Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-23
Foreigners in the Army Of the Revolution

troubled sea OF controversy, conspicuous and uire-
| moved "
Foreigners in the Army Of the Revolution.
The enemies of American principles fire.
quently refer with an air of confidence and tri-
umph, to the services Of foreigners in the war Of
the Revolution. In the address to the people Of
the United States, written by us, and published
originally in 1841, and republished in the first
number of our weekly, on the goth Of Novem-
Der last, the claims Of foreigners to peculiar con-
sideration for this service wero considered, and
we think refutcd. We now present however,
to our readers, three letters from Gen. Wash
ington, written during the war, and which may
be found in SparAs's publication Of the Wash
ington Papers. We commend the perusal of
these letters to all our readers and trust that
our friends will preserve and use them, in de-
fence of our principles.
The closing sentence of General Washing
toms letter to Governor Morris, dated July
oath, ITS, contains sentiment, expressed in
relation to the military services of foreigners,
which came from the bottom of the patriotic
heart of the Father Of his Country, and which
puts to flight the arguments Of all the dema-
gogues of the present day on this question.
lido most depoutly aoish (says Washing
ton) that zoe had not a single foreigner among
us, except the Marquis de Lafayette, who acts
upon different principles from those which
govern the rest" Was not Washington sin
cere in that "wish," thus "devoutly" ex-
pressedS Was he not qualified to Judge of
their merits and dement's, their aims and pur-
posese If not qualified, soho wasf
"These men, says Washington, in his first let
ter, have no attachment to the country further
than interest binds them"
at Isl says he, "by the zeal and activity Of
our own people that the cause must be supported,
and not by few hungry adventrers."
Did General Washington utter falsehoods,
when he thus expressed himselfa Are his
opinions entitled to no weight Is his testi-
mony of no value in the decision of this ques-
ton?
We here submit the letters to tho calm con-
sideration Of Americans:
"MoRsrsrowx, nth May, 1777.
"To RICHARD HENRY LEE.
"DEAn Sin: take the libertyto ask you what
Congress expects am to do with the many foreign
rank of field officers and by their last resolve two
to that of colonelP These men have no attach
ment to the country further than interest binds
them. Our officers think II extremely hard, after
they have toled in the service, and have sustained
many losses, to have strangers put over them,
whose merits, perhaps are not equal to their own,
but whose e6frontery will take no denial.
1t is by the zeal and activity of our own people
that the cause must be supported, and not by
few hungry adventurers
&c. WASHINGTON"
lVol. ~, p. 4S2.
ITO THE SAME.
"MrDpLKBASK, June 1, I771.
"You viii, before this can reach you, have seen
Monsieur Decoudray; what his real eIpee tations
we're, do not know, but / fear IL his appointment
is equal TO what have been told Is his expectation
il win be attended with unhappy consequences, to
say nothing of the policy of intrusting depart
ment on the execution of which the salvation Of
the army depends, to foreigner, who has no other
tie TO bind him to tho interests Of the country
than honor would beg leave to observe that by
putting Mr. D. at the herd Of the artillery, you win
lose very valuable officer In General Knox, who
is man of great military standing, sound judg-
ment, and clear conception, who viii resign Il any
one is put over him,
81 am, &C.,
90. WASHINGTON"
[vol. w, p. 4l61
"WHrE PLAINS, July "A, ITS.
"To Governor Morris, Esq.
"DEhR SrR The design of this Is to touch
cursorily upon subject Of very great importance
to the well being Of these States much more so than
will appear at first view. mean the appointment
Of 80 many foreigners to Office Of high rank and
trust in our service.
The lav;ah msnner In which rank has bitborto