Was the First President of the United States! 1781-1782 A.D.???
George Washington was really the 8th President of the United States!
George Washington was not the first President of the United States. In fact, the first President of the United States was one John Hanson. Don't go checking the encyclopedia for this guy's name - he is one of those great men that are lost to history. If you're extremely lucky, you may actually find a brief mention of his name.
The new country was actually formed on March 1, 1781 with the adoption of The Articles of Confederation.
This document was actually proposed on June 11, 1776, but not agreed upon by Congress until November 15, 1777. Maryland refused to sign this document until Virginia and New York ceded their western lands (Maryland was afraid that these states would gain too much power in the new government from such large amounts of land).
Once the signing took place in 1781, a President was needed to run the country. John Hanson was chosen unanimously by Congress (which included George Washington). In fact, all the other potential candidates refused to run against him, as he was a major player in the revolution and an extremely influential member of Congress.
As the first President, Hanson had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set precedent for all future Presidents.
He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch.
All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson as the only guy left running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops down and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington. In fact, Hanson sent 800 pounds of sterling siliver by his brother Samuel Hanson to George Washington to provide the troops with shoes.
Hanson, as President, ordered all foreign troops off American soil, as well as the removal of all foreign flags. This was quite the feat, considering the fact that so many European countries had a stake in the United States since the days following Columbus.
Hanson established the Great Seal of the United States, which all Presidents have since been required to use on all official documents.
President Hanson also established the first Treasury Department, the first Secretary of War, and the first Foreign Affairs Department.
Lastly, he declared that the fourth Thursday of every November was to be Thanksgiving Day, which is still true today.
The Articles of Confederation only allowed a President to serve a one year term during any three year period, so Hanson actually accomplished quite a bit in such little time.
Six other presidents were elected after him - Elias Boudinot (1783), Thomas Mifflin (1784), Richard Henry Lee (1785), Nathan Gorman (1786), Arthur St. Clair (1787), and Cyrus Griffin (1788) - all prior to Washington taking office.
So what happened?
Why don't we ever hear about the first seven Presidents of the United States?
It's quite simple - The Articles of Confederation didn't work well. The individual states had too much power and nothing could be agreed upon.
A new doctrine needed to be written - something we know as the Constitution.
And that leads us to the end of our story.
George Washington was definitely not the first President of the United States. He was the first President of the United States under the Constitution we follow today.
And the first seven Presidents are forgotten in history.
Looks like an article that needs to be looked into. As a person of color it would be nice to think that this might be
true. But how? America was under slavery at the time. Many of the freed blacks were not prominent with a few exceptions.
Could he have been the exception?
Then there is the other presidents after him. Is it possible that there were no freemasons in the articles of confederation leadership? Could it be that the Constitutional US was made for the freemasons to take power? Seems like just when you have a little history figured out more news comes out. I hope this is not a hoax waiting to be debunked.
Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:47 pm
madthumbs
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 8249 Location: Fingerlakes - NY usa
I think it's possible. There was a video I recently put on the vlog that said "State sponsered racism and genocide were invented by the rich and powerful in this country." , but I think Judaism/ Christianity predate this.
Have you seen: The Judaic Role in the Black Slave trade. It also appears that when people first started coming here (to the US) that they were peaceful with the Native people.
I was looking through some famous blacks of the 18th century and it appears that though England had slaves abroad.
There were quite a few free blacks at home.
The example there is poor but whats not to say that the man you just showed is not an Englishman. Could it
be they manipulated his look to make him look white like the link below
Interesting questions of history.
BTW I saw Tony Martin's speech and it sure awakened me to the how much these people really disregard human life. To
go around brainwashing people and making them look subhuman is one of the biggest crimes in history. I just wish my fellow people of color can wake up from this hypnotism they are under and understand that we do no have to be followers of anyone. Too bad its hard to convince someone in ridiculous poverty about the realities of the world when they are hungry. I guess the so called middle class are the ones to target since the Oprahs and Denzels won't say a damn thing about it.
Sorry about my rant I'll look into this topic a little further.
http://www.johnhanson.net/
[quote]John Hanson
by: Stanley L. Klos
3rd President of the United States
in Congress Assembled
November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782
John Hanson was born in Charles County, Maryland in 1715 and died in Oxen Hills, Prince George County, Maryland on November 22, 1783. He received an English education, and was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates nearly every year from 1757 until 1781. He moved to Frederick County in 1773 and was an energetic patriot, who in 1775 became treasurer of the county. About that time he was commissioned by the Maryland convention to establish a gun-lock factory at Frederick.
On October 9th, 1776 he was part of a committee empowered to call on the Maryland Troops in New Jersey, "with power to appoint officers and to encourage the re-enlistment of the Maryland militia" as General Washington's military losses in New York and New Jersey were substantial and desertion was rampant.
John Hanson was elected a delegate to the United States in Congress Assembled in 1780 and served until his death in 1783. On September 11th the Freshman Delegate wrote this letter to Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Signer of the Declaration of Independence:
"I have been Confined to my Room a fortnight, and was so unwell When the last post set out, that I was not able to Write, I am now on the recovery, and hope to be able to attend Congress in a day or two. I inclosed you Some time ago a Curious Historical Annecdote, delivered in may last, by sir John Dalrymple, to the Court of Spain. As you have Said nothing about it, am afraid it has not Come to hand.
Congress received a letter by Express from General Gates dated Hillsborough August 20th giving an Account (tho' a very Confused one) of His unfortunate Defeat near Camden, on the 16th. He says he marched about 10 oClock in the night of the 15th, to possess himself of an advantageous piece of Ground about Seven miles from Camden. About 2 oClock in the Morning His light Horse was attacked by those of the Enemies but were repulsed. Upon this he halted the Army, and nothing more happened till about break of Day, When he was attacked by the Whole furie of the Enemy. His Army was drawn up with the Virginia Militia on the left, the North Carolina militia in the Center and General Gist on the right-General Smallwood was in the rear, as a Corps De'reserve. The Militia to a man fled the first fire, and left our brave regulars to Sustain the Whole force of the Enemy. General Gates went of[f] with the Militia, endeavouring to rally them, but to no purpose, and while he was thus engaged. He Says the firing between the two Armies Ceased, by which he Concluded all was over, and therefore made the best of his Way to Hillsborough Where he arrived the 19th performing a Journey of 196 miles in less than four days. He Knows nothing of What became of the Regulars, but says he should immediately Send off a flag to gain the necessary information.
Saturday last an Express Arrived from Governor Nash dated the 26th Advising that Generals Smallwood, And Gist, had bravely Cut their Way thro' the Enemy With about 400 men-that the Militia were again Collecting, that they had got together between two and three thousand, regulars included. This day another letter has been received from General Gates with a list of the Officers that are Safe to Wit Generals Smallwood and Gist, Colonels Williams, Gunby and about 700 privates. The list also Contains the Names of those officers that are missing, but I have not Seen it, neither Can I procure a Copy to Send you by this Opportunity. Baron de Calmb is Dead of His wounds. Our loss on the Whole about 500 and that of the Enemy as many. We have also lost all our Baggage Waggons and Eight pieces of Cannon.
Our main Army is in the greatest distress for want of provisions Were Without meat from the 21st to the 26th and Some have not had one day With another not one third allowance. The general moved into the neighborhood of Fort Lee with a View of Stripping that part of the Country of the remainder of its Cattle Which after a most rigorous exertion afforded only two or three days supply and this Consisting of milch Cows and Calves of one or two years old. This manner of procuring is very distressing and attended With ruin to the morals and discipline of the Army, during the five days Which small parties were Sent out to procure provisions for themselves, the most enormous excesses were Committed. It has been no inconsiderable Support to our Cause to have had it in our power to Contrast the Conduct of our Army With that of the Enemy, and to convince the Inhabitants, that While their rights were Wantonly Violated by the British Troops, by ours they were respected. This distinction must now unhappily Cease, and we must assume the Odious Character of the plunderers instead of the protectors of the people, the direct Consequence of Which must be to Alienate their minds from the Army, and insensibly from the Cause-in short, if this method of procuring provisions for the Army is not very speedily prevented, by an exertion of the States in Sending forward Supplies the Army must disband, and we are undone. It is reported and Credited by many that a french fleet of 18 Ships of the line and some frigates are on the Coast. They were Seen it is Said Some days ago to the Northward of our Capes. Our new raised Battalion is ordered by the general to the Southward. My Compliments to the family And Am with the most Sincere respect, Dr. sir, your most hble Servt, John Hanson."
Delegate Hanson had indeed come to Congress in one of the the most challenging periods of the revolution. The southern ports of Savannah and Charleston were controlled by the British, Arnold had defected, General Gates the hero of Saratoga was routed in Camden and Washington's troops were in mutiny. Times were dark indeed but in one year, with Victory at Yorktown and Independence all but won, Delegate Hanson would become the 3rd President of the United States of a Confederation government that presented a more daunting challenge, self-government under a defective U.S. Constitution.
One year before his Presidency, Delegate Hanson believed that "The great neutral powers of Europe seem to regard the present War, as an event favorable to the augmentation of their Commerce". In a December 11th letter Hanson requested Charles Carroll of Carrollton join him in the Continental Congress to address this and other political challenges. Hanson writes:
"Your favour by the last post, I am much obliged to you for. I am very Sorry to be informed, that the principal object of the meeting of the General Assembly has not yet been taken into Consideration, I mean that of procuring Men and Supplies for the Army; yet from the good Opinion I entertain of the present leading Members of each House, I flatter my self every thing of importance Will be Attended to, before you rise. The Trustees having protested our Bills Will be favourable to the Veiws of those Who are for Confiscation.
Immediately on the receipt of your letter, Which was late this afternoon, I went to Mr. Morris's to make the enquiry you desired me, but Mr. Morris was too ill to be Spoke With, Which prevents my giving you the information you Want, at present.
Advices from Spain and France of the 25th September, and 15th October say, that General Clinton had requested to be recalled, unless a reinforcement of 10,000 men, was immediately Sent him-that a vessel had Sailed from England, With dispatches Containing assurances, that the King entirely Approved of His Conduct-that he Should be Aided With all the Supplies in their power, And that orders were given for raising Nine regiments of foot, And one of Horse, to be Sent out Early in the spring. That nine Sail of the line and a number of Transports, With 4000 Troops, would Sail from Brest in a day or two, destined to reinforce Admiral Ternay. The King of Spain is much pleased With the Resolution of Congress, permitting the Exportation of flour for the use of His fleets and Armies, in the West Indies, and desired that his thanks might be Conveyed to Congress, for Such a proof of their friendly disposition, And the Minister gave the strongest Assurances, that his majesty Would never Consent to a pacification With England which did not include the Interest of America.
Measures for Sending Commissioners from G B to treat with Congress, is under Consideration of the Privy Council, And it is thought would be adopted. Mr. Cumbaland Still remains at Madrid-the Abbe Hussey, his Coadjutor has received A Passport to go to Lisbon, and from thence to London, And return With the Ultimatum of that Court. (Is it not Something Mysterious that a Secretary to Lord George Germain one of the King of G B Ministers Should be permitted to reside at the Court of His most Christian Majesty in time of war?). England hath not yet Completed her last years Loan. All the powers will find it difficult to procure money to Carry on the War. France hath already begun to Tax, and it is probable must Continue to do so. The great Neutral powers of Europe Seem to regard the present War, as an Event favorable to the Augmentation of their Commerce, and Will probably do so until one or other of the Contending parties, appear to have a decided Superiority. Portugal it is Said Seems better disposed to the Allies than heretofore.
The Combined fleet at Cadiz, Consists of 45 Sail of the line besides frigates &c-the Count DEstaing Commands the French part of the Fleet, and the Whole was ready to put to Sea. Mr.Laurence was taken on his passage to Holland and Conveyed to London, And is Committed to the Tower on a Charge of High Treason.
The Main Army is gone into Winter Quarters. My Compliments to Mr Carroll and the Ladies, And Am with the greatest regard Dr sir Your most hble Servt, John Hanson
[P.S.] It would give me great pleasure to see you here."
Hanson's position as Maryland's Delegate was tenuous at best to the Continental Congress. The Articles of Confederation were enacted by the Congress in November of 1777. They were ratified July 9, 1778, by ten states; by New Jersey on the 26th of November of the same year; and by Delaware, on the 23d of February 1779. It was Maryland, the state Delegate Hanson represented, who for two more years was the lone holdout in ratifying process. A ratification that would create the "Perpetual Union" and provide the States with a constitution and federal government direly needed to obtain foreign aid and diplomatic acceptance. It was widely believed that France's and other European powers would not fully commit to the cause of independence until the Articles were ratified. Hanson’s State was the only roadblock to establishing the “Perpetual Union.”
Delegate Hanson understood this and was instrumental in persuading the Maryland Legislature to ratify the Articles of Confederation, The new Congress of November 1781 rewarded Hanson for this service by electing him President on November 5, 1781. The Journals report::
“The following members attended from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Samuel] Livermore,Massachusetts, Mr. [James] Lovell, [George] Partridge, [Samuel] Osgood,Rhode Island, Mr. [Daniel] Mowry, [James Mitchell] Varnum, Connecticut, Mr. [Richard] Law, New Jersey, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, [Elias] Boudinot, Pennsylvania, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, [Samuel John] Atlee, T[homas] Smith, Maryland, Mr. [John] Hanson, [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer, [Daniel] Carroll, Virginia, Mr. [James] Madison, [Edmund] Randolph, Jo[seph] Jones, North Carolina, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, South Carolina, Mr. [Arthur] Middletown, [John] Mathews, [Thomas] Bee, [Nicholas] Eveleigh, [Isaac] Motte, Georgia, Mr. [Edward] Telfair, N[oble] W[imberly] Jones.
Their credentials being read, Congress proceeded to the election of a President; and the ballots being taken, the honble. John Hanson was elected."
It is important to note here that John Hanson was NOT the 1st President of the United states of America under the Articles of Confederation. This claim is a MYTH created by Seymour Wemyss Smith writing a book called John Hanson - Our First President in 1932. Samuel Huntington was installed as the 1st President of the United States on March 2, 1781 an official ceremony in Philadelphia. This 1st U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was unanimously ratified by all 13 States on March 1, 1781 creating "The Perpetual Union of the United States of America." At that moment the Continental Congress ceased to exist and the United States of America in Congress Assembled assumed all federal power under the new U.S. Constitution.
On March 7, 1781 the Pennsylvania Gazette in Philadelphia reported:
"IN pursuance of an Act of the Legislature of Maryland, intituled, 'An Act to empower the Delegates of the State in Congress to subscriber and ratify the Articles of Confederation,' the Delegates of the said State, on Thursday last, at twelve o, signed and ratified the Articles of Confederation; by which act the Confederation of The Unuted States Of America was compleated, each and every of the Thirteen States, from New Hampshire to George, both included, having adopted and confirmed, and by their Delegates in Congress ratified the same.
This happy even was immediately announced to the public by the discharge of the artillery on land, and the cannon of the shipping in the river Delaware.
At two o’clock his Excellency the President received on this occasion the congratulations of the Hon. the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, and of the Legislative and Executive Bodies of this State, of the Civil and Military Officers, sundry strangers of distinction in town, and of many of the principal inhabitants.
The evening was closed by an elegant exhibition of fireworks. The Ariel frigate, commanded by the gallant John Paul Jones, fired a feu de joye, and was beautifully decorated with a variety of streamers in the day, and ornamented with a brilliant appearance of lights in the night.”
Thus will the first of March, 1781, be a day memorable in the annals of America, for the final ratification of the Confederation and perpetual Union of the Thirteen States of America --- A Union, begun by necessity, cemented by oppression and common danger, and now finally consolidated into a perpetual confederacy of these new and rising States: And thus the United States of America, having, amidst the calamities of a destructive war, established a solid foundation of greatness, are growing up into consequence among the nations, while their haughty enemy, Britain, with all her boasted wealth and grandeur, instead of bringing them to her feet and reducing them to unconditional submission, finds her hopes blasted, her power crumbling to pieces, and the empire which, with overbearing insolence and brutality she exercised on the ocean, divided among her insulted neighbors."
Upon Huntington's installment on March 2, 1781 the Journal of the Continental Congress replaced its heading with “The United States in Congress Assembled” and record begins in the hand of Charles Thomson:
“The ratification of the Articles of Confederation being yesterday completed by the accession of the State of Maryland: The United States met in Congress, when the following members appeared: His Excellency Samuel Huntington, delegate for Connecticut, President ...”
Huntington only served as President of the United States until July resigning due to ill health. The United States in Congress Assembled elected Thomas McKean the 2nd U.S. and served until John Hanson was elected the 3rd President in November of 1781. President Hanson took the time to write an official Thanks of Congress to Thomas McKean for his services as President of the United States of America in Congress Assembled. This letter, which can be found in Chapter One of President Who? Forgotten Founders and is irrefutable proof that Hanson recognized at least one President of the United States in Congress Assembled serving before he assumed the unicameral chair.
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John Hanson's letter to former President Thomas McKean reads:
"It is always a pleasing task to pay a just tribute to distinguished Merit. Under this impression give me leave to assure you, that it is with inexpressible satisfaction that I present you the thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, in testimony of their approbation of your conduct in the Chair and in the execution of public business; a duty I am directed to perform by their Act of the 7th instant, a copy of which I have the honor of enclosing.
When I reflect upon the great abilities, the exemplary patience and unequalled skill and punctuality, which you so eminently displayed in executing the important duties of a President, it must unavoidably be productive of great apprehensions in the one who has the honor of being your Successor. But the Choice of Congress obliges me for a moment to be silent on the subject of my own inability: And altho' I cannot equal the bright example that is recently set me, yet it shall be my unremitting study to imitate it as far as possible; and in doing this the reflection is pleasing that I shall invariably pursue the sacred path of Virtue, which alone ought to preserve me free from censure.
I have the honor to be, with the highest sentiments of respect and esteem, Sir, your most obedient And most humble Servant,
John Hanson Presidt."
When I discovered this Hanson letter in the archives of the Library of Congress, like a little child, I rushed to the librarian in the special collections room and stated that "I found irrefutable proof in his own hand that the John Hanson knew he was not the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled." The librarian looked-up at me like I was nuts and said "Of course he isn't, he was the first President of the Continental Congress." I shook my head and smiled knowing the learned man believed the United States in Congress Assembled was the joint body of the current U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Since the House and Senate's formation in 1789 both have jointly referred to themselves as the United States in Congress Assembled. Perhaps, I thought, that someday this Congressional Librarian would read “President Who? Forgotten Founders and catch this very brief account of my discovery. In that context, I believed, he would some day come to understand that the Articles of Confederation formed the 1st United States in Congress Assembled. The nation under the Articles, in 1781, had no Supreme Court or Executive branch. It was entirely a unicameral body, an entirely different entity from the Continental Congress or the two current U.S. legislative bodies.
Unfortunately Paul Smith, the Library of Congress scholar who compiled the "Letters of the Delegates" was retired so I celebrated the “find” by re-reading his astute notes on Hanson:
"It is also appropriate to note at this first of the John Hanson presidential letters a significant change in the character of the presidential correspondence. The change had actually begun with the professionalization of the boards of war and admiralty and the appointment of full-time commissioners to those offices in 1779 and 1780, but the implications of this shift were not fully realized until the creation of the executive departments in 1781, when principal responsibility for financial, foreign and military affairs became the concern of the superintendent of finance, the secretary for foreign affairs, and the secretary at war.
Reviewed statistically, the volume of presidential correspondence had crested at slightly over 50 letters per month during the presidency of Henry Laurens, remained relatively constant at about 40 letters per month during the terms of his successors John Jay and Samuel Huntington, and dropped off to about 30 letters per month with President Thomas McKean. But Hanson apparently chafed at even this modest level of presidential responsibility, and on January 28, 1782, secured adoption of a congressional resolution transferring to Secretary Charles Thomson primary responsibility for communicating Continental policy:
'In order that the President may be relieved from the business with which he is unnecessarily incumbered.'
Accordingly, the flow of presidential letters immediately slowed to a trickle. Hanson wrote about three dozen presidential letters during his first three months as president, but only 18 survive from his last nine months in office, distributed as follows: February-1, March-6, April-0, May-1, June-3, July-2, August-2, September-I, and October-2. The flow of the presidential correspondence was of course always conditioned by external events, but Hanson's personal responsibility for the dramatic change that took place in 1782 seems clear from the fact that his successor Elias Boudinot wrote over 140 presidential letters the following congressional year, and in 1783 - 84 President Thomas Mifflin wrote at least 60 during the six months of his presidency that Congress was actually in session."
President Hanson served one year as U.S. President, beginning November 5th of that year, and in that capacity gave General Washington the official Thanks of Congress for the victory at Yorktown. Thanks to Washington's Victory at Yorktown and the rise of the Executive Departments under former U.S. Presidents Huntington and McKean, Hanson's Presidential burdens were much more manageable than those he served under as delegate in 1780 and 1781.
On the same day the new President wrote Thomas McKean the congratulatory letter he transmitted this letter to George Washington on November the 28th:
"Sir, Philadelphia, NOV. 10th. 1781 I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency a copy of an Act of Congress of the 7th instant, for your information and satisfaction. Your Excellency's letters of the 27th and 31st ult. have been received and laid before Congress.
As this is the first opportunity I have had of writing to your Excellency since Congress were pleased to elect me to the singular honor of being their President, and as a literary correspondence, from our mutual situations, becomes indispensably necessary between us, give me leave to assure you, Sir, that it will not only be a pleasure of a superior nature, but invariably my study, to render that correspondence as advantageous and agreeable as possible. Any intelligence worth communicating, which first reaches me, shall be related with unreserved freedom, candor & punctuality- And permit me to hope for a similar treatment from your Excellency. Already my knowledge of your Character leads me to anticipate infinite satisfaction.
I cannot avoid mentioning that the present Aspect of our Public Affairs is particularly pleasing: And so much do we seem extricated from our perplexing difficulties, and such, I hope, is the power and force of recent Experience, that we shall not relapse into our former state of imbecility and distress. The events of the present Campaign will, no doubt, fill the most brilliant pages in the history of America. May Heaven still continue to smile on our efforts!
With the highest sentiments of respect & esteem, believe me to be, Sir, Your Excellency's Most obedient & very humble Servt.
John Hanson Presdt."
John Hanson's Presidency, despite being the first to serve over a group of Delegates entirely elected under the new Articles of Confederation, also suffered from cavalier attendance under the new Confederation Constitution. Hanson wrote the States shortly after his election:
"Sir, Philadelphia, Nov. 15th. 1781. Congress feel themselves reduced to the disagreeable necessity of directing me to write to your Excellency respecting the deficiency of a Representation from your State. For a considerable time past only seven States have been represented, and those merely by the essential number of Delegates. From this information you will readily conceive, without a minute and painful detail, the numerous inconveniencies and real dangers they are subjected to, abstracted from every consideration of interest, honor and reputation.
The most important powers vested in Congress by the Confederation lie dormant at this time by reason of the impunctuality of the Delegates of six States in point of attendance, and some of those powers too indispensably necessary to be exercised at this great and important Crisis. Permit me, Sir, to flatter myself that it is superfluous to urge any thing more upon this delicate but momentous subject, and to hope that your Excellency's influence will be exerted to prevail upon your State to send forward and keep up a full Representation in future.”
It was only two days later with support of 21 delegates against 2 that Edmund Randolph's motion to take a national census failed due to quorum requirements not being met. Two delegations were divided and five states were unrepresented on November 17th so only Six States voted YES on the census resolution. The Confederation government, despite the Victory at Yorktown and newly elected Articles' representatives, was off to an all too familiar shaky start in its efforts to govern the United States of America.
Despite this John Hanson and the United States in Congress Assembled did not forget the superb efforts of General Lafayette defending Virginia against Cornwallis while George Washington was preparing to attack General Clinton in New York. John Hanson wrote to the Marquis de Lafayette on November 24th, 1781:
"It is with infinite pleasure and satisfaction, that I transmit to you the inclosed copy of an Act of Congress of the 23d instant.
Believe me, Sir, that Congress being sensible of your great ability, integrity and fortitude, and your distinguished and zealous attachment to the cause of America, have, with the greatest chearfulness, bestowed upon you the new and great marks of confidence & esteem contained in that Act-And certain I am they could not have bestowed them more worthily or with greater propriety.
I shall at this time only beg leave to assure you, that it is my most sincere & ardent prayer, that you may have a safe & prosperous voyage to your native Country; that you may receive a gracious and welcome reception from the greatest and best of Kings; and that you may arrive to an happy and pleasing interview with your Family; And permit me to indulge the Hope of your speedy return to America.
With the highest sentiments of respect & esteem, I have the honor to be &c. J. H."
John Hanson's Congress granted Lafayette leave to return to France commending him in a formal resolution for his conduct during his command in Virginia. They also directed the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to prepare a letter for the King of France of thanks to be carried by Lafayette on his return home.
1781's business concluded on Monday, December 31 with the passage of Robert Morris's very important plan for the Bank of North America with the following ordinance:
"An Ordinance to Incorporate The Subscribers to The Bank Of North America.
Whereas a National Bank, properly constituted, governed and Conducted, will be of great advantage to these United States; and whereas a Subscription for a National Bank has been opened, and the Subscribers deserve the Protection, encouragement and assistance of the public: And whereas it is proper and necessary that the Subscribers to this Bank should be incorporated in order to carry into full effect the good ends proposed by it.
Whereas Congress on the 26th day of May last did, from a conviction of the support which the finances of the United States would receive from the establishment1 of a national bank, approve a plan for such an institution submitted to their consideration by Robert Morris, esq. and now lodged among the archives of Congress, and did engage to promote the same by the most effectual means; and whereas, the subscription thereto is now filled from an expectation of a charter of incorporation from Congress, the directors and president are chosen, and application hath been made to Congress by the said president and directors for an act of incorporation: and whereas, the exigencies of the United States render it indispensably necessary that such an act be immediately passed:
Be it therefore ordained, and it is hereby ordained, by the United States in Congress assembled, that those who are, and those who shall become subscribers to the said bank be, and forever after shall be, a corporation and body politic to all intents and purposes, by the name and stile of 'The President, Directors and Company of the Bank of North America.'
And be it further ordained, that the said corporation are hereby declared and made able and capable in law, to have, purchase, receive, possess, enjoy, and retain lands, rents, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels and effects, of what kind, nature or quality soever, to the amount of thirty ten millions of Spanish silver milled dollars and no more; and also to sell, grant, demise, alien, or dispose of the same lands, rents, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels and effects.
And be it further ordained, that the said corporation be, and shall be forever hereafter, able and capable in law, to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend, and be defended, in courts of record or any other place whatsoever; and to do and execute all and singular other matters and things that to them shall or may appertain to do.
And be it further ordained, that for the well governing of the said corporation and the ordering of their affairs, they shall have such officers as they shall hereafter direct or appoint: Provided nevertheless, that twelve directors, one of whom shall be the president of the corporation, be of the number of their officers.
And be it further ordained, that Thomas Willing be the present president, and that the said Thomas Willing, and Thomas Fitzsimmons, John Maxwell Nesbit, James Wilson, Henry Hill, Samuel Osgood, Cadwallader Morris, Andrew Caldwell, Samuel Inglis, Samuel Meredith, William Bingham, Timothy Matlack, be the present directors of the said corporation; and shall so continue until another president and other directors shall be chosen according to the laws and regulations of the said corporation.
And be it further ordained, that the president and directors of the said corporation, shall be capable of exercising such power for the well governing and ordering of the affairs of the said corporation, and of holding such occasional meetings for that purpose, as shall be described, fixed and determined by the laws, regulations and ordinances of the said corporation.
And be it further ordained, that the said corporation may make, ordain, establish, and put in execution such laws, ordinances and regulations as shall seem necessary and convenient to the government of the said corporation.
[Provided always, that nothing herein before contained, shall be construed to authorize the said corporation, to exercise any powers in any of the United States, repugnant to the laws or constitution of such State.]
And be it further ordained, that the said corporation shall have full power and authority, to make, have and use, a common seal, with such device and inscription as they shall think proper, and the same to break, alter and renew at their pleasure.
And be it further ordained, that this ordinance shall be construed, and taken most favorably and beneficially for the said corporation.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislature of each State, to pass such laws as they may judge necessary, for giving the foregoing ordinance its full operation, agreeably to the true intent and meaning thereof, and according to the recommendations contained in the resolutions of the 26th day of May last."
This was another step in the evolution of the watering down the duties and power of the Presidency. Power that was willingly delegated to a host of various executive departments and committees. Many of these new committees and positions, such as the Minister of Finance, were formed under Presidents Huntington and McKean to relieve the presidency of what became an almost unbearable task during the campaigns of 1780 and 1781. President John Hanson followed their lead, despite being relieved of the pressures of war, when he successfully proposed the removal of the voluminous correspondence tasks from his office. On January 28th, 1782 Congress passed Hanson's resolution transferring the "signature" and other communication duties to the Secretary of the United States, Charles Thomson:
"Resolved, That it shall be the business of the Secretary1st. To transmit to the Superintendant of finance, all papers referred to him by Congress; as well as an authenticated copy of every act, ordinance and resolution of Congress touching the finances of the United States and particularly of those which relate to supplies, the expenditure of public money or the settlement of public accounts: to the Secretary at War, all papers referred to him by Congress; as well as an authenticated copy of every act, ordinance and resolution touching his department and particularly of those which relate to military preparations or the land forces of the United States and: to the Secretary or agent of marine, or to the person entrusted with the duties of the office of Secretary or agent of marine, all papers referred to him by Congress; as well as an authenticated copy of every act, ordinance or and resolution touching his department and particularly those which relate to naval preparations and maritime matters: and to the Secretary for foreign affairs, all papers referred to him by Congress; as well as an authenticated copy of every act, ordinance and resolution of Congress touching his department and particularly of those which relate to the intercourse between the U. S. and foreign nations or which it may be necessary to communicate to the Ministers of these United States at foreign courts.
2nd. To return such answers as Congress shall direct to be given to the memorials petitions and communications: To keep a daily register account of all memorials,
petitions and communications received by Congress, noting therein their object and the steps taken respecting them; and lay the said account or register every day, on the table of Congress for the inspection of the members.
3rd. To return such answers as Congress shall direct to be given to the memorials, petitions and communications, except where Congress shall judge it proper that the same be given by their President, or where it shall be the duty of any of the executive departments to return such answers:
4th. To attend Congress during their sessions, and, in their recess, to attend the committee of the states, to read the public despatches, acts, ordinances and reports of committees, and to make the proper entries in the journals; to authenticate all acts and proceedings not specially directed to be authenticated by their President; and to keep a register of all treaties, conventions and ordinances:
5th. To cause to be made and laid upon the table for every State represented in Congress, a copy of every ordinance or report upon a matter of importance, and not of a secret nature, for the consideration of which a day is assigned:
6th. To keep the public seal, and cause the same to be affixed to every act, ordinance or paper, which Congress shall direct:
7th. To superintend the printing of the journals and publications ordered by Congress:
8th. To keep a book in which shall be noted in columns, the names of the several members of Congress, the State which they represent, the date of their appointments, the term for which they are appointed, and the date of leave of absence.
Resolved, That so much of the act of 22 March, 1777, as directs that attested copies of resolutions coming within the purview of this act, be sent to the President, to be transmitted by him, be, and hereby is repealed.
Resolved, That the salary of the Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, be three thousand dollars per annum."
On February the 18th, 1782 the United States in Congress Assembled authorized George Washington broad powers to negotiate directly with Great Britain over the fate of Cornwallis and his army:
"Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be, and he is hereby authorised to negotiate a cartel or cartels, either general or special, with the enemy; stipulating for the subsistance, safe keeping, exchanging, liberating, and better treating of all prisoners of war, whether of land or sea, in such manner, and on such terms as he shall judge expedient and beneficial for the United States; and also to include therein all citizens not found in arms, who have been or hereafter shall be captured by either power, so that citizen shall be exchanged for citizen in all cases of their capture to take such measures for the liberation of citizens who have been captured not in arms, as may seem expedient; or to negotiate any seperate treaty concerning such citizens, for the mutual prevention of any future captures' provided such cartel, cartels and agreement, establish rules for the similar treatment of prisoners of war and citizens captured by either power in all cases whatsoever.
That the Commander in Chief be also empowered to take measures for settling all past accounts respecting prisoners, and that all former resolutions relative to the exchange of prisoners by the Commander in Chief be repealed.
Resolved, That nothing contained in the resolution of this date for authorising the Commander in Chief to negotiate a cartel with the enemy be construed to authorize the exchange of Lieutenant General Cornwallis by composition."
Washington acted quickly negotiating the release of former President Henry Laurens from the Tower of London for Lt. General Cornwallis on February the 23rd. Ramsay's 1789 account of Laurens imprisonment and release gives a good indication of some of the hardships the former President faced:
"He had been committed there, as already related, on the 6th of October 1780, 'On suspicion of high treason,' after being examined in the presence of lord Stormont, lord George Germaine, lord Hillsborough, Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Justice Addington, and others. The commitment was accompanied with a warrant to the Lieutenant of the tower to receive and confine him. Their lordships orders were 'To confine him a close prisoner: to be locked up every night; to be in the custody of two warders; not to suffer him to be out of their sight one moment, day nor night: to allow him no liberty of speaking to any person, nor to permit any person to speak to him; to deprive him of the use of pen and ink; to suffer no letter to be brought to him, nor any to go from him.'
Mr. Laurens was then fifty five years old, and severely afflicted with the gout and other infirmities. In this situation he was conducted to apartments in the tower, and was shut up in two small rooms which together made about twenty feet square, with a warder for his constant companion, and a fixed bayonet under his window, without any friend to converse with and without any prospect or even the means of correspondence. Being debarred the use of pen and ink, he procured pencils, which proved an useful substitute. After a month's confinement, he was permitted to walk out on limited ground, but a warder with a sword in his hand followed close behind.
Mr. Laurens' sufferings in the tower became generally known, and excited compassion in his favour, and odium against the authors of his confinement. It had been also found by the inefficacy of many attempts that no concessions could be obtained from him. It was therefore resolved to release him, but difficulties arose about the mode. Mr. Laurens would not consent to any act, which implied that he was a British subject, and he had been committed as such, on charge of high treason. [1781] Ministers to extricate themselves from this difficulty, at length proposed to take bail for his appearance at the court of King's-Bench. When the words of the recognizance, "Our Sovereign Lord the King," were read to Mr. Laurens, he replied in open court "Not my Sovereign," and with this declaration he, with Mr. Oswald and Mr. Anderson as his securities, entered into an obligation for his appearance at the court of King's-Bench the next Easter term, and for not departing thence without leave of the court. Thus ended a long and a painful farce. Mr. Laurens was immediately released. When the time of his appearance at court drew near, he was not only discharged from all
obligations to attend, but was requested by lord Shelburne to go to the continent, in subserviency to a scheme for making peace with America. Mr. Laurens, startled at the idea of being released without any equivalent, as he had uniformly held himself to be a prisoner of war, replied that
'He durst not accept himself as a gift, and that as Congress had once offered Lieut. Gen. Burgoyne for him, he had no doubt of their now giving Lieut. Gen. Earl Cornwallis for the same purpose.' "
With Laurens released and George Washington empowered to negotiate his strong position with the British Admiraty, John Hanson was now able to focus on more pressing matters of state. On February 21st Hanson signed a resolution to establish a new United States Mint "Resolved, That Congress approve of the establishment of a mint; and, that the Superintendent of Finance be, and hereby is directed to prepare and report to Congress a plan for establishing and conducting the same." The very next day Congress and Hanson completed the reorganization of the Department of Foreign affairs:
"Resolved, That the department of foreign affairs be raider the direction of such officer, as the United States in Congress assembled have already for that purpose appointed, or shall hereafter appoint, who shall be stiled, 'Secretary to the United States of America, for the department of foreign affairs;' shall reside where Congress or the committee of the states shall sit, and hold his office during the pleasure of Congress:
That the books, records and other papers of the United States, that relate to this department, be committed to his custody subject always to the inspection of Congress or of such persons as they may appoint to which and all other papers of his office, any member of Congress shall have access: provided that no copy shall be taken of matters of a secret nature without the special leave of Congress:
That the correspondence and communications with the ministers, consuls and agents of the United States in foreign countries, and with the ministers and other officers of foreign powers with Congress, be carried on through the office of foreign affairs by the said Secretary, who is also empowered to correspond with all other persons from whom he may expect to receive useful information relative to his department: provided always, that letters to the ministers of the United States, or ministers of foreign powers, which have a direct reference to treaties or conventions proposed to be entered into, or instructions relative thereto, or other great national subjects, shall be submitted to the inspection and receive the approbation of Congress before they shall be transmitted:
That the Secretary for the department of foreign affairs correspond with the governors or presidents of all or any of the United States, affording them such information from his department as may be useful to their states or to the United States explaining the principles on which resolutions relative to his department have passed Congress, stating complaints that may have been urged against the government of any of the said states, or the subjects thereof, by the subjects of foreign powers, so that justice may be done agreeably to the laws of such State, or the charge proved to be groundless, and the honor of the government vindicated:
He shall receive the applications of all foreigners and others relative to his department, which are designed to be submitted to Congress, and direct advise the mode in which the memorials and evidence shall be stated in order to afford Congress the most
comprehensive view of the subject, and if he conceives it necessary, accompany such memorial with his report thereon he may concert measures with the ministers or officers of foreign powers, amicably to procure the redress of private injuries, which any citizen of the United States may have received from a foreign power or the subjects thereof, making minutes of all his transactions relative thereto, and entering the letters at large which have passed on such occasions and submitting them at all times to the inspection of Congress, or of such persons as they may appoint:
He shall report on all cases expressly referred to him for that purpose by Congress, and on all others touching his department, in which he may conceive it necessary:
And that he may acquire that intimate knowledge of the sentiments of Congress, which is necessary for his direction, he may at all times attend upon Congress, and particularly when the President of Congress shall summon him to attend shall particularly attend when summoned or ordered by the President Struck out Resolved, That a seat be assigned him in Congress, which he shall take on the order of the house expressed either upon the motion of a member, or in consequence of his request in writing directed to the President. That when he shall have taken his seat, and not before, he shall be considered as officially in Congress, and may give information respecting his department, explain and answer objections to his reports, when under consideration, and state such questions as may be necessary for his information. He shall answer from his seat to such inquiries, respecting his department, as may be put from the chair, by order of Congress, and to questions stated in writing about matters of fact which lie within his knowledge, when put by the President at the request of a member, and not disapproved of by Congress. The answer to such questions may, at the option of the Secretary be delivered by him in writing.
He may give information to Congress respecting his department, explain and answer objections to his reports when under consideration, if required by a member and no objection be made by Congress: he shall answer to such enquiries respecting his department as may be put from the chair by order of Congress, and to questions stated in writing about matters of fact which lie within his knowledge, when put by the President at the request of a member, and not disapproved of by Congress; the answers to such questions may, at the option of the Secretary, be delivered by him in writing:
He shall have free access to the papers and records of the United States, in the custody of their Secretary, or in the offices of finance and war or elsewhere; he may be furnished with copies, or take extracts therefrom, when he shall find it necessary in the execution of his office:
He shall use means to obtain from the ministers and agents of the said United States in foreign countries, an abstract of their present state, their commerce, finances, naval and military strength, and the characters of sovereigns and ministers, and every other political information which may be useful to the United States:
All letters to sovereign powers, letters of credence, plans of treaties, conventions, manifestoes, instructions, passports, safe conducts, and other acts of Congress relative to the department of foreign affairs, when the substance thereof shall have been previously agreed to in Congress, shall be reduced to form in the office of foreign affairs, and submitted to the opinion of Congress, and when passed, signed and attested, sent to the office of foreign affairs to be countersigned and forwarded, If an original paper is of such a nature as cannot be safely transmitted without cyphers, a copy in cyphers, signed by the Secretary for the department of foreign affairs, shall be considered as authentic, and the ministers of the United States at foreign courts may govern themselves thereby in the like manner as if the originals had been transmitted.
And for the better execution of the duties hereby assigned him, he is authorised to appoint an assistant a secretary and clerk and one, or if necessary, more clerks, to assist him in the business of his office.
An Interpreter shall also be annexed to this Department to be appointed by Congress, who besides the duties required of him by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, shall serve when required as interpreter to the United States in Congress their Respective Boards, and the Court of Appeals.
Resolved, That the salaries annexed to this department shall be as follows:
To the Secretary of the United States for the department of foreign affairs, and the contingent expences of his office the sum of four thousand dollars per annum, exclusive of office expences, to commence from the first day of October last: to the assistant dollars; to the secretary one thousand dollars per annum: to the interpreterdollars; to the clerks each five hundred dollars per annum.
Resolved, That the Secretary for the department of foreign affairs, and each of the persons employed under him, shall take an oath before the President of Congress [a judge of the State where Congress shall sit,] for the faithful discharge of their respective trusts, and an oath of fidelity to the United States before they enter upon office.
Resolved, That the act of the 10th day of January, 1781, respecting the department of foreign affairs, be, and hereby is repealed.”
Little did John Hanson and his fellow delegates realize that this office would become the most prestigious and influential executive position in the United States of America under the collapsing Confederation Constitution by 1788. On March 19, 1782, with this measure behind them, Congress, once again, turned their attention to thanking a “Supreme Being.” The Federal Government passed and Hanson executed a call for a Day of Fasting:
Proclamation
"The goodness of the Supreme Being to all his rational creatures, demands their acknowledgments of gratitude and love; his absolute government of this world dictates, that it is the interest of every nation and people ardently to supplicate his mercy favor and implore his protection. When the lust of dominion or lawless ambition excites arbitrary power to invade the rights, or endeavor to wrench wrest from a people their sacred and unalienable invaluable privileges, and compels them, in defence of the same, to encounter all the horrors and calamities of a bloody and vindictive war; then is that people loudly called upon to fly unto that God for protection, who hears the eries of the distressed, and will not turn a deaf ear to the supplication of the oppressed.
Great Britain, hitherto left to infatuated councils, and to pursue measures repugnant to their her own interest, and distressing to this country, still persists in the chimerical idea design of subjugating these United States; which will compel us into another active and perhaps bloody campaign. The United States in Congress assembled, therefore, taking into consideration our present situation, our multiplied transgressions of the holy laws of our God, and his past acts of kindness and goodness exercised towards us, which we would ought to record with the liveliest gratitude, think it their indispensable duty to call upon the different several states, to set apart the last Thursday in April next, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, that our joint supplications may then ascend to the throne of the Ruler of the Universe, beseeching Him that he would to diffuse a spirit of universal reformation among all ranks and degrees of our citizens; and make us a holy, that so we may be an happy people; that it would please Him to impart wisdom, integrity and unanimity to our counsellors; to bless and prosper the reign of our illustrious ally, and give success to his arms employed in the defence of the rights of human nature; that He would smile upon our military arrangements by land and sea; administer comfort and consolation to our prisoners in a cruel captivity; that he would protect the health and life of our Commander in Chief; give grant us victory over our enemies; establish peace in all our borders, and give happiness to all our inhabitants; that he would prosper the labor of the husbandman, making the earth yield its increase in abundance, and give a proper season for the in gathering of the fruits thereof; that He would grant success to all engaged in lawful trade and commerce, and take under his guardianship all schools and seminaries of learning, and make them nurseries of virtue and piety; that He would incline the hearts of all men to peace, and fill them with universal charity and benevolence, and that the religion of our Divine Redeemer, with all its benign influences, may cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.
John Hanson, President
March 19, 1782”
Due to the President's illness on April 15th Congress took up the matter of creating another executive office, Vice President of the United States in Congress Assembled. The following motion failed as recorded by the Journals on April 15th:
"A motion was then made by Mr. [Samuel] Livermore, seconded by Mr. [Elias] Boudinot, in the following words:
That a Vice-president be chosen by ballot, to exercise the office of Vice-president of Congress in the absence or inability of the President, until the first day of November next; and that in case of such absence or inability, the Vice-president shall exercise all the powers of President of Congress.
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr.Scott, So the question was lost."
The delegates then decided to elect Daniel Carroll "chairman" during the illness of President Hanson to preside over Congress. This position of chairman would become very important in the later years of the confederation as many presidents, especially John Hancock in 1786, were unable to fill the chair of Congress during the enactment of crucial legislation including the Northwest Ordinance.
In May John Hanson and the Delegates took up the matters of negotiating peace with Great Britain. John Hanson, as well as the other members of Congress, had hoped for peace with Great Britain by July 4th, 1782 but Britain had refused to enter into formal negotiations. Hanson had supported the eight main goals of the commissioners, four of which were considered to be essential to any peace settlement:
1. United States Independence and removal of all British troops
2. Settlement of all boundaries to avert further conflicts with England
3. Canadian boundaries to revert to the lines before the Quebec Act
4. American rights to fish in the Grand Banks and use of Canadian shores to dry and cure the catch.
The other four goals were primarily negotiating points and they are best described as:
1. Great Britain ceding all of Canada to the United States
2. British restitution for damage caused by British military action
3. A formal apology by Parliament admitting that Great Britain was wrong to have conducted the war
4. Granting American ships and merchants to have the same rights and privileges of commerce as their British counterparts within the British Empire.
The point on which Hanson and some of the commissioners differed on meant nothing or everything to these negotiations depending on your point of view. It was a point that caused the British to stall the negotiations for a peaceful end to the war. John Hanson and the majority of Delegates wanted France to be included in the talks with Great Britain. On May 31, 1782, President John Hanson and his Congress made it crystal clear to all the commissioners that the peace conference must include France with the following resolution:
"Resolved, That the Secretary for foreign affairs acquaint the minister plenipotentiary of France, that the signal proofs of inviolable constancy to his engagements, given by his Most Christian Majesty in the answer to the attempts of the British court to seduce him into a seperate peace, has been received by Congress with the sentiments with which it ought naturally to inspire faithful and affectionate allies, and entirely corresponds with the expectations which the magnanimity and good faith of his past conduct had established. That Congress embrace with particular satisfaction this occasion of renewing to his Most Christian Majesty the assurances which they have so often and so sincerely repeated, of a reciprocal and equal resolution to adhere, in every event, to the principles of the alliance, and to hearken to no propositions for peace which axe not perfectly conformable thereto.
That in case any propositions conformable to these principles should be made to them, which the insidious steps the British Court is pursuing render very improbable at the present juncture, Congress will be no less attentive than they have heretofore been to the precautions necessary for preventing delays and preserving harmony and confidence in the discussion of them.
That the insidious steps which the Court of London is pursuing render it improbable that any propositions conformable to those principles will be made to the United States; but that in case such propositions should be made, Congress will not depart from the precautions measures which they have heretofore taken for preventing delay, and for conducting the discussions of them, in confidence, and in concert with his Most Christian Majesty; and that as Congress observe, with the warmest approbation, the purpose of his Most Christian Majesty to oppose to the false appearances of peace held out by Great Britain, those redoubled efforts which may render her sincerely disposed to it, so his Majesty may be persuaded, that they are no less impressed with the necessity of such concurrent exertions on the part of the United States, as may frustrate the views of the common enemy in the new defensive system which their policy seems to have adopted on this continent.
That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs also furnish to the said Minister Plenipotentiary a copy of so much of the letter of the day of last from the Commander in chief as relates to a letter to him from General Carloton together with copies of the latter and of the resolution of Congress passed in consequence thereof.
That the Secretary of F. Affairs transmit copies of the first of these resolutions and of the papers referred to in the last, to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the U. States at the Court of Versailles and to their other public minister in Europe."
In June John Hanson removed his legislative and presidential "hats" to don the robes of Chief Justice. Hanson presided over a border dispute between Connecticut and Pennsylvania in Congress for the next three days. Following that hearing President Hanson addressed a series of rash mail robberies with hearings resulting in a resolution and this circular letter to the States:
"Sir, Philadelphia June 19th 1782
Inclosed your Excellency will receive an Act of Congress of this date, requesting the states of New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware And Maryland to pursue the most likely measures for recovering the Mail, of which the southern post was robbed on Sunday the 16th, within five Miles of Harford in the State of Maryland.
With Sentiments of esteem & regard, I have the honor to be, Your Excellencys most humble Servt, John Hanson Presidt"
The resolution was drafted by James Madison, Jr. (a future President of the United States) offering rewards for the apprehension and conviction of robbers of the United States mail.
The summer of 1782 was an eventful one in the Hanson Presidency. On July 23rd Congress took up the hospital department regulations and revised them. On the 31st Congress recommended the use of any western land cessions by Great Britain as collateral for restoring the public credit of the United States. On the first of August, Hanson's congress reorganized the adjutant general's department. On August 6th Congress revised John Jay's diplomatic instructions in Spain opening the door for his participation in the negotiations with Great Britain. This was a turning point in the formation of the Treaty of Paris as former President John Jay was adamant, and eventually successful, in excluding France from the negotiations. On August the 9th Hanson received good news from the British commissioners' that peace negotiations had begun at Paris with the United States.
In September the confederation's business, once again, turned to Christianity. In a response for "… a neat edition of the Holy Scriptures for the use of Schools" the Delegates began to debate the matter in early September. It was a common practice then and up until the 1850's for the
federal government to be involved in funding Christian education. The Journals of the United States of America in Congress assembled report on September 12, 1782:
"That Mr. Aitken has at a great expense now finished an American edition of the holy scriptures in English; that the committee have, from time to time, conferred with him attended to his progress in the work: that they also recommended it to the two chaplains of Congress to examine and give their opinion of the execution, who have accordingly reported thereon:
The recommendation and report being as follows:
Philadelphia, 1 September, 1782.
Rev. Gentlemen, Our knowledge of your piety and public spirit leads us without apology to recommend to your particular attention the edition of the Holy Scriptures publishing by Mr. Aitken. He undertook this expensive work at a time, when from the circumstances of the war, an English edition of the Bible could not be imported, nor any opinion formed how long the obstruction might continue. On this account particularly he deserves applause and encouragement. We therefore wish you, reverend gentlemen, to examine the execution of the work, and if approved, to give it the sanction of your judgment and the weight of your recommendation. We are with very great respect, your most obedient humble servants, (Signed) James Duane, Chairman, In behalf of a committee of Congress on Mr. Aitken's memorial. Rev. Dr. White and Rev. Mr. Duffield, chaplains of the United States in Congress assembled.
Gentlemen, Agreeably to your desire, we have paid attention to Mr. Robert Aitken's impression of the holy scriptures, of the old and new testament. Having selected and examined a variety of passages throughout the work, we are of opinion, that it is executed with great accuracy as to the sense, and with as few grammatical and typographical errors as could be expected in an undertaking of such magnitude. Being ourselves witnesses of the demand for this invaluable book, we rejoice in the present prospect of a supply, hoping that it will prove as advantageous as it is honorable to the gentleman, who has exerted himself to furnish it at the evident risk of private fortune. We are, gentlemen, your very respectful and humble servants,
(Signed) William White, George Duffield. Philadelphia, September 10, 1782. Hon. James Duane, esq. chairman, and the other hon. gentlemen of the committee of Congress on Mr. Aitken's memorial.
Whereupon, Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient to the interest of religion as well as an instance of the progress of arts in this country, and being satisfied from the above report, of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work, they recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall think proper."
This edition was printed and is known as "The Bible of Revolution". Aitken's Bible, published under Congressional patronage, was the first English language Bible published on the North American continent - Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
President Hanson was the first to utilize the title “President of the United States in Congress Assembled” after his name in an official resolution of Congress. Thomas McKean resolutions ended, “United States in Congress Assembled, Thomas McKean President.” The Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled report that on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1782 the following resolution was enacted for the exchange of Prisoners with Great Britain, whereby John Hanson signed his name as President of the United States
As the post above purports, John Hanson was the third president under the Articles of Confederation, not the first, and the office of president in the confederation was not the executive branch of government as it is today. It was merely the figurehead of the very weak congress of state representatives. The federal government held little power over the states and each state considered itself a sovereign nation, comparable to the current European Union. At this time one would say: “The United States of America are…” rather than “The United States of America is…”.
To say the president of congress under the Articles of Confederation was the President of the United States is misleading to a modern person, but Hanson did use that title.
As for Hanson’s ethnicity, the man in the photograph is inarguably of African decent, but photography was not invented until the 1820s, and Hanson died in 1783. The photograph is a fallacy. This does not, however, prove Hanson was not a black man, but portraits of Hanson painted in that era show him quite white in complexion.
Acording to Wikipedia: The myth that John Hanson was a black man was started by a comedian and black activist named Dick Gregory.
Last edited by Drewh313 on Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:32 pm; edited 1 time in total
Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:56 am
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madthumbs
Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 8249 Location: Fingerlakes - NY usa
Are we sure it's conclusive? After seeing how they apparently turned Jesus white (who I still believe is fictitious but a point none the less) I wouldn't doubt that they could have botched this bit of history. Maybe I just want it to be real too much.
