Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington

We The officers of the part of the Army remaining on the [banks] of the Hudson, have received your Excellencys affection[ate] - serious - and final farewell, to the Armies of the united States. On this interesting and singular event our powers of utterance, are very unequal to the strength of feelings. We experience in the same moment the effects of two opposite passions joy and grief. We rejoice with the sincerest exultations, upon the august issue of a long, dubious and important conflict, and we deeply lament the separation from our beloved Friend and General. - A General under whose auspices the Army have been led to glory and victory, and America to Freedom and Independence. - [inserted: Actuated by motives of delicacy, and being] Conscious of perfect respect and gratitude, we would willingly [strikeout], contemplate in silence the magnanimity of that character which no warmth of expression on our part, or degree of amplification could render more elevated.
We resign to the historian, and a grateful posterity the glorious theme of illustrating those actions which have given America, [strikeout] [inserted: an] opportunity of rising to a state of complete, and durable Empire [2] Empire.
Impressed with the great principles of the contest and animated by the virtues and talents of your Excellency, we have persevered, and are happy to have arrived at the [struck: end] period of our toils, to have gained the approbation of our [struck: country] General and the applause of our Country.
The revolution presents one of the most precious occasions, ever offer'd to the human race, for establishing Liberty and happiness upon the immutable basis of Justice. We assure ourselves that our countrymen, will omit no exertion to embrace so rare a felicity, which if declined now may be lost forever. This is the instant in which the American character may receive an indelible stamp of virtue, which will render it universally respected. Firmly persuaded of the propriety of the measure, we shall chearfully follow your Excellencys advice, and endeavour to promote to the utmost of our small influence, the principles of union, and honor by which only the nation can possess true [struck: Dignity] [inserted: Dignity] & Greatness. All good men [3] All good men, concur in expressing their contempt of a degenerate and Faithless people It even appears consistent with the maxims of Justice and humanity to invade and endevor to overturn a community which must be subjected to anarchy and all its concomitant horrors. But it most frequently happens in such cases that some daring son [struck: a rises] of Faction arises within the very bowels of the State, and favored by a combination of circumstances levells with the dust, the remains of the constitution formed perhaps by the wisdom, and which might vainly have been the pride of his ancestors. But encouraged by that auspicious hope which has guided us through many a dark and trying scene, we turn from these images of misery, and anticipate all the happy consequences of a wise and just Government

[docket]
rough draught of an
address, to his Excelly
Genl Washington
12d Nov 1783