Washington’s Vision of Inclusiveness: “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance”

“All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support....”

Even George Washington, among the most progressive of the Founders, was shaped by the prejudices of his day. He profited from slavery, and could not imagine women as equals. Today, all too aware of our Founders’ failures and hypocrisy, why should we value slaveowners’ proclamations of liberty? Because they envisioned a future built on an expansive view of universal natural rights.

When George Washington visited Newport, Rhode Island in August 1790, Moses Seixas delivered an address on behalf of Congregation Kahal Kadosh Yeshuat Israel (Touro Synagogue). Seixas welcomed the President to Newport, and expressed hope for the new government’s success and its commitment to religious freedom.

After returning to New York, the capital, Washington replied assuring the congregation that in his administration, “All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship....” He then effectively echoed and built on Seixas’ words, to create what has since become Washington’s most famous letter, quoted above. Closing the letter, Washington paints a picture of true liberty, and true security, by paraphrasing one of his favorite biblical passages.                      

“May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig-tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid…” 

Today, Washington’s message can and should be applied not just to the narrow question of antisemitism. The vision captured in this letter can push us to go beyond tolerance in all subjects of discrimination, including color, gender, wealth, age, abilities, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, birth order or place, and an infinite number of other traits that make us individual human beings.

Note: Parallel to the Promise of Liberty, we are also starting to work on creating a diverse coalition to take ownership of To Bigotry No Sanction.

The buyers will become Trustees, inviting everyone to share philosophical ownership. In the hands of a new Alliance representing all of America, we believe George Washington can be employed once more to put forward an authentic and inclusive shared national vision – an update to the bold, idealistic, and expansive ideas that have become America’s source code.