Happy President’s Day week to you! We are so thankful for this holiday as we reflect on George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and this grand American experiment full of a history of Presidents - all peacefully elected and passing their torch from one President to the next.
George Washington was, not only our first President under our Constitution, but he was also President of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that wrote that Constitution. So let’s find out a little more about his role at the Convention.
Washington’s role began much earlier than this, in 1785. He had resigned his commission with the Continental Army and was living as a private citizen at Mount Vernon. He hosted the Mount Vernon Conference at his home. This conference was among the first official interstate meetings between states and has set a great precedent, even for an Article V convention to this day.
Washington invited delegates from Maryland and Virginia. They negotiated the use of the Potomac River, Pocomoke River, and the Chesapeake Bay. George Washington was not an official delegate to this meeting. But he did host the men in his home. He attended the meetings, offered his insight, and helped lead the delegates. That interstate meeting resulted in a 13-point agreement for navigational rights between those states. Those state legislatures then ratified that compact. Overall, this meeting set a foundational precedent for regular, interstate meetings among states to form their agreements and compacts, including the Annapolis Convention of 1786.
That particular convention was convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. Based on the success of the Mount Vernon Conference, state legislatures wanted to hold another interstate convention to address the Articles of Confederation. Washington did not attend this convention. Our country was weak; our government was even weaker, and the economy was falling apart. That system wasn’t working. Those delegates issued a report, urging for another convention that following spring, in order “to render the constitution … adequate to the exigencies of the Union.”
George Washington did attend the 1787 Philadelphia convention as a delegate of Virginia. He was elected President of the convention. And those 55 men set about doing their great work. It is also important to note here that within the first few days of the convention, a secretary and other members were elected to various roles, as well as the rules of the convention procedure were drafted. This is how a modern-day Article V convention would work as well - we have this and other historical procedural precedents to guide us!
Washington was a federalist. This means he supported a stronger, centralized federal government, over stronger state governments. For the most part, it is noted that he was quiet. He didn’t offer much debate. He let the other delegates do that. He was the deciding vote, as President, over different proposals. As he had been doing throughout his adult career, he was a strong and steady leader for our country.
James Monroe summarized this role best when, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson, he said “Be assured, [Washington’s] influence carried the government.”
Washington fought his entire life for a unified United States of America. He wanted to be a private citizen. He wanted to spend his time at Mount Vernon. But he followed a higher calling; he knew there was a higher purpose for this baby country known as America. And he was willing to take responsibility for it - to do the hard things that no one else could do.
I’ll end with this - George Washington wrote in a letter to James Madison in 1785: “We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a National character to support—If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it…”
Which are we? I know where Convention of States Michigan stands! The volunteers for this grassroots organization are working tirelessly to unify this country under an Article V convention to protect and preserve our beloved Constitution. Are you willing to do the hard things too? Join our Michigan team today!
Want to watch this President's Day presentation? Watch it here!
