Writings of George Washington

Preface

This is the first volume of the new series, Writings of American Statesmen^ the purpose of which is to present in convenient form the most important writings of our most important statesmen. Subject to the Hmitations of space fixed by the publishers, the editor designs to bring into the several volumes all the writings of the statesmen represented which fall into the following categories :

1. Those documents which of themselves are important state papers, as Washington's Farewell Address, Hamilton's Report on the Public Credit, Franklin's Plan for a Union of the Colonies, and Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence.

2. Accounts of important events in which the writer was a leading participant, as Washington's description of his capture of Boston, Jefferson's account of the purchase of Louisiana, and Franklin's story of the conclusion of peace with Great Britain.

3. Papers setting forth the opinions of the writers on important public questions, as Washington's letters on the settlement of the West, the vi Preface

papers of Hamilton and Jefferson concerning the interpretation of the Constitution, and Franklin's yiew of the questions at issue in the Revolution.

Of the writings of Washington, two editions of considerable extent exist, neither of which, however, is definitive. The first was published some seventy years ago under the editorship of Jared Sparks, and unfortunately this is the form in which Washington's papers are most familiar to the public. President Sparks's editorial methods are well known. Before publishing Washington's papers, he undertook to revise them. He omitted passages of which he did not approve, but did not warn his readers that the document as he presented it was incomplete. He altered words and phrases, and in some cases he even altered the sense. In his notes, however, he rendered great service by giving to the public the fruits of his wide learning.

The other edition began to appear about twenty years ago under the editorship of Worthington C. Ford. In this edition, the editor, in accordance with the accepted canons of historical scholarship, undertook to reproduce the texts exactly as they left the hands of their author. He incorporated in his work many of Sparks's notes, and printed a considerable number of Washington's papers which had never before been published.

The texts in this volume are taken, with a few exceptions, from Ford's edition. A few notes by Ford and a considerable number by Sparks are also included. The unsigned notes are by the present editor.

Preface vii

In order to avoid confusion, it should be stated that the references in this volume to The Works of Hamilton are to Senator Lodge's first edition. I would not close this preface without expressing my appreciation of the helpful criticism which I have received from the publishers and from my colleague and friend, Professor David L. Maulsby.

Lawrence B. Evans.

Tufts College, October, 1908.

Contents

Con

Preface

Contents

Analytical Table of Contents ....

Introduction

Chronology

Washington's Cabinet

I. In the British Army and Colonial Coun

CILS .

In the War for Independence .

The Formation and Adoption of the

stitution ....

Starting the New Government Policies and Opinions

1. Relations with Great Britain

2. The Treaty-Making Power

3. Neutrality ....

4. The Whiskey Insurrection

5. The Settlement of the West

6. Education ....

7. Slavery