WASHINGTON, 1. ON the 30th of April, 1789, Washington appeared before congress, then assembled in the city of New York, and taking the oath of office required by the constitution, was proclaimed President of the United States. * 2In an impressive address to both houses of congress, he expressed his distrust in his own qualifications for the important office to which the partiality of his country had called him,-offered his "supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, and presides in the councils of nations," that He would 66 consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a government instituted by themselves,"-and that He would enable all "employed in its administration, to execute, with success, the functions allotted to their charge.' 2. Adhering to the principles upon which he had acted while commander-in-chief, he now likewise declined all pecuniary compensation for his presidential duties, and closed by requesting congress to accompany him, in humble supplication, to the benign Parent of the human race, for the divine blessing on all those measures upon which the success of the government * Washington was inaugurated in the gallery of the old City Hall, which stood on the site of the present Custom House, in Wall Street 1. What is manner in 1789. depended. 'Immediately after the address, both houses of congress, with the president, attended divine service; said of the and with this public acknowledgment of a Supreme which the Being as the ruler of the universe, and controller of ernment as human actions and human destiny, the government under the new constitution was commenced. new gov commenced? a. Ending Sept. 29. gislature.oc cupied du 3. What * 3. The legislature, during its first session, was 2. In that principally occupied in providing revenues for the long the exhausted treasury; in organizing the executive deing its first partments; in establishing a judiciary; and in framing session? amendments to the constitution. For providing a measures revenue, duties were levied on the tonnage of vessels, were taken and likewise on foreign goods imported into the Uniding a rev ted States. For the purpose of encouraging American for encoura- shipping, these duties were made unequal; being the ican ship heaviest on the tonnage of foreign vessels, and on goods introduced by them. for provi enue, und ging amer ping? 4. What departments lished to aid dent? quired of the head of 4. To aid the president in the management of the were estab- affairs of government, three executive departments were the prest established,-styled department of foreign affairs, or of state; department of the treasury, and department of 5. What du- war; with a secretary at the head of each. The ties were re heads of these departments had special duties assigned them; and they were likewise to constitute a council, which might be consulted by the president, whenever he thought proper, on subjects relating to the duties of 6. Who had their offices. The power of removing from office the the power of heads of these departments, was, after much discussion, left with the president alone. Thomas Jefferson was pointments appointed secretary of state, Hamilton of the treasury, and Knox of the war department. these depart ments? removal? 7. What ap were inade? 8. What is national ju of amend 5. A national judiciary was also established during said of the this session of congress; consisting of a supreme court, diciary, and having one chief justice, and several associate judges; ments to the and circuit and district courts, which have jurisdiction tion? over certain cases specified in the constitution. John Jay was appointed chief justice of the United States and Edmund Randolph attorney-general. Several constitu A Session of Congress is one sitting, or the time during which the legislature meets daily for business. Congress has but one session annually; but as the existence of each congress continues during two years, each congress has two sessions. Thus we speak f the 1st session of the 20th congress ;-the 2d session of the 25th congress, &c In November 1. What troo amendments to the constitution were proposed by con- 1789. gress, ten of which were subsequently ratified by the constitutional majority of the states. North Carolina adopted the constitution, and Rhode "states last Island in the May following, thus completing the number of the thirteen original states. 6. Early in the second session, the secretary of the treasury brought forward, at the request of congress, a plan for maintaining the public credit. He proposed, as a measure of sound policy and substantial justice, that the general government should assume, not only the public foreign and domestic debt, amounting to more than fifty-four millions of dollars, but likewise the debts of the states, contracted during the war, and estimated at twenty-five millions. 7. Provision was made for the payment of the foreign debt without opposition; but respecting the assumption of the state debts, and also the full payment of the domestic debt,-in other words, the redemption of the public securities, then, in a great measure, in the hands of speculators who had purchased them for a small part of their nominal value, much division prevailed in congress; but the plan of the secretary was finally adopted. 8. During this year a law was passed, fixing the seat of government, for ten years, at Philadelphia; and afterwards, permanently, at a place to be selected on the Potomac. In 1790, the "Territory southwest of the Ohio," embracing the present Tennessee, was formed into a territorial government. adopted the constit tion? 1790. a. Jan. 15. salt of Ham for main lie credit? 2. What is ilton's plan taining pub 3. What was the plan? the success of What was enacted re lating to a permanent seat of gov ernment? ritorial gov 5. What ter ernment was formed in 1790? 6. What account is given of the on the north 9. During the same year, an Indian war broke out on the northwestern frontiers; and pacific arrangements having been attempted in vain, an expedition, Indian war under General Harmar, was sent into the Indian coun- western try, to reduce the hostile tribes to submission. Many frontiers of the Indian towns were burned, and a large quantity of corn destroyed; but in two battles, near the confluence of the rivers St. Mary's* and St. Joseph's in Indiana, between successive detachments of the army . Oct. 17 and 22. *The St. Mary's from the S. and St. Joseph's from the N. unite at Fort Wayne, f the N.E. part of Indiana, and form the Maumee, which flows into the west end of Lake Erie 1790. and the Indians, the former were defeated with con siderable loss. 1791. said of the ment of a 10. Early in 1791, in accordance with a plan pro1. What is posed by the secretary of the treasury, an act was establish passed by congress, for the establishment of a national national bank, called the Bank of the United States; but not without the most strenuous opposition; on the ground, principally, that congress had no constitutional right to charter such an institution. bank? a. Feb. 18. related 11. During the same year, Vermont,* the last setWhat is tled of the New England States, adopted the constituof Vermont? tion, and was admitted into the Union. The territory of this state had been claimed both by New York and New Hampshire;-each had made grants of land within its limits; but in 1777 the people met in convention, and proclaimed Vermont, or New Connecticut, an independent state. Owing to the objections of New York, it was not admitted into the confederacy; nor was the opposition of New York withdrawn until 1789, when Vermont agreed to purchase the claims of New York to territory and jurisdiction by the payment of 30,000 dollars. 3. What occurred after of General 12. After the defeat of General Harmar in 1790, the defeat another expedition, with additional forces, was planned Harmar in against the Indians, and the command given to Gen1790 ? eral St. Clair, then governor of the Northwestern b. Sept, and Territory. In the fall of 1791, the forces of St. Clair, Oct. numbering about 2000 men, marched from Fort account of Washington,† northward, about eighty miles, into the tion and the Indian country, where, on the 4th of November, they General St. were surprised in camp, and defeated with great Clair. slaughter. Out of 1400 men engaged in the battle, 4. Give an the expedi defeut of nearly 600 were killed. Had not the victorious In * VERMONT, one of the Eastern or New England States, contains an area of about 8000 square miles. It is a hilly country, and is traversed throughout nearly its whole length by the Green Mountains, the loftiest points of which are a little more than 4000 feet high. The best lands in the state are W. of the mountains, near Lake Champlain; but the soil generally, throughout the state, is better adapted to grazing than to tillage. The first settleinent in the state was at Fort Dummer, now Brattleboro'. A fort was erecte i here in 1723, and a settlement commenced in the following year. Fort Washington was on the site of the present Cincinnati, situated on the N. side of the Ohio River, near the S.W. extremity of the state of Ohio. The city is near the eastern extremity of a pleasant valley about twelve miles in circumference. The camp of St. Clair was in the western part of Ohio, at the N.W. angle of Dark County. Fort Recovery was afterwards built there. Dark County received its name from Colonel Dark, an officer in St. Clair's artny. dians been called from the pursuit to the abandoned 1791. camp in quest of plunder, it is probable that nearly the whole army would have perished. 1792. 1. What is related of the early Kentucky? history of 13. On the 1st of June, 1792, Kentucky,* which had been previously claimed by Virginia, was admitted into the Union as a state. The first settlement in the state was made by Daniel Boone and others, at a place called Boonesboro',† in the year 1775. During the early part of the revolution, the few inhabitants suffered severely from the Indians, who were incited by agents of the British government; but in 1779 General Clarke, as before mentioned, overcame the a. See p. 252. Indians, and laid waste their villages; after which, the inhabitants enjoyed greater security, and the settlements were gradually extended. 2. What re made in 17923 3. What events were at this time transpiring 1793. 14. In the autumn of 1792 General Washington election was was again elected president of the United States, and John Adams vice-president. At this time the revolution in France was progressing, and early in 1793 news arrived in the United States of the declaration of in France! war by France against England and Holland. About the same time Mr. Genet arrived in the United States, as minister of the French republic, where he was warmly received by the people, who remembered with gratitude the aid which France had rendered them in their struggle for independence, and who now cherished the flattering expectation that the French nation was about to enjoy the same blessings of liberty and self-government. 15. Flattered by his reception, and relying on the partiality manifested towards the French nation, Mr. Genet assumed the authority of fitting out privateers in the ports of the United States, to cruise against the vessels of nations hostile to France; and likewise attempted to set on foot expeditions against the Spanish settle 4. What is b. In April. said of Mr. of the grat itude of the France? Genet, and Americans 5. What course was Mr. Genet, pursued by and what had the president declared? * KENTUCKY, one of the Western States, contains an area of about 42,000 square miles. The country in the western parts of the state is hilly and mountainous. A narlow tract along the Ohio River, through the whole length of the state, is hilly and bro ken, but has a good soil. Between this tract and Greene River is a fertile region, fre quently denominated the garden of the state. The country in the S.W. part of the state, between Greene and Cumberland Rivers, is called "The Barrens," although it proves to be excellent grain land † Boonesboro' is on the S side of Kentucky River, about eighteen miles S.E. from LexIngton. |