The United States was founded on a set of beliefs and not, as were other nations, on a common ethnicity, language, or religion. … By the time Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day, July 4, 1826, exactly fifty years following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, an aura of divinity had come to surround the founding generation.
...in all the frauds and tricks that go to make up the worst form of practical politics, the men who founded our State and national governments were always our equals, and often our masters. [p. 71]
By
the time the 1900s arrived, it became popular to write about the
Founders in a derogatory manner; and while even today on the
Internet, myths and legends formed that included misquotes. Some
attacked their character, attacking traditional stories even about
George Washington.
This
came about when historians and writers began to believe that the
socialism of Karl Marx had more value than that which the Founders
had created and implemented. Yet any nation that assumed the ideology
of Marx eventually ended up desolate and bankrupt. It is because Marx
based his manifesto under the realm of a fantasy world of Utopia,
where everyone was economically equal and happy in the community
collectivism. Marx wrote his volumes during a time when aristocracy
was running the show in Europe, and to a lesser degree even in the
United States as those who ushered in the Industrial Age had become
rich and powerful – financiers, tradesmen, and the new oil fields
that sprouted in the United States and elsewhere to supply the
machinery that produced progress.
In
1913, Charles Beard
wrote An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States and became influential in writing about the Founders. Despite
exposing beyond the myths and legends that had come to be surrounded
by the Founders, Beard respected the men who created the
Constitution, a remarkable document, then and now. He wrote in 1912:
Never in the history of assemblies has there been a convention of men richer in political experience and in practical knowledge, or endowed with a profounder insight into the springs of human action and the intimate essence of government.
Recent
historians who have set upon a crusade to denounce the Founders do
not hold the same respect. As we moved into the 21st
century, society has lost its appeal to what occurred in the founding
of our nation and how/why they had come upon the ideas that fashioned
the US Constitution and its amendments. Indeed, they were just men,
having their personal faults, not saints; but they most definitely
belong to the group of an age called Enlightenment. [Also: Age of Reason]
Historians
and political science “scholars” have come to the conclusion and
are trying to convey that the revolutionaries that became the
founders of the United States did not succeed because they …
...failed to free the slaves, failed to offer full political equality to women, ...failed to grant citizenship to Indians, and failed to create an economic world in which all could compete on equal terms. [Valley of Opportunity, Peter C. Mancall, Cornell University Press, 1991; p. 232]
The
Founders were learned men of classic history and politics, who had
been personally involved with a Monarchy, the Parliament; and yet saw
that pure democracy cannot withstand the mark of time just as was
found that Socialism does not last economically as seen in the 20th
century.
George
Washington
George
Washington is still the greatest president we ever had, but even he
has been the target of character assassination. He was a hero even in
his own lifetime and respected highly by his fellow Founders.
Washington was aware of how his fame had been cultivated and that
heroic persona was crucial to him, which he tried not to stain.
Physically
he stood out at 6 foot, three inches in height and heavily built. But
he was a man of few words. Jefferson and Adams did not like the idea
that he was not an intellectual; Adams judgment too often being harsh
– but he was an outspoken and passionate man. Among the Founders,
Adams was not that popular, say like Jefferson and Franklin. In
education, he did not meet the qualifications of Jefferson or even
Franklin, where the latter was self-educated.
Washington
was a successful planter businessman and his thoughts and passion was
running his plantation-farm. This was true even when he became
president. Mount Vernon was the heart of his passion.
Washington's
success that led him to become the first President of the United
States was his military career; although nothing compared to great
generals like Alexander,
Caesar,
Cromwell,
or Napoleon.
His
greatness was held within his character, integrity and honesty was
important to him – a man of virtue. It was cultivated as he was
growing up, but he was also the youth of the age of Enlightenment;
but not at the same level as Jefferson, Adams or Franklin.
At
the age of sixteen he had shown interest in etiquette, copying the
English translation of a 1595 Jesuit etiquette book and later in life
he wrote his own set of etiquette standards. He did not just espouse
the list of etiquette, but live them, much to the amazement of his
colleagues.
Washington
was a creature of fashion and was meticulous in his appearance. After
the Revolutionary War, he worked on his penmanship, spelling, and
grammar because he knew that would be essential in his new world
beyond being a general.
In
regards to slavery, like too many Americans, especially Virginians,
it was taken for granted as part of society. It was a custom that had
survived for thousands of years, but when the American Revolution was
over, the words of equality did not seem consistent with the world of
society. People began to question the moral and civic aspect of
slavery. It did not fit in the scheme of a constitutional republic
and it actually took labor employment away from the general populace.
It confounds some historians as to why the southerner who owned no
slaves were so adamant when the southern states seceded from the
Union of states that made the United States. Indeed, even those who
wanted to see slavery end when the Constitution was ratified realized
that the states whose economic backbone was agriculture, and whose
wealth depended upon slavery. It can be compared to the cheap labor
provided by Mexican nationals who were willing to work cheaply, by US
standards, and yet did so to make their lives better from whence they
came. That progressed into the problems today that has cultivated
into a major problem not just in employment and culturally, but a
threat to national security and sovereignty – a complex problem
caused by politicians running the government without enforcing
immigration laws set for a common-sense reason and seeing illegal
immigrants as new voters.
The
richest colony was Virginia, which had the most slaves – so the
economic benefit was a reality.
The
first anti-slavery group was formed in Philadelphia in 1775 and the
leaders of the revolution began to question the hypocrisy of a
republic having slaves; although when Rome was a “republic” it
had slaves, a condition that was a matter of fact. George Washington
was one of the Founders who questioned the continuance of slavery in
the new republic.
Washington
was an agriculturalist, a planter and increased the productivity of
Mount Vernon by purchasing more slaves. In 1774, he had over one
hundred slaves on his plantation. He did not seem to have guilt in
using human beings in bondage, although he was concerned with the
health and welfare of his slaves, never known to be abusive or allow
others to abuse them.
When
Washington became commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, he was
forced to change his views about blacks when he found some within the
ranks of his army and began to advocate recruitment of free blacks.
In 1778, Rhode Island raised an all-black regiment of soldiers and in
1779, Washington approved a plan to grant slaves their freedom in return for military service. The plan failed because southerners
balked at the idea; however before the end of the war there were five
thousand African-American soldiers in the ranks. When he returned to
Mount Vernon, he had made up his mind to push to abolish slavery
because it violated what the revolution represented. Yet, he was
reluctant to state so publicly, but committed himself to be an
example by no more purchases of slaves after 1786. He had hoped that
in this way, slavery would be eliminated “by slow, sure, and
imperceptible degrees”. [Letter, George Washington to John Francis Mercer, September 9, 1786 from Washington Writings,
p. 607]
In
the summer of 1799, he made a new will, composed secretly, he
provided not only freedom, but ensured they would not be cast out
without being able to support themselves. He also ensured that
married families were not separated. His will, after his death, was
printed into a pamphlet and circulated throughout the states. But the
country, at least the southern states, was not ready for such a
concept.
Probably
the most symbolic act of Washington or any American was after the
peace treaty was signed between the British and the new United
States, he surrendered his sword to Congress on December 23, 1783 and
retired to Mount Vernon. He could have easily declared himself the
leader of the United States if he were any other type of person. It
was a unique historical experience and elevated the respect of many.
Jefferson wrote in 1784 that …
...the moderation and virtue of a single character … probably prevented this revolution from being closed, as most others have been, by a subversion of that liberty it was intended to establish.
Thanks
to George Washington, one tyrant was not replaced by another. This
was contradictory to King George's prediction of what Washington
would do.
When
Washington was presented as a gift of appreciation of 150 shares of
the canal project, he wrote to his friends in desperation as to what
to do about it. It would be an embarrassment to the gift givers if he
refused and an act of conflicting interest if he accepted, despite
not holding public office. At the advice of Jefferson and others, he
accepted it, but gave it to the foundation of a college that was
named after him.
Soon
after the Philadelphia Convention took place in 1787, where
Washington was immediately elected as president and his presence
increased the prestige of the proposed Constitution. Once accepted,
he became anxious to get it ratified.
As
Gordon S. Woods
stated in What
Made the Founders Different…
Historians might not understand his behavior, but his contemporaries certainly did. They rarely doubted that Washington was trying to always to act in a disinterested way. His anxious queries about how would this or that look to the world, his hesitations about serving or not serving, his expressions of scruples and qualms – all were part of his strenuous effort to live up to the classical idea of a virtuous leader. He never accepted a salary as commander in chief of the Continental army, and although the Congress made him accept a salary as president, he wanted it understood that he had tried to refuse it.
All
of this was new to the former American colonists who had been
governed by a monarchy. Washington himself had no former persons as a
guide as to what to do or how to act upon issues, except the articles
and amendments of the US Constitution. Yet, he also strengthened the
revolutionary idea that self-government was feasible and strong
enough to last.
Many
people expected and assumed that Washington would be president for
life, a sort of elected monarch. People were not yet educated in the
workings of republicanism so it was a new adventure into government.
Still
others were thinking that Washington would become an elected monarch,
some even stating that it was good he had no heirs; thinking that
even as an elected monarch the office would be passed on to the next
generation. Of course, Washington was aware of charges and thoughts
that he had monarchical ambitions; especially since he did not know
exactly what role to play out as president. He certainly was aware
that whatever he did would become tradition, despite articles of the
Constitution concerning power and explicit workings of the office of
the President of the United States. He constantly sought advice of
the more educated men surrounding him, like Alexander
Hamilton which he chose to be the first Secretary of the Treasury. There were
also matters of protocol that required to be established, which once
again Washington was aware that he was the model that others would
follow.
John Adams was
his vice president and insisted that Washington should be showing the
splendor
of
his office. The president required an entourage of chamberlains,
aides-de-camp, and officiators of ceremonies to conduct the formal
aspects of his office. Washington was not comfortable with ceremony,
but he also saw what happens when an executive office gets too close
to the people, as what happened in the Continental Congress. Out of
his annual salary of $25,000, he spent nearly $2,000 for liquor and
wine for entertaining feeling that it should not come from the
treasury of the People. When he made public appearances, his coach
was elaborately
ornamented
and drawn by four or six horses, attended with four servants and his
family followed in other coaches. A British observer commented that
he traveled in kingly
style.
[The Federalists: A Study in Administrative History,
Leonard D. White,
Macmillan, NY, 1948; p. 108]
In
matters of religion, Washington attended church services of several
denominations, which included Roman Catholic, to display that the
government did not mandate one particular religion. Washington was a
religious man, who constantly prayed for his troops and the
revolution, especially at Valley Forge; and it was he who voluntarily
included the word “God” into the oath he swore in as the first
President of the United States.
He
was also aware that the unified states must have strong cement, so he
promoted roads, canals and the post office.
He
spent a great deal of deliberation in choosing appointments to
offices of the executive branch in order to get the best qualified to
perform the job.
Washington
backed up the dream of Pierre L'Enfant and his design of the federal
city that would take his name, hoping for a great nation that would
rival the old powerful states of Europe. Jefferson has wanted to keep
the national capital to 1500 acres. Washington was also concerned
about division between northern and southern states on the issue of
slavery; and he commented to his Secretary of State, Edmund Randolph,
that is the unified states dissolved and split, he would have to take
the side of the North – against slavery. [From notes of a
conversation with Edmund Randolph: Papers of Jefferson,
28:568]
Federalists
wanted the majesty and ceremony of monarchy to be established, making
Washington's birthday as important as Independence Day. The Senate
tried to have all American coins with the head of the president, as
monarchs had done for centuries. This idea was abandoned, but
eventually the silver quarter and the dollar bill would depict the
head of Washington, our first president.
They
tried to provide a royal title, which Washington initially favored,
like “His High Mightiness, the President of the United States and
Protector of Their Liberties” - but was relieved when the House of
Representatives, under the leadership of James Madison, simply
provided the title of Mr. President.
While
the first political parties to be established in the 1790s were the
Federalists and the Republicans, it bore no resemblance to the
traditional two-party system we have today. Not many thought it was a
good idea building a party system in the 1790s and leadership tried
to prevent its formation.
The
Federalists were led by Washington, Adams, and Hamilton. The
Republicans were led by Jefferson and Madison. Both parties thought
it would be a temporary venture. Neither party accepted the
legitimacy of the other and the bitter arguments between Hamilton and
Jefferson became more than just personal. Washington knew he had to
ensure that division did not occur, and most folks who are not aware
of the details of this period of history do not realize that the
Civil War that broke out in 1861 almost did so in the 1790s. Hamilton
and Jefferson were both in the Cabinet; thus Washington was able to
use his prestige (and good judgment) to restrain an out-of-control
political blowout.
George
Washington is the only president that led an army while in office. It
was over the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 concerning an uprising of
Pennsylvania farmers. His presence prevented bloodshed despite
leading an army out of the capital.
An
interesting and well known event involving the Senate, who ratified
treaties, was in August of 1789 when Washington was seeking consent
to a treaty with the Creek natives. Instead of the advice and consent
he expected, the Senators began to debate each section of the treaty
as the president sat silently glaring at them impatiently. When one
of the senators moved that the treaty be submitted to a committee for
study, Washington jumped to his feet and yelled:
This defeats every purpose of my coming here.
He
calmed down before leaving the Senate, but was overheard saying he
would:
...be damned if he ever went there again.
Two
days later he did return, but the attendance was mired by uneasiness
between president and senate. In 1793, when Washington proclaimed his
Proclamation of Neutrality, he did not bother to get consent from the
Senate, thus establishing that the executive office require nearly
sold authority when handling foreign affairs. Treaties today must be
ratified by two-thirds vote from the Senate.
Despite
some minor setbacks, the executive office did well in setting
precedence of how a president acts and his stature while in office.
On
the personal side, George and Martha acted as matchmakers bringing
together couples from different parts of the United States; both
having the age-old tradition of marriage as a bridge to alliances and
consolidating aristocratic legacies.
In
1796, Washington was determined to retire from public office and no
one could change his mind, while several tried. Only Franklin D.
Roosevelt would break the tradition of a two-term president; which
culminated into the two-term limit of the 22nd
Amendment ratified in 1951.
In
1789, there was a fear that the French would try to overthrow the new
Republic; so Washington was duped into being the commander-in-chief
and when it was all over and their fears were did not become reality,
Washington returned to Mount Vernon thoroughly disgusted with the
life of politics.
Washington's
fear of the rising power of political parties became a reality by
1800 and political parties, not great men, soon became the focus of
the public.
As
Gordon Woods wrote:
He was an extraordinary man who made it possible for ordinary men to rule. There has been no president quite like him, as we can be sure that we shall not see his like again.
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