The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-05-30
How Washington was made Comman
der-in Chief
FROM s'woRKs OF JOHN ADAMS"

FROM WORKS OF JOHN ADAMS.
Every post brought me letters from my
friends, DR.. Winthrop, DIR. Cooper, Gen. James
Warren, and sometimes from Gen. Ward and
bis aids. and Gen. Heath and many others, mr.
gihg, in pathetic terms, the impossibiIity of
keeping their men together without the assist
ance Of Congress. Twas daily urging all these
things, but we were embarrassed with more than
one difficulty, not only with the party in favor
| of the petition to The King, and the party who
were jealous Of Independence. but third party
| which was a Southern party against Northern,
and a jealousy against New England army
under the command os "a New England General.
/ Wbntber this jealousy was sincere, or whether
| twas mere pride and a naughty ambition Cf
turnishing a Southern General to command the
( Northern army, ] cannot saw; but the intention
was very visible to me that Colonel Washington
was their object, and so many Of our staunchest
men were inithe plan that we could carry noti.
! ing, without eonceding to it. Another 'enbaF.
'Fassme Mt, which was never publicly known,
! and WHICH was carefully Concealed by those who
| Knew il, the Massachusetts, andother New Eng.
/ land delegates were divided. Mr.. Hancock and
/ .Mr. Gushing hung back. Mr. Paine did not come
forward, and even Mr.. Samuel Adams. WASH IT.
resolute. Mr.. Hancock himself had an aIns
bitinn TO be appointed. Cemmander-in-C Chief.
| Whether he thought an election b compliment
! due to lin, and inlendedto have ethe-honor of
| declining il or whether he would have accepted
/ it, know not, To the com2limeuthe had some
pretensions; sor, at that time, his exertions, sac.
! rifices, and general merits in the cause Of his
4 country, had been incompsrably greater tia ]
those Of. Colonel Washington. But the delica-
cy OF his health, and bis entire want Of expert
hence in actoal service, Though an excellent mi.
i lila officer, were decisive objections to him in
4 my mind In eanvassilg this subject, out oi
4 doors, Hound toothat even AMONG the delegates
of Virginia there, were Difficulties. The,apos
j tolical Sreasonjngs among themselves, which
/ should be greatest, we're not less energetic
4 among thsvsaiats of the Ancient Dominion, than
i they were mong us ofsNew England ln-sev.
l-eral conversations kfnund mOre. than pne very
cool about the appointment Of Washington, and
4 particularly Mr., Pendleton was very clear ard
/ fIlI against IL, = - fsz s<~ -
4. -Fulhof aaxieiies concerning these confusiohs
and apprfhendipgs daily that we should Alear
4 very Distressing news from Boston, ! walked
with tMr. Samuel Adams in the State House
ward edr lttle exercise and fresh air before the
hour. Of Congress, and there 4epresentedto hin
! various dangers that surrounded .us. ssiie
agreed to them.ag bnt said: "What shall We
I doP I answered him that he knew that had
\ taken great pains TO get eur colleagues to agree
4 upensn plan, that we might be uhafimaus
but he knew that they wond pledge themselves
to nothing; bnt 1 was deiemined 10 take steE
which should compel them and all the Other
members Of Congress to declare themselves for
4 or against something. II am determined this
morning 10 make asdrect motion that Congress
should adopt the army before Boston, and ap
point Colonef WashlhE'an commander Of IT,
Mr. Adams seemed TO think very sariously oil
I it, bnt said nnthing.s. - -
| Accordingly. when Congress had assembled
! | rose in my place, and in az short a speech as
the subject would admit, represented the state o
the Colonies, the uncertainty in the minds OF the
people, their great expectation and anxiety, tht
dstressesof the army, the danger OF its .dissolu
Il tion The difficulty Of collecting another and the
/ probability that the British army would take
advantage of our delays, march ont of Boston
and spread desolation' as far as they could go
concluded with q. motion, in form, that Con
gress would adopt the army at Cambridge, ane
! appoint general; that though this was not thu
proper time to nominate general, yet, as I hal
ressonte believe this was point OF the CREATES
difficulty, | had no hesitation 10 declare that
+ had but one gentlemae iE my mind for that i'm
7. portant command, and that was gentleman
from Virginia, who was among us. and yer!
we'll knnssh to.ail of US; a gentleman wlose'ex
IperieReea an officer, whose independent fortune
great talents. and excellent universal characie
would command The appreciation of all America
band unite the cordial exertioRs OF all The Colo
nies better than any other person III the Onion
Mr.. Washington. WHO. sat near the door as soe
as be heard me atlude TO him. from his usHa
4 -modesty, daIted into the library room. .MT
] Hanedek, who was Duf President, which CAV
mean opportunity to observe his coaniehahee
while was ,speaking on the state of The Colo
MES, the army att Cambridge, and the enemy
beard me with visible pleasure; bnt when lyeam
to describe Washington for the eommapder,
}. never marked more sndden and stfikin
:, change of eoonlenance. Morifcatien and rs
senfmentswere expressed as for,ibly as his fac
cutiid exhibit them. Mr.. Samuel adams SEE
oudedsthe motion and that did not soften th
81 Presidents aphysiognomys at adj. The suhle'
frame under. debate. and several gentlemen o.
:. clared themselves against the appointment. 4
4 Mr.. Washington. moi on account ot any persons
obiecfion a . gsinstbim but because the army WEI
Acknowledging had si5enetalof theirow'
, appeared tebe satisfied with hin. and had prove
themseieS aole 10 ltnIlIissa the pi1i1Sil altaJ
Il Boston, which was all they expected or desire
-at.ttat time. =
/ MrsPeudleton, of Virginia. Mr.. Sherman.
! Connecticut, were very explicit i, sdeelaflH
this. opinion. AIR, Cushing and several oihe
more family expressed tlleir opPoshionb al
Ctheir fears Of discontf ntn the army and in Ne
Il England. Mr. Paine expressed a great opinit
Eoi General Ward and a strong friendshipgf
him, having been his ciasfmate at college, or
least his, contemporary; bussgave nd. Opinion
=. the question, Fhessubjest wasPesipeped %
I future day.. IN the mean lime. pains.sere taks
fo,it Of doors to obtain ulfanimity and the eoic
Il were peieFal.S 50 clearly in faveraof WashflJ
on, thar the dissenting Rein6erswere persssd
: T 10 Withdraw their opposition, and MIR. Wasllia
: ! hron was nominated. believe, by Mn FHom
= Jnhnson, Of Maryland, unanimously elected, a
/ the army ado5teds ~ sss. - ssa
Il PATRIoTIsM Ar A Loss.--A Yank
el-eentlenaan conveying British gentlems
"A around ito piewthe different objects ofattFa
t;o, IN thu cit,y af RaSton hfoifehf hiffl