George Washington Papers

From George Washington to the United States House of Representatives, 14 January 1790

To the United States House of Representatives

[New York, 14 January 1790]

Gentlemen

I receive with pleasure the assurances you give me that you will diligently and anxiously pursue such measures as shall appear to you conducive to the interests of your Constituents; and that an early and serious consideration will be given to the various and weighty matters, recommended by me to your attention.

I have full confidence that your deliberations will continue to be directed by an enlightened and virtuous zeal for the happiness of our Country.1

G. Washington

LB, DLC:GW; copy, DNA: RG 233, First Congress, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Journals.

1This document is headed: “Answer to the Address of the House of Representatives.” See GW to the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 8 Jan. 1790, and notes. On 13 Jan. the House committee appointed to wait on the president and inquire when it would be convenient for him to receive the House’s reply to his State of the Union address, reported that GW had designated noon on 14 Jan. as the time to receive the House’s address “at his own house.” The next day the Speaker, “attended by the House, then withdrew to the house of the President of the United States, and there presented to him the address of this House in answer to his speech to both Houses of Congress.” GW then made the reply (DHFC description begins Linda Grant De Pauw et al., eds. Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791. 20 vols. to date. Baltimore, 1972–. description ends , 3:262).

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