The First Great Western Empire
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Object type: Print
Date: 1812
Artist: Jonathan Clark
Sitter: George Washington, 22 Feb 1732 - 14 Dec 1799
John Adams, 30 Oct 1735 - 4 Jul 1826
Thomas Jefferson, 13 Apr 1743 - 4 Jul 1826
James Madison, 16 Mar 1751 - 28 Jun 1836
Place: United States/New York/Albany/Albany
Medium: Wood-engraving with letterpress and color woodcut on paper
Dimensions: Sheet: 52.5 x 41.9 cm (20 11/16 x 16 1/2")
Mat: 71.1 x 55.9 cm (28 x 22")
Credit line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; acquired through the generosity of Sidney Hart and David C. Ward
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The First Great Western Empire: or, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all Men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Dec. Independence, 1776.
The INMOVABLE PILLARS of the Independence of our country, are Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures.
G. WASHINGTON
JOHN ADAMS
These are the Men who, with thousands of others, achieved the Independence and deep; they constructed her TEMPLE of the choicest materials Should this vast fabric be left to decay, or be rent asunder, then the fair-
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.    Census—taken in 1810. MARYLAND 380,546   214,460 N. HAMPSHIRE VIRGINIA 974,622   709,745 MASSACHUSETTS N. CAROLINA 555,500   76,931 RHODE-ISLAND S. CAROLINA 415,115   261,942 CONNECTICUT GEORGIA 252,438   217,895 VERMONT KENTUCKY 406,511   959,040 NEW-YORK TENNESSEE 361,727   245,892 NEW-JERSEY OHIO 230,760   610,091 PENNSYLVANIA GRAND TOTAL 7,239,903   72,674 DELAWARE   * Including the population of territories, &c.
TERRITORIES.
TEMPLE OF FREEDOM.
T. JEFFERSON
JA'S MADISON
ence of the United States. They laid the foundations of our freedom broad of past ages; and embellished it with the finest ornaments of modern times. est hopes of the friends of freedom, throughout the world, will be forever lost.
THE Unity of government which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence; the support of your tranquillity at home; your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty you so highly prize.
Washington's Farewell Address.
Whenever we can receive the productions of other countries at a fair profit, then Commerce is not only advantageous, but it is a strenuous support to our national edifice.
General Washington's Resignation.*
THE Representatives of the sovereignty of the Union remained seated and covered. The spectators were standing and uncovered. The General was introduced by the Secretary, and conducted to a chair. After a decent interval, silence was commanded, and a short pause ensued. The President then informed him, that "The United States in Congress assembled were prepared to receive his communications." With a native dignity, improved by the solemnity of the occasion, the General rose and delivered the following Address.
"MR. PRESIDENT,
"The great events on which my resignation depended, having at length taken place, I have now the honor of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress, and of presenting myself before them to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my country.
"Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty, and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence; a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which however, was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the Supreme Power of the Union, and the patronage of Heaven.
"The successful termination of the war has verified the most sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence, and the assistance I have received from my countrymen, increases with every review of the momentous contest.
"While I repeat my obligations to the army in general, I should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge in this place, the peculiar services and distinguished merits of the gentlemen who have been attached to my person during the war. It was impossible the choice of confidential officers, to compose my family, should have been more fortunate. Permit me, Sir, to recommend in particular, those who have continued in the service to the present moment, as worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of Congress.
"I consider it as an indispensable duty to close this last act of my official life, by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping.
"Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life."
The General advanced to the chair, and delivered his Commission to the President, then returned to his place, and, after receiving an answer, retired from the hall of Congress.
* From the works of Judge Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
INCLUDING LOUISIANA, has the most extensive territory, the Russian Em- pire excepted, if an estimation be made. Its length, breadth, and boundaries are not accurately known.—The face of the country, excepting the lofty range of mountains, denominated the Alleghany, may be called level.—These mountains with some interruptions, extend the whole length of the United States, in a North-East and South-West direction, divide the country into two grand divisions, called Eastern and Western.—The lakes and rivers next come under our view. Our lakes are the largest in the known world; and many of them are navigable for large vessels; and are convenient for opening the most extensive inland navigation of any country on earth. They abound with a great variety of excellent fish, and the soil on their shores is generally fertile, producing all the necessaries of life with very little manual labor. The rivers, though of not such an enormous size as those of South-America, are most of them, especially those running immediately into the ocean, of depth sufficient to receive large vessels a considerable distance up their waters; and in some places, boats access to their very sources; many of them descend other rivers into the great northern lakes.—The climate of this vast country is various. In no part, however, is it excessively cold. The southern parts are warm, and not so healthy as the more northern districts. In the northern sections, the air is salubrious, and the inhabitants healthy.—The mineral, animal, and vegetable productions of the United States comprehend almost every kind found in the other parts of the world. The various mines, it is presumed, have not all been discovered, nor have all the vegetable productions been analyzed. The deer, the bear, and multitudes of other quadrupeds, abound in the forests; and the pastures of those lands brought under cultivation, are filled with all sorts of domestic animals.—The forests are immense. The oak, the pine, the maple, and the hickory, constitute the greatest proportion of the forest trees. Trees and shrubs, however, of almost every other description are found in greater or less abundance, and taken together, form an incomparable resource for excellent timber, necessary for building houses, ships, and the ornamental departments of wood-work.—Nor is the maritime situation of the country less advantageous. A long range of sea coast, indented with innumerable bays and rivers, forms many excellent harbors for shipping in all seasons of the year. Our commerce, although the country is in its infancy, has become very extensive, and has already excited the envy and jealousy of the most powerful potentates of Europe. The sea on our coast is stored with immense quantities of excellent fish, of nearly every description.—The interior part of the United States west of the Alleghany mountains, has likewise every advantage which nature can bestow on an inland country. Innumerable salt springs, inexhaustible beds of pit coal, form the vast natural magazines, which will ever render this portion of our Union equally respectable with the Atlantic parts.—Added to all these, the soil of the United States is generally fertile; and in some parts, rich beyond calculation. Springs and streams of water are found every where. No burning deserts, no mountains covered with eternal snows, here obstruct the exertions of industry; but in every part, the dwellings of civilized man may be erected, and the whole vast country be in an uninterrupted body of inhabitants.—Considering the extent of our territory, the population of the country is small; but when we reflect, that the first European settlement took place on our shores only about two hundred years ago, we may consider it unparalleled. The increase of inhabitants from among ourselves, has not only been great, but the emigrations from all parts of Europe has been equally numerous.—Our improvements in the arts of civilized life, are also, respectable; materials for subsisting it has been the uniform policy of some of the European governments to throw every obstacle in the way of our advancement.—In addition to all these advantages, the United States under a federal form of government, have a form of government which has a peculiar ability to secure the right of the people, and to secure the peace and prosperity of the whole nation; a form of government, which should ever command our highest reverence, and strongest attachment; for on its existence depends every thing which can render life valuable to a virtuous and enlightened people.
Entered according to act of Congress, On the Fifteenth Day of January, 1812, By Jonathan Clark, OF ALBANY, IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.
PRINTED BY AND FOR THE AUTHOR, AT THE PRESS OF E. PACKARD, No. 51, STATE-STREET, ALBANY.
Columbia.*
COLUMBIA! Columbia! to glory arise, The queen of the world and the child of the skies; Thy GENIUS commands thee; with rapture behold, While ages on ages thy splendors unfold. Thy reign is the last, and the noblest of time, Most fruitful thy soil, most inviting thy clime; Let the crimes of the East ne'er encumber thy name, Be freedom, and science, and virtue thy fame.
To conquest and slaughter let Europe aspire; Whelm nations in blood, and wrap cities in fire; Thy heroes the rights of mankind shall defend, And triumph pursue them and glory attend. A world is thy realm; for a world be thy laws, Enlarge as thine empire, and just as thy cause; On freedom's broad basis thy empire shall rise, Extend with the main and dissolve with the skies.
Fair science her gates to thy sons shall unbarr, And the east see thy morn hide the beams of her star; New bards and new sages unrivall'd shall soar To fame unextinguish'd, when time is no more; To thee, the last refuge of virtue design'd, Shall fly from all nations the best of mankind; Here, grateful to Heaven, with transport shall bring Their incense more fragrant than odors of spring.
Nor less shall thy fair ones to glory ascend, And genius and beauty in harmony blend; The graces of form shall awake pure desire, And the charms of the soul ever cherish the fire; Their sweetness unmingled, their manners refin'd, And virtue's bright image, instamp'd on the mind, With peace and soft rapture, shall teach life to glow, And light up a smile in the aspect of wo.
Thy fleets to all regions thy pow'r shall display, The nations admire, and the ocean obey; Each shore to thy glory its tribute unfold, And the east and the south yield their spices and gold. As the day-spring unbounded, thy splendor shall flow, And earth's little kingdoms before thee shall bow, While the ensign of Union, in triumph unfurl'd, Hush the tumult of war and give peace to the world.
Thus, as down a lone valley, with cedars o'erspread, From war's dread confusion pensively stray'd; The gloom from the face of fair heaven retir'd; The winds ceas'd to murmur; the thunders expir'd; Perfumes as of Eden, flow'd sweetly along, And a voice, as of angels, enchantingly sung, "Columbia! Columbia! to glory arise, The queen of the world, and the child of the skies."
* Written by Dr. Dwight, President of Yale College.