 262; + taken prisoner by the French and Indians in 1758, i. 266; + at Cambridge with a body of Connecticut men, i. 543; + appointed by Congress associate major-general with Philip Schuyler + i. 547; + efforts of, to turn the fugitives at Bunker's hill, i. 569; + "impregnable fortress" of, on Cobble hill, i. 761; + intrenchment on Lechmere's Point begun by, i. 764; + sent to New York to assume the chief command there, ii. 82; + martial law proclaimed by, in New York, ii. 138; + left in command at New York by Washington--instructions of Washington + to, relative to the seizure of Long-Island tories, ii. 157; + obstructions sunk in the Hudson river, near Fort Washington, under the + direction of, ii. 237; + command of the troops in Brooklyn given to, on the approach of the + British, ii. 264; + neglect of, to secure the hill-passes in the neighborhood of Bedford, + ii. 277; + escape of the troops of, from New York, under the guidance of Aaron + Burr, ii. 296; + almost unlimited powers granted to, by Congress in Philadelphia, + ii. 362; + outwitted by Sir Henry Clinton, ii. 543, 546; + narrow escape of, from British dragoons, ii. 658. + + +Q. + + Quakers, adverse to a union of the colonies, i. 455; + opposition of, to the American Association, i. 456, 457; + account of a meeting of, in 1775, from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, + i. 457; + "Testimony" of the, i. 458; + as a body friends of the king to the end of the war, i. 459, 460; + harsh condemnation of the "Testimony" of, by Christopher Marshall + (_note_), i. 459; + the "Testimony" of, repudiated by a large number of--military company + of, called _The Quaker Company_--aid and comfort given to the enemy + by--records of meetings of, found to be treasonable, i. 460; + names of, banished to Fredericksburg (_note_)--spies upon + Washington in camp at Valley Forge--orders issued by Washington + respecting, i. 461; + Roberts and Carlisle, members of the sect of, hanged as spies--apology + for the conduct of, i. 462; + adverse to a day of fasting and prayer appointed by Congress (_note_), + i. 531; + congratulations of, offered to Cornwallis on his entrance into + Philadelphia, ii. 518; + memorial of, in relation to slavery, laid before Congress in 1790, + iii. 152; + volunteers from, among the troops sent to put down the "Whiskey + Insurrection" in 1794, iii. 321. + + Quebec, siege of, by General Wolfe, i. 293-300; + capitulation of, to General Townshend--General Murray left to + defend--siege of, by De Levi, in 1760, i. 300; + opportune arrival of Lord Colville at, i. 301; + expedition against, intrusted to Arnold, i. 683; + instructions of Washington to Arnold on his departure for, i. 683-687; + approach of Arnold known in, through Indian treachery--terror of the + people of, on the arrival of Arnold at Point Levi, i. 696; + Maclean's Highlanders the only reliable defence of, during the siege by + Arnold, i. 702; + small British squadron sent from Boston for the relief of, i. 711; + probable success of the Americans at, reported to Washington by Captain + Freeman, i. 713; + reliance of Sir Guy Carleton upon troops from England for the defence + of, ii. 99; + garrison of, reinforced--sortie from, led by Carleton, upon the + Americans on the Plains of Abraham--retreat of the American army + from, to Chamblee and St. John, ii. 102. + + Quincy, Josiah, biographical notice of (_note_), i. 464; + letters of, written from London, in relation to the Revolutionary + struggle, i. 465-467; + extract from a speech of, delivered in Boston, in 1773 (_note_), i. 465; + scheme of, for protecting the harbor of Boston, i. 748. + + +R. + + Radnor, earl of, letter of Washington to, from Mount Vernon, in 1798, + iii. 488. + + Ralle, Colonel, surprise of, at Trenton, ii. 373; + mortal wound received by, at the head of his grenadiers, ii. 374; + visited at his quarters by Washington and Greene, ii. 375. + + Randolph, Edmund, resolutions of, in the convention to amend the federal + confederation, iii. 66; + appointed by Washington attorney-general in 1789, iii. 121; + successor of Jefferson as secretary of state, iii. 289; + letters of Washington to, in relation to Jay's treaty, iii. 357, 359; + suspicions thrown on the integrity of, by intercepted papers of Fauchet, + iii. 361; + office in the cabinet resigned by, iii. 363; + correspondence of, with Washington, in relation to the matter of + Fauchet's intercepted papers, iii. 363-366; + implications in Fauchet's papers denied by--written declaration of + Fauchet in favor of--threats of, to damage the reputation of + Washington, iii. 364; + vindication of, published by himself, iii. 366; + regret of, in after-life, for his course toward Washington, iii. 367. + + Randolph, Peyton, chosen president of the first continental Congress, + i. 421; + name of, presented to the British government in a bill of attainder + (_note_), i. 481; + chosen president of the second continental Congress, i. 528; + biographical notice of (_note_), i. 534. + + Rappahannock, house and lands on the, bequeathed to George Washington by + his father, i. 29; + stone thrown across the, by Washington, at Fredericksburg, iii. 593. + + Raritan, bridge of boats over the, constructed by General Howe, ii. 450 + + Rawlins, Mr., Washington bled by, in his last sickness, iii. 553. + + "Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington." by G. W. P. Custis, + extracts from (_note_), iii. 531. + + Red Hook, Long Island, redoubt erected upon, ii. 84. + + Reed, Colonel Joseph, of Philadelphia, letter of, to the earl of + Dartmouth, in relation to the general Congress, i. 411; + extract from a letter of, on the continental Congress, i. 419; + letter of, in relation to the unanimity of feeling in the colonies in + opposition to the claims of Parliament, i. 447; + letter of, to Lord Dartmouth, denying that independence was aimed at, + i. 453; + Washington's private secretary at Cambridge, i. 574; + letter of Washington to, on the condition of the continental army, + ii. 14; + letter of Washington to, alluding to the difficulties of his position + at Cambridge, ii. 46, 50; + sent by Washington to meet Lieutenant Brown, bearing a flag from Lord + Howe, ii. 225; + despondent letter of, in relation to the prospects of the republic + (_note_), ii. 311; + letters of, to General Lee, ii. 338, 339; + unfaithfulness of, to Washington, ii. 340; + letter of General Lee to, reflecting on Washington--disaffection + of, discovered by Washington, ii. 347; + explanatory letters of, to Washington, ii. 348; + prisoners taken by, near Princeton, ii. 382. + + Regulators of North Carolina, in 1770, i. 371; + defeated by Governor Try on, and the leaders hanged, i. 372; + junction of, with the tories--respect of, for the oath given to Tryon + (_note_), ii. 114. + + Reidesel, Baroness, with her husband in the camp of Burgoyne, ii 534; + account left by, of the generous conduct of Schuyler, ii. 537. + + Religion, Washington's opinion of the importance of, to the well-being + of a state, i. 336. + + _Republican_ and _Federal_ parties, origin of, iii. 151. + + _Republicans_, Jefferson at the head of the party, iii. 188. + + Revere, Paul, people incited by, to seize the fort at Portsmouth, i. 484; + bills of the first issue of continental money engraved by (_note_), + i. 550. + + Rhode Island, batteries of Newport seized by the people of, i. 484; + army voted by the assembly of, after the battle of Lexington, i. 514; + complete equipment of the troops from, in the army at Cambridge, i. 596; + tories of, quiet after the visit of General Lee, ii. 18; + combined efforts of the American and French forces to recapture, + ii. 637; + singular conduct of D'Estaing at, ii. 638; + severe engagement at Quaker hill, on--arrival of Sir Henry Clinton + at--irritation caused by the failure to recapture, ii. 639; + and New York, the British confined to, ii. 645; + refusal of, to ratify the federal constitution, iii. 98; + not visited by Washington, in his tour through New England, in 1789, + iii. 134; + federal constitution adopted by, in 1790--visit of Washington to, in + 1790, iii. 162. + + Richmond hill, Washington and his military family occupants of the mansion + at, in 1776, ii. 172. + + Richmond, visit of Washington to, on his southern tour, iii. 180. + + Riflemen, American, origin of the Indian-like dress of, i. 389. + + "Rights of Man," Paine's, detested by John Adams, but admired by + Jefferson, iii. 190; + apparently endorsed by Washington and Jefferson, iii. 191; + several copies taken by Wellington to Mount Vernon--statement of Paine + respecting the sale of (_note_), iii. 200. + + Rivington, the tory printer, type and presses of, destroyed by Sears, + ii. 33. + + Roberts and Carlisle, Quakers, hanged as spies, i. 462. + + Robespierre, fall of, in 1794, iii. 302. + + Robinson, Colonel, defence of Boston Neck by, i. 513. + + Robinson, Speaker, letters of Washington to, urging the invasion of the + Ohio country, i. 206, 244; + letter of Washington to, in relation to the conduct of Governor + Dinwiddie, i. 218; + advice of, to Washington, not to resign his commission, i. 245; + address of, on the part of the Virginia house of burgesses, to + Washington, i. 288. + + Rochambeau, Count de, arrival of French troops under the command of, at + Newport, ii. 679; + blockaded in Newport by Admiral Arbutbnot, ii. 681; + conference of Washington with, at Weathersfield, ii. 722; + money borrowed of, by Robert Morris, ii. 726; + death of, at the age of eighty-two, iii. 500. + + Rockingham, marquis of, speech of, in Parliament, on the evacuation of + Boston, ii. 88. + + Rocky hill, near Princeton, house engaged by Congress at, for the use + of Washington, iii. 28; + last general order of Washington dated at, iii. 29. + + Roebuck, Doctor, efforts of, to counteract the influence of Franklin in + England, i. 485. + + Rogers, Major, suspicious conduct of, ii. 18; + British army joined by, ii. 19; + arrested, by order of Washington, at South Amboy (_note_), ii. 20; + Queen's Rangers embodied by, ii. 309; + attack made upon the rangers of, by Colonel Haslet, at Mamaroneck, + ii. 314. + + Roxbury, description of the fort at (_note_), i. 589; + General Ward's division stationed at, at the siege of Boston, i. 619. + + Roxbury Neck, burning of Brown's house at, i. 588. + + Royal American regiment, formation of, proposed, i. 229. + + _Royal Gazette_, spurious letters published in, in 1778, charged to + have been written by Washington, iii. 448. + + Rules of behavior, fifty-four, from an early manuscript volume of + Washington, i. 37-41. + + Rush, Doctor Benjamin, courage and philanthropy of--biographical notice + of (_note_), iii. 281. + + Rutledge, John, Patrick Henry's opinion of, as an orator, i. 450; + made governor of South Carolina--biographical notice of (_note_), + ii. 187; + military works constructed by, near Charleston, ii. 188; + made dictator by the legislature of South Carolina ii. 671; + appointed associate judge of the supreme court in 1789, iii. 122; + hostility of, to Jay's treaty, iii. 354. + + +S. + + Sabbath, observance of the, by Washington, iii. 112. + + Sag Harbor, destruction of British stores at, by Lieutenant-Colonel + Meigs, ii. 439. + + St. Clair, Colonel Arthur, despatched by General Thompson against + Maclean, at Three Rivers, ii. 147; + commissioned major-general in the continental army, ii. 403; + force under the command of, at Ticonderoga, ii. 463; + Ticonderoga evacuated by, ii. 465; + pursued by Burgoyne, ii. 466; + retreat of, to Fort Edward, ii. 467; + superseded in the northern department by Arnold, ii. 470; + suspicions excited against, ii. 697; + appointed governor of the Northwest territory, iii. 156; + expedition of, against the Indians in the Northwest, iii. 176, 193; + caution given to, by Washington, iii. 176; + surprise and defeat of, iii. 193; + considerate conduct of Washington toward, iii. 196. + + St. Clair. Sir John, military posts visited by, in 1754, i. 137. + + St. John, unauthorized descent upon, by Captains Broughton and Selman, + i. 742. + + St. John on the Sorel, capture and abandonment of, by Arnold, i. 646; + retreat of Ethan Allen from--reinforcements sent to, by Governor + Carleton, i. 647; + surrender of, to Montgomery--clothing out of the captured stores + allowed by Montgomery to the garrison of--Major Andre among the + prisoners taken at, i. 680. + + St. Leger, Colonel, junction of, with Sir John Johnson, at Oswego, + ii. 459. + + St. Pierre, Legardeur de, his reception of Washington at Fort Le Boeuf, + i. 83; + audience given by, to Tanacharisson and his brother-chiefs, i. 84; + reply of, to the letter of Governor Dinwiddie, i. 85; + efforts of, to detain Tanacharisson and other chiefs of Washington's + party, i. 86; + death of, i. 181. + + Salem, Massachusetts, patriotism of the people of, i. 389; + unsuccessful attempt of Colonel Leslie to seize arms at, i. 502. + + Salem, North Carolina, visit of Washington to a Moravian settlement at, + in 1791, iii. 181. + + Sanders's creek, total defeat of Gates at, by Lords Cornwallis and Rawdon, + ii. 683. + + Santee, Greene on the High Hills of, iii. 3. + + Saratoga, militia of Massachusetts and Connecticut desired by Washington + to rendezvous at, ii. 471; + destruction by Burgoyne of Schuyler's buildings at, ii. 535. + + Savannah, seizure of powder in, by the patriots, i. 521; + combined attack of Lincoln and D'Estaing upon--Count Pulaski mortally + wounded at the siege of, ii. 663; + gloom spread through the South by the repulse at, ii. 664; + evacuation of, by the British, iii. 11; + visit of Washington to, on his southern tour, in 1791, iii. 181. + + Sayre, Stephen, letter of the earl of Chatham to, commending the + continental Congress, i. 448; + biographical notice of (_note_), i. 449; + arrest of, in London (_note_), ii. 2. + + Scalps, prices paid for, in early colonial times (_note_), i. 209. + + School, Washington's application at, i. 45. + + Schoolbooks, manuscript, of Washington, still in existence, i. 36. + + Schoolfellows, Washington's, their regard for him, i. 36, 46. + + Schuyler, Philip, at Oswego in 1756, i. 232; + commander at Fort George in 1756, i. 234. + + Schuyler, Philip, appointed third major-general under Washington--brief + biographical notice of--in the second continental Congress, i. 547; + instructions left with, by Washington, on his departure for Cambridge, + i. 579; + affectionate letter of, to Washington, at Cambridge, i. 597; + powers granted to, by the second continental Congress, i. 610; + ordered to take possession of St. John and Montreal--command of the + northern army taken by, i. 654; + alarming letters received by, from Tryon county, i. 655: + letter of, to Washington, in relation to affairs at Ticonderoga--return + of troops in the colony of New York made by (_note_), i. 656; + letter of sympathy of Washington to, describing affairs in the camp at + Cambridge, i. 657; + determination of, to invade Canada--efforts of, to secure the neutrality + of the Six Nations, i. 661; + letter of Washington to, in relation to the invasion of Canada, i. 662; + address to the people of Canada issued by, from Isle aux Noix, i. 665; + movements of, against St. John, i. 667; + sickness of, on his expedition against St. John, i. 668, 669; + his commendation of Montgomery to the continental Congress, i. 668; + Major Brown and Colonel Ethan Allen sent into Canada by--compelled by + sickness to give up his command to Montgomery, i. 669; + letter of, to Washington, in relation to the insubordination of troops, + i. 676; + feeling against, among the Connecticut troops (_note_), i. 705; + letter of, to Washington, expressing his determination to retire from + public life, i. 706; + ill feeling toward, among the troops from Connecticut, i. 708, 760; + directed by Congress to establish his headquarters at Albany, ii. 96; + disappointment of, at the disastrous turn of affairs in Canada--cheering + words of Washington written to, ii. 103; + Sir John Johnson and his Scotch Highlanders disarmed by, ii. 105; + calumnies circulated respecting, ii. 153, 155, 245, 421; + almost constant bodily sickness of, ii. 244; + letter of, to Washington, in relation to Gates's claims of precedence, + ii. 248; + resentment of Gates disavowed by the generous conduct of, ii. 250; + frank and honest character of--resolution of, to resign his commission, + ii. 417; + indignation of, at a letter written by Colonel Joseph Trumbull, ii. 418; + neglect of his letters by Congress--censured by Congress for offensive + language, ii. 419; + character of, thoroughly vindicated in Congress--fully reinstated in + command in the northern department--assiduity of, as military + commander in Philadelphia, ii. 422; + some of the slanders of, probably originated with Gates, ii. 423; + energetic action of, on the approach of Burgoyne, ii. 462; + efforts of, to hinder the march of Burgoyne, ii. 470; + wonderful forecast of Washington displayed in a letter to, ii. 471; + testimony of Irving to the noble qualities of, ii. 472; + machinations of Gates and others against, ii. 477; + ordered by Congress to the headquarters of the army, ii. 478; + retreat of, to Cohoes Falls, ii. 484; + "responsibility" taken by, in sending relief to Fort Schuyler, ii. 485; + great exertions of, to check the progress of Burgoyne, ii. 488; + exclusion of, by Gates, from his first council of war, ii. 521; + buildings of, at Saratoga, burned by Burgoyne, ii. 585. + + Seabury, Reverend Samuel, carried off to New Haven by Sears, ii. 33. + + Seamen, British-born, claimed by England when found on neutral vessels, + iii. 272. + + Sears, Captain Isaac, scheme of, for disarming tories in New York, ii. 32; + type and presses of Rivington, the tory printer, destroyed by, ii. 33; + plan of, for disarming the tories in New York, favorably considered by + Washington and Lee, ii. 34. + + Sears, Captain Robert, entrance of, into New York, at the head of a body + of troops--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 41; + British stores seized by, at Turtle bay, ii. 128. + + Sedgwick, Mr., of Massachusetts, motion made by, in Congress, to provide + for the execution of certain treaties, in 1796--warm debate on the + motion of, iii. 398. + + Senate, response of, to Washington's inaugural, in 1789, iii. 97. + + Seneca Indians, name given to Washington by, ii. 657. + + Seymour, Colonel, troop of horse of, dismissed by Washington, ii. 232; + mortification and generosity of, ii. 233; + Graydon's description of his troop of Connecticut light horse + (_note_), ii. 242. + + Sharpe, Governor, appointed to the command of all the colonial + forces--invitation of, to Washington, to re-enter the army, i. 130; + his letter to Washington returned, i. 131; + remark of the king respecting the honesty of--superseded by General + Braddock in the command of the colonial forces, i. 135. + + Shenandoah, the valley of, famous for its abundance of winged game, i. 50. + + Sherburne, Major Henry, sent to the relief of the fort at the + Cedars--Indian ambuscade fallen into by, ii. 149. + + Shingis, head sachem of the Delawares, with Washington in 1753, i. 77; + active with the French in 1756, i. 225. + + Shirley, Governor, Washington's respect for, i. 145; + failure of his expedition against Niagara, i. 185; + visit of Washington to, in New England, in 1756, i. 196; + his reception of Washington in Boston, i. 200; + biographical notice of (_note_), i. 200. + + Shuldham, Admiral, alarm of, on seeing the Americans on Dorchester + Heights, ii. 65. + + Silliman, General, militia collected by, to resist Tryon in his expedition + against Danbury--joined by Wooster and Arnold, ii. 484. + + Simcoe, Lieutenant-Colonel, Queen's Rangers commanded by, ii. 309. + + Singleterry, arrest of, for enlisting on the privateer _Citizen Genet_, + iii. 259. + + Six Nations, seduced from the English interest after the destruction of + the forts at Oswego, i. 235; + efforts of General Schuyler to secure the neutrality of--hostile + attitude assumed by, through the influence of Sir John Johnson + (_note_), i. 661; + induced to throw off their neutrality by the Johnsons, ii. 104. + + Skene, Major Philip, a noted loyalist, with Burgoyne, ii. 480. + + Skenesborough, expedition of Captain Herrick against, i. 645; + galleys destroyed at, by the British, ii. 467. + + Slavery, action of several states in relation to, before 1790--petitions + in relation to, laid before Congress in 1790, iii. 152; + resolutions reported by a Congressional committee in relation to, + iii. 153; + remark of Washington on the action of Congress in relation to, iii. 154; + anxiety of Washington for the abolition of (_note_), iii. 535. + + Slaves, Washington charged by Jasper Dwight with being a dealer in, + iii. 477; + provision made by the will of Washington for the liberation of, + iii. 535, 538. + + Slave-trade, resolution adverse to the, adopted at the Williamsburg + convention, in 1744, i. 405; + the American Association agree to discontinue the, i. 441; + action of various states in relation to the, before 1790, iii. 152. + + Slocum, Lieutenant, in the battle at Moore's-creek bridge--anecdote + of the wife of, told by Mrs. Ellett (_note_), ii. 118. + + Small-pox, Washington attacked by, in Barbados--permanent traces of, + on the countenance of Washington, i. 63; + precautions taken against, in the camp at Morristown, ii. 401. + + Smallwood, Colonel, regiment of, sent by General Mercer to reinforce + the army in New York, ii. 241. + + Smallwood's regiment, admirable conduct of, in the battle of Long Island, + ii. 275. + + Smith, Adam, unfriendly to American freedom, i. 485. + + Smith, Colonel, sent by General Gage to seize stores at Concord, i. 503; + courthouse at Concord set on fire by troops under--retreat of, from + Concord, i. 507; + wounded in the leg near Lexington--command of, saved by the arrival of + Lord Percy--extreme exhaustion of the soldiers of, i. 508. + + Societies, democratic, in 1793, condemnation of, by Washington, iii. 264; + excise laws denounced by, iii. 311; + letter of Washington to General Henry Lee, in relation to, iii. 313; + Washington's opinion of (_note_), iii. 322; + denounced by Washington in his sixth annual message--debates in + Congress, in relation to, iii. 324; + gradual dissolution of, iii. 328; + hostility of, to Jay's treaty, iii. 354. + + Sons of Liberty, associations of, i. 324. + + Sorel, condition of the republican army at the, after the flight from + Quebec, ii. 146. + + South Carolina, money sent to London from, in support of the Bill of + Rights, i. 370; + royal power abdicated in, by Lord Campbell, ii. 186; + changes in the civil government of--happiness caused among the people + of, by the change of government (_note_), ii. 187; + comparative quiet in, after the repulse of the British at Charleston, + ii. 197; + citizens of, in the northern army, ii. 198; + invasion of, by Sir Henry Clinton, ii. 664; + hostility in, toward Jay's treaty, iii. 354. + + South-Carolinians, inactivity of, at Great Meadows, i. 118, 119. + + Southern tour of Washington in 1791, iii. 178; + equipage and attendants of Washington during, iii. 179; + plan of (_note_)--honors paid to Washington during, iii. 180. + + Spain, king of, asses sent to Washington by, iii. 51; + unpleasant relations with, threatened in 1789, iii. 115; + relations of the United States with, iii. 157, 274. + + Spencer, Joseph, appointed brigadier-general in the continental army, + i. 548; + offence taken by, at the promotion of General Putnam, i. 593; + sent to New York with a brigade, ii. 82. + + Stable of Washington before the Revolution, i. 307. + + Stafford county, Virginia, removal of the Washington family to, in 1735, + i. 24. + + Stamp-act, submitted to the house of commons by George Grenville--the + proposal of, how received in the colonies, i. 323: + opposition of William Pitt to, in the house of commons, i. 324; + signed March 22, 1765--letter of Franklin to Charles Thomson in relation + to--provisions of (_note_), i. 325; + signed by the king in the incipient stages of insanity, i. 326; + excitement in the colonies on the news of its becoming a + law--resolutions offered in the Virginia assembly in relation to, + i. 327; + letter of Washington to Francis Dandridge in London, in relation to, + i. 329; + popular action in opposition to, i. 332, 333; + Franklin examined before a committee of Parliament in relation to, + i. 334; + repeal of, i. 335; + Pitt's commendation of the colonists for resisting--declaration of + Charles James Fox in relation to the (_note_), i. 339. + + Stamp-officers, refusal of the people of Boston to compensate, for their + losses, i. 341. + + Stanhope, Earl, letter of Lord Chatham to, relative to American affairs, + i. 488. + + Stanwix, Colonel, Washington placed under the orders of, while at + Winchester, in 1757, i. 241; + letter of Washington to, advocating offensive measures against the + French on the frontiers, i. 245; + letter of Washington to, requesting a favorable mention to General + Forbes, i. 256; + assistance lent by, to Colonel Bradstreet, at the siege of Fort + Frontenac, i. 267; + his share in the campaign of 1759, i. 290. + + Stark, John, with Abercrombie at Ticonderoga, i. 262; + body of volunteers assembled by, i. 513; + at Breed's hill, i. 562; + victory at Bennington obtained by militia under the command of, ii. 487; + commission of brigadier given to, by Congress, ii. 489. + + State debts, assumption of, recommended by Hamilton, iii. 141; + amount of the several (_note_), iii. 144. + + Staten Island, troops landed at, from the British fleet, in 1776, + ii. 179, 181, 217; + large number of troops at, under the command of General Howe, ii. 240; + unsuccessful descent upon, by Lord Stirling, ii. 667. + + Stature of Washington (_note_), i. 306, iii. 591, 593, 595, 597. + + Stephen, Adam, with Washington at Great Meadows, i. 114; + with Braddock in his expedition against Fort Duquesne, i. 152; + commissioned major-general in the continental army, ii. 403; + biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 558. + + Steuben, Baron von, arrival of, in the camp at Valley Forge, ii. 599; + office of inspector-general accepted by--unacquainted with the English + language, ii. 601; + American regulars never beaten after having been drilled by, ii. 602. + + Stevens, Colonel, Norfolk, Virginia, destroyed by republicans under, + ii. 109. + + Stillwater, battle of, ii. 524. + + Stirling, Lord, command in New York devolved upon--biographical notice of + (_note_)--British store-ship taken by (_note_), ii. 135; + measures of, for the defence of New York, ii. 136; + Highland fortifications visited and inspected by, ii. 170; + skirmish of, with General Grant, near Gowanus bay, ii. 271; + made prisoner by De Heister at the battle of Long Island, ii. 275; + appointed major-general in the continental army, ii. 403; + agency of, in exposing _Conway's Cabal_, ii. 581. + + Stobo, Captain Robert, engineer at Fort Necessity, i. 119; + detained a prisoner by the French at Quebec and Montreal, i. 132, 134; + information sent by, from Fort Duquesne to the English camp, i. 133; + letter of, afterward found by the French in Braddock's cabinet-- + subsequent career of (_note_), i. 134. + + Stock, United States and other, held by Washington at the time of his + death, iii. 544. + + Stoddart, Benjamin, appointed secretary of the navy in 1798, iii. 123. + + Stono ferry, engagement at, ii. 652. + + Stony brook, bridge at, made impassable by Major Kelly--forded by the + troops of Cornwallis, ii. 390. + + Stony Point, fort on, captured by the British, ii. 658; + plan of Washington for the capture of--capture of, by Wayne, ii. 659; + guns of, opened on Fort Lafayette and British shipping--dismantled and + abandoned by the Americans--reoccupied by Sir Henry Clinton, ii. 660. + + Strahan, Mr., an eminent London printer, remarkable letter of Franklin to + (_note_), i. 605. + + Strength of arm of Washington, iii. 593. + + Stuart, Doctor David, letters of Washington to, iii. 70, 145, 161, 463. + + Suffolk county, in Massachusetts, convention held in, i. 427; + resolves of the convention of, laid before the continental Congress, + i. 432. + + Sulgrave, domain of, granted by Henry VIII. to Lawrence Washington, in + 1538, i. 19. + + Sullivan, John, appointed brigadier-general in the continental army, + i. 548; + biographical notice of, i. 549; + ordered by Washington to seize certain tories in Portsmouth as + hostages, i. 746; + the successor of Thomas in command at the Sorel, ii. 148; + sanguine letter of, from the Sorel, ii. 151; + letter of Washington to Congress respecting, ii. 152; + melancholy words of, in relation to affairs in Canada, ii. 163; + retreat of, before Burgoyne, ii. 164, 166; + demoralization of the troops under the command of, ii. 166; + mortification of, at being superseded by Gates, ii. 168, 244; + departure of, from Crown Point, on the arrival of Gates, ii. 251; + placed in temporary command of the troops on Long Island--superseded by + Putnam, ii. 264; + made prisoner in the battle of Long Island, ii. 272; + verbal message sent by, to Congress, by Lord Howe, ii. 289; + warm reply of Washington to the complaints of, ii. 431; + unsuccessful expedition of, against the British on Staten Island + (_note_), ii. 495; + mischief caused at the battle of the Brandywine by the sensitiveness + of, ii. 506; + expedition of, against the Indians on the Genesee river, ii. 656; + letter of Washington to, in relation to reforms in the army, ii. 700; + letter of Washington to, advocating executive departments, ii. 713. + + _Sullivan's Familiar Letters_, personal appearance of Washington + described in, iii. 601. + + Sumter, General, movements of, in the South, ii. 682; + total defeat of, by Tarleton, ii. 684; + sent by Greene with light-troops into the neighborhood of Charleston, + iii. 3. + + Sunday, custom, in Virginia, of using it for political purposes (_note_), + i. 400. + + Sunday-laws of New England offensive to the Quakers, i. 455. + + Surveying-expedition, Washington's first, journal of, still + preserved--extracts from the journal of, i. 53; + extracts from a letter of Washington written during, i. 55. + + Surveyor, Washington's experience as, a preparation for his high destiny, + i. 52, 56, 58. + + Surveys of Washington, correctness of, i. 56. + + Swede's ford, General Howe at, ii. 513. + + Swords left by Washington to his nephews, iii. 540. + + +T. + + Table kept by Washington before the Revolution, iii. 585; + abstemious habits of Washington at, iii. 586; + Washington's at Philadelphia, iii. 589. + + Taft, Mr., letter of Washington to, from Hartford, in 1789 (_note_), + iii. 133. + + Talleyrand, M. de, insulting propositions of, to the American envoys in + Paris, iii. 501; + attempts of, to procure a _douceur_ from the American envoys, + iii. 502, 504; + interview of, with the American envoys, iii. 503; + declaration of war against the United States threatened by, iii. 504; + indirect efforts of, toward bringing about a reconciliation with the + United States, iii. 527; + copy of a letter of, transmitted by William Vans Murray to the + government at Washington--letter of Washington respecting the "fast + and loose game" of, iii. 528. + + Tallmadge, Major, Fort George, at Coram, surprised by, ii. 701. + + Tanacharisson, remonstrance of, with Duquesne, against the aggressions of + the French--interview of, with Franklin, in Pennsylvania, i. 73; + belt of wampum presented to, at Great Meadows, i. 114; + desertion of, on the approach of the French--subsequent history of + (_note_), i. 120. + + Tarleton, Colonel, massacre by, of a body of troops under Colonel Buford, + ii. 676; + defeated by Morgan at the Cowpens, ii. 714; + total defeat of General Sumter by, ii. 682. + + Tarrytown, arrest of Major Andre at, ii. 690. + + "Taxation no Tyranny," by Doctor Johnson, remarkable passage struck + out of (_note_), ii. 113. + + "Taxation without representation tyranny," i. 323. + + Tea, universally proscribed in the colonies in 1770, i. 369; + thrown overboard in Boston harbor, i. 388. + + Tenbroeck, General, opportune arrival of, at the second battle near + Bemis's Heights, ii. 532. + + Ternant, M., successor of Count de Moustier, as French minister to the + United States, iii. 223; + arrival of, at Newport, ii. 679. + + Thacher, Doctor, personal appearance of Washington described by, i. 585; + testimony of, as to the skill of the southern riflemen, i. 618. + + Thanksgiving, day of, recommended by Washington in 1789, iii. 124. + + Theatre, first visit of Washington to, made in Barbados, i. 63. + + Thomas, John, appointed brigadier-general in the continental army, i. 548; + Dorchester Heights taken possession of by, ii. 64; + appointed to command the army in Canada, ii. 97; + weakness of the Americans before Quebec on his arrival in camp--council + of war called by, decide upon a retreat toward Montreal, ii. 101; + death of, of small-pox, at Chamblee, ii. 147. + + Thompson, Colonel, Sir Henry Clinton held in check by, at Fort Sullivan, + in Charleston harbor, ii. 189; + Sir Henry Clinton driven back by the riflemen of, ii. 192, 195. + + Thompson, Colonel William, the British driven to their boats by, from + Lechmere's Point, i. 761; + commissioned a brigadier-general, ii. 96; + chief command in New York assumed by, ii. 137; + troops sent toward Canada under, ii. 143; + defeated and made prisoner in Canada, ii. 163. + + Thomson, Charles, chosen secretary of the continental + Congress--biographical notice of (_note_), i. 421; + opinion of, as to the superiority of the first Congress (_note_), + i. 423; + chosen secretary of the second continental Congress, i. 528: + letter borne to Washington by, informing him of his election to the + presidency, iii. 84. + + Three Rivers, disastrous expedition of General Thompson against Maclean + at, ii. 162. + + Throck's Neck, troops of Lord Howe landed at--transfer of troops from, + to Pell's Neck, ii. 311. + + Ticonderoga, fort at, erected by the French in 1756, i. 235; + attack upon, under Abercrombie and Lord Howe, i. 263; + admirable conduct of the troops at the siege of--inactivity and + indifference of Johnson's Indians at, i. 265; + effect upon Pitt of the news of the disaster at, i. 266; + taken possession of by Amherst in 1759, i. 292; + expeditions undertaken against, by Colonels Allen and Arnold, i. 524; + valuable stores taken at, by Allen, i. 526; + resolution of Congress respecting the spoils taken at, i. 529; + want of discipline among the troops at, under Colonel Hinman, i. 656; + Generals Schuyler, Gates, and Arnold, present at--command of the army + at, devolved upon Gates, ii. 254; + preparation of a flotilla at, intrusted to General Arnold, ii. 255; + apprehended attack upon, by General Carleton--Colonel Wayne in command + of, ii. 416: + General Heath ordered by Washington to go to, with Massachusetts + regiments, ii. 417: + invested by the British under Burgoyne, ii. 463; + garrison of--the British cannon on Mount Defiance, ii. 464; + abandoned by St. Clair, ii. 465; + letters of Washington to Schuyler, in relation to the evacuation of, + ii. 468, 469, 479. + + Tilghman, Colonel, news of the surrender at Yorktown borne to + Philadelphia by, ii. 737. + + Titles, presidential, discussions in Congress respecting, iii. 103: + Washington averse to, iii. 105. + + Toilet of Washington, iii. 587. + + Toleration, religious, of Washington and John Adams (_note_), i. 451. + + Tooke, John Horne, a prominent member of the Constitutional Society of + England (_note_), i. 737. + + Tories, treatment of, recommended by Washington, i. 747; + action of Congress with regard to, ii. 92; + conditional pardon offered to, by Congress, ii. 609: + embarkation of, for Nova Scotia, in 1783, iii. 22. + + _Town-Destroyer_, a name given to Washington by the Seneca Indians, + ii. 657. + + Townshend, taxation of the colonies announced by, i. 315. + + Tracy, of Connecticut, reply of, to the speech of Albert Gallatin, on + Jay's treaty, iii. 404. + + Trent, Captain, mission of, to the Ohio, in 1754, i. 94; + timidity of, i. 97. + + Trenton, arrival of Washington at, with his fugitive army, ii. 351; + officers' watches set by Washington's before the attack upon, ii. 371; + complete surprise of Colonel Ralle and the Hessians in--narrow escape + of Washington at (_note_), ii. 373; + rapid retreat of Washington from, ii. 375; + conduct of the troops at, commanded by Washington, ii. 376; + important influence of the victory at, ii. 378; + despatch of Washington to Congress, in relation to the affair at, + ii. 379; + Washington joined by Cadwalader and Mifflin at, ii. 388; + Washington attacked by Cornwallis at, ii. 384; + left at night by Washington, ii. 385; + reception of Washington at, in 1789, iii. 87. + + Trumbull, Governor Jonathan, of Connecticut, kind words of, to + Washington--biographical notice of--correspondence of, with + Washington, in 1775--extract from the Travels of De Chastellux in + relation to (_note_), i. 598; + Connecticut levies detained by, for coast-defence, ordered to camp by + Washington, i. 729; + mortification of, at the conduct of the Connecticut troops in the + continental army, i. 760; + letter of, expressive of sympathy with General Gates, ii. 250; + tories sent to the care of, by Washington, ii. 261; + letter of Washington to, acknowledging the finger of Providence, + iii. 79; + chosen speaker of the house of representatives, in 1791, iii. 192. + + Trumbull, John, lines from a poem written by, i. 502; + in the family of Washington at Cambridge, i. 616; + eminence opposite Ticonderoga fortified on the recommendation of, + ii. 254; + secretary of John Jay on his mission to England in 1794, iii. 300. + + Trumbull, Joseph, appointed commissary-general of the continental army, + i. 591; + his resignation of the office of commissary-general, ii. 404. + + Tryon county, New York, savages and tories in, in 1775, i. 655. + + Tryon, Governor, arrival of, in New York, on the same day as Washington, + i. 577; + unscrupulous character of, i. 580; + machinations of, in New York, ii. 31; + refuge taken by, on board the sloop-of-war _Halifax_, ii. 130; + proclamation issued by, from on board the _Duchess of Gordon_, ii. 137; + schemes of New-York tories under the direction of, ii. 172, 173; + expedition undertaken by, to destroy stores at Danbury, ii. 433; + retreat of, from Danbury, harassed by Wooster, Arnold, and others, + ii. 436; + escape of, aided by Sir William Erskine, ii. 437; + indignation aroused by the atrocities of, ii. 438; + copies of Lord North's bills sent by, to Washington--resolutions of + Congress relating to--tories sent to, by Washington, ii. 609; + ravages of, in Connecticut, in conjunction with Collier--biographical + notice of (_note_), ii. 654. + + Tucker, Dean, proposal of, that Parliament should separate the colonies + from the empire--biographical notice of (_note_), i. 487. + + Tuckerman, Henry T., extract from the writings of, in relation to + Washington's trials at Cambridge, i. 754. + + Tupper, Major, lighthouse in Boston harbor destroyed by, i. 639; + row-galleys under the command of, sent up the Hudson to annoy the + _Rose_ and _Phoenix_, ii. 238. + + Turtle bay, British stores seized at, by Sears, ii. 128. + + Twigtwees, described by Mr. Gist (_note_), i. 110. + + +U. + + Union flag, when unfurled, ii. 1. + + Union of the colonies, Franklin's plan of, i. 127. + + University, national, anxiety of Washington for the establishment of, + iii. 48, 331, 332, 333, 455, 537. + + +V. + + Valedictory address, Washington's, iii. 202, 473, 476. + + Valley Forge, chosen by Washington as a place for winter-quarters, + ii. 569; + sufferings of the patriot army on its march to, ii. 570; + huts constructed at, by the army, ii. 570, 571; + forcible means used by Washington to obtain supplies for the army at + (_note_), ii. 570, 598; + extreme hardships endured by the patriot army at, ii. 571; + committee of arrangements appointed by Congress to visit Washington + at, ii. 595; + Mrs. Washington and other ladies at--Washington's headquarters at, at + the house of Isaac Potts--name of, derived from the foundry and forge + of Isaac Potts (_note_), ii. 602; + desertions from the camp at, ii. 604; + arrival at, of the news of the treaty with France, ii. 611; + oath of allegiance administered by Washington to the officers at, + ii. 613; + camp at, broken up on the departure of the British from Philadelphia, + ii. 618. + + Van Braam, Jacob, Washington's fencing-master, i. 46, 62; + with Washington on his expedition to the Ohio in 1753, i. 76, 88; + with Washington at Great Meadows, i. 114; + alleged treachery of, i. 122, 124; + detained a prisoner by the French, i. 132, 134; + subsequent adventures of, i. 134. + + Vaudreuil, Marquis de, successor of Duquesne--characteristic anecdote of + (_note_), i. 177; + capitulation of, at Montreal, i. 301. + + Vault, family, of Washington, wish of Washington to have it rebuilt, + iii. 542; + new family, spot indicated for, by Washington, a few days before his + death, iii. 550. + + Vealtown, troops of General Lee at, ii. 357. + + Vernon, Admiral, notice of, i. 26. + + Verplanck's Point, fort on, captured by the British, ii. 658; + junction of the French and American troops at, iii. 11. + + Veto-power, first exercise of it by Washington, iii. 198. + + Vose, Major, lighthouse destroyed by, on Nantasket Point, i. 618. + + Virginia, condition of, in the time of Charles II., i. 20; + Washington in charge of one of the military districts of, in 1751, + i. 61; + Washington appointed, in 1755, commander of all the forces of, i. 188; + difficulty of raising troops in, to protect the frontier, after + Braddock's defeat, i. 191; + Governor Dinwiddie's estimate of the population of (_note_), i. 222; + defenceless condition of the frontiers of, i. 225, 244; + substantial character of breakfast in, before the Revolution (_note_), + i. 306; + indignation of the people of, at the right claimed by Parliament to tax + the colonies, i. 368; + early efforts made in, to cast off the burden of negro + slavery--instructions of the king to the governor of, in relation to + the slave-trade, i. 379; + address of the assembly of, to the king, on the slave-trade, i. 380; + successive prorogations of the house of burgesses of, by Lord Dunmore, + i. 381; + short but memorable session of the house of burgesses of, in 1773, + i. 382; + intercolonial committees of correspondence originated in, i. 382, 383; + dissolutions of the house of burgesses of, by Lord Dunmore, + i. 384, 392; + warlike spirit pervading, in 1775, i. 470; + troops of, reviewed by Washington in the winter of 1774-'75, i. 471; + effect in, of the news of the battle of Lexington--powder of the + province of, seized by Lord Dunmore, i. 517; + royal power ended in, i. 520; + invasion of, by Cornwallis, ii. 720; + legislature of, in 1794, adverse to British creditors recovering their + just debts, iii. 301; + disunion threatened in, in case Jay's treaty should be ratified, + iii. 355; + property owned in, by Washington, at the time of his death, iii. 542. + + Virginia convention proposed, to consider a proposition for a continental + Congress, i. 395; + resolutions adopted at, i. 401-405; + eloquent speech of Washington at--delegates to the general Congress + appointed at, i. 407. + + Virginia convention, the second, held at Richmond in 1775, i. 476; + resolutions offered at, by Patrick Henry, i. 477; + eloquent speech of Patrick Henry at, i. 479, 481; + delegates to the second continental Congress elected at, i. 482. + + _Virginia Gazette_, slanders of Washington in, in 1756, i. 211. + + Virginia house of burgesses, Washington a candidate for, in 1758, i. 275; + cost of Washington's election to, i. 276; + Washington for fifteen years a member of, i. 308; + distinguished members of, in 1769, i. 353; + sympathy of, with Massachusetts--resolutions adopted by, in opposition + to those of Parliament--dissolved by Lord Botetourt, i. 354. + + Virginia planters, life of, before the Revolution, i. 305. + + Virginia troops, letters of Washington in relation to the command of, + i. 188; + commission as commander of, resigned by Washington--flattering address + to Washington by the officers of, i. 286. + + Visitors, Washington annoyed by, at Mount Vernon, iii. 483; + how received by Washington when president, iii. 603. + + +W. + + Waldeck, prince of, mercenaries furnished by, ii. 6. + + Wallace, Captain, legalized piracy of--Newport threatened by, ii. 16; + sent in the _Rose_ up the Hudson river, ii. 218. + + Walpole, Horace, on young Washington's love of the "whistling of bullets" + (_note_), i. 105. + + Wanton, Governor, blunt answer of, to Sir James Wallace, i. 484. + + War-dance, Indian, witnessed by Washington and Fairfax, at Colonel + Cresap's, in 1748, i. 54; + in the camp of Braddock at Will's creek, i. 151. + + War, directions as to the mode of declaring, given by Dinwiddie to + Washington (_note_), i. 228. + + Ward, Ensign, capitulation of, to Contrecoeur, in 1754, i. 98. + + Ward, General Artemas, in command of troops in the neighborhood of Boston + after the battle of Lexington, i. 513; + inefficiency of, i. 532; + appointed first major-general under Washington, i. 545. + + Warren, Doctor Joseph, stay of, in Boston, to watch the British army and + the tories, i. 503; + warning sent by, to Adams and Hancock, at Lexington, i. 504; + narrow escape of, at Cambridge, i. 509; + letter of, to General Gage, in relation to his want of good faith, + i. 514; + a volunteer at Breed's hill, i. 562; + death of, at the close of the battle of Breed's hill, i. 569; + lament of the wife of John Adams for--Everett on the death + of--biographical notice of, i. 571; + remains of, buried by the British, with proper honors--subsequent + disposition of the remains of, i. 572. + + Warren, James, appointed major-general of Massachusetts militia, ii. 60; + letter of Washington to, in relation to the Articles of Confederation, + iii. 54. + + Warren, Mrs. Mercy, remarks of, on the personal appearance of Washington + and General Lee, i. 586. + + Washington, Augustine, brother of George, the family homestead at Pope's + creek bequeathed to, by his father, i. 28; + marriage of, with Anne Aylett--George an inmate in the family of, when + at the school of Mr. Williams, i. 35; + letter of George to, in 1755, in relation to his ill-requited service + of the state, i. 186; + independent Virginia company trained by, i. 482. + + Washington, Augustine, father of George, character of, i. 24, 28; + death of, in 1743, i. 28. + + Washington, Bushrod, papers and property bequeathed to, by Washington, + iii. 539, 540. + + Washington, Captain William, division of General Greene led by, at + Trenton, ii. 373. + + Washington, Charles, Franklin's gold-headed cane bequeathed to, by + Washington, iii. 539. + + Washington city, lots owned by Washington in at the time of his death, + iii. 543. + + Washington family in Virginia, early history of, i. 22. + + Washington, George, birthplace of, i. 17, 23; + lineage of, i. 18; + early education of, i. 24; + maxims of, in youth, i. 37; + marriage of, i. 287; + stature of (_note_), i. 306, iii. 591, 597; + dress of, i. 306, iii. 589, 600, 603; + style of living of, before the Revolution, i. 307; + devotion of, i. 337, iii. 112, 602; + table of, i. 616, iii. 585-589; + will of, iii. 535; + estate of, iii. 541; + death of, iii. 556; + funeral of, iii. 558; + fondness of, for field-sports, iii. 584; + toilet of, iii. 587; + strength of arm of--weight of, iii. 593; + frame of, iii. 594; + great size of hands of, iii. 595; + awe inspired by the presence of, iii. 597, 598. + + Washington, George A., death of, in 1793--affection of Washington for + (_note_)--kindness of Washington to the widow of (_note_), iii. 235; + carriage presented to, by Washington (_note_), iii. 236. + + Washington, George Fayette, property bequeathed to, by Washington, + iii. 540. + + Washington, John and Lawrence, emigrate to Virginia in 1657, i. 20. + + Washington, Joseph, the "_Defensio pro Populo_" of Milton translated + by--a friend of the "Commonwealth," and author of several + works--damage done by, to the cause of the Stuarts, i. 20. + + Washington, Lawrence Augustine, property bequeathed to, by Washington, + iii. 540. + + Washington, Lawrence, brother of George, educated in England, i. 24, 25; + in the British attack upon Carthagena in 1741, i. 26; + marriage of, to Miss Fairfax, i. 35; + affection of, for his brother George, i. 25, 43; + a member of the Virginia house of burgesses, i. 61; + attacked by consumption--visit of, to Barbados, in company with his + brother George, in 1751, i. 62; + death of, at Mount Vernon, in 1752, i. 64. + + Washington, Lawrence, mayor of Northampton in the reign of Henry VIII., + i. 19. + + Washington, Lund, the general's agent at Mount Vernon--letter of + Washington to, in relation to remuneration of his services, i. 765; + instructions of Washington to, in relation to charity and frugality, + i. 766. + + Washington, Mrs., sickness of the daughter of, i. 375; + death of the daughter of, in 1773, i. 378; + letter of Washington to, respecting his election as + commander-in-chief--letters of Washington to, destroyed by (_note_), + i. 539; + invited by her husband to join him at Cambridge, i. 765; + mode of travelling of, i. 766; + ball proposed in honor of, i. 767; + arrival of, in the camp at Cambridge, i. 768; + inoculated for the small-pox, in Philadelphia (_note_), ii. 157; + considerate conduct of Washington toward, iii. 52; + honors paid to, on her way to New York in 1789, iii. 110; + first _levee_ of, iii. 111; + _levees_ of, in Philadelphia, iii. 170; + property left to, by Washington, iii. 535; + resignation of, at the death of her husband, iii. 556; + letter of, to President Adams, in relation to proposed national funeral + honors to her husband, iii. 565. + + Washington, Samuel, provisions of the will of Washington respecting the + heirs of, iii. 538. + + Washington, Sir Henry, colonel under Prince Rupert in 1643, i. 19; + defender of Worcester against Cromwell's general, Fairfax, in 1646, + i. 20. + + Washington, Sir Lawrence and Anne, monument of, in the parish church of + Garsdon, i. 19. + + Washington, Sir William, brother-in-law of Villiers, duke of Buckingham, + i. 19. + + Washington, William Augustine, property left to, by Washington, iii. 538. + + Washington, William, invitation of, at Charlestown, declined by + Washington, iii. 180. + + Waterbury, General, gallantry of, in a naval engagement on Lake Champlain, + ii. 334. + + Watertown, address of James Warren to Washington, on his arrival at, in + 1775, i. 583. + + Waxhaw, body of republicans surprised and massacred by Tarleton on the + banks of the, ii. 676. + + Wayne, General Anthony, shabby regimentals of, at Middlebrook, ii. 458; + sent by Washington to annoy the rear of Howe's army--night-attack upon, + by the British under General Grey, ii. 514; + court-martial demanded by, ii. 515; + attack led by, at the battle of Germantown, ii. 553; + exploits of, in New Jersey, ii. 598; + capture of Stony Point by, ii. 659; + efforts of, to quell the mutiny of the Pennsylvania troops--picture + drawn by, of the sufferings of the army at Morristown (_note_), + ii. 707; + Cornwallis attacked by, at Old Jamestown, ii. 721; + Savannah taken possession of by, iii. 11; + appointed commander-in-chief of the army in the Northwest, iii. 197; + operations of, against the northwestern Indians, iii. 328; + results of his treaty with the Indians in the Northwest, iii. 378. + + Weathersfield, conference of Washington with Rochambeau at, ii. 722. + + Webb, General, cowardly conduct of, at Fort Edward, i. 250. + + Weight of Washington, iii. 593. + + Wessington, John de, prior of a convent in 1426, i. 19. + + West Indies, American vessels excluded from, iii. 100; + depredations on American vessels in, committed by French cruisers, + iii. 466; + complaints of the conduct of Commodore Barney in, iii. 467. + + West Point, fortifications at, commenced by Bernard Romans, ii. 127; + headquarters of Washington at--letter of Washington to Doctor Cochran, + showing the style of living at (_note_), ii. 660; + information given to the British by Arnold, respecting, ii. 698; + the military academy at, suggested by Washington, iii. 456. + + Wheatley, Phillis, a slave, biographical notice of, ii. 54; + her correspondence with Washington, ii. 55, 56; + poem written by, addressed to Washington, ii. 57. + + Whipple, Captain, the schooner _Gaspe_ taken and burned by a party + under--threat of Sir James Wallace to hang, i. 381; + vessels placed under the command of, by the assembly of Rhode Island, + i. 739. + + "Whiskey Insurrection," language of Washington in relation to the, + iii. 305; + history of the, iii. 307-320; + sympathy of Jefferson with those engaged in the, iii. 327. + + White, Bishop, present at the opening of the continental Congress, i. 423; + present at Washington's farewell dinner, iii. 471. + + Whitemarsh, encampment of Washington near, ii. 559; + efforts of Howe to draw the Americans out of their position at, ii. 568; + retreat of Howe from, to Philadelphia--Washington blamed by his enemies + in Congress for not fighting at, ii. 569. + + White, Philip, a "pine robber," killed by the Jersey people, iii. 13. + + White Plains, adjournment of the provincial congress of New York to + (_note_), ii. 127; + headquarters of Washington in the neighborhood of, ii. 314; + account of the battle at, ii. 316-319; + losses sustained by the British and Americans at the battle of, + ii. 319; + sufferings of the American army after the battle of, ii. 321; + disgraceful conduct of some of Washington's troops at (_note_), + ii. 323. + + Wilkes, John, conspicuous part taken by, in favor of the Americans, + i. 494; + lord-mayor of London, address of, to the king, on American + affairs--biographical notice of (_note_), i. 604; + his contemptuous treatment of a royal proclamation, i. 611; + speech of, in Parliament, in relation to the British flight from + Boston, ii. 86. + + Wilkinson, Captain James, sent by Arnold to the relief of the Cedars + (_note_), ii. 161; + interview of, with General Lee, at the moment of his capture, ii. 358; + connection of, with _Conway's Cabal_, ii. 579. + + William and Mary College, chancellorship of, accepted by Washington, + iii. 48. + + Williams, Colonel Ephraim, surprised by Dieskau, while marching to the + relief of Fort Edward--biographical notice of (_note_), i. 181. + + Williams, Otho Holland, with the southern riflemen at the camp at + Cambridge, i. 619; + appointed brigadier under Wayne, in 1791, iii. 197. + + Williams, second schoolmaster of Washington, i. 35, 45. + + Williamsburg, convention at, proposed, to consider a proposition for a + continental Congress, i. 395; + resolutions adopted at the convention held at, in 1774, i. 401-405; + convention at, in 1774--eloquent speech of Washington at--delegates + to the general Congress appointed at, i. 407; + preparations made at, by the allies, for the siege of Yorktown, + ii. 731. + + Will of Washington, true copy of (_note_), iii. 535. + + Will's creek, retreat of Washington to, from Great Meadows, in 1754, + i. 124; + Indian war-dance at, in Braddock's camp, i. 151; + fatal delay of Braddock at, i. 156. + + Wilmington, headquarters of Washington at, ii. 497; + visit of Washington to, on his southern tour, in 1791, iii. 181. + + Wilson, James, appointed associate judge of the supreme court in 1789, + iii. 122. + + Winchester, headquarters of Washington at, in 1755, i. 189; + Fort Loudoun erected by Washington at, i. 214; + irksomeness of Washington's duties at, i. 240; + property owned by Washington in the town of, iii. 543. + + Winter hill, Lee's division stationed at, at the siege of Boston, i. 619. + + Woedtke, Baron de, commissioners to Canada accompanied by, ii. 145; + intemperate habits of--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 165. + + Wolcott, Oliver, letter of, to his wife, in relation to the frugal habits + of Washington, iii. 170; + letter of, in relation to Washington's declining the presidency for a + third term, iii. 450; + letter of Washington to, after his retirement to private life, + iii. 481. + + Wolfe, Brigadier-General James, at the taking of Louisburg in 1758, + i. 260; + reliance of the English people upon, in the expedition against + Quebec--character of, as described by Walpole (_note_)--names of men, + afterward distinguished, in the expedition of, against Quebec, + i. 293; + Monckton sent by, to occupy Point Levi, i. 294; + unsuccessful attempt of, to storm Montcalm's intrenchments, i. 295; + on a sick-bed concerts with Saunders, a plan for scaling the Heights + of Abraham--news of the repulse and subsequent success of, received + by Pitt on the same day (_note_)--presentiment of death upon the + mind of, i. 297; + impromptu stanzas composed by, on the eve of the attack--Gray's Elegy + quoted by, on his way to the Heights of Abraham, i. 298; + last words and death of, i. 299; + and Montcalm, joint monument erected to the memory of--biographical + notice of (_note_), i. 300. + + Woodhull, General, commissioned to drive the live stock to Hempstead, + ii. 266; + made a prisoner and brutally treated by Sir James Baird (_note_), + ii. 277. + + Woodhull, Reverend Doctor John, reference to manuscript letters of + (_note_)--anecdote respecting (_note_), ii. 281. + + Wooster, David, appointed brigadier-general in the continental + army--brief biographical notice of, i. 548; + invited to the neighborhood of New York by the provincial congress + (_note_), i. 582; + directed by Washington to join General Schuyler at Lake + Champlain--apprehensions of Washington respecting, i. 710; + patriotic letter of, to Schuyler--refusal of the officers and men + under, to sign the articles of war (_note_), i. 711; + fear or jealousy of, with regard to Arnold, ii. 100; + testimony of Congressional commissioners as to his unfitness for + command (_note_), ii. 147; + death of, at Danbury, ii. 436; + resolution of Congress to erect a monument to the memory + of--biographical notice of (_note_), ii. 437. + + Writs of assistance issued in 1761--universal opposition to--speech of + James Otis on the subject of, i. 317. + + Wyoming massacre, ii. 641. + + +Y. + + Year of trial, Washington's, ii. 594. + + Yellow fever in Philadelphia, in 1793, iii. 280; + in the autumn of 1798, iii. 525. + + York, Congress adjourned to, ii. 514. + + Yorke, Sir Joseph, his estimate of General Lee, ii. 358. + + Yorktown, perilous position of Cornwallis at, ii. 730; + invested by the allies--position of the allies at, ii. 732; + desperate effort of Cornwallis to escape from, ii. 733; + patriotism displayed by Governor Nelson at--surrender of Cornwallis + at, ii. 734; + articles of capitulation at (_note_)--imposing scene of the + surrender at, ii. 735; + loss sustained by the British at (_note_), ii. 737; + measures of Congress on receiving news of the surrender at, ii. 738; + importance of the surrender at--effect in England of the surrender + at, ii. 739. + + Youghiogany, attempt of Washington to descend, in 1754, i. 103; + Washington left at, sick, by order of General Braddock, i. 159. + + Young, Arthur, seeds and implements sent to Washington by, iii. 51. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Washington and the American Republic, +Vol. 3., by Benson J. 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