But the dissent, even if it existed, never appeared on the surface, excepting in the case of John Hancock, who, with curious vanity, thought that he ought to have this great place.

When Washington's name was proposed there was no murmur of opposition, for there was no man who could for one moment be compared with him in fitness.

The choice was inevitable, and he himself felt it to be so.

He saw it coming; he would fain have avoided the great task, but no thought of shrinking crossed his mind.
He saw with his entire freedom from constitutional subtleties that an absolute parliament sought to extend its power to the colonies.

To this he would not submit, and he knew that this was a question which could be settled only by one side giving way, or by the dread appeal to arms.