The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-02-15

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the wounds which my feelings as an officer have
received by 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 as to render
It matter of no surprise to me II should stahu
capitally censured by congress induce
thorough conviction in my mind that IL VIII ne
impossible unless there Is thorough chaHge III
our military system, for me to conduct matters 10
give satisfaction to the public, which Is all the
recompense aim at or ever wish for"
This unhappy state of things was almost wholy
due to the feeling manifested In several sectiohs
of the country, persisted In to the hamperlhg y.
Washlngton's campaign and to the detrhheht VI
the cause. Congress was finally prevailed upon D!
Washingtons representations and the tarulV
dawnlng consciousness that war was inevltaDie
and that being so, appropriateness meant Gu
lamity.
On December 20, 1776 he wrote to the president
of congress: "Short enlistments and mistaken
dependence upon our militia have been the origin
of all our misfortunes and great accumulation or
our debt. l beg leave TO give 1t as my
humble opinion that IS battalions are by no means
equal to the opposition you are to make, and that
not moments time Is to be lost In raising n
greater number not less in my opnon and That
OF my officers than 40. In my judgment
this Is not a time to stand upon expense; our
funds are not the only object of consideration.
II may be thought that / am going good
deal out of my line of duty to advise thus freely
character to loose, an estate TO forfeit, the In
estImable blessings Of liberty at stake and life
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 dctatorial
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 10 New York troops which were later dis
covered to have been an infringement on his au-
thorty Washington replied Il should be I'M
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 l greatly want the aid Of
every good man. and that there are not such
envahle pleasures attending my situation as 10
make me too jealous of its 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 Washngton's troops
were almost naked. had few blankets and scanty
food hc was moved to resentment against "the
gentlemen. without knowing whether the army
was really going into winter quarters or not
reprobating the measure as much rs If they
thought the soldiers were made OF stocks and
stones and equally lnsensible Of frost and snow,
and moreover as If they conceived II easily prac-
ticable for an inferior army under the dsad.
vantages l have described ours to be TO confine
a superior one, in all respects well appointed
within the city OF Philadelphia and to cover from
depreciation and waste the states OF Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. can assure these gen.
tlemen that Il is much easier and less distress
Ing thing to draw up remonstrances in COM
Portable room by good Preside than TO occupy
cold, bleak hill and sleep under frost and snow
without clothes or blankets. However. although
they to have little feeling for the naked and
distressed soldiers. feel superabundantly for
them. and from my soul pity those miseries,
which 1t is neither in my power to relieve nor pre-
vent"
Washington made persistent efforts to get
guarantee of half-pay for his officers after the
war. himself having no personal interest in the
measure: he had declared from the first that he
would never profit by II to the amount Of a single
penny. he deprecated constantly the jealousy OF
the military part Of the government by the civil
department.
'If we would pursue right system Of policy"
he wrote to a member Of congress- "in my opinion
there would be none of these distinctions We
should all congress and army be considered as one
people embarked In one cause In one interest
acting on the same principle and to the same end"
In 1793 Washington. In his second term as presi-
dent, wrote to congress that while he sought
peace and urged a faithful discharge Of every duty
toward others, he recommended prompt measures
not only for defense but for enforcing just claims
"There is rank due the United States among
other nations which win be withheld. IL not ab.
solutely lost. by the reputation Of weakness. II
we desire to avoid insult we must be able to renel
it; II we desire to secure peace. one Of the most
powerful instruments OF our prosperity, IL must
be known that we are at al tines ready for war
he wrot