George Washington’s Quote “When One Side Only of a Story Is Heard and Often Repeated, The Human Mind Becomes Impressed with It Insensibly”
Introduction
Washington addresses a letter to Edmund Pendleton who was a New York judge and congressman. Washington quoted, “when one side only of a story is heard and often repeated, the human mind becomes impressed with it insensibly.” Washington feared Native Americans, only seeing the wrong side of the US would come to begrudge whites.
Historical Context
Before George Washington’s letter to Edmund, there was an Indian war, which was in the Northwest Territory that was organized by the Northwest Ordinance. George sent out an army into the area to suppress natural resistance but later was defeated by a pan-tribal confederacy led by Blue Jacket and others (Merrell, 451-512). The American army defeated the Indian confederacy in 1794. Washington believed that after the war, the Indians also had started to view things from a different dimension, although they had not received any direct instruction from General Wayne. George Washington wanted to help the Indians to formulate a treaty. The treaties were to be sacred and furnish the Indians plentifully with goods under different regulations. George believed if agreements were made, then the Americans could experience peace from its borders. The Americans found offensive a boundary line that Blue Jacket and the Shawnee-led union had insisted.
Washington’s Background
George schooled in the more beautiful aspects of colonial culture. George was appointed a surveyor of Culpeper County at the age of seventeen. George becomes experienced as a surveyor, and become resourceful to the society, robust in body, and mind. Through the experience of being a surveyor, George grew an interest in western land holdings (Schwartz, 221-236). George later joined the army and got married to Martha, who had been a widow. George was a loving father, although he fathered kids that biologically did not belong to him.
Washington performed hard work, and manual labour together with his workers. George hated slavery with passion, although he kept over one hundred slaves in his home. George kept slaves because slavery was a law (Schwartz, 221-236). George decided to quit the job of a surveyor, which was a good paying job because he believed he was financially stable. George wanted to leave the right image of a kind-hearted public servant. George believed in consultation to come up with the best ideas in life. George exercised power with honesty and restraint. George treasured peace, and coexistence amongst all citizens, irrespective of their background or ethnic group. George managed to make several peace treaties with Native American tribes. George always advocated for peace.
Historical Context of the Quote
“When one side only of the story is heard and often repeated, the human mind becomes impressed with it insensibly,” This was a quote by George Washington on his letter dated 22nd January (Schwartz, 221-236). The letter was addressed to Edmund Pendleton who was a New York judge and Congressman to allude the gifts given to the Native Americans “are not given so much to purchase peace,” but as “retribution for injuries, not otherwise to be redressed.” The community was irritated by the continuous pressure of land speculators, and settlers on the other hand. George believed that only the strong arm of the union or the energetic laws could prevent oppression. George was worried about how the United States would address their grievances.
Application of the Quote in the Current Historical Atmosphere
President George Washington died in 1799. After the death of Washington. There has been a gradual change in the United States. Many nations have fought for independence from the colonial rulers. After the US attained independence, it was the responsibility of the first president to set the pace (Schwartz, 221-236). Many injustices that were meted on different communities had been resolved. Leaders just like Washington seek opinions and have a consulting committee to satisfy the interest of each citizen. Present day leaders seem to oppress the hopeless. The government presents gifts without any vision to create a permanent influence, but as retribution for the pain, they continuously undergo. Considerations must be undertaken when dealing with cases of societal inequalities in societies.
Conclusion
This paper incorporates a quote by the president of the United States of America George Washington. George wrote a letter to Edmund Pendleton in January 1975. George was worried about the United States’ capability in addressing the issue of Native Americans who had been displaced from western countries. The government also was not able to give annual presents to the Native Americans with no intention to purchase peace, but “retribution for injuries, not otherwise to be redressed.” George Washington had the interest to change the view of the United States to an inclusive government.
Work Cited
Merrell, James H. “Second thoughts on colonial historians and American Indians.” The William and Mary Quarterly 69.3 (2012): 451-512.
Schwartz, Barry. “Social change and collective memory: The democratization of George Washington.” American Sociological Review 56.2 (1991): 221-236.