ing to overthrow the remnant of established authority in
Massachusetts, but it rapidly spread to other States. The offices of
government and the courthouses were seized, the collection of debts was
forbidden, and private property was forcibly appropriated to meet the
common needs.

Chaos had come again. It filled Washington's heart with disgust and
despair. After surrendering his commission to the pitiful remnant of the
government he had retired to Mount Vernon, and for a time declined to
act further as the leader of his people. Thus, in October, 1785, he
wrote James Warren, of Massachusetts:

"The war, as you have very justly observed, has terminated most
advantageously for America, and a fair field is presented to our
view; but I confess to you freely, my dear sir, that I do not think
we possess wisdom or justice enough to cultivate it properly.
Illiberality, jealousy, and local policy mix too much in all our
public councils for good government of the union. In a word, the
Confederation appears to me to be little more than a shadow without
the substance, and Congress a nugatory body, their ordinances being
little attended to.... By such policy as this the wheels of
government are clogged, and our brightest prospects, and that high
expectation which was entertained of us by the wondering world, are
turned into astonishment; and, from the high ground on which we
stood, we are descending into the vale of confusion and darkness."

Again he wrote to George Mason:

"I have seen without despondency, even for a moment, the hours which
America has styled its gloomy ones, but I have beheld no day since
the commencement of hostilities that I thought our liberties in such
imminent danger as at present. Indeed, we are verging so fast to
destruction that I am feeling that sense to which I have been a
stranger until within these three months."

Again in 1786 he writes:

"I think often of our situation, and view it with concern. From the
high ground we stood upon, from the plain path which invited our
footsteps, to be so fallen, so lost, is mortifying; but everything
of virtue has, in a degree, taken its departure from our land....
What, gracious God, is man that there should be such inconsistency,
and perfidiousness in his conduct! It was but the other day that we
were shedding our blood to obtain the Constitutions under whi