They were acting indeed for the public interest in the largest sense, for conditions in the United States were such that every man might become a landowner and the people in general therefore wished to have property rights protected.
In the autumn of 1788 the Congress of the old Confederation made testamentary provision for its heir by voting that presidential electors should be chosen on the first Wednesday in January, 1789; that these electors should meet and cast their votes for President on the first Wednesday in February; and that the Senate and House of Representatives should assemble on the first Wednesday in March.

It was also decided that the seat of government should be in the City of New York until otherwise ordered by Congress.

In accordance with this procedure, the requisite elections were held, and the new government was duly installed.

It happened in 1789 that the first Wednesday in March was the fourth day of that month, which thereby became the date for the beginning of each subsequent administration.
The acid test of efficiency was still to be applied to the new machinery of government.

But Americans then, as now, were an adaptable people, with political genius, and they would have been able to make almost any form of government succeed.