Some people have so connected the ideas of tyranny and monarchy as to find it very difficult to separate them, it may therefore be requisite to give the head of such a constitution as I propose, some title apparently more moderate, but if all other things were once adjusted I believe strong argument might be produced for admitting the title of king, which I conceive would be attended with some material advantages.
I have hinted that I believe the United States would be benefited by my scheme, this I conceive would be done by having a savage and cruel enemy separated from their borders by a body of veterans, that would be as an advanced guard, securing the main body from danger. There is no doubt but Canada will some time or other be a separate State, and from the genious & habits of the people, that its government will be monarchical. May not casualties produce enmity between this new State and our Union, & may not its force under the direction of an active prince prove too powerful for the efforts of republicks? It may be answered that in a few years we shall acquire such vigour as to baffle all inimical attempts. I grant that our numbers & riches will increase, but will our governments have energy enough to draw them forth? Will those States remote from the danger be zealously anxious to assist those more exposed? Individuals in Holland abound in wealth, yet the government is poor & weak.
Republican bigots will certainly consider my opinions as heterodox, and the maintainer thereof as meriting fire and faggots, I have therefore hitherto kept them within my own breast. By freely communicating them to your Excellency I am persuaded I own no risk, & that, this disapproved of, I need not apprehend their ever being disclosed to my prejudice.
LETTER FROM MAJOR GENERAL JAMES VARNUM TO GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON ON JUNE 23, 1782
Colo. Olney will have the Honor of delivering this to your Excellency: His Attention to the good of the Service, during his late Residence here, has been equal to his former Assiduities, and I am confident will meet your full Approbation.
[General Varnum goes on to discuss the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, why the citizens are incapable of supporting a democratic republic, and why absolute monarchy is the only answer.]
I wish to Heaven the same Application could be made to the Legislation of this State, so far as respects their political Measures. They have granted Money; they collect it as rapidly as could be supposed; & they have done well in raising of Recruits; but they have suffered their Glory to be tarnished in Matters of Finance. Such is the dreadful Situation of this Country that it is in the Power of any State to frustrate the Intention of all the others! This Calamity is so Founded in the Articles of Confederation, and will continually increase ’till that baseless Fabric shall yield to some kind of Government, the Principles of which may be correspondent to the Tone of the Passions. The Citizens at large are totally destitute of that Love of Equality which is absolutely requisite to support a democratic Republick: Avarice, Jealousy & Luxury controul their Feelings, & consequently, absolute Monarchy, or a military State, can alone rescue them from all the Horrors of Subjugation. The circulating Cash of the Country is too trifling to raise a Revenue by Taxation for supporting the War, & too many of the People are obstinately averse to those artificial Aids which would supply its Deficiency. In this Situation, every Moment augments our Danger, by fixing the Habits of Licentiousness, and giving Permanency to British Persevearence: And should Dejection in our Ally succeed to Misfortune, the Instability of national Policy may give Place to the Sentiments of the mediating Powers, “that we are too young to govern ourselves.” At all Events, this Country hangs upon the Issue of the present Campaign! If a great Exertion could be made, by Militia or otherwise, to repossess ourselves of New York, we may possibly realise the Blessings of Independence, But Time alone will unfold the Decrees of Fate.
[General Varnum then discusses the individual case of a soldier seeking a discharge.]
FIRST ANONYMOUS LETTER SENT MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1783 ANNOUNCING MEETING THE FOLLOWING DAY
A Meeting of the Genl & Field Officers is requested, at the public building, on Tuesday next [tomorrow] at 11 oclock—A Commissd Officer from each Company is expected, and a delegate from the Medical Staff—the Object of this Convention, is to consider the late Letter from our Representatives in Philadelphia; and what measures (if any) should be adopted, to obtain that redress of Grievances, which they seem to have solicited in vain.
GENERAL WASHINGTON’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF A MEETING FOR SATURDAY ON FURTHER MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1783
The Commander in Chief having heard that a General meeting of the officers of the Army was proposed to be held this day at the Newbuilding in an anonymous paper which was circulated yesterday by some unknown person conceives (altho he is fully persuaded that the good sense of the officers could induce them to pay very little attention to such an irregular invitation) his duty as well as the reputation and true interest of the Army requires his disapprobation of such disorderly proceedings, at the same time he requests the General and Field officers with one officer from each company and a proper representation of the Staff of the Army will assemble at 12 o’clock on Saturday next at the Newbuilding to hear the report of the Committee of the Army to Congress.
After mature deliberation they will devise what further measures ought to be adopted as most rational and best calculated to attain the just and important object in view. The senior officer in Rank present will be pleased to preside and report the result of the Deliberations to the Commander in Chief.
Congress have been pleased to promote Job Sumner of the 3d Massachusetts Regiment to be a Major in the Army and to take rank from the 1st of October 1782.
The 3d Massachusetts Regiment will march on Thursday next to the relief of the 2d York Regiment on the Lines.
SECOND ANONYMOUS LETTER LAYING OUT GRIEVANCES AND ALTERNATIVE PROPOSED ACTIONS, MONDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 10, 1783
Gentlemen
A fellow soldier whose interest and affection bind him strongly to you, whose past sufferings, have been as great & whose future fortune may be as desperate as yours, would beg leave to address you.