of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." Each one then grasped in turn the hand of the Father of his Country, and in silence Washington and his generals parted.

The commander who had swayed the destinies of a continent, now modestly repaired to Congress, resigned his commission, and returned to private life at Mount Vernon, astonishing the world by this unwonted spectacle.

PART V.

THE REPUBLIC UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

CHAPTER I.

The return to Peace-Articles of Confederation-Treaties with Foreign Countries-Indian Nations-Northwest Territory organized-A desire for a better Union-A Convention called-The new Constitution-It is accepted by eleven States-Close of the Continental Congress.

THE great struggle was over, peace once more reigned throughout America. The army which had so gallantly struggled on through every adversity was disbanded, and the soldiers had returned to their homes to engage once more in cultivating the soil, or exercising the various industries which contribute to a country's wealth. Washington, crowned with glory, regarded with admiration, not only by his own country, but in Europe, was in retirement at Mount Vernon, retaining none of the power he had so long wielded.

There was much to do, to enable the country to recover from the desolation of war.

Among the curious anecdotes of the struggle which now became public, one of the strangest was that of Deborah Sampson, a young woman of Plymouth, Massachusetts, who, disguised as a man, enlisted

in the army, in October, 1778. By her courage and fidelity as a soldier, she gained the approbation of the officers, and was always ready for the post of danger. She thus had many adventures, and did not escape unharmed, having received several wounds. At last a severe wound in the shoulder compelled her removal to an hospital, where a brain fever set in, and she was soon supposed to be dead. It was then for the first time seen that she was a woman. The physician in charge took her to his house, and gradually restored her to health. When she recovered, her commanding officer sent the young soldier to General Washington with a letter. The soldier feared that her secret had been discovered, and that the letter revealed it to the General-inChief. When she presented the letter, she trembled as she had never done on the field of battle. Washington allowed her to retire while he read the letter. He then recalled her, and without a word, handed her a discharge from the army, and a note containing some words of advice, and money enough to enable her to reach some place where she might make her home.

The United States, as recognized by the treaty of peace, embraced thirteen States, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, to which the District of Maine then belonged, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, which claimed Vermont, as New Hampshire did also, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, of which Kentucky formed part, North Carolina, which then included Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia, of which Alabama and Mississippi were then part. The Mississippi River was. except near the mouth, the western boundary, separating the new republic from the Spanish territory of Louisiana on the west. It was separated on the north from the British provinces, by the great lakes and the St. Lawrence, as far as St. Regis, from

which a line ran east to the bounds of Maine. Florida was still held by England, though it was soon after restored to Spain. The country northwest of the Ohio was the great Indian country, the only whites being a few of the old French settlers.

The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, all the powers being vested in Congress, composed of delegates chosen by the various State governments. The President of Congress was the virtual head of the republic, the personal representative of the sovereignty of the Union, and the ceremonial of hist household was regulated on that footing, those being days of great dignity in men holding high office. The Presidents of Congress from the commencement were Peyton Randolph, of Virginia, John Hancock, of Massachusetts, Henry Laurens, of South Carolina; John Jay, of New York, Samuel Huntington, of Connecticut, Thomas McKean, of Delaware, John Hanson, of Maryland, Elias Boudinot, of New Jersey, Thomas Mifflin, of Pennsylvania, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, Nathaniel Gorham, of Massachusetts, Arthur St. Clair, of Pennsylvania, and Cyrus Griffin, of Virginia.

But the government under the Articles of Confederation was found difficult. Congress could lay no tax or duty. On all important points it was necessary for a bill to have the votes of nine States before it could pass, and then at least two members from each State were required to vote. The heavy debt contracted during the war was still unsettled, and Congress could not induce the States to pay their several proportions. The army and the creditors of government were clamorous for money. The question of new States was urgent. Kentucky and Tennessee wished to be admitted as States, denying the authority of Virginia and North Carolina; Vermont was ready to join Canada,

if she was not recognized as a State. Still, with all its weakness, the new government made some progress. It concluded treaties with France, Russia, and Morocco, regulated the currency by adopting the silver dollar of Spain as a standard, dividing it into a hundred parts, called cents, thus establishing what is known as the decimal system, much easier to calculate than the old pounds, shillings, and pence. A mint was established in 1786, and copper coin were struck. The greatest act of this period, was the success of Congress in inducing the various States to give up all claim to the territory northwest of the Ohio, for which Congress, July 13, 1787, by a celebrated ordinance, established a regular government.

The poverty of the country was great. The States, urged by Congress, endeavored to raise means to pay off the army and other debts. The attempt to lay taxes caused great dissatisfaction. New England showed the greatest discontent. In December, 1786, a body of insurgents in Massachusetts, took the field to obtain a redress of grievances, and were led by Daniel Shays, who had been a captain in the Continental army. The Governor of Massachusetts issued a proclamation, calling on the insurgents to disband, and urging the officers and citizens of the commonwealth to suppress the treasonable work. But the insurgents stood firm, and held several counties. Massachusetts then applied to Congress, which raised a little army of one thousand three hundred and forty men, but Massachusetts herself called out the militia, and General Lincoln, at their head, marched against Shays, who was threatening Springfield, then, as now, a great arsenal. It had hardly been occupied by a part of the militia under General Shepard, before the insurgents attacked it. Lincoln acted with great energy and judgment, and without a battle, and very slight skir