***George Washington to David Humphreys, Dec. 26^th^, 1786***

> Mount Vernon, December 26, 1786.

Mr Dr. Humphreys: I am much indebted to you for your several favors of
the 1st. 9th. and 16th. of Novr. the last came first. Mr. Morse, having
in mind the old proverb, was determined not to make more haste than good
speed in prosecuting his journey to Georgia, so I got the two first
lately.

For your publication respecting the treatment of Captn. Asgill, I am
exceedingly obliged to you. The manner of making it is the best that
cou\'d be devised; whilst the matter will prove the illiberality, as
well as the fallacy of the reports which have been circulated on that
occasion, and which are fathered upon that officer as the author.

It is with the deepest and most heartfelt concern, I perceive by some
late paragraphs extracted from the Boston papers, that the Insurgents of
Massachusetts, far from being satisfied with the redress offered by
their general Court, are still acting in open violation of law and
government, and have obliged the chief Magistrate in a decided tone to
call upon the Militia of the State to support the Constitution. What,
gracious God, is man! that there should be such inconsistency and
perfidiousness in his conduct? It is but the other day, that we were
shedding our blood to obtain the Constitutions under which we now live;
Constitutions of our own choice and making; and now we are unsheathing
the sword to overturn them. The thing is so unaccountable, that I hardly
know how to realize it, or to persuade myself that I am not under the
illusion of a dream.

My mind, previous to the receipt of your letter of the 1st. ulto., had
often been agitated by a thought similar to the one you have expressed
respecting an old friend of your\'s; but Heaven forbid that a crisis
should come when he shall be driven to the necessity of making choice of
either of the alternatives there mentioned.(1) Let me entreat you, my
dr. Sir, to keep me advised of the situation of affairs in your quarter.
I can depend upon your accounts. Newspaper paragraphs unsupported by
other testimony, are often contradictory and bewildering. At one time
these insurgents are spoken of as a mere mob; at other times as
systematic in all their proceedings. If the first, I would fain hope
that like other Mobs it will, however formidable, be of short duration.
If the latter there are surely men of consequence and abilities behind
the curtain who move the puppets; the designs of whom may be deep and
dangerous. They may be instigated by British counsel; actuated by
ambitious motives, or being influenced by dishonest principles, had
rather see the Country in the horror of civil discord, than do what
justice would dictate to an honest mind.

I had scarcely despatched my circular letters to the several State
Societies of the Cincinnati, when I received letters from some of the
principal members of our Assembly expressing a wish that they might be
permitted to name me as one of the Deputies of this State to the
Convention proposed to be held at Philadelphia the first of May next. I
immediately wrote to my particular friend Mr. Madison (and gave similar
reasons to the others) the answer is contained in the extract No. 1; in
reply I got the extract No. 2. This obliged me to be more explicit and
confidential with him on points which a recurrence to the conversations
we have had on this subject will bring to your mind and save me the
hazard of a recital in this letter. Since this interchange of letters I
have received from the Governor the letter No. 4 and have written No. 5
in answer to it. Should this matter be further pressed, (which I hope it
will not, as I have no inclination to go) what had I best do? You as an
indifferent person, and one who is much better acquainted with the
sentiments and views of the Cincinnati than I am; (for in this State
where the recommendations of the General Meeting have been agreed to
hardly any thing is said about it) as also with the temper of the people
and state of politics at large, can determine upon better ground and
fuller evidence than myself; especially as you have opportunities of
knowing in what light the States to the Eastward consider the
Convention, and the measures they are pursuing to contravene, or to give
efficiency to it.

On the last occasion, only five States were represented; none East of
New York. Why the New. England Governments did not appear, I am yet to
learn; for of all others the distractions and turbulent temper of these
people would, I should have thought, have afforded the strongest
evidence of the *necessity* of competent powers somewhere. That the
Federal Government is nearly, if not quite at a stand, none will deny.
The first question then is, shall it be annihilated or supported? If the
latter, the proposed convention is an object of the first magnitude, and
should be supported by all the friends of the present Constitution. In
the other case, if on a full and dispassionate revision thereof, the
continuance shall be adjudged impracticable or unwise, as only delaying
an event which must \'ere long take place; would it not be better for
such a Meeting to suggest some other, to avoid if possible civil discord
or other impending evils? I must candidly confess, as we could not
remain quiet more than three or four years in time of peace, under the
Constitutions of our own choosing; which it was believed, in many States
at least, were formed with deliberation and wisdom, I see little
prospect either of our agreeing upon any other, or that we should remain
long satisfied under it if we could. Yet I would wish any thing, and
every thing essayed to prevent the effusion of blood, and to avert the
humiliating and contemptible figure we are about to make in the annals
of mankind.

If this second attempt to convene the States for the purposes proposed
by the report of the partial representation at Annapolis in September,
should also prove abortive, it may be considered as an unequivocal
evidence that the States are not likely to agree on any general measure
which is to pervade the Union, and of course that there is an end of
Federal Government. The States therefore which make the last dying essay
to avoid these misfortunes, would be mortified at the issue, and their
deputies would return home chagrined at their ill success and
disappointment. This would be a disagreeable circumstance for any one of
them to be in, but more particularly so for a person in my situation. If
no further application is made to me, of course I do not attend; if
there is, I am under no obligation to do it, but as I have had so many
proofs of your friendship, know your abilities to judge, and your
opportunities of learning the politics of the day, on the points I have
enumerated, you would oblige me by a full and confidential communication
of your sentiments thereon.

Peace and tranquillity prevail in this State. the Assembly by a very
great majority, and in very emphatical terms, have rejected an
application for paper money, and spurned the idea of fixing the value of
military Certificates by a scale of depreciation. In some other respects
too the proceedings of the present Session have been marked with justice
and a strong desire of supporting the federal system. Altho\' I lament
the effect, I am pleased at the cause which has deprived us of the
pleasure of your aid in the attack of Christmas pies: we had one
yesterday on which all the company, tho\' pretty numerous, were hardly
able to make an impression. Mrs. Washington and George and his wife (Mr.
Lear I had occasion to send to the Western Country) join in affectione.
regards for you, and with sentiments, &c.

\[Note 1: Humphreys had written (Nov. 1, 1786): \"In case of civil
discord, I have already told you, it was seriously my opinion, that you
could not remain neuter, and that you would be obliged in self defense
to take part on one side or the other: or withdraw from the Continent.
Your friends are of the same opinion; and I believe you are convinced,
it is impossible to have more disinterested and zealous friends than
those who have been about your person.\" Humphreys\'s letter is in the
***Washington Papers***.\]

**[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.**