next highest, became vice-president elect. Senators and representatives were also chosen by the eleven ratifying States.

As the day approached for the new system to go into operation, the old Continental Congress, than which a more remarkable body is not to be found in history, gradually dissolved without hearing any expressions of regret, or receiving any thanks for its services. Its members had daringly assumed the reins of power, some portion of it being first granted them by the people, and conducted the country through a bloody revolu tion. All thought of it was now lost in the apprehension concerning the new government.

N the 30th of April, 1789, Washington took the oath of office in a public and solemn manner, and delivered to the two branches of Congress his inaugural address. In the address, after expressing his deep sense of the magnitude of the trust confided to him, and a consciousness of his deficiencies, he declared his intention to devote his best energies to the discharge of his duty,

and fervently supplicated the guidance and assistance of that overruling Providence, whose supremacy he had always acknowledged. He gave notice to Congress that he should accept no other compensation for his services than such as would be necessary to defray the expense of his household and other charges incident to his public station.

Congress at once proceeded to the consideration of what most pressed upon its attention—the revenue. Mr. Madison proposed a tax upon imported goods and tonnage. This, in principle, was objected to by none; but as the tonnage duty was intended to operate at the expense of foreign shipping, it excited opposition. But the measure was carried through both houses, after the two great parties had displayed the violence of their opposition. To complete the machinery of government, departments were erected of the treasury, of war, and of state including foreign and domestic relations. The heads of these departments the latter

were to be appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the senate; but the President had the power to remove them at his discretion, without consulting that body.

OLONEL HAMILTON was appointed to the office of secretary of the treasury; General Knox, secretary of war; and Mr. Jefferson, secretary of state. As Mr. Jefferson was the principal leader of the State-rights, or Democratic party, his appointment to the State department is an evidence of the conciliatory disposition of Washington. Edmund Randolph

was made attorney-general. A national judiciary was established by Congress, and Washington appointed Mr. Jay chief justice. Thus the government was completely organized.

Immediately after the close of the session of Congress, in September, Washington undertook a journey through the New England States, in every quarter of which he was welcomed with most affectionate enthusiasm. Nor could this tribute be paid to his person without, in some degree, procuring a share of such feeling for his office. North Carolina, in the recess, gave up her opposition, and her legislature declared her adhesion to the Union.

At the opening of the next session of Congress, the secretary of the treasury brought forward a plan for funding the public debt. He proposed to raise a loan equal to the amount of the whole debt. To this the opposition objected, wishing to pay foreigners the entire of their demand, but the American holder of paper money the price at which he bought it; but the measure received the sanction of Congress. Another part of the general plan remained. This referred to the debts incurred by each State for carrying on the war. Hamilton proposed that Congress should pay these, and throw them into the common fund. After a long struggle, this measure also was adopted. To raise a revenue to meet the interest on the newly-funded debt, a bill was passed raising the impost upon wine, tea, and other commodities, and imposing a duty upon spirits distilled within the country. This was followed by another measure which was considered by Hamilton as necessary to complete his own commercial and moneyed system, and looked upon by the State-rights party as his boldest crime. This was the proposal to establish a national bank.

The anti-federalists asserted that a national bank would be unconstitutional, and the discussion of the measure was long and violent. Upon this question, Hamilton and Jefferson widely differed. Both submitted their written opinions to the consideration of the president, after the bill passed Congress; and after some time, Washington decided in favor of the establishment of the bank: thus Hamilton's system was triumphant.

One great cause of expenditure, a standing army, was avoided by the United States. The only foes who called for military resistance were the Indians. In the south, the Creeks, against whom several expeditions had been undertaken in the course of the revolutionary war, harassed the frontiers of Georgia. They were instigated by the Spaniards of Florida, and commanded by Gilivray, a chief of white descent. The president directed his attention to bringing about an accommodation with them, but the first attempt failed. In 1790, Gilivray was induced to proceed to New York and conclude a treaty.

On the northwestern frontier, the Miamis, Shawnees, and other tribes, cherishing vengeance for past outrages upon them, carried on a desultory and destructive warfare; burning and plundering detached settlements, and constantly growing bolder, as they saw there was no military force