12. Popularity
a) To HENRY LEE, Mount Vernon, September 22, 1788.
“Though I prize, as I ought, the good opinion of my fellow citizens; yet, if I know myself, I would not seek Or retain popularity at the expense of one social duty or moral virtue.”
b) To THE CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE, [April 17, 1789.]
“I know the delicate nature of the duties incident to the part which I am called to perform; and I feel my incompetence, without the singular assistance of Providence to discharge them in a satisfactory manner. But having undertaken the task, from a sense of duty, no fear of encountering difficulties and no dread of losing popularity, shall ever deter me from pursuing what I conceive to be the true interests of my Country.”
13. Prejudice
a) To CALEB GIBBS, New York, May 26, 1789.
“Whatever may be my private inclinations and feelings, it will then be my endeavour to find out and nominate such men as shall seem to be best calculated and best entitled in every respect to fill those offices, according to the clearest information I can obtain, and the most unbiassed judgment I can exercise on the subject.”
b) To MAJOR FRANCIS HALKET, August 2, 1758
“I am uninfluenced by prejudice, having no hopes or fears but for the general good.”
14. Passions of Men
a) To JOHN BANISTER, April 21, 1778.
“We must take the passions of men as nature has given them, and those principles as a guide, which are generally the rule of action.”
B. Media
1. Newspapers
a) To JAMES MCHENRY, April 3, 1797.
“We get so many details in the gazettes, and of such different complexions, that it is impossible to know what credence to give to any of them.”
b) To OLIVER WOLCOTT, May 15, 1797.
“There is so little dependence on newspaper publications, which take whatever complexion to the editors please to give them, that persons at a distance, who have no other means of information, are oftentimes at a loss to form an opinion on the most important occurrences.”
c) To EDMUND RANDOLPH, August 26, 1792.
“If the government and the officers of it are to be the constant theme for newspaper abuse, and this too without condescending to investigate the motives or the facts, it will be impossible, I conceive, for any man living to manage the helm or to keep the machine together.”
2. The Influence of the Media
a) To JAMES MADISON, May 20, 1792.
“However necessary it may be to keep a watchful eye over public servants, and public measures, yet there ought to be limits to it; for suspicions unfounded, and jealousies too lively, are irritating to honest feeling; and oftentimes are productive of more evil than good.”
b) To EDMUND PENDLETON, January 22, 1795.
“It is well known, that, when one side only of a story is heard and often repeated, the human mind becomes impressed with it insensibly.”
VIII. SLAVERY
A. Washington’s Early View on Slavery
1. To CAPTAIN JOSIAH THOMPSON, Mount Vernon, July 2, 1766. “With this letter comes a negro (Tom), which I beg the favor of you to sell in any of the Islands you may go to, for whatever he will fetch, and bring me in return from him
One hhd (Hogshead—a cask containing from 63 to 140 gallons)
One ditto of best rum
One barrel of lymes, if good and cheap
One pot of tamarinds, containing about 10 lbs.
Two small ditto of mixed sweetmeats, about 5 lbs each.
“And the residue, much or little, in good old spirits. That this fellow is both a rogue and a runaway (tho’ he was by no means remarkable for the former, and never practiced the latter till of late) I shall not pretend to deny. But that he is exceeding healthy, strong, and good at the hoe, the whole neiborhood can testify, and particularly Mr. Johnson and his son, who have both had him under them as foreman of the gang; which gives me reason to hope he may with your good management sell well, if kept clean and trim’d up a little when offered for sale.
“I shall very cheerfully allow you the customary commissions on this affair, and must beg the favor of you (lest he should attempt his escape) to keep him handcuffed till you get to sea, or in the bay, after which I doubt not but you make him very useful to you.”
B. Washington’s Mature View on Slavery
1. To ROBERT MORRIS, April 12, 1786.
