Today in History: August 17, 1790

On August 17, 1790 George Washington came to visit the Touro Synagogue in Newport Rhode Island. Dedicated in 1763 – the building is a masterpiece – a gem – and also an architectural landmark. It’s the only existing colonial-era synagogue – we went there on field trips when we were in grade school. Look at that building.

On August 17, 1790, George Washington visited Newport – and visited the Jewish congregation of the Touro Synagogue. (Now just think about the times – and how revolutionary this is, in and of itself.)

The congregation presented an address to George Washington, welcoming him to Newport, and to their synagogue. (Click below to see the piece of parchment with this address on it. Gulp. It makes me just want to cry.) A couple of days later George Washington wrote an eloquent response (“gives to bigotry no sanction” – AMEN, George. FUCK YEAH.) Both the address as well as Washington’s response were printed in all of the “national” newspapers at the time. A clear message as to what this new nation would be.

Below, I have posted the “Congratulatory Address to George Washington on Behalf of the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island” – and then I have posted the response from Mr. Washington.

August 17, 1790

Sir:

Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merits — and to join with our fellow citizens in welcoming you to Newport.

With pleasure we reflect on those days — those days of difficulty, and danger, when the God of Israel, who delivered David from the peril of the sword — shielded Your head in the day of battle: and we rejoice to think, that the same Spirit, who rested in the Bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel enabling him to preside over the Provinces of the Babylonish Empire, rests and ever will rest, upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these States.

Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free Citizens, we now with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty disposer of all events behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People — a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance — but generously affording to all Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine:

This so ample and extensive Federal Union whose basis is Philanthropy, Mutual confidence and Public Virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God, who ruleth in the Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, doing whatever seemeth him good.

For all these Blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the Ancient of Days, the great preserver of Men beseeching him, that the Angel who conducted our forefathers through the wilderness into the promised Land, may graciously conduct you through all the difficulties and dangers of this mortal life: And, when, like Joshua full of days and full of honour, you are gathered to your Fathers, may you be admitted into the Heavenly Paradise to partake of the water of life, and the tree of immortality.

Done and Signed by order of the Hebrew Congregation in NewPort, Rhode
Island August 17th 1790.

Moses Seixas, Warden

And here is George Washington’s reply:

August 21st, 1790

To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport Rhode Island.

Gentleman.

While I receive, with much satisfaction, your Address replete with expressions of affection and esteem; I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you, that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced in my visit to Newport, from all classes of Citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and happy people.

The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation.

All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my Administration, and fervent wishes for my felicity. May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.

G. Washington

George. George. We are not worthy.

In these days of darkness, danger and bigotry, I find it comforting to remember

how far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

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13 Responses to Today in History: August 17, 1790

  1. ricki says:

    I wonder why we don’t see statesmen like Washington any more?

    Is it that politics has just got so ugly, so mean, so dominated by money and divisiveness that those who would bring a more measured tone to things, turn away in disgust?

    Or is it that there was a Golden Age, followed by a Silver Age, and we are now in…I don’t know…the Mud Age?

    Just as I sometimes wonder if people would recognize Jesus if he came back to earth, I wonder if people would recognize a Washington-type these days if he (or she) appeared? Or would they be too busy trying to dig up skeletons from the person’s past to discredit them?

  2. red says:

    I think the relentless 24 hour news cycle might have something to do with it. Nobody can be a “great statesman” 24 hours a day … and so all the flaws and foibles loom large – whereas back then – these guys WERE what they DID and what they WROTE. I don’t think anybody can stand up to the kind of scrutiny that leaders get today.

    I also think, though, that there were jackasses back then as well – horrible leaders, who made terrible decisions – I mean, some of the Roman emperors seem borderline retarded!!

  3. Hank says:

    People wrote so beautifully in those days.

    Hank

  4. red says:

    This is my favorite line from George, I think:

    //May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. //

  5. red says:

    Also – frankly – I just think people, in general (of a certain class, of course) were just flat out better educated then. It was an elite group – and the Founding Fathers were all members of that elite – so they knew how to WRITE.

    But still – some are better than others. In my opinion, nobody can hold a candle to Alexander Hamilton’s writing skills – (and I’m not just saying that because he is my dead boyfriend). He is clear, concise, impassioned, fierce – and he also wrote FAST. Some of Washington’s stuff is a bit TURGID, if I do say so – He was so formal in his manners that sometimes it’s hard to understand what he is trying to say.

    But when he’s angry? Like when he would write these FURIOUS letters to Congress asking for more funds, and more support – there you can totally understand what he’s saying. No formality there.

  6. Very true about the education!! It wasn’t until Horace Mann that people were “given the right” to a education. Even then it was only in the North Eastern part of our early nation…huh, no wonder we’re all so smaaahht up hearr. Most of those in other parts of the country were concerned with educating their children about the farm, trade, or just keeping up the home. It was about survival and rugged individualism. They left the writing to those that could do it.

  7. red says:

    Well, also – if there were 10 kids in a family – then one son would be given an education, one would be trained in the father’s craft, 7 would die, and the last one would be sent out to be an apprentice.

    It just wasn’t a “given” that you would go to school. Look at Abe Lincoln – I mean, it’s just amazing what some of these people went through to get some book-learnin.

  8. Ken says:

    Even so, chuck in maine, literacy was far more nearly universal here than just about anywhere else–look at the correspondence of private soldiers of the Civil War and even the War of Independence.

    Lincoln and Franklin are both famous autodidacts–the former teacher and critic of education John Taylor Gatto cites their examples often. It’s dangerous to rely too heavily on exceptional cases to make a critique, but Gatto does have some interesting and provocative things to say–the interested reader may wish to look at The Underground History of American Education.

    But not to stray too far from topic: that’s a lovely piece of correspondence, a timely reminder of what we once were–and could be again.

  9. Very good point! It wasn’t that they did not find education to be important, it was a matter of survial for some and fortunate circumstance for others. Desire is what truly drives people (in my opinion) to obtain that thirst for knowledge, regardless of circumstance. You need proof…the are some extremely ignorant well-to-do people (insert countless celebrity rich names here) and then there are the Gerald Lambeau’s of the world (patent clerks that solve physics).

  10. sorry not Lambeau…duh…Einstein!! See how education works!!

  11. red says:

    Ken – that sounds like a really interesting book.

  12. Lambeau was actually the character in Good Will Hunting…hahahaha oh, I type so much faster than I think.

  13. Ken says:

    Now that’s funny, right there. Thanks, Chuck.

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