Henry Knox by Mark Puls Page B

light we possess.“ 6

    Washington was elected as the nation's first president on Monday, April 6, 1789, by a unanimous vote of sixty-nine electors, and John Adams won the vice presidency with thirty-four votes. Secretary of Congress Thomson arrived at Mount Vernon to notify the president-elect on Tuesday, April 14. Washington answered with muted appreciation: "Silence can best explain my gratitude.“ 7
    Thousands of spectators gathered outside Federal Hall in New York City, where Washington emerged on a small, half-enclosed portico overlooking Broadway and Wall Street. Congress had deemed that the swearing-in should be as public as possible. Knox stood behind Washington as he placed his hand on the Bible and took the oath from the chancellor of New York, Robert R. Livingston. Washington leaned over and kissed the Bible, and afterward returned to the House chamber to deliver his inaugural address. That evening, Knox hosted the president at his home, where they enjoyed fireworks. A week later, on May 7, a dinner honoring Washington was held at the AssemblyRoom on the east side of Broadway, near Wall Street. As one of the city's leading socialites, Lucy Knox helped planned the ceremonials.
    Knox had little time to enjoy a season of high society. Their son, George Washington Knox, was stricken with dysentery and grew weak to the point of death by early July. Henry and Lucy pushed aside everything to take him on a sea cruise in hopes of reviving his strength. The child's condition weighed on Knox as they returned and Henry was forced back into duty by the pressing need to gear up for the new government.
    Congress was in the midst of creating the federal departments set forth in the U.S. Constitution, one of which gave Knox the mandate he needed to create a permanent, standing army. During the Confederation government, Knox had served merely as secretary at war, a title that denoted a temporary position that was expected to be terminated in peacetime. Congress created the Department of War on August 7, 1789, and Knox's title changed to secretary of war. (The U.S. Department of War would be merged into the U.S. Department of Defense in 1947.)
    Some members of Congress in the new government under the U.S. Constitution, such as the anti-Federalist William Maclay, thought that the country had no urgent need for a war secretary.
    The uneasy relationship between the branches of the government immediately became evident. Secretary Knox appeared with Washington at the Senate Chamber on August 22 to discuss problems arising from tensions between white settlers in North and South Carolina and Georgia and American Indian tribes. Knox thought that it was important to develop a good relationship with the Indian chiefs not only to preserve harmony and avoid war but as a buffer against encroaching European powers, such as Britain and Spain.
    Washington and Knox thought it would be proper to ask the Senate for its advice and consent on the attempt to treat with the Indians, since the Constitution gave the Senate authority over treaties. As they appeared at the Senate door, Washington handed Vice President Adams a lengthy explanation of the problems and history of recent treaties with the hostile tribes, written by Knox. As Adams read the statement in the Senate chambers, several senators became irritated. The noise from carriages outside made it difficult to hear, and several congressmen felt the issues were new and complicated and needed to be sent to committee for further study. Washington, angry, said: "This defeats every purpose of my coming here."
    Knox had appointed Benjamin Lincoln as an agent to deal with the problems between the state of Georgia and tribes along its border. One ofthe senators asked Knox directly when Lincoln would arrive, and Henry responded "not till Saturday next.“ 8
    This is still the only time in American history that a member of the president's cabinet was openly questioned before the full Senate. Washington had