New Britain herald., 1929-01-19
WAS WASHINGTON
FIRST President?
Others Preceded Father Of His
Country in 0mce

WuQuy III VmN
George Washington was not the
FIRST president Of this country. Not
only that, but Connecticut. which has
never been considered AZ the mother
of a president, gave one to the coun-
try before Washington was inaugu-
rated. Just who was the first presi-
dent is q matter for argument. but
of the three men who may be spoken
of as qualifying for the honor not
one is the immortal Washington.
The trio are Peyton Randolph. John
Hancock, and Henry Laurens. lead
ers in an almost forgotten period OF
American history.
Periodically, that Washington
was the first president Of the United
States of America" cannot be de-
MED, yet the assertion that he was
not the first presiden Of this country
is founded just az solidly on fact.
The "catch" lies in the fact that the
colonies declared their independence
of England in 1876, while it was not
until 1889, Is years later. that
Washington was inaugurated. He
was the first president of the United
states" when the governmental unit
under that name was set up by the
constitution, but there had been
other presidents during the preceding
Is years of freedom. These were
presidents of the continental con-
gress and as such held the highest
civil office within the power Of the
united colonies to bestow.
Dozen Leaders Before Washington
There were more than a dozen
presidents during the period between
the declaration of independence and
the establishment of the actual
United States of America" The
dispute as to just which OF these
should be called. our first president
is grounded on the perlexing Ques-
ton of Just when this country began
its separate existence. Three cases
may be made out, each with logic
behind it's assertion. To look into
this matter it is necessary to go back
to the days before the American
Revolution and trace the origin OF
This nation from that time.
lc the early 1770's the friction be-
tween the colonists and the home
government In London was ap-
preaching the point where a spark
would inevitably be struck. When
Massachusetts took the lead IN re-
sistance to the harsh measures en-
acted by England. the government
retaliated by multiplying its harsh
ness as applied to that colony. and
Massachusetts appealed to the other
colonies for congress to MAINTAIN
the rights Of Americans.
Our First Congress
This, the first continental congress.
met In Philadelphia on September l..
ia, and four days later Peyton
Randolph of Virginia was chosen It's
president. A majority of colonies
we're represented and Joined in unit
ID action for the first time. and up
on this is founded Randolph's claim
to being first president"
But the United States had not yet
declared its independence OF Eng
land, and, when this occurred in
1875, Randolph, in poor health and
dying. was no longer president, hay
ing resigned and been followed by
John Hancock of Massachusetts.
Hancock was therefore president at
the time America definitely set It.
self up as independent OF England,
SO that he has valid claim to the
honor under discussion.
Still there was no definite form
for the government Of the IS COON
les. I'm July, 1875. Benjamin Frank
lin had submitted what were called
the articles Of confederation. calling
for . loosely omit union or coopera-
ton Of the colonies in matters OF
common interest, but 1t was not until
November is. 1777, that these were
adopted. On May 20 Of that year
Hancock had also retired because of
failing health and Henry Laureps Of
south Carolina had become presi-
dent of the Continental congress. Al
he was the first president under a
definite union, Lauren's right to the
honor is particularly strong.
1t was under these Articles OF
Confederation that the colonies
fought the Revolutionary War,
brought 1t to a successful close. and
negotiated the peace treaty with
England. They were ratified by
eight states on July 2. 1878, and by
the others during the following three
years, Maryland holding out until
March /. 1881.
Forgotten Presidents
Under these same articles there
were twelve presidents Of the Con-
tinental Congress. In addition to
] aurens they we're the following:
John Jay of New York l77S.) SAM
uel Huntington Of Connecticut
I779.) Thomas Mexican of Della
ware I7S1,) John Hanson Of Mary
land I7S1,) Elias Boudinot Of New
Jersey N7S2,) Thomas Mifflin Of
Pennsylvania (17Ss.) Richard Henry
Lee of Virginia (17s4,) John Han
cock Of Massachusetts I7S5,) Ma
thaniel Gorham of massachusetts,
DISCO Arthur st. Clair of Penn
sylvania N7S7D and Cyrus Griffin Of
Virginia l7S9)-a roster neglected
by historians and unlearned by
school children of today.
The Confederation did not provide
the desired unity. The ststes were
held together too loosely and there
we're innumerable petty mutual
jealousies among them. Differences
were many and concerted action In
anything was hard to bring about.
The great leaders OF the nation
therefore came to see the need of q
stronger form of government. still