He had reason to congratulate himself on the result of his two years’ campaigning, but as the summer wore away and winter came on he found causes for fresh and deep alarm, despite the good outlook in the field.  The demoralizing effects of civil war were beginning to show themselves in various directions.  The character of Congress, in point of ability, had declined alarmingly, for the ablest men of the first Congress, with few exceptions, had departed.  Some had gone to the army, some to the diplomatic service, and many had remained at home, preferring the honors and offices of the States to those of the Confederation.  Their successors, patriotic and well-meaning though they were, lacked the energy and force of those who had started the Revolution, and, as a consequence, Congress had become feeble and ineffective, easily swayed by influential schemers, and unable to cope with the difficulties which surrounded them.

Outside the government the popular tone had deteriorated sadly.  The lavish issues of irredeemable paper by the Confederation and the States had brought their finances to the verge of absolute ruin.  The continental currency had fallen to something like forty to one in gold, and the decline was hastened by the forged notes put out by the enemy.  The fluctuations of this paper soon bred a spirit of gambling, and hence came a class of men, both inside and outside of politics, who sought, more or less corruptly, to make fortunes by army contracts, and by forestalling the markets.  These developments filled Washington with anxiety, for in the financial troubles he saw ruin to the army.  The unpaid troops bore the injustice done them with wonderful patience, but it was something that could not last, and Washington knew the danger.  In vain did he remonstrate.  It seemed to be impossible to get anything done, and at last, in the following spring, the outbreak began.  Two New Jersey regiments refused to march until the assembly made provision for their pay.  Washington took high ground with them, but they stood respectfully firm, and finally had their way.  Not long after came another outbreak in the Connecticut line, with similar results.  These object lessons had some result, and by foreign loans and the ability of Robert Morris the country was enabled to stumble along; but it was a frightful and wearing anxiety to the commander-in-chief.

Washington saw at once that the root of the evil lay in the feebleness of Congress, and although he could not deal with the finances, he was able to strive for an improvement in the governing body.  Not content with letters, he left the army and went to Philadelphia, in the winter of 1779, and there appealed to Congress in person, setting forth the perils which beset them, and urging action.  He wrote also to his friends everywhere, pointing out the deficiencies of Congress, and begging them to send better and stronger men.  To Benjamin Harrison he wrote:  “It appears to me as clear as ever the sun did in its meridian