Freedom by Jack D. Warren

Author:Jack D. Warren
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Globe Pequot
Published: 2023-03-26T00:00:00+00:00

On November 25, 1783, the last British troops boarded ships and left New York City. As

By personally resigning his commission, Washington reminded Americans that he had acted for eight years with powers delegated by Congress, which needed more extensive authority to address the challenges facing the nation (Yale University Art Gallery).

they departed, George Washington and his officers, along with some of the remaining soldiers of the Continental Army, took possession of the city.

Washington had one more task. When he accepted command of the Continental Army in June 1775, Congress had presented Washington with a commission naming him general and commander in chief, vesting him “with full power and authority to act as you shall think for the good and Welfare of the service.” Conscious of the deep symbolic importance of his conduct, Washington was determined to present himself to Congress and return that commission, making his resignation a formal public act acknowledging the authority of Congress. He had served the republic in war for nearly eight and a half years and was going home without any reward beside the applause and gratitude of his country and the consciousness of duty faithfully performed. He expected that returning his commission would be the final act of his public life, and that he would return to his farm, like the Roman hero Cincinnatus, to live the remainder of his life as a private citizen.

Many Europeans expected Washington would assume control of the American government. Since ancient times, many victorious generals had claimed the authority of a king or the power of a dictator. Few Americans thought Washington should be king, but many expected him to become the leader of the new government. In London, King George III asked American-born painter Benjamin West what Washington would do now that he had won the war. West said that he believed Washington “would retire to a private situation.” The king paused for a moment, then replied. “If he did that, he would be the greatest man in the world.”

George Washington left New York City and rode south to Annapolis, Maryland, where Congress was meeting. On December 23, 1783, he appeared before Congress and made this short speech:

The great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place; I have now the honor of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress and of presenting myself before them to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service

of my country. Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence. A diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which however was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the union, and the patronage of heaven. The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine expectations, and my gratitude for

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