The honours of the country continued to disturb the quiet of his retirement. During several months, affectionate addresses were received almost daily from all parts of the union. Unanimous votes for the erection of his statue were adopted in Congress and by the legislature of Virginia: this state also presented him with one hundred and fifty shares in a public improvement; but faithful to his fixed principles on the subject of recompense, Wash ington declined receiving the gift, otherwise than as a trust for purposes of general welfare. The society of the Cincinnati, formed by the officers of the late army to preserve the recollection of mutual friendship and suffering, unanimously chose as president their old commander.
With the restoration of peace, the immediate return of individual prosperity and public credit was fondly anticipated. In common with all other intelligent patriots, Washington plainly saw that a closer union of the states was necessary under a federal head. The public obligations must other wise remain without the duty of justice, and the weak government sinking into anarchy at home, could expect neither consideration nor respect abroad. It was only through the ordeal of suffer ing, that the states could be brought to abandon their favourite system of individual power; but when at length the calamities of the country— domestic insurrection—high taxes—and general bankruptcy had accumulated beyond endurance, the plan of a convention was reluctantly adopted. The powerful instances of many patriots prevailed on Washington to accept the appointment of a dele gate. The weight of his name was felt to be necessary to the important work of laying our national foundations.
Twelve states were represented at Philadelphia at the time appointed, leaving Rhode Island as the single exception. Washington was unanimously chosen to preside over the deliberations of the convention: and in due time their labour was pro duced and approved as the constitution of the United States. *All eyes were then turned upon the citizen of Virginia as the first president of the union, for all acknowledged that without him the national experiment had but little chance of suc cess. " It is to little purpose," said Hamilton, " to have introduced a system, if the weightiest influence is not given to its firm establishment in the outset." On the 14th of April 1789, the unanimous elec tion of George 'Washington was officially an nounced at Mount Vernon. " I wish," said the president elect, with that innate modesty which no triumph or homage could ever conquer, " that there may not be reason for regretting the choice; fur indeed all I can promise is to accomplish that which can be done by an holiest zeal." In his pri
vate diary, the memorandum made is full of deep feeling. " About ten o'clock I bade adieu to Mount Vernon, to private life and to domestic felicity, with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful sensations than I have words to ex press." His journey to New York which was then the seat of government, was one constant triumphal march. It was everywhere delayed by deputations, addresses, civil processions, military parades, and all the various tributes that could be paid by gratitude to the illustrious American be nefactor. On the 30th of April, the ceremony of inauguration was performed in the chamber of the senate, amid the acclamations of an immense mul titude.
The great and responsible work was now fairly begun of laying the foundation of a great republic, and of giving action to a government that stood without precedent for its' guidance. Bitter po litical animosities existed which deprived the fe deral government of that general co-operation so important to its commencement. The constitution itself was far from being secure against the attacks of its numerous enemies; and the whole western country teemed with discontent. In our foreign relations, the seeds of new wars against the Bar bary powers, Spain and England, were daily grow ing more visible. The territory of the United States was actually invaded in several points by large tribes of hostile Indians. The revenue of the union, embarrassed by conflicting interests, and in volved in disputed principles, was to be entirely regulated and raised. '' It presents to the ima gination," said Fisher Ames, " a deep, dark and dreary chaos, impossible to be reduced to order, unless the mind of the architect be clear and capa cious, and his power commensurate to the object." The executive departments, with the rules and system of their various operations, were all to be organized and digested. Undaunted by diffi culties, Washington bent all his energies to the glorious task. The best abilities of the nation were called to his assistance. The department of foreign affairs was entrusted to Thomas Jef ferson, the treasury to Alexander Hamilton; Gene ral Knox was secretary of war, and Edmund Ran dolph attorney-general. The supreme court was composed of distinguished juries, with John Jay as the chief justice. These were the first officers of Washington, who raised for themselves a monu ment of fame inferior only to that of their incom parable chief, and who are still referred to in the grateful recollection of an admiring country.