Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1861-03-07
Letter from George Washington.

The fsllswing letter, copied from the
English Political Magazine for 1888, bears
date June 18th Of that year, and was writ
ten BY Gen. Washington-at the close Of
the long struggle which gave Independence
to his csuntry-to Wm. Green, Governor
Of Rhode Island. There is peculiar sp-
propriatsnsss in it to the exigensy that
now sxists; and, though its immortal author
was ruled out of Congress q day or two
since, We trust that his wise teachings
will not be dlsrsgarded by the masses of
his countrymen. When they turn 4 cold
ear to the sdmonitions Of this foremost
man in ,ll the tide Of time" We shall con-
cluds that the days Of the Republic draw
rapidly tswards their close. We trust that
no reader Of our paper will pass by this
letter:
"SIR: The great Objsot for which had the
honor to hold an appointment in the service
of my country being accomplished, am
now preparing TO resign it into the hands
Of Congress, and return to that domestic re-
tirement which, it is well known, left
with greatest reluctance,
The foundation of our empire was not laId
in the gloomy age Of ignorance anu SUPER
s,ition, but at an epoch when the rights OF
mankind were better understood and more
clearly than at any former period.
At this auspioious period, tho United
States came into existence as nation, and
if their citizens be not completely free and
happy the fault will be entirely thsir own.
Such is our situation, and such are our
prospects; but notwithstanding the cup of
blessing is thus reached out to us, not
with,tanding happines, is ours, if We have
a disposition to seize the occasion and
make it our own, yet It appears to me there
is an option still left to the United States Of
America, whether they will still be res
psctabls and prosperous, or contemplate
and miserable as a nation. This is the
time OF their political probation; this is the
moment when the eyes of the whole world
are turned upon them; this is the moment
to establish or ruin their national character
forever; this Il favorable moment 10 give
such tone to the Federal Government as
will enable it 10 answer the ends Of its in.
stitution; or this may be the ill-fated me-
nent for relaxing the powers Of the Union,
annihilating the cement Of the confsdsra-
tion, and exposing US to the sport of Euro
psan politics, which may array one State
against another, to prevent their growing
importance, and to serve their swn intsres.
ted purposes. For according to the sys.
tenn Of policy the States shall adopt at this
moment, they will stand or fall-and BY
their confirmation or lapse. il is yet to be
decided whether the revolution must ult:-
nately be eonsidered blessing or q curse
"a blessing or curse not to the present
age alone, for with our fate will the destiny
Of unborn millions be involved.
With this conviction Of the iuportanos of
the present crisis. silence in me would be
q crime; l will, therefore, speak to your
Excsllsncy the language Of freedom and Of
sincerity, without disguise.
There are four things which I humbly
conceive are essential to the well being,
may venture to say the existence Of the
United States as an isdependen. power.
Isl. An indissolubls union Of the states
under one confsdsr a,ed head.
I'd. A sacred regard to public justice.
Sd. The adoption Of proper peace IS.
Enlistment.
And 4th. The prevalence Of that pacific
and friendly disposition among the people
Of the United States, which will induce
them 10 forget their local preiudiees, 10
make those mutual concessions which are
requisite to the general prosperity, and in