Benjamin Lincoln to George Washington Regarding His Observations

and the cry for paper money, subject to a depreciation
as was declared by some of their public resolves, was the
clamour of the day. But notwithstanding instructions
to members of the General Court and petitions from
different quarters the majority of that body were opposed
to the measures. Failing of their point the disaffected in the first
place attempted, and in many instances succeeded to
stop the courts of law and to suspend the operation of
government: This they hoped to do untill they could, by force, sap the foun-
-dations of our constitution and bring into the legisla-
ture creatures of their own by which they could mould
a government at pleasure and make it subservient
to all their purposes and when an end should be put
thereby to public & private debts, the agrarian law
might follow with ease. In short the want of industry
economy & common honesty seem to be the causes of
the present commotions. It is impossible for
me to determine "when and how they will end" as
I see little probability that they will be brought to
a period and the dignity of government supported
without blood shed. When a single drop is drawn
the most prophetic spirit will not, in my opinion,
be able to determine when it will cease flowing.

The proportion of debtors run high in this State
too many of them are against the government.
The men of property and the holders of the Public Securities