To George Washington from George Lux, c.4 April 1796
From George Lux
[Baltimore, c.4 April 1796]1
George Washington
I want words to preface a letter more respectfully to you—It is my pride & boast, that you & my dear Father were intimate, & you have occasionally honoured me with your notice.
I have been ill, am still an Invalid, but have strength to wield a pen to assert, I am proud of you, & the stand you have made against a dangerous precedent alarming to future generations of United Columbia—Why should we have a popular Oligarchy? In an humble station, as only a Clerk to a Committee of Congress, I have, in early youth, found secrecy necessary in foreign negotiations—Domestic Matters ought to be open & explicit.2
Our Government has it’s Checks & balances, to ensure liberty & prevent an undue preponderancy of either the Judicial, Executive or Legislative Departments—Sick as I have been, I have not seen many, but the few who have conversed with me unite in approbation of George Washington with
George Lux
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. GW docketed this letter, which was posted at Baltimore, as “received 6th April 1796.” Mail usually took about a day and a half to travel from Baltimore to Philadelphia.
2. Lux probably commented on GW’s reply dated 30 March to the U.S. House resolution adopted on 24 March requesting that he provide instructions, correspondence, and other documents relating to the Jay Treaty.