of the utmost importance to produce unanimity in the leaders, and to secure the confidence and support of the people. His extreme aversion to enter again into public life was known; but it was likewise well understood, tha. it was a principle with him, from which he had never deviated, that when his services were demanded by the general voice of his fellow-citizens, he never refused to bestow them; under this impression, therefore, the President, John Adams, had made up his mind to nominate him to the Senate in any event, both because he was the best man, and because the nation would not be satisfied with any other course, and he therefore declared to him in a letter of the 22d June, 1798, that "We must have your name, if you will in any case permit us to use it. There will be more efficacy in it than in many an army.”

And the Secretary of War, James McHenry, on the 26th June, 1798, said to him-"You see how the storm thickens, and that our vessel will soon require its ancient pilot. Will you,-may we flatter ourselves, that, in a crisis so awful and important, you will accept the command of all our armies? I hope you will, because you alone can unite all hearts and all hands."-To the President, Washington replied on the 4th July, 1798, that "At the epoch of my retirement, an invasion of these States by any European power, or even the probability of such an event happening in my days, was so far from being contemplated by me, that I had no conception that that, or any other occurrence would arise in so short a period, which could turn my eyes from the shades of Mount Vernon. But this seems to be the age of wonders; and it is reserved for intoxicated and lawless France (for purposes of Providence far beyond the reach of human

ken) to slaughter its own citizens, and to disturb the repose of all the world besides."

"From a view of the past and the present, and from the prospect of that which seems to be expected, it is not easy for me to decide, satisfactorily, on the part it might best become me to act. In case of actual invasion by a formidable force, I certainly should not intrench myself under the cover of age (67) and retirement, if my services should be required by my country to assist in repelling it."

To the Secretary of War, Washington replied also on the 4th July, 1798,—“The sentiments, which I mean to express to you in this letter on the subject of yours, shall be frank, undisguised and explicit; for I see, as you do, that clouds are gathering, and that a storm may ensue; and I find, too, from a variety of hints, that my quiet under these circumstances does not promise to be of long continuance.

"It cannot be necessary for me to premise to you, or to others, who know my sentiments as well, that, to quit the tranquil walks of retirement, and enter a boundless field of responsibility and trouble, would be productive of sensations, which a better pen than I possess would find it difficult to describe. Nevertheless, the principles by which my conduct has been actuated through life would not suffer me, in any great emergency, to withhold any services I could render, required by my country; especially in a case where its dearest rights are assailed by lawless ambition and intoxicated power, contrary to every principle of justice, and in violation of solemn compacts and laws, which govern all civilized nations; and this, too, with the obvious intent to sow thick the seeds

of disunion, for the purpose of subjugating the government, and destroying our independence and happiness."

"In circumstances like these, accompanied by an actual invasion of our territorial rights, it would be difficult at any time for me to remain an idle spectator under the plea of age or retirement. With sorrow, it is true, I should quit the shades of my peaceful abode, and the ease and happiness I now enjoy, to encounter anew the turmoils of war, to which, possibly, my strength and powers might be found incompetent. These, however, should not be stumbling-blocks in my own way.”

"As my whole life has been dedicated to my country in one shape or another, for the poor remains of it, it is not an object to contend for ease and quiet, when all that is valuable in it is at stake, further than to be satisfied that the sacrifice I should make of these is acceptable and desired by my country."

Before the reception of these communications from Washington, the following proceedings took place :

IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SENATE OF THE UNITED

STATES.

MONDAY, JULY 2, 1798.

The following written message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Malcom his secretary :

Gentlemen of the Senate :

I nominate George Washington, of Mount Vernon, to be Lieutenant-general and Commander-in-chief of all the armies raised, or to be raised, in the United States.

TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1798.

The Senate took into consideration the message of the President of the United States, of the 2d instant, and the nomination contained therein, of George Washington, to office. Whereupon,

On the question to advise and consent to the appointment, it was determined in the affirmative: Yeas, 24.

The yeas and nays being required by one-fifth of the Senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative, are-Messrs. Anderson, Bingham, Brown, Chipman, Clayton, Foster, Goodhue, Greene, Hillhouse, Howard, Langdon, Latimer, Laurance, Livermore, Martin, Mason, North, Paine, Read, Rutherford, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tazewell and Tracy. So it was,

Resolved, unanimously, That they do advise and consent to the appointment, agreeably to the nomination.

The following correspondence then ensued:

Extract of a letter from John Adams, President of the United States, to James McHenry, Secretary of War:

66

Philadelphia, July 6, 1798. “DEAR SIR,—It is my desire, that you embrace the first opportunity to set out on your journey to Mount Vernon, and wait on General Washington with the commission of lieutenant-general and commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States, which, by the advice and consent of the Senate, has been signed by me.

“The reasons and motives, which prevailed with me to venture on such a step as the nomination of this great and illustrious character, whose voluntary resignation alone occasioned my introduction to the office I now hold, were too numerous to be detailed in this letter, and are too obvious and important to escape the observation of any part of America or Europe. But, as it is a movement of great delicacy, it will require all your address to communicate the subject in a manner that shall be inof

fensive to his feelings, and consistent with all the respect that is due from me to him.

"If the General should decline the appointment, all the world will be silent and respectfully acquiesce. If he should accept it, all the world, except the enemies of this country, will rejoice. If he should come to no decisive determination, but take the subject into consideration, I shall not appoint any other lieutenant-general till his conclusion is known."

"His advice in the formation of a list of officers would be extremely desirable to me." "Particularly I wish to have his opinion of the men most suitable for inspectorgeneral, adjutant-general, and quartermaster-general.”

"His opinion on all subjects would have great weight; and I wish you to obtain from him as much of his reflections upon the times and the service as you can.

Philadelphia, July 7, 1798.

DEAR SIR, Mr. McHenry, the Secretary of War, will have the honor to wait on you, in my behalf, to impart to you a step I have ventured to take, and which I should have been happy to have communicated in person, if such a journey had been at this time in my power. As I said in a former letter, if it had been in my power to nominate you to be President of the United States, I should have done it with less hesitation and more pleasure. My reasons for this measure will be too well known to need any explanation to the public. Every friend and every enemy of America will comprehend them at first blush. To you, sir, I owe all the apologies I can make. The urgent necessity I am in of your