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To: PhilipFreneau
On the same note he was strongly in favor of a common language and a common religion (with minor shades of differences, of course).

Do you have a source for that?

Here is a paragraph from the letter from George Washington to the Touro Congregation in Newport, RI, 1790.

"May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree and there shall be none to make him afraid..."

Walt

392 posted on 01/02/2002 7:21:43 PM PST by WhiskeyPapa
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To: WhiskeyPapa
On the same note he was strongly in favor of a common language and a common religion (with minor shades of differences, of course).

Do you have a source for that?

Yes. From his Farewell Address we have this:

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The mere Politican, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private & public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the Oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure--reason & experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

In the above paragraph Washington defined patriotism. He also wrote this ...

The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same Religeon, Manners, Habits & political Principles. You have in a common cause fought & triumphed together--The independence & liberty you possess are the work of joint councils, and joint efforts--of common dangers, sufferings and successes.

Now, regarding a common language (beyond the implied coverage in the previous quotes). . . First, in his address to Trenton, New Jersey, Citizens, July 20, 1796:

The assurances of your determination to pursue such a line of conduct as will, on your part, ensure the continuance of peace and prosperity to our Country, are no less pleasing to me, than the belief which you express, that your address conveys,24 "the common sentiments and common language of the Citizens of the State of New Jersey."

In his address to the Continental Congress on Feb 20, 1777, regarding the commissioning of French officers, he wrote:

Their ignorance of our language, and their inability to recruit Men, are unsurmountable obstacles to their being ingrafted into our Continental Battalions, for our Officers, who have raised their Men, and have served thro' the War, upon pay, that has hitherto not borne their Expences, would be disgusted, if Foreigners were put over their heads, and I assure you few or none of these Gentlemen look lower than Field Officer's Commissions . . . Suppose they were told, in general, that no Man could obtain a Commission, except he could raise a number of Men, in proportion to his Rank; This would effectually stop the Mouths of Common Applyers, and would leave us at liberty to make provision for Gentlemen of undoubted Military Characters and Merit, who would be very useful to us as soon as they acquired our Language. The letter was read in Congress March 12. On March 13 Congress directed the Committee of Secret Correspondence to write to the ministers and agents abroad "to discourage all gentlemen from coming to America with expectation of employment in the service, unless they are masters of our language, and have the best recommendations." On March 14 Congress passed a resolve that no commissions should be given to foreign to officers unless they were well acquainted with the English language

To the CC regarding Le Fayette, he wrote:

"His conduct with respect to them stands in a favorable point of view, having interested himself to remove their uneasiness and urged the impropriety of their making any unfavorable representations upon their arrival at home, and in all his letters has placed our affairs in the best situation he could. Besides, he is sensible, discreet in his Manner, has made great proficiency in our Language and from the disposition he discovered at the Battle of Brandy Wine, possesses a large share of bravery and Military ardor.

And again to the CC, he wrote:"

What is to be done with the foreign officers who have been commissioned and never designated to any particular command, and who cannot, without displacing others, be brought into the line? Such of them as possess a competency of military knowledge and are otherwise men of character, I have sometimes thought, if they understood enough of our language, might be employed as Assistant inspectors.

To the Count Casimir Pulaski, he wrote on 1778:

I must caution you against a fondness for introducing foreigners into the Service; their ignorance of the Language of the Country and of the genius and manners of the people, frequently occasion difficulties and disgusts which we should not run the risque of, Unless it be in favour of extraordinary Talents and good Qualities.

And, finally, the clincher, to Lafayette on Jan 10, 1778

For I love to indulge the contemplation of human nature in a progressive state of improvement and melioration; and if the idea would not be considered visionary and chimerical, I could fondly hope, that the present plan of the great Potentate of the North might, in some measure, lay the foundation for that assimilation of language, which, producing assimilation of manners and interests, which, should one day remove many of the causes of hostility from amongst mankind.

Or, maybe this is the clincher (from a 1794 letter to John Adams):

My opinion, with respect to emigration, is, that except of useful Mechanics and some particular descriptions of men or professions, there is no need of encouragement: while the policy or advantage of its taking place in a body (I mean the settling of them in a body) may be much questioned; for, by so doing, they retain the Language, habits and principles (good or bad) which they bring with them. Whereas by an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures and laws: in a word, soon become one people.

I am sure there are other fine examples. But, in general, as afore-mentioned, Washington desired a common language, customs, religion, and manners for our nation.

529 posted on 01/09/2002 5:16:47 PM PST by PhilipFreneau
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