CHAPTER XIX.

CHRONOLOGY OF THE U. S. FROM 1783 TO 1812.

1783.

Washington's army had lain in camp at Newburg, N. Y., since the surrender of Cornwallis. The Preliminary treaty of peace was signed Jan. 20th, at Paris; but it was not officially announced in the camp at Newburg, until April 19th; just eight years from the Battle of Lexington that commenced it!

July, Congress prepared to disband the army, and Washington to resign his commission as Commander-in-Chief.

แ 21-The great difficulty Congress had to contend with was raising money to pay the troops. Congress had no authority, under the Confederation, to lay taxes or impose duties. It exhausted its own credit in the issue of paper money which soon became of little value. It made some foreign loans, and persuaded the States, which alone could lay taxes, to raise a small sum. But this did not suffice to pay the army at last. There was much suffering and discontent.

On this day a body of soldiers, in large part new recruits, who had comparatively little to complain of, without muskets, but wearing side arms, beset the doors of Congress in Philadelphia, for three hours. No violence was offered. Congress adjourned to Princeton, N. J.

Sept. 3-The final and definite Treaty of Peace between England, France, and the United States, in which the independence of the latter was acknowledged, its boundaries defined, and various matters of interest arranged to the profit of the United States, was signed at Paris.

Nov. 2-A proclamation is issued by Congress for disbanding the army. 25-The British troops evacuate New York, and it is occupied by American troops under Gen. Knox.

Dec. 4-Long Island and Staten Island abandoned by the British. Washington takes leave of his officers, at New York.

25-He resigns his commission to Congress, in a public audience, given him at Annapolis, Md., where Congress was then sitting, and goes home to Mt. Vernon.

Cæsar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, died this year.

1784.

The want of public credit was very much felt. There was no authority sufficient to raise money to meet the interest, even, on the debt; and this produced great distress.

N-The Continental Congress meets at Trenton, N. J. Richard Henry

Lee, of Va., is chosen President.

Oct. 4-A treaty with the Six Nations, who had sided with the British during the war, was made at Ft. Schuyler (formerly Ft. Stanwix— now Utica, N. Y.).

Commerce begins to revive. Reciprocity treaties were made, and trade with eastern Asia commenced this year by a voyage to China, from New York.

1785.

Jan. -Congress adjourns to New York, where it continued to hold its sessions for some years.

Mar. 10-Thomas Jefferson appointed to fill the place of Franklin, as Min ister to France; Franklin wishes to return home. He had been there nine years.

July Commercial treaties negotiated with Prussia, Denmark, Portugal, and Tuscany.

The treaty with Prussia stipulated that, in case of war between that country and the United States, there should be no privateering. 13-Stephen Hopkins, of R. I., a signer of the Declaration of Inde pendence, died.

28-Wm. Whipple, of N. H., a signer of the Declaration of Independ ence, died.

-Treaties made with the Cherokees, Choctaws, and Chickasaws.

1786.

In 1784-5 the impor.
The exportations to

Financial troubles were now approaching a crisis. tations from England had amounted to $30,000,000. only $9,000,000. Paper money was depreciated so much as to be of little value. Debt oppressed government and people; want of vigorous authority was everywhere felt; and many disorders in Tennessee, Kentucky and elsewhere, begin to threaten the internal peace of the country. June 19-Gen. Nathaniel Greene, an able commander in the Revolutionary armies, died. He manouvered against Cornwallis in North and South Carolina with great ability.

'Dec. 5-Shay's Rebellion broke out in Mass. That State wished to raise money to aid Congress in paying the interest on the federal debt. The people felt unable to pay it. They mobbed the courts but were dispersed by troops under Gen. Lincoln. Three were killed and one wounded, in an attack the insurgents made on an arsenal. There was little other fighting. Fourteen persons were tried and condemned to death but afterwards pardoned.

1787.

These and other events convinced the people that an important change in the government was necessary. It became clear that a vigorous central authority, alone, could answer the purpose. The States were nearly inde

pendent of each other; but this produced conflicts and want of harmony, which nearly ruined them all.

A congress of deputies to consider commercial questions, called by Va. had, in Sept., 1786, recommended a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Feb. 2-The Continental Congress assembled, electing Gen. St. Clair, Pres

ident.

12-Congress approves the call for a Constitutional Convention.

May 25-The convention assembled in Philadelphia, and elected Gen. Geo. Washington, President.

July 11-The Continental Congress organize the Northwest Territory— north of the Ohio river. Preparations were immediately made for settling it.

Sept. 28-The Constitution, as signed by the members of the convention, laid before Congress, which sends it to the State Legislatures for approval.

Arthur Middleton of S. C., and Thomas Stone of Md. signers of the Declaration of Independence, died, Jan. 1st and Oct. 5th, respectively.

Dec. 7-Delaware ratifies the Constitution.

July 4-The anniversary of Independence is kept with great display, in Philadelphia, in special honor of the adoption of the new Constitution.

By the close of July nine more States had ratified the Constitu. tion, and it went into operation.

Sept. 13-Congress selects the first Wednesday of Jan. (1789) for the appointment of Presidential electors; the first Wednesday in February for their appointment of President and Vice-President; and March 4th (the first Wednesday that month) for the new gov ernment to go into operation.

1789.

Jan. 4-Thomas Nelson, of Va., signer of the Declaration of Independence, died.

Feb. 13-Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, died.

April 30-Washington inaugurated as first President.

May 12-A Tariff Bill for raising a revenue reported in Congress. This became a law, and went into effect Aug. 1st, 1789.

20-The Department of Foreign Affairs (afterwards called State Department,) organized.

The Treasury Department is next established, followed by the War
Department, to which the Navy was joined for the present.
The Judiciary was then constituted. Salaries, and the rules for
parliamentary procedure were determined. The Postmaster gen-

eral had long been an officer of the government, and required less change than most of the others. This made a very busy session. Congress also passed a resolution to add ten amendments to the Constitution-which were submitted to the States and afterward ratified. Congress adjourned the last of September.

The democratic tone of the government, and the spirit applied to the interpretation of the Constitution by the first Congress, har generally prevailed ever since. That tone and spirit were truly republican.

Nov. 8-The President made a tour through New England.
13-North Carolina ratified the Constitution.

Many Indian treaties were made this year.
1790.

Jan. 8-Congress reassembled. This session was scarcely inferior in interest and importance to the first from the variety of new questions required to be settled, and the more perfect development given to former ones.

Feb. 8-Provision was made for payment of the foreign debt.

Mar. 1-An act ordering a census to be taken was passed.

24-A naturalization law was originated.

Apr. 15-A patent law was constructed.

30-Treason was defined and the penalty determined on.

May 29 The Constitution ratified by Rhode Island; making up the whole number of thirteen States.

31—“An act to encourage learning" secured copyrights to authors. July 16-Three very exciting debates that had occupied much of the time of Congress, had a bearing on the location of the National Capital, which was this day permanently settled. The President was authorized to determine the site on the Potomac, and have the buildings erected so as to be ready for occupation in 1800. Agreea bly to this act Maryland and Virginia ceded the District of Columbia to the United States.

Gen. Putnam, a brave Revolutionary soldier, Benjamin Franklin, of Pa., Wm. Hooper, of N. C., and Francis Hopkinson, of N. J., all except Putnam signers of the Declaration of Independence, died this year.

The Territory South of the Ohio was organized this year. The financial system of the country was established, the slavery question debated and settled in accordance with the compromise of the Constitution, and the State debts transferred to the United States. Aug. 12-Congress adjourned to meet next in Philadelphia and thereafter until 1800.

13-A treaty with the Creek Indians solemnly ratified by Washington.

Dec. 6-The Third Session of Congress commenced. The President congratulates Congress on the improvement of the finances, and the prosperity of the country.

Feb.

44

1791.

-The United States Bank established. It was to have a capital of $10,000,000-its charter to run twenty years.

4-Kentucky voted admission into the Union in the next year (Jan. 1st, 1792).

18-Vermont having (Jan. 20th) ratified the Constitution and asked admission into the Union, it is granted this day.

The immediate prosperity that followed the adoption of the Constitution of 1787, the strength, vigor, and moderation seen to be combined in its arrangement of the government, led most of the States to remodel their State Constitutions on it, in a short time. July, The subscription to the stock of the National Bank is all taken in a few hours after the books are opened.

Aug. Great Britain first sends a minister to the United States Govern

ment.

Sep.17--An expedition of 2,000 troops, under Gen. St. Clair, starts from Ft. Washington against the Indians in the Northwest Territory. Nov. 4-Gen. St. Clair is surprised and defeated by the Indians. There were 600 killed-the whole loss amounted to upward of 900. Several other smaller expeditions had been sent against the Indians in the course of the year. One, Gen. Harmer's, had been defeated. Internal taxes on spirits were first commenced this year. Benj. Harrison, of Va., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, died this year. A voyage around the world, by way of Oregon, China, and the Cape of Good Hope, had opened wide fields to commerce. The first census was now completed. The Second Congress, assembled at Philadelphia, Oct. 24, was occupied in arranging the new ratio of Representatives. It was a very difficult matter to settle from the sectional struggles that entered into the question.

1792.

Feb.16-A bounty for fishing vessels provided.

"20-The Post Office Department reorganized.

Apr. 2-The establishment and regulations of the U. S. Mint are embodied in a law.

"14-Act apportioning Representatives passed. This gave the next House of Representatives in Congress 105 members.

May 8-Laws organizing the Militia are passed. Dec. 8-Henry Laurens, first President of the Continental Congress, died. The second presidential election this year resulted in the re-election of Washington and Adams. Washington received all the electoral votes-the anti-federalists opposing only Mr. Adama