Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 to Gouverneur Morris

Images of this object are available online to Collection subscribers.

GLC02437.10098
GLC#
GLC02437.10098-View header record
Type
Letters
Date
February 21, 1783
Author/Creator
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Title
to Gouverneur Morris
Place Written
West Point, New York
Pagination
2 p. : docket ; Height: 35.3 cm, Width: 22.2 cm
Primary time period
The New Nation, 1783-1815
Sub-Era
Creating a New Government

Knox, Commander at West Point, writes to Morris, Superintendent of Finance. Remarks, "The Army generally have always reprobated being thirteen Armies. Their ardent desires have been to be one continental body looking up to one sovereign..." Calls for a central government to preserve the anticipated peace. Declares, "America will have fought and bled to little purpose if the powers of Government shall be insufficient to preserve the peace...why do not you great men call the people together and tell them so, that is have a convention of the States to form a better Constitution. It appears to us who have a superficial view only to be [the] most efficacious remedy. Let something be done before a peace takes place, or we shall be in a worse situation than we were at the commencement of the War."

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources

For reproductions and permissions, please visit our Rights and Reproductions Page.