604 POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES. 2. CIRCUIT COURTS. These often comprise several States and are changed, by act of Congress, when the convenience of the Associate Judges of the Supreme Court, who preside over them requires it. The next largest political divisions are THE STATES. 3. These exercise sovereign powers in all matters where control has not been expressly delegated by the Constitution to the National Congress. The other political boundaries are ever liable to change, to meet the requirements of changing circumstances. These are definitely fixed, any change being very rare and unlikely after they are duly organized and admitted into the Union as States. Each of the original thirteen colonies became States, with the boundaries they had as colonies at the time of the Revolutionary War. The others received such boundaries as suited the convenience and wishes of the people when they were admitted. Their object is to prevent the centralization of too much power in the general government, and to render legislation on local affairs and interests more convenient, and more satisfactory to the people of each State. The State having the least number of inhabitants numbers between 40,000 and 50,000; the one having the largest number contains between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000. The number of the States determines the number of Senators in Congress, two being allotted to each; so that a State may be considered as a Senatorial District. DISTRICT COURTS These 4. Produce another class of political divisions. attend to legal differences involving the laws of the general government, but of a secondary class. They are more numerous than the Circuit Courts. In some States there is but one, and some have several, according to size and population. COLLECTION DISTRICTS. 5. Another class of districts has been formed, for the purpose of collecting the duties on imported goods. These are called “collection districts." They extend along, and embrace the whole sea coast and the shores of navigable lakes and rivers. In a few instances they are located inland, at points where goods may be brought into the United States by land. Each collection district has a port of entry, and very often several ports of delivery; also a collector of customs, and generally a custom house. 6. Another class of collection districts was formed during the late civil war. They grew out of the war, and were established for the collection of the tax termed the "internal revenue," which had to be levied to pay the war expenses. These districts differ entirely, both in their objects and in the territory embraced within them, from those established for the purpose of collecting duties on imports, and correspond as far as practicable with the Congressional districts in each State. LAND DISTRICTS. 7. Land districts may also be noticed among these divisions. In every State and Territory where there are public lands for sale, after they are surveyed and mapped, they are divided into districts-two, three or four, in each State and Territory-asconvenience and economy may dictate. In each district a land office is established for the sale of the lands in said district. LIGHT HOUSE DISTRICTS. 8. Again, the whole of our sea coasts, both on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, together with the shores of the navigable lakes and rivers, are divided into twelve light house districts (or their number must not exceed that,) for the purpose of building, repairing, illuminating and superintending the light houses on all the coasts and shores wherever located. These are the principal divisions we have to notice. It is important to have a knowledge of them, for with such knowledge we can better understand how government affairs are conducted. CHAPTER XIX. CHRONOLOGY OF THE U. S. FROM 1783 TO 1812. 1783. Washington's army had lain in camp at Newburg, N. Y., since the surrender of Cornwallis. The Preliminary treaty of peace was signed Jan. 20th, at Paris; but it was not officially announced in the camp at Newburg, until April 19th; just eight years from the Battle of Lexington that commenced it! July, Congress prepared to disband the army, and Washington to resign his commission as Commander-in-Chief. 21-The great difficulty Congress had to contend with was raising money to pay the troops. Congress had no authority, under the Confederation, to lay taxes or impose duties. It exhausted its own credit in the issue of paper money which soon became of little value. It made some foreign loans, and persuaded the States, which alone could lay taxes, to raise a small sum. But this did not suffice to pay the army at last. There was much suffering and discontent. On this day a body of soldiers, in large part new recruits, who had comparatively little to complain of, without muskets, but wearing side arms, beset the doors of Congress in Philadelphia, for three hours. No violence was offered. Congress adjourned to Princeton, N. J. Sept. 3—The final and definite Treaty of Peace between England, France, and the United States, in which the independence of the latter was acknowledged, its boundaries defined, and various matters of interest arranged to the profit of the United States, was signed at Paris. Nov. 2-A proclamation is issued by Congress for disbanding the army. 25-The British troops evacuate New York, and it is occupied by American troops under Gen. Knox. Dec. 4-Long Island and Staten Island abandoned by the British. Washington takes leave of his officers, at New York. 46 25-He resigns his commission to Congress, in a public audience, given him at Annapolis, Md., where Congress was then sitting, and goes home to Mt. Vernon. Cæsar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, died this year. 1784. The want of public credit was very much felt. There was no authority sufficient to raise money to meet the interest, even, on the debt; and this produced great distress. N-The Continental Congress meets at Trenton, N. J. Richard Henry Lee, of Va., is chosen President. Oct. 4—A treaty with the Six Nations, who had sided with the British during the war, was made at Ft. Schuyler (formerly Ft. Stanwixnow Utica, N. Y.). Commerce begins to revive. Reciprocity treaties were made, and trade with eastern Asia commenced this year by a voyage to China, from New York. 1785. Jan. -Congress adjourns to New York, where it continued to hold its sessions for some years. Mar. 10-Thomas Jefferson appointed to fill the place of Franklin, as Min ister to France; Franklin wishes to return home. He had been there nine years. July Commercial treaties negotiated with Prussia, Denmark, Portugal, and Tuscany. The treaty with Prussia stipulated that, in case of war between that country and the United States, there should be no privateering. "13-Stephen Hopkins, of R. I., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, died. 46 -66 28-Wm. Whipple, of N. H., a signer of the Declaration of Independ ence, died. "Treaties made with the Cherokees, Choctaws, and Chickasaws. 1786. In 1784-5 the impor. Financial troubles were now approaching a crisis. tations from England had amounted to $30,000,000. only $9,000,000. Paper money was depreciated so much as to be of little value. Debt oppressed government and people; want of vigorous author. ity was everywhere felt; and many disorders in Tennessee, Kentucky and elsewhere, begin to threaten the internal peace of the country. June 19-Gen. Nathaniel Greene, an able commander in the Revolutionary armies, died. He manouvered against Cornwallis in North and South Carolina with great ability. Dec. 5-Shay's Rebellion broke out in Mass. That State wished to raise money to aid Congress in paying the interest on the federal debt. The people felt unable to pay it. They mobbed the courts but were dispersed by troops under Gen. Lincoln. Three were killed and one wounded, in an attack the insurgents made on an arsenal. There was little other fighting. Fourteen persons were tried and condemned to death but afterwards pardoned. 1787. These and other events convinced the people that an important change in the government was necessary. It became clear that a vigorous central authority, alone, could answer the purpose. The States were nearly inde pendent of each other; but this produced conflicts and want of harmony, which nearly ruined them all. A congress of deputies to consider commercial questions, called by Va. had, in Sept., 1786, recommended a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation. Feb. 2-The Continental Congress assembled, electing Gen. St. Clair, Pres 66 ident. 12-Congress approves the call for a Constitutional Convention. May 25-The convention assembled in Philadelphia, and elected Gen. Geo. Washington, President. July 11-The Continental Congress organize the Northwest Territorynorth of the Ohio river. Preparations were immediately made for settling it. Sept. 28 The Constitution, as signed by the members of the convention, laid before Congress, which sends it to the State Legislatures for approval. Arthur Middleton of S. C., and Thomas Stone of Md. signers of the Declaration of Independence, died, Jan. 1st and Oct. 5th, respectively. Dec. 7-Delaware ratifies the Constitution. July 4-The anniversary of Independence is kept with great display, in Philadelphia, in special honor of the adoption of the new Constitution. By the close of July nine more States had ratified the Constitu. tion, and it went into operation. Sept. 13-Congress selects the first Wednesday of Jan, (1789) for the appointment of Presidential electors; the first Wednesday in February for their appointment of President and Vice-President; and March 4th (the first Wednesday that month) for the new gov ernment to go into operation. 1789. Jan. 4-Thomas Nelson, of Va., signer of the Declaration of Independence, died. Feb. 13-Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, died. April 30-Washington inaugurated as first President. May 12-A Tariff Bill for raising a revenue reported in Congress. This became a law, and went into effect Aug. 1st, 1789. 20-The Department of Foreign Affairs (afterwards called State Department,) organized. The Treasury Department is next established, followed by the War |