***George Washington to Bushrod Washington, Nov. 15^th^, 1786***

> Mount Vernon, November 15, 1786.

Dear Bushrod: Your letter of the 31st. of October in reply to mine of
the 30th. of Septr. came safe to hand. It was not the intention of my
former letter either to condemn, or give my voice in favor of the
Patriotic Society, of which you have now, but not before, declared
yourself a member; nor do I mean to do it now. I offered observations
under the information I had then received, the weight of which was to be
considered. As first thoughts, they were undigested, and might be very
erroneous.

That representatives ought to be the mouth of their Constituents, I do
not deny, nor do I mean to call in question the right of the latter to
instruct them. It is to the embarrassment, into which they may be thrown
by these instructions in *national matters* that my objections lie. In
speaking of national matters I look to the foederal Government, which in
my opinion it is the interest of every State to support; and to do this,
as there are a variety of interests in the union, there must be a
yielding of the parts to coalesce the whole. Now a County, a District,
or even a State might decide on a measure which, tho\' apparently for
the benefit of it in its unconnected state, may be repugnant to the
interests of the nation, and eventually to the State itself as a part of
the confederation. If then, members go instructed, to the Assembly, from
certain Districts, the requisitions of Congress repugnant to the sense
of them, and all the lights which they may receive from the
communications of that body to the Legislature, must be unavailing;
altho\' the nature and necessity of them, when the reasons therefor are
fully expounded; which can only be given by Congress to the Assembly
thro\' the Executive, and which come before them in their legislative
capacity, are as clear as the sun. In local matters which concern the
District; or things which respect the internal police of the State,
there may be nothing amiss in instructions. In national matters also,
the *sense*, but not the *Law* of the District may be given, leaving the
Delegates to judge from the nature of the case and the evidence before
them.

The instructions of your Society as far as they have gone, meet my
entire approbation, except in the article of commutables. Here, if I
understand the meaning and design of the clause, I must disagree to it
most heartily; for if the intention of it is to leave it optional with
the person taxed to pay any staple commodity (Tobo. would be least
exceptionable) in lieu of specie, the people will be burthened, a few
speculators enriched, and the public derive no benefit from it. Have we
not had a recent and melancholy proof of this during the war in the
provision tax? Did not the people pay this in some way or other, perhaps
badly; and was not the army almost starved? Can any instance be given
where the public has sold Tobacco, Hemp, Flour or any other commodity
upon as good terms as individuals have done it? Must not there be places
of deposit for these commutables; Collectors, Storekeepers &c. &c.
employed? These, rely on it, will sink one half, and a parcel of
Speculators will possess themselves of the other half. It was to these
things that we owe the present depravity of the minds of so many people
of this Country, and filled it with so many knaves and designing
characters.

Among the great objects which you took into consideration at your
meeting at Richmond, how comes it to pass, that you never turned your
eyes to the inefficacy of the Foederal Government, so as to instruct
your Delegates to accede to the propositions of the Commrs. at
Annapolis; or to devise some other mode to give it that energy, which is
necessary to support a national character? Every man who considers the
present constitution of it, and sees to what it is verging, trembles.
The fabrick which took nine years, at the expense of much blood and
treasure, to rear, now totters to the foundation, and without support
must soon fall.

The determination of your Society to promote frugality and industry by
example, to encourage manufactures, and to avoid dissipation, is highly
praise-worthy: these, and premiums for the most useful discoveries in
Agriculture within your district, the most profitable course of
cropping, and the best method of fencing to save timber &c. would soon
make us a rich and happy people. With every good wish for you and yours,
in which your aunt joins. I am, &c.

**[The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress,
1741-1799](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwhome.html)**

**The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript
Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.**