Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1835-02-07
From the Boston Cosrier.
INTRIGUE AGAINST WASHINGTON


eulogy on. Lafayette, pronounced before
the Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts,, By
Francis Baylies. We were particularly liz
terested in the elucidation Mr.. Baylies has
given of'3one transaction, which seems to
have been hidden in the secret places of
our history" The following extract will
place the whole transaction before our rea-
ders:
s'You are doubtless aware Of the exis-
tence ofan intrigue, at a certain period of
the revolution, to effect the removal of
Washington from the command of the army; ;
but perhaps many ofyou are not aware of
its extent, and by what slight chances it
failed of success. The latter acts of WASH
ington have covered his name with blaze
of light. You cannot now see the dark
clouds which once overshadowsd his path
and obscured his glory.
Scarcely had he taken the command of
menced their usual ope, atoms, by endea-
voring todecy a capacity which has rarely
boen equalled, and to sully a character
which never had stain. This disposition
appeared 6rst in Charles Lee, the second
in oaasmasd, an EnElishmanx uho had serv-
ed in Europe with much reputation. So
arrogant was has spirit that he obeyed the
orders Of Washington with sullen reluc-
lance. He was too much Of soldier to
incur the penalties of insubordination. and
he contrived to keep just within the limits
Of obedience. But the emphatic brev,ty of
his sneeEs, perhaps produced a more decid-
ed effect upon public opinion, that secret
detraction or defamation. To superficial
minds the sarcasms of Lee seemed justified
by the train Of disasters which had follow
ed Washington. The hopes Of the disaf-
fected began to concentrate upon him, but
the csisis was delayed by his captivity, and
that accident, and the brilliant reputation
which Gates had acquired by the capture
of Burgoyne's army, induced them to trans
fer their attachment to him. They som
showed themselves openly; their machina-
tons assumeda formidable aspect, and all
disappointed politicians, men Of irregular
ambition and sinister designs, joined the
cabal.
Thomas Conway Frenchman Of Irish
descent, was appointed a Brigadier General,
early in l777. He perceived disposition
in Congress to depress Washington and to
elevate Gates, and he determined to make
his court to the northern conqueror in sea
son. He opened a correspondence with
Gates, and by contrasting him with Wash
iington in a manner gratifying to the SELF
love Of the former, he flattered his vanity
SO skilfully, that Gates was encouraged in
the design, which he had begun to enter
tain Of supplantine Washington.
Gen. M.ffiin Of Pennsylvania, also COM
menced a correspondence with Gates, in
which he expressed himselfwth little re-
serve, in de.oga:ion Of the character OF
Washington. Miff'in's passion for popu-
larity was unbounded, and a. the name Of
Washington, however strange the assertion
may appear now, was then odious in Penn
>ylvania, and the Legislature Of that State
had even demonstrated to Congress against
him, he might, from that circumstance,
have been induced to ally himself to the
enemies Of the commander-in-chief. As
he possessed the powers of popular elo-
quence in transcendent degree, and n
none better knew the way ".Pargere roces
ambigsas" amongst the multitude, to breed
discomfort and excite suspicion, he was,
under the circumstances, a formidable
enemy.
h is now impossible to ascertain all the
members Of Congress who were inimical to
Washington; one is known, and he | am
sorry to say, was Samuel Adams ;-yet there
is not the least reason for supponng that he
was actuated BY any personal feeling Of iii
will 1t was h,s habitual and constitution
al jealousy ofpowes which led him to sup.
port The policy ofFotation in command and
short enlistments. Deriving many Of I'm
notions from the histories Of the little City.
Rep0blics Of Greece, the cstraeism cams
naturally INTO has scheme ofgovsEn@enf-
The secret ballots cannot b traced b.
which Gates was elected Ptesklenf, end