PART IV.

CONSTITUTIONAL PERIOD,

FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF A GOVERNMENT UNDER

THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, a. D. 1789,

TO THE PRESENT TIME.

CHAPTER I.

WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION, 1789-1797.

422. On the 14th of April, 1789, Washington received an official announcement that he had been unanimously elected president of the United States under the new constitution. Two days afterwards he bade adieu to Mount Vernon and set out for New York, where Congress was in session. Official receptions, addresses, and triumphal arches awaited him everywhere on the route. On reaching the city, he was received by Gov. Clinton and conducted with military honors, in the midst of a vast concourse, to a residence which was placed at his disposal. On the 30th of April, he was maugurated, at Federal Hall, on the site of the present Custom House. The oath of office was administered by Chan cellor Livingston, on the balcony in front of the Hall, in the presence of a great multitude. Immediately after the cere mony, Washington proceeded to the senate-chamber, and delivered an address replete with exalted sentiments.

423. John Adams had been elected vice-president; and both houses, having organized a few weeks before the inau

422. Who was elected first president under the new constitution? When did Washington receive the announcement? When did he start from Mount Vernon? What is said of his journey and his reception in New York? When and where did his inaugu ration take place? Describe the scene. What was done by Washington after the cere.

1789

DIFFICULTIES OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

313

ficulties to contend with. A strong party was opposed to the constitution and the new government formed under it. The Spanish authorities had prohibited Americans from navigating the Mississippi. The people of the west naturally looked to this river as their only means of reaching a market; and, that they might not lose the advantages it offered, some of the frontier settlers proposed to separate from the republic and unite with the Spanish territory of which New Orleans was the metropolis. The hostility of the Indians, who had not as yet laid aside the tomahawk, was a fruitful source of anxiety. These were

alony? 423. Who had been elected vice-president? Enumerate the difficulties by which the new government was embarrassed. To what means did Congress resort for

a few of the subjects that required the immediate attention of government, added to which was the ever-pressing want of money. After long deliberation, Congress determined to raise a revenue by laying duties on the tonnage of vessels and all imported articles.

424. One of the first acts of Congress was to create three departments, the heads of which were known as the Secre tary of Foreign Affairs (afterwards Secretary of State), the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of War. These, together with the Attorney-General, were to act as advisers of the president, constituting what was called his Cabinet. Two new departments have since been created (the Navy and the Interior), the heads of which, with the Postmaster General, have seats in the cabinet. The secretaryship of state is the highest cabinet office; this Washington bestowed on Thomas Jefferson, who had been governor of Virginia for two years, and had represented his country at the French court from 1784 to 1789. Alexander Hamilton was made secretary of the treasury. Gen. Knox, who had been at the head of the artillery department throughout the revolution, was appointed secretary of war, and Edmund Randolph, of Virginia, attorney-general.

425. Having directed the secretary of the treasury to present at the next session some plan for restoring the national credit, Congress adjourned on the 29th of September. North Carolina accepted the constitution in November.

426. The president was at first overrun with visitors, who made serious inroads on his time. He soon found it necessary to appoint a fixed hour for their reception, and confine himself at other times to his official duties. Notwithstanding this precaution, he was compelled to labor incessantly, and during the first year of his presidency was twice prostrated by excessive toil. Soon after the adjournment of Congress,

raising a revenue? 424. What three executive departments were created by Congress! What did their heads, with the Attorney-General, constitute? What departments have since been created? Which is the highest cabinet office? On whom was it bestowed? Name the other members of Washington's cabinet. 425. When did Congress adjourn? What did it do before adjourning? When did North Carolina accept the constitution? 426. How did Washington prevent his time from being consumed by visitors? What is

1789]

HAMILTON'S FINANCIAL MEASURES.

315

he set out on a visit to New England, and was received by the people with every mark of affection. On his return to New York he learned that Gen. Lincoln, who had been sent to treat with the Creeks of Georgia, had failed in his attempts. The Creek chief, at the head of 2,000 warriors, had met the American commissioner; but suddenly broke off negotiations and refused to sign a treaty. About a year afterwards, the attempt was repeated with success.

427. Congress had imposed upon Hamilton a difficult task. Amid financial embarrassments of every kind, it was required of him to provide a revenue for the government and to revive its credit. But his genius was equal to the work. He took the true ground, that, to maintain its credit, the country must pay its honest debts. This principle fortunately prevailed in Congress, and provision was made for the gradual payment of $54,000,000. From this time confidence was entertained in the integrity of the government, and with confidence prosperity returned. Too much credit cannot be given to the far-seeing policy of Hamilton. In the eloquent language of Webster, "He smote the rock of the national resources and abundant streams of revenue burst forth. He touched the dead corpse of public credit and it sprang upon its feet."

428. In May, 1790, Rhode Island adopted the constitution, and the confederacy then embraced all of the thirteen original colonies.

429. The insecurity of the settlers on the western frontier early engaged the attention of Congress. Emigrants from the Atlantic states had already penetrated to various points in the valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi. In 1769, Daniel Boone, a bold hunter of North Carolina with five enterprising men like himself, explored the wilds of what is now called Kentucky. Boone afterwards returned and led a larger party to the fruitful region where he had determined

said of the labor required of him? How was he received on his visit to New England? Give an account of the attempts of the United States to negotiate with the Creeks 497. What is said of the task required of Hamilton? What ground did he take? What measure of Congress secured the confidence of the country? What does Webster say of Hamilton? 428. In May, 1790, what took place? 429. What early engaged the attention of Congress? Give an account of early explorations and settlements in Kentucky.

to spend the remainder of his life. Hunting and trapping in luxuriant forests, living on what their rifles afforded, sleeping in cane-brakes, fighting and flying from the Indians by turns, now captured and anon escaping, this little band, increased from time to time by new-comers, underwent a variety of adventures that seem more like the fictions of romance than the truths of history. The natives, ever averse to encroachments on their domains, maintained a perpetual warfare, which required untiring vigilance on the part of the whites. The great chief Pontiac had fallen; but Little Turtle, a famous Miami warrior, was ever ready when a blow was to be struck at the hated pale-face.

the

430. When Great Britain gave up the war in 1783, western tribes under Little Turtle resolved to continue it. A party of unprincipled men had shortly before murdered some Indians who had been converted by Moravian missionaries and had taken no part in the war. Thirsting for vengeance, the Ohio tribes carried devastation far and wide, putting to death their prisoners with cruel tortures. The whites, though they had now become more numerous and powerful, were hardly strong enough to repel the fierce Algonquins. In August, 1782, a party of savages appeared before Bryan Station, five miles from Lexington, Kentucky, and tried to draw the garrison out from their log defences. Failing in this, they pretended to depart; but the old hunters, skilled in all the artifices of Indian warfare, felt sure that they were lying in ambush near the fort. At this critical time their water gave out, and it was necessary to obtain a fresh supply. The spring was a short distance off, near a thicket of trees and bushes in which it was supposed the savages were concealed. If the men went out, it was almost certain they would be shot down and a rush made for the fort; but it was thought, if the women went to the spring, the enemy would refrain from firing and wait for a more favorable opportunity. The heroic women of the fort undertook the per

What is said of the adventures of Boone and his comrades? How did the natives fecl towards them? What chief was ever ready to strike a blow at the whites? 480. What did the western tribes do in 1783? What provocation had they shortly before received?