to war with the mother country. The
colonies were independent of one another, but knew they must stand
together against the injustice of England. Meetings were held in each
colony to talk matters over, and it was decided to hold a General
Congress, made up of men selected by each colony.

In the Virginia Convention, Washington was one of the first to say that
the colonies ought to be allowed to govern themselves, make their own
laws and decide their own taxes. He was usually very quiet in all that
he said and did, but the wrongs of Boston had so stirred him that he
made a fiery speech. He said he would raise a thousand men, pay them
himself and march at their head to the relief of Boston. He said he had
hoped there would be no break with England and he shrank from the horror
of war, but now he began to feel that it could not be avoided and if so,
no sacrifice was too great to preserve the liberties of America for the
millions who would some day call it their home.

He was one of several delegates chosen to represent Virginia in the
General Congress, which was held at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia,
September 5, 1774. There were fifty-two members, the ablest men of all
the colonies. Someone asked Patrick Henry who was the greatest man among
them and he said, "Colonel Washington, if you speak of solid information
and sound judgment." These men met, not as members of separate colonies,
but as Americans with one country and one cause. Each meeting was opened
with a prayer. Not often, in the whole history of the world, have men
had to decide more important and difficult questions.

For almost two months, they discussed all the points in which they
believed they were wronged by England. They were careful and just in all
that they said. They wanted to keep peace. None of them wished to be
independent of England. Neither were they willing to submit to
injustice and the loss of their rights and privileges. They wrote a
petition to the King and letters to the people of England and of Canada.
These papers were very fair and wise and showed the noble minds and
loyal hearts of these early great Americans. They were not rebelling,
they were simply declaring their rights. In reply, England only passed
more unjust laws. The spirit of revolt spread through the colonies.
Militia was organized; some were called "Minute Men" because they
promised to leave everything and go to war at a minute's notice. Months
passed in active preparatio