A Collection of the Speeches of the President of the United States, by George Washington, First Edition, Published by Manning and Loring, 1796

Washington, George. A Collection of the Speeches of the President of the United States to Both Houses of Congress, at the Opening of Every Session, with Their Answers. Also, the Addresses to the President, with His Answers, from the Time of His Election: With an Appendix, Containing the Circular Letter of General Washington to the Governors of the Several States, and His Farewell Orders, to the Armies of America, and the Answer. Dedicated to the Citizens of the United States of America. Boston: Manning and Loring for Solomon Cotton Jr., 1796. First printing. Rebound in full leather, with raised bands and gilt titles and tooling to the spine. 

Presented is an extraordinary first edition of A Collection of the Speeches of the President of the United States to Both Houses of Congress, at the Opening of Every Session, with Their Answers. Also, the Addresses to the President, with His Answers, from the Time of His Election. : With an Appendix, Containing the Circular Letter of General Washington to the Governors of the Several States, and His Farewell Orders, to the Armies of America, and the Answer, as compiled by Solomon Cotton Jr. and published by Manning and Loring in Boston in July of 1796. This important volume offers an unparalleled glimpse into the presidency of George Washington and the early political and civic life of the American republic.  It is attractively rebound in full brown leather boards, featuring raised bands and gilt titles and tooling to the spine.

The volume opens with Washington’s First Inaugural Address, delivered on April 30, 1789, in which the newly elected president lays out his vision of liberty grounded in moral duty and natural law. “There is no truth more thoroughly established,” he states, “than that there exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness, between duty and advantage.” He continues, warning that “the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.”

It continues with the full texts of his First through Seventh Annual Messages to Congress, dating from January 8, 1790 to December 8, 1795, and covering everything from military readiness and infrastructure to education, national debt, foreign policy, and frontier security. These addresses are rich with foundational insight into the functioning of the new republic and reflect Washington’s steady hand in shaping a cohesive national identity. 

Particularly noteworthy is his March 30, 1796 Message to Congress defending the controversial Jay Treaty, where he refused the House of Representatives’ demand for confidential documents. “The nature of foreign negotiations requires caution,” he writes, adding that “a full disclosure of all the measures... would be deemed impolitic” and could “produce immediate inconveniences, perhaps danger and mischief, in relation to other powers.” His refusal established the principle of executive privilege in matters of diplomacy and foreign affairs.

Another defining feature of this volume is the collection of more than fifty addresses sent to George Washington by various religious, civic, fraternal, and political organizations across the country, and his thoughtful replies to each. These documents provide a vivid portrait of the nation's diverse voices during its earliest years and offer insight into the public's reverence for their first president. Thirteen of these are from religious groups, including Quakers, Methodists, Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island.

One of the most celebrated exchanges in the volume is between Moses Seixas, representing Newport’s Jewish congregation, and President Washington, following his 1790 visit to Rhode Island. Seixas praised the new government as one “which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance,” and Washington echoed this powerful phrase in his response. “The Government of the United States,” he affirmed, “requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens.” Quoting the Hebrew Bible, Washington promised that “every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.” This exchange stands out as a foundational moment in American religious liberty. 

The volume concludes with two significant documents: Washington’s Circular Letter to the Governors of the States, dated June 18, 1783, and his Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States from November 2, 1783. In the Circular Letter, Washington urges the nation to preserve unity, honor its debts, maintain a strong militia, and cultivate mutual respect among citizens. “This is the moment to establish or ruin national Character forever,” he writes, as he warns that the fate of their new government is being closely watched by the world. In his Farewell Orders, he thanks the Continental Army for their “unparalleled perseverance” and entrusts the future of the republic to their continued service and the blessing of providence. These closing documents reflect his deep concerns for national unity, public virtue, and the fragile future of the American experiment in self-government.

Altogether, this 1796 edition is not merely a compilation of presidential speeches, but rather a celebration of the spirit, ideals, and foundational principles of the United States, as expressed by its first president. It offers a direct window into the mind and moral vision of George Washington and stands as a lasting artifact of American civic and constitutional identity.

CONDITION:

Good condition. Octavo. Rebound in full brown leather, with raised bands, gilt titles, and tooling to the spine. New endpapers. General toning, foxing, and scattered stains throughout, toning is more significant to the margins of  title page and publisher’s dedication page. 282 pp +terminal bookseller’s ad. 

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