The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-06-29
THE REPUBLIC IN PERIL.

The Project That Was Formed to lake
Wellington King, and Ills Indignant
Reply 10 The Froposai-Intercsting
Centennial "Reminiscences.
From an article by Joel +. llcadlcy,
on "Washington's Headquarters ut
Ncwburgh' in the July GaLaay, we ex-
tract the following:
During this last summer T17S21 there
was much discussion among the officers
respecting the form of government that
should he adopted at the end of the
war, which now seemed ncar ut hand.
1t was finally decided that, for the sta
bility of the country Us well rs for their
own protection, Washington should be
at the head Of the Government, Il King
in fact, though at the first under a diff
fcrent title. A paper cmbodying these
views was drawn up, and to give it
greater force Colonel Nicola, an officer
universally respected and much beloved
by Washington, vas selected to present
it. Riding up to this old building, he
dismounted, and entering the room with
seven doors and one window, was re-
ceivea by his chieftain with frank
courtesy, to whom he handed the paper.
1t began by describing the wretched
state of affairs in the country, and
showed how useless il was to hope for
any relief from Congress. Washington
had heard all this before, and hence his
attention was not particularly arrested
till he came to the comparison of the
different governments of the world, and
read the startling announcement that .
republic was the least stable Of then
all, and that the English Government
was the nearest perfection that coult
be obtained. Then his usually immova
BILE countenance began 20 show signs o
agitation, which increased as he reac
on: "Such being the fact, it is plail
that the same abilities which have lee
us through difficulties apparently insur
mountable by human power to victor,
and glory, those qualities that hav,
merited and obtained the universal es
teen and veneration of the army woul,
be most likely to conduct and direct Il
in the smoother paths of peace"-il
short, that he and he alone could up
hold the nation that he had saved
They made no appeal to his persona
ambition, of which they knew him to b
incapable, but to that patriotism whic
had made him endure the great sacri
fees he had already made for his cour
try. But when he came to the follow
ing sentence his blue eyes fairly blaze
with that dangerous light so rarely vii
messed: "Owing to the prejudices {
the people, it might not at first be PR
! dent to assume the title of royalty, bl
If all other things were. once adjuste,
\ we believe strong argUA ents might
produced for admitting the title {
King" As he sat with the open lett,
in his hand the light died out of h
eye, and a look of inexpressible So,
ness stole over those noble feature
The emotions that crowded his hea
may be gathered from his reply. Wit
what suppressed resentment and stel
severity he commences,
"Sir, it is with a mixture of surpri
and establishment l have read the sent
ments you have submitted to my per
sal. Be assured, sir, no occurrences
the course of the war have given n
more painful sensations than your i
formation of there being such ideas e
listing in the army as you have expires
ed, and l must view with abhorren
and reprehend with severity. . .
/ am much at loss to conceive VIII
part of my conduct has Civ,
encouragement to an address wifi
to me seems big with the greatest m
chief that can bcfall my country. If
am not deceived in the knowledge
myself, you could not find u person
whom your schemes are more disagree
able. -. Let me c~onjure yo
then, If you have any regard for 20