True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-10-10
Opinion Of General Washington.

ne AheIlcau party mas Decu aDuSeu I'D
unqualified terms, by the old-line and Sag
Nicht journals throughout the country, for
publishing the opinion of Gen. Washing
ton relating to the PUTTING OF NONE BUT
AMERICANS ON GUARD. Those journals
have denied his uttering such sentiment
so long, that many have doubtless come to
the conclusion by this time that he never
did express such an opinion. For the
benefit of all such we desire to present
few historical facts and learn whether or
not their moral stomachs have any procliv-
ity for the reception of such food. BY re.
ferring to general order, issued by the
immortal Washington, dated, Cambridge
Head Quarters, July 7th, l775,' and re-
lating to the sentinels at the outposts, they
will find the following command:
"FOr the future no man shall be appoint
ed to these stations who is not native of
this country" .-
But this is not all that the Father of
his Country said on this subject. In Sparks
history, volume 4, page 439, the following
extract in letter addressed to R. H. Lee,
dated May 18th, TIT, may be found the
following: ."
~ take the liberty to ask you what Con.
gress expects am to do with the many
foreigners they have at different times been
promoting to the rank of field officers, and
by their last resolve, too, to that of col
onels These men hav no attachment to
the country further than interest binds
them. Our officers think it exceedingly
hard, after they have toiled in the service
and have sustained many losses, to have
strangers put over them, whose merit per-
baps is inferior to their own, but whose
efTrontery will take no denial. 1t is by the
zeal and activity of our own people that
the cause must be supported, and not by a
few hungry adveuturcrs."
The following extract may also be found
in letter written by Gen. Washington,
and addressed to the same gentleman, in
June, l775: ,. ......
"You will, before this can reach you,
have seen NJ. d. What his real expecta.
tions are know not, but | fear if his dis.
appointment is equal to what l have been
told are his expectations, ii will be attend
ed with unhappy consequences, to say
nothing of the policy of entrusting a de-
partment, on the execution of which the
salvation of the army depends, to a for.
elgner, who has no other tie to bind him
to the interest of the country than honor.
With such sentiments as these, we do
not apprehend that if Gen. Washington
were alive, he would be much alarmed to
see the American party triumph over the
Sag NIGHTS and antI.Americans We do
not suppose that he would be frightened
to death when he heard the cry of the
American party ring throughout the length
and breadth of the land, "Put none but
Americans on guard"
He was proud Of his country, and loved
her institutions. Like all true hearted
Americans he knew no north, no south, no
east, no west, but was for the whole coun.
try, the peace, prosperity and happiness Of
all her citizens for generations yet to come
1t is the officers Of the government who
sit upon the watch towers and guard our
institutions. lie would delight to see an
interest manifested on the part of the A.
rncriCan people to test the fidelity Of men
before they arc pat on guard, or placedin
authority