"[Washington’s 4th State of the Union Address in the] Columbian Centinel ",

This is the November 14, 1792 issue of the Columbian Centinel, containing the complete text of the State of the Union address given on November 6th. Most of the address relates to Indian hostilities on the frontier and the need to raise and train troops if peace efforts continue to fail. At the same time Washington calls for “...restraining the committing of outrages upon the Indians; without which all pacifick plans must prove nugatory…” While revenues from duties are adequate to support the troops, he acknowledges the opposition to duties [on liquor] and warns that those obstructing the collection of duties would be dealt with sternly. [This became the Whiskey Rebellion, and true to his warning, Washington led a force of militia to quell the uprising two years later.] He mentions engaging “artists from abroad to aid in the establishment of the Mint.,,[and that] there has been a small beginning in the coinage of half-dimes; the want of small coins in circulation calling the first attention to them.” He notes that three loans obtained from Dutch banks on favorable terms were “confirmations of the high state of our credit abroad.” Signed in the plate “G. Washington" with an eagle illustration shown above the speech.

Alexander Hamilton apparently wrote most of the speech. For more information on the drafting of the speech, click here. Interestingly, on same page as Washington’s speech, an article from Paris describes in graphic detail the death of Marie Therese Louise of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe at the hands of a mob.

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Condition: B+

Strong text impression on a lightly toned sheet with minor foxing.