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CHAPTER XLIII.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SECTION I.-DOMESTIC TROUBLES AND FOREIGN
RELATIONS (A. D. 1789-1812).

ton Elected

AFTER the National Constitution, by receiving the approval of the Washingpeople of the requisite number of States, had become the Supreme Law of the land, George Washington was chosen, by the unanimous vote of President. the Electors, the first President of the United States, and John Adams, of Massachusetts, was elected Vice President.

Edmund

Randolph

and Lafayette.

Edmund Randolph, who was no strong adherent of Washington, Remarks afterward wrote to him thus: 66 The Constitution would never have of been adopted but from a knowledge that you had once sanctioned it and an expectation that you would execute it." Lafayette at once wrote from Paris: "The Constitution satisfies many of our desires; but I am much mistaken if there are not some points that would be perilous had not the United States the happiness of possessing their guardian angel, who will lead them to whatever still remains to be done before reaching perfection.' Washington consented to what he called "this last great sacrifice." WashingHe wrote in his diary: "I bade adieu to Mount Vernon and to domestic felicity; and, with a mind oppressed with more anxious and painful sensations than I have words to express, set out with the best disposition to render service to my country in obedience to its call, but with less hope of answering its expectations."

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After a month's delay the two Houses of Congress had been organized in New York city, and John Adams took his place as Vice President a few days before Washington's arrival. Washington's journey from Mount Vernon to New York was a continued ovation. At Trenton he passed under a beautiful arch bearing the inscription: "The defender of the mothers will be the protector of the daughters."

ton's

Adieu to
Mount
Vernon.

New

National

Govern

ment.

President

The inauguration of Washington took place on the 30th of April, Washing1789, in New York city, in the presence of an immense body of spec- ton, A. D. tators, the oath of office being administered by Chancellor Robert R.

3973

1789

1797.

Livingston. Washington was well aware that it was far more difficult to set the new National Constitution in operation than had been the work of its formation. He felt that it was still an untried instrument and that time only could tell its efficiency. In his inaugural address he Remarks said: "It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Inaugural act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being Who rules over Address. the universe, Who presides in the councils of nations and Whose pro

in His

President

ton's

to His

Chris

tians.

vidential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions alloted to his charge."

In a similar spirit the President invoked the support of his fellowWashing- citizens and fellow-Christians. Among the many addresses which Appeal poured in upon him from various bodies, political and industrial, literFellow- ary and scientific, none pleased him more than those he received from religious organizations. In his replies he dwelt upon the necessity of their sympathies and prayers and made earnest pleas for charity and tolerance among the various branches of the Christian Church. In an address to his own Church, the Protestant Episcopal, he expressed his satisfaction "to see Christians of different denominations dwell together in more charity and conduct themselves in respect to each other with a more Christian-like spirit than ever they had done in any former age or in any other nation." To the Roman Catholic Church, that had been so much persecuted during the colonial period, he wrote thus: "I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations in examples of justice and liberality. And I presume that your fellow-citizens will not forget the patriotic part which you took in the accomplishment of their Revolution and the establishment of their government."

Congress and the Organization

of the Government.

The first session of the First Congess under the new National Constitution was devoted to the complete organization of the new National government. Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, of Pennsylvania, was the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the First Congress, as he was also of that of the Third Congress. Congress provided for the establishment of three Executive Departments-State, Treasury and War-the heads of which were to be styled Secretaries instead of Ministers as in Europe, and who, with an Attorney-General, were to constitute the President's Cabinet, and could be appointed by him, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and could be dismissed by him at his pleasure. The Postmaster-General was not a Cabinet officer until a later period. Congress also established a National Judiciary, consisting of a Supreme Court, having a Chief Justice and several Associate Justices, and Circuit and District Courts, which had jurisdiction over

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