From George Washington to John Dawson, 5 March 1789

To John Dawson

Mount Vernon March 5th 1789

Dear Sir,

I have duly received your letter of the 23d of last Month;1 and thank you for the information contained in it. I think with you that the subject is of great moment; and hope such measures may be adopted, respecting the Western Country, as will prevent the United States from receiving any detriment. I am with sentiments of great regard Dr Sir Your most Obedt & Hble Sert

Go: Washington

LB, DLC:GW.

John Dawson (1762–1814) of Spotsylvania County, Va., was an occasional visitor to Mount Vernon in the late 1780s (see Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 5:53, 289). A graduate of Harvard College, he practiced law in Spotsylvania County and was elected to the Virginia house of delegates in 1786. As a member of Virginia’s Ratifying Convention in 1788 he voted against ratification of the Constitution. Dawson was elected to the Continental Congress in 1788 and at this time was representing Virginia in the Congress’s last session.

1. Letter not found.

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: From George Washington to John Dawson, 5 March 1789
Author: Washington, George
Recipient: Dawson, John
Date: 5 March 1789

Reference

Cite as: “From George Washington to John Dawson, 5 March 1789,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-01-02-0274. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 1, 24 September 1788 – 31 March 1789, ed. Dorothy Twohig. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1987, pp. 362–363.]

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