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Lot 129
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House Responds to George Washington’s First Inaugural Address, and Considers How Best to Address Him
House Responds to George Washington’s First Inaugural Address, and Considers How Best to Address Him
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George Washington
Boston, MA, May 21, 1789
House Responds to George Washington's First Inaugural Address, and Considers How Best to Address Him
Newspaper

[GEORGE WASHINGTON.] Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser, May 21, 1789. Boston: Thomas Adams and John Nourse. 4 pp., 11.75" x 19.5". Disbound; general toning; some edge tears.

This issue of a Boston newspaper publishes the full text of an address by the House of Representatives, written by James Madison of Virginia, to President George Washington, in response to his First Inaugural Address, and his reply. The proceedings of Congress also concerned the proper title for the President of the United States.

Excerpts
[Address of House of Representatives to President Washington, in response to his First Inaugural Address:]
"The Representatives of the People of the United States present their congratulations on the event by which your fellow-citizens have attested the pre-eminence of your merit. You have long held the first place in their esteem: you have often received tokens of their affection. You now possess the only proof that remained of their gratitude for your services, of their reverence for your wisdom, and of their confidence in your virtues. You enjoy the highest, because the truest honor, of being the first Magistrate, by the unanimous choice, of the freest people on the face of the Earth." (p1/c4)
"In forming the pecuniary provision for the Executive department, we shall not lose sight of a wish resulting from motives which give it a peculiar claim to our regard. Your resolution, in a moment critical to the liberties of your Country, to renounce all personal emolument, was among the many presages of your patriotic services, which have been amply fulfilled; and your scrupulous adherence now to the law then imposed on yourself, cannot fail to demonstrate the purity, whilst it increases the lustre, of a character, which has so many titles to admiration." (p1/c4)

[Washington's Reply:]
"Your very affectionate Address produces emotions which I know not how to express. I feel that my past endeavors in the service of my Country are far Overpaid by its goodness: and I fear much that my future ones may not fulfill your kind Anticipation. All that I can promise is, that they will be invariably directed by an honest and an ardent zeal. Of this resource my heart assures me. For all beyond, I rely on the wisdom and patriotism of those with whom I am to cooperate, and a continuance of the blessings of Heaven on our beloved Country." (p1/c4)

"A message from the Senate, purporting that they had appointed a committee to join with such committee as the House may appoint, to confer upon the subject of a title which it may be proper to give to the President of the United States, was read—
"Upon which Mr. Parker moved, that a resolution should be adopted to this effect—That the House could not concur with the Senate, having already decided upon the subject unanimously....
"Mr. Burke was opposed to any further proceedings in the business, except it was to express their entire disapprobation—and to that purpose, he proposed a resolution against the introduction of any title, more especially all imitations of European stiles, or titles, whether given to Emperors, Kings, Princes or any other dignitaries whatever.
"Mr. Madison was in opinion with gentlemen opposed to a title—he was not however, for summary proceedings with the message of the Senate; he urged the propriety of a decent and respectful attention to it upon a variety of principles, and then observed—that he could not see the use or advantage of adopting titles—that it was evident that they did not confer power or influence—many of the poorest and most insignificant States had assumed the most pompous and high founding titles—What greater or more lofty title could be assumed, than that of ‘High Mightinesses!' a stile almost bordering upon impiety—what real advantages had been derived from it?...
"Mr. Jackson observed, that although he was as much opposed to titles and distinctions as any gentleman whatever; he thought however, that there was a propriety in appointing a committee of conference, tat the result being known, might prevent the publication of ridiculous and absurd contradictions and titles in the news-papers, which had a tendency to bring the government into contempt.
"A variety of motions were then introduced—and the one from Mr. Trumbull, was adopted to the following effect. That a committee be appointed to confer with the committee of the Senate, upon the difference which appears in the votes of the two Houses, on the report of the joint committee, upon the question respecting titles, evidence in the vote of the Senate, appointing a committee to take up the same subject upon quite opposite principles." (p2/c1-2)

"Mr. Madison of the committee appointed to confer with a committee from the Senate, on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses, on the subject of titles, reported, that the committee of the Senate would for the present, address THE PRESIDENT under the same style that the House of Representatives had adopted." (p2/c3)

[Address of Mayor James Duane of New York City to President Washington:]
"Long in the habit of revering you as the father of our country, we rejoice at the happiness of being once more placed under your protection; we consider the unanimity which prevailed in your appointment, as a presage that our national government will be firmly established in the hearts of all the people, and receive their united and zealous support, & we are fully persuaded that under the divine favor, its operation will be productive of the most extensive benefits and blessings, and render the Union respectable in peace, as under your auspices, it was triumphant in war." (p3/c1)

[Washington's Reply:]
"In accepting the momentous trust which has been spontaneously committed to me by a free people; it was not enough to have felt a consciousness of having acted in conformity to the dictates of patriotism; it was not enough to have known that I met the wishes of my fellow-citizens; but it seemed that these farther pledges of their confidence and support were wanting to overcome the diffidence I had in my own abilities, and the reluctance I experienced at engaging in such new and arduous affairs." (p3/c1)

Historical Background
When the two houses of Congress responded to President George Washington's inaugural address, the House addressed him as "President of the United States," and although the Senate followed a similar pattern, it became an issue of contention between the two houses. Vice President John Adams, as President of the Senate, "espoused the cause of titles with great earnestness," according to a report James Madison sent to Thomas Jefferson in France. On May 9, a Senate committee had recommended that they address the president as "His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of their Liberties."

On May 13, 1789, the House of Representatives appointed a committee to confer with the Senate on the proper title for the President. On May 14, the Senate committee reluctantly receded from its insistence on titles and declared, "From a decent respect for the opinion and practice of civilized nations, whether under monarchical or republican forms of government, whose custom is to annex Titles of respectability to the Office of their Chief Magistrate; and that, on intercourse with foreign nations, a due respect for the majesty of the people of the United States, may not be hazarded by an appearance of singularity; the Senate have been induced to be of opinion, that it would be proper to annex a Respectable Title to the Office of President of the United States: But the Senate, Desirous of Preserving Harmony with the House of Representatives, where the practice lately observed in presenting an address to the President was without the addition of Titles, think it proper for the present to act in conformity with the practice of that House:—Therefore Resolved, that the present address be—‘To the President of the United States'—without addition of Title."

Additional Content
This issue also includes a law passed by the Rhode Island legislature to collect import duties in the state (p1/c3); the proceedings of Congress, (p1/c3-p2/c4); news of the arrival of the ambassador from the Netherlands (p3/c2); news of the division of the United States Senate into three classes, determined by lot, to serve 2, 4, and 6 years, to stagger the election of senators each two years (p3/c2); and a variety of notices and advertisements, including one advertising "A Negro Girl, 13 years old to be disposed of until she is eighteen. Inquire of the Printers." (p4/c1)

The Independent Chronicle and the Universal Advertiser (1776-1840) was a weekly, then semi-weekly, newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts. Published under various titles in Salem and Cambridge, the newspaper settled in Boston in 1776 as The Independent Chronicle. Later in 1776, it became The Independent Chronicle, and the Universal Advertiser, a title that it carried until 1801. Publishers included Edward E. Powars and Nathaniel Willis (1755-1831). Willis left the Independent Chronicle in 1784 and settled in Virginia and then Ohio, where he published the Scioto Gazette, the first newspaper in the Northwest Territory. Thomas Adams (c. 1757-1799) and John Nourse (ca. 1762-1790) purchased the newspaper in 1784 and published it until Nourse's death. Adams continued publication until 1799, at times with partner Isaac Larkin (d. 1797). Abijah Adams and Ebenezer Rhoades published the newspaper from 1799 to 1817, when others purchased and continued the newspaper.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 11.75" x 19.5"
  • Medium: Newspaper

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