Library of Congress – Gilbert Stuart
Author’s Note: The following is a much longer post than I typically write, but I think it well worth your time to read. I wrote this article for the June 2009 issue of Think Magazine. George Washington has long been a personal hero. The below article shares one of my favorite stories from his life. This story helped create our nation. I believe these thoughts have relevance to political and religious discussions we hear today regarding the role of national leaders, faith in our culture, and the founding fathers. See what you think.
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“Almost every revolution in the history of the world, however idealistically begun, had ended in tyranny. The American Revolution had now reached its moment of major political crisis” (Flexner 168). The Revolution was at such a crisis in the Spring of 1783. The war had been won, but peace treaty negotiations were still underway in Britain. The Continental Army was still at duty under the command of George Washington. The Confederation Congress was weak and ineffective. They were not faithfully paying the soldiers and were in many ways unable to do so because of their inability to gain funds from the states. The soldiers, who had sacrificed so much to gain America’s freedom, were facing the real and likely possibility of not receiving their pay for services render, or a promised pension in future years. This economic crisis led to a movement amongst leading officers to use the army to gain their due reward through force if necessary.
Sitting squarely in the middle of this political crisis was America’s most preeminent figure, George Washington. Washington had successfully won the war through patience and the ability to gain public sentiment. Washington now was faced with deep issues. He, himself, had much frustration with Congress and its lack of financial support through the war years. He loved the soldiers of his army dearly and felt they deserved just pay. The events of the time seemed to indicate that America in its feeble infancy would be better served by one-man rule. Lewis Nicola, a colonel in his Army, had earlier written to him in May of 1782 encouraging him to consider becoming king of the United States. Even his trusted friend and fellow officer Alexander Hamilton, had written warning him that the army would be forced to “procure justice to itself.” Hamilton insinuated that Washington would be wise to help lead the Army in procuring this justice. If we step back into this Revolutionary era, we realize that the “efforts of the United States to establish a republican government were unique in the world” (Flexner 171). There was no evidence that people could rule themselves. “All of these considerations—Washington’s transcendent stature, the weakness of the new federal government, and the grievances of the army—came together in March 1783 to create the Newburgh Conspiracy, which might also be called ‘the Last Temptation of Washington’” (Ellis 141).
The Newburgh Conspiracy probably originated with a group of congressmen who desired to use the threat of military action with the hope of expanding congressional power over the states. Washington learned of it when petitions were being circulated amongst his officers containing threats of action against Congress if their pensions were not assured. The dissident officers had scheduled a meeting for March 11th, but Washington countermanded the order for a general officers meeting on March 15th (Ellis 141-142). This meeting, though little known today, very well might be the most important single gathering ever held in the United States. Instead of an American republic based on government “by the people, for the people, and of the people,” America could have easily been established as a military coup, dictatorship, or king. Washington had the power to determine his own and his country’s course—would it be monarchal or would it be republican?
Washington, who wasn’t expected to attend the meeting, surprised the officers with his entrance into the New Building at Newburgh and gave one of his finest speeches before 500 officers. Conscious of the import of his speech, Washington faced harden faces eager for pay and just treatment. He pulled forth a pair of eyeglasses; only his intimates had seen him wear glasses. He then stated, “Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the services of my country.” The humbling act softened the hearts and endeared the soldiers to their beloved commander who had been through blood-soaked battles, long years, hungry stomachs, and cold winters with them. They had followed him through war; they would now follow him in peace. Washington then addressed the assembled group. He identified with them by stating,
I have never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty. As I have been the constant companion and witness of your Distress, and not among the last to feel, and acknowledge your Merits. As I have considered my own Military reputation as inseparably connected with that of the army.
He then moved to his primary appeal of submission to civil government by stating,
And let me conjure you in the name of our Common Country, as you value your own sacred honor, as your respect the rights of humanity, and as you regard the Military and National Character of America, to express Your utmost horror and detestation of the Man who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our Country, and who wickedly attempts to open the flood Gates of Civil discord, and deluge our rising Empire in Blood (Ellis 142-43).
This speech was a “masterful piece of selective reasoning, neatly turning a potential coup into an actual occasion of lawful and constitutional behavior” (Johnson 77). Washington would then turn his attention to Congress and use the weight of his position and the officers’ desires to gain adequate pay and a future pension for the officers.
Why did Washington act in such an honorable way? Truly this was a rare moment in history when the corruption of power did not work. Joseph Ellis, a recent biographer of Washington said, “Washington was declaring that he had sufficient control over his ambitions to recognize that his place in history would be enhanced, not by enlarging his power, but by surrendering it” (143). Washington argued that all legitimate power was given by consent of the people, and no one man was larger than representative government, and this included himself.
I believe that Washington’s actions reveal his own moral code, which was based upon Christianity. The “reasons for this behavior were so deeply buried in his character that they functioned like a biological condition requiring no further explanation” (Ellis 141). “All of his codes of morals, order, and proprietary were rooted in Christianity, which he saw as the greatest civilizing force the world had ever known” (Johnson 103). In fact, he would later thank God, whom he described as the “Greatest and Best of Beings” for having led him “to detest the folly and madness of unbounded ambition” (Flexner 172).
In fact, Washington’s actions at Newburgh demonstrate a man who was modeling the example of Christ, whether this imitation was intentional cannot be known, but he certainly did imitate Christ. He identified with his listeners and their struggles, just as Christ came to earth to identify with the sufferings of man (Heb. 4:15). He served as an Advocate between the soldiers and Congress, understanding the soldiers’ emotions and the laws of Congress (1 John 2:1). He refused to allow the opportunity for power to tempt him into compromising his principles, just as Christ had refused Satan’s offer of all the kingdoms of the world (Mat. 4:8-10). Instead of grasping for the throne, Washington resigned his commission to Congress and promptly returned to his home. He, like Christ, submitted his life in service, rather than gaining power and prestige in an inappropriate way (Mark 10:45). Washington was a man of principle. Many people today fail to realize that those principles were Christian in nature. Washington followed the teaching of Jesus, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant (Mat. 20:25-26).” Thomas Jefferson rightly stated, “The moderation and virtue of a single character [Washington] probably prevented this Revolution from being closed, as most others have been, by a subversion of that liberty it was intended to establish” (Flexner 175).
Oh, how the American Revolution could have ended differently if George Washington had not demonstrated Christ-like attributes. In London during this time, George III questioned the American-born painter Benjamin West of what Washington would do now that he had won the war. “Oh,” said West, “they say he will return to his farm.” “If he does that,” said the king, “he will be the greatest man in the world.” No, Washington was not the greatest man in the world, but he certainly was acquainted with the teachings of the greatest Man in the world.
Thus, when he was appointing a day of thanksgiving for the passing of the First Amendment, the Amendment that is so twisted against God and Christianity today, Washington wrote:
It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His Will, to be grateful for His mercy, to implore His protection and favour . . . That great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that ever will be, that we may then unite in rendering unto Him an sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people (Johnson 104).
We, as citizens of America today, should give thanks to God and remember the influence that Christ’s teachings have had upon our nation. We would not have the nation we do today if our forefathers had not based their character upon the teachings of Jesus as illustrated by George Washington.
References:
Ellis, Joseph J. His Excellency: George Washington. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 2004
Flexner, James Thomas. Washington: The Indispensable Man. Boston: Little, Brown & Co. 1974.
Johnson, Paul. George Washington: The Founding Father. New York: Harper Collins, 2005.
