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THE PURCHASE 1803. OF LOUISIANA.

CHAPTER 1.

Organization of the new Government.-The Funding System.-
Party lines strongly drawn.

1. WHEN Washington retired at the close of the war, P'T. IV. he had fully intended to pass the residue of his days in PD. I. domestic retirement. The first summons, which he CH. 1. received to quit his delightful retreat, was when the 1787. legislature of Virginia chose him first delegate to the convention, which framed the constitution. With re- ington luctance he consented to the pleas of friendship, and the call of public duty. He was made president of dent of the convention by a unanimous vote.

CHAPTER I.-1. What had been Washington's intention when he left the army ? What was the first time he was induced to violate it? Of what body was he made president? How?

Wash

made

presi

the con vention.

258

P'D. I.

THE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZED.

P'T. IV. 2. The constitution being adopted, the universal voice of the nation called him forth, to organize the CH. 1. government. A special messenger from the president of congress, brought him the official intelligence of mously his election, and in two days he set out for New York, president. where congress first convened.

Unani

elected

April 30.

3. The ceremony of his inauguration was witnessed, with inexpressible joy. He made an address to 1789. Congress, in which he offered his "fervent supplications to the Almighty Being, whose providential aid can supply every human defect, that his benediction gurated would consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States, a government instituted by themselves; and would enable every officer to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge."

Is inau

at N. Y.

mer

4. Congress made it their first object to establish Congress lay du- a revenue, sufficient for the support of government, ties on and for the discharge of the debt, contracted during chandise the revolutionary war. For this purpose, they laid and ton- duties on the importation of merchandise, and on the nage. tonnage of vessels.... The first appointed under the secreta constitution as the heads of departments, were, Thomas ries, Jef Jefferson, secretary of state, Alexander Hamilton of Hamil the treasury, and General Knox of the department of Knox. war. The small navy was assigned to the care of the latter.

The first

ferson,

ton and

amended

5. During this session it was proposed to amend the Consti- constitution. Congress agreed upon twelve new artitution cles, which were submitted to the respective state legislatures; and being approved by three-fourths of these bodies, they became a part of that instrument. 6. Mr. Hamilton, early in the second session brought Hamil forward his celebrated report, which was drawn up ton's with a masterly hand He showed the importance of system. public credit, and proposed, assuming or funding, not

1790.

funding

only the public debt, amounting to fifty-four millions

--

2. By what vote was he elected president of the U. S.? Where did Congress at this time meet? Did their messenger wait long for Washington?-3. Give some account of his inauguration? 4. What did Congress make their first object? Who were made heads of departments? 5. What was done respecting the constitution? 6. Give an account of Mr. Hamilton's sys tem of funding the public debts?

THE FUNDING SYSTEM.

259

of dollars, but also the state debts, estimated at twen- P'T. IV. ty-five millions; and of making permanent provision PD. I. for the payment of the interest, by imposing taxes on certain articles of luxury, and on spirits distilled within the United States.

CH. 1.

and

7. The debates on this report produced an irritation 1790. of feeling, which, in the event, shook the foundation of the government; and they may fairly be said, to be the origin of that violent party spirit, which, under Heated the names of federalists and republicans, for thirty debates years arrayed one part of the American community party against the other. Mr. Hamilton's plan was finally animosi adopted; and at the same time, a law passed fixing the seat of government where it now is. The debt funded, amounted to a little more than seventy-five millions of dollars; upon a part of which, an interest of three per cent. was paid, and on the remainder, six per cent.

ties.

and R. 1.

8. Rhode Island had refused to send delegates to the convention, which formed the constitution; and neither that state, or North Carolina, had accepted it at the time of its adoption. North Carolina acceded to N.C. it in November, 1789; Rhode Island in May, 1790.... accede to An act was passed, accepting the cession of the claims the conof North Carolina to a district, west of that state; and a territorial government was established by congress, under the title of "the Territory of the United States, south of the Ohio."

stitution.

tional

9. Kentucky was separated from Virginia, and also 1791. erected into an independent government, receiving its name from its principal river. ... A national bank was, A naduring this session, recommended by Mr. Hamilton, bank esand passed through congress, although it met a violent tablishopposition from the republican party. After deliberate investigation, the president was convinced of its constitutionality and utility, and gave it his signature.

-8.

7. What effect did its introduction produce in congress? Was it adopted? What other law passed at the same time? What two states at first refused to adopt the constitution? When did they agree to it? What territory was taken from N. C.?9. What was done respecting a national bank?

ed.

260

THE MORAVIANS.

P'T. IV. The bank was established at Philadelphia, with a P’D. I. capital of ten millions of dollars.

CH. II.

admitted

to the

Oct.

10. Vermont was this year admitted as one of the Feb. 18. states of the union. ... In 1791, the first census of the Vermont United States was completed. The number of inhabitants was 3,929,000, of whom, 695,000 were slaves. union. The revenue amounted to 4,771,000 dollars, the exports Number to 19,000,000, and the imports to about 20,000,000 ... of repre- In October, the second congress apportioned the numLives, 1 to ber of representatives, according to the census. After 33,000. much disagreement, they fixed the ratio at one for every thirty-three thousand inhabitants

senta

Shock

CHAPTER II.

The Moravians.-The Indians of the North West.

1. AFTER Pontiac's treacheries, the Moravian converts, in danger of perishing from the indiscriminate ing dis- fury of the whites, went in a body to Philadelphia, orders. and were sheltered by the governor in a prison; yet,

sion on

even there, some of them were murdered. Soon after this, Zeisberger led a party, who fixed, for a time, on 1767. the Alleghany river. The French war caused them to A mis- remove; and they next settled on the banks of the the Alle- Ohio, near Beaver Creek. A still more inviting counriver. try being offered them by the chiefs of the Delawares, they removed to the banks of the Muskingum. Here they had several flourishing towns, among which were Leichtenau and Salem.

ghany

2. But the missionaries were endangered by the jealousy of the chiefs, which operated now, as in the time of Elliot. The most powerful man of the Dela

10. In what year was Vermont admitted to the Union? What in 1790 was the number of inhabitants? The amount of revenue? Of exports? Of imports? What the ratio of apportionment.

CHAPTER II.-1. What happened to some of the Moravian converts in Philadelphia? What progress did the missionaries afterwards make?