Newburgh Conspiracy: Washington’s Patriotic Speech Defending Congress
What is the Newburgh Conspiracy?
After British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown on September 19th, 1781, the American Revolutionary War dragged on until the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3rd, 1783.
In the meantime, the Continental Congress continued its disgraceful slow funding of military pay and its promise to fund military pensions, which by March of 1783 led Continental Army officers to circulate an anonymous petition condemning Congress and calling for a conspiratorial revolt and possible mutiny of service to their country.
George Washington’s Newburgh Speech
In response, commander-in-chief George Washington—perhaps the most revered man in the annals of American history—convened a meeting of his officers at Newburgh New York on March 15th, 1783—a mere six months before the formal end of war—announcing to his assembled men that “By an anonymous summons, an attempt has been made to convene you together; how inconsistent with the rules of propriety! How unmilitary! And how subversive of all order and discipline. Let me entreat you, gentlemen, on your part, not to take any measures, which viewed in the calm light of reason, will lessen the dignity, and sully the glory you have hitherto maintained; let me request you to rely on the plighted faith of your country, and place a full confidence in the purity of the intentions of Congress.”
Washington then removed a letter from his breast pocket from a member of Congress, hesitating while he fumbled for a pair of reading glasses from another pocket, announcing almost apologetically,
“Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown old in the service of my country and now find that I am growing blind.”
George Washington
Washington’s comment brought tears to the eyes of nearly every man in the room, who realized as a collective body of men that their commander-in-chief had given much more than any of them in service to their new nation.
Within a matter of minutes, Washington’s officers voted unanimously in support of Congress and service to their newborn country, making Washington’s Newburgh conspiracy speech, a little-known but highly impactful turning point in the birth of a new Republic.