THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE OF WASHINGTON. |
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advance amid appointed arms arrived artillery attack batteries battle battle of Monongahela Boston Braddock British British army Bushrod Washington camp cannon character Colonel colonies columns command commander-in-chief compelled Congress Cornwallis declared dispatched Dorchester Heights duties enemy England English excitement field fire fleet force forest Fort Cumberland Fort Necessity forward French George Governor Governor Dinwiddie guns heart heavy Hessians honor horse House of Burgesses hundred immediately Indians ington inhabitants Lafayette land latter length liberty Lord meantime ment miles military militia morning Mount Vernon nation never night noble officers party passed patriotism Philadelphia President Putnam rank reached received regiments replied resolved retired retreat returned river road sent shore shot shouts soldiers soon Stamp Act stood storm Sullivan thing thousand tion took troops turned vessels victory Virginia Wash Washington West Point whole wilderness wrote York young
Popular passages
Page 483 - If in the opinion of the People, the distribution or modification of the Constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way which the Constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit which the use can at any...
Page 482 - ... the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should...
Page 486 - ... establishing, with powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our merchants, and to enable the government to support them, conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary, and liable to be, from time to time, abandoned or varied, as experience and circumstances shall dictate...
Page 484 - In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others should be excluded ; and that in place of them just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave.
Page 481 - However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterward the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
Page 106 - Caesar had his Brutus — Charles the First his Cromwell — and George the Third — ("Treason," cried the Speaker — "treason, treason," echoed from every part of the House.
Page 482 - It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms ; kindles the animosity of one part against another ; foments occasionally riot and insurrection.
Page 481 - Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.
Page 483 - Promote then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.
Page 477 - In looking forward to the moment which is intended to terminate the career of my public life, my feelings do not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of that debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved...