TIMOTHY PICKERING ~~ ''SOME GENTLEMEN ACT AS IF THEY THOUGHT A LARGE STANDING ARMY, IN TIME OF PEACE, NECESSARY FOR THE DIGNITY OF OUR MAGNIFICENT EMPIRE. BUT THE REAL DIGNITY OF A NATION CONSISTS IN THE WISDOM OF ITS RULERS, AND THE VIRTUE AND HAPPINESS OF THE PEOPLE''

TIMOTHY PICKERING

Publication Date: 1819

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PICKERING, TIMOTHY. (1745 1829) American statesman and politician; Secretary of State under Presidents George Washington and John Adams (1795-1800); Secretary of War (1795); Post Master General (1791-1795); strong proponent of Great Britain, and after a quarrel with President John Adams over Adams plan to make peace with France, Pickering was dismissed from office in May 1800; Pickering challenged Jefferson s Embargo Act and held several conferences with the special British envoy George Rose and proposed the creation of a pro-British party in New England, which placed him in violation of the Logan Act, for which he was censured. Exceptional Autograph Letter Signed, T. Pickering . 4 very full pages, quarto. Werham, Massachusetts, January 29, 1819. To Charles F. Mercer. [(1778-1858) Virginia politician and representative.] Pickering writes: Dear Sir, I read so few newspapers, that I see but a small portion of public transactions. I recollect, however, observing on introduction from you, that you should move for striking off one of the two Major Generals, chiefly, it would seem, to get rid of a military despot: but at the same time you suggested that you did not contemplate ~ reduction of the army. Immediately after the peace, the army was reduced from the war establishment. I intended to propose (& if I rightly remember had draughted a resolution) to reduce it to 5000: but Mr. Deska forestalled me, by proposing to reduce it to 6000. Corning, as it did, from so promising a quarter, I readily closed with this motion, or resolution, & supported it. I then made a list of all the posts, allowed them competent garrisons in time of peace, and a thousand to be stationed on the first high and healthy ground, above New-Orleans (independently of a sufficient standing garrison there) to be ready to push down the Mississippi, in a very few days, whenever the security of the city should require it.· And after~ this distribution, a considerable part (I forget how many) of the 6000 remained unappropriated: so that 6000 was an ample force for all necessary purposes. In the Senate, however, their views are very different and in my opinion, very extravagant. The result was a compromise between the two houses (or leading members who had the management) for the establishment as it has since existed. It is near two years since a good deal of conversation took place, among members of the House of Representatives, with out reducing that establishment. I recollect conversing with Mr. Calhoun on the subject; and he, I perfectly well remember, admitted that an army of five thousand men was sufficient for the peace establishment, but said the session was so near its close, it would not be practicable to mature and pass a bill. That was true considering how much discussion it would give rise to. Give me leave to present to you my views of the subject, at that time. On the whole northern frontier, eastward of Detroit, we did not, rant any fortresses, and consequently not any soldiers; and at Detroit no more would be required than the neighborhood of several Indian tribes would render prudent to be there stationed. Of what use are all the other military posts? Suppose another war with Great Britain will the British Invade our country on the side of Canada? For what end? To keep possession of what they march over? No one can imagine it. To ravage and lay waste the country? They are not Barbarians, and the certainty of severe retaliation would stay their hands. If we had no fortresses on that frontier, there would be no object or motive for an attack. When General Swift, the Chief Engineer, accompanied Monroe on his Eastern Tour, I seized an opportunity of conversing with him on this Subject: He at once admitted the correctness of my opinion; with the single exception of one place, somewhere on Lake Champlain, or near it which he deemed important to facilitate our entrance into Canada. I presume this is the very position we have been fortifying t. Seller Inventory # 221651

Bibliographic Details

Title: TIMOTHY PICKERING ~~ ''SOME GENTLEMEN ACT AS...

Publication Date: 1819

Binding: No Binding

Condition: Near Fine