Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-10-07

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been rallied.
Mount Vernou, july 10, 1898.
DEAR SIR,
HAD the honor, on the evening OF
the nth inf. to receive from the hand OF
the fecretary Of war, your favor of the
9TH, amounting that you had, with the
advice and content of the Senate, appoint
ed me "Lieutenant General and Comman-
dant in Chief Of all the armies RATED, or
to be RATED, for the lervice of the United
States.''
cannot express how greatly affected |
am at this new proof OF public confidence
and the highly aattering manner in which
you have been pleafed to make the COM
nunication at the fame time, | mutt not
conceal from you ny earnef with that the
choice had fallen upon man LET'S declined
in years and better qualified to encounter
the ulual viciflitudes of war.
You know, Sir, what calculation Lad
made relative to the probable courle OF e.
vents, on my retiring from Office, and the
determination had conioled mytslf with,
OF cloGng the remnant Of my days IN my
prefant peaceful abode; you will, there
fore, be at no lots to conceive and aPpreci-
ate the ienfations | mutt have experienced,
to bring my mind to any conclulion that
would pledge me, at 70 late a period OF
my life, to leave fcenes | fncereIy love,
to enter upon the boundlefs field otpuolic
action, inceGant trouble, and high refPon-
Utility.
1t was not poaible for me to remain
ignorant Of, or indifferent TO, recent trani-
actions.
The conduit of the Directory Of France
towards our country; their iniidious hot
sility TO its government: their various
practices to withdraw the Affections OF tie
people from it; the evident tendency OF
their arts, and thoie of their agents to
countenance and invigorate opYoh.ion,
their difregard of iolemn treaties and the
laws of nations, their war upon our de-
ienceleis commerce; their treatment OF
our miaifers OF peace, and their demands,
amounting to tribute, could rot tail to
excite in me correlSoniing ientimeats
with thcfe my countrynen have 70 gene
rally expressed in their afettlonate addrel,
les 10 Believe ms, Sir, NO ONE
CAN MORE CORDIALLY Ap-
PROVE OF THE WISE AND PRU-
DENT MEASURES OF YOUR AD-
MINISTRATION. They ought to in
fpire UNIVERSAL CONFIDENCE,
s will, no doubt combined with the fate
Of things, call from Congress fuch laws and
means as will enable you TO meet the
full force and extent Of the criiis.
Satisfied therefore that you have SIN
CERELY WISHED AND ENDEA-
-VORED TO AVERT WAR, & exhauit-
fed. 70 the LAST DROP The CUPOt
RECONCILIATION, we can with pure
hearts appeal to heaven for the u IlCE
Of OUR CAUSE-and may s1niden, ~
truA the final retult 60 the kind Proyi-
dence who has heretofore, and 10 often,
hgnally favored the people of the United
States.
Thinking in this manner, and feeling
how incumbent it is upon every perion, Of
every deicription, TO contribute at all
times to his country's welfare, Especially
in moment like the prefent, when every
thing we hold dear and facred is 70 feriouf
ly threatened Ihave finally determines
to accept the commillion of commander nj
chief of the armies of the United States !;
with this reierve only, that ] lhall not be
called into the field until the army is In
a Gtuation TO require my Preienee, or II
becomes indifpenible by the urgency OF
circumstances.
In making this refervation, ! beg it
may be underaood, that | do not mean TO
withhold any afifance to arrange and or
,on;1a The army which Won think [ can