Mount Vernon, December 11, 1785.
Dear Sir:
I have been favored with your letter of the twenty-third of November,
by Major Fairly.
Sincerely do I wish that the several State societies had, or would
adopt the alterations that were recommended by the general meeting, in
May, seventeen hundred and eighty-four. I then thought, and have had no
cause since to change my opinion, that if the society of the Cincinnati
mean to live in peace with the rest of their fellow-citizens, they must
subscribe to the alterations which were at that time adopted.
That the jealousies of, and prejudices against, this society, were
carried to an unwarrantable length, I will readily grant; and that
_less_ than was done, _ought_ to have removed the fears which had been
imbibed, I am as clear in, as I am that it would not have done it.
But it is a matter of little moment, whether the alarm which seized
the public mind was the result of foresight, envy, and jealousy, or
a disordered imagination: the effect of perseverance would have been
the same. Wherein, then, would have been found an equivalent for the
separation of interests which (from my best information, not from one
State only, but many) would inevitably have taken place?
The fears of the people are not yet removed; they only sleep; and a
very little matter will set them afloat again. Had it not been for
the predicament we stood in with respect to the foreign officers and
the charitable part of the Institution, I should, on that occasion,
as far as my voice would have gone, have endeavored to convince the
narrow-minded part of our countrymen, that the _amor patriæ_ was much
stronger in our breasts than theirs, and that our conduct, through
the whole of the business, was actuated by nobler and more generous
sentiments than were apprehended, by abolishing the society at once,
with a declaration of the causes, and the purity of its intention. But
the latter may be interesting to many, and the former is an insuperable
bar to such a step.
I am sincerely concerned to find, by your letter, that the Baron is
again in straitened circumstances. I am much disinclined to ask favors
of Congress; but if I knew what the object of his wishes are, I should
have much pleasure in rendering him any service in my power, with such
members of that body as I now and then correspond with. I had flattered
myself, from what was told me some time ago, that Congress had made a
final settlement with the Baron much to his satisfaction.
I am, dear Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
G. Washington.
To Alex. Hamilton, Esq.