Medallion Obverse:
Thomas Mifflin of Pennsylvania was elected President of the United States, in
Congress Assembled
on November 3, 1783 and served until
June 3, 1784. Mifflin was born in Philadelphia on January 10, 1744 and
died in Lancaster on January 20, 1800. He rose through the ranks of the
Continental Army to Major General serving under George Washington from the Siege
of Boston in 1775 until the Battle of Princeton in 1777. In the late fall of
1777 Horatio Gates, with the help and field leadership of Benedict Arnold,
defeated General Burgoyne's forces at Saratoga. Almost immediately Washington's
enemies embolden with the victory sought his replacement with the "Hero of
Saratoga," General Gates. The Adams-Lee Faction steadily worked, after
General Gates' Victory at Saratoga, to bring Congress to the opinion that the
safety of the country demanded Horatio should replace George as
Commander-in-Chief. The Continental Congress, to make matters more complex for
Washington, bestowed upon Gates and his supporters a series of appointments and
promotions. Most notably, Generals Gates and Mifflin were placed upon the Board
of War and Conway was elected against Washington's protest as Inspector General
of the Continental Army. The scheme to replace George Washington with Horatio
Gates was named the Conway Cabal as personal letters between the Generals were
made public early in 1778. when the plan was made public. The reaction of the
people was clear, George Washington was strongly entrenched in the minds and
hearts of the common man and they wanted him to remain the Commander-in-Chief.
The public's affection towards Washington did not "endanger our libertieis"
as Adams predicted but rather gave them new support as the people rallied
around the Commander-in Chief. The Cabal was dead and Mifflin would resign from
the Army in 1779. In January 1780, Mifflin was appointed on a board to devise
means for retrenching expenses to support the Continental Army. In this capacity
he once again became a stalwart and strong advocate of General Washington during
the darkest days of the revolution. After the Fall of Yorktown and the passage
of the Treaty of Paris Mifflin was elected as a delegate to new United
States, in Congress Assembled that was formed after the ratification of the
Articles of Confederation on March 1, 1781. Thomas Mifflin served tirelessly as
a Delegate and was so respected by his fellow delegates for his good work and
conduct in past Military campaigns that he was elected President of the United
States in Congress Assembled, on November 3, 1783. Mifflin's first mission, as
the new President, was to insure that the Treaty of Paris was ratified under the
six month time constraint set forth in the agreement. By January 12th, only
seven of the 13 states had sent their representatives. Time was running short
operating under the weak Articles of Confederation; the Continental
Congress lacked the power to enforce attendance at Annapolis, a glaring weakness
in the 1st U.S. Constitution. On January 13, the convention needed one more
delegate. Finally, South Carolina Representative Richard Beresford, who was ill,
traveled to Maryland to insure a quorum. As soon as he arrived, the vote was
taken, and on January 14, 1784, the Definitive Treaty of Peace was ratified by
Congress "Given under the seal of the United States. Witness his Excellency
THOMAS MIFFLIN, our President." In March 1784 Jefferson's committee
presented their Ordinance of 1784 that not only proposed a ban on slavery
in these new states, but everywhere in the U.S. after 1800. This proposal was
narrowly defeated by the Southern Contingent of Congress, despite President
Thomas Mifflin's support and slavery would not be outlawed until after the Civil
War four score and 7 years later. On August 30, 1784 The
Empress of China reached Canton, China. It would return to New York City months
later filled with a cargo of spices, silks, exotic plants, new metal alloys and
tea, inspiring a host of US Merchants to enter into the Far East trade. Mifflin
and Monroe opened the gates to far eastern trade with the necessary 1784 ship’s
papers. Mifflin's term as President all but ended with this affair.
Medallion Reverse:
Maryland State House in Annapolis was the Capitol of the United
States of America from November 26, 1783 to August 19, 1784.
The Medallion's reverse also celebrates the
last great act of the Revolutionary War, George Washington's Resignation as
Commander-in-Chief. On
December 17th, 1784 Congress failed to convene the mandatory nine state quorum
to conduct ratification of the Treaty of Paris despite the news of George
Washington's impending audience to resign as Commander-in-Chief. According to
Ramsay:
In every town and
village, through which the General passed, he was met by public and private
demonstrations of gratitude and joy. When he arrived at Annapolis, he informed
Congress of his intention to ask leave to resign the commission he had the honor
to hold in their service, and desired to know their pleasure in what manner it
would be most proper to be done. They resolved that it should be in a public
audience.
George Washington's
attendance in Congress set the stage for one of the most remarkable events of
United States history under Thomas Mifflin's Presidency. In November of 1783 the
British finally evacuated New York and Congress made the momentous decision to
place the Continental Army on "Peace Footing". It was in Annapolis, where
the US Government convened, that the last great act of the Revolutionary War
occurred. George Washington was formally received by President Thomas Mifflin
and Congress. Instead of declaring himself King or dictator as many men feared
while others hoped, Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief to
the President of the United States. What made this action especially remarkable
was that George Washington, at his pinnacle of his power and popularity,
surrendered the commission to President Thomas Mifflin, who by all accounts,
conspired to replace Washington as Commander-in-Chief with Horatio Gates in
1777.
Medallion Obverse:
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia was elected President of the United States, in
Congress Assembled
November 30, 1784 serving until
November 22, 1785. Richard Henry Lee was born in Stratford, Westmoreland
County, Virginia on January 20th, 1732 and died in Chantilly, Virginia on June
19th, 1794.
Lee and fellow radical Samuel Adams became close friends in the
struggle for Independence forming the core of the Adams-Lee Faction. For more
than a year Lee openly advocated a Declaration of Independence. It was his
leadership the swayed the Virginia Convention to instruct its Continental
Congress delegates to formally propose independence from Great Britain. On
June 7th, 1776 Lee took the lead and moved; ``Resolved,
That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent
states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and
that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is,
and ought to be, totally dissolved.'' John Adams seconded the
motion. Congress deferred action for three weeks, in order that more definite
instructions might be received from the middle colonies. In an uncanny twist of
fate Mr. Lee was called home by the illness of his wife. It was at this time
that Thomas Jefferson was appointed in his place as chairman of the committee
for preparing a draft of the proposed Declaration of Independence. John Adams
was successful in defending Mr. Lee's motion, and on July 2, 1776, the United
Colonies of America officially became the United States of America. It was July
2, 1776 that John Adams thought would be celebrated by future generations of
Americans. "The Second Day of July 1776 will be the
most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. . . . It ought to be
solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells,
Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from
this Time forward forever more." -- John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776."
Thomas Jefferson went on to
author the formal Declaration of Independence, which was passed by Congress on
July 4, 1776, immortalizing the young delegate forever. During the
negotiations of the subsequent Treaty of Paris Lee remained very active
in the Virginia assembly. He successfully led the effort to establishing sound
methods of funding Virginia's public debt and providing for the revival of
public credit. These accomplishments did not go unnoticed by his colleagues in
the Unites States, in Congress Assembled. The Definitive Treaty of Peace with
Great Britain exacted a heavy monetary measure from the United States restoring
Tory land holdings and repaying British merchants for goods used and seized
during the Revolutionary War. The citizens and government of the United States
were dire financial circumstances as the debt was staggering and the Continental
Currency had collapsed. In the hopes that Mr. Lee could duplicate his financial
success managing Virginia's debt at a national level, the Delegates elected him
President of the United States, in Congress Assembled on November 30, 1784. The
Liberal Adams-Lee faction had finally come into power and even the most staunch
conservatives looks towards Richard Henry Lee to lead the country onto a path of
prosperity. Lee summed up his philosophy to Samuel Adams in a March 14, 1785
letter two years earlier stating: I think sir that the first maxim of a
man who loves liberty should be, never to grant to Rulers an atom of power that
is not most clearly and indispensable necessary for the safety and well being of
Society.
President Lee firmly believed borrowing more foreign money was no
longer prudent and he abhorred the movement to establish new federal taxes. It
was the sale of these vast federal lands, he deduced, was the nation's only hope
to pay off the war debt and adequately fund federal government. Lee wrote to his
friend and colleague Samuel Adams on May 20th: " I hope we shall shortly
finish our plan for disposing of the western Lands to discharge the oppressive
public debt created by the war & I think that if this source of revenue be
rightly managed, that these republics may soon be discharged from that state of
oppression and distress that an indebted people must invariably feel." The
Western Land Ordinance was enacted in May. In June Lee's Congress
turned their attentions to other matters and appointed a new federal court to
decide on a South Carolina-Georgia boundary dispute. Most of the June dealt with
the appointment of Indian commissioners in a effort to negotiate Native American
Treaties to settle the territory and discharged the only garrison capable of
enforcing the land ordinance with squatters at Fort Pitt. Congress ordered
inquiries into the expanding offices of the former Superintendent of Finance and
the treasury administration. As the government departments grew in New York the
undefined office of President of the United States steadily lost power.
Early July brought
the celebration of Independence and the establishment of the Dollar as the money
unit of the United States on the 6th with these resolutions: "Resolved, That the money
unit of the United States of America be one dollar. Resolved, That the smallest
Medallion be of copper, of which 200 shall pass for one dollar. Resolved, That the
several pieces shall increase in a decimal ratio." In July began debates on
granting the federal government intrastate and foreign commerce power to raise
revenue and settle state disputes. That month they abolished the commissary of
military stores and the entire quartermaster department as they continued to
debate the requisition bill from the states. Cutting costs was the only option
left to the Delegates in this era of debt. In 1785 New York City was
a bustling city whose post-war growth was unprecedented in America during the
18th Century.
The relocation of the
Federal Government to Manhattan, in what is now known as the Wall Street
district, attracted tidal waves packed with diplomats, politicians and
enterprising businessmen seeking housing, office and retail space close to the
United States in Congress Assembled. In late July, Congress, at the request of
Richard Henry Lee, passed an resolution to closed off the street "that
has been prompted by the daily interruption given to their discussions by the
almost unceasing noise of passing Carriages." As
summer percolated into a steamy New York City August meaningful work in Congress
slowed to a trickle despite the chained off area as the city teamed with the new
country's business. Richard Henry Lee decided to leave the Capitol due to an
undisclosed illness and in his absence Congress granted Secretary John Jay, on
the 25th, greater latitude in negotiating with Don Diego de Gardoqui, the
Spanish minister to the United States to end the tide of Mississippi tariffs
that plagued the southern territories and States. This attempt to negotiate a
commercial treaty with Gardoqui resulted in no agreements At the end of
September the eastern boundary dispute between New York and Massachusetts was
still not settled so they authorized a commission complete the matter. October
saw the return of the President to New York from Philadelphia. In October Lee's
Congrees on the 5th orders postmaster general to extend system of posts; on the
7th debates threat of western separatism; On the 12th Authorizes troops to
attend western Indian negotiations; exhorts states to meet fiscal quotas; on the
20th debates John Jay's report on naval threat of Barbary states. Congress on,
October 21-22 and on the 25t they fail to achieve quorums On October 27th
they Rejects proposal to create consular establishment but on the 28th they
confers consular powers on ministers abroad. On November 4th Congressional
session expires and President Lee terms comes to an end. Lee returned to
Virginia and remained active in state politics until 1787 when he was re-elected
to the Confederation Congress as a delegate. Lee voted to revise the Articles of
Confederation resulting in the convening of the 2nd Constitutional Convention..
The convention was chaired by George Washington who agreed with Madison and
other key founders to discard the 1st U.S. Constitution completely and form a
entirely new plan for the federal government. Richard Henry Lee, the man who
wrote the resolution for Independence, distrusted the central government and in
1788 fought against the ratification of the new US Constitution seeking to
preserve the old confederation government. In an October 1787 letter to George
Mason, Lee warned that the new Federal government would
"… produce a coalition of monarchy of men, military men,
aristocrats and drones, whose noise, impudence and zeal exceeds all belief".
Medallion Reverse:French Arms
Tavern, Trenton -- November 1, 1784 to December 24, 1784. Richard Henry Lee's
presidency began not in Philadelphia but in Trenton, New Jersey which was the
temporary capital of the United States. Since the mutiny of 1783 in
Philadelphia, where U. S. soldiers held the Federal Government hostage in
Independence Hall, the capital wandered first to Princeton under President
Boudinot, then to Annapolis under President Mifflin and now, in 1784, to site in
the heart of George Washington's Hessian Victory at Trenton. The Medallion also
commemorates
the Land Ordinance of 1785 that was proposed by Richard Henry Lee
at Trenton as a means to raise capital to fund the federal government and retire
the war debt. It took seven months for the States to approve a small section of
the Northwest Territory for federal settlement. On May 20th, 1785 Richard Henry
Lee's Congress enacted the Land Ordinance of 1785 with the hope that as the
States and Indians relinquished their claims to the new lands that federal
surveyors would divide the territory into carefully planned individual square
townships. Each side of the township square was to be six miles in length
containing thirty-six square miles of territory. The township would then be
divided into one-square mile sections, with each section receiving its own
number and encompassing 640 acres. Section sixteen was to be set aside for a
public schools and sections eight, eleven, twenty-six, and twenty-nine were to
provide veterans of the American Revolution with land as payment for their
service during the war thus greatly reducing the war debt. The government would
then sell the remaining sections at public auction at the minimum bid of 640
dollars per section or one dollar for very acre of land in each section. Richard
Henry Lee ardently believed this was a sound survey system for future
development and that the income from these newly divided lands would settle the
public debt and fund the Confederation government. Despite this and the new
land ordinance, the Federal Government lacked the resources to manage the new
surveyed lands. Native Americans refused to relinquish a large percentage of the
plotted land and the territory remained too dangerous for settlement. This
either required troops to eject the Native Americans or capital to purchase
their land "fairly" insuring the peaceful sale and settlement of the new
federal real estate. The federal government had neither. Additionally the
federal land that was not in dispute by the Native Americans was eagerly
occupied by western settlers as squatters who had no faith in or respect for the
United States in Congress Assembled. The settlers were correct in their
assessment as the federal government was even unable to muster capital to pay
magistrates and pay troops to enforce the $1.00 per acre fee required from the
settlers for a clear federal title. With the States no longer in control of the
lands and no federal magistrates or troops to enforce the laws, a tide of
western squatters flowed into the Northwest Territory. The survey system
would expand, however, from this small range in Ohio to the Pacific Ocean and
later into Alaska as the United States expanded its borders in the next two
centuries. Future Presidents would utilize this system selling or trading
federal land to fund government projects, public education, railroads,
interstate highways and national parks. Lee's plan was prophetic but like most
visionaries he was slightly ahead of its time.
Medallion Obverse:John Hancock of Massachusetts was
elected President of the United States, in Congress Assembled November 23, 1785
serving until June 5, 1786. Hancock also served as President of the Continental
Congress from May 25th, 1775 to October 29, 1777. John Hancock was born in
Quincy, Massachusetts, on January 12, 1737 and died there October 8, 1793. Due
to ill health John Hancock never presided over Congress during his tenure as
President. Foreign Secretary John Jay was quite unhappy about Hancock’s absence
from Congress writing John Adams in Europe: Mr. Hancock is still at Boston,
and it is not certain when he may be expected; this is not a pleasant
circumstance, for though the chair is well filled by a chairman, yet the
President of Congress should be absent as little and seldom as possible.
Despite this Hancock neither resigned his office or ever appeared in New York.
His duties were performed by two
chairmen - David Ramsay from November 23, 1785 until May 12, 1786 and Nathaniel
Gorham from May 15 until June 5, 1786. - for
more information visit
www.johnhancock.org.
Medallion Reverse:Henry
Fite’s House in Baltimore was the Capitol of the Continental Congress from
December 20, 1776 to February 27, 1777. The
Continental Congress was forced to flee Philadelphia as the British had
overwhelmed George Washington in New York and Fort Lee forcing him to retreat
through New Jersey, across the Delaware River and into Pennsylvania. Congress,
fearing the eminent fall of Philadelphia, abandoned the city and reconvened in
Baltimore at the house of Henry Fite. The Medallion's reverse celebrates George
Washington's surprise Victory at Trenton on December 26, 1776 that occurred
after Continental Troops crossed the Delaware Christmas night. George Washington
with about 2400 men in two columns attacked 1,400 Hessians in Trenton.
Washington lost two men in the campaign with only two others wounded. Lieut.
James Monroe, a future President of the United States, took a musket ball to the
shoulder severing an artery. He was saved, however, with an expertly applied
clam by Doctor John Riker.
The Hessians and the British Dragoons lost 23 men, 92 wounded and 947 soldiers
were captured. This Victory was a tremendous boost in American morale, both in
the army and in Congress. Furthermore, the victory at Trenton led to a retreat
north and the capture of Princeton where the British had stockpiled badly needed
supplies.
Medallion Obverse:
Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts was elected President of the
United States, in Congress Assembled June 6, 1786
serving until November 13, 1786. Nathaniel Gorham was born in
Charlestown, Massachusetts on May 27th, 1738 and died there on June 11th, 1796.
Deficiency in the funding of the Federal government continued to plague the
United States and the Gorham Presidency. The unsettled economic conditions were
manifested in the people's distrust of socially prominent politicians. The laws
passed by the "Carriage Class" were perceived as being grossly unfair to
farmers and working people throughout a nation paralyzed by war debt. Hundreds
of letters poured into Congress complaining about excessive taxes on property,
polling taxes that prevented less fortunate citizens from voting, unjust rulings
by the common plea courts, the soaring costs of lawsuits, and the lack of a
stable currency all landing on the new President's desk. Nowhere was this anger
more conspicuous then in Gorham's home state of Massachusetts.
The States were also in difficult debt
positions attempting to raise capital by selling land. In the case of Gorham's
home State of Massachusetts the population had only increased to 270,000 people
but the debt had ballooned from .42 pounds in 1775 to 11.30 pounds per person in
1786, a 270% increase! Additionally, inflation on both federal and state paper
currency was rampant. The time was ripe for rebellion and Daniel Shays launched
one in August 1786 - for more information visit
www.NathanielGorham.com.
Medallion Reverse:
The Lancaster Court House was the Capitol of the Continental
Congress for one day on September 27, 1777. The
Medallion's reverse marks the flight of the delegates from Philadelphia due to
advancing British columns threatening Philadelphia. The Delegates were unable to
find ample rooms in the Lancaster for either lodging or convening the
Continental Congress for more then one day. On the 28th the Continental
Congress packed up and moved the capitol across the Susquehanna River to a small
village called York-Town (now York, Pennsylvania). The River provided the
Continental Congress with a natural barrier to advancing troops. Although
Gorham was neither a delegate nor President in 1777 he served in a time when the
people of the United States, not the British, threatened federal unicameral
government rule due to the dollar’s devaluation, a broken court system and
insurmountable national debt exacted on the people of the United States.
Medallion Obverse:
Engraving of Arthur St. Clair of Pennsylvania was elected President of the
United States, in Congress Assembled
February 2, 1787 serving until October 29,
1787. Arthur St. Clair was born in Thurso, Scotland on March 23, 1734 and died
in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on August 31, 1818.
St. Clair's life, more then any other U.S. President, was comprised of sterling
and stark contrasts. Enjoying a great family inheritance in his youth only to
end his life in desolate poverty; crossing the Delaware with Washington to
capture Trenton and Princeton while later loosing Fort Ticonderoga under his own
command; presiding as President of the United States in the Congress Assembled
that produced the U.S. Constitution and Northwest Ordinance only to be removed
by President Jefferson as Governor of the Northwest Territory for opposing Ohio
Statehood.
Medallion Reverse:
City Hall, New York City was the Capitol of the United States of
America from January 11, 1785 to November 13, 1788.
The Medallion's reverse also marks the passage of the Northwest Ordinance
under Arthur St. Clair's Presidency of which Daniel Webster wrote "We are
accustomed to praise lawgivers of antiquity ... but I doubt whether one single
law of any lawgiver, ancient or modern, has produced the effects of more
distinct, marked, and lasting character than the Ordinance of 1787." The
world was now put on notice that the land north and west of the Ohio River and
east of the Mississippi would be settled and utilized for the creation of "…
not less than three nor more than five territories" with the passage of the
Northwest Ordinance.This plan for governing the Northwest Territory
included freedom of religion, right to trial by jury, the banishment of slavery,
and public education as asserted rights granted to the people in the territory.
This ordinance was and still remains one of the most important laws ever enacted
by the government of the United States. St. Clair’s Congress was also
responsible for the calling the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 “Resolved
that in the opinion of Congress it is expedient that on the second Monday in May
next a Convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several
States be held at Philadelphia for the sole and express purpose of revising
the Articles of Confederation and reporting to Congress and the several
legislatures such alterations and provisions therein as shall when agreed to in
Congress and confirmed by the States render the federal Constitution adequate to
the exigencies of Government and the preservation of the Union”
Additionally, St. Clair’s Congress, after debating the measure for several
days. chose to accept the Constitution of 1787 in the form submitted by the
Convention sending it onto the States, without changing a word, for ratification
on September 28, 1787.
Medallion Obverse:
Engraving of Cyrus Griffin of Virginia was elected President of the United
States, in Congress Assembled January 22, 1788
serving until January 21, 1789. Cyrus Griffin
was born in Farnham, Richmond County, Virginia in 1749 and died in Yorktown,
Virginia on December 14th, 1810. Cyrus
Griffin of Virginia was elected President of the United States, in Congress
Assembled
January 22, 1788 serving until January 21,
1789. Cyrus Griffin was born in Farnham, Richmond County, Virginia in 1749 and
died in Yorktown, Virginia on December 14th, 1810 - for more information visit
www.cyrusgriffin.com.
Medallion Reverse:
Fraunces Tavern, New York City was the Capitol of the United
States of America from November 1788 until March 1789. This tavern was not a
stranger to great events in U.S. History as in 1783 Commander-in-Chief George
Washington bade farewell to his troops. The
Medallion's
reverse celebrates the ratification of the Constitution of 1787 in 1788.
President Griffin and Secretary Charles Thomson were relegated, in the
winter of 1788-1789, to conclude the nation’s Constitution of 1777 business in
this New York City Tavern. Their former offices, New York City Hall was being
renovated for the new federal government formed under the now ratified
Constitution of 1787. Ironically, the Presidency and the unicameral Continental
Congress that was born in a Philadelphia Tavern, journeyed to eight different
capitol cities faded away in its constitutional unicameral form at Fraunces
Tavern in New York City. Under the new Constitution of 1787 the United States
government would never again convene in a Tavern. The era of the founding and
unicameral government ended with the installation of George Washington as the
11th President of the United States on April 29, 1789 at New York City’s Federal
Hall.
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