held, at which was chosen a Governor, Senators and Representatives. Edward Tiffin, of Chillicothe, was presented as the candidate for Governor of the antiFederalists or Republicans. The Federalists offered no opposition save in refusing generally to vote. St. Clair, in a touching address to the people of the State, had declined to permit his name to be used as a candidate; the result was the almost unanimous election of Tiffin. The selection was both deserving to him and meritorious to the State. Since his removal to the territory, in 1798, he had been, next to St. Clair, the most prominent character within its borders. Through his efforts and influence, more than to those of any other man, the admission to the Union was accomplished. He was educated and of positive character; born to lead, it was a happy choice in electing him the first Governor of Ohio. His political experience consisted of his services in the Territorial House of Representatives, of which he was Speaker, and in the Constitutional Convention, of which he was President. To these could be added a thorough and practical knowledge of the wants and resources of the new State, with an ambition to supply the one and develop the other.

On Tuesday, March 1, 1803, the first Legislature met at the State Capital-Chillicothe. Nathaniel Massie was elected Speaker of the Senate, and Michael Baldwin Speaker of the House. The officers provided under the Constitution were appointed as follows: Secretary of State, William Creighton, jr.; Auditor of State, Thomas Gibson; Treasurer of State, William McFarland; Judges of the Supreme Court, Return J. Meigs, Jr., Samuel Huntington and

William Sprigg. Thomas Worthington and John Smith were elected United States Senators from Ohio.

In legislation the General Assembly confined itself to the ordinary necessities of a new State. It created courts, passed election laws, fixed salaries and made appropriations. It organized the counties of Scioto, Warren, Butler, Montgomery, Greene, Columbiana, Gallia and Franklin. After a brief session it adjourned in April.

The purchase of Louisiana by the United States occurred this year, and nothing more beneficial to Ohio happened in the first era of her history. It opened an unrestricted and valuable territory to her commerce that she had never wholly enjoyed. As a result of this purchase, more than a million square miles of territory were added to the United States, and a new market, free and uncontrolled, was furnished to the people of Ohio. The Mississippi River became an open channel of trade that brought the richest returns by increasing the wealth and traffic of the State.

Ohio, as one of the United States, soon had an opportunity to express her views on proposed amendments to the Federal Constitution, which came before the Fourth General Assembly in 1805. The first proposition came from Massachusetts, offering an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, "so that the Representatives may be apportioned among the several States, according to the number of their free inhabitants respectively." To this the Legislature would not assent. The reason was indeed worthy and conservative for that period. The

Constitution had but recently been formed; many had predicted failure on account of the diversity of interests. The instrument was unquestionably the result of compromise and forbearing on the part of the States. Ohio consequently refused to approve an amendment that would have no other effect but to disturb the relations between the States, and destroy what Gladstone called "the most wonderful work ever struck off by the brain and purpose of man.” At the same session came a proposition from Kentucky.

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It was an amendment which would take away the jurisdiction of the United States Courts over suits between citizens of different states, and between a citizen and a state. To this also the General Assembly of Ohio refused to give its assent because it said, among other reasons named, "that too frequent alterations of the Constitution of the United States, may tend to unhinge the principles on which it is founded." North Carolina also proposed a constitutional amendment which was treated in the same manner as those referred to. It was proposed to confer upon Congress immediately, the power of forbidding importation of slaves into the United States. The Federal Constitution in Section 9, Article 1, expressly provided that such importation "shall not be prohibited by Congress prior to 1808." Ohio believed in adhering to the article as originally adopted; while the resolution of non-concurrence expressly approved the morals of the North Carolina proposition, it dissented from its adoption on the ground of inexpediency. The General Assembly said, "notwithstanding that this inhuman practice is impolitic in the extreme, and altogether repugnant to the

principles on which our government is founded, yet it was the mutual agreement between the states forming the federal compact, that Congress should not possess the power of preventing any of the states then existing from carrying on a trade of this kind for a given period." On all these propositions the Legislature of Ohio acted wisely and in a spirit of fair play and candor with its sister states. It was evident that dearer to her than party, was the perpetuity of the Union which, even at that date, was still an experiment. Ohio was willing to make sacrifices, to forego securing in the National Constitution what she believed to be right rather than to endanger its existence by constant changes.

In this year (1805) Aaron Burr, the ex-Vice President visited the West and spent considerable time in Ohio. While here he promulgated his schemes for the conquest of Mexico and the division of the Union. He put himself in communication with citizens of Marietta, Belpre, Chillicothe, and other places. Harmon Blennerhassett became the innocent associate, as well as the victim of Burr in his conspiracy. From Blennerhassett's beautiful home on a little island in the Ohio River, a few miles below Marietta, the plans of treason were sent forth. At this place was accumulated the boats, the provisions and the accoutrements of the followers of Burr. Under government surveillance sufficient evidence was secured to know that he contemplated an act of treason against the United States. These facts being communicated to Governor Tiffin, he sent a special message to the Legislature calling for authority to act in the emergency. The result was the necessary legislation

authorizing the Governor to arrest all parties to the suspected military expedition, and power to call out the militia for that purpose. Blennerhassett's Island was soon in possession of the militia. The conspiracy ended in a farce. Both Burr and Blennerhassett were tried but neither convicted; yet there can be no doubt that the former's intentions were treasonable. While these events were occurring John Smith represented Ohio in the United States Senate. Mr. Smith had been suspected as an accomplice of Burr in his conspiracy, and an indictment was found against him in the United States Circuit Court of Virginia. The Senate, after a complete investigation, found the charges against Mr. Smith incompatible with his position as a United States Senator, and on April 9, 1808, moved to expel him, which motion received nineteen yeas (among them his colleague, ex-Governor Tiffin) and ten nays; but it requiring two-thirds of the Senators voting to pass such a motion, he retained his seat. He resigned, however, a few weeks afterwards at the request of the General Assembly of Ohio, and Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., was elected in his stead.

The conspiracy of Aaron Burr caused the most intense excitement throughout Ohio, particularly in the counties bordering on the Ohio River. It was the first attempt at overt treason to the young Republic, and was received with decided opposition throughout the West. In Ohio, especially, was the feeling against Burr and his plans very strong. Here again she displayed a devotion to the Union that has repeated itself more than once in her history.

A conflict between the Judiciary and the Legisla