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.

PART II.] THE AMERICAN' REVOLUTION. 419
ter, should delay doing them justice, or hazard it in
pursuit of their favorite object, it might create such
divisions in the army, as would weakdn rather than
strengthen the hands of those, who were disposed to
support Continental measures, and might tend to defeat the end they themselves had in view, by endeavouring to interest the army.
For these reasons I said, or meant to say, the army
was a dangerous engine to work with, as it might be
made to cut both ways; and, considering the sufferings
of it, would more than probably throw its weight into
that scale, which seemed most likely to preponderate
towards its immediate relief, without looking, under the
pressure of necessity, to future consequences with the
eyes of politicians. In this light, also, I meant to apply
my observation to Mr. Morris, to whom, or rather to
Mr. Gouverneur Morris, is ascribed in a great degree
the groundwork of the superstructure, which was intended to be raised in the army by the anonymous
addresser.*
That no man can be more opposed to State funds or
local prejudices than myself, the whole tenor of my
conduct has been one continual evidence of. No man,
perhaps, has had better opportunities to see and feel
the pernicious tendency of the latter than I have; and
I endeavour (I hope not altogether ineffectually) to
inculcate this upon the officers of the army, upon all
proper occasions; but their feelings are to be attended
to and soothed, and they must be assured, that, if
Continental funds cannot be established, they will be
recommended to their respective States for payment.
Justice must be done them.
I should do injustice to report what I believe to be
* On this subject see SPARKS'S Life of Gouverneur Morris, Vol. I.
p. 250.