THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

525

XXXVIII

all the Presbyteries of the land, was authorized to meet CHAP annually.

Soon after the treaty of peace with England, the 1788. Pope's Nuncio at Paris made overtures to Congress, through Doctor Franklin, on the subject of appointing a Vicar Apostolic or bishop for the United States. On the ground that the subject was purely spiritual, and therefore beyond its jurisdiction, Congress refused to take any part in the matter. The Pope then appointed as his vicar apostolic, John Carroll, a brother of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton; the same was afterward raised to the dignity of Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.

Almost immediately after the Declaration of Independence the Presbytery of Hanover, in Virginia, addressed a memorial to the House of Assembly, in which they petitioned for the separation of church and state. They 1776. preferred that the gospel should be supported by the free. gifts of its friends; they asked no aid from the civil power to maintain their own churches, and were unwilling that any denomination should thus be favored. The movement thus commenced was ardently seconded by the Baptists and Quakers, who petitioned the Assembly to the same effect. These petitions were met by countermemorials from the Episcopalians and Methodists, who urged in behalf of the Establishment, that it was a system which "possessed the nature of a vested right, and ought to be maintained inviolate."

The separation of church and state soon became a prominent question in Virginia. Jefferson took an important part in the animated contest, but the most effective was the united influence of those who first opposed the establishment, and who never relaxed their efforts till the churches were declared independent of the civil power, and every colonial law interfering with the religious rights of the people was swept away.

CHAP. XXXVIII.

The example thus set by Virginia was not without its influence; the union of church and state was dissolved 1788. in the other States soon after the close of the Revolution, except in Connecticut and Massachusetts, where the system was retained many years longer.'

1 Hildreth, Vol. III. Dr. Hawks' Contributions to Ecclesiastical History of the U. S. Dr. Baird's Religion in America.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION.

The Reception and Inauguration of the President.-An Era in human progress.-The Departments of State organized.-Hamilton's Financial Report.-Congress Assumes the Debts of the Nation.-The National Bank.-Commercial Enterprise.-Manufactures.-Indian War.-Harmer's Repulse.-St. Clair defeated.-Wayne defeats the Indians.-Political Parties.-Jefferson.-The French Revolution.--Genet arrives as French Minister.-War between France and England.-Neutrality proclaimed by the President.-Partisans of France.-Arrogant proceedings of Genet.-The Whiskey Insurrection.-Special Mission to Great Britain. A Treaty concluded.-Its Ratification.-Other Treaties.Washington's Farewell Address.-The Policy of the Government established.

XXXIX.

WHEN two-thirds of the States had adopted the Fed- CHAP eral Constitution, it became the law of the land. The Continental Congress-that body so remarkable in its 1789. origin, in what it had accomplished, and now about to pass out of existence-ordained that the new government should go into operation on the 4th of March, and also designated the city of New York as the place where the National Congress should hold its sessions. The same authority also named the time for electing the President and Vice-President, according to the manner prescribed in the Constitution.

The hearts of the American people were turned to one man. George Washington was unanimously chosen the first President of the Republic. John Adams received the next highest number of votes, and was elected Vice