Jun 27, 2024 - Sale 2675

Sale 2675 - Lot 145

Price Realized: $ 5,250
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 8,000 - $ 12,000
(JUDAICA.) "Address of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport," with George Washington's famous response, as published in the Gazette of the United States, Volume II, issue 45. 4 pages, 16½ x 10 inches, on one folding sheet; disbound, minor toning; subscriber's name inked above masthead, later private collector's embossed stamp on first leaf. New York, 15 September 1790
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One of the seminal documents of early American Judaism--and of the commitment to religious liberty by the nation's Founding Fathers.

President Washington visited Newport, RI on 17 August 1790. Among the welcoming committee was Moses Seixas of the Congregation Yeshuat Israel at Touro Synagogue, who presented Washington with this "Address of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport . . . to the President": "Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free citizens, we now (with a deep sense of gratitude to the almighty disposer of all events) behold a government erected by the Majesty of the People--a government, which to bigotry gives no sanction--to persecution no assistance; but generously affording to ALL liberty of conscience, and immunities of citizenship: Deeming every one, of whatever nation, tongue, or language, equal parts of the great governmental machine. . . . For all the blessings of civil and religious liberty, which we enjoy under an equal and benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the ancient of days."

Washington soon responded with this acknowledgement, affirming his commitment to religious liberty: "The citizens of the United States of America, have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: A policy worthy of imitation. All possess a like liberty of conscience, and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support. . . . May the children of the stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid."

This stirring exchange was first printed in the Boston Herald of Freedom of 7 September 1790. It was later published in the June 1791 issue of the American Museum, and has since been reprinted countless times.