sembled to take leave of their commander in chief. When about to bid them adieu, the General calling for a glass of wine, thus addressed them.-" With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave 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." "The officers then approached him in succession, and he affectionately bade adieu to each. They followed in silent procession to the barge, which was to bear him across the Hudson; on entering which, he waved his hat in mute adieu to the companions of his toils and his glory. He proceeded amidst the demonstrations of affection and respect, of gratitude and joy, to Annapolis, where Congress was then sitting, and resigned the commission, which he had so long held under their authority."

"Here the scene was so affecting, that neither he, nor the president of Congress, were fully able to preserve their powers of utterance. After resigning his commission, he hastened to Mount Vernon; to the bosom of his family, and the delights of domestic life."

CHAP. XIV.

FROM 1783 TO 1812.

Condition of the country at the close of the war. Organization of the General Government. Internal concerns of the State. Settlement of the Vermont controversy. Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. Civil Policy. Attention of the Legislature directed to the subject of Internal Navigation.

SEC. I. The Americans had, for eight years, been subjected to the miseries of a devastating

What did Gen. Washington do soon after?

war, in their attempts to break the yoke of foreign oppression, and to establish a free and independent government. They had been sustained, during this arduous contest, by high hopes of future prosperity, and had anticipated, in the attainment of this object, every other political blessing, as its natural attendant. The object was accomplished, and Thirteen Independent States arose from the British American Colonies. It now remained for them to test, by experience, the excellence and permanence of their new institutions.

A short period was, however, sufficient to evince the weakness of the existing system, and its incompetence to subserve the great objects for which it was instituted. The authority of the federal government was found to be too limited to sustain, in a proper manner, the external relations of the country, and wholly inadequate to regulate and control the local and conflicting interests of the separate states.

At the termination of the war, the debts of the Union amounted to more than forty millions of dollars. Congress, though authorized by the articles of confederation to borrow money and issue bills of credit, had not the ability to redeem those bills, or the powers requisite for raising a revenue. After an ineffectual attempt to obtain this power from the several states, even the interest of the public debt remained unpaid, and the public credit was in great measure destroyed.

1. What attempts had been made by the Americans?What is said of their hopes and anticipations?How had they succeeded in the attainment of this object?- What now remained for them? -What is said of the existing system?Of the authority of the federal government?

What is said of the debts of the Union ?- -Of the authority of Congress? Of the public credit?

The restrictions imposed by Great Britain on the trade with the West Indies began seriously to affect the commercial interests of the United States. Congress had not the power to retaliate by passing similar acts against Great Britain, nor would the separate states, always jealous of each other, concur in any measure to compel that government to relax. These embarrassments tended to hasten a radical change in the political system of the United States.

SEC. II. In 1787,* commissioners from all the States of the Union, excepting Rhode Island, assembled at Philadelphia, for the purpose of revising the federal system. The FEDERAL CONSTITUTION was presented to Congress on the 17th of September, and soon after sent to the several states for their consideration. It was adopted by the convention of the state of New York, the following year, by a majority of thirty to twentyfive votes.

The convention for revising the constitution resolved, that as soon as nine States should have ratified it, it should be carried into operation by Congress. After much opposition, it was, 1788, ratified by the conventions of eleven States. North Carolina and Rhode Island, at first, refused their assent, but afterwards acceded to it: the former, November, 1789; the latter, May, 1790.

The following is a copy of the constitution ratified by the states, with the several amendments, which have been subsequently made. The insertion of this article requires no apology.Its adoption forms a most important era in our national history, and, probably at that period, was the only measure, which could have prevented the ultimate dissolution, and consequent ruin of the whole confederacy. To this constitution we look, as the bulwark of private right, and of pub

What affected the commercial interests of the country? Why did not Congress retaliate? What was the tendency of these embarrassments?

-What

11. For what were commissioners appointed in 1787?was the result?- -When was the Constitution adopted by New York? What was resolved by the convention? When was it ratified by eleven states?

lic prosperity; and while it protects the peculiar privileges of the separate states, it constitutes the strength and security of the whole. -It forms the charter of our liberties, and should be familiar to all.

WE, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

ARTICLE I.

SECTION I.

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

SECTION II.

I. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.

II. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twentyfive years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.

III. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three, fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative; and, until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennslyvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

IV. When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

V. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker, and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

SECTION III.

I. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legistature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote.

II. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into

three classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of ́ the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies.

III. No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.

IV. The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided.

V. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

VI. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

VII. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

SECTION IV.

I. The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators.

II. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

SECTION V.

I. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each house may provide.

II. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds expel a member.

III. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

IV. Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without