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er was granted by the Constitution for the express purpose of paying off the public debt. Some States had advanced more than their just proportion in the expenses of the war. On inquiry, it was ascertained, that several had claims on the general government, for a balance due, or an excess over their proportion; and that others had not expended their full and just share. The amount thus assumed by Congress, was twenty-one millions and a half; which was nearly half as much as the general government, or old continental Congress had directly contracted. South Carolina. and Massachusetts were the largest claimants on the federal government for balances in their favor. The assumption of the debts contracted by the several States during the war, for the welfare of all, was not agreed to, however, without warm opposition. And, in one stage of the bill for the purpose, the majority voted against it. But the justice of the measure was so fully shown, that it finally prevailed, and an act of Congress was passed for that object, in August, 1790.

The military establishment of the United States was, at the second session of first Congress, fixed at twelve hundred men, and to be enlisted for three years; to consist of three battalions of infantry, and one of artillery; and by the same law, the President of the United States was authorized to call into service, such part of the militia of any State, as he should judge necessary, to aid the regular troops in protecting the people on the frontiers.

In the month of July, of this session, an act was passed, providing for the permanent seat of the government of the United States, on the banks of the Potomac, including a tract of land of ten miles square; a part of which was with in the State of Maryland, and a part in Virginia. And in the act of acceptance of the territory, it was also provided, "that the operation of the laws of the State within such district or territory, should not be affected by the cession, till the time fixed for the removal of the government thereto, and until Congress should otherwise provide by law."

During the second session of this Congress, several petitions were presented on the subject of slavery; which were subscribed chiefly by the people called Quakers, and citizens of Pennsylvania. Dr. Franklin's name was at the

* During the whole war, Massachusetts supplied one-fifth of the continental army, and some part of it nearly one-fourth; and generally had State troops out to guard her coasts of 500 miles.

head of one of these memorials. There was some opposition to have them considered at all, as the subject did not belong to Congress, and was solely within the jurisdiction. of the several State governments. The subject, however, was discussed at various times, and a report was finally made and adopted, though by a small majority, in substance as follows: That the general government is restrained from prohibiting the importation of slaves before the year 1808; that, by fair construction, Congress is also restrained from interfering in the emancipation of slaves, who already are, or may, within that period, be imported into, or born within any of the States; that Congress have authority to interdict or regulate the African trade, so far as relates to citizens of the United States supplying foreigners; and to make provision by law for the humane treatment of slaves: and that the federal government has power also to prohibit foreigners from fitting out vessels, in any ports of the Union, for that traffic.

Some of the members from the South said they should consider their States undone, if any interference took place, as to the subject, and warmly opposed any action of the federal government; but other members contended that humanity, justice, and good policy required something to be devised to alleviate the condition of the unfortunate Africans. Still, many individuals, as humane as they were enlightened, thought that any great interference with slavery would endanger the Union, and that the Constitution did not authorize it.

An act was passed by the first Congress, in April, 1790, to promote the progress of the useful arts, which secured to the inventors of any machine, engine, art, or manufacture, the sole right to the use, and sale of a right to use, such invention. This was considered an important law; and it operated as a stimulus to various inventions, highly beneficial to society. In June, of the same year, a law of Congress was passed, securing to authors and publishers of books, the exclusive right to print and sell such works for a number of years. The law was similar to those in force in England, and other countries in Europe.

In July, 1790, during the second session of the first Congress, provision was made by law for the debt of the United States; in a great measure conformably to the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury; which was, in fact, for payment of the national debts, by a funding system, (usually so called,) and by loans. The law authorized new loans, and the creditors of the United States

were invited to subscribe, and to pay for the sum subscribed in their securities or notes of a former date. Interest was allowed on the new stock thus created by the loan subscribed to; and a part of the principal to be paid at certain periods in future. Some of the stock bore an interest of six per cent., and some only three. The President was authorized to borrow twelve millions of dollars, on the credit of the United States, to meet demands or part of demands already due, and the interest due to the public creditors.

During this Congress, provision was made for a gradual reduction of the public debt, by paying it in annual instalments, at an early period; so anxious were the members of laying a foundation, or preparing a plan, for this important purpose. But both on the question of funding the public debt, and of assuming the debts of the several States, a warm discussion took place, which continued many days, and called forth the abilities of the distinguished members of Congress. It was not wholly of a sectional character; and political parties were not then formed but different views were expressed; and the members from those States, which had advanced the least in the war of the Revolution, were the most opposed to these propositions. The majority of the House was, at one time, against adopting; but the Senate was in favor of the measure, and the House finally yielded, by a small majority. Had not these measures been adopted, the consequences might have been most unhappy for the welfare of the Union. For the funding system was necessary to revive and support the credit of the country; and the assumption of the State debts was equally necessary to do justice to those States, which expended most largely and suffered most severely, in the contest for liberty and independence. Sedgwick, Gerry, and Ames, of Massachusetts, were very eloquent on this occasion, and declared that the federal government would fail essentially in providing a remedy for existing evils, and in securing justice to the States, which was the express design of its establishment, unless the debts of the States were assumed, and prompt measures adopted for payment of the public debt.

Several members of the first Congress had been delegates in the Convention which formed the federal Constitution, as Strong, Gerry, Sherman, Langdon, Gilman, Carroll, King, Clymer, Fitzsimons, Morris, Bassett, Reed, McHenry, Butler, Few, and Baldwin. Among the most distinguished and active members of the House of Representa

tives, as appears from the debates and proceedings which have been preserved, were Livermore; Ames, Goodhue, Gerry, Sedgwick; Sherman, Trumbull, Wadsworth; Benson, Lawrence; Boudinot; Muhlenburg, Hartley, Fitzsimons; Vining; Contee, Smith, Stone"; Madison, Page, Lee, Bland, Moore, Parker; Burke, Huger, Smith, Sumpter; Baldwin, Jackson.'

The federal government may be justly considered a new political era in the United States. A great change was effected by its influence, through the whole country; which proved highly auspicious to the interests and welfare of all classes of people. The advantages of Independence were now fully perceived; and the blessings of civil liberty, happily realized. And it is difficult to imagine even, the divisions, disorders, and misery which would have ensued, if the federal Constitution had not been adopted, and the general government formed at that period. The common external dangers which had united the several States, and pressed them together in concert and action, had ceased,and the unsettled condition of the American people gave indications of as great evils, as had been endured in the war of the Revolution. The federal government was established by the wisdom and patriotism of that critical period; and thus a remedy, and the means of safety and prosperity were happily provided.

There was a third Session of the first Congress, which was held in the city of Philadelphia, on the first Monday of December, 1790; when much remained to be done, to perfect the operations of the federal government, or to accomplish all the purposes it was designed to effect. At the two former meetings, Congress had been diligent and faithful in setting the great political machine in motion; but time could not fail to discover some defects, or some omissions, which it was necessary to remedy and to supply. Several laws, passed at the former sessions, as that of establishing Judicial Courts, and those for raising and collecting the revenue, were altered at this. The first new State formed by the federal government was that part of Virginia, called the District of Kentucky; and Congress gave its consent to the application for that purpose, (an Act of Virginia having also passed in favor of the measure,) in February, 1791. And Kentucky then became one of the

a New Hampshire. b Massachusetts. c Connecticut. d New York. e New Jersey. f Pennsylvania. g Delaware. h Maryland. i Virginia. k South Carolina. 7 Georgia.

States in the Union, with all the powers and rights of the original members. A few days later, Congress passed an Act for the admission of the State of Vermont into the Union. The latter, however, was to be considered as one of the States in March, then next following; but Kentucky not until June, 1792. Parts of Vermont had been settled long before that period, and had sent commissioners, the year before, to Congress, to make application for that purpose. The Constitution provides for the admission of new States into the Union by Congress; requiring, however, the consent of the Legislature of a State, within whose jurisdiction, the additional State is to be formed, or created. Kentucky being within a part of the State of Virginia, her consent was necessary to the admission of that State; but Vermont was not strictly within the jurisdiction of any other State, although New Hampshire had claimed to have a right to a part of the territory: and therefore the consent of any other individual State was not necessary to her admission into the Union. In February, 1791, an Act was passed by Congress "to give effect to the laws of the federal government within the State of Vermont."

One of the most important Acts of Congress at this session, which was necessarily terminated the third of March, 1791, was that for establishing a Bank of the U. States: This was important, in a practical view, to give efficiency to the fiscal concerns both of the federal government and to individual enterprise, especially in commercial pursuits; and also as to a great constitutional question,-the right of the general government to form and incorporate such an institution.. The reasons given for the incorporation of the Bank were, "that it would be conducive to the successful conducting of the national finances, tend to afford facilities to the obtaining of loans, for the benefit of government, in sudden emergencies, and be productive of great advantages to the trade and industry of the country.' The preamble further states, "that the bank should be on a foundation sufficiently extensive to answer the purposes, intended by it; and, at the same time, on principles which might afford adequate security for an upright and prudent administration thereof." Notwithstanding the great objections then, and since, at various times, made to a Bank of the United States, it would seem to be highly expedient; alike useful to the government and to individual enterprise, as asserted, and as generally believed; still it is most important, that its administration and management should be in all prudence and uprightness; and not for the benefit of a few; nor,

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