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SECTION IV.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL PERIOD.

Washington's Administration.

1. THE first Congress, under the Constitution, ought to have met at New York on

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rival of its members, the most of whom had to make their way on horseback or by sea, a quorum was not secured before the 30th. On counting the votes which had been cast by the state electors, it was found that all of them had been given for Washington. He was consequently declared

WASHINGTON.

the president elect of the United States, and a message was at once sent to Mount Vernon to inform him of his election. 1

2. "Washington desired to proceed to New York in the most quiet manner, but the flow of veneration and gratitude could not be suppressed." In Maryland and Pennsylvania he

1 44 Washington received sixty-nine votes, that being the whole number of electors voting. John Adams received thirty-four votes in all, not a majority, but sufficient, as the Constitution then stood, being the second highest number, to make him vice-president."

1789

Inauguration of Washington.

183

was publicly welcomed and entertained. "Ascending the left bank of the Delaware, he crossed into New Jersey. The people of Trenton remembered the battles fought Inauguration in their neighborhood twelve years before, and if of. Washington. his reception at other places was more splendid, nowhere was it so graceful and touching. On the bridge across the river which flows through the town into the Delaware, the same bridge across which Washington had retreated before Cornwallis's army on the eve of the battle of Princeton, a triumphal arch had been erected, supported on thirteen pillars, twined with evergreens, flowers, and laurel. Beneath this arch, which bore for inscription The Defender of the Mothers will be the Protector of the Daughters,' were assembled a party of matrons, mixed with young girls dressed in white, who were holding baskets of flowers in their hands. As Washington approached they began to sing a little ode prepared for the occasion, and, suiting the action to the words, they ended the chant in strewing their flowers before him.

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3. As the new Federal Hall in New York was not yet finished, a week elapsed before preparations were completed for administering to the president elect the oath of office. The place selected for that purpose was the outer gallery or balcony of the Senate Chamber, visible for a long distance down Broad Street, which it fronted, thus affording opportunity to witness the ceremony to a large number of eager spectators. At nine o'clock all the churches in the city were opened for prayer and religious services. A little after noon the presi lent elect left his house escorted by the city cavalry, and followed by a long procession of citizens.

4. Having entered the Senate Chamber, where the two houses were assembled to receive him, he was conducted to an elevated seat at the head of the room. After a momentary silence, all being seated, the vice-president, John Adams, rose and stated to the president elect that all was ready for the administration of the oath, whenever he was prepared to

receive it. Upon this intimation Washington proceeded to the balcony, followed by the senators and representatives. The oath was administered by the Chancellor of New York, Robert R. Livingston. As he finished the ceremony he exclaimed aloud, Long live George Washington, President of the United States' to which the assembled multitude responded in long and enthusiastic shouts, and all the bells in the city rang out a joyful peal (April 30).”

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5. On assuming the duties of president, Washington called to his aid, as his cabinet, or body of advisers, the ablest men in the country that he could select. Thomas Jefferson was chosen Secretary of State; Alexander Hamilton, The first Secretary of the Treasury; and Henry Knox, Secmeasures. retary of War. Edmund Randolph was also appointed Attorney-General. The first great difficulty was to provide for the payment of the debts incurred in carrying on the late war. A plan was proposed by Hamilton, who, said Daniel Webster, many years after, "smote the rock of the national resources, and abundant streams of revenue gushed forth. He touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprung upon its feet." All the war debts of the States were assumed by the general government. Ample provision was made for the payment of all just claims. Commerce began to flourish. The American flag was soon seen on every sea. A national bank and mint were established (1791). The Ship of State was fairly launched.

6. North Carolina and Rhode Island were the last to adopt the Constitution. The first admission to the Union was of Vermont. The people of that part of our country had beer The 14th long knocking at the door of Congress for admis

State. sion, but New York objected. The Vermont territory had been claimed by both New York and New Hampshire; but, as the governors of the latter in colonial times had disposed of a large portion of the land in numerous tracts, known as the " New Hampshire Grants," and, as New York's claim had been confirmed by the crown, what was left to

1791-5

Foreign Affairs.

185

New Hampshire of property in the soil was supposed to be of little value. Finally, however, the payment of thirty thousand dollars to New York secured the consent of that claimant, and the " Green Mountain Boys" took their seat in the great family of States (1791).

7. Treaties had been made with most of the Indian tribes within the territorial limits of the United States, but those north of the Ohio river became dissatisfied with the boun

daries which had been assigned them, and showed Indian war. their dissatisfaction by numerous hostile acts. They waylaid the boats in which emigrants were proceeding, attacked settlements, and committed many murders. Washington sent a force under General Harmar to subdue them, but he was defeated. A force under St. Clair was next surprised and defeated with heavy loss; and it was not until 1794 that the savages were overcome. In that year they were defeated by General Wayne, "the Mad Anthony of the Revolution," in a desperate battle fought on the banks of the Maumee river. This victory, followed up by severe measures, compelled the Indians to sue for peace, and at Greenville, where eleven hundred warriors had assembled, a treaty was made by which a large tract of territory was ceded to the United States (1795).

8. The French, being at war with England, expected to receive aid from this country; and many of the American people, grateful to their old allies, were desirous of giving it. Washington, however, believing that such a course Foreign would imperil the liberties of the United States, affairs. recommended a neutral policy. The French Minister here tried to involve the people in the war by fitting out privateers in American ports; but at Washington's request he was recalled. Difficulties had also arisen with England, growing out of violations of the treaty of 1783; but these were disposed of by a new treaty negotiated by John Jay, Chief Justice, who had been sent to England as a special envoy for the pur pose. A large number of persons, including those who de

sired to aid the French, regarded this treaty with decided aver. sion. They thought it favored the English too much. Still it was ratified by the Senate, though in the face of a determined opposition on the part of many Senators, and was approved by Washington (1795).

9. "This, one of the wise statesmen of the Revolution, who survived to perform services of

inestimable value to the new

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John Jay.

constitutional govern

ment was a man whose character needs no apologists. Webster finely said that the spotless ermine of the judicial robe, when it fell on the shoulders of John Jay, touched nothing not as spotless as itself.' His integrity ran down into the roots of his moral being, and honesty was in him a passion as well as a principle. The celebrated treaty with Great Britain which he negotiated as the Minister of the United States occasioned an outburst of wrath such as few American diplomatists have ever been called upon to face; but in all the fury of opposition to it, few opponents were foolish enough to assail his integrity in assailing his judgment and general views of public policy." 1

JOHN JAY.

10. "In the fall of 1792, Eli Whitney, of Massachusetts,

Whisky Insurrection. In 1791 Congress imposed a duty on domestic iquors. This caused great discontent in several quarters, but particularly in western Pennsylvania, where, in 1794, the people rose in rebellion, and declared they would not pay the tax. Upon the approach of a body of militia sent by Washington, the insurgents changed their minds and yielded.

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John Jay was born in New York City in 1745. He was a member of the "First Continental Congress;" with Franklin, John Adams, and Henry Laurens, negotiated the treaty of 1783 at Paris (see p. 176); ren dered important aid in favor of the adoption of the Constitution (see p. 179), and was the first Chief Justice of the United States, which office he resigned on his return from England, in 1795.

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