Gazette Of The United States

NEW-HAVEN, October 21.

On Saturday last the Legislature of this State, now in session in this city, having received information of the approach of the President of the United States of America, passed the following resolve, viz.

General Assembly, State of Connecticut.
New-Haven, October, A. D. 1789.

In the House of Representatives.

Mr. Edwards, Governor Griswold, Mr. Tracy, Major Hart, Mr. Dana, Mr. Learned, Mr. Ingersoll, Col. Seymour, Col. Leffingwell, Col. Grosvenor, Mr. Davenport, are appointed, with such gentlemen as the Honourable Council shall join, a committee to prepare and report an address from this Legislature, to the President at some convenient distance from this city and attend him, and wait upon the President on his journey as far as propriety shall their opinion require.

Test,
James Davenport, Clerk.

In the Upper House.

John Cheer, and James Hillhouse, Esquires, are appointed a committee to join the committee of the House of Representatives,

The Legislature also requested his Excellency the Governor to order his company of guards in this city, to attend the committee in escorting the President.

At the time appointed by the President, the committee presented him with the following address:

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON,
PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES of
AMERICA.

IMPRESS'D with the sentiments which animate the millions of our fellow-citizens we the Legislature of the State of Connecticut cannot on this occasion be silent.
Your presence recalls to our admiration that assemblage of talents, which with impenetrable secrecy, and unvarying decision, under the smiles of Divine Providence, guided to victory and peace the complicated events of the late long and arduous war.

The scenes of perilous horror through which you conducted the American arms, taught your country and mankind to receive you as the greatest of heroes. Your sacred regard to the rights of freemen, and the virtues of humanity, inspired the united voice of all America to hail you as the first and worthiest of citizens.

With grateful veneration we behold the father of his country—our friend, our fellow-citizen, our supreme magistrate.

When peace had succeeded to the vicissitudes of war, your ardent desire for retirement was sanctioned by the voice of patriotism. Your country has again solicited your aid. In obedience to her wishes, you have sacrificed the felicity of dignified retirement, and have hazarded on the tempestuous ocean of public life the rich treasure of your fame. This display of patriot zeal gives you a new right, to what you before possessed, the hearts of all your fellow-citizens.

While we thus express our sentiments, and those of the freemen whom we represent, we beg liberty to assure you of our zeal to support your public administrations.

May the Divine Being, who has given you as an example to the world, ever have you in his holy keeping; may he long preserve you, the happiness and the glory of our country: May the assurance, that the government formed under your auspices will bless future generations, rejoice the evening of your life; and may you be finally rewarded with the full glories of immortality:

In the name and behalf of the Legislature of the State of Connecticut.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, Governor.

To which Address the President was pleased to return the following answer.

To the Legislature of the State of Connecticut.

GENTLEMEN,

Could any acknowledgments which language might convey, do justice to the feelings excited by your partial approbation of my past services, and your affectionate wishes for my future happiness, I would endeavour to thank you:—But to minds disposed as yours are, it will suffice to observe, that your address meets a most grateful reception, and is reciprocated in all its wishes with unfeigned sincerity.

If the prosperity of our common country has in any degree been promoted by my military exertions, the toils which attended them, have been amply rewarded by the approving voice of my fellow citizens. I was but the humble agent of favouring Heaven, whose benign interference was so often manifested in our behalf, and to whom the praise of victory alone is due.

In launching again on the ocean of events, I have obeyed a summons to which I can never be insensible. When my country demands the Sacrifice, personal ease will always be a secondary consideration.

I cannot forego this opportunity to felicitate the Legislature of Connecticut on the pleasing prospect which an abundant harvest presents to its citizens. May industry like theirs, ever receive its reward, and may the smiles of Heaven, crown all endeavors which are prompted by virtue, among which it is justice to estimate your assurance of supporting our equal government.

G. WASHINGTON.

New-Haven, October 17th, 1789.