The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-03-01

lOH, was the uISl EICSluCAl VI tAC
United States.
In proof of his assertion, Mr.. Smith
offers the following facts:
On November 81, 1881, the congress
sional committee on Arrangement Of
the Presidents House." consisting of
Joseph Montgomery, Samuel Osgood
and Edmund Randolph. introduced the
following resolution in congress:
Resolved, That the attendants of
the Presidents house consist Of one
steward and such others as may be
found necessary, not exceeding eight"
A residence had been leased a few days
previously as President Hanson's home.
The steward was required to deliver an
accounting of expenses to the Presi-
dents secretary each month and the
President was authorized by a resolu-
ton to draw on the public treasury for
the proper amount.
On November 90, 1871, Gen. George
Washington was summoned before
congress and officially thanked by
President Hanson for his victory at
Yorktown.
"Mr. President" Washington replied
to President Hanson, ~ feel very sensi-
bly, the favorable declaration of con-
gress expressed by your excellency.
This fresh proof of their appreciation
cannot fail of making a deep impress
sion upon me, and my study shall be
to deserve, a continuance Of it"
In the meantime, before Washing
ton became the first President under
the Constitution" the United States
had three other presidents under
the Articles of Confederation. In No
vember, 1882, Hanson retired from the
Presidency and died the following
year. On November A. 1882 Elias Bou-
dinot of New Jersey, who had served
as a delegate to congress from 1773
to 1910 and had again been chosen In
1881, was chosen president of the
United States in Congress Assembled
and became the Chief Executive of
the nation. AS such he issued the
proclamation announcing the end of
the Revolution on April 10, 1888. and
another announcing the signing of the
treaty of peace on September 3.
Elias Boudinot has also been called
the first President of the United
States" his right to that title being
based upol the fact that 1t was not
until England had signed the treaty
of peace and thus acknowledged the
independence of her former colonies
that the free and independent United
States of American actually existed.
In 1855 the seat of government was
changed to New York city and John
Hancock of Massachusetts was elect
ed president" Owing to Ill health,
however, he did not actively serve in
that position and on May %, 1856, he
resigned. So another president was
chosen-Nathaniel Gorham of Massa-
chusetts.
On May IA, 1857, a convention of
delegates from all states except Rhode
Island met In Philadelphia ito form
a more perfect union and after a
stormy session of four months adopted
a new Constitution. /. provided for a
new method Of choosing a President
and under its provisions an election
was held in which George Washington
of Virginia was unanimously elected
President. From contemporary docu-
ments, it is evident that the Chief
Executive OF the nation was referred
to then as the president of the Unit
ed States Under the New Constitu-
ton" whereas before that official had
been called the president of the
Later that portion Of tie title. "Under
the New Constitution" was omitted
as being too cumbersome and there