Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-01-20
WESTINGHOUSE APPOINTMENT.
BY JOHN ADA MS .


The following accom-, Of the appointment Of
General Washington 10 ihe supreme command of
lie continental army, June 18Th. I775. has been
1rlnced in our hands by n gentleman in wLgse We
racity we have full confidence. The account we
now give lsnn extract from private journal, mar
rating conversation with John Adams senior,
before That grent aud good man was called TO his
final rest. Lest we should, in any why, infect the
nuecdole we give it in the very words of the mar.
rator.- Phiidd. Sal Eve Post.
The army was assembled in Cambridge, Mass,
under General Ward aud Congress wns sitting al
Philad' phn. Every day new nppliruuns in he
bali of the army arrived. --The ruuntry was mr.
gent liza Congress should legaze the raising Of
the armys Tor until they had II must he consider
eI' ana Wgs In4aw colsilercd only mob-n bund
OF armed fthes. The'cpunuy was placed in CIR
cunlslehces at reciliar dricacy and danger. The
rugge had began, and yet every thing wns ~ ilh.
out order. The great trial seemed To he in
tins question W ho shuull be COMMANDMENTS
ch'ef' 1T WINS exceedingly important, and was
lett To be the hinge on which the contest might
turn for or against us. The Southern aud Middle
States, wnrnI and rapid in their zeal, for the mos,
part were Jealous OF New England because they
iclt that the real physical force wa, there. What
then was to lie Gunei All New England adored
Gen. Ward: he had been in the French war. aud
came out laden with laureIs. lie whs n scholar
ana gentleman Every qualification seemed TO
cluster ~ him ana il was confidently believed
that the nrmy could not receive any commander
over him. What thea was TO he done? Diff
culii' lhickened ut every step. The struggle was
TO he long and bIoody. Without union all WIS
lost The country, aud the whole country, must
come M One puIsation must heat through all
hearts. The cause WIS uie aud the nrm must be
one. The members Of Congress had talked, de-
laled and considered, and guessed, aud yet the
decisive stop had not been taken. AT length Mr..
n oh ,,f, IL
veloping 1t were somewhat singular, and uea ly as
follows: lie was walking morning before
congress HAL, apparently in deep thought, when
hs cousin, Samuel Adams, came up 10 him and
said,
"What is the topic with you His ;iorning?"
"Oh, the army, the army he replied. 4" | am
determined what to do about The army NJ Cam
bridge am determined to go into the hall this
morning, aud enter on luli detail Of the slnts of
the Colonies in order TO show The absolute need
OF taking some decisive steps My whole aim will
he To Induce Congress TO appoint day fur adopt
ing The army rs the legal army OF these United
Colonies of North America and ;hen tc hint at
the election of II Commander in Chief"
"Nell, said Samuel Adams, " like that, cous-
in John, but on whom have you fixed asthis Com
nIander :"
will tell you-Gcorge Washington, of vir-
ginin, a member Of this House."
"Oh," replied 5 Adams, quickly, "lhat will
never do-never, never"
1t must do, it shall do" snid John "and for
these rcasOns-t!Ie Southern and Middle States
are both 10 enter heartily in Tie cnuse and their
arguments are potent: they that New Eng
land holds The physical power in her hands, and
they lear The result. A New England army, IL
New England Commander, with New England
perseverance,, all united, nppn Them. For his
cause they hang back. Now, the only course is,
L" alay their fears and give them nnl l,nr 10 com
plain of, aud this he done ~ no other way
liam by appointing Southern Cnri over ihis
torre; tie" all wll' rush 10 The standard. This
policy will bleud ns in one mass, and that mass
viii lie resisiless."
AT this Samuel Adams seemed greatly moved.
They talked over the preliminary circumstances
and John asked his cousin to second his motion.
Mr. Adams went in, took the floor, and put forth
all his strength III the deliucaous he Ind prepar-
ell, aiming nt the adoption OF the army. He was
reh"y |" own the army, appoint "A commander,
vote supplies, and prUreed 10 business After his
speech had been finished, some doubled some OBJ
Jecte'l, and some feared. His warmth increased
WIN the occnslun mud 10 ali these doubts aud hes
iaions, lie replied:
"GenIiemen, if this Congress will not ndoO,
this army before ten moons have SET, New Eng
land VIII adopt il, aud she she Will undertake The
struggle 0toNe--yesr with "a strong arm and clear
conscleEce. she will front the foe single handed
Tins had The desired effect They saw New
England WAS neither playing nor 10 he played with
lhey agreed to appoint dny-thr day was fixed
II came-Mr. Adams went IN, took HE floor, urg.
ed The neasufe, and after debate ii passed.
Ihe next ll'ing was to get u Commander ioL
This army with supplies, &c. Al; looked 10 Mr.
adams on tins ocrnslOn,. and he was ready. He
LOOK lie HoOr, and went into n minute delineation
OF the character OF Gen. Ward, bestowiug on him
the epheIs which then belonged 10 no uhe else
al NE en'i OF The eulney OF Gen. Ward, he said -
But this is notrhe mnn lhave ohusen." He then
went mo delne"'ion OF The character OF II Com
mander III Chief such required 10y the pe-
cuar situation OF the Colonies AT that unciure.
Aud inter he hal presented The qualifications in
his strongest lnngnuge, aud given the reasons for
the nomination he was about to make, he SAID
"Genllemen, | know these qualifications are
lIlgl, but we Nil know they are needu ia II Chief
nj this crisis. Does amy one say they are not 10
he Obtained in this country? reply, they are
they reside IN one Of our own body nd he is the
person whom now noiniunle-GEoReE WASH
INGToN, of Virginia"
Washington, who sat on Mr.. Admins right, was
looking hun ieHtly in the face, TO catch the nnine
he was about 10 announce, md not expecting It
would he his own, lie sprang from his seal the mo.
ilieht lie heard II, aud rushed into an adjoining
rhonl. MIR. Adams had asked his cousin Samuel
to move AN nd ournnent soon us the nominal
tion was mnde. IN order 10 give the members time
to deherate, and the result is before the world.
asked Mr.. Adams, among other questions the
following:
add you never doubt of the success of the con-
Gic 2"
mo. no J! snid he, "not tor n moment. ] ex-
pected 10 he hung and quarlered, if was caught
bnt no matter Tor tha my country would be Tree
] knew George The ii could not forge Chains long
enough aud strong enough to reach around these
States"
MANAGEMENT OF WOOD LOTS.
In this department OF farming operations, there
hns bern great lmprov within the last iwcil-
~ years. The practice OF going over lie whole
lot cutting here tree and there tree, has been