Should the nation keep a standing army in time of peace?

OCR: 3 cited passage(s) are machine-read (OCR) text of old printings; quotations reproduce the stored OCR text, misreadings included.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (1775-03-25): George Washington believed that a militia composed of the yeomen and natural strength of the people would render a standing army unnecessary for defense, as it would be subversive to the quiet and dangerous to the liberties of the people. (key quote above) [1]
• BELIEF (1778-04-21): George Washington believed that standing armies are dangerous to a state, but he also argued that this belief should not be applied to the American army because its members are citizens with ties and interests beyond their military role. He believed that Congress, the Army, and others should be seen as one people working toward the same cause. "The common, received Opinion, which under proper limitations is certainly true, that standing Armies are dangerous to a State, and from forming the same conclusion of the component parts of all, though they are totally dissimilar in their Nature." [2]
• BELIEF (1778-04-21): George Washington believed that jealousy toward the Army was unjustly founded and that standing armies are dangerous to a State, but he distinguished the Army as a whole from its component parts. He argued that the common opinion about standing armies being dangerous was 'certainly true' under proper limitations, but that the prejudice against the Army in other countries arose in time of peace and did not apply generally. "The prejudices in other Countries has only gone to them in time of Peace , and these from their not having, in general cases," [3]
• BELIEF (1778-04-21): George Washington believed that the nation needed to establish a proper army, as the current situation was alarming and could shake the very existence of the Army. He argued that without a remedy, the Army would be without discipline, energy, and the necessary cements to promise success or withstand shocks. "The Army, we may have, will be without discipline, without energy, incapable of acting with vigor, and destitute of those cements necessary to promise success, on the one hand, or to withstand the shocks of" [4]
• BELIEF (1783-04-04): George Washington expressed concern that Congress might be perceived as attempting to use the army as a tool to establish continental funds, which could lead to the army being disbanded before accounts are settled. He believed that such an action would be seen as unjust and could provoke alarm and jealousy among the states. This suggests Washington viewed the army's role and treatment with caution, particularly in relation to the funding scheme and its potential to destabilize the situation. [5]
• BELIEF (1783-09-08): George Washington expressed differing judgments from a Committee of Congress on a Peace Establishment, including his views on maintaining a standing force. He believed that the pay and subsistence of officers should remain the same, deeming the compensation adequate. "The principal reasons for my proposing that the Pay and Subsistence of the Officers should remain the same as they now are (except in the instances specified) were, because, that compensation had generally been deemed adequate and not too" [6]
• BELIEF (1784-03-15): George Washington believed that the nation should have a peace establishment with two objectives: present security and preparation against foreign or domestic enemies. He approved of Baron Steuben's plan for a Continental Legion and militia, which he thought would ensure the blessings of peace despite difficulty and expense. [7]
• BELIEF (undated): George Washington believed that a regular and standing force should be maintained for garrisoning key posts and for security purposes during peacetime. He argued that such a force would help protect against Indian threats, prevent encroachment by neighboring powers, and guard against surprise attacks. [8]
• BELIEF (undated): George Washington believed that a regular and standing force should be maintained in time of peace for specific purposes such as garrisoning strategic posts, protecting trade, and guarding against surprise attacks. He also saw the need for such a force to secure magazines and prevent encroachment by foreign neighbors. [9]
• BELIEF (1795-03-18): George Washington expressed concern about the reduced state of the Legion and the uncertainty of peace with the Western Indians, suggesting that he believed the nation needed a competent force to maintain security even in times of peace. He did not explicitly state whether a standing army should be kept, but his concern implies a belief in the necessity of a military presence. (key quote above) [10]

What cuts against it

• The contrary-evidence entries are already in the record ledger above: [5], [7], [10].

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. George Washington believed that a militia composed of the yeomen and natural strength of the people would render a standing army unnecessary for defense, as it would be subversive to the quiet and dangerous to the liberties of the people [1].

2. He also believed that standing armies are dangerous to a state, but he argued that this belief should not be applied to the American army because its members are citizens with ties and interests beyond their military role [2].

3. George Washington expressed concern that Congress might be perceived as attempting to use the army as a tool to establish continental funds, which could lead to the army being disbanded before accounts are settled, suggesting a cautious view of the army's role and treatment [5].

4. He believed that the nation needed a competent force to maintain security even in times of peace, implying a belief in the necessity of a military presence [10].

5. George Washington believed that a few troops in time of peace are not only safe but indispensably necessary under certain circumstances, arguing that a large standing army is dangerous to a country's liberties, but a small force is justified for security reasons [11].

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: PARTIAL

The record is silent on whether George Washington explicitly supported or opposed the idea of maintaining a standing army in time of peace. However, his writings suggest a nuanced view, recognizing the potential dangers of a large standing army while acknowledging the necessity of a small force for security purposes.

Extrapolation: George Washington likely believed that a small standing army could be maintained in time of peace for specific security purposes, but he was cautious about the potential dangers and preferred a militia composed of citizens for defense.

Competing readings: One reading is that Washington believed in the necessity of a small standing army for security, while another reading is that he was cautious about the potential dangers of a standing army and preferred a militia-based defense.

Confidence: Moderate, as the record provides partial coverage and the sources are from old editions, which may contain misreadings.