George Washington. Founding Father. First President. One of the greatest men to ever live. To celebrate his birthday, I want to post and highlight my favorite portions of a letter he wrote to Lewis Nicola. The letter was in response to request of General George to be made “King of America”. After the War for Independence, the states were broke, the times where hard, and many believed that a return to monarchy was the remedy for the infant nation’s problems. George thoughts otherwise:
I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to me seems big with the greatest mischief that can befall my Country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable; at the same time in justice to my own feelings I must add, that no Man possesses a more sincere wish to see ample justice done to the Army than I do, and as far as my powers and influence, in a constitutional way extend, they shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should there be any occasion. Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your Country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your Mind, and never communicate, as from yourself, or any one else, a sentiment of the like Nature. With esteem I am.
