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.

306 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [,ET. 46.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Head-Quarters, Valley Forge, 4 April, 1778.
SIR,
I have now the honor to acknowledge your several
letters of the 21st, 29th, and 30th ultimo, with their
enclosures, which have been duly received. It gives
me pain to observe they appear to contain several implications by which my sensibility is not a little wounded. I find myself extremely embarrassed by the steps
I had taken towards an exchange of prisoners, and the
formation of a general cartel making more ample provision for their future accommodation and relief. The
views of Congress seem to be very different from what
I supposed them, when I entered into my late engagements with General Howe.* Their resolution of the
T The following remarks contained in a letter, written by Colonel
Hamilton to Governor Clinton, will show in what manner the proceedings
of Congress, in regard to exchanges, were viewed by the writer. As he
was at that time one of General Washington's confidential aids, it may
be presumed that he expresses without much qualification the private
sentiments of his general.' "Lately," he observes, "a flag with provisions and clothing for the
British prisoners, with General Washington's passport, was seized at
Lancaster. The affair was attended with circumstances of violence.
Still more lately, General Washington's engagement with General Howe,
for an exchange of prisoners, has been violated. Congress have resolved, that no exchange shall take place till all accounts are settled
and the balance due the United States paid. The beauty of it is, that,
on a fair settlement, we shall without doubt be in Mr. Howe's debt;
and in the mean time we detain his officers and soldiers, as a security
for the payment. The operation of this resolve, though it does not
plainly appear upon the face of it, is to put off an exchange, perhaps
for ever. At any rate, it cannot take place all next summer.
"It is thought to be bad policy to go into an exchange; but, admitting
this to be true, it is much worse policy to commit such frequent breaches
of faith, and ruin our national character. Whatever refined politicians
may think, it is of great consequence to preserve a national character;
and if it should once seem to be a system in any State to violate its
faith, whenever it is the least inconvenient to keep it, it will unques