On his way to New York for the United States’ first Presidential Inauguration, George Washington made a stop in Philadelphia where he, among other appearances, addressed the Pennsylvania Society of Cincinnati.
Here’s a short excerpt from his speech-
“Heaven alone can foretell whether any, or what, advantages are to be derived by my Countrymen from my holding the Office; which they have done me the Honor of Conferring upon me; not only without my Solicitations, but even Contrary to my inclinations.”
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a president accept the office without “solicitations?” Different time, but it’s almost impossible to imagine an environment where the presidential candidates don’t campaign. Oh, how wonderful that would be.
The Society of Cincinnati was name after the famous Roman leader Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, who famously walked away from the chance to reign with absolute power for life to retire to his farm. Fitting that George Washington was among the original members of the Virginia chapter. Similar to Cincinnatus, Washington set the precedent of two presidential terms before choosing to retire to his “vine and fig tree.”
More on Washington’s April 20th speech linked here- From George Washington to the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnatus
