<h2 id="c16"><span class="h2line1">Chapter XVI</span> <br/><span class="h2line2">Washington’s Farewell to the Army</span></h2>
<p>America was free. It had won its freedom
by an heroic struggle. And now came the
task of making a wise use of this freedom.
One who had contemplated the character of
the American people, as it had revealed itself during
the preliminaries to the war and during its progress,
must have said to himself: “A circumspect
and therefore secure procedure in the affairs of the
new government is to be expected from a people of
such character!” And yet, immediately after the
conclusion of peace, the republic was in great danger.
The nucleus of the army consisted of men who for
years had been weaned from the occupations of
peace. Congress had granted them a bonus of several
years’ pay, but after that the prospect remained
of their being obliged to return to their former
occupations. This did not suit them. They had
had an opportunity of comparing their position with
that of the French soldiers with whom they had
fought side by side. In the French army the officers
were in great part young nobles, to whom the profession
of arms was a sort of charitable institution
and haven of refuge. What a contrast between these
gold-embroidered marquises, counts, and cadets and
the plainly dressed officers of the American army.
In their outward appearance the American officers
could not even compare with the common French
soldiery, the spruce musketeers and grenadiers of the
French line. Thus the American soldiers, thinking
more of their own advantage and position than of
the general good, considering that the soldier would
be better off if the country were ruled by a king,
conceived the wish that the free form of government
which had arisen during the war should be set
aside and a monarchical form substituted for it. If
this had been the general demand of the country,
there would have been nothing to be said against
it. The discussion as to whether the republican or
monarchic form of government is the better is an
idle one. Nations have lived happily under one as
well as the other. The happiness of a people does
not depend on a particular form of government so
much as on the respect for law and on the self-sacrificing
devotion of individuals to the welfare of
the State. The wish for a monarchy proceeded only
from the selfish desires of one class. Of course if
they wished to carry out their plan, it was necessary
to fix upon some prominent man, and who else
should this be but Washington? A reputable officer,
Colonel Lewis Nicola, was appointed to notify the
commander-in-chief of the wishes of the army. He
did this very tactfully in a letter. A constitution
with a king at the head, he said, was the best form
of government for America. Washington was requested
to work toward this end, taking at first a
more modest title and later calling himself king.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div>
<p>For many a man in the General’s position this
would have been a temptation impossible to resist.
With a consenting nod, the army would have proclaimed
the commander-in-chief king. If the army
had made him king, to be sure, he would then have
been obliged to come to their terms. There is no
doubt that had Washington obeyed that voice his
fame would have been sullied for all time. The
majority would have been coerced for the sole purpose
of ministering to the selfishness of the minority.
Foundation principles expressing the will of the
majority had already been formulated during the
terrible struggle and were sealed with the heart’s
blood of the nation, and in this constitution a crown
had no place. Frankly considered, what was now
proposed to Washington was that he should make
himself guilty of treason to the people. The most
zealous fighter against the destruction of constitutional
government was expected to commit this
detestable crime.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div>
<p>As the witches had shown Macbeth a golden circlet,
so now Washington was tempted with a sparkling
crown. Ah! but he was not a Macbeth. Ambitious
greed held no place in his great and pure soul. “This
will I give you, if you will sin; the greatness of your
fortunes shall be worthy of the greatness of the
crime!” Thus, though disguised in innocent form,
read the words of the venomous old serpent of ambition,
the liar, the destroyer of human happiness.
Not for a moment did Washington allow himself to
become entangled in the web of temptation. He
immediately sent the following answer to the colonel:
“With a mixture of great surprise and astonishment,
I have read with attention the sentiments you
have submitted to my perusal. Be assured, sir, no
occurrence in the course of this war has given me
more painful sensations than your information of
there being such ideas existing in the army as you
have expressed, and which I must view with abhorrence
and reprehend with severity. For the present
the communication of them will rest in my own
bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter
shall make a disclosure necessary. I am much at a
loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have
given encouragement to an address which to me
seems big with the greatest mischiefs that can befall
my country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge
of myself, you could not have found a person to
whom your schemes are more disagreeable. At the
same time, in justice to my own feelings, I must add
that no man possesses a more serious wish to see
ample justice done to the army than I do; and as
far as my power and influence, in a constitutional
way, extend, they shall be employed to the utmost
of my abilities to effect it, should there be any occasion.
Let me conjure you, then, if you have any
regard for your country, concern for yourself or
posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts
from your mind and never communicate, as from
yourself or any one else, a sentiment of the like
nature.”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div>
<p>In the same spirit he took his farewell of the army
in announcing the declaration of peace. After he
had recalled the heroic deeds which they had done
on the battlefield, he paid his tribute to them for the
manner in which they had discarded all narrow
provincial prejudices, made up, as they were, of the
greatest variety of elements, and had become a harmonious
body, a patriotic brotherhood. He urged
them to maintain in times of peace the reputation
which they had won; that his friends should
not forget that thrift, wisdom, and industry, the
virtues of the citizen in private life, were not less
valuable than the brilliant qualities of courage,
endurance, and initiative in war; that officers and
men should live amicably with the other citizens
and strive with all their might to preserve and
strengthen the government of the United States.
If this should not be done, the honor and dignity of
the nation would be lost forever.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div>
<p>He took particular leave of his officers at a banquet.
Taking his glass of wine in his hand he said:
“With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take
leave of you, most devoutly wishing that your latter
days may be as prosperous and happy as your former
ones have been glorious and honorable.” After
lifting the wine to his lips and drinking a farewell
benediction, he added, while his voice trembled with
emotion: “I cannot come to each of you to take
my leave, but shall be obliged if each of you will
come and take me by the hand.” With deep emotion
General Knox, who stood nearest to the General,
went to him and held out his trembling hand.
Overcome by his feelings, Washington could not
speak a word and could only embrace the General
affectionately. The other officers followed and not
an eye remained dry.</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div>
<p>There had been some men in Congress who,
considering the ominous examples in history, had
not been free of anxiety lest Washington might not
easily relinquish his powerful position after peace had
been won. They were now reassured. At a solemn
session of Congress he laid down his office. In the
address which he gave on this occasion he said,
among other things: “Happy in the confirmation of
our independence and sovereignty and pleased with
the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming
a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction
the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence
in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task,
which, however, was superseded by a confidence
in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the
supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of
Heaven. The successful termination of the war
has verified the most sanguine expectations; and
my gratitude for the interposition of Providence,
and the assistance I have received from my countrymen,
increases with every view of the momentous
contest.” In closing he said: “I consider it as an
indispensable duty to close this last act of my official
life by commending the interests of our dearest
country to the protection of Almighty God, and those
who have the superintendence of them to His Holy
keeping. Having now finished the work assigned
me, I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding
an affectionate farewell to this august body,
under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer
my commission and take my leave of all the employments
of public life.”</p>
<p>Washington then handed his marshal’s staff to the
president. The president replied to the address,
and said, among other things: “Having defended
the standard of liberty in this new world; having
taught a lesson useful to those who inflict and to
those who feel oppression, you retire from the great
theatre of action with the blessings of your fellow
citizens. But the glory of your virtues will not
terminate with your military command. It will
continue to animate remotest ages. We join you in
commending the interests of our dearest country to
the protection of Almighty God, beseeching Him to
dispose the hearts and minds of its citizens to improve
the opportunity afforded them of becoming a happy
and respectable nation!”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div>
<p>Before his departure Washington sent a letter to
General Steuben, in which he cordially acknowledged
the debt which America owed to him and his German
countrymen for the effective assistance rendered in
the work of freeing the colonies, and he added that
Steuben might consider him a true friend and be
assured that if there should be any opportunity of
giving practical proof of this friendship, he should
not fail to do so.</p>
<p>Washington refused any remuneration and accepted
only compensation for the expenses and outlay
which he had incurred, presenting an account which
contained the smallest details of his expenses.</p>
<p>Then this great, wise, and good man returned to
his country seat at Mount Vernon to pass the rest
of his life in quiet retirement. His manner of life
there is best shown by a letter which he wrote to
Lafayette: “At length I am become a private
citizen, free from the bustle of a camp and the busy
scenes of public life. I am solacing myself with those
tranquil enjoyments of which the soldier, who is
ever in pursuit of fame, the statesman, whose watchful
days and sleepless nights are spent in devising
schemes to promote the welfare of his own, perhaps
the ruin of other countries, as if this globe was insufficient
for us all, and the courtier, who is always watching
the countenance of his prince, in hopes of catching
a gracious smile, can have very little conception.
Envious of none, I am determined to be pleased with
all; and this, my dear friend, being the order of my
march, I will move gently down the stream of life,
until I sleep with my fathers.”</p>
<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div>
<p>Hospitality was one of the principal virtues practised
at Mount Vernon. “A glass of wine and a
piece of mutton are always to be had,” wrote Washington
to Lafayette. “Whoever is satisfied with
these will always be welcome; if he expects more
he will be disappointed.”</p>
<p>Private persons as well as the government had
vainly tried to induce Washington to accept a reward
for his services. A stock company which had been
formed, on Washington’s advice, to make two rivers
navigable, received the approval of Congress for its
work. The opportunity was seized as a new means
of rewarding him, for he was responsible for the
drawing up of the well-considered plan. The board
of directors determined to turn over to him 150
shares at 100 pounds sterling each. The presentation
was made in such a way that Washington
feared that a refusal to accept might be construed
as a lack of respect. Therefore he accepted the
shares, adding, however, that he intended to use
them for the public welfare. And in his will we
read that he set aside that sum for the building
of a university in the central part of the United
States.</p>
<div class="fig"> id="pic4"> <ANTIMG src="images/p4.jpg" alt="" width-obs="500" height-obs="690" /> <p class="caption"><i>WASHINGTON AS PROPRIETOR</i></p> </div>
<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div>
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