1789. General as sembly. United States. This was the first episcopal convention in America. The general assembly of the presbyterian church, constituted by the four synods the last year, met for the first time in May at Philadelphia. About this time, there were 90 congregations of Dutch Re- the Dutch Reformed church in New York and New Jersey. In formed chh. the state of New York there were 66, and in New Jersey 24; the whole divided into five classes. These churches were formed exactly on the plan of the churches in North Holland; and, until after the American revolution, were under the direction of the classes of Amsterdam. They are Calvinistic, and essentially differ in nothing from the presbyterians. The Rev. Dr. Carrol, of Maryland, was consecrated bishop of the Roman Catholic church. He was the first bishop of that church in the United States. A Roman Catholic church was founded in Boston. Roman Columbia, the seat of The seat of government in South Carolina, with the public S. C. made records, was removed to Columbia. Here the legislature convened for the first time in the following year, exactly 120 years after the first English settlement in Carolina.2 government. University lina. The University of North Carolina was incorporated. The of N. Caro- trustees fixed on Chapel Hill, in Orange county, for the seat of this seminary, which was patronized and aided by subsequent grants of the general assembly, and opened in 1793.3 St. John's College in Maryland was opened.1 Barrell's Publications. Barrell's Sound, on the Northwest coast of America, was first visited by captain Gray in the Washington. It was named for Joseph Barrell, Esq. of Charlestown. Kirby's Reports, comprising the cases adjudged in the superior court of Connecticut from 1785 to 1788, were published. This was the first volume of Reports published in the United States. 1 Trumbull. 2 Ramsay, Hist. S. Car. ii. 435. Grimké, Laws S. Car. In each of the colonies, settled before the revolution, the seat of government was originally on or near the sea coast. The seat of South Carolina government was first established at Beaufort in 1670; next on the banks of Ashley river in 1671; next in Charlestown in 1680. "It is remarkable, that the centre of population was just as many miles from the sea coast as years had passed away from the first year of settlement in South Carolina. The interval of space was 120 miles of time 120 years." Ramsay. 3 Morse. Worcester. Miller, ii. 504. The number of Trustees incorporated was 40, five from each district. Chapel Hill is 28 miles west of Raleigh. The village began with the university, around which were erected 25 or 30 houses before the year 1803. 4 MS. Letter to President Stiles, received 6 July, 1790. building is large, elegant, and commodious." See 1784. "The College 5 Day, Hist. Judiciary Conn. The legislature of Connecticut had passed an act in 1784, to lay the foundation of a more perfect system of common law in that state, by requiring the judges of the supreme court of errors, and of the superior court, to give in writing the reasons of their decisions upon points of law, and lodge them with the respective clerks, with a view that the cases might be fully reported. Dissertations on the English Language by Noah Webster, and the American Geography by Jedidiah Morse, were published. The influenza prevailed extensively in America. 1789. Influenza. General Knyphausen, commander in chief of the Hessian Deaths. troops in the American war, died in Germany, aged 59 years; James Varnum, a major general in the late continental army, at Marietta; and Ethan Allen, a brigadier general, who commanded the militia of Vermont. 1790. The President's THE president, in his speech to congress, congratulated them Jan. 8. on the present favourable prospect of our national affairs. recent accession of the important state of North Carolina to the constitution of the United States, the rising credit and respectability of our country, and the general increasing good will towards the government of the Union, and the concord, peace, and plenty with which we are blessed, are circumstances, he observed, auspicious, in an eminent degree, to our national prosperity. Among the many interesting objects, said the president, which will engage your attention, that of providing for the common defence, will merit particular regard."To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.' 99 Although there had been reason to hope that the pacific measures, adopted with regard to certain hostile tribes of Indians, would have relieved the inhabitants of our southern and western frontiers from their depredations; yet congress would perceive, from the information which he should direct to be laid before them, comprehending a communication from Virginia, that we ought to be prepared to afford protection to those parts of the union; and, if, necessary, to punish aggressors. The president recommended an uniform rule of naturalization of foreigners; uniformity in the currency, weights and measures of the United States; attention to the advancement of agriculture, commerce, and manufactures; effectual encouragement to the introduction of new and useful inventions from abroad, as well as to the exertions of skill and genius in producing them at home; and the facilitating of the intercourse between the distant parts of our country, by a due attention to the post office and post roads. Having expressed his confidence in the attention of congress to these objects, he subjoined: "Nor am I less persuaded, that you will agree with me in opinion, that there is nothing which can better deserve your patronage, than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is, in every country, the surest basis of public happiness. In one, in which the measures of government receive their impression so immediately from the sense of the community, 1790. Report of tary of the treasury. as in ours, it is proportionably essential. To the security of a free constitution it contributes in various ways: by convincing those who are intrusted with the public administration, that every valuable end of government is best answered by the enlightened confidence of the people; and by teaching the people themselves to know and to value their own rights; to discern and provide against invasions of them; to distinguish between oppression and the necessary exercise of lawful authority; between burdens proceeding from a disregard to their convenience, and those resulting from the inevitable exigencies of society; to discriminate the spirit of liberty from that of licentiousness, cherishing the first, avoiding the last, and uniting a speedy, but temperate vigilance against encroachments, with an inviolable respect to the laws. "Whether this desirable object will be best promoted by affording aids to seminaries of learning already established, by the institution of a national university, or by any another expedients, will be well worthy of a place in the deliberations of the legis lature." The secretary of the treasury reported a plan for the support the Secre- of public credit. With great strength and perspicuity he illus trated the political advantages of public credit, and "the complicated variety of mischiefs which proceed from a neglect of the maxims which uphold it. Public credit could only be maintained by good faith, by a punctual performance of contracts;" and "good faith was recommended not only by the strongest inducements of political expediency, but was enforced by considerations of still higher authority. There are arguments for it, which rest on the immutable principles of moral obligation: And in proportion as the mind is disposed to contemplate in the order of Providence, an intimate connexion between public virtue and public happiness, will be its repugnancy to a violation of those principles. This reflection derived additional strength from the nature of the debt of the United States. It was the price of liberty. The faith of America had been repeatedly pledged for it, and with solemnities that gave peculiar force to the obligation." Congress pass an act debt. The report of the secretary was largely discussed, and with for funding great force of argument and eloquence. In conclusion, congress the national passed an act for the assumption of the state debts, and for funding the national debt. By the provisions of this act, 21,500,000 dollars of the state debts were assumed in specified proportions; and it was particularly enacted, that no certificate should be received from a state creditor, which could be "ascertained to have been issued for any purpose other than compensations and expenditures for services or supplies towards the prosecution of the late war, and the defence of the United States, or of some part thereof, during the same." Thus was the national debt funded upon principles which considerably lessened the weight of the public burdens, and gave much satisfaction to the public creditors. "The produce of the sales of the lands lying in the western territory, and the surplus product of the revenue, after satisfying the appropriations which were charged upon it, with the addition of two millions which the president was authorized to borrow at five per centum, constituted a sinking fund to be applied to the reduction of the debt. The effect of these measures was great and rapid." The permanent value thus given to the debt produced a result equal to the most favourable anticipations. "The sudden increase of monied capital derived from it invigorated commerce, and consequently gave a new stimulus to agriculture." 1790. and titles to lands upon Commissioners, appointed by the legislature of the state of N. York relinquishes New York, (on the 6th of March) declared the consent of that jurisdiction legislature, that the state of Vermont be admitted into the union within Verof the United States of America, and that immediately from mont, such admission, all claim of jurisdiction of the state of New York, within the state of Vermont, should cease. The commissioners also declared what should thenceforth be the perpetual boundary line between the state of New York and the state of Vermont; and declared the will of the legislature of New York, that if the legislature of Vermont should, on or before the first day of conditions. January, 1792, declare that, on or before the first day of June, 1794, the state of Vermont would pay to the state of New York the sum of 30,000 dollars, all rights and titles to land within the state of Vermont, under grants from the government of the late colony of New York or from the state of New York, with certain exceptions, should cease. In consideration of this act of the Act of Vircommissioners of New York, the general assembly of Vermont ginia conpassed an act on the 23th of October, directing the payment of firmatory. 30,000 dollars to the state of New York, and declaring that the line, described in that of those commissioners, shall be the per- Boundary petual boundary line between the state of Vermont and state of line settled. New York; and declaring certain grants therein mentioned null and void.2 1 Marshall, Life of Washington, v. c. 4. Journals of Congress. 2 Vermont State Papers, 193, 194. The consent to the admission of Vermont was expressed by the commissioners on the 6th of March. The boundary line was settled as follows: "Beginning at the northwest corner of the State of Massachusetts, thence westward, along the south boundary of Pownall, to the southwest corner thereof, thence northerly, along the western boundaries of the townships of Pownall, Bennington, Shaftsbury, Arlington, Sandgate, Rupert, Pawlet, Wells, and Poultney, as the said townships are now held or possessed, to the river, commonly called Poultney river, thence down the same, through 1790. Sept. 30. Indians. The president uniformly and earnestly pursued a just and pacific policy towards the Indians. His endeavours to give security to the northwestern frontiers, by pacific arrangements, expedition having been unavailing, an expedition against the hostile tribes against the northwest of the Ohio was planned as soon as it was ascertained that a treaty with them was impracticable. The object of the expedition was, to bring the Indians to an engagement, if possible; but, in any event, to destroy their settlements on the waters of the Scioto and Wabash. On the 30th of September, general Harmar, who was placed at the head of the federal troops, marched from Fort Washington with 320 regulars, and effected a junction with the militia of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, who had advanced about 20 miles in front. The whole army amounted to 1453 men. Indians burn their principal village. Col. Harden's men attacked, and repulsed; but burn their remaining On the approach of colonel Harden, who commanded the Kentucky militia, with a detachment of 600 men to reconnoitre the ground, and to ascertain the intentions of the enemy, the Indians set fire to their principal village, and fled precipitately to the woods. The same officer, again detached at the head of 210 men, 30 of whom were regulars, when about 10 miles west of Chilicothe, where the main body of the army lay, was attacked by a small party of Indians. The militia fleeing at the first appearance of the enemy, the handful of regulars, commanded by lieutenant Armstrong, made a brave resistance. Twenty three of them fell in the field, and the surviving seven escaped, and rejoined the army. The remaining towns on the Scioto were, notwithstanding, reduced to ashes; and the provisions, laid up before the winter, were entirely destroyed. After this service, the army decamped, to return to Fort Washington. To retrieve Col. Harden the disgrace of his arms, general Harmar halted about eight miles from Chilicothe, and late in the night detached colonel Harden again, with orders to find the enemy and bring on an engagement. His detachment, consisting of 360 men, of whom 60 were regulars commanded by major Wyllys, early the next morning, reached the confluence of the St. Joseph and the St. Mary, where it was divided into three columns. The left division, commanded by colonel Harden, crossed the St. Joseph, and proceeded up its western bank; the centre, consisting of the federal troops, was led by major Wyllys up the eastern side of the river; and the right, under major M'Millan, marched towns. again detached. the middle of the deepest channel thereof, to East Bay, thence through the middle of the deepest channel of East Bay and the waters thereof, to where the same communicates with Lake Champlain, thence through the middle of the deepest channel of Lake Champlain, to the eastward of the islands, called the Four Brothers, and the westward of the islands, called the Long Isle, or the Two Heroes, and to the westward of the Isle La Motte, to the 45th degree of north latitude." |