Washington, George — Moses Seixas | "Address of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport"

Washington, George — Moses Seixas

"Address of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode-Island," in the Gazette of the United States, Volume II, No. 45 (Whole No. 149). New York: John Fenno, 15 September 1790

Folio, 4 pages (418 x 253 mm). On a full sheet of laid paper, fine woodcut seal of the United States heading a legislative report, text in three columns; lightly browned, a few stray spots, faint marginal dampstaining, a few small marginal chips, disbound.

George Washington's most explicit pronouncement on religious tolerance, and one of the great pillars of American religious liberty.

When Rhode Island finally ratified the Constitution on 29 May 1790, George Washington expressed his approbation by visiting Newport with a large entourage that included Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. According to Jonathan D. Sarna: "On August 18 four addresses (written, in keeping with the literary style of the day, in the form of open letters) were read out to the president at a prearranged ceremony; it was customary to greet visiting dignitaries in this way." Sarna continues: "The final and most historically important address came from the 'Hebrew Congregation'—the community’s Jews. The fact that Jews were included at all is noteworthy. They formed a small but significant merchant community in Newport, and had built a beautiful synagogue, Yeshuat Israel, now known as the Touro Synagogue, in 1763."

It was Moses Seixas who presented Washington with this "Address of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport," which read: "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. ... For all the blessings of civil and religious liberty, which we enjoy under an equal and benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the ancient of days."

Washington soon responded by affirming his commitment to religious liberty: "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 a like 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. ... 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."

This exchange was first printed in the Boston Herald of Freedom on 7 September 1790. It has since been reprinted countless times.

REFERENCES

Jonathan D. Sarna, "George Washington's Correspondence with the Jews of Newport," in To Bigotry No Sanction: George Washington and Religious Freedom (Philadelphia: National Museum of American Jewish History, 2012); Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, ed. Mastromarino, 6: 284–286