During the sweltering heat of the Summer of 1787, at a place now called "Independence Hall," in the same room the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Philadelphia Convention took place. Today, we call it the Constitutional Convention. James Madison referred to the delegation as the Federal Convention.
The delegates gathered in the East Chamber of the Pennsylvania State House, and the meetings were held in the strictest of secrecy. With the harsh and loud back and forth debates, the constant changes of opinion, and the insistence that a stronger centralized government must be formed, the framers of the Constitution did not want to arouse fear or concern among the citizens. Despite the heat, the assembly was held behind closed doors, and closed windows.
A spacious room, the delegates were seated at tables covered with a green cloth, separated by State. The President of the Convention, George Washington, sat in a large, high-backed chair that resembled a throne, with the depiction of a sun at a hill. Benjamin Franklin remarked about the sun on the back of Washington's throne-like chair, asking if it was a setting sun, or a rising sun. Using the image to remark on the new nation, and the government system the delegates were creating, he assured everyone that it was a rising sun.
George Washington was an impressive man. He was tall and rugged, and carried himself in a manner that portrayed great charisma, and commanded respect. When today's reader learns more about the man, his honor and presence, one's first thoughts are often, "They just don't make 'em like that anymore."
A rugged man, toughened up by the life he led and the adventures he had encountered, Washington was liked by most everyone he met. He served as the brilliant military leadership during the Revolutionary War commanding a rag-tag assortment of militias that were not in good order, not properly trained, and many were even without shoes or socks. The respect Washington earned from the people of the United States led to his victory as first President under the U.S. Constitution, a landslide victory, and the only vote in the history of this country where the victor received 100% of the electoral vote. Also, Washington was not a member of any political party.
After centuries of connection to Great Britain, where the functioning of government was guided by a ruling class, largely made up of royalty and nobles that believed themselves to be among the elite, "titles" became a large debate in Philadelphia as the fledgling federal government established itself after the Revolutionary War. How should the President be addressed? Should he be referred to as "His Majesty? His Highness?"
The debate over the tone of the executive title was not helped, believed John Adams, by Washington's tendency to travel about New York in an ornate carriage, a vehicle that some of Washington's critics referred to as his "chariot."
Washington stressed his irritation against an elevated title, content with the title "Mr. President," but it had not always been so. At one point, it is rumored, though the evidence is thin and virtually non-existent, Washington was not quick to argue against Congress suggesting he be referred to as "His High Mightiness." In fact, the complete title suggested was, "His High Mightiness, the President of the United States and Protector of Their Liberties" (the word "their" referring to the several States).
As the story goes, Elizabeth Powel, a dear friend of George Washington, approached the man and said something like, "George, I see it in your eyes. You want to be king. Do not forget what our system of government stands for, the foundation of limitations, and the sovereignty of the States."
There is little evidence that George Washington actually approved of "High Mightiness," or any other exalted title, and the public of that time period certainly believed he was a man that opposed such titles. However, when one considers human nature, and the attention Washington was receiving, it is not outside the realm of possibilities that he, even if only for a moment, considered taking on the title, "His High Mightiness." The fact that he was able to ultimately reject proclaiming himself king, when the action would have been so easy to pursue, and may have been accepted by a segment of Americans at the time because of their great respect for Washington, shows not only the sacred honor Washington entertained, but the quality of those that surrounded him in his life, some of whom were never shy about giving him counsel.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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