Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-23
HABITS.

pointed Corresponding Secretary; and Mr. W.. II
Macfarland of Richmond City, Treasurer.
WASHINGTON'S HABITS.
Not long since, in looking over Griswold's magnif
cent work, .'The Republican Court" we read the fol
lowing passage, not only with pain but with vexatl"
at the bad taste, to say the least, evinced by the au
thor
Edmund Randolph had been mn object OF Wash
ington's kindly interest from his youth; his powerful
influence had caused him to be elected Governor Il
virginia; he had appointed him successfully Attorne
General and Secretary OF Stnte; ana ii"d treated i"n
in every way with unlimited confidence and alnos
parental fonjness. The vulgar and violent abus
with which no WAS assailedl in the dlsgrnced minister
"Vindicatiun,'' therefore, incenscd him to an cxtrnor
binary degree; the occasion was one Of those III wheel
his feelings for a moment obtained II mastery over hi
habitual sclf.control. We hear from unquestionabl
authority IN unecdutr illustrating this, which has n1
been hitherto published. Upon the settlement Of TIT
| boundary between Pennsylvania md Nirslnla, SOM
of Washington's lands Tell within the former State
and the laIe Mr.. James Ross OF Pittsbnrg was hI
agent for the sale of them. lie cnme 10 PhIlhdelphli
TO settle his account, md sending word To the Presl
dent that he would wait upon him at his pleasure
WIS invited to breakfast the next morning. On arrIv
ins he found all the ladics-,he Custlses, Lewiscs
Mrs. Washington, and othcrs-in the pnrlor, obvious
" in great alarm. MIR. Ross described them rs ga
thered together in the middle OF the room, like a hocl
of partridgcs in n field, when a hawk Is IN the neigh
borhuod. Very soon the President entered and SHOOK
hands with Mr.. Ross, but looked dark md lowering
They went in to breakfast; and, after Il little while
the Secretary Of War anne in and SAID TO Washing
ton, "Have YOU seen Mr.. RandOlph's pamphlet! -
III have,'' said Washington, and, by the Eterna
God, lie is the damncdrst liar on the iht'e oil Inc ehrth.
ana as he spoke he brought his fist down upon ti'
table with all his strength, and with a violence which
made the cups and plates start from tneir places
Ross said he felt infinitely relieved; for he hau ieareC
that something in his own conduct ma "ccaS'om,o
the bluckness of the Presidents courtenance: In.
late Chief Justice Gibson had this from koss hihiseh
aud he mentioned it Ut the house Of the late Mrs. Jno
Is. Wallace, of Philadelphia, as showing ihal' h"'u'
rally, Washington was a man ni extraordinary PH''
sions and scusibili,ies.' .
i nm indebted to Mr.. John W Wallace for permission
10 tran.rriG,c thu abov" ~neciotc from the note OF HE bro
,l,cr, the lancuted Mr.. Horace Binn'y Wallace
1t was, therefore, with sincere satisfaction that wi
met with the following interesting letter from DE
Plumer, formerly an eminent Presbyterian Minister
in our city, refuting a similar charge made against
Wushington. We trust that both charges may stand
upon equally ba-elc-s oundations-and we appeal to
DR.. Piumer to employ his strong mind, and untiring
powers of investigation, in removing the stnin upon
Wasll;mg,on's fair yaue, involved in the narrative in
the Republican Court;
WASHINGTON AT MONMOUTH.
DIE GENERAL WASHINGTON CURSE AND SNEAR
To he Editors Of NE .Nem York Observer:
In ~IIarper's Magazine for last month, | see some
statements respecting Gen. Wa,hing:ons behavior nj
the battle OF Monmouth, which seem 10 demand n pass
inn notice. They are found ia an editorial criticism
on Lcut2e's picture Of Washington nj Monmouth
Tie exceptional Sentences are the following: "Tht
one great instance, which may he called the histori'
cal instance of his oppression OF vIoiclI; passion, wns
that of the battle Of NIOnnouilL when General Lee,
leading his troops in full retreat, wa. met by Wash.
ington, who, totally unable to control himself, called
Lee ficrcclv TO accui;u', even sw0rc at him.
General Lee was riding in front OF the column. md
Washington rode directly at him. He called Inn Ia
accoun, in the severc't manner- Hung at him all oath
of contempt
"Washingtou'a great net is s%temming the retreat, not
cursing the chief WHO allowed it
douL, no; the upright intentions of the author OF
these sentences, or any one else who may believe Ms
he does. When young, | knew AL excellent man,
who had been in the battle of Monmouth. He said
he was within forty yards OF Washington when ie
met Lee, and heard him USE the name of God in a
manurr that ut the time seemed to him pro!anc. But
| an satisfied this is Il mistake. Ny reasons arc
these
|. General Washington greatly disapproved Of the
use of profane Language. On many occcaslons lac
publicly expressed his disapproba,ion Of all profane
ness of speech, not only because it was ungcn'lc'nan'
" and unbecomIng m officer, but also because II was
offensive to God. When he took command of the
American forces, prUiane swearing among the officers
was not unknown I" some. tie early directed III. ct
fur,s to suppress il. Nor did he ever cease to dislike
this form of w;ckedncss. 1t IL, therefore, not proba.
Die that he forgot the proprictlcs OF his painful po-
sition, or his duty to God, in that eventful day at Mon
mouth.
=. have good evidence before my mind that
Washington did neither curse nor swear ut Monmouth
The late Minor James Morton of Va, WAS ut the but
tie of Monmouth. IT.. was, | think, n lieutenant IN
the army. He told me that he WINS within SIX yards
of General Washington when he mel Lee. ana That nc
expression, which could he fairly called prniune, es'
cupti the lips of the n-chicf. MnJnl
Morton said that Washington used the name OF G"t
two or three times, hut III a manner which no one nat
n right to pronounce protane. MINOR Morton sad
that he heard all that passed between the Generals
aud that Warrington NEITHER cursed nor swore.
Many old soldiers have told the same story Will
TINT at Major Morton, respecting the beginning o.
the Interview. In II manner Of terrible eurnestness
Washington snid 'ln the name of God, Genera
Lee, what means this movement" General Lee re
piled 1T is accustomed by the exercise of that rus
cally virtue called prudence, ni which your excellen
cy is possessed 10 n remarkable degree" Upon ;liis
Washington with increased vcheincnce mule II so
Tenn appeal TO Lee in the name Of God, calling OF
him to 10 his duty 10 bis country. With n terribl,
rebuke he made Lee change his position. Soon tn,
shouts of the Americans showed their love Of tlici
country and their commander. Thus were the for
tunes of the day decided. Major Morton, TO whom
reference is made above, was q gentleman vi very llgl
standing. For his frnncss IF character, no less thai
for the shape of hs person, he was during the war o
Independence often called "Sold Column" lie wa
the brother of the late benjamin Morton of llalifa!
county, Virginia, Of the late Nathaniel Morton U
Baltimore, and of the late John Morton of Bordeaux
France. One of his daughters was married to th
late Rev. DR.. John II. Rice of Virginia md anothc
to the late Rev. james Whary Of Virginia. The pre-
| sent distinguished physician and agricu!.uraliat, ID
WIN. S. Morton Of Cumberland county, Virginia,
the son OF the gentleman whose testimony Is give
above. | have never known Il Drawer man tih
Major James Morton. His statement TO me wa
made, l think. in the full of 1897, when his facultie
were quite uuimpaired. Doubtless others have hear
the same thing from bis lips, and should this pnper met
the eye uf such, would they not do q service 10 III
cause of virtue to confirm The statement here made
OF late years I have not conferred nor corresponds
with any one on the subject.
In ali respects W'nsiington's public behavior
more and more regarded by hi- countrymen wit
lively interest. His reputation is Il part OF the Mt
t!onal inheritance, his example a part of the unwrl
ten law uf the land. Ii he had serious faults Of cha
ac;er, they are but i'll supported by evidence. Iht
his Indignation was reused ut seeing II cowardly r.
treat, headed by General Lee, is very true. That IN
occasion justified tie strongest words and acts
lawful anger, is certain. Anger, when causeles
when outrageous, q when long continued, Is sir
sin not"
Needless appenls fo God are not to be justified.
But solemn appeals TO men III the nnne oi No'
when the OCCASION just!tics Crcnt carncstness, are II!
10 be condemned. Oar fathers of III were general
serious men. The Years Of the Revolutionary WI
were times Of unusual sulcmlity. Surely no ma
has a right 10 say That Washington was prniai
in his feelings, when uttering the words a6o'
cited. .
Since writing the above have heard that Il bool
which is likely 10 DC extensively read, asserts TIL
Washington WIS p"oiaue more THAI once. l ha'
NOT read it; but shall be gratitied if the public min
on good grounds, shau become satisfied on this Poi'
Of history. WM:S. fLChhh'
ALLEGHENY CRY, Pa, JAM g, 1855.