Mount Vernon 5th April 1769.

Dear sir,
Herewith you will receive a letter and sundry papers which were forwarded to me a day or two ago by Doctor Ross of
Bladensburg. [1] I transmit them with the greater pleasure, as my own desire of knowing your sentiments upon a matter of this
importance exactly coincides with the Doctrs inclinations.
At a time when our lordly Masters in Great Britain will be satisfied with nothing less than the deprivation of American freedom, it
seems highly necessary that something shou'd be done to avert the stroke and maintain the liberty which we have derived from our
Ancestors; but the manner of doing it to answer the purpose effectually is the point in question.
That no man shou'd scruple, or hesitate a moment to use a--ms in defence of so valuable a blessing, on which all the good and evil of
life depends; is clearly my opinion; Yet A--ms I wou'd beg leave to add, should be the last resource; the de[r]nier resort. Addresses to
the Throne, and remonstrances to parliament, we have already, it is said, proved the inefficacy of; how far then their attention to our
rights & priviledges is to be awakened or alarmed by starving their Trade & manufactures, remains to be tryed.
The northern Colonies, it appears, are endeavouring to adopt this scheme--In my opinion it is a good one; & must be attended with
salutary effects, provided it can be carried pretty generally into execution; but how far it is practicable to do so, I will not take upon me
to determine. That there will be difficulties attending the execution of it every where, from clashing interests, & selfish designing men
(ever attentive to their own gain, & watchful of every turn that can assist their lucrative views, in preference to any other
consideration) cannot be denied; but in the Tobacco Colonies where the Trade is so diffused, and in a manner wholly conducted by
Factors for their principals at home, these difficulties are certainly enhanced, but I think not insurmountably increased, if the
Gentlemen in their several counties wou'd be at some pains to explain matters to the people, & stimulate them to a cordial agreement
to purchase none but certain innumerated articles out of any of the Stores after such a period, nor import nor purchase any themselves.
This, if it did not effectually withdraw the Factors from their Importations, wou'd at least make them extremely cautious in doing it, as
the prohibited Goods could be vended to none but the non-associater, or those who wou'd pay no regard to their association; both of
whom ought to be stigmatized, and made the objects of publick reproach.
The more I consider a Scheme of this sort, the more ardently I wish success to it, because I think there are private, as well as public
advantages to result from it--the former certain, however precarious the other may prove; for in respect to the latter I have always
thought that by virtue of the same power (for here alone the authority derives) which assume's the right of Taxation, they may attempt
at least to restrain our manufactories; especially those of a public nature; the same equity & justice prevailing in the one case as the
other, it being no greater hardship to forbid my manufacturing, than it is to order me to buy Goods of them loaded with Duties, for the
express purpose of raising a revenue. But as a measure of this sort will be an additional exertion of arbitrary power, we cannot be
worsted I think in putting it to the Test. On the other hand, that the Colonies are considerably indebted to Great Britain, is a truth
universally acknowledged. That many families are reduced, almost, if not quite, to penury & want, from the low ebb of their fortunes,
and Estates daily selling for the discharge of Debts, the public papers furnish but too many melancholy proofs of. And that a scheme
of this sort will contribute more effectually than any other I can devise to immerge the Country from the distress it at present labours
under, I do most firmly believe, if it can be generally adopted. And I can see but one set of people (the Merchants excepted) who will
not, or ought not, to wish well to the Scheme; and that is those who live genteely & hospitably, on clear Estates. Such as these were
they, not to consider the valuable object in view, & the good of others, might think it hard to be curtail'd in their living & enjoyments;
for as to the penurious man, he saves his money, & he saves his credit; having the best plea for doing that, which before perhaps he
had the most violent struggles to refrain from doing. The extravagant & expensive man has the same good plea to retrench his
Expences--He is thereby furnished with a pretext to live within bounds, and embraces it--prudence dictated hconomy to him before,
but his resolution was too weak to put it in practice; for how can I, says he, who have lived in such & such a manner change my
method? I am ashamed to do it: and besides, such an alteration in the System of my living, will create suspicions of a decay in my
fortune, & such a thought the world must not harbour; I will e'en continue my course: till at last the course discontinues the Estate, a
sale of it being the consequence of his perseverance in error. This I am satisfied is the way that many who have set out in the wrong
tract, have reasoned, till ruin stares them in the face. And in respect to the poor & needy man, he is only left in the same situation he
was found; better I might say, because as he judges from comparison, his condition is amended in proportion as it approaches nearer to
those above him.
Upon the whole therefore, I think the Scheme a good one, and that it ought to be tryed here, with such alterations as the exigency of
our circumstances render absolutely necessary; but how, & in what manner to begin the work, is a matter worthy of consideration; and
whether it can be attempted with propriety, or efficacy (further than a communication of sentiments to one another) before May, when

the Court & Assembly will meet together in Williamsburg, and a uniform plan can be concerted, and sent into the different counties to
operate at the same time, & in the same manner every where, is a thing I am somewhat in doubt upon, & shou'd be glad to know your
opinion of. I am Dr Sir Your most Obt humble Servant
------------G Washington