Georger Washington Essay -- Presidents England Farms Papers

George WashingtonThe king of England, George III, was fond of farming. His favourite(a) diversion was to dun some his lands, chatting with the tenants about the crops. Farmer George, he called himself. His arch-opponent, George Washington, had the comparable fondness for farming. He too enjoyed riding about his lands and talking about the crops. Indeed there was nothing else he enjoyed quite so much. tho there the coincidence ceased. And among the many other matters that differentiated George Washington from George III, no(prenominal) was more collision than his greater dignity and reserve. George Washington would never fool taken the independence of calling himself farmer George, nor would he have allowed anyone else to do so. Even his airless friends took care to keep their distance, and those who forgot to were apt to be brought up sharp.A acquainted(predicate) anecdote, through perhaps apocryphal, well illustrates Washingtons customary baby buggy toward himself and toward others. During the meeting of the constitutional Convention in Philadelphia a group of Washingtons friends were remarking on his extraordinarily uncommunicative and remote manner, even among his nigh intimate acquaintances. Gouverneur Morris, who was eternally full of assumption and wit, had the nerve to disagree. He could be as old(prenominal) with Washington, he said, as with any of his other friends. Alexander Hamilton called his bluff by offering to interpret a supper and wine for a dozen of them if Morris would, at the next response Washington gave, simply walk up to him, thinly slap him on the shoulder, and say, My dear General, how happy I am to captivate you look so well. On the appointed evening a unquestionable number were already present when Morris arrived, walked up to Washington, bowed, shook hands, an... ...im in the resource that elevated Jefferson to the presidency. and he need not have feared. The land did survive and dogged preserved the fa rness from foreign quarrels that he had positivistic for it. His honor survived with it, and posterity has preserved his image in all the aloofness that he appointive for himself. Although the mass of citizens have learned to look upon most of their other historic heroes with an affectionate familiarity, they have not presumed to do so with Washington. The good sound judgement that he was sure they possessed has prevented a late repetition of the humoring perpetrated by Gouverneur Morris. Americans honor the father of their country from a respectful distance. And that is sure enough the way Washington would have wanted it.--from Edmund S. Morgan, The meat of Independence (Charlottesville University coerce of Virginia, 1976) Georger Washington Essay -- Presidents England Farms PapersGeorge WashingtonThe king of England, George III, was fond of farming. His favorite diversion was to ride about his lands, chatting with the tenants about the crops. Farmer George , he called himself. His arch-opponent, George Washington, had the same fondness for farming. He too enjoyed riding about his lands and talking about the crops. Indeed there was nothing else he enjoyed quite so much. But there the likeness ceased. And among the many other matters that differentiated George Washington from George III, none was more striking than his greater dignity and reserve. George Washington would never have taken the liberty of calling himself farmer George, nor would he have allowed anyone else to do so. Even his close friends took care to keep their distance, and those who forgot to were apt to be brought up sharp.A familiar anecdote, through perhaps apocryphal, well illustrates Washingtons customary posture toward himself and toward others. During the meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia a group of Washingtons friends were remarking on his extraordinarily reserved and remote manner, even among his most intimate acquaintances. Gouverneur Mo rris, who was always full of boldness and wit, had the nerve to disagree. He could be as familiar with Washington, he said, as with any of his other friends. Alexander Hamilton called his bluff by offering to provide a supper and wine for a dozen of them if Morris would, at the next reception Washington gave, simply walk up to him, gently slap him on the shoulder, and say, My dear General, how happy I am to see you look so well. On the appointed evening a substantial number were already present when Morris arrived, walked up to Washington, bowed, shook hands, an... ...im in the election that elevated Jefferson to the presidency. But he need not have feared. The republic did survive and long preserved the aloofness from foreign quarrels that he had prescribed for it. His honor survived with it, and posterity has preserved his image in all the aloofness that he prescribed for himself. Although the mass of citizens have learned to look upon most of their other historical heroes with a n affectionate familiarity, they have not presumed to do so with Washington. The good judgment that he was sure they possessed has prevented a posthumous repetition of the folly perpetrated by Gouverneur Morris. Americans honor the father of their country from a respectful distance. And that is surely the way Washington would have wanted it.--from Edmund S. Morgan, The Meaning of Independence (Charlottesville University Press of Virginia, 1976)