August 17, 1790, found U.S. President George Washington
traveling the country, in Newport, Rhode Island. Washington met
with “the Hebrew Congregation” (Jewish group), and congregation
leader (Rabbi?) Moses Seixas presented Washington with an
address extolling Washington’s virtues, and the virtues of the
new nation. Seixas noted past persecutions of Jews, and
signalled a hopeful note: 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. President Washington responded with what
may be regarded as his most powerful statement in support of
religious freedom in the U.S. — and this was prio