Estaing, Charles Henri, comte d' (1729-1794) Ideas upon the association of the Cincinnati

[draft]
Ideas upon the Association of the
Cincinnati
The Patriotic [inserted: & Military] Virtues in all [struck: it] [inserted: their] parity, friendship, kindness and exalted candor, blended with the most simple and persuasive elloquence, the [inserted and struck: true] language of heroes, characterize the letter [struck: of the Army] [inserted and struck: military] of May 15. 1784.
The institution fully declares its views. The suspicion of its consequences are annihilated; the stability of the establishment is therefore [inserted: by that token] rendered [struck: [now]] certain. It exists not purely from [inserted: in the [mind]] a Citizen who must be sensible he has spoken to his company. The same [struck: to] [inserted: may] be observed of a member of Congress who feels that he [struck: must] has to prepare the means to support the politics of the state.
This fraternity will resolve the problem whether the military are physically separated from the people. The [strikeout] [inserted and struck: virtuous] [inserted: [illegible] virtue] disposition, exhibited by placing the funds in the hands of the Legislature [struck: will] must prevent any possible abuse [inserted: by the [society]] and will furnish the respectable assemblies; also manage the political interests of the American people with [2] the means of creating, multiplying, and strengthening the ties of Union with France.
Circumstances that are almost imperceptible are often those which attack great Nations in the Strongest manner. Upon the first intimation of the [struck: friendship and [strikeout]] [inserted: association and of the] esteem and friendship it inculcated, it was received and accepted with with [sic] greatest eagerness and zeal - This was much heightened by the mutual affection which subsisted between many American and French Officers - It is important that the two sovereigns should countenance the Institution, and [inserted: to] this perhaps they would consent [strikeout] they will reap the fruit produced by the wisdom of the measure - In that case it would be proper that Congress should henceforward intimate to the King the object, and the subjects of the honor. This would consecrate the thing in the eyes of the monarchial Ministers. All discussion would be avoided, and in France the opinion of the King governs the Fashion -
Propositions [3] Propositions
- First - That there should be an assembly in France composed of a President, two vice Presidents, and two Secretaries of the Military, and other Men of Letters - The Assembly to be at Paris - The American Members of the Society, who may be in France, to be Members in the same manner as the French Members who are in America are Members of the State Societies where they may happen to be

Reasons. If there should not be an assembly of the [struck: officers of] French Officers who are honored with wearing the Eagle, the Union would be less and less and cease to exist at all. The [march] which is most desired would soon [loss] its value - This is fully proved by the history of all our [national] societies. To prevent innovations negligencies and frauds, it is necessary to have a system of regulations, and an inspection that they are adhered to -
The first principle to be established is the choice of a President of the Assembly in France is without dispute [struck: he] [inserted: that it must be him] who has rendered the earliest [4] earliest and greatest service to America. [struck: The circumstances unite in the President General, General Washington - His friend, His deputy should be proposed by him.] To resemble [moreover] the President General, General Washington to be acknowledged by his friend and [strikeout] [inserted: companion] - This character to be proposed by him, [strikeout] [inserted: directed] by Congress, named by the King, and received with the profoundest respect by the Assembly - Monsieur le Marquis de la Fayette writes [all] these conditions.
The land and naval officers being admitted members, it is proper that each should have a vice President. Count D Estaing asks to be one of the vice presidents. Count de Rochambeau by his actions [struck: by] & his ranks would be proper for the other - M le Count de Segur a young nobleman of [strikeout] abilities who has served with [struck: gr] reputation in [America] would be a proper [illegible] for one of the Secretaries - The [inserted: other] Secretary [struck: who] should be a man of letters, although a stranger to America. He should form the chain of [lettering] correspondence, should certainly reside in paris that he might easily inform of every thing which should be communicated concerning the Society - The Secretary of the French Academy would be a proper person to be employed [in this] [5] [struck: of] Capacity as his office is never vacant & he is in France the America [he stenographs -]

II
The rules for the Police, announced in the 13th Article ought to be directed by General Washington, after He shall be informed of the disposition of the respective Legislatures. Monsieur Le Marquis de la Fayette is charged to communicate with him upon our customs and manners. These rules revised by Congress, and [struck: transmitted by them] [inserted: presented in their name] to the King, and provisionally executed upon [struck: this observance] this observance by the assembly, [struck: and] afterwards the King should definitely ordain them -

Reasons There must be a perfect unity in the [struck: Laws and C] regulations of the Society, and [inserted: for] that [inserted: reason] they should come from America. The laws which originate there will have the advantage of being respected and more [inserted and struck: respected &] easily obeyed [struck: &] - The great name of General Washington will give dignity, to the [struck: most triffling] [inserted: least] forms; M de la Fayette [struck: is] by his actions and his manners, is the man of all his peers, the most proper to reciprocate this unity and conformity - As soon as Congress proposes to the King he will regulate it provisionally & afterwards definitively, after having heard the presentation [6] that they had fullfilled all those things which had been thought necessary to the perfection of the french society - which if ever attained The assembly should [struck: challen] urge this same [inserted: [principle]] as a rule -

III It will [struck: be] necessary that the president should name a secretary Treasurer to receive [struck: those] the contributions for those French officers who are in the Service of the United States, and who shall reside in France, and also to receive such sums as may be advanced to [succour] of each American officer who may happen in France to stand in need of specific assistance - He should [struck: account] [inserted: render] an account to the General Assembly in America of the [disposal] of the funds - he should purchase those things that should be order'd, & inspected by five officers who should decide everything by Majority of voices

Reasons The 2d Article interdicts any Donations but this is not of that nature. France would be much flattered to be of the Country of America The Specific appropriations will be made to such objects as may be found to want in in [sic] France. [7]

IV It is thought necessary that Congress should propose to the King, that this Minister Plenepotentiary to the United States should be the principal Means by which the Assembly in Paris should communicate with the General Assembly, and that he should be acquainted with all objects of importance that should be discussed

Reasons This manner of communication would give the highest dignity to the assembly; and is The most conformable to the principles of our Government. The Minister then would be as a member of the Association, and would [struck: knew how to] strengthen the mutual ties of the [two nations]

V The officers of the Assembly in France should be chosen every four years or every Seven Years They ought to be recommended by General Washington and the General Assembly in America [struck: [invited]] [inserted: assembled] by Congress and approved by the King. There should not be in election but a simple nomination for the first time - The president and the [struck: secret] literary Secretary should be for Life. Reasons [8]

Reasons The recommendation, [designing] many persons for the same office, the Assembly in France being once [formed] will not be entirely constrained in their choice - To cement the friendship with America is the basis of this object; it is therefore indispensable that America should [struck: direct such] [inserted: point out such] characters as [struck: shou] would probably cherish this affection. The Sovereign must know and approve; - The distance requires the duration of his office - The reason offered before that the [struck: choice] [inserted: election] should be [evey] four or every seven years [inserted: but] previous to which [struck: however] there must be a general Assembly held in America -
Every possible qualification unites in the person of M dela Fayette - It is impossible to suppose however that [inserted: the] same order of things [ought] not have rendered some other person as proper. But perhaps the same circumstances which now renders him the most [struck: proper] [inserted: Suitable] person could not [struck: poss happen to the] [inserted: even] to him again - One would imagine that there could not exist a single objection to his possessing the office of President for Life - It would be convenient that the two offices of President and perpetual [9] perpetual Secretary should be [struck: of] [inserted: resident in] one place, [inserted: It would be] more easy [inserted: by those men] to instruct the members in the [struck: duty] [inserted: [illegible]] and to preserve any injury [struck: of] the [strikeout] of the association - The one by his influence, and eloquence [inserted: by] which he has proved his talents. The two Vice Presidents and the military Secretary not being perpetual, will preserve to the assembly the right of representation preponderating by a majority of votes or voices - A rule should establish the number of persons [struck: which] to be nominated by General Washington and the General Assembly in America - These should have had the approbation of the King before they [struck: were] [inserted: are] proposed to the assembly In France. These three officers ought to be elected by those officers who originated in the Assembly in France [strikeout] upon the full establishment, all the officers have absolutely the same rights and privileges.

VI. -
It would be much to be desired that all the dependents of Monsieur L M Fayette [struck: should] forever should carry the bald Eagle from their cradles - The history [10] The history of the liberty of America is the motive, and to cause it to be repeated for ages yet to come, whilst I am American and a Frenchman is found to pronounce the name of M dela Fayette what is that which he wears [struck: and where did he get it!] is it not the mark of our alliance?
hereditary honor is [struck: is not be presumed [for]] [inserted: an] evil in a republick which is founded upon the most striking virtues, and in which every officer has given the highest proofs of his voluntary equality, and of it being sincere, and unalterable. [Inserted: This prodigy in human society] This love of country well understood assures each member of the community of his inalienable portion of Sovereignty of his Country. But this [struck: high] ambition is [struck: not] [inserted: too high for] for the subject of a monarchy. Our families is less understood - or in other terms each family is a child seperated from the other by the Father of this Country whose interest it is to confer distinctions, which assures emulation and often perpetuates Virtues - It appears therefore that the hereditary might without [struck: and] any impropriety be given to France to the descendants of Monsieur le Marquis dela Fayette
The Society [11] of the Cincinnati will not be terminated with the present generation - The Philosophy of man is flattered by possessing that the peace which is now established upon the [illegible] shall subsist a long time by the virtue founded by the Cincinnati, and that there will be no new occasion to perpetuate this association - It cannot however be in America that it should not exist in France with single family of M d le Fayette

VII It would be [struck: very important] [inserted: Pleasing] that the present children of those who have performed important services to America should be permitted to wear the Eagle -

Reasons It cannot be admitted to have different grades in a republican society - But they are useful in an association admitted in a Monarchy. It is for this reason that in the military order of [St Louis], we have Chevaliers, commanders, and the Grand Corps, - each degree has its [chance]. The Sovereign at his pleasure confers these distinctions as particular marks of his pleasure, and sometimes, according to the number of the children or nephews, [This] interests and flatters the fathers with seeing their sons with the heads of families with a ribbon or croix [12] a part of the children for example of Marquis De La Rochambeau could have the cross, and some of the nephews of Monsieur [Fossneiu] could also have it

VIII - All the Ministers in France who were at the heads of departments during the War, should be requested by Congress [inserted: present by Congress with the bald eagle] and permitted by the King to wear the bald Eagle

Reasons This would be another tie - It would be an expression of kindness and remembrance on the part of America to those who were the Organs of the Kings Will - The Ministers who are in office cannot be [hurt] by this measure - It should be the fashion of a new people to think upon an elevated [scale], and not however to neglect the little employed by the politicians in old powers - This is too simple and apparent to wound the purity of their principles - The most minute means sometimes have an influence upon the greatest affairs.
It appeared truly [noble] and republican in [the first] [struck: a] Dinner of state given to the French officers [13] officers in Boston, to understand that this principal person at the entertainment did not [illegible] Minister of the State, but the French Ministers generally - But at this time America is not supporting France but exists totally independent of the World, it is therefore they could present these little marks to those who were attached to their interests in [illegible] posts -

IX It has been thought that it would be proper that Congress should propose to the King that some French Ladies should wear the Eagle, for the services rendered by their husbands or their Fathers -

Reasons The order of [inserted: m] [illegible] which is [military] has this [illegible: wellness] in France of their effection and kindness in the same manner. It is therefore given and received - It is neither ridiculous, or new The french [14] The french Ladies who were [first] attached to the Cause of America almost [deifie] its defenders - If the Ladies should have this desirable mark given to them it would produce this effect to secure to Government the [sweetest] and most powerful influence in the circle of civil Society

Paris 3 July 1784 Estaing

[docket]
A rough translation of
A memorial upon the Cincinnati
Written by Count de Estaing
13 July 1784