The Man Who Could Be King

[Pause . . . Murmurs from audience . . . We’re with you, General . . . Tell us what to do . . . Tell us and we will follow you . . .]

For myself (and I take no merit in giving this assurance, being induced to it from principles of gratitude, veracity & justice)—a grateful sense of the confidence you have ever placed in me—a recollection of the Cheerful assistance, & prompt obedience I have experienced from you, under every vicissitude of Fortune, and the sincere affection I feel for an Army, I have so long had the honor to Command, will oblige me to declare, in this public & solemn manner, that, in the attainment of compleat justice for all your toils & dangers, and in the gratification of every wish, so far as may be Done consistently with the great duty I owe my Country, and those powers we are bound to respect, you may freely command my services to the utmost of my abilities. While I give you these assurances, and pledge myself in the most unequivocal manner, to exert whatever ability I am possessed of, in your favor—let me entreat you, Gentlemen, on your part, not to take any measures which, viewed in the calm light of reason, will lessen the dignity, & sully the glory you have hitherto maintained—let me request you to rely on the plighted faith of your Country, and place a full confidence in the purity of the intentions of Congress; that, previous to your dissolution as an Army they will cause all your Accts to be fairly liquidated, as directed in their resolutions which were published to you two days ago—and that they will adopt the most effectual measures in their power, to render ample justice to you for your faithful and meritorious Services. And let me conjure you, in the name of our common Country, as you value your own sacred honor—as you respect the rights of humanity, & as you regard the Military & national character of America, to express your utmost horror & detestation of the Man who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our Country, & who wickedly attempts to open the flood Gates of Civil discord, & deluge our rising Empire in Blood. By thus determining & thus acting, you will pursue the plain & direct road to the attainment of your wishes. You will defeat the insidious designs of our Enemies, who are compelled to resort from open force to secret Artifice. You will give one more distinguished proof of unexampled patriotism & patient virtue, rising superior to the pressure of the most complicated sufferings; And you will, by the dignity of your Conduct, afford occasion for Posterity to say, when speaking of the glorious example you have exhibited to mankind, “had this day been wanting, the World had never seen the last stage of perfection to which human nature is capable of attaining.”

RESOLUTION ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY BY OFFICERS AFTER GENERAL WASHINGTON’S ADDRESS, NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, MARCH 15, 1783

His excellency having withdrawn, on a motion, made by General Knox and seconded by General Putnam,

Resolved, That the unanimous thanks of the Officers of the Army be presented to his Excellency the Commander in Chief, for his excellent address, and the communications he has been pleased to make to them, and to assure him the Officers reciprocate his affectionate expressions with the greatest Sincerity of which the human heart is capable.

The address from the Army to Congress, the Report of the Committee from the Army, and the Resolutions of Congress of the 25th January being read.

On a motion by General Putnam, seconded by General Hand, Voted

That a committee be appointed immediately to draw up some Resolutions, expressive of the business before us, and to report in half an hour, that this committee consist of one General, one Field Officer, and one Captain. That General Knox, Colonel Brooks and Captain Howard compose the said Committee.

The Report of the Committee having been brought in and fully Considered Resolved Unanimously That at the commencement of the present War, the Officers of the American Army engaged in the service of their Country from the purest love and attachment to the rights and liberties of human nature, which motives still exist in the highest degree: and that no circumstances of distress or danger shall induce a conduct that may tend to sully the reputation and Glory of which they have acquired at the price of their blood, and eight years faithful services.

Resolved Unanimously That the Army continue to have an unshaken confidence in the justice of Congress and their Country, and are fully convinced that the representatives of America will not disband or disperse the Army, until their Accounts are liquidated, the Balances accurately ascertained, and adequate funds established for Payment; And in this arrangement the Officers expect that the half Pay, or a commutation for it, should be efficaciously comprehended.

Resolved, Unanimously That his excellency the Commander in Chief be requested to write to His Excellency the President of Congress earnestly entreating the most speedy decision of that Honorable body upon the subjects of our late address, that was forwarded by a Committee of the Army, some of whom are waiting upon Congress for the result. In the alternative of Peace or War, this event would be highly satisfactory, and would produce immediate tranquility in the minds of the Army: and prevent any further machinations of designing men to sow discord between the civil and Military powers of the United States.

Resolved Unanimously That the Officers of the American Army view with abhorrence, and reject with disdain, the infamous propositions contained in a late anonymous address to the Officers of the Army, and resent with indignation the secret attempts of some unknown persons to collect the Officers together, in a manner totally subversive of all discipline and good order.

Resolved Unanimously That the thanks of the Officers of the Army be given to the Committee who presented to Congress the late address of the Army, for the wisdom and prudence with which they have conducted that business and that a Copy of the proceedings of this day be transmitted by the President to Major General McDougall, and that he be requested to continue his Solicitations at Congress until the objects of his mission are accomplished.

The Meeting was then desolved.

Horatio Gates

Major Genl Presdt

GENERAL WASHINGTON’S LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONGRESS INFORMING CONGRESS OF THE OUTCOME OF THE MEETING

Newburgh, 16 March 1783

Sir:

I have the Honor to inform your Excellency, for the satisfaction of Congress, that the Meeting of the Officers, which was mentioned in my last, has been held Yesterday: and, that it has terminated in a manner, which I had reason to expect, from a knowledge of that good Sense and steady Patriotism of the Gentlemen of the Army, which on frequent Occasions, I have discovered. The Report of the meeting, with the other papers, which will be necessary to accompany it, I shall do myself the Honor to transmit to Congress as soon as they can possibly be prepared.

With the Highest Respect, I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s most Obedt Servt

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