Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-05-20
VOL. 52.-NO. 10.


Every pest bronght nae letters from nv
friends DR.. Winthrop. DR.. Cooper. Gen.
4 James NsrFon, and Sometimes from Gen.
i Ward aud his aids. aud Gen. Heath and
many others, urging, ID pathetic terms. the
impossibsfty Of keeping their men together
without the assistance Of Congress [ was
/ daily urging ali these things, but We were
embarrassed with more than one difficulty. not
only with the party iu favor Of the petition 10
the King. and the party who were Jealous of
Independence. but third party, which wasa
southern party against Northern, and
jealousy against New England army under
the command Of New England General
Whether this Jealousy was sincere, or wheth-
err il was mere pride and a haugl,ty ambition
Of furnishing Southern General to command
the Northern army { cannot say ) but the
intention was very visible to me that Colonel
Washington was their object, and so many az
oer stauactest men wcrcin the plan, that wa
could carry nothing without conceding to il.
Another embarrassment, which was never
publicly known, and which was carefully con-
cea'ed by those who knew it, the Messachu-
sets and other New England delegates we're
divided. Mr., Hancock and Mr. Cushing
hung back; Mr.. Paine did not come forward.
and even Mr. Samuel Adams was irresolutc.
Mr.. Hancock himself had an ambition to be
appointed Commander IN Chief. Whether
he thought an election a cvmplment duo TO
him, and intended to have the honor of de-
Ginning 1t, or whether be wonid have accepted
Il, Know not To the compliment he had
some pretentions for at that time. his excr.
tons, Sacrifices. aud general merits in tho
cause O. his country, bad been incomparably
greater than those of Colonel Washington -
But the delicacy Of bis health and bis entire
want Of experience in actual service. though
an excellent militia officer, were decisive d.
jectiens to him 10 my MUD. found too that
even among the delegates of Virginia there
were difficulties The apostoicai reasonincs
among themselves. which should 10 greatest.
were not less energetic among the saints Of
tue ancient dominion than they were among
Us Of New England. In several converse.
tions found more than one very clear and
full against It.
Full of anxieties concerning these confa.
sions, and apprehcnding daily that we should
hear very distressing ncws from Boston, I
walked with Mr. Samuel Adams in tho State
House yard for little exercise and fresh air
before the hour Of Congress. aud there rep.
rounded us He agreed to them all, but said
{. What shall We DOR ] answered him
that he knew that bad taken great pains
60 get our colleagues to agree upon some plan.
that we might be unanimous; but he knew
that they would pledge themselves to moth
Jag, but was determined TO take step
which should compel them and all the other
members Of Congress 10 declare themselves
for or against something Il am determined
this morning to make direct motion that
Congress should adopt the army before Bos.
ton, and appoint Colonel Washington com.
mander Of it." Mr. Adams seemed to think
very seriously Of il. bat said nothing.
i Accordingly, when Congress had Assem-, !.
bled rose IN my place, and in as short q
speech as the subject would admit. represen
ted the state Of the Colonies, The uncertainty
in The minds Of the people, their great cxpee
tation and anxiety. the distrcsscs of thcnfmv.
the danger Of It's dissolution, the difficulty Of
collecting another; and the probability flat
the British army would take advantage of
our delays, march cut Of Boston, and spread
desolation as fur as they could 90 | con-
cluded with notion Ia form that Congress
, would adopt the army at Cambridge, and ap-
point General; that though this was not
the proper time to nominate d General vet
as bad reason to believe this was d point of
the greatest difficulty, had but Que gentle
man 10 my mind for taat important command
aud that was gentleman from Virginia. who
was among u.s. and very wen known to all 81
us, gentleman whose experience AZ mn az,
Ger, whose independent fortune. r. eat talents,
and excellent universal character, would COM
mand the appreciation OF ali America. and
unite the cordial cxcrtions ofallthc Colonies
better than any other Person in tho Union
Mr. Washington, who sat near Che door, az
soon as he heard me allnde TO him. from his
usual modesty tarte4 into the library room.
Mr. hancock, who was our President, whicl,
gave me an oppor unity 10 observe his coun-
tenance while was speaking on tho state OF
the Colonies, che army at combfidee. and the
enemy-heard me with visible pleasure; but
when Came to describe Washington for tho
commander, ! never marked a more sudden
and striking change Of countcnauce. Morti-
fcation aud resentment were EXPRESSED M
forcibly as bis face could exhibit them. Mr..
Samuel Adams seconded The motion. and tllat
did not soften The Presidents physiognomy AZ
all The snhject came under debate. and
several gentlemen declared themselves AGAINST
the appointment of Mr. Washington, not ON
account Of aay personal objection against him
but because ibe army were all from New
England, bad a general Of their own, appear
cd to be satisfied with him, and had proved
themselves able to impusop the British army
IN Boston, which was all they expected al
that Tins
Mr. Pendeton, of Virginia. Mr. Sherman.
Ct Connecticut were very explicit in declar-
ing this opinion Mr. Gushing and several
others more family expressed their oppose
tioa. and their fears Of discomfort ii the army
and IN New England. Mr. Paine express d
great opinion Of General Ward and strong
friendship for him, having been his classmate
at college, or at least bis contemporary; but
gave no opinion 90 the question: The sab
jet was postponed to future day. In Tia
meantime pains were taken out Of doors %
obtain unaninity. aud the voices were Gel :
orally 50 clearly ii favor Of Washington. that
the dissentinent members were persuaded 10
withdraw their opposition. aud Mr.. WASH
lngton was nominated | believe by Mr. Thos.