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

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH, SECRETARY OF STATE. 2 [PRIVATE.] - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. XII (1790-1794) [1891]

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. XII (1790-1794).

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

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TO EDMUND RANDOLPH, SECRETARY OF STATE.2

[PRIVATE.]

Carlisle, 11 October, 1794,
past 3 o’clock. P. M.

Dear Sir,

When I wrote to you yesterday I did not expect to be in this village at this hour. But finding it difficult to get even part of the troops off that were ordered to March yesterday, I resolved to see the residue in motion to-day, before I left this place myself. This dilatoriness does not proceed from any disinclination in the troops themselves to proceed, but for want of arrangement and system in some of the principal characters among the officers of this State, and the disjointed manner in which the former have arrived here. Those, however, which marched yesterday, with what have followed to-day will make a respectable corps. An officer of respectability will be left to organize the remaining detachments of this State’s troops as they shall arrive, and to forward them on. The Jersey troops came on in complete corps; but are badly clothed.

I had scarcely dispatched my letter to you yesterday, when the Commissioners or deputies (Findley and Riddick) from the insurgent counties arrived. My public letter written by Colo. Hamilton will inform you of the result, I believe they are scared.

All the papers which may be deemed necessary and proper to accompany my address to Congress, at the opening of the session I pray you to have ready; for there will not be time to do it between my arrival in the City and the meeting of that body. From present appearances it is not likely I shall proceed beyond Bedford. My return to Philadelphia even in that case can be but a day or two before the first Monday in next month. I am, &c.

[2 ]“It would have given me pleasure to have had you with me, and advantages might have resulted from it, on my present tour, if your return in time would have allowed it. It is now too late, as we shall be in the act of crossing the mountains, or I shall be on my return to Philadelphia, (according to circumstances and the information I shall receive at the head of the line,) before you could arrive with any tolerable ease and convenience to proceed, and when the latter, from present appearances, is most likely to happen. . . .

“Our accounts from the insurgent counties are neither distinct nor satisfactory. The only occurrence of consequence I have mentioned in a private letter to Mr. Randolph. To-morrow, if I can get the troops in motion at this place, I shall set out for Williamsport, thence to Cumberland, and from thence to Bedford; where, about the 18th or 20th, my ultimate measures will be determined on.”—Washington to Knox, 9 October, 1794.

“A meeting of the committee of sixty, at Parkinson’s Ferry, the 2d instant, has resolved, that, if the signature of submission be not universal, it is not so much owing to any existing disposition to oppose the laws, as to a want of time or information to operate a corresponding sentiment. That the committee unanimously resolved to submit to the laws of the United States, and will support them; that, in the four western counties of this State, in their opinion there is a general disposition to submit to all laws of the United States, and a determination to support the civil authority in their execution; that William Findlay of Westmoreland county, and David Riddick of Washington county, be commissioners to wait upon the President of the United States and the Governor of Pennsylvania with a copy of these resolutions, and to explain to government the present state of that country, that the President may judge whether an armed force be now necessary to support the civil authority there. These commissioners have not made their appearance yet. The insurgents are alarmed, but not yet brought to their proper senses. Every means is devised by them and their friends and associates elsewhere to induce a belief, that there is no necessity for troops crossing the mountains; although we have information, at the same time, that part of the people there are obliged to embody themselves to repel the insults of another part. The troops at this rendezvous will commence their march for Bedford to-morrow, at which time I shall set out for Williamsport, thence to Fort Cumberland, and thence to Bedford, where, from the information I shall receive in the interim, my ultimate resolution will be taken to proceed or to turn my face towards Philadelphia.”—Washington to Randolph, 9 October, 1794.