Proclamations and the Founding Father Presidents, 1789-1825

Christopher J Young

2011, Federal History

visibility

…

description

11 pages

link

1 file

AI-generated Abstract

This article delves into the significance and implications of presidential proclamations during the formative years of the United States (1789-1825), focusing on the Founding Father presidents. It argues that proclamations were crucial in establishing the authority of the executive office and communicating with the American public, differing from executive orders, which target government entities. The study highlights key proclamations and their contexts, revealing how these documents provide insight into the political landscape and challenges of the early republic.

Figures (6)

The White House in August 1814 after the attack by British forces.
By Christopher J. Young
Proclamations and the Founding
Father Presidents, 1789-1825
“hristopher J. Young is an Assistant Professor of History at Indiana University Northwest.
ETRE OS ee OM Sa RR | RO eS | Asa arrere Secret a PEO ISL a aie Oo Do i is SD ad Ca Ns A Se ae Meee SS MS oS

' James Madison, “Proclamation—Calling All Citizens to Unite in Defense of the District of Columbia,” September 1,
1814, John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters, The American Presidency Project, http://www .presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=65 968,
Proclamations under review in this essay can be found in James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers
of the Presidents, Vols. 1 & 2 (New York: Bureau of National Literature, Inc., 1897); John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters, The
American Presidency Project, http://www presidency.ucsb.edu/proclamations.php; The Papers of George Washington Digital
Edition, ed. Theodore J. Crackel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2008; The Thomas Jefferson Papers,
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/; The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Barbara B. Oberg, vol. 35
(Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008), 747; The Papers of James Madison, ed., J.C.A. Stagg. Charlottesville: Uni-
versity of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2010. — The White House in August 1814 after the attack by British forces. By Christopher J. Young Proclamations and the Founding Father Presidents, 1789-1825 “hristopher J. Young is an Assistant Professor of History at Indiana University Northwest. ETRE OS ee OM Sa RR | RO eS | Asa arrere Secret a PEO ISL a aie Oo Do i is SD ad Ca Ns A Se ae Meee SS MS oS ' James Madison, “Proclamation—Calling All Citizens to Unite in Defense of the District of Columbia,” September 1, 1814, John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters, The American Presidency Project, http://www .presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=65 968, Proclamations under review in this essay can be found in James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, Vols. 1 & 2 (New York: Bureau of National Literature, Inc., 1897); John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters, The American Presidency Project, http://www presidency.ucsb.edu/proclamations.php; The Papers of George Washington Digital Edition, ed. Theodore J. Crackel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2008; The Thomas Jefferson Papers, http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/; The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Barbara B. Oberg, vol. 35 (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008), 747; The Papers of James Madison, ed., J.C.A. Stagg. Charlottesville: Uni- versity of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2010.

John Adams proclaimed a day of national thanksgiving on March 23, 1798.
Different Types of Proclamations — John Adams proclaimed a day of national thanksgiving on March 23, 1798. Different Types of Proclamations

during his first term as well as his lifelong respect for—even at times, deference to—legislative bodies.
In accordance with Congress’s request for a day of thanksgiving, George Washington’s proclamation
called on Americans to thank God for carrying them through war, for the union and prosperity they
currently enjoyed, for the ratification of constitutions, “particularly the national one now lately insti-
tuted,” and for the liberties “with which we are blessed.” Moreover, the President encouraged his fellow
citizens to give thanks for “the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in
general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.”° — during his first term as well as his lifelong respect for—even at times, deference to—legislative bodies. In accordance with Congress’s request for a day of thanksgiving, George Washington’s proclamation called on Americans to thank God for carrying them through war, for the union and prosperity they currently enjoyed, for the ratification of constitutions, “particularly the national one now lately insti- tuted,” and for the liberties “with which we are blessed.” Moreover, the President encouraged his fellow citizens to give thanks for “the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.”°

Thomas Jefferson’s proclamation of July 2, 1807, ordered armec
British vessels to depart from American harbors.
ihe most controversial proclamation OF _ British vessels to depart from American harbors.

this type was George Washington’s

proclamation of neutrality. Issued on April 22, 1793, it declared the United States to be impartial
in the European conflict that was being carried out on the high seas as well as at times in Amer-
ican seaports. Immediately, critics questioned whether the President had the authority to declare
a state of neutrality. Some wondered if this handicapped Congress’s ability and constitutional
right to declare war as stated in Article I, Section 8. Published when the flamboyant and reckless
French minister Edmond Genet was at the height of his popularity in the United States, the
proclamation of neutrality was the catalyst to a number of essays, most famously the public de-
bate between Pacificus (Alexander Hamilton) and Helvidius (James Madison). It also inspired — Thomas Jefferson’s proclamation of July 2, 1807, ordered armec British vessels to depart from American harbors. ihe most controversial proclamation OF _ British vessels to depart from American harbors. this type was George Washington’s proclamation of neutrality. Issued on April 22, 1793, it declared the United States to be impartial in the European conflict that was being carried out on the high seas as well as at times in Amer- ican seaports. Immediately, critics questioned whether the President had the authority to declare a state of neutrality. Some wondered if this handicapped Congress’s ability and constitutional right to declare war as stated in Article I, Section 8. Published when the flamboyant and reckless French minister Edmond Genet was at the height of his popularity in the United States, the proclamation of neutrality was the catalyst to a number of essays, most famously the public de- bate between Pacificus (Alexander Hamilton) and Helvidius (James Madison). It also inspired

The controversy stemmed no doubt from constitutional issues, but also a deeply rooted fear that
reemerged several years earlier during the Constitutional Convention and the ratification debates
regarding what was known as the “prerogative.” The issue arises when a Presidential action does
not have, according to critics, statutory support. The concern for some was whether the difference
between the chief executive of the United States and the British Crown would be in name only
because of the executive’s “prerogative,” or as Americans have historically called it, “presidential
discretion.” Regardless of Hamilton’s attempt in Federalist number 69 to ameliorate concerns
regarding the prerogative, the neutrality controversy brought them out anew.’ — The controversy stemmed no doubt from constitutional issues, but also a deeply rooted fear that reemerged several years earlier during the Constitutional Convention and the ratification debates regarding what was known as the “prerogative.” The issue arises when a Presidential action does not have, according to critics, statutory support. The concern for some was whether the difference between the chief executive of the United States and the British Crown would be in name only because of the executive’s “prerogative,” or as Americans have historically called it, “presidential discretion.” Regardless of Hamilton’s attempt in Federalist number 69 to ameliorate concerns regarding the prerogative, the neutrality controversy brought them out anew.’

James Monroe offered a reward on July 10, 1821, for the capture of the
murderer of grocer William Seaver in the county of Alexandria and
the District of Columbia. — James Monroe offered a reward on July 10, 1821, for the capture of the murderer of grocer William Seaver in the county of Alexandria and the District of Columbia.