William Maclay Mansion -Home of The First President's Loudest Critic

The founding fathers  checks and balance philosophy of our new nation took on its full force during the first term of Senator William Maclay.  He took on none other than President George Washington in what he saw was the ever expanding power of the Executive Branch.
Before he became one of the first class of new senators in the initial two year term in our new nation, Senator Maclay was a soldier, lawyer,  surveyor, state legislator and judge.
Senator Maclay was a fervent supporter of the constitution in 1787.  But it is he along with Senator James Madison that were among the first to speak loudly against the actions of the new national government. He was convicted that President Washington was unconstitutionally taking the powers of the executive branch too far beyond the powers of the states.
Besides the records of Senatorial debates Maclay also was devoted to his own private congressional journal.  This is invaluable for historians to gain insight on the tension of the times.  His public record and private thoughts give us a unique view of his hopes, fears and concerns about the issues of his day in forging a way forward in the new government.
To give an example you are probably already aware the written constitution of the USA leaves many important matters unclear.  The constitution says that the President can make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate.  But what does that really mean in how the two branches work together?
In 1789 President Washington  entered the Senate to spell out the treaty provisions he negotiated with Indians along the nation's border with Spanish Florida.  The Senators responded with debating the treaty at length.  President Washington was so angry at their response that ever since the President and their diplomatic team have worked out a way to negotiate the treaties and then send  them to the Senate for their vote to approve.
Senator Maclay's journal reflects his biggest fear - that the Executive Branch would continue to expand its powers in order to become just another form of royalty.  This was the very principle much blood was just shed in the Revolutionary War with Great Britain to be freed from the tyranny of one ruler.
We honor the precedent setting role of the feisty Senator Maclay with our intro to our  latest Harrisburg video.
To learn more about the life and times of Senator Maclay and the preservation of his mansion check out:
Resource 1

Resource 2

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