To Bigotry No Sanction
Our first president's 340-word summary of American exceptionalism
In August of 1790, President George Washington wrote a brief letter in reply to an address from the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island. As I contemplate the descent into brute authoritarianism and antisemitic madness of our British, Canadian, and Australian cousins, his words remind me—should remind us all—that for all its flaws, America remains the best and greatest country on this troubled planet.
Gentlemen:
While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on 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 were 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 fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.
May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy. ~ G. Washington
Washington's original letter is preserved in a vault. There is a copy hanging on the synagogue's wall, and the text is publicly read out loud every August, not long before the fall holidays. A remarkable document from a remarkable man.
His sense of duty and doing the right thing we're strong, each time avoiding temptations of absolute power. He resigned his army commission rather than become a Caesar, voluntarily stepped down from the presidency after two terms, and freed his slaves, inherited from Martha, in his will.
Washington was highly conscious of the precedents he set as first president.
"It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights."
GW wrote this while being the largest slaveowner in North America, and yet he was a man without hypocrisy. I can only imagine that he thought as did Justice Taney that blacks were not another class of people but rather a different type of people.