The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-07-01
THE CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON.

The following synopsis of the char.
acter Of George Washington, is taken
from letter written by Thos. Jeffer-
son in 1914. 1t has become fashiona-
BILE in these days to treat the memory
of Washington, if not with contempt
at least with Indifference and sighting
words. 1t will be seen from the ex-
tract given below, that he was all that
history claims for him, and his men,
ory deserves the reverence of the peo-
pie as much now as when he was the
living idol of the nation;
II think ] know General Washing
ton intimately and thoroughly; and
were l called on to delineate his char
acter, it should be in terms like these:
ellis mind was great and powerful,
without being of the very FIRST order
his penetration strong, tn 1ugh not so
acute as that of Newton, Bacon or
Locke; and as far as he saw no judg
ment was ever sounder. 1t was slow
in operation, being little aided by in
vention or imagination, but. sure in
conclusion. Hence the common re-
mark of his officers, of the advantage
he derived from councils of war, where,
hearing all suggestions, he selected
whatever was best; and certainly no
General ever planned his battles more
judiciously. But # deranged during
the course of the action, if any men,
Der of his plan was dislocated by sud
den circumstances, he was slow in u
readjustment. The consequence was,
that he often failed in the field, and
rarely against an enemy in station, as
at Boston and York. He was fncapa-
BILE of fear, meeting personal dangers
with the calmest unconcern. Perhaps
the strongest feature in his character
was prudence, never acting until every
circumstance, every consideration, was
maturely weighed refraining if he saw
doubt, but, when once decided, going
through with his purpose, whatever
obstacles opposed. His integrity was
most pure, his justice the most inAexi-
BILE have ever known, no motives OF
interest or consanguinity, of friendship
or hatred, being able to bias his decis-
ion. He was, indeed, in every sense
of the words, wise, good and great
man. His temper was naturally irrita
Bile and high. toned but reflection and
resolution had obtained a firm and ha,
bitual ascendancy over it. If ever
however, it broke its bounds, he wa;
most tremendous in his wrath. In hi;
expenses he was honorable, but exact
liberal in contributions to whatever
promised utility; but frowning and
unyielding on all visionary projects
and all unworthy calls on his charity
His heart was not warm in its affec
tions, but he exactly calculated every
mans value, and gave him solid es
TEEN proportioned to it. His person
you know, was fine, his stature exactly
what one would wish, his deportmen
easy, exact and noble the best horse
man of his age, and the most gracefa
figure that could be seen on horseback
Although in the circle of his friends
: where he might be unreserved witt
safety, he took free share in conver
sation, his colloquial talents were no
above mediocrity, possessing neithe
, copiousness of ideas. nor fuency O
words. In public, when called. on fo
l sudden opinion, he was unready
short and embarrassed. Yet be wrot
readily, rather diffusely, in an cas-,
and correct style. This be had acquire,
by conversation with the world, for hi
, education was merely reading, writing
i and common arithmetic, to which b
, added surveying at later day. Hi
time was employed in action chiefly
reading little and that only in Agri
culture and English history. His col
respondence became necessarily exter
sive, and with journalising his agricuI
tural proceedings, occupied most @
his leisure within doors. On the whole
his character was, in its mass, perfect
in nothing bad, in few points indiffel
, ent and it may trul y be said, tha
never did nature and fortune combin
more perfectly to make a man grea
and to place him in the same constel
lation with whatever worthless hav
merited from man an everlasting rC
membrance. For his was the 3ingula
= destiny aud merit of leading the armiC
of his country successfully through a
arduous war, for the establishment {
its independence, of conducting il
councils through the birth of 60
ernment new in its forms and prime
piles, until it had settled down into
quiet and orderly train; and of scrl
4, pulously obeying the laws through tl
whole of his career, civil and milital
= of which the history of the world fu
nishes no other example.