“Gibbet! They may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land; they may turn every rock into a scaffold; every tree into a gallows; every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die!”
“They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds, and yet every drop that dyes the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth!”
“The British King may blot out our stars of God from the sky, but he cannot blot out His words written on that parchment there.”
“The works of God may perish: His words never! The words of this declaration will live in the world long after our bones are dust. To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope: to the slave in the mines, freedom: but to the coward kings, these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot choose but hear.”
“Sign that parchment!”
“Sign, if the next moment the gibbet’s rope is about your neck! Sign, if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling axes!”
“Sign, by all your hopes in life or death, as men, as husbands, as fathers, brothers, sign you names to the parchment, or be accursed forever! Sign, and not only for yourselves, but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible the rights of man forever.”
“Nay, do not start and whisper with surprise! It is truth, your own hearts witness it: God proclaims it. Look at his strange band of exiles and outcasts, suddenly transformed into a people; a handful of men, weak in arms, but mighty in God-like faith; nay, look at your recent achievements, your Bunker Hill, your Lexington, and then tell me, if you can, that God has not given America to be free!”
“It is not give to our poor human intellect to climb to the skies, and to pierce the Council of the Almighty One. But methinks I stand among the awful clouds which veil the brightness of Jehovah’s throne.”
“Methinks I see the recording Angel come trembling up to the throne and speak his dread message. ‘Father the old world is baptized in blood. Father, look with one glance of Thine eternal eye, and behold evermore that terrible nations lost in blood, murder, and superstition, walking hand and hand over the graves of the victims, and not a single voice of hope to man!’”
“He stands there, the Angel, trembling with the record of human guilt. But hark! The voice of God speaks from out the awful cloud: ‘Let there be light again!”
“Tell my people, the poor and oppressed, to go out from the old world, from oppression and blood, and build My alter in the new.’”
“As I live, my friends, that to be His voice! Yes, were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, were this hand freezing to death, were this voice, implore you to remember this truth— God has give America to be free!”
“Yes, as I stare into the gloomy shadows of the grave, with my last faint whisper I would beg you to sign that parchment for the sake of those millions whose very breath is now hushed in intense expectation as they look up to you for the awful words: ‘You are free.’”
The unknown speaker fell exhausted into his seat. The delegates, carried away by his enthusiasm, rushed forward. John Hancock scarcely had time to pen his bold signature before the quill was grasped by another… and another… and yet another.
It was done.
The delegates turned to express their gratitude to the unknown speaker for his eloquent words. He was not there.
Who was this strange man, who seemed to speak with a divine authority, whose solemn words gave courage to the doubters and sealed the destiny of the new nation?
His name is not recorded: none of those present knew him; or if they did, not one acknowledged the acquaintance. How he had entered into the locked and guarded room is not told, not is there any record of the manner of his departure.
5 R.T. Haines Halsey, Pictures of Early New York on Dark Blue, Staffordshire Pottery (New York: Dover Publications, 1974), pp. 302-306. See photograph of the mug facing page 3.
6 Note that G.W.P.Custis, George’s adopted grandson, accepts this story as true. See G. W. Parke Custis, Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington (Bridgewater: American Foundation Publications, 1999), pp. 132-34.
7 WGW, vol. 30, 12-23-1788
8 Writing to the Learned Professions of Philadelphia, Washington spoke of “a higher and more efficient Cause” and “the greatest and best of Beings” (WGW, vol. 27, 12-13-1783); To mathematician Nicholas Pike, he spoke of how the tight logic of mathematics led one to even more sublime meditations: “the investigation of mathematical truths accustoms the mind to method and correctness in reasoning, and is an employment peculiarly worthy of rational beings. In a clouded state of existence, where so many things appear precarious to the bewildered research, it is here that the rational faculties find a firm foundation to rest upon. From the high ground of mathematical and philosophical demonstration, we are insensibly led to far nobler speculations and more sublime meditations. (WGW, vol. 30, 6-20-1788).
9 WGW, vol. 27. 12-13-1783.
10 Lodge claims that the cabbage seed story is untrue: “This tale is bodily taken from Dr. Beattie’s biographical sketch of his son, published in England in 1799 and may be dismissed at once.” Henry Cabot Lodge, George Washington (New Rochelle: Arlington House, 1898) p. 45.
11 Although Paulding does not give his source for the following alleged sayings of Washington, and therefore they cannot finally be historically established, the documented quotes we have just shared from Washington to the Philosophical Society (“the task of studying the works of the great Creator, inexpressibly delightful”), the Learned professions (“a higher and more efficient Cause” and “the greatest and best of Beings.”), and the mathematician Nicholas Pike (“it is here that the rational faculties find a firm foundation to rest upon. From the high ground of mathematical and philosophical demonstration, we are insensibly led to far nobler speculations and sublimer meditations.”) suggest that the following statements attributed to Washington by Paulding are within the realm of the possible: James K. Paulding, A Life of Washington (Port Washington: Kennikat Press, 1858), Vol II p. 208, 210. William J. Johnson, George Washington The Christian, (Arlington Heights: Christian Liberty Press, 1919), p. 263-64: “It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without the agency of a Supreme Being.” “It is impossible to govern the universe without the aid of a Supreme Being.” “It is impossible to reason without arriving at a Supreme Being. Religion is as necessary to reason as reason is to religion. The one cannot exist without the other. A reasoning being would lose his reason in attempting to account for the great phenomena of nature, had he not a Supreme Being to refer to; and well has it been said, that if there had been no God, mankind would have been obliged to imagine one.” The possibility of the authenticity of these statements is further buttressed by Washington’s profound emphasis upon the activity and causation of providence in history as well of his use of “Supreme Being” as a title for deity. Also add to this the fact that Washington’s view of religion maintains the compatibility of reason and faith as can be seen below in the Chapter entitled “George Washington’s God: Religion, Reason, and Philosophy.”
12 1731 by the Old (Julian) Calendar, 1732 by the New (Gregorian) Calendar. The New Calendar was adopted by Great Britain and the colonies in 1752. To bring the calendar in line with the solar year, it added 11 days and began the new year in January rather than March. Tobias Lear, secretary to Washington, to Clement Biddle, February 14, 1790, on the new calendar and Washington’s birthday (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gwhtml/gwtime.html)
13 “Pa brought me two pretty books full of pictures. he got them in Alexandria. they have pictures of dogs and cats and tigers and elephants and ever so many pretty things. Cousin bids me send you one of them. It has a picture of an elefant and a little Indian boy on his back like uncle jo’s Sam. Pa says if I learn my tasks good he will let uncle jo bring me to see you will you ask your ma to let you come to see me. Richard Henry Lee.” Washington’s reply: “Dear Dicky: I thank you very much for the pretty picture book you gave me. Sam asked me to show him the pictures and I showed him all the pictures in it; and I read to him how the tame Elephant took care of the master’s little boy, and put him on his back and would not let any body touch his master’s little son. I can read three or four pages sometimes without missing a word. Ma says I may go to see you and stay all day with you next week if it not be rainy. She says I may ride my pony Hero if Uncle Ben will go with me and lead Hero. I have a little piece of poetry about the picture book you gave me, but I mustn’t tell you who wrote the poetry. ‘G.W.’s compliments to R.H.L., And Likes his book full well, henceforth will count him his friend, And hopes many happy days he may spend’ Your good friend, George Washington. I am going to get a whip top soon, and you may see it and whip it.” Lossing, Mary and Martha: p. 37-38. Grizzard, George Washington: A Biographical Companion, p. 187, says that these letters are “undoubtedly apocryphal”.
14 William Johnson writes about George during that period: “In that town [Fredericksburg] he went to school, and as Mrs. Washington was connected with the church there, her son no doubt shared, under her own eye, the benefits of divine worship, and such religion instruction as mothers in that day were eminently accustomed to give their children. It was the habit to teach the young the first principles of religion according to the formularies of the church, to inculcate the fear of God, and strict observance of the moral virtues, such as truth, justice, charity, humility, modesty, temperance, chastity, and industry.” Johnson, George Washington The Christian, p.22.
15 See Custis, Recollections pp. 482-83. Also see Humphreys, The Life of General Washington p. 7.
16 The entries in the index of his Diaries include numerous instances of foxhunting, duck hunting, hunting, gunning, fishing, canoeing, and horseback riding.
17 See Custis, Recollections, pp. 483-84.
18 See Diaries under the entries of “balls.” For Washington’s dancing skills and remarkable horsemanship, see Custis, pp. 143-44, 386-87. As Jefferson said of Washington, “the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback.” (See Chapter 3 above)
19 See J. D. Sawyer, George Washington, (New York: MacMillian, 1927) vol. I. p. 104-05. Van Braam was also with Washington in the battle at Great Meadows in the French and Indian War, and was one of the interpreters whose knowledge of French was apparently not quite sufficient to prevent the infamous signing of the capitulation agreement that unwittingly affirmed the “assassination” of the French Ambassador.
20 Washington’s relationship with Humphreys was very close, as can be seen in the following letter to David Humphreys WGW, vol. 27, 1-14-1784:
“My Dear Humphrys: I have been favored with your Letter of the 6th. Be assured that there are few things which would give me more pleasure than opportunities of evincing to you the sincerity of my friendship, and disposition to render your services at any time when it may be in my power.
Altho’ all recommendations from me to Congress must now be considered as coming from a private character, yet I enter very chearfully into your views; and as far as my suggesting of them to that Honorable body, accompanied by my testimonial of your competency to the execution of the duties of either of the offices in contemplation will go, you have them freely; and the enclosed Letter, which is a copy of the one I have written to Congress on the occasion, will be an evidence of my good wishes, whatever may be the success.
I cannot take my leave of you, without offering those acknowledgments of your long and zealous services to the public which your merits justly entitle you to, and which a grateful heart should not withhold: and I feel very sensibly the obligations I am personally under to you for the aid I have derived from your abilities, for the chearful assistance you have afforded me upon many interesting occasions, and for the attachment you have always manifested towards me. I shall hold in pleasing remembrance the friendship and intimacy which has subsisted between us, and shall neglect no opportunity on my part to cultivate and improve them; being, with unfeigned esteem and regard My Dear Humphrys Yrs. Etc”.
21 See Humphreys, The Life of General Washington p. 6-8.
22 Grizzard, George Washington: A Biographical Companion, p. 109.
23 E.C.M’Guire, Religious Opinions and Character of Washington (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1836), p. 15.
24 Hughes, George Washington The Human Being, p. 33.
25 Ibid., p. 33.
26 Grizzard, George Washington: A Biographical Companion p. 331.
27 Benson J. Lossing, Mary and Martha: The Mother and Wife of George Washington (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1886) p. 39.
28 Benson J. Lossing, The Home of Washington or Mount Vernon and Its Associations Historical, Biographical, and Pictorial (New York: Virtue & Yorston, 1870) p. 45.
29 Lossing, Mary and Martha, p. 41.
30 See the chapter below on George Washington and Providence that deals extensively with his view of God’s actions in history.
31 WGW, vol. 33, 5-25-1794.
32 A letter to Richard Henry Lee, WGW, vol. 22, 7-15-1781 note:, June 12, 1781. In this letter Lee enclosed a copy of one which he had written to James Lovell, Theodorick Bland, and Joseph Jones, in Congress, in which he proposed that Washington should “be immediately sent to Virginia, with 2 or 3000 good Troops. Let Congress, as the head of the federal union, in this crisis, direct that until the Legislature can convene and a Governor be appointed, the General be possessed of Dictatorial powers, and that it be strongly recommended to the Assembly when convened to continue those powers for 6.8 or 10 months: as the case may be. And the General may be desired instantly on his arrival in Virginia to summon the members of both houses to meet where he shall appoint, to organize and resettle their Government.” These letters are in the Washington Papers.
