Philadelphia, March 1, 1782.
Sir:
Your Excellency will, I am persuaded, readily admit the force of this
sentiment, that though it is the duty of a good citizen to devote his
services to the public, when it has occasion for them, he cannot, with
propriety or delicacy to himself, obtrude them when it either has, or
appears to have none. The difficulties I experienced last campaign in
obtaining a command, will not suffer me to make any further application
on that head.
As I have many reasons to consider my being employed hereafter in a
precarious light, the bare possibility of rendering an equivalent will
not justify, to my scruples, the receiving any future emoluments from
my commission. I therefore renounce, from this time, all claim to
the compensations attached to my military station during the war, or
after it. But I have motives which will not permit me to resolve on
a total resignation. I sincerely hope a prosperous train of affairs
may continue to make it no inconvenience to decline the services of
persons, whose zeal, in worse times, was found not altogether useless:
but as the most promising appearances are often reversed by unforeseen
disasters, and as unfortunate events may again make the same zeal
of some value, I am unwilling to put it out of my power to renew my
exertions in the common cause, in the line in which I have hitherto
acted.
I shall accordingly retain my rank while I am permitted to do it; and
take this opportunity to declare, that I shall be at all times ready
to obey the call of the public, in any capacity, civil or military
(consistent with what I owe to myself), in which there may be a
prospect of my contributing to the final attainment of the object for
which I embarked in the service.
I have the honor to be,
Very respectfully,
Your Excellency’s
Most obedient servant,
A. Hamilton.
General Washington.