The Globe-republican., 1902-02-27
GE2z1AS uNG TON

without an adequate provision by Con
gress for meeting the claims of the
troops, these discontents manifested
themselves in audible murmurs and
complaints, which foreboded serious
consequences But a spirit still more
to be dreaded was secretly at work
In rejecting the limited powers of
Congress, and on the backwardness of
the states to comply with the most
essential requisition, even in support
OF their own interests, many of the
officers were led to look for the cause
In the form of government, and to
distrust the stability of republican in
situations So far were they carried
by their fears and speculations that
they meditated the establishment of a
new and more energetic system. A
colonel in the army, of a highly re-
spectacle character and somewhat adj
Vanced in life, was made the organ
for communicating their sentiments to
the commander-in-chief- In a letter
elaborately.xand ski1fu1ly written, after
describing the gloomy state of affairs
the financial difficulties. and the in
Vulnerable embarrassments in which
the country had been involved during
the war, on account of its defective
political organization, the writer adds:
This must have shown to all, and
to military men in particular, the
weakness of republics, and the exer-
lions the army have been able to make
by being under a proper head. There
fore little doubt that when the ben
efts of mixed government are point
ed out and duly considered such will
De readily adopted. In this case it
viii, believe, be uncontroverted, that
the same abilities, which have led us
through difficulties, apparently insur-
mountab1e by human power, to victory
and glory. those qualities that have
TEEN and generation of army, would
| be most likely to conduct and direct
| US in the smoother paths of peace.
| Some people have so connected the
| ideas of tyranny and monarchy as to
/ find it very difficult to separate them.
1t may therefore be requisite to give
the head of such a constitution
| propose some title apparently more
| moderate; but, if all other things were
| once adjusted, I believe strong argu-
ments might be produced for admitting
| the title of King, which I conceive
/ would be attended with some material
| Advantages
/ ed as it was extraordinary in its con
| tents, Washington replied follows:
tNewburg, p May, 1852.
! Sir-Wth a mixture of great sur
| prise and establishment 1 have read
| with attention the sentiments you have
sir, no occurrence in the course of the
| war has given me more painful sensa-
| lions than your information of there
being such ideas existing in the army
as you have expressed, and must view
| with adherence and reprehend with
| severity. For the present, the com
munication of them will rest in my
| own bosom, unless some further agi
| tation of the matter shall make a dis
| closure necessary.
Il am much at a loss to conceive
what part of my conduct could have
given encouragement to address
| which to me seems big with the great
est mischiefs that can befan my coun
try If am not deceived in the know1
edge of myself, you could not have
found a person to whom your scheme:
are more disagreeab1e. At the same
time, in justice to my own feelings,
must add that no man possesses
more sincere wish to see ample justic,
done to the army than I do, and a:
far as my powers and influence, in
constitutional way extend, they shall
be employed to the utmost of my abil
tiles to effect it should there be an.
occasion Let me conjure you. then
if you have any regard for your coun
try, concern for yourself or posterity
or respect for me, to Danish thes,
thoughts from your mind. and neve
communicate, as from yourself or an!
one else, a sentiment of the like ma
ture- I am, sir, etc
George Washin gton.''
Such was the language of Washing
| ton, when, at the head of his army ant
at the height of his power and popu
| larity, it was proposed to him to be
come king. After this indi gnant re
ply and stern rebuke, it is not prob
able that any further advances wer,
made to him on the subject
e e e e