Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-02-05
Washington Was
Elected President
AZ Years Ago
Father of His Country Only Man Ever
to Receive the Unanimous Vote
of the Electors.

When the people of the United States
! turned to George Washington with the
universal demand that he stand at the
head of the new government and fill
the great office of first president OF
the republic, he evidenced the same
diffdence which weighed upon him
i when he took command of the armies.
according to the Division of Informa-
ton of the George Washington Bicen-
tennial Commission.
/ In response to the suggestion that
he be a candidate, he recognized the
| fact that he was likely to be again
called upon to render public service,
and added simply that at his age il
would involve sacrifice which adj
mitted of no compensation. He main
tanned this tone whenever he alluded
to the subject, in replying to numerous
letters urging him to accept. But, al
though he declined to announce any
decision, he had resigned himself to
the inevitable.
| Washington made it clear that he
was not pursuing the office, and would
only leave his farm to take if from
a sense of duty The electoral college
gave him its unanimous vote on Feb
ruary 4, 1889. Neither the animosity
OF parties, nor the large number of
enemies Of the new government in
some of the states, could deprive him
Of single vote.
The reluctance with which General
Washington assumed his new position
and that genuine modesty which was d
distinguished feature of his character.
are further illustrated by the following
extract from letter to General Henry
Knox: i feel for those members OF
the new Congress, who, hitherto. have
an unavailing attendance at the theater
OF action. For myself, the delay NAV
be compared to reprieve; for in con-
fidence, | tell you with the world #
would obtain little credit) that nv
movements to the chair of government
will be accompanied by feelings not
unlike those Of a culprit who is going
to the place Of his execution; SO I'M
willing am |, in hte evening OF life.
nearly consumed in public cares, to
quit peaceful abode for an ocean Of
difficulties without that competency
OF political skill, abilities, and inclina-
ton, which are necessary to manage
the helm. am sensible that / am en-
barking the voice Of the people, and
a good name of my own on this vow
age; but what returns will be made
Tor them Heaven alone can foretell.
Intgrity and firmness are all I
can promise; these, be the voyage long
or short, shall never foresake me, all
though may be deserted by all men;
Tor OF the consultations which are to
De derived from these, under any cir
curnstances, the world can not de-
prive me-"
The official announcement of his
election as chief magistrate of the
United States was made to him at
Mount Vernon on April IA, 1889 by
Charles Thomson, the secretary of the
Continental Congress Accustomed n
respect the wishes of his fellow citi
zens, Washington did not think him
self at liberty to decline an appoint
ment conferred upon him by the suf-
TRACE of an entire people. His accep
lance OF it, and his expression of graft
tude for this fresh proof Of the esteem
and confidence of his country, were
connected with declarations of diff |
dence in himself.
i WISH" he said, ethat there NAV I
not be reason for regretting the choice
for indeed, all / can promise, is to
accomplish that which can be done by
an honest zeal"
As the public business required the
attendance of the President
at the seat of the government, he
fastened his departure, and on the
second day after receiving notice Of
his election, he took leave of Mount
Vernon. In an entry in his diary, the
feelings inspired by an occasion so af-
fecting to his mind are thus described
About ten o'clock / babe adieu to
Mount Vernon, to private life, and to
domestic felicity; and with mind OPP
pressed with more anxious and pain
ful sensations than l have words to
express, set out for New York in COM
pany with Mr.. Thompson and Col.