Little We Learned and Much We Didn’t
ended by a single campaign. Of course a few men—mighty scarce and nobody listened—a few men sat down and figured out the reasons. Of course the Continental Congress was not to blame for the errors and left-handed inefficiencies of our military establishment. As I told you before, the Continental Congress had no power to raise a dollar or to enlist a man. It was nothing but a sterilized debating society, with power to say “Whereas” and “Resolved” and “Will you please” to the sovereign states. But the Federal Constitution, adopted in March, 1789, gave to the Congress of the young republic a giant’s authority to raise and support armies, to provide and maintain a navy, to levy taxes; so your Uncle Samuel is now clothed with every war power that the most despotic emperor could ask. Whatever now goes wrong with our scheme of national defense is directly chargeable to the United States Congress—and to your Uncle Samuel. But, my son, remember this and never forget, that neither Congress nor Uncle Sam can turn a
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