Letter to Hebrew Congregation
Correspondence from the first president
of the United States of America.
By George Washington
This letter, written
by George Washington in 1790, is a response to Moses Seixas, warden of
the Touro Synagogue in Newport. In it, Washington addresses the tolerance and
freedom of religion in the newly established nation:
Gentlemen.
While I receive, with much satisfaction, your Address
replete with expressions of affection and esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity
of assuring you, that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the
cordial welcome I experienced in my visit to Newport, from all classes of
Citizens.
The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which
are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are
succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to
make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot
fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and
a happy people.
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.
It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character
not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration,
and fervent wishes for my felicity. 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 everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree,
and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies
scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several
vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.
G.
Washington
