Gen Knox Jany 31 1790 about an organized militia [page] 1 New York 31 January 1790 Tell me sincerely your own opinion my dear friend is the project of the militia here, with enclosed an utopian plan?
If I am not acting under a delusion as sure as we exist as a republic, we must have a strong institution of the sort, or we shall have a standing Army, which I should exceedingly dislike unless I commanded it. For I am forcibly impressed with the opinion that under the influences of a standing Army the glory of our republic would pass away like snow before a summers sun.
Your sincerely affectionate H Knox Genl Lincoln

Gen Knox Jan 31 1790 About an organized militia [page] 1 New York 31 January 1790 Tell me sincerely your own opinion my dear friend is the project of the militia here, with enclosed an utopian plan? If I am not acting under a delusion as sure as we exist as a republic, we must have a strong institution of the sort, or we shall have a standing Army, which I should exceedingly dislike unless I commanded it. For I am forcibly impressed with the opinion that under the influences of a standing Army the glory of our republic would pass away like snow before a summers sun. Your sincerely affectionate H Knox Genl Lincoln Genl Lincoln 31 Jany 1790 [illegible] 2367734 XXV-116 New York 31 January 1790 Tell me sincerely ? your own opinion my dear friend, is the project of the Militia herewith enclosed an utopian affair plan? If I am not acting under a delusion, as sure as we exist as a republic we must have a strongrole institution of the kind sort, or we must shall have a standing army which I should exceedingly dislike unless I command it without [stricken illegible text] For I [stricken illegible text] am strongly forcibly impressed with the opinion that under the influences of a standing Army the Glory of our republic would pass away like snow before a summers sun.
Your affectionate [illegible]