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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: War and Peace
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO APPOLOS MORRIS. - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. V (1776-1777) [1890]

Edition used:

The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890). Vol. V (1776-1777).

Part of: The Writings of George Washington, 14 vols.

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TO APPOLOS MORRIS.

Sir,

I am favd. with yours of the 26 and 29 May from both of which it is evident to me that you have at length determined upon the part which you are to take in this great dispute. I will not argue with you upon the propriety of your Conduct, but I cannot help saying, that I think it very odd, that after being denied an answer to your political Queries, which appears from Mr. Allen’s letter to you of the 2d April, you should upon the bare assertion or rather opinion of that Gentleman, expressed in his letter of the 8th of May, conclude that matters between this Country and Great Britain might have been adjusted, had any terms short of Independence been insisted upon. I must tell you in plain terms, that at this time a neutral character is looked upon as a suspicious one; and I would therefore advise you to leave a Country with a Majority of whom you cannot agree in Sentiment, and who are determined to Assert their liberties by the ways and means which necessity and not the love of War has obliged them to adopt.

I thank you for your expressions of personal Regard and am, Sir, &c.1

[1 ]“A letter of the 6th from General Washington to R. Morris, esq; inclosing one to Appolos Morris, was read; whereupon, Resolved, that General Arnold be directed to put Major Appolos Morris under immediate arrest and confinement, until the further order of Congress.”—Journals of Congress, 9 June, 1777. The Major was soon after admitted to parole, with permission to go to Europe or the West Indies.