The second session of the Congress was not much more satisfactory.  It did, however, issue a Declaration of Rights, a protest against a standing army in the Colonies, a recommendation of commercial non-intercourse with Great Britain, and, as a conciliatory measure, a petition to the king, together with elaborate addresses to the people of Canada, of Great Britain, and of the Colonies.  All this talk was of value as putting on record the reasonableness of the American position:  but practically it accomplished nothing, for, even during the session, the political and military commotion in Massachusetts increased; the patriotic stir of defence was evident all over the country; and in April, 1775, before the second Continental Congress assembled (May 10) Concord and Lexington had fired the mine, and America rushed to arms.  The other members were not as eager for war as Adams was.  John Dickinson of Pennsylvania—­wealthy, educated moderate, conservative—­was for sending another petition to England, which utterly disgusted Adams, who now had faith only in ball-cartridges, and all friendly intercourse ended between the countries.  But Dickinson’s views prevailed by a small majority, which chafed and hampered Adams, whose earnest preference was for the most vigorous measures.  He would seize all the officers of the Crown; he would declare the Colonies free and independent at once; he would frankly tell Great Britain that they were determined to seek alliances with France and Spain if the war should be continued; he would organize an army and appoint its generals.  The Massachusetts militia were already besieging the British in Boston; the war had actually begun.  Hence he moved in Congress the appointment of Colonel George Washington, of Virginia, as commander-in-chief,—­much to the mortification of John Hancock, president of the Congress, whose vanity led him to believe that he himself was the most fitting man for that important post.

In moving for this appointment, Adams ran some risk that it would not be agreeable to New England people, who knew very little of Washington aside from his having been a military man, and one generally esteemed; but Adams was willing to run the risk in order to precipitate the contest which he knew to be inevitable.  He knew further that if Congress would but, as he phrased it, “adopt the army before Boston” and appoint Colonel Washington commander of it, the appointment would cement the union of the Colonies,—­his supreme desire.  New England and Virginia were thus leagued in one, and that by the action of all the Colonies in Congress assembled.