Beschreibung:

WASHINGTON, GEORGE, President . Letter signed ("G. Washington") as President, TO SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, Governor of Connecticut, "United States" [New York, N.Y.], 3 October 1789. 2 pages, folio, integral blank, first page evenly age-toned, small piece at corner of integral blank neatly reattached, partially separated and reattached at central fold, otherwise in good condition, recipient's docket (apparently in Huntington's hand). ORGANIZING THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE NEW CONSTITUTION A letter of transmittal of more than ordinary interest, given the fundamental nature of some of the enactments of the first Congress here specified, which include acts setting the compensation for President and Vice-President, Supreme Court justices, Attorney General and members of Congress, the act establishing a Federal postal service, and others. Most notable among them, perhaps, is the act establishing the Federal Court system, "the last grand constitutional task of the First Congress" (Forrest MacDonald, The Presidency of George Washington , 1974, p.42). "I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency an act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States, an act to regulate process in the Courts of the United States. An act to explain and amend an act entitled 'an act for registering and clearing Vessels, regulating the coasting trade, and for other purposes.' An act to recognize and adapt to the Constitution of the United States the establishment of troops raised under the resolves of the United States in Congress assembled, and for other purposes therein mentioned. "An act providing for the payment of the Invalid Pensioners of the United States. An act making appropriations for the present year. An act to allow the Baron de Glaubeck the pay of Captain in the Army...An act to alter the time for the next meeting of Congress. A resolution for continuing John White John Wright and Joshua Dawson in office....And likewise the duplicate of an Act for allowing compensation to the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States, and to the officers of both Houses. "An act for the temporary establishment of the Post office. An act for allowing certain compensation to the Judges of the Supreme and other Courts, and to the Attorney General of the United States. An act allowing a compensation to the President and Vice President of the United States. "A Resolution making it the duty of the Secretary of State to procure from time to time such of the statutes of the several States as may not be in his office, and a Resolution to provide for the safe-keeping of such Prisoners as may be committed under the authority of the United States to the gaols of the several States. I have the honor to be, with due consideration, Your Excellency's most obedient servant G:Washington." Not in Writings , ed. Fitzpatrick. Samuel Huntington (1731-1796), a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, had served in the Continental Congress and was Governor of Connecticut from 1786-1796. A strong supporter of the Federal Constitution, he played an important role in securing his state's ratification in January 1788 (the fifth state to ratify).