George Washington: “To anticipate and prevent disasters is the part of prudence. I hope your measures will be calculated accordingly.”

Believe me, sir, no one can more cordially approve of the wise and prudent measures of your Administration.

Satisfied, therefore, that you have sincerely wished and endeavored to avert war, and exhausted to the last drop the cup of reconciliation, we can with pure hearts appeal to Heaven for the justice of our cause.

Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics.

I must not conceal from you my earnest wish that the choice had fallen upon a man less declined in years and better qualified to encounter the usual vicissitudes of war.