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[Ya-ta Boy]

[Ya-ta Boy]

The Newburgh Conspiracy

From Joseph J. Ellis� �His Excellency George Washington� (the author is a Pulitzer winner for another work) From the chapter: �Destiny�s Child�
pp 141-146

All of these considerations�Washington�s transcendent stature, the weakness of the new federal government, and the grievances of the army�came together in March 1783 to create the Newburgh Conspiracy�

Scholars who have studied the Newburgh Conspiracy agree that it probably originated in Philadelphia within a group of congressmen, led by Robert Morris, who decided to use the threat of a military coup as a political weapon to gain passage of a revenue bill (the impost) and perhaps to expand the powers of the Confederation Congress over the states. Washington got wind of the mischief when he learned of petitions circulating among officers at Newburgh that contained veiled threats of action against the Congress�By early March 1783, as the plot thickened, a split had emerged within the officers� corps between moderates, led by Henry Knox�and radicals, led by Horatio Gates, who were prepared to act on the threat and attempt a military takeover of the government�.We can be sure that the crisis came to a head on March 11, when the dissident officers scheduled a meeting to coordinate their strategy. Washington countermanded the order for a meeting, saying only he could issue such an order, then scheduled a session for all officers on March 16�

March 16, 1783

Washington has just entered the New Building at Newburgh, a large auditorium recently built by the troops and also called The Temple. About 500 officers are present in the audience. Horatio Gates is chairing the meeting, a rich irony since Gates is most probably complicitous in the plot to stage a military coup that Washington has come to quash. Everything has been scripted and orchestrated beforehand. Washington�s aides fan out into the audience to prompt applause for the general�s most crucial lines. Washington walks slowly to the podium and reaches inside his jacket to pull out his prepared remarks. Then he pauses�the gesture is almost certainly planned�and pulls from his waistcoat a pair of spectacles�No one has ever seen Washington wear spectacles before on public occasions. He looks out to his assembled officers while adjusting the new glasses and says: �Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray, but almost blind in the service to my country.� Several officers began to sob�All thoughts of a military coup die at that moment.

[T]he speech established a direct link between his own honor and reputation and the abiding goals of the American Revolution. His central message was that any attempted coup by the army was simultaneously a repudiation of the principles for which they had all been fighting and an assault on his own integrity�Washington made himself synonymous with the American Revolution in order to declare that it was incompatible with dictatorial power. It was a father lecturing his children on the meaning of this new American family. Here is the most eloquent and salient passage:

But as I was among the first who embarked in the Cause of our common Country. As I have never left your side one moment, but when called from you on public duty. As I have been the constant companion and witness of your Distress, and not among the last to feel, and acknowledge your Merits. As I have ever considered my own Military reputation as inseparably connected with that of the army. As my Heart has ever expanded with Joy, when I have heard its praises, and my indignation has arisen, when the mouth of detraction has been opened against it; it can scarcely be supposed at this late stage of the War, that I am indifferent to its interests�And let me conjure you, in the name of our Common Country, as you value your own sacred honor, as you respect the rights of humanity, as you regard the Military and National Character of America, to express Your utmost horror and detestation of the Man who wishes, under any specious pretences, to overturn the liberties of our Country, and who wickedly attempts to open the flood Gates of Civil discord, and deluge our rising Empire in Blood.

�A final farewell scene occurred in Annapolis, where the Confederation Congress was sitting temporarily. On December 22 [1783] a formal dinner and dance was staged to honor �His Excellency.��At the ball afterward Washington danced every dance, as the ladies lined up in rows�At the official ceremony the following day�Washington solemnly said,� Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of Action�I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the enjoyments of public life.� �Horses were waiting at the door immediately after Washington read his statement. The crowd gathered at the doorway to wave him off. It was the greatest exit in American history.

***

It is because of this that the US has never had another attempted military coup. I cannot imagine any American general ever putting himself above Washington.

[mack4289]

[igotthisguitar]

I Hate All Iranians, US Aide Tells MPs
2007 10 02

By Simon Walters | dailymail.co.uk



Debra Cagan wearing the Commander's Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.

Britsh MPs visiting the Pentagon to discuss America's stance on Iran and Iraq were shocked to be told by one of President Bush's senior women officials: "I hate all Iranians."

And she also accused Britain of "dismantling" the Anglo-US-led coalition in Iraq by pulling troops out of Basra too soon.

The all-party group of MPs say Debra Cagan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Coalition Affairs to Defence Secretary Robert Gates, made the comments this month.

The six MPs were taken aback by the hardline approach of the Pentagon and in particular Ms Cagan, one of Mr Bush's foreign policy advisers.

She made it clear that although the US had no plans to attack Iran, it did not rule out doing so if the Iranians ignored warnings not to develop a nuclear bomb.

It was her tone when they met her on September 11 that shocked them most.

The MPs say that at one point she said:

"In any case, I hate all Iranians."

Although it was an aside, it was not out of keeping with her general demeanour.

"She seemed more keen on saying she didn't like Iranians than that the US had no plans to attack Iran," said one MP. "She did say there were no plans for an attack but the tone did not fit the words."

Another MP said: "I formed the impression that some in America are looking for an excuse to attack Iran. It was very alarming."

Tory Stuart Graham, who was on the ten-day trip, would not discuss Ms Cagan but said: "It was very sobering to hear from the horse's mouth how the US sees the situation."

Ms Cagan, whose job involves keeping the coalition in Iraq together, also criticised Britain for pulling out troops.

"She said if we leave the south of Iraq, the Iranians will take it over," said one MP.

Another said: "She is very forceful and some of my colleagues were intimidated by her muscular style."

The MPs also saw Henry Worcester, Deputy Director of the Office of Iranian Affairs, who said he favoured talks with Iran.

The Pentagon denied Ms Cagan said she "hated" Iranians.

"She doesn't speak that way," said an official.

But when The Mail on Sunday spoke to four of the six MPs, three confirmed privately that she made the remark and one declined to comment. The other two could not be contacted.

Article from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/
articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=484762&in_page_id=1770