***George Washington to Henry Lee, Oct. 31^st^, 1786***

> Mount Vernon, October 31, 1786.

My Dr. Sir: I am indebted to you for your several favors of the 1st.
11th. and 17th. of this instt: and shall reply to them in the order of
their dates; but first let me thank you for the interesting
communications imparted by them.

The picture which you have exhibited, and the accounts which are
published of the commotions, and temper of numerous bodies in the
Eastern States, are equally to be lamented and deprecated. They exhibit
a melancholy proof of what our trans-Atlantic foe has predicted; and of
another thing perhaps, which is still more to be regretted, and is yet
more unaccountable, that mankind when left to themselves are unfit for
their own Government. I am mortified beyond expression when I view the
clouds that have spread over the brightest morn that ever dawned upon
any Country. In a word, I am lost in amazement when I behold what
intrigue, the interested views of desperate characters, ignorance and
jealousy of the minor part, are capable of effecting, as a scourge on
the major part of our fellow Citizens of the Union; for it is hardly to
be supposed that the great body of the people, tho\' they will not act,
can be so shortsighted, or enveloped in darkness, as not to see rays of
a distant sun thro\' all this mist of intoxication and folly.

You talk, my good Sir, of employing influence to appease the present
tumults in Massachusetts. I know not where that influence is to be
found; and if attainable, that it would be a proper remedy for the
disorders. Influence is no Government. Let us have one by which our
lives, liberties and properties will be secured; or let us know the
worst at once. Under these impressions, my humble opinion is, that there
is a call for decision. Know precisely what the insurgents aim at. If
they have *real* grievances, redress them if possible; or acknowledge
the justice of them, and your inability to do it in the present moment.
If they have not, employ the force of government against them at once.
If this is inadequate, *all* will be convinced that the superstructure
is bad, or wants support. To be more exposed in the eyes of the world,
and more contemptible than we already are, is hardly possible. To delay
one or the other of these, is to exasperate on the one hand, or to give
confidence on the other, and will add to their numbers; for, like
snow-balls, such bodies increase by every movement, unless there is
something in the way to obstruct and crumble them before the weight is
too great and irresistible.

These are my sentiments. Precedents are dangerous things; let the reins
of government then be braced and held with a steady hand, and every
violation of the Constitution be reprehended: if defective, let it be
amended, but not suffered to be trampled upon whilst it has an
existence.

With respect to the navigation of the Mississippi, you already know my
sentiments thereon: they have been uniformly the same, and as I have
observed to you in a former letter, are controverted by one
consideration *only* of weight, and that is the operation the occlusion
of it may have on the minds of the western settlers, who will not
consider the subject in a relative point of view or on a comprehensive
scale, and may be influenced by the demagogues of the country to acts of
extravagance and desperation, under a popular declamation that their
interests are sacrificed. Colo. Mason, at present, is in a fit of the
gout; what \[his\] sentiments on the subject are, I know not, nor
whether he will be able to attend the Assembly during the present
Session. For some reasons, however, (which need not be mentioned) I am
inclined to believe he will advocate the navigation of that river. But
in all matters of great national moment, the only true line of conduct,
in my opinion, is, dispassionately to compare the advantages and
disadvantages of the measure proposed, and decide from the balance. The
lesser evil, where there is a choice of them, should always yield to the
greater. What benefits (more than we now enjoy) are to be obtained by
such a \[Treaty as you have delineated with Spain, I am not enough of a
Commercial man to give any opinion on. The China(1) came to hand without
much damage; and I thank you for your attention in procuring and
forwarding of it to me. Mrs. Washington joins me in best wishes for Mrs.
Lee and yourself and I am &c.\]

\[Note 1: This was the well known \"Cincinnati China,\" in which each
piece was marked with the figure of Fame bearing the eagle emblem of the
Society. Lee purchased this set, of about 306 pieces, in New York City,
for Washington, at a cost of £45: 5: 0.\]

**[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.**