To George Washington from James McHenry, 8 November 1795
From James McHenry
Near Baltimore 8 Novr 1795
Sir.
I inclose you an exposition of the principles of a new bank proposed to be established in Baltimore, designed to be laid before our Legislature at Annapolis of which I beg your acceptance and perusal.1 The thing having been composed at the Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County and the authorities added since my return (which was only monday week)2 you will make allowance for some of its defects that such a situation must have unavoidably occasioned. I expect a charter will be granted.3
Mr Scott informs me that an application will also be made to the legislature for a loan to forward the public buildings in Washington. It is probable that I shall be able to leave my family to take my seat in the Senate sometime next week where I shall favour the application as far as my influence extends should it have met with your approbation.4
Perhaps it may serve to lead to the plan the opposers of the treaty mean to pursue as well as to its extent, to mention an observation made by Mr Randolph (Son in law of Mr Jefferson) at the public table at the Sulphur Springs where most of the company were of one sentiment. “I hope that something may yet happen to prevent the execution of the treaty.” Mr Giles was at table. He expects that “something will be said in your speech about the treaty which will afford his party an oppertunity to express their opinions” Before I left the springs I sent to the Winchester paper a supposed address to you from the people of Greenbrier, which expresses my opinion. I believe it was published in that of the 15 Ultimo if you wish to see it.5
Let me add my humble intreaties to that of the prayers of all good men, that the late publications pointed at yourself, with the evident intention to induce you either to resign or withdraw from another election, may not be permitted to have that effect.6 You know the force and danger of the present crisis and how indispensible your remaining at the helm is to subdue it and give permanency to our prosperity and government. I am Sir most sincerely and truly your most ob. st
James McHenry
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. McHenry enclosed A Brief Exposition, of the Leading Principles of a Bank. Humbly Submitted to the Consideration of the Honourable the Legislature of Maryland (Baltimore, 1795). The pamphlet remained in GW’s library at the time of his death ( 130).
2. The exposition is dated 2 Nov., which was a Monday.
3. By “An Act to establish a bank; and incorporate the subscribers thereto,” of 24 Dec., the Maryland legislature chartered for twenty years a bank at Baltimore with an original capital stock not exceeding $1.2 million ( ch. 27).
4. About the loan proposal, see Commissioners for the District of Columbia to GW, 27 Oct., and n.1 to that document. McHenry took his seat in the Maryland Senate on 16 November.
5. The printing in the Virginia Centinel and Gazette; Or, the Winchester Repository has not been located, but on 5 Nov. the Gazette [of the] United States (Philadelphia) reprinted from the Centinel an “Address to the President of the United States,” signed “in behalf of a numerous meeting of the people of Greenbrier county, convened the 20th of September, 1795” by “A.L. Chairman.” The address supported the treaty and attributed opposition to: those who “don’t like Mr. Jay”; those who, “from their pure love of hot water, which they call republicanism, hate those who have had any hand in keeping us from getting scalded,” especially GW; those who have been refused office and wish to show their importance; those “soured by the adoption of the Constitution” who are “glad to seize every occasion to render unpopular some one of its branches”; and finally, “a good natured kind of folks, who having neither the opportunity, the means, nor inclination to examine into the truth of insinuations against government or its ministers, believe, or seem to believe in whatever the other classes tell them.”
6. For examples of such publications, see “Portius” to GW, 24 and 30 Sept. and 12 Oct., and the letter of “A Calm Observer” summarized in Alexander Hamilton to GW, 26 Oct., n.1.