The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-05-23


understand they are the capital me
of the colony"
Washington alone awaited his cue
Now he was to get it, without expect
ing it.
A Struggling Army.
The irregular army swarming Ut
fore BOSTON was without standing o
government. 1t had run hastily &c
ee+ber out of four colonies; was sun
iect to no common authority; hardl.
know what allegiance it bore; mlgn
fall To pieces unless it were adequate
" commanded.
The congress in Philadelphia wa
ca1led upon to recognize and ADOPT IL
oiva If leave and authority to act TO
all the colonies, give it commander
and summon the whole country 70 re
cruit it.
leader Outside New England.
There was an obvious political ne
cessitv that the thing should be done
and done promptly. Massachusetts
did not wish to stand alone; New Eng
land wanted the active assistance o.
the other colonies; something must DC
attempted to secure common action.
The first thing to do was to choose
an acceptable and efficient leader. ane
to choose him outside New England
To John Adams the choice seemed
simple enough. There was no soldier
in America. outside New England-nol
inside either-to be compared, wheth
or in experience or distinction, with
Washington, the gallant, straightfor
ward earnest Virginian he had learn
ed 80 to esteem and trust there IL
Philadelphia.
John Adams Names Washington.
He accordingly moved that congress
"adopt the army at Cambridge" and
declared that he had "but one gentle
man in mind for it's commando
gentleman from Virginia, who was
among u.s." he said, "and very well
known to all of us; a gentleman
whose skill and experience as an Off
Ger, whose independent fortune, great
talents. and excellent universal char
acter, would command the approba
ton of all America, and unite the cor
dial exertions of all the colonies bet
ter than any other person in the
union"
Washington, taken unawares, rose
and slipped in confusion from the
room.
Washington the Unanimous Choice.
Some of his own friends doubted
the expediency of putting Virginia1
at the head Of a New England army
but the more clear-sighted among the
New Englanders did not, and the Sc
lection was made, after a little hesita
ton, unanimously.
Washington accepted his commits
sion with that mixture of modesty anc
pride that made men love and honor
him. "You may believe me, my deal
Patsy" were his simple words to his
wife, when I assure you in the mos
solemn manner, that, so far from seek
ing this appointment, I have used ev
ery endeavor in my power to avol(
it, not only from my unwillingness tt
part with you and the family, bu
from a consciousness Of its being :
trust too great for my capacity.
But as it has been a kind of destin!
that has thrown me upon this service
I shall hope that my undertaking i
is designed to answer some good pur
pose. It was utterly out O.
my power to refuse this appointment
without exposing my character tt
such censures as would have reflected
dishonor upon myself and given pail
to my friends"
Washington Accepts With Modesty.
He spoke in the same tone to the
congress. 81 beg it may be remem
bered," he said, "by every gentleman
in this room, that this day declare
with the utmost sincerity l do no
think myself equal to the command
am honored with"
His commission was signed on thu
10th of June; on the 21st he was OF
the road to the north-the road h
had travelled twenty years ago to con
suit with Governor Shirley in Boston
upon questions of rank, and to fal
into Mary Philipse's snare by thu
way; the road he had ridden after thu
races, but three years ago, to pu
Jacky GUSTS at college in New York.
John Adams Delighted.
There is something charming t.
me in the conduct of Washington,
exclaimed John Adams; and it wal
wholesome for the whole country tina
such a man should be put at the heat
of affairs. Many ignoble things were
being done in the name of liberty, ant
an ugly tyranny had been brought t.
every mans door-"the tyranny o
his next-door neighbor"
There were men by the score in thu
colonies who had no taste or sympa
thy for the rebellion they now say
afoot-common men who knew littl
or nothing of the mother-coungy, a
we'll as gentlemen of culture VIII
loved her traditions and revered he
crown; farmers and village lawyers
as we'll as merchants at the ports
who saw their living gone and ruil
staring them in the face