B. Patriotism
1. Patriot
a) To THE SECRETARY OF WAR, Mount Vernon, February 25, 1799.
“It is a maxim with me, that in times of imminent danger to a Country, every true Patriot should occupy the Post in which he can render [his services to his country] the most effectually.”
b) To BENEDICT ARNOLD, September 14, 1775.
“Every post is honorable, in which a man can serve his country.”
c) To COL. JOSIAS C. HALL, April 3, 1778.
“From the crisis at which our affairs have arrived, . . . I think every man, who does not merely make profession of patriotism is bound by indissoluble ties to remain in the army.”
d) FIRST INAUGURAL, April 30, 1789.
“. . . my country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love.”
e) To HENRY LEE, July 21, 1793.
“I have no wish superior to that of promoting the happiness and welfare of this country.”
f) To DAVID HUMPHREYS, June 26, 1797.
“I am clearly in sentiment with you that every man who is in the vigor of life, ought to serve his country, in whatever line it requires and he is fit for.”
2. American West
a) To RICHARD HENDERSON, June 19, 1788.
“If I was a young man, just preparing to begin the world, or if advanced in life, and had a family to make a provision for, I know of no country where I should rather fix my habitation than in some part of that region [the West].”
b) To DAVID HUMPHREYS, July 25, 1785.
“Rather than quarrel about territory, let the poor, the needy, and oppressed of the earth, and those who want land, resort to the fertile plains of our western country, the second land of promise, and there dwell in peace, fulfilling the first and great commandment.”
VI. BUSINESS AND FINANCES
A. Business
1. Doing Business Well
a) To THE SECRETARY OF WAR, Mount Vernon, July 13, 1796.
“Let me, in a friendly way, impress the following maxims upon the Executive Officers. In all important matters, to deliberate maturely, but to execute promptly and vigorously. And not to put things off until the Morrow which can be done, and require to be done, to day. Without an adherence to these rules, business never will be well done, or done in an easy manner; but will always be in arrear, with one thing treading upon the heels of another.”
2. System
a) To JAMES ANDERSON, Mount Vernon, December 21, 1797.
“If a person only sees, or directs from day to day what is to be done, business can never go on methodically or well, for in case of sickness, or the absence of the Director, delays must follow. System to all things is the soul of business. To deliberate maturely, and execute promptly is the way to conduct it to advantage. With me, it has always been a maxim, rather to let my designs appear from my works than by my expressions. To talk long before hand, of things to be done, is unpleasant, if those things can as well be done at one time or another; but I do not mean by this to discourage you from proposing any plans to me which you may conceive to be beneficial, after having weighed them well in your own mind; on the contrary, I request you to do it with the utmost freedom, for the more combined, and distant things are seen, the more likely they are to be turned to advantage.”
3. Fair Business Practices
a) To JAMES ANDERSON, Mount Vernon, September 10, 1799.
“For at the same time that I should expect a reasonable compensation for the use of the property it would be equally my wish that you should find your account in the profit, arising there from. Live, and let live, is, in my opinion, a maxim founded in true policy; and is one I am disposed to pursue.”
4. Commerce
a) To MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, Mount Vernon,
August 15, 1786 (vol. 28).
“As a Philanthropist by character, and (if I may be allowed the expression) as a Citizen of the great republic of humanity at large; I cannot help turning my attention sometimes to this subject. I would be understood to mean, I cannot avoid reflecting with pleasure on the probable influence that commerce may hereafter have on human manners and society in general. On these occasions I consider how mankind may be connected like one great family in fraternal ties. I indulge a fond, perhaps an enthusiastic idea, that as the world is evidently much less barbarous than it has been, its melioration must still be progressive; that nations are becoming more humanized in their policy, that the subjects of ambition and causes for hostility are daily diminishing, and, in fine, that the period is not very remote, when the benefits of a liberal and free commerce will, pretty generally, succeed to the devastations and horrors of war.”
5. Self Interest
a) To ROBERT CARY & COMPANY, Mount Vernon, May 28, 1762.
“As I have ever laid it down as an established Maxim to believe, that every person is, (most certainly ought to be) the best judges of what relates to their own Interest and concerns I very rarely undertake to propose Schemes to others which may be attended with uncertainty and miscarriage.”
b) To DOLPHIN DREW, Mount Vernon, February 25, 1784.
