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Maritime Washington
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By Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton
Every year on President's Day, the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association opens the doors of Mount Vernon, waives admission fees and stages a daylong celebration of the life and achievements of our first President, George Washington. Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha Washington from the time of their marriage in 1759 until Washington's death in 1799. The manor home and the grounds are meticulously kept, and a new visitor center and museum have recently been opened. In accordance with his will, George and Martha Washington both rest in peace in the tomb on the estate, even though a crypt was built specifically for him in the U.S. Capitol. Even though the crowds are unusually large that day and parking usually atrocious, I always try to take my family each year (not always willingly). I believe that George Washington, as an individual and a public servant, is a role model for all of us. He was a fearless soldier, peerless statesman and exemplary citizen who viewed public service as an obligation, not a career. He always responded to the public's call to service, but he also longed to return to his family, farming and pursuing entrepreneurial enterprises. We all have much to learn from this man, but especially those of us who enter public service today. What I am struck by every year are the large crowds that always gather on the south lawn of the Mount Vernon manor house. No matter what the weather or time of day, people are drawn to the breathtaking views of the Potomac River. They marvel at the beauty but have little comprehension of the practical aspects of the siting of this and other colonial plantations. In Washington's time, the waterways were the lifeline of America's economy. The overwhelming majority of America's population lived along the oceans, rivers, harbors and bays of the Atlantic seaboard. With few roads and no alternatives, goods and people depended on the waterways for personal and commercial transportation. Mount Vernon's exports of wheat, whiskey and fish, as well as imports of finished and manufactured products, move by ship to and from other parts of Virginia, the other colonies/states, and abroad. If one wanted to visit another plantation or nearby town, it was usually easier and faster to travel via boat. Simply put, without marine transportation there was no America. The significance of the maritime industry was underscored when Washington was elected President. The new capital was New York, then as now a major shipping center. On April 30, 1789, Washington boarded a ceremonial barge at Elizabethport, New Jersey, for his triumphant entrance to Manhattan Island via a harbor filled with merchant vessels of all sorts firing salutes to the new President. The celebration was organized in part by The Marine Society of the City of New York. Six years earlier, Washington had become a member of The Marine Society, declaring he was "extremely happy in becoming a member of their humane and excellent institution." Try finding a merchant ship anywhere near a modern day Presidential Inauguration in the City of Washington! More important is what Washington and the first Congresses did once they assumed office. Some of the first matters they dealt with directly pertained to the American maritime industry; in fact, six of the 26 laws enacted by the First Congress in its first session were maritime-related. This preoccupation with maritime matters is even more impressive given that the First Congress also had to deal with a multitude of important issues, such as establishing the Executive Departments and passing the first twelve amendments to the U.S. Constitution, 10 of which are otherwise known as the Bill of Rights! The laws enacted by the First Congress, as well as those passed by the subsequent Congresses during Washington's two terms in office, were precedent setting. They laid the foundation of federal maritime programs that were to continue to this day. Among the most important were:
Today, a little over 200 years later, the City of Washington is home to the programs that Washington and the first Congresses established, and they are constantly under discussion and revision. The maritime industry continues to play a vital role in the American economy and supports the military in times of crisis. However, maritime transportation is no longer on the minds of most Americans even though the global economy makes the industry more important than at anytime since the nation's founding. Maybe more people need to visit Mount Vernon to remember! This article was written expressly for publication by American Maritime Officers. |
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