The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

mET. 45.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 237
claimed exclusively for each State. Hence the opposition arose, not from an impartial view of the abstract
merits of the act, but from the jealousy of State sovereignty. Fully convinced, however, of the necessity,
reasonableness, and equity of the measure, Washington
adhered to it, and instructed his officers accordingly,
willing, as in all other cases, to risk his own popularity
in promoting the public interests.
His first care, after putting the troops in winterquarters, was drawn to the completion of the army for
the next campaign; and he wrote circular letters to the
governors of the middle and eastern States, urging
them in the strongest terms to adopt prompt and
effectual methods for raising recruits and filling up
their regiments. His efficient strength through the
winter was so small, that prudence required him to
use the expedient, to which he was often driven, of
magnifying his numbers to the public, lest the enemy,
becoming acquainted with his weakness, should make
a sudden and rapid movement upon him, and obtain an
easy victory. This deception, so essential to his safety,
operated unfavorably; since it gave the impression that
his army was much larger than it really was, and
diminished the efforts of the States to provide seasonable reinforcements. It was only in the midst of a
campaign, when the enemy were in motion, that the
people thought of danger; and then it was often too
late to make proper exertions for increasing' the army.
To stimulate the activity of the States, by forcible
and reiterated representations to the governors and
legislatures, by argument, persuasion, and appeals to
every motive of pride, honor, and patriotism, was the
task which he was obliged to repeat every winter; and
this was a source of unceasing anxiety from the time the
troops went into quarters, till they again took the field