George Washington: First Annual Message to Congress

Context

In June 1783 Commander in Chief George Washington, in his last circular letter to the states, announced that he would retire from the army when hostilities ended and not serve again in public office. Shortly after the British evacuated New York City, Washington attended Congress in Annapolis, Maryland, and on December 23, 1783, surrendered his commission and returned to Mount Vernon, his home.

Washington greatly enjoyed the life of a Virginia planter. He spent his time restoring Mount Vernon from the dilapidated condition it had fallen into during his eight-year absence. Although he was retired, Washington was the most popular American in both the United States and Europe. He maintained a voluminous correspondence, read almost a dozen newspapers, worked to develop a system of canals and roads to tie the western farmers with eastern markets and seaports, and graciously hosted an avalanche of visitors at Mount Vernon.

Shortly after the end of the war America fell into a serious economic depression. Violence erupted throughout the country when angry debtors became increasingly frustrated. Some state legislatures enacted relief measures for desperate debtors. When Congress and the states were unable to amend the Articles of Confederation to empower Congress so that it could effectively deal with the depression and violence, a constitutional convention was called to amend the Articles of Confederation and strengthen Congress. The Virginia legislature readily endorsed the convention and elected a prestigious delegation led by Washington. Because he had promised in 1783 to refrain from serving again in public office, Washington refused the appointment. It was only after repeated overtures from James Madison, Virginia governor Edmund Randolph, and others that Washington agreed to serve. The Philadelphia convention sat from May 25 through September 17, 1787, with Washington serving as its president.

During and after the year-long ratification debate to adopt the new Constitution, everyone hoped that Washington would be the country's first president. He reluctantly accepted the unanimous election and was sworn into office on April 30, 1789, at which time he delivered his First Inaugural Address to a joint session of Congress. During the eight months between Washington's First Inaugural Address and his First Annual Message, Congress and the president worked hard to put the new federal government into motion. Also during this time, Americans anxiously watched the unfolding events in Europe as the French Revolution began, with the revolution at first favoring liberty but soon degenerating into an uncontrolled disaster.

As president, Washington hoped to visit every state in the Union. His tour of the eastern states that had ratified the Constitution began on October 15, 1789, while Congress recessed. The six-week trek through New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut gave him an opportunity to see firsthand the extensive recovery from wartime ravages and dislocations, the abundant harvests, the robust economic resurgence from the depression of the mid-1780s, and the enthusiastic support that the people and state leaders had for the new federal government under the Constitution.

Washington made regular entries in his diary describing the events and impressions he gathered of the country and the people. The day after he returned to New York City, the Gazette of the United States (November 14, 1789) reported on the significance of the tour: “Independent of that personal respect which is paid to him as a Man, there is an invariable reference in all the addresses, to his political situation, and that Constitution over whose administration he presides. These national sentiments are universally reiterated—and plainly prove that the people are united in their hopes and expectations of public freedom, peace and happiness from the general government.” The report went on to say that “the time to pull down, and destroy, is now past.” Now it was the duty of every person “to build up, strengthen and support a Constitution, with which is inseparably connected all that is dear and valuable to us as citizens and freemen.” Four days later the Gazette reported that the tour had convinced everyone “that the attachment of the people to the Constitution was solid and permanent.” Washington's First Annual Message, delivered on January 8, 1790, was filled with the optimism he acquired while traveling through New England and New York.

Three days before Washington delivered the address, Abigail Adams, the wife of the vice president, captured the feeling most Americans had for their president: Washington, she said,

has so happy a faculty of appearing to accommodate & yet carrying his point, that if he was not really one of the best intentioned men in the world he might be a very dangerous one. He is polite with dignity, affable without familiarity, distant without Haughtiness, Grave without Austerity, Modest, Wise & Good. These are traits in his Character which peculiarly fit him for the exalted station he holds, and God Grant that he may Hold it with the same applause & universal satisfaction for many many years, as it is my firm opinion that no other man could rule over this great people & consolidate them into one mighty Empire but He who is set over us. (Abigail Adams to Mary Cranch, January 5, 1790; Mitchell, p. 35.)

On Friday morning at eleven o'clock, January 8, 1790, Washington, dressed in a crow-colored suit, delivered his First Annual Message to a joint session of Congress in the Senate chamber in Federal Hall (the City Hall of New York City). Thirty-six representatives, eleven senators, and Vice President John Adams, the president of the Senate, attended.

Both houses adopted committee reports that responded to the president's speech. The Senate's response, adopted on January 11, was delivered to Washington three days later at his residence by Vice President Adams and the thirteen senators in attendance. After thanking Washington for his speech and agreeing with its provisions, members of the Senate told the president,

Our cares and efforts shall be directed to the welfare of our Country; and we have the most perfect dependence upon your co-operating with us on all occasions in such measures as will insure to our fellow citizens, the blessings which they have a right to expect from a free, efficient, and equal government. (U.S. Senate to Washington, January 11, 1790; Twohig, vol. 4, p. 547).

Washington responded that, “relying on the continuance of your exertions for the public good, I anticipate for our Country the salutary effects of upright and prudent Counsels” (Washington to U.S. Senate, January 11, 1790; Twohig, vol. 4, p. 566). The House of Representatives approved its response to Washington's address on January 12. It ended with the following sentence:

The prosperity of the United States is the primary object of all our deliberations; and we cherish the reflection, that every measure which we may adopt for its advancement, will not only receive your cheerful concurrence, but will at the same time derive from your co-operation, additional efficacy, in ensuring to our fellow-citizens the blessings of a free, efficient and equal government. (U.S. House of Representatives to Washington, January 12, 1790; Twohig, vol. 4, pp. 548–549).

Two days later, Washington responded: “I have full confidence that your deliberations will continue to be directed by an enlightened and virtuous zeal for the happiness of our Country” (Washington to U.S. House of Representatives, January 14, 1790; Twohig, vol. 4, p. 576). Congress and the president were ready to continue working together for the good of the new American nation.