The Man Who Would Not Be King (George Washington)

Heritage Foundation ^ | 2/5/07 | Matthew Spalding

[NonValueAdded]

How far has this holiday fallen. In our Florida county, it is a day off from school for the kids but the teachers had to report. On Florida's west coast, schools were open. When the teachers union chooses not to demand a holiday off, you know there is no further use for dead white guys.

And in some ways, I can agree with them but for my own reasons. If the holiday is now to be known as Presidents Day, then there are several Presidents not worth celebrating.

I will also note that Washington was not the first to turn down continuous power. The Puritan leader John Winthrop would step down from office from time to time, "an intermission designed principally to guard against a precedent, which might lead to a governor for life."

[sneakers]

bttt

[Liberty Wins]

Washington was not the first to turn down continuous power.

The Roman farmer Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus relinquished his army after saving Rome and retired to his farm. According to some, Washington was a great admirer of the Roman Republic and modeled himself after Cincinnatus.

The Society of the Cincinnati was formed by Washington's former officers and Washington served as its first president. Their motto was, "He gave up everything to serve the republic."

[Pelham]

“Washington was the only one of the Founding Fathers to free his slaves. They were to be freed upon the death of Martha. However, they were freed before she died because fears arose for her safety. “

George emancipated only the slaves that had been his own property. More than half of the Washington slaves were owned by Martha, an inheritance from her family and first husband. These slaves were not emancipated and were inherited by her grandchildren.