Benjamin Lincoln to George Washington Regarding His Observations

are generally abettors of our present constitution
but few of these have been in the field, and it
remains quite problematical whether they will
in time so fully discover their own interests as
they shall be induced thereby to lend for a season
part of their property for the security of the remainder.
If these classes of men should not turn out on
the broad scale with spirit and the insurgents should
take the field & keep it our constitution will be
over turned and the federal government broken
in upon by loping off one branch essential to the
well being of the whole. They cannot be submitted
to by the United States with impunity they must
send force to our aid, when this shall be collected
they will be equal to all purposes.

The insurgents have now every advan
-tage if you we move in force against them we move
under the direction of the civil authority and we cannot
act but by the direction of it, after the riot act has
been read & one hour has elapsed they may
disperse it they think proper, the next day they assemble
again in another place and so they may conduct
themselves with perfect security from day to day
until, a favorable moment shall offer, after those well
affected to government are worn out, for the in-
surgents to commence their attack. Had the last