The Coolidge examiner., 1932-07-01
George Washinqton III

contention has been carried, a recent bogra
pher of John Hanson. after asserting that the
election Of John Hanson Of Maryland was the
first act Of congress of the United States on
its first day OF existence proceeds to lay down
this strange doctrine:
Between the signing of the articles and this
first Monday in November no government was
actually in existence, though congress continued
to transact business simply because there was
great deal Of pressing business TO transact
He then remarks that during those few months
there was provisional president called Thomas
Mexican, who was elected with the definite
understanding that he was TO retire with the
formation Of the first government November s.
1T is scarcely necessary TO point out that,
aside from the evidences of fact already ad-
duced the argument that no government was
actually in existence from March l to Novem-
Der 8, 1871, is fallacious and entirely contrary
to long-accepted legal Interpretation.
1T is true enough that, prior to the adoption
Of the articles of confederation, there was no
written document accepted as a constitution or
fundamental instrument of government of the
United States, but numerous governments have
aourished and do flourish without any such
written instrument 1t may not be amss in
this connection, to point out that the congress
itself, on the thirteenth of September 1879,
laid down the doctrine that these states now
are as fully, legally, and absolutely cOnfeder-
ated as it is possible for them to be-
"The articles of confederation, so far as the
main essentials of the instrument are concerned,
did little more than put into definite written
form the principles which the government
of the United States had heretofore been con-
Quoted.
"At all events, it is not to be gainsaid that,
even at the time when John Hanson was elected
1
dating their national existence from the fourth
of July, 1776 They have continued to do so,
and that assertion respecting the date Of the
nations birth has held good both in fact and
| in law"
After discussing the conditions under which
Hanson was elected President, Doctor Burnett
| says:
"In any event, John Hanson does have the
distinction If 1t be distinction, of being the
first president to be chosen for the definite term
of one year. beginning on the first Monday of
November. But this is very far from making
him President Of the United States.
1.-The evidence, it must be repeated is con-
elusive that no president of the continental con-
| gress, by whatever name it may be designated
whether the congress-, 1t first called itself,
or the United States In congress assembled
as it came later to be called, was ever President
best of reasons among others: because no such
office as President Of the United States existed
until ii was created by the federal constitu-
ton, framed in 1887 and adopted in 1873.
'The office of President of the United States
which that Constitution created is an Office
wholly different in character from that of Presi-
dent of the old congress, whether before or
after the adoption Of the articles Of cOnfedera-
ton; so different in fact, that almost the sole
thing in common is the word President in
their respective titles.
'The president of congress was merely a
presiding officer, and he was a member of the
body over which he presided; he neither pos
sessed nor exercised any executive authority
The President of the United States is almost
solely an executive officer; he is not member
of the national legislature; and his contacts
with the national legislative body the congress
of the United States, are of a definitely limited
| character.
"There is therefore only one rational conclus.
ion that can be reached, and that is that George
washington was the first President of the Unit
ed States"
! OG by Western Newspaper Union.)