the head of tide water on the Potomac, which runs through it diagonally, near the centre. It was ceded, in 1790, to the United States, by Maryland and Virginia, and it is under the immediate government of congress.

Sec. 8. On the 4th of March, 1801, Mr. Adams' term of office as president would expire. Before the arrival of the time for a new election, it had been pretty certainly predicted, that he could not be re-elected. His administration, through the whole course of it, had been the subject of much popular clamor, especially by the democratic party. But the measures, which most excited the opposition of that party, and which were most successfully employed to destroy the popularity of Mr. Adams' administration, and to place the government in other hands, were several laws passed during his presidency, among which were the "Alien" and "Sedition" laws.

By the "alien law," the president was authorized to order any alien, whom "he should judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, &c., to depart out of the territory, within such time" as he should judge proper, upon penalty of being "imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years," &c.

The design of the "sedition law," so called, was to punish the abuse of speech, and of the press. It imposed a heavy pecuniary fine, and imprisonment for a term of years, upon such as should combine or conspire together to oppose any measure of government; upon such as should write, print, utter, publish, &c., "any false, scandalous, and malicious writing against the government of the United States, or either house of the congress of the United States, or the president," &c.

These acts, together with others for raising a standing army, and imposing a direct tax and internal duties, with other causes, so increased the opposition to Mr. Adams' administration, as to prevent his re-election, and greatly to weaken

the strength of that party to whom he owed his elevation to the presidency.

Sec. 9. The strife of parties, during the term of electioneering, was spirited. On canvassing the votes of the electors for president, it was found that Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr had each seventy-three votes, Mr. Adams sixty-five, and C. C. Pinckney sixty-four. As the constitution provided that the person having the greatest number of votes should be president, and Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr having an equal number, it became the duty of the house of representatives, voting by states, to decide between these two gentlemen.

The ballot was taken for several days in suc cession, February, 1801, before a choice was made. The federalists generally supported Mr. Burr; the democratic party Mr. Jefferson. At length, after much political heat and party animosity, the choice fell upon the latter, who was declared to be elected president of the United States for four years, commencing March 4th, 1801. Mr. Burr was elected vice president.

As this was the first time that the election of president had come before congress, since the adoption of the constitution, a deep interest was taken in the subject. This interest was heightened by the excited state of parties, into which congress itself, and the people of the United States, were divided. The mode of proceeding to the election of president, therefore, was settled in due form, and solemnity. Among other rules, it was settled, that after the balloting had commenced, the house should not adjourn, until a choice was made; that the doors of the house should be closed, during the balloting, except against the officers of the house; that in balloting the representatives of the respective states should be so seated, that the delegation of each state should be together. The representatives of each state were to ballot among themselves-duplicates of these ballots were to be made, and placed in two ballot boxes. When all the

states had thus voted, the ballot boxes were to be carried by the sergeant at arms to two separate tables. The ballots were then to be counted by tellers, eight in number, at each table. When counted, the reports were to be announced from each table; if these reports agreed, they were to be accepted, as the true votes of the states; if they differed, a new balloting was to be made.

On Wednesday, the 11th of February, the votes from the several electoral colleges were counted in the senate chamber, in presence of both houses; and the result was declared by the president to be, no choice-Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr having each an equal number of votes.

The question therefore devolving upon the house of representatives, that body returned to their chamber, where seats had been previously prepared for the members of the senate A call of the members of the house, arranged according to states, was then made; upon which, it appeared that every member was present, except General Sumpter, who was unwell, and unable to attend. Mr. Nicholson, of Maryland, was also unwell, but attended, and had a bed prepared for him in one of the committee rooms, to which place the ballot box was carried to him, by the tellers, on the part of the

state.

The first ballot was eight states for Mr. Jefferson, six for Mr. Burr, and two divided; which result continued to be the same after balloting thirty-five times. The thirty-sixth ballot determined the question.

This important decision took place at twelve o'clock on the 17th of February, when there appeared for Mr. Jefferson ten states; for Mr. Burr four states; and the remaining two were blank ballots. The states which voted for Mr. Jefferson were, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New-Jersey, NewYork, and Vermont. The states for Mr. Burr were, NewHampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The blank states were Delaware and South Carolina

NOTES.

Sec. 10. MANNERS. The manners of the people of the United States underwent no marked change during this period.

Sec. 11. RELIGION. Although infidelity does not seem to have made much progress in the

United States, during this period, it was evident that it had taken deep root in many minds.

Infidels, however, were less confident, and less ready to avow their sentiments. They stood abashed before the world, at the fearful and blood-chilling horrors which their principles had poured out upon France. Their doctrines were, at the same time, powerfully refuted by the ablest men both in England and America. At length, they ceased to make proselytes, spoke favorably of the Christian religion, generally admitted that it was absolutely necessary to good government; and error, with regard to religion, assumed a new form.

Towards the close of this period, a revival of religion commenced in New-England, and seems to have been the beginning of that series of revivals which have since overspread the United States. Some sects which had before regarded "revivals of religion" with suspicion or aversion, became convinced of their utility, and began to promote them.

Sec. 12. TRADE AND COMMERCE. Trade and commerce were still prosperous, and the remarks made in respect to them, under period VII., apply to them during this period.

The exports, in 1801, were ninety-three millions twenty thousand five hundred and seventy-three dollars; the imports, one hundred and eleven millions three hundred and sixty-three thousand five hundred and eleven dollars.

Sec. 13. AGRICULTURE.

tinued to flourish.

Agriculture still con

Sec. 14. ARTS AND MANUFACTURES.

The general remarks on the preceding period, relative to this subject, apply, without material alteration, to this period.

Sec. 15. POPULATION. The number of inhabitants, at the close of this period, was not far from five millions five hundred thousand.

Sec. 16. EDUCATION. We have nothing particular to observe in relation to education. Public and private schools, however, were multiplied,

as the people increased, and as new settlements were made.

In 1798, a college was founded at Lexington, Kentucky, called the Transylvania University. Middlebury College, in Vermont, was founded in 1800. At the commencement

of the 18th century, there was, in New-England, but one college completely founded, but now there were six; in the colonies south of Connecticut, there was only one, but now there were fifteen or sixteen.