On this day 232 years ago, an event took place that helped establish a nation with–as President Abraham Lincoln put it–a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” It was on December 23rd, 1783, that the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington, resigned from his position in the presence of Continental Congress President Thomas Mifflin and other delegates such as James Madison, James Monroe, and Thomas Jefferson. Washington’s wife Martha and other members of their family were also in attendance at the ceremony.
The act took place in the Maryland State House’s Old Senate Chamber in Annapolis following the Treaty of Paris signing that occurred on September 3rd of that year, which had brought an end to the Revolutionary War.
Per the notes Washington wrote to which he referred that day, here’s the text of his resignation speech:
Mr. President: The great events on which my resignation depended having at length taken place; I have now the honor of offering my sincere Congratulations to Congress and of presenting myself before them to surrender into their hands the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of retiring from the Service of my Country.
Happy in the confirmation of our Independence and Sovereignty, and pleased with the oppertunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable Nation, I resign with satisfaction the Appointment I accepted with diffidence. A diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task, which however was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our Cause, the support of the supreme Power of the Union, and the patronage of Heaven.
The Successful termination of the War has verified the most sanguine expectations, and my gratitude for the interposition of Providence, and the assistance I have received from my Countrymen, encreases with every review of the momentous Contest.
While I repeat my obligations to the Army in general, I should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowledge in this place the peculiar Services and distinguished merits of the Gentlemen who have been attached to my person during the War. It was impossible the choice of confidential Officers to compose my family should have been more fortunate. Permit me Sir, to recommend in particular those, who have continued in Service to the present moment, as worthy of the favorable notice and patronage of Congress.
I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my Official life, by commending the Interests of our dearest Country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who have the superintendence of them, to his holy keeping.
Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theatre of Action; and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life.
This historic event that gave control of our nation’s military back to the hands of its people is depicted below in the painting by artist John Trumbull. Under the commission of the U.S. Congress, Trumbull completed the painting in 1824, and it now hangs in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
Source: Architect of the Capitol
After his resignation, Washington retired to Mount Vernon, Virginia, but he once again became known as Commander-in-Chief with his election as the first President of the United States in 1789.
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Also on this day in the year 1888, Dutch painter Vinnie Van Gogh had a mighty big bowl of Cocoa Puffs for breakfast and lopped off the lower part of his left ear at his home in Arles, France.
As the story goes, Van Gogh wrapped the severed part of his ear in a cloth and handed it to some prostitute before going home to sleep off his hysteria. Once the prostitute awoke from her fainting spell brought on by the gory sight, she reported him to the cops, where they found him in his blood-soaked bed and took him to a hospital. The exact reasons for Van Gogh going ga-ga that day are still debated. Most say he did it due to his brother Theo’s engagement, because he was very close to him. A recent theory is that Vincent didn’t do it to himself but instead his buddy and fellow artist Paul Gauguin slashed Van Gogh with a sword during an argument. After the incident, Gauguin skipped town, and the two men never saw each other again. Vincent suicided himself in 1890.
Whatever happened that day, Van Gogh will forever be known as that tortured artist who lost his lobe.
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Today is also recognized as Festivus, the holiday with no religious or political attachments, in which family and friends (and whoever else ends up in attendance) can enjoy a Festivus dinner while taking part in the annual Airing of Grievances. Afterward, everyone gathers ’round the undecorated aluminum Festivus pole, where they can continue the celebration by engaging in the Festivus Feats of Strength. Fun, disgust, embarrassment, humiliation, and/or misery will be had by all.
Though the “holiday” became famous in the now-classic episode of Seinfeld, Dan O’Keefe, the episode’s writer, said that his father, an editor at Reader’s Digest, started the holiday within the family back in the 60s. Originally, there were no Feats of Strength, but the Airing of Grievances were a part of the festivustivities. Instead of an aluminum pole, Dan’s dad would mark the occasion by putting a clock in a bag and nailing it to the wall. His father refused to explain to him the meaning behind this peculiar ritual.
So in the spirit of the season, I’d just like to say that I’ve got a lot of problems with you people, and you’re gonna hear about ’em…or more accurately, read about them…with my ongoing entries here at Freedom Reconnection.
Not you people specifically, dear readers. I mean you people in general, you people.
And with that, I’m going to end this open thread post at 1,000 words–a Festivus miracle!
