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

TO TOBIAS LEAR. 1 - 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.

About Liberty Fund:

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TO TOBIAS LEAR.1

My dear Sir,

The day following the one on which I wrote to you last, your letter of the 10th instant came to hand.

It is to be regretted, exceedingly, that delegated powers are, oftentimes, so little regarded; and that trusts of an important nature, the neglect of which may be attended with serious consequences, should be suffered to sleep in the hands of those who ought to carry them into activity;—such, from your representation, appears to be the case of the petition which ought in behalf of the Potomac Company, to have been laid before the assembly of Virginia in due season.

The notice of the presentment of such petitions (which is required by law) cannot, I presume, be dispensed with; and if there be any dereliction to the measures prayed for, the limitation to and expiration of the time for the reception of them, will be urged as a plea for postponement.

The propriety of my writing to individual members, or even to the assembly itself on this subject, is, in my mind, a matter that may be questioned, but, supposing the case to be otherwise, I do not know who the members are and such indeed has been the change of things since I mixed in the Politics, or much with the people of that State (out of the neighborhood of Alexandria) that an entire new set, unknown to me personally, are in the exercise of the powers of Government. Tomorrow, however, I will communicate this matter to Mr. Randolph, and know if he has any acquaintance in that assembly to whom he could introduce the subject and thereby aid your personal exertions. It is to be lamented however, that in plain matters—a little ticklishly circumstanced—such hazards (at least of delay) should be unnecessarily encountered. We are all well, and join in best wishes for you, and I am, &c.

[1 ]Now in Georgetown, having recently returned from Europe.