The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-03-01
Letter from George wasbinrtop.

date June 18th of that year, and was
written BY Gen. Washington--at thc
close of the long struggle which gave in.
dependence to his country-to William
= Green, Governor of Rhode Island. There
isa peculiar appropriateness in it TO the
exigency that now exists and, though
its immortal author was ruled out OF
Congress day or two since. we trust that
his wise teachings will not be disregardcd
by the masses Of his countrymen. When
they turn a cold ear to the admonitions
of this foremost man in all tide Of time"
we shall conclude that the days of the
Republic draw rapidly towards their
close. We trust that no reader Of our
paper will pass by this letter:
ssh: The great object for which had
the honor to hold an appointment in the
service OF my country being accomplish
ed, ! am now preparing TO resign it into
the hands of Congress, and return to that
domestic retirement which, it is well
known, left with greatest reluctance.
81. The foundation of
our empire was not laid in the gloomy
age of ignorance and superstition, but at
an epoch when the rights of mankind
were better understood and more clearly
than at any former period.
AT this asupicious period, the United
States came into existence as a nation,
and if their citizens be not completely
free and happy the fault will be entirely
their own. Such is our situation, and
such are our prospects but notwithstand-
in fhn Of ia b.,I
out to us, Notwithstanding happiness is
ours, if we have disposition to seize the
occasion and make it our own, yet it APP
pears to me there is an option still left to
tile United States of America, whether
they will still be respectable and prospe-
rous or contemplate and miserable as a
nation. This is the time of their political
probation this is the moment when tho
eyes of the whole world are turned upon
them this is the moment to establish or
ruin their national character forever; this
is favorable moment to give such a tone to
the Federal Government as will enable it
to answer the ends of its institution; or
this may be the ill-fated moment for re-
Taxing the powers of the Union, annihi-
hating the cement of the confederation,
and exposing us to the sport of European
politics, which may array one State against
another, to prevent their growing impor-
tonce aud IN srrve their own ;niorcsted
,,,rnnses Fnr ,ccord;n, 70 Tho s,,stan,
IF nol;cv the states shalt adont NJ this
moment, they will stand or fall--and by
their confirmation or lapse, it is yet to be
decided whether the revolution must ul-
timately be considered blessing or
curse-a blessing or curse not to the
present age alone, for with our fate will
volvad -.
With This conviction of the importonce
of tho nresent crisis s;lence in me worlI
he a crime. I will thcrefore sneak 70
your EycoIIoncv tho langn,ge of fraedon,
and of sincerity. without disg,,ise y
Tbero are fonr things wlich 7 bumb,v
conceive are essential to the we'll heinz I
,,,av uort,,ro N cav tbo sx;stanco ot iho
ITnite6 states ne an ;ndenendent no,yer
is, A. ;nJ;ssoIuble ni;nn Of he states
undar ono conrcderated head
81 A s,orod record 10 n,,hI;o ;,st;oo
nd The adontion of n nroner nence
e.,.bI;shn,ont 7
And Itb The nrevo,onco of that M.
otto and f,onIIv d;snos;t;n, o,ronn H.
noonlo NJ tha Ifn;ted states vb;o6 will
,ndpce them to foryet their local nreud;.
90, IN n,,l.a thos, ,,utu.l connosSions
wh;oh ore reon;s;te to tho General nros.
neritv and in some instances 10 sacrifice
their individual odvontares 70 the in.
,arast of tle community
These ore lbe nillors on which tbe clo-
rious fabric of our indencndencv and ma.
tional chorocter must ne Summarized Lib-
ortv ia the basis and whnever would
dare 10 san the foundation or overturn
the structure. under whatever snecio,,s
nretext he may attemnt il. will merit the
h;ttorest execrntion and tho severest
punishment. which can he inflicted bv
his Injured country /
Yet Il will be a mart of NV dutv. and
that of every true patriot To assert with.
ont reserve and to insist unon the fnl.
lowing nronositions.
.rbat unless the Stotes will sufter Con.
yress IN exercise those nrarooatives they
arc undoubteIIv invasted With nv tbe
Constitution every thing must very rapid.
lv tend IN anarchy and confusion That
II ia indisnensable tn the banniness Of the
;nd;y;,InaI States that thnre sbonld he
LODGED somewhere n snnreme mower TO
reg,,Iate and Govern the GENERAL CONCERNS
Of the confeierated Renuhlic without
which the Un;on cannot he Of lonr din.
ration
That tbere must be n f.;tbfu, and no;pt-
ed comnl;onoa on tho nart Of avarv State
with Ia,e nronosals and demands IF ron.
cress mr. The most fatal conseonences will
ensne That whatever measures have n
tendencv to dissolve the ITnion or con.
tr;buteto violence or los sen the sovereiyn
omthor;,v onaht ~ he conS;dared &C lbs.
tile to lie liberty and inIenendercv Of
America. and The authors of them treated