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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Circular letter from George Washington to the state governors
Washington, George, 1732-1799
June 14, 1783
Volume 16, Pages 813-823

GEN. G. WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOR MARTIN.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Circular.


Head Quarters Newburgh, June 14th, 1783.

Sir:

The great object for which I had the honor to hold an appointment in the service of my Country being accomplished, I am now preparing to resign it into the hands of Congress, and to return to that domestic retirement which it is well known I left with the greatest reluctance, a retirement for which I have never ceased to sigh

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through a long and painful absence, and in which (remote from the noise and trouble of the World) I meditate to pass the remainder of my life in a state of undisturbed repose. But before I carry this resolution into effect, I think it a duty incumbent on me to make this my last Official communication to congratulate you on the glorious events which Heaven has been pleased to produce in our favor, to offer my sentiments respecting some important subjects which appear to me to be intimately connected with the tranquility of the United States, to take my leave of your Excellency as a public Character, and to give my final blessing to that Country in whose service I have spent the prime of my life, for whose sake I have consumed so many anxious days and watchful nights, and whose happiness being extremely dear to me, will always constitute no inconsiderable part of my own.

Impressed with the liveliest sensibility on this pleasing occasion, I will claim the indulgence of dilating the more copiously on the subjects of our mutual felicitation. When we consider the magnitude of the prize we contended for, the doubtfull nature of the contest, and favourable manner in which it has terminated, we shall find the greatest pleasure and reason for gratitude and rejoycing. This is a theme that will afford delight to every benevolent and liberal mind, whether the event in contemplation be considered as the source of present enjoyment or the parents of future happiness; and we shall have equal occasion to felicitate ourselves, on the lot which Providence has assigned us, whether we view it in a natural, a political or a moral point of light.

The Citizens of America placed in the most enviable condition as the sole Lords and proprietors of a vast tract of continent comprehending all the various soils and climates of the World; and abounding with all the necessaries and conveniences of life, are now by the late satisfactory pacification acknowledged to be possessed of absolute freedom and independency. They are from this period to be considered as the Actors on a most conspicuous Theatre, which seems to be peculiarly designated by providence for the display of human greatness and felicity; here they are not only surrounded by every thing which can contribute to the completion of private and domestic enjoyment but Heaven has crowned all its other blessings by giving a fairer opportunity for political happiness than any other nation

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has ever been favoured with. Nothing can illustrate these observations more forcibly than a recollection of the happy conjuncture of times and circumstances under which our republic assumed its rank among the nations. The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of ignorance and superstition but at an Epocha when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly designed, than at any former period. The researches of the human mind after social happiness, have been carried to a great extent, the treasures of knowledge acquired by labour of philosophers, Sages, and legislators, thro a long succession of years, are laid open for our use, and their collected Wisdom may be happily applied in the establishment of our forms of Government, the free cultivation of letters, the unbounded extension of Commerce, the progressive refinement of manners, the growing liberality of sentiment, and above all the pure and benign light of revelation have had ameloriating influence on mankind and increased the blessings of Society. At this Auspicious period the United States came into existence as a nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy the fault will be entirely their own. Such is our situation and such are our prospects: but notwithstanding the cup of blessing is thus reached out to us, notwithstanding that happiness is ours if we have a disposition to seize the occasion and make it our own, yet it appears to me there is an option still left the United States of America that it rests in their choice and depends upon their conduct whether they will be respectable and prosperous or contemptible and miserable as a nation. This is the time of their political probation, this is the moment when the eyes of the whole world are turned upon them, this is the moment to establish or ruin their national character forever, this is the favourable moment to give such a tone to our federal Government, as will enable it to answer the ends of its institution, or this may be the ill fated moment for relaxing the powers of the Union, annihilating the cement of the Confederation and exposing us to become the sport of European politics which may play one State against another, to prevent their growing importance, and to serve their own interested purposes; for according to the system of policy the States shall adopt at this moment they will stand or fall; and by their confirmation or lapse it is yet to be decided whether the resolution is ultimately to be considered as a blessing or a curse—a blessing or a
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curse not to the present age alone, for with our fate will the destiny of unborn millions be involved. With this conviction of the importance of the present crisis, silence in me would be a crime: I will therefore speak to your Excellency the language of freedom and sincereity without disguise. I am aware however that those who differ from me in political sentiment may perhaps remark that I am stepping out of the proper line of my duty, and they may possibly ascribe to arrogance or ostentation what I know is alone the result of the purest intention, but the rectitude of my own heart which disdains such unworthy motives, the part I have hitherto acted in life, the determination I have formed of not taking any share in public business hereafter, the ardent desire I feel, and shall continue to manifest by quietly enjoying in private life, after all the toils of War, the benefits of a wise and liberal Government will I flatter myself sooner or later convince my Countrymen that I could have no sinister views in delivering with so little reserve, the opinions contained in this address. There are four things which I humbly conceive are essential to the well being I may even venture to say to the very existence of the United States as an independent power.

1st. An indissoluble Union of the States under a federal Head.

2nd. A Policy Sacred to public Justice.

3rd. The Adoption of a proper peace establishment &c.

4th. The prevalence of that pacific and friendly disposition, among the people of the United States which will induce them to forget their local prejudices and policies, to make those general Concessions which are requisite to the General prosperity and in some instances to sacrifice their individual advantages to the interest of the Community.

These are the pillars on which the glorious fabrick of our Independency and National Character must be supported. Liberty is the basis and whoever would dare to sap the foundation, or overturn the structure under whatever specious pretence he may attempt it will merit the bitterest execrations and the severest punishment which can be inflicted by his injured Country.

On the three first Articles I will make a few observations, leaving the last to the good sense and serious consideration of those immediately concerned. Under the first head although it may not be necessary or proper for me in this place to enter into the particular disquisition

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of the principles of the Union, and to take up the great question which has been frequently agitated whether it be expedient and requisite for the States to delegate a larger proportion of power to Congress or not, yet it will be a part of my duty and that of every true patriot, to assert without reserve and to insist upon the following positions. That unless the States will suffer Congress to exercise those prerogatives they are undoubtedly vested with by the Constitution every thing must very rapidly tend to anarchy and Confusion, that it is indispensable to the happiness of the individual States that there should be somewhere lodged a supreme power to regulate and govern the General concerns of Confederated republic: without which the Union cannot be of long duration that there must be a faithful and pointed complyance on the part of every State, with the late proposals and demands of Congress, or the most fatal consequences will ensue, that whatever measures have tendency to dissolve the Union or violate or lessen the Sovereign authority, ought to be considered as hostile to the Liberty and independence of America and the authors of them treated accordingly; and lastly that unless we can be enabled by the concurrence of the States to participate in the fruits of resolution, and enjoy the essential benefits of Civil society, under a form of Government so free and uncorrupted, so happily guarded against the danger of oppression as has been devised and adopted by the Articles of Confederation; it will be a subject of regret that so much blood and treasure have been lavished to no purpose, that so many sufferings have been encountered without a compensation, and that so many sacrifices have been made in vain.

Many other considerations might be here adduced to prove that without an entire conformity to the Spirit of the Union we cannot exist as an independent power. It will be sufficient for my purpose to mention but one or two which seem to me of the greatest importance. It is only in our United Character as an Empire that our Independence is acknowledged, that our power can be regarded or our credit supported among foreign nations. The treaties of the European Powers with the United States of America will have no validity on a dissolution of the Union; we shall be left nearly in a State of nature or we may find by our own unhappy experience that there is a natural and necessary progression from extreme anarchy to extreme tyranny, and that arbitrary power is most easily established

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on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness. As to the second article which respects the performance of public Justice Congress have in their late address to the United States almost exhausted the subject; they have explained their Ideas so fully and have enforced the Obligation of the States to render compleat Justice to the Public Creditors with so much dignity and energy that in my opinion no real friend to honor and Independency of America can hesitate a single moment respecting the propriety of complying with the Just and honorable measures proposed if their Arguments do not produce conviction; I know of nothing that will have greater influence, especially when we recollect that the system referred to being the result of the collected Wisdom of the Continent must be esteemed, if not perfect, certainly the least objectionable of any that could be devised, and that if it shall not be carried into immediate executional bankruptcy with all its deplorable consequences will take place before any different plan can be proposed and adopted, so pressing are the present circumstances and such is the alternative now offered to the States.

The ability of the Country to discharge the debts which have been incurred in the defense is not to be doubted. An inclination I flatter myself will not be wanting. The path of our duty is plain before us. Honesty will be found on every experiment to be the best and only true policy, let us then as a nation be just, let us then fulfil our public Contracts which Congress had undoubtedly a right to make for the purpose of carrying on the War, with the same good faith we suppose ourselves bound to perform our private engagements—in the meantime, let an attention to the chearful performance of their proper business as individuals and as members of Society be earnestly inculcated on the Citizens of America. Then will they strengthen the hands of Government, and be happy under its protection; every one will reap the fruit of his labours, every one will enjoy his own acquisitions without molestation and without danger.

In this State of absolute freedom and perfect security, who will grudge to yield a very little of his property to support the common Interests of Society, & insure the protection of Government? who does not remember the frequent declarations at the commencement of the War, that we should be completely satisfied if at the expence of one half we could defend the remainder of our possessions? where

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is the man who wishes to remain indebted for the defense of his own person & property to the exertions the bravery and the blood of others without making one generous effort to repay the debt of honor and of gratitude? In what part of the continent shall we find any man, or body of men, who would not blush to stand up and propose measures purposely calculated to rob the Soldier of his stipend, and the public Creditor of his due? And were it possible that such a flagrant instance of Injustice could ever happen, would it not excite the general indignation and tend to bring down upon the authors of such measures the aggravated vengeance of Heaven?

If after all, a spirit of disunion or a temper of obstinacy & perverseness should manifest itself in any of the States, if such an ungracious disposition should attempt to frustrate all the happy effects that might be expected to flow from the Union if there should be a refusal to comply with the requisitions of Congress for funds to discharge the annual Interest of the public Debts, and if that refusal should revive again all those jealousies and produce all those evils which are now happily removed, Congress who have in all their Transactions shown a great degree of magnanimity will stand Justified in the sight of God and Man, and the State alone which puts itself in opposition to the aggregate Wisdom of the Continent, and follows such pernicious and mistaken Councils, will be responsible for all the Consequences.

For my own part, conscious of having acted while a servant of the public in the manner I conceived best suited to promote the real Interests of my Country, having in consequence of my fixed belief, in some measure pledged myself to the Army, that their Country would do them complete and ample Justice, and not wishing to conceal any instance of my official conduct from the eyes of the world, I have thought proper to transmit to your Excellency the enclosed collection of papers, relative to the half pay and commutation granted by Congress to the Officers of the Army.

From these communications my decided sentiments will be clearly comprehended, together with the conclusive reasons which induced me at an early period, to recommend the adoption of this measure in the most earnest and serious manner. As the proceedings of Congress, the Army, and myself are open to all, and contain in my opinion sufficient information to remove the prejudices and errors

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which may have been entertained by any; I think it unnecessary to say any thing more than just to observe, that the Resolutions of Congress now alluded to are undoubtedly as absolutely binding upon the United States as the most solemn Acts of Confederation or Legislation. As to the Idea which I am informed has in some instances prevaled, that the half pay and commutation are to be regarded merely in the odious light of pension it ought to be exploded forever, that provision should be viewed as it really was, a reasonable compensation offered by Congress when they had nothing else to give, to Officers of the Army for services then to be performed. It was the only means to prevent a total dereliction of service, it was a part of their hire, I may be allowed to say it was the price of their blood, and of our Independency, it is therefore more than a common debt, it is a debt of honor; it can never be considered a pension of gratuity, nor be cancelled until it is fairly discharged. With regard to the distinction between Officers and Soldiers, it is sufficient that the Uniform experience of every nation of the World combined with our own proves the utility and propriety of the discrimination, rewards in proportion to the aids the public derives from them are unquestionably due to all its servants. In some lines the Soldiers have perhaps generally had as ample a compensation for their Services by the large Bounties which have been paid them as their Officers will receive in the proposed commutation in others. If besides the donation of Lands the payment of Arrearages of Clothing and Wages, in which all the component parts of the Army must be on the same footing, we take into the Estimate the Bounties many of the Soldiers have received & the gratuity of one year’s full pay which is promised to all, possibly their situation (every circumstance being duly considered) will not be deemed less eligible than that of the Officers. Should a further reward however be judged equitable, I will venture to assert no one will enjoy greater satisfaction than myself on seeing an exemption from taxes for a limited time, or any other adequate immunity or compensation granted the brave defenders of their Country’s Cause, but neither the adoption nor rejection of this proposition will any manner affect, much less militate against, the Act of Congress by which they have been offered five years full pay in lieu of the half pay for life which had been before promised to the Officers of the Army.

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Before I conclude the subject of public Justice, I cannot omit to mention the obligations this Country is under to that meritorious class of veteran non Commissed Officers and privates, who have been discharged in consequence of the Resolution of Congress of the 23rd of the April 1782 on an annual pension for life, their particular sufferings, their singular Merits and claims to that provision, need only to be known to interest all the feelings of humanity in their behalf, nothing but a punctual payment of their annual allowances can requite them for most complicated misery; and nothing can be a more melancholy and distressing sight, than to behold those who had shed their blood or lost their limbs in the service of their Country, without a shelter, without a friend and without the means of obtaining any of the necessaries of life, compelled to beg their daily bread from door to door. Suffer me to recommend those of this description belonging to your State to the warmest patronage of your Excellency and your Legislature.

It is necessary to say but a few words on the third topic, which was proposed, and which regards particularly the defence of the republic as there is no doubt but Congress will recommend a proper peace Establishment for the United States in which a due attention will be paid to the importance of placing the Militia of the Union upon a regular and respectable footing. If this should be the case, I would beg to urge the great advantage of it in the strongest terms. The Militia of this Country must be considered as the palladium of our security, and the first effectual resort in case of hostility. It is essential therefore that the same system should pervade the whole, that in the formation and discipline of the Militia the Continent should be absolutely uniform, and that the same species of Arms, accoutrements & military aparatus should be introduced in every part of the United States. No one who has not learned it from experience can conceive the difficulty expence and confusion which result from a contrary system, or the vague arrangements which have hitherto prevailed. In treating of political points a greater latitude than usual has been taken in the course of this address, the importance of the crisis, and the magnitude of the objects in discussion must be my apology. It is however neither my wish or expectation that the preceding observations should claim any regard, except so far as they shall appear to be dictated by a good intention consonant

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to the immutable rules of Justice, calculated to produce a liberal system of Policy and founded on whatever experience may have been acquired, by a long and close attention to public business. Here I might speak with the more confidence from my actual observations, and if it would not swell this (already too prolix) beyond the bounds I had prescribed myself, I could demonstrate to every mind open to conviction, that in less time and with much less expence than has been incurred, the War might have been brought to the same happy conclusion, if the resources of the Continent could have been properly drawn forth, that the distresses and disappointments which have very often occurred have in too many instances resulted more from a want of energy in the Continental Government than a deficiency in means in the particular States, that the ineffecacy of measures arising from the want of an adequate authority in the Supreme power from a partial complyance with the requisitions of Congress in some of the States and from the failure of punctuality in others while it tended to damp the Zeal of those who were more willing to exert themselves, served also to accumulate the expences of the War, and to frustrate the best concerted plans, and that the discouragements occasioned by the complicated difficulties and embarrassments in which our affairs were by this means involved, would have long ago produced the dissolution of any army less patient, less virtuous, and less persevering than that which I have had the honor to command.

But while I mention these things which are notorious facts as the defects of our federal Constitution particularly in the prosecution of a War, I beg it may be understood that as I have ever taken a pleasure in gratefully acknowledging the Assistance and support I have ever derived from every class of Citizens, so shall I always be happy to do justice to the unparalleled exertions of the individual States on many interesting Occasions.

I have thus freely disclosed what I wished to make known before I surrender up my public trust to those who committed it to me. The task is now accomplished. I now bid adieu to your Excellency as the Chief Magistrate of your State, at the same time I bid a last farewell to the cares of office and all the employments of public life.

It remains then to be my final and only request, that your Excellency will communicate these sentiments to your Legislature at their

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next meeting, and that they may be considered as the legacy of one who has ardently wished on all occasions to be useful to his Country, and who even in the shades of retirement, will not fail to implore the divine benediction upon it.

I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and all the State over which you preside in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a Spirit of Subordination and Obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field; and finally that he would be most graciously pleased to dispose us all to do Justice, to love Mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humanity and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the divine author of our blessed religion and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.

With great esteem and regard
I have the honor to be Sir Your Excellency’s
Most Obedient and Most humble servant
G. WASHINGTON.
His Excellency the Governor of North Carolina.