The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-11-23
EIIas Boudinot

theil sarety and happiness" He said further
that If Thanksgiving day must be held the
states could institute it. He said that "it Is a
religious matter, and, as such, is prescribed
to u.s."
Through the words of these spokesman we can
hear the voice Of Jefferson, protesting against
menarchial trend in the new government, against
encroachment upon the boundary line which had
been fixed between church and state and against
any invasion of states rights" In answer to
these protests Boudinot quoted further prece-
dents from the practice of the late Congress-
and Representative Roger Sherman of Connect-
cut rallied to his support, declaring that the
practice of thanksgiving was warranted by
number of precedents in Holy Writ: for instance,
the solemn thanksgivings and rejoicings which
took place in the time Of Solomon, after the
building Of the temple, was case in point"
The resolution was carried and Representa-
tives Boudinot, Sherman and Peter Sylvester Of
New York were appointed by the house commit
tee to wait upon the President. The senate, on
tie following day, adopted the resolution, APP
pointing Senators William Samuel Johnson of
Connecticut and Ralph lizard of South Carolina
to be the senate members of the committee.
Accordingly this committee waited on the
President and on October Washington issued
the proclamation in which he recommended that
Thursday November 26, be observed by the peo-
pie of the United States as day Of thanks
giving.
Hamilton had won the first maneuver over his
rival but there were still stormy days ahead for
him. For now arose the question of how the
celebration should be carried out and, of course,
the two statesmen were at odds on that Hamil-
ton proposed q monster parade of military OFF,
Gals and governmental dignitaries headed by
President Washington. Jefferson, opposed as he
was to all displays Of pomp and circumstance,
protested against such celebration. He appar-
emily won his point, for 1t was determined that
the day domestic holiday and should be
observed in the privacy of the home after the
New England tradition.
Accordingly Mrs. Washington began making
plans for levee In the true colonial style at
the Executive Mansion in Franklin Square to
which every one of consequence in New York
was invited 1t promised to be great social
occasion so 1t was eagerly looked forward to by
the beaus and bellies of the city.
But even though Jefferson had outmaneuvered
him in this respect Hamilton was not yet ready
to admit defeat He began organizing all kinds
Of public festivities to upset the plans Of those
who wished to celebrate the day quietly. Al
though Jefferson held himself somewhat aloof
from the preparations for the celebration, word
of this latest antagonism between the two cab
met members had leaked out and two different
factions of celebrators began to form in New
York. More than that factions formed In Bos-
ton and Philadelphia also and considerable bit
terness between them became evident So as the
day for the celebration of the first official Thanks
giving approached, 1t became plain that 1t would
be day of partisanship and ill-feeling rather
than one of rejoicing and gratitude as Wash
ington had hoped 1t would be.
History records that this first national Thanks
giving day in New York was fair and warm even
though 1t was late In November. The festivities
opened with parade In the morning as Hamil-
ton had planned and the secretary of the treas
ury reviewed it from In front of Frances tavern.
that historic inn where Washington had said
farewell to his officers at the close of the Rev
olution- After the parade Hamilton was host at
a great feast In the tavern and 1t is this first
official Thanksgiving dinner to which we can
look back, but not with any great pride, for 1t
degenerated into disgraceful brawl
Hamilton could not be present for the entire
affair. He was to have remained long enough to
respond to toast and then leave for the Presi-
dents mansion, where his official presence was
required by his position In the Presidents cabi-
net. While most of the city had been holding its
noisy celebration, Washington had attended
church and at noon began to receive guests at
the mansion.
But Hamilton was late In arriving at his own
party and his guests, impatient to be at their
feasting, sat down without him and began to eat
Almost Immediately disagreement arose among
the diners. certain Lieutenant st. Clair, who
had toasted the festive day not wisely but too
well, felt called upon to assert upon his honor
as a gentleman, that he was "perfecly SOBER
Whereupon Alderman Tisdal Of the city council