Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-08-18

those who would gladly have re-
cognized in the Father Of his Coun-
try harmonious combination of the
most shining qualities of manhood.
OF these two points, that which
has been most frequently dwelt up
on is certain meanness Of personal
expenditure and littlencss in private
affairs, alleged to be altogether in
consistent with the liberality of his
fortune, the dignity of the situation
to which he was called, and the
intellectual and moral elevation
claimed for him. The other is,
that he was STAKEHOLDER, and vol
unfairly left to Slavery the support
of his example and approval.
We are fortunately in possession
of ample evidence of the injustice
of both these allegations.
That Washington was careful
and economical in the adminisira.
ton of his domestic concerns Is I'M
questionably true, but this was in
no degree consequence of inprdin-
ate sehshness he was simply hon
est--inexorably just in all the rela-
lions of lle-and to be so, to main
tain that responsibility of external
appearances which he considered
necessary for one who had occupied
so largely the attention Of the world,
without living beyond his means,
without running into debt beyond
the sanctions of honesty-it was in
dispensable that he should husband
all his resources. and apply every
energy of industry and sagacity to
render more productive an estate
which his long career of military
and civil public service had compel
led him to neglect.
Washington was a Shareholder in
the first place by inheritance and
iafterward as a trustee. The large
number Of the slaves on his estate
it was not in his power to liberate
under any circumstances, and his
poverty alone prevented him from
/ giving the others their freedom -
He never defended Slavery, he new
er even apologized for it he clear
Ily foresaw the array of the intelli-
gence and moral sense of Chr!sten-
dom against il and that it would
become a cause of bitter aud unemd-
ing contention between the North
and the South, and between the
wise and virtuous and the bigoted
portions of the community and he
was so much an Abolitionist that
we may well believe he would have
given his life itself to have saved his
country from the misfortune and
dishonor lnseparable from a conlin-
uance of the institution We con-
clude these observations with an
impressive extract from a hitherto
unpublished letter of Washington to
Tobias Lear, written from phila-
dolphia on the 9th of May, 1894,
while Mr.. Lear was in Great Bet
ain, charged with negotiations for
the sale of considerable portion of
Washington landed estate
81 have no scruple in disclosing
to you that my motives to these sales
are, to reduce my income, be it
more or less, to specialities, that
the remainder of my days may
thereby be more tranquil and free
from care, and that I mag be ena-
bied, knocing that my dependence
is 10 do as much good as my resour-
ceS wW admit, for although III the
estimation of the world | possess a
good and clear estate. yet so unpro-
duclive is it, that I an ofieHtimes
ashamed 10 refuse aid which I can
I, not afford, unless 1 sell part Of ii
to answer this purpose Besides
these, | have another motive which
makes me EARNESTLY wish for these
things 1T is INDEED MORE POWER
Full THAN ALL THE REST namely,
to Hberate certain species ofprop-
erty ichich possess rery repugnant-
" to my o,on feelings, bit iohieh inn
perious necessity compels until i
can substitute some other erpedient
by 'ohich expenses not in my poloer
to aroid (ho'oever aoeH disposed /
may be 10 do ~ can be defraye,i."
After reading these words who
shall accuse Washington of parsi-
mony, or cite his venerable and sa-
cred name as that of an apologist
for Slavery IN. Y, Tribune.