elevated station? Merit and talents, with which I can have no pretensions of rivalship, have ever been subject to it. My heart tells me, that it has been my unremitted aim to do the best that circumstances would permit; yet I may have been very often mistaken in the judgment of the means, and may in many instances deserve the imputation of error."
It is evident, from the proceedings of Congress for some time preceding, that there was a considerable party in that body, which lent themselves to this disgraceful attempt against Washington's good name. The appointment of a new Board of War, of which Gates and Mifflin were members, together with a projected expedition to Canada, without at all consulting Washington, were clear indications of the purposes of the Cabal, to endeavor to force the commander-in-chief to resign his post in disgust.[1] But Washington was not to be moved from his steadfastness. Lafayette, also, whose Jove and veneration for the man who called him his friend, knew no bounds, although attempted to be flattered and cajoled into favoring the Cabal, openly and positively refused to have any connection with it, "I am bound to your fate," he wrote to Washington, "and I shall follow it, and sustain it, as well by my sword, as by all the means in my power." And the army, as a whole, were roused to deep indignation at the audacious designs of certain restless and intriguing men against the beloved commander-in-chief.
Gates and Mifflin, in letters quoted by Gordon, strongly asseverated that they were in nowise partakers in any plan for removing Washington from his post. Conway, too, made some efforts of a similar kind; but it may be regarded as certain, that the two former knew very well what was going on, and were prepared to profit by the result;[2] and as to the latter, his am-
- ↑ Washington, in reply to certain insinuations which had reached him, wrote thus to a friend in New England: "I can assure you, that no person ever heard me drop an expression that had a tendency to resignation. The same principles that led me to embark in the opposition to the arbitrary claims of Great Britain, operate with additional force at this lay; nor is it my desire to withdraw my services, while they are considered of importance in the present contest: but to report a design of this kind, is among the arts which those who are endeavoring to effect a change, are practicing to bring it to pass. I have said, and 1 still do say, that there is not an officer in the United States, that would return to the sweets of domestic life with more heart-felt joy than I should. But I would have this declaration accompanied by these sentiments, that while the public arc satisfied with my endeavors, I mean not to shrink from the cause; but the moment her voice, not that of faction, calls upon me to resign, I shall do it with as much pleasure as ever the weary traveller retired to rest."
- ↑ Shortly after the surrender of Burgoyne, Gates took occasion to hold with Morgan a private conversation. In the course of this he told him, confidentially, that the main army was exceedingly dissatisfied with the conduct of General Washington, that the reputation of that officer was rapidly declining, and that several officers, of great worth, threatened to resign, unless u change was produced in that department. Colonel Morgan, fathoming in an instant the views of his commanding officer, sternly, and with honest indignation, replied, "Sir, I have one favor to ask. Never again mention to me this hateful subject; under no other man but General Washington, as commander in chief, will I ever serve." From that time Gates treated Morgan with marked coldness and neglect; and in the official account of the surrender of Burgoyne, did not even mention Morgan's name, although that distinguished officer's services were well and widely known to the army and the country. See Graham's "Life of General Morgan," pp. 172, 173.
