Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-02-15
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QA4GETSN ML<YEOGGT
the wounds which my feelings as an officer have
received by a thousand things that have happeheu
contrary to my expectations ana wlshes' tHe "a
feet of my own conduct and present appearance
of things so little pleasing to myself as to rehueI
1t a matter of no surprise to me If should SIAM
c%apitaIly censured by congress induce "
thorough conviction in my mind that II VIII ne
impossible. unless there Is a thorough change III
orr military system. for me to conduct matters 10
give satisfaction to the public, when Is HI 'e
recompense I aim Mt or ever wish Tor
This unhappy state of things was almost wnons
due to the feeling manifested In several seeuo t
of the country, persisted in to the hamperihs =,
Nvo sbington's campaign and to the detriment Oh
the cause. Congress was finally prevailed upon ny
woshington's representations and the taruns
downing consciousness that war was lheNllopl'
and that, being SO, unpreparedness meant y"
lamity. ,a,,
On december 20. 1776. he wrote to the president
NJ congress: "Short enlstments and a MISTAKEN
denendence upon our militia have been the origin
Of all our misfortunes and great accumulation Oh
mn debt I beg leave to give it as my
humble opinion that IS battalions are by no menus
equal to the opposition you are to make anu '""'
NOT n moments time is to be lost in raising a
greater number not less IN my OPINION NV wa.
of my officers than 40. In my Juueinen'
This is not a time to stand upon expense; our
funds nre not the only object of consideration
II NAV be thought that I am going n good
deal out Of my line of duty to advise thus lreelE'
A character to loose, an estate to forfeit the IN
estimable blessings of liberty Mt stake ana n h'
devoted must he my excuse"
Far from holding himself alOof and wanting &c
keen. all power in his own hands, Washington
welcomed cooperation.
After ne had been invested with the dictatorinI
powers necessitated by the emergency of puhh'
affairs. the council of safety of New York apollo
gized for certain measures they had taken In re
gard 10 New York troops which were later dis
covered to have been an infringement on his au
thority. Washington replied 81 should he un
happy in the belief that any part of my letter t.
YOU could be construed into the slightest hin
that you wish to interfere in the military line
Heaven knows that | greatly want the ala o
every good man, and that there are not sucl
enviable pleasures attending my situation as t
make me too Jealous Of its prerogatives. Rattle
than complain of your late efforts in the militur,
way, you deserve the thanks Of us all, and l fee
myself happy in this opportunity Of returning yo
mine In the greatest truth and sincerity"
Al Valley Forge, where Washington's troop
were almost naked, had few blankets and scant
food ne was moved TO resentment against 9Th
gentlemen, without knowing whether the arm
was really going into winter quarters or no
reprohating the measure as much as II the
thought the soldiers were made of stocks an
stones and equally insensible of frost and snoy
and. moreover, as II they conceived 1t easily pra,
ticable for an inferior army under the disn,
vantages ! have described ours to he to cOnhr
n superior one, In all respects well appointet
within the city of Philadelphia and to cover frol
depreciation and waste the states of PennsylvanI
and New Jersey. | can assure these ge
tIemen that It is a much easier and less dlstres
ing thing to draw up remonstrances In a cor
Portable room by a good Preside than to occupy
noJI hIaoE hn1 ann c1oaN tndor froot ong 60.
without clothes or blankets. However althoul
they seem to have little feeling for the naked ar
distressed soldiers, I feel superabundantly Z
them, and from my soul l pity those mlserie
which 1t Is neither In my power to relieve nor pr
vent"
Washington made persistent efforts to get
guarantee Of half-pay for his officers after Il
war. himself having no personal interest In Il
measure; he had declared from the first that
would never profit by II to the amount Of a sing
penny. He deprecated constantly the jealousy
the military part Of the government by the CT,
department.
"If we would pursue a right system of polIc,
he wrote TO n member Of congress. "n my oplnl
there would he none Of these distinctions. v
should all, congress and army. be considered rs q
people. embarked in one cause, In one lntere
acting on the same principle and to the same en-,
In 1893 Washington, in his second term as pre-
dent, wrote to congress that, while he soup
peace and urged a faithful discharge Of every dr
toward others. he prompt measuI
not only for defense but for enforcing just claIu
"There is Il rank due the United States amo
other nations which will he withheld, II not ,
%sOlutely lost. by the reputation of weakness.
we desire TO avoid insult we must be able to rel
II; If we desire to secure peace, one OF the m,
powerful instruments Of our prosperity, II mi
be known that we are at all times ready for wa
he wrote.