Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-02-21
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the wounds which my feelings as an officer NAYS
received by a thousand things that have happened
contrary to my expectations and wishes; the Ell
feet Of my own conduct and present appearance
of things SO little pleasing to myself a. TO rehoe,
1t d matter Of no surprise to me II l snoula sAano
capitalIy cens,lred by congress induce ii
thorough conviction In my mind that 1t VIII ne
impossible, unless there is Il thorough chahse ~
our military system, for me to conduct matters 10
give satisfaction to the public, which Is all Inc
recompense | aim at or ever wish LOT.
This unhappy state Of things was almost "nols
aue to the feeling manifested In several secuohs
Of the country, persisted In to the hathperihs v.
Washington's campaign and to the de9r''hen' ~
the cause. Congress was finally prevailed upon ny
Washington's representations ana the taia,s
dawnipr consciousness that war was ine'llape
and that, being So unpreparedness 'he'nt y"
lamity. --un+
of congress: "Short enlistments and n mistaken
dencndepce upon our militia have been the origin
of all. our misfortunes and great accumulation Oh
our debt. beg leave to give II as NY
humble opinion that So battalions are by no means
equal to the opposition you are to MAKE anu th"'
not n moments time is to be lost in raising u
greater number. not less In my opinion ana 1hht
of my officers than ITO. . . . In my Nos"e''
this Is not Il time 10 SlNlu uIUi SAFS"~ w."
finds are not the only object OF consideration. .
II may be thought that I am going a good
deal out of my line Of duty to advise thus freely.
A character to loose, an estate to forfeit, the In
estimahle blessings of liberty mt stake ana a n1e
devoted must be my excuse
Far from holding himself aloof and wanting to
keep all power in. his own hands, Washington
welcomed cooperation.
After ne had been invested with the dictatorial
powers necessitated by the emergency OF public
affairs, the council of safety of New York apollo
gized for certain measures they had taken In re-
gard to New York troops which were later dis
covered to have been an infringement on his nu'
thority. Washington replied: II should be un-
happy in the belief that any part Of my letter to
YOU could be construed into the slightest hint
that you wish to interfere In the military line,
Heaven knows that | greatly want the aid OF
every good man, and that there are not such
enviable pleasures attending my situation as to
make me too jealous of It's prerogatives. Rather
than complain of your late efforts In the military
way, you deserve the thanks Of us all, and / feel
myself happy In this opportunity of returning you
mine In the greatest truth and sincerity"
At Valley Forge, where Washington's troops
were almost naked, had few blankets and scnnty
food. he was moved to resentment against "the
gentlemen, without knowing whether the nrmy
was really going into winter quarters or not
reprobating the measure MS much as If they
thought the soldiers were made Of stocks and
stones and equally insensible Of frost and snow
and, moreover, as If they conceived 1t easily prac
tlcnble for m inferior army under the disad
vantages / have described ours to be to confnt
n superior one, in all respects we'll appointed
within the city Of Philadelphia md to cover from
depreciation and waste the states of Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. . I can assure these gen
tlemcn that 1t Is a much easier and less distress
Ing thing 70 draw up remonstrances In n com
Portable room by n good freside than to occupy
cold. bleak hill and sleep under frost and snow
without clothes or blankets. However, %alttoug,
they seem to have little feeling for the naked ant
distressed soldiers, I feel superabupdantly TO
them. and from my soul I pity those miserIes
which It Is neither In my power to relieve nor pre-
vent"
Washington made persistent efforts to ret
guarantee Of hnlf-pay for his officers after tn
war. himself having no personal interest In tn,
measure; he had declared from the first that h
would never profit by It to the amount Of a singh
penny. He deprecated constantly the jealousy o
the military part Of tho government by the ciyi
department.
III we would pursue n right system Of policy,
he wrote to a member Of congress. lin nv opinion
there would be none Of these distinctions. W.
should all, congress and army, be considered AZ on
people, embarked In one cause, In one interest
netting N the same principle and to the same end,
In 1903 Washington. In his second term as prcsl
dent, wrote to congress that. while he soueh
peace and urged q faithful discharge OF every dvty
toward others. he recommended prompt measure
not only for defense hut for enforcing Just claim,
''There Il n rank due the United States anon
other nations which will be withheld, II NOT al
solutely lost, BY the reputation Of weakness. i
we desire to avoid insult we must be able to repe
II; II we desire to secure peace. one Of the mo,
powerful Instruments u our prosperity, II mus
bs known that W are Il 81 ti1nss ready TOT war,
IN he wrota. I