From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 129
During the fifteen years of Washington's peaceful abode at Mount Vernon, public affairs were hastening to a
crisis. The "Seven Years' War," beginning with Washington's attack upon De Jumonville, and ending with the
surrender of Montreal and all Canada, and the signing of the treaty of peace at Fontainbleau, in 1763, had
closed; but greater things awaited the colonists in the future.
Scarcely had the people settled down in the enjoyment of peace when an insurrection broke out among the
Indian tribes, including the Delawares, Shawnees, and other tribes on the Ohio, with whom Washington had
mingled. It was called "Pontiac's War," because Pontiac, a famous Indian chief, was its master-spirit. He
induced the tribes to take up the hatchet against the English.
An attack was made upon all the English posts, from Detroit to Fort Pitt (late Duquesne). "Several of the small
stockaded forts, the places of refuge of woodland neighbors, were surprised and sacked with remorseless
butchery. The frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia were laid waste; traders in the wilderness
were plundered and slain; hamlets and farm-houses were wrapped in flames, and their inhabitants massacred."
Washington was not engaged in this Indian war, which was short in duration. At the time he was pushing his
project of draining the Dismal Swamp.
Other things, however, of a public nature enlisted his attention, as the following interview with Mr. George
Mason will show:
"It appears that the British Government propose to tax the Colonies to help pay its debts," remarked Mr.
Mason. "At least, the subject is before Parliament for discussion."
"Yes," answered Washington, "and the proposition is as unjust as it is impolitic. After we have helped the
king maintain his authority in this country, we must not only pay our own bills, but help him pay his. The
Colonists will never submit to that."
"They never should, whether they will or not," replied Mason. "I understand that the British officers have
represented to the government that the colonists are rich, and abundantly able to assist in paying the debt of
England."
"And that comes from entertaining them in an extravagant way, as our leaders did. A few rich families
furnished the silver plate and luxuries that dazzled the eyes of British officers." Here Washington referred to
what he never approved, "borrowing silver and begging luxuries" to treat British officers with.
"But suppose Parliament actually imposes a tax upon us, and sends agents to collect it, what can be done?"
"Resist the tax," Washington replied.
"How resist?"
"There is but one way to resist; resort to arms." "And there will be a poor show for us against the king's
armies," said Mason.
"And the king's temper," added Washington, alluding to the fact that King George the Third, then ruling
England, was an ambitious, unprincipled, and tyrannical ruler.
"The king will not be very merciful towards rebels."
"No, of course not. I suppose that resistance to the tax will be rebellion."