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.

ET. 23.] LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 75
the Speaker of the Assembly. All ears seemed dull
to his remonstrances and closed to his counsels. Such,
to use his own words, was the fear of displeasing the
people, who were " so tenacious of their liberty, as not
to invest a power where interest and policy so unanswerably demanded it." By dint of perseverance,
however, by attending in person at the seat of government and conversing with individual members, by persuasion and argument, by force of truth and reason,
he at last prevailed. A bill was carried through the
House, in which were included all the articles required,
providing for the punishment of mutiny, desertion, and
disobedience, for holding courts-martial, and for maintaining order and discipline. This success relieved him
from a weight, which had hung heavily upon his
thoughts. It was also a gratifying testimony of the
respect entertained for his opinions and judgment. He
returned to his station with a renovated spirit. It was
too late in the season to meditate a campaign, or offensive operations. To fill up the; army, reduce it to
method, train the men, strengthen and secure the outposts, construct new forts, and provide supplies for
the winter, were the objects demanding his attention.
These tasks were executed with unremitted assiduity.
When his presence could be dispensed with at headquarters, he visited the places of rendezvous and the
principal posts, exercising, by his orders and personal
oversight, a general superintendence, and thus promoting unity, system, and efficiency in every part.
There was a circumstance at this time connected
with his command, which caused discontent both to
himself and his officers. At Fort Cumberland was a
Captain Dagworthy, commissioned by Governor Sharpe,
who had under him a small company of Maryland
troops. This person had held a royal commission in