Democratic banner., 1851-05-21
How Warrington was made COmman.
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From Works Of John .6ddn1

From Works Of John .7ddDs.
E$ry post brought me letters from my
friends, DR.. Winthrop, DR.. Cooper, Gen.
James Warren, and sometimes from Gen.
Ward and his aids, and Gen. Heath and
many others, urging, in pathetic terms, the
imPossibility Of keeping their men together
without the assistance Of Congress. ] was
daily urging all these things, but we we're
Embarrassed with more than one difficulty
not only with the party in favor ofthe PEE
tition to the King, end the party who we're
jealous Of Independence, but third party
which was Southern party against Nor
thern, and a Jealousy against New En-
gland army under the Command of New
England General. Whether this jealousy
was sincere, or whether it was mere pridel
and naughty ambition Of furnishing al
Southern General to command the North
ern army | cannot say;) but the intentionl
was very visible to me that Colonel Wash
ington was their object, and SO many ofour
staunchest men were in the plan, that we
could carry nothing without conceding to|
it. Another embarrassment, which was
never publicly known, and which was care
fully concealed BY those who knew it, tn
Massachusetts and other New England del
egates were divided. MIR. Hancock and
Mr.. Cushing hung back; Nr. Paine did not
come forward, and even Mr.. Saul Adams
was irresolute. Mr.. Hancock himself had
an ambition to be appointed Commander-in
Chief. Whether he thought an election o
complimen: due to him, and intended to
have the honor Of declining it, or whether
he would have accepted it, know not. To
the compliment he had some pretensions,
for, at that time, his exertions, sacrifices,
and general merits in the cause Of bis coun-
try, had been incomparably greater than
those of Colonel Washington. But the del
icacy Of his health, sud bis entire vant Of
experience in actual service, though an ex-
celient militia officer, were decisive obiec-
tions to him in my mind. In canvsssing
this subject, out Of doors, / found too that
even among the delegates Of Virginia there
were difficulties. The apostolic reasonings
among themselves, which should be great
est, were not less energetic among the
ssints of the ancient dominion than they
were among Us Of New England. In sew
eral conversations found more than one
very cool about the appointment Of WASH
ington, and particularly Mr.. PsudlstOn was
very clear and full against it. vi ~.
Full Of anxietics concerning these con-
fusions, and spprehending daily that we
should hear very distressing news from
Boston, / walked with Mr.. Samuel Adams
in the State House yard, for little exer-
else and fresh air before the hour of Con-
gress, and there represented to him the va
rious dangers that surrounded us. He g.
greed to them all, but said-"What shall
we do?" / answered him that he knew
that had taken greet pains to get our col
leagues to agree upon some plan, that we
might be unanimous; but he knew that they
would pledge themselves to nothing; but j
was determined to take step which should
compel them and all the other members Of
Congress to declare themselves for or a.
gaiust something. 81 am determined this
morning to make direct motion that Con-
gress should adopt the army before Boston,
and appoint Colonel Washington comman-
der ofit." Mr.. Adams seemed to think
very seriously of it, but said nothing.
accordingly, "hen congress mao assem-
bled, rose in my place, and in as short D
speech as the subject would admit, repre-
sented the state Of the Colonies, the uncer-
tainty in the minds of the people, their great
expectation and anxiety, the distresses Of
the army, the danger of its dissolution, the
difficulty of collecting another; and the
probability that the British army would
take advantage Of our delays, march out Of
| Boston, and spread desolation ss far as they
could 90. / concluded with a motion, in
form, that Congress would adopt the army
at Cambridge, and appoint General; that
though this was not the proper time to NOM
mate Geueral, yet, as l had reason to be-
lieve this was a point Of the greatest diff
Guilty, had but one gentleman in my mind
for that important command, and that was
gentleman from Virginis, who was among
us, and very well known to all ofus, gen.
tlemanwhose experience as an officer, whose
experiencs as an officer, whose indspen-
dent fortune, great talents, and excellent
universal character, would command the
/ appreciation of all America, and unite the
cordial exertions of ell the Colonies better
than any other person in the Union. Mr..
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