Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, George. Autograph letter signed ("G:o Washington"), to Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. (1740-1809), Mount Vernon, 5 January 1784. 2 pages, folio, clean splits at folds, archival tape reinforcing creases, tape remnants on verso, a clipped recipient's docket laid down on second page, below Washington's signature .
WASHINGTON, George. Autograph letter signed ("G:o Washington"), to Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. (1740-1809), Mount Vernon, 5 January 1784. 2 pages, folio, clean splits at folds, archival tape reinforcing creases, tape remnants on verso, a clipped recipient's docket laid down on second page, below Washington's signature . "EVERYTHING...WILL COME RIGHT AT LAST... THE GOOD SENSE OF THE PEOPLE WILL ULTIMATELY GET THE BETTER OF THEIR PREJUDICES WASHINGTON CELEBRATES THE LIBERATION OF NEW YORK AND TAKES A HOPEFUL VIEW OF AMERICA'S FUTURE in spite of "the present unsettled and deranged state of public affairs," in this ebullient letter, written in the satisfying aftermath of the victory he fought so long and so hard to achieve. He is answering Trumbull's 15 November letter which, he explains, did not reach him "until some days after we had taken possession of the City of New York. The scene that followed of festivity, congratulation, addresses and resignation must be my apology for not replying sooner." He thanks Trumbull's father, Gov. Jonathan Trumbull (1710-1785), for the address issued by the governor and Freemen of Connecticut, praising Washington's wartime service. "The sentiments contained in it are such as would do honor to a Patriot of any age or nation!..." Turning his eyes to the national scene he writes, "Notwithstanding the jealous and contracted temper which seems to prevail in some of the States, yet I cannot but hope & believe that the good sense of the people will ultimately get the better of their prejudices ; and that order & sound policy, tho they do not come so soon as one would wish, will be produced from the present unsettled and deranged state of public affairs. Indeed, I am happy to observe that the political disposition is actually meliorating every day. Several of the states have manifested an inclination to invest Congress with more ample Powers." Most of the state legislatures were "disposed to do perfect justice," and his own Commonwealth of Virginia complied with the revenue requisition of the Congress "without a dissentient voice," he proudly notes. "Everything, my dear Trumbull, will come right at last as we have often prophesied. My only fear is we shall loose a little reputation first . He closes by fondly looking forward to "the serenity of retirement... I have now reached the goal of domestic enjoyment"--but it was not to be. Nor did the states stay on their encouraging course. Parochial interests overrode a sense of responsibility to the nation and states stopped providing the taxes requested by Congress. Just two years after this letter the new nation was in crisis, but Washington, Madison, Hamilton and the other Framers who met in Philadelphia in 1787 forged a new national political charter. Washington was back at the center of public life; and things did, indeed, come right at last. Published in Fitzpatrick 27:293-295.