Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-02-26
Letter from George washington.

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Letter from George Washington.
The following letter, copied from the English
Political Magazine for 1888, bears date June 18th
of that year, and was written by Gen. Washing
ton--at the close of the long struggle which gave
independence to bis country-to VIM. Green,
Governor of Rhode Island. We hope that those
who have been seduced into yielding ready
ear to the Syren voice of secession, will read this
letter Of General Washington with great care,
and see If they can find anything like secession
in the sentiments Of the "Father of his Country
Read and see whether he was Union man or
secessionist. Read, ponder and inwardly digest:
'SIR The great object for which had the
honor to hold an appointment in the service of
my country being accomplished, am now pre-
pairing to resign it into the hands of Congress,
and return to that domestic retirement which, it
is well known, | left with greatest reluctance
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. **
came into existence as Nation, ard if their cit
izens be not completely free and happy the fault
will be entirely their own. Such is our situa-
tion, and such are our prospects but notwith-
standing the cup of blessing is thus reached out
to Us, Notwithstanding happiness is ours, if we
have disposition to seize the occasion and make
it our own, Yet it appears to me there is an OPP
ton still left to the United States of America,
whether they will still be respectable and pros
porous, or contemplate and miserable as q ma
tion. This is the time of their political lproba-
ton 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 char
acter forever; this is the favorable moment to
give such a tone to the Federal Government as
will enable it to answer the ends of its institu-
ton or this may be the ll-fated moment for
relaxing the powers of the Union, annihilating
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 Importance, and to serve their interest
ed purposes. For according to the system of
policy the States shall adopt at this moment,
they will stand or fall-and by their confrma-
ton or lapse. it is yet to be decided whether the
Revolution must ultimately be considered
blessing or curse-a blessing or a curse lot to
the present age alone, for with our fate will the
destiny of unborn millions be involved. 90
With this conviction of the Importance of the
present crisis, silence in me would be a crime;
| will, therefore, speak to your Excellency the
language of freedom and of sincerity, without
disguise.
There are four things which humbly con-
ceive are essential to the well being, may ven-
ture to say the existence of the United States as
an Independent power.
1st. An andissoluble union of the States under
one confederated head.
End. A sacred regard to public justice.
3rd. The adoption of proper peace estab-
lishment. l..s-
4th. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly
disposition among the people of the United
States, which will induce them to forget their
local prejudices, to make those mutual conces-
sions which are requisite to the general prosper
ity, and in some instances to sacrifice their ndi.
vidual advantages to the interest of the commu-
nifty. @
These are the pillars on which the glorious
fabric of our independency and national charac-
ter must be supported. Liberty is the basis;
and whoever would dare to sap the foundation,
or orerturn the structure under achatecer specious
pretert he may attempt 1T, toiI merit the bitter
est erecration, and the sererest punishment aohacb
can be inflicted By has injured country.
Yet it will be part OF my dnty, and that of
every true patriot to assert without reserve, and
to insist upon the following propositions:
That, unless the States will suffer Congress to
exercise those prerogatives they are undoubtedly
invested with by the Constitution, everything
must very rapidly tend to anarchy and confusion.
That it is indispensable to the happiness ct the
individual States, that there should be lodged
some where supreme power to regulate and
govern the general concerns of the confederated
with xuf, oh tho no of
long duration. co3
That there must be faithful and pointed
compliance on the part of every State with late
proposals aud demands of Congress, or the most
fatal consequences will ensue. That ohaterer
measures haze q tendency to dissolue the Union
or contribute to Uiolence, or lessen tho sovereign
authority ought to be considered as hostile to the
liberty and Independence of America, and the
authors of them treated accordingly. And lastly,
that, unless we can be enabled by the concur
renee of the States to participate OF the fruits of
the Revolution, and enjoy the essential benefits
OF civil society, under form of government SO
free and uncorrupted, SO happily guarded against
the danger of oppression, has been advised
and adopted by the articles of confederation, it
will be subject of regret that so much blood
and treasure have been lavished to no purpose;
that so many sufferings have been encountered
without compensation, and that so many sac
rifices have been made in vain. Many other
considerations might here be adduced to prove
that, aoithout an entire conformity to the spirit
of the Union, ace cannot erast as an independent
poaoer Ii will be sufficient for my purpose to
mention but one or two which seem to me of
the greatest Importance. 1t is only In our uni
ted character, as an empire, that our independ-
ence is acknowledged, that our power can be
regarded, or our credit supported, among foreign
nations. The treaties of European powers with
the United States of America will have no va
idity on dissolution OF the Union. We shall
be left nearly in state of nature; or we may
fad, by our own unhappy experience, that there
is a natural and necessary progression from tho
ertreme Of anarchy to the ertreme of tyranny;
and that arbitrary posoer IS most easily esta6-
lished on the rains Of liberty abused to licsa-
ti0usness. suo
II, after all, spirit Of Disuniom, and a tenn
per of o6stinacy and perverseness should manifest
itself IN any of the States, IT such an ungracious
disposition should attempt to Illustrate all the
happy effects that might be expected to 7oao from
the Union, : = that State alone ,ohich puts itself
into opposition to the aggregate acisdom Of the
Continent, and follosos such mistaken and per-
nicious counsels, oiU be responsible for all the
c0nseq quences.
have thus freely disclosed what wished to
make known before | surrender up my public
trust to those who committed it to me. 4alf
" X