The border vidette., 1931-12-26
WASHINGTON SAEATAS HIS
SWORD

On this date or Decom Der 70,
one hundred and forty eight
years ago, George Washington
handed back to the Continental
Congress commission as Com.
mander in Chief of the Revolu.
tionary Army and returned to
Mount Vernon. a simple Ameri.
can citizen. But the mere state
ment of that fact conveys little
of the drama that lay behind his
act. Only few months before
be became George Washington,
private citizen, be might have
become military dictator of
America, and at the lifting of a
6nger. He put aside the propo.
sal in indignation. but bad Geor.
ge Washington been other than
the man be was, the history of
the United States might read
very differently from what it
does.
While the surrender of Corn
wallis at Yorktown in 1881 had
virtually ended the Revolution
in victory for America, desultory
fighting still went on, and Wash
ington wished to keep the army
up to strength. It was never
tbeless a period of inactivity.
aud the officers and soldiers had
plenty of time to brood over
their grievances at the hands of
Congress. Their pay was long
in arrears. Numbers of the Off
GERS had sacrificed their personal
fortunes to the cause of their
country. And now they faced
the prospect Of being turned
back into private life. penniless
and ignored by a country that
appeared to them ungrateful.
This bitter sentiment reached
a climax while the army was sta
toned at Newburgh. 1t finally
took shape in an open hint to
Washington that be place him.
self at the head Of this move.
ment in the army to take ever
the government, and thus make
himself dictator of America. So
impoverished was the country,
and 80 feeble had become the
State and national governments.
that nothing could have stood
in the way of this move, had
Washington yielded. Instead be
Indignantly rebuked his officers
for this threatened stain on their
patriotism, promised once more
to stir Congress to take up the
matter of payment, and in this
he finally succeeded.
Late in January, 1888, came
news that the preliminary peace
treaty had been signed in Paris.
On April II. Washington was
informed that an agreement for
the suspension of hostilities had
been signed. 10 due time there
after came the disbanding of the
army, the triumpbal entry of
Washington and Governor Clin
ton into New York City, on the
heels of the departing British,
and the famous farewell that the
Commander in Chief bade his
faithful officers at Fraunce's
Tavern. Immediately afterward
Washington went to Philadel
| ~hio IN IF
his personal expenses during the
eight years Of the war.
This besiness being concluded,
Washington left Philadelhia for
Annapolis, where Congress was
sitting. There be arrived on De
cember 20. and asked the presi.
dent of Congress as to the man
Der in which be should resign
his commission. The 23d was
named as the day for this cere
mony. At IL o'clock the Mary
land State House, where Con.
gress was in session, was crowd.
ed for the occasion. The CALLER
les and large part of the floor
in the Hall of Congress was filed
with ladies'. functionaries of the
State and National Governments,
military men and citizens.
Washington entered, conduct
ed by the secretary Of Congress,
and took his appointed seat.
After a brief pause, General
Miffin, president of Congress,
announced that the United
States in Congress assembled"
we're prepared to receive his
communication. II the course
of his brief address, Washington
said, The great events on which
my resignation depended having
at length taken place, [ now
have the honor of Offering my
sincere congratulations to Con
gress, and of presenting myself