Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-02-27
The First Presidents Message.

Aew York Ledger.
When President Washington first addressed
the two Houses of Congress, he met them
face TO iacc, and read his message to them,
as the King of England read his speech to
parliament. His message, in fact, was writ
ten on the plan OF kings speech. lie be-
gan by addressing both Houses then he
spoke directly to the "Gcntlemen of the
House of Representatives" and concluded
by a few remarks TO the "Gentlemen of the
Senate and House Of Representative" One
of the early messages could be printed in
less than column Of the Ledger, and it an
swered the purpose quite AS WELT the long
documents Of the present day.
As soon as the President had withdrawn,
the House of Representatives returned to its
chamber, and then each house proceeded to
prepare IL formal address in reply 10 the
President, which each delivered in person
at tho Presidents house General Wash
ington used 10 receive these responses in his
dining-room, that being the only apartment
in his house which was large enough for the
purpose. At the appointed hour, he took
his stand before the fireplace, dressed in
black velvet, with black silk stockings, low
shoes and silver buckles. He wore ycllcw
gloves, and held in his hand cooked hat,
adorned with a cockadc and plume One
mass Of dark color 1t was his sword, with
u sheath OF white leather, and hit of pol
ished steel. The Senate or the House form
ed seni-circle round the President, while
was finished, the President spoke few
words in reply, when the members bowed
and filed out.
This plan answered very well for the first
three or four years of General Washington's
presidency; but as soon as parties were
formed, as soon as there was as opposition,
a difficulty arose every year in agreeing up
on the precise terms Of the response to the
speech In 1884, for example, when John
Jay was sent upon u special mission 10 En-
gland, the member who drew up the reply
for the representatives, had expressed a gen
eral appreciation Of the PRESIDENTS pacific
policy. lie used the expression "Your poll.
cy." Democrats objected, declaring that
they, too, were warmly in favor Of pacific
policy, but not OF the Presidents pacific
policy. They wanted the word "your'
struck out, and "a" put in its place. This
lod, OF course, toa long and animated do
bate. The President had also spoken Ia
disapproval Of the new democratic clubs,
calling them "selfcreatcd societies" This
several days, aud created wonderful excite
ment. At length bya strict party vote, AZ
10 40, the paragraph approving this portion
OF the Presidents speech was modified.
On one occasion there was AN acrimonious
debate of two weeks upon the terms of
response TO the message. This was great
and annually increasing inconvenience
Everyone regretted 10 zee the session begin
year after year with an angry, and even in
dccorous, discussion Of party questions al
ready too familiar. ltappearcd " put mem
bcrs into bad humor, from which they did
not recover until ii was time 10 ADJOURN
Moreover, there was monarchical pomp in
the ceremony, which the democrats did not
approve; The President riding TO the State
House in coach and four, followed by sew
cral other coaches, and tho ceremonies re-
sembling in many respects those which nc
companied the delivery Of the Kings speech
Ia England.
For these and other reasons, when Thos
jefferson came 10 the Presidency In 1901,