Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-03-02
M I s Ula u u A & "
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
ANECDOTES RELATED pY JOHN ADAMS, srs,o

tieman IN whose ve,acity We haze fall cs,f
aence. We cannot doubt the authenticate =
The anecdotes he gives. This subject has @
late years been brought before the public unde
various versions, and has in every shane q,
lracted attention. The private journal. mar
rates conversation with John Adams scp;o,
before that great and good man was called 1,
ms final rest: The relation is more in ,,etoi
man That which has hitherto been made pnb
hc b'rt II substantially corrobora;es Ike for
her versions of the causes which led 10 in,
appointment OF Washington. Lest we SHOULD
IN any way affect the anecdo,e, we give j, i,
the words OF The narrator.
he army was assembled at CAMBRIDGE
Mass under General Ward. and Congress wa.
sitting at Philadelphia. Every day new an.
Piicatlons lii behalf of the army arrived. The
country were urgent thai, Congress should le.
Salize the raising of the army; as they had
what mus; be considered, and was in law cor.
Sioered only MOD, band of armed rebels
ne country was placed in circumstances oil
peculiar difficulty aud danger The s,ruggle
hau begun, and yet every thing was Without
oroer' Inc great trial now seemed TO he il
!hiS question: Who shall be the Commander
'"-Chicl 1t was exceedingly important, and
was ieit To be the hinge on which the contest
"'?nt 'urn lor'or against us The Southern
""u me Middle States, warm and rapid in their
ze"' i"r me most part, were Jealous of New
."siaha' because they felt the real physical
i"rce was mere; what then was to be done !;
All New England adoretl General Ward: he
"'u oech III The French war and went out
laden with laurels. He was a scholar and n
statesman. Every qualification seemed 10 cfus-
Ter III him; and twas cpniioeutlv believed
mat tho xynuIl
menl npcr him. What then was TO be done !;
Difficulties. thickened at every step. THE
struggle was to be long and bloody. Without
union al was lost. The country and the
whole country must come IN. One pulsation
must beat through all hearts. The cause was
one and the army must be one The members
had talked, debated, considered and Guessed
ana yet the decisive step had not been taken.
Al length Mr.. Adams came 10 Ills conclusion
I, .'ur and nearly as follows: he was walking
one morning before Congress Hall apparently
IN deep thought, when his cousin Samuel
ADAMS came up to him and said,
VIVA; is the topic with you this morn
ing 20
"Oh the army, the army" he replied "I'm
determined TO 60 into the hall this morning,
and enter on full detail OF the state of the
colonies, in order to show an absolute need
OF taking some decisive steps. My whole aim
VIII be to induce Congress TO appoint day
Tor adopting the army as the legal army Of
these united colonies of North America, and
then 10 hint al my election Of Commander
i'll Chief"
"Wel!," said Samuel Adams, IL like that.
cousin John, but on whcm have YOU fixed as
Thai Commander"
81 will tell you-GeorCe WASHINGTON. Of
Virginia, Il member of this house,
''Oh," replied Samuel Adams, quickly, Chat
will never do, never"
sit must DO, it shall do,'' said John. sand for
these reasons: the Southern and Middle States
are loaih 10 enter heartily in The cause; and
their arguments are potent; they say that
New England holds the physical power in
her hand, and they fear the rssat.. 4 New
England army, New England commander
with New, England perseverance all united,
aPpa them For this cause they hang back
NOW the Only course is to aliay their fears,
and give them nothing 10 complain Of; an;.
tins can be done in no other way but bv APP
pointing n Southern Chief over this force.
and then all will rush 10 the Standard,
his policy will blend US in one niass, and
that mass will be rssstessn
AT TINS, Samuel Adams seemed greatly NOV
ed-Thcy talked over the preliminary cir
cuinstances, and John asked his cousin 10 Sc
cond The motion-Mr. Adams went in, took
The floor aud put forth all his strength, IN tie
deiineations he had prepared all aiming at the
adoption oi the army. lie was ready to own
'he army, appolnta commander, vote supplies
ana proceed 10 business. After this speech
had been finished, some doubted, some Oh
Jected, and some feared. His warmth increas
ca with the occasion, and To all these doubts
and iiesatons he replied
/ NGenlemen, if this Congress will not adop
lnis army before len moons haze set, New
England viii adopt il, and she will underiak,
'he struggle alone yes. with strong arm
ana clean conscience, she will front The rn
single handedo
this had the, desired effect. They say
New England was neither playing nor to b.
! played with, they agreed to appoint day
n Gay was lIXed.-lt came, Mr.. Adams wen
IN TOOK the floor urged the measure, and al
ter some debate, il passed.
Inc next thing was TO get a commander 70
his army with, supplies, &C. All locke T.
Nr. Adams on the occasion, and he was ready
lie took the floor, and went into a minute dc
Iinealon oil the character of General WARD
bestowmg on him the encomiums which the
beiongeu In no one elsc.-At The end of the Gu
iogy, he SAID ''but this is not the man ! Iiav
chosen" lie then went into the delineatio
OF The character OF a Commander-in-C Chief. sucI
as wasrequred by the peculiar situation of tn
Colonies at that junciure. And after he ha
Presentedthe qualifications in his strongest Ian
III r a..