Utánanéztem, azt találtam, hogy ami Washington Maximáiban szerepel az két levélből összedolgozott bekezdés (fordított időrendben).A bekezdés első rész egy Edmund Pendletonhoz írt levélből való (West-point, November 1, 1779.):
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=WasFi17.xml&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=63&division=div1
"...
It is the only hope; the last resource of the enemy; and nothing but our want of public virtue can induce a continuance of the War. Let them once see, that as it is in our power, so it is our inclination and intention to overcome this difficulty, and the idea of conquest, or hope of bringing us back to a state of dependance, will vanish like the morning dew; they can no more encounter this kind of opposition than the hoar frost can withstand the rays of an all chearing Sun. The liberties and safety of this Country depend upon it. the way is plain, the means are in our power, but it is virtue alone that can effect it, for without this, heavy taxes, frequently collected, (the only radical cure) and loans, are not to be obtained. Where this has been the policy (in Connecticut for instance) the prices of every article have fallen and the money consequently is in demand; but in the other States you can scarce get a single thing for it, and yet it is with-held from the public by speculators, while every thing that can be useful to the public is engrossed by this tribe of black gentry, who work more effectually against us than the enemys Arms; and are a hundd. times more dangerous to our liberties and the great cause we are engaged in...."
A második rész egy Joseph Reedhez írt levélből való (Middle Brook, December 12, 1778.) http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=WasFi13.xml&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=338&division=div1
"...
It gives me very sincere pleasure to find that there is likely to be a coalition of the Whigs in your State (a few only excepted) and that the assembly of it, are so well disposed to second your endeavours in bringing those murderers of our cause (the monopolizers, forestallers, and engrossers) to condign punishment. It is much to be lamented that each State long ere this has not hunted them down as the pests of society, and the greatest Enemys we have to the happiness of America. I would to God that one of the most attrocious of each State was hung in Gibbets upon a gallows five times as high as the one prepared by Haman. No punishment in my opinion is too great for the Man who can build his greatness upon his Country's ruin.
..."
