George Washington – A Case of Character Part 3

In response to the Stamp Act of 1765 John Adams said:

…liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people who have a right from the frame of their nature to knowledge, as their Creator who does nothing in vain, has given them understanding and a desire to know. But besides this they have a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible divine right to the most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, I mean of the characters and conduct of their rulers.

I’ve often heard it said that what we need in Washington are men and women of character, people like George Washington. While I agree with this statement I am concerned that “We The People” are not doing what it takes to measure the character of our elected officials. After all if you and I don’t do this, who will?

Here are some simple steps that enable one to judge the character of their lawmakers:

1. Be aware of major laws proposed by Congress

2. Express your opinion to our elected officials and ask them for their position

3. Check their response against their voting record

4. Hold them accountable for consistently adhering to sound principle

a. This means you must be educated on principles of morality and sound economic and social governance

5. Prepare future generations by teaching them our moral obligation to God, family

and country. Do this in your homes, schools (we’ll teach you how we can do this here as well), churches, community organizations etc.

While this may seem overwhelming at first glance, there are some simple ways you can begin this process. I assure you that it is an investment that we owe ourselves, our progenitors and our children.

Liberty is Priceless.

Let us at the Thomas Jefferson Center assist you in learning to appreciate, love, value and defend the rich heritage of this great country so that we can select people of great moral character to represent us. Allow us to teach the principles of the Constitution so that together we can preserve a great nation. The results will astound you and your attitude for America will go from despair to hope!

Make Sure to Visit The Healing of America Education Series for details on the courses that we have available.

George Washington

In March of 1783, even though the British had surrendered about a year and a half earlier, George Washington’s troops were still on active duty. Congress had failed to pay them and establish a fully functional government.

It was in this desperate environment that Washington’s officers were secretly working to force Congress’ hand through a military coup.  Fortunately, Washington caught wind of this and delivered a speech to his men in New York to avert this disaster that would threaten this great freedom experiment.

The following excerpt comes from this speech:

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, and 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 pretenses, to overturn the liberties of our country, and who wickedly attempts to open the floodgates of civil discord and deluge our rising empire in blood.

He later states, “You will defeat the insidious designs of our enemies…and give one more distinguished proof of an exampled patriotism and patient virtue…” He was pleading with them to allow the rule of law to be supreme, rather then the whims of a dictator.
After delivering the speech, the men were still somewhat unconvinced. He then pulled from his pocket a letter from Congress outlining their intentions to pay them. Biographer James T. Flexner describes what happened next:

The officers stirred impatiently in their seats, and then suddenly every heart missed a beat. Something was the matter with his Excellency. He seemed unable to read the paper. He paused in bewilderment. He fumbled in his waistcoat pocket and then he pulled out something that only his intimates had seen him wear: a pair of glasses. He explained, ‘Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown grey but almost blind in the service of my country.’ This simple statement achieved what all Washington’s rhetoric and all his argument had been unable to achieve. The officers were instantly in tears, and from behind shining drops, their eyes looked with love at the commander who had led them all so far and so long.

After Washington finished the letter, all officers present unanimously voted to support George Washington and Congress’ proposal. I will submit that it was Washington’s character, forged and tested over time in all types of challenging situations that gave him the moral authority in this exact moment to stir men’s hearts to support his vision. We are the beneficiaries of that character today. We therefore have an obligation to encourage the presence of that same type of character in our public positions of trust.

Stay tuned for the conclusion of this 3-part series.

George Washington

How do we find, support and keep men and women of character in public office? Before I answer this question allow me to propose the model we should be looking for by relating a story about George Washington. For those who have truly studied about President Washington, I can hear you skeptically saying, “Impossible! You just don’t find Washingtons today.” To that I reply, “Nonsense.”

First, we as a society are not placing men like Washington before our youth and heralding them as virtuous souls whose examples are worthy of emulation, instead many are maligning their character.

Second, we are simply not doing our part to seek out, encourage and support those individuals who have the right character to be worthy of the public trust.

Third, we are not teaching character as a moral/spiritual (in subsequent posts I’ll define what I mean by spiritual) obligation in our schools today. Stick with me because these people truly do exist if you are willing to look.

With that said, allow me to present the standard of character for our public officials by relating one of the great stories in our Nation’s history—a story about General George Washington. Remember as you read this that Washington put great effort into building his own character every day and as a result he had the ability to lead men of all stations of life to victory in our Revolutionary War. Against all odds he succeeded. His character was such that he was able to withstand the greatest of all temptation; his men’s proposal to make him king of America.

Come back soon to hear the rest of the story…