WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATION, 1789-1797.
[Sidenote: =Washington's Inauguration.=]
On the 30th of April, 1789, Washington was inaugurated first President
of the United States. The ceremony was performed in New York City, on
the site of the Custom-house, in Wall Street. Chancellor Livingston, of
New York, administered the oath of office. The streets and house-tops
were thronged with people; flags fluttered; cannon boomed from the
Battery. Washington retired to the Senate chamber and delivered his
inaugural address. Congress had already been organized.
2. The new government was embarrassed with many difficulties. By
the treaty of 1783 the free navigation of the Mississippi had been
guaranteed. Now the Spaniards of New Orleans hindered the passage
of American ships. On the frontier the Red men were at war with the
settlers. As to financial credit or income, the United States had none.
[Sidenote: =The First Cabinet.=]
3. On the 10th of September an act was passed by Congress instituting a
department of foreign affairs, a treasury department, and a department
of war. Washington nominated Jefferson as Secretary of Foreign Affairs;
Knox, Secretary of War; and Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury. A
Supreme Court was also organized, John Jay receiving the appointment
of first Chief-justice. Edmund Randolph was chosen Attorney-General.
Meanwhile, the objections of North Carolina and Rhode Island were
removed, and both States ratified the Constitution, the former in
November of 1789, and the latter in the following May.
[Illustration: Inauguration of Washington.]
[Sidenote: =The Financial Policy.=]
4. The war debt of the United States, including the revolutionary
expenses of the several States, amounted to nearly eighty million
dollars. Hamilton adopted a broad and honest policy. His plan proposed
that the debt of the United States due to American citizens, as well
as the debt of the individual States, should be assumed by the general
government, _and that all should be fully paid_. By this measure the
credit of the country was vastly improved. Hamilton's financial schemes
were violently opposed by Jefferson and the anti-Federal party. In 1791
the BANK OF THE UNITED STATES was established by an act of Congress.
[Sidenote: =Admission of Vermont.=]
5. The question of fixing the seat of government was discussed; and
it was agreed to establish the capital for ten years at Philadelphia,
and afterwards at some locality on the Potomac. The next measure was
the organization of the territory southwest of the Ohio. On the 4th of
March, 1791, Vermont, which had been an independent territory since
1777, was admitted into the Union as the fourteenth State. The census
of the United States, for 1790, showed a population of three million
nine hundred and twenty-nine thousand.
[Sidenote: =Indian Troubles in the N.W. Territory.=]
6. In 1790 a war broke out with the Miami Indians. These tribes went to
war to recover the lands which they had ceded to the United States. In
September General Harmar, with fourteen hundred men, marched from Fort
Washington, on the present site of Cincinnati, to the Maumee. On the
21st of October the army was defeated, with great loss, at a ford of
this stream. General Harmar retreated to Fort Washington.
7. After the defeat of Harmar, General St. Clair, with two thousand
men, set out from Fort Washington to break the power of the Miamis. On
the 4th of November he was attacked in the southwest angle of Mercer
County, Ohio, by more than two thousand warriors. After a terrible
battle, St. Clair was completely defeated, with a loss of half his
men. The fugitives retreated precipitately to Fort Washington. The
news of the disaster spread sorrow throughout the land. St. Clair was
superseded by General Wayne, whom the people had named Mad Anthony.
[Sidenote: =Admission of Kentucky.=]
8. The population of Kentucky had now reached seventy-three thousand.
Seventeen years before, Daniel Boone, the hardy hunter of North
Carolina, had settled at Boonesborough. Harrodsburg and Lexington
were founded about the same time. During the Revolution the pioneers
were constantly beset by the savages. After the expedition of General
Clark, in 1779, thousands of immigrants came annually. On the 1st of
June, 1792, Kentucky was admitted into the Union. At the presidential
election of 1792, Washington was again unanimously chosen; as
Vice-president, John Adams was reelected.
9. Washington's second administration was greatly troubled in its
relations with foreign governments. Citizen Genet, who was sent by
the French republic as minister to the United States, arrived at
Charleston, and was greeted with great enthusiasm. Taking advantage
of his popularity, he fitted out privateers to prey on the commerce
of Great Britain, and planned an expedition against Louisiana. When
Washington refused to enter into an alliance with France, the minister
threatened _to appeal to the people_. But Washington stood unmoved, and
demanded the minister's recall. The authorities of France heeded the
demand, and Genet was superseded by M. Fouchet.
[Sidenote: =The Whiskey Insurrection.=]
10. In 1794 the country was disturbed by a difficulty in western
Pennsylvania, known as the WHISKEY INSURRECTION. Congress had, three
years previously, imposed a tax on all ardent spirits distilled in the
United States. Genet and his partisans had incited the people of the
distilling regions to resist the tax collectors. The disaffected rose
in arms. Washington issued two proclamations, warning the insurgents
to disperse; but instead of obeying, they fired upon the officers of
the government. General Henry Lee, with a strong detachment of troops,
then marched to the scene of the disturbance and dispersed the rioters.
11. In the fall of 1793 General Wayne entered the Indian country with
a force of three thousand men. Near the scene of St. Clair's defeat
he built Fort Recovery, and then pressed on to the junction of the
Auglaize and the Maumee. Here he built Fort Defiance. On the 20th of
August Wayne overtook the savages at the town of Waynesfield, and
routed them with terrible losses. The chieftains were obliged to
purchase peace by ceding to the United States all the territory east
of a line drawn from Fort Recovery to the mouth of the Kentucky River.
This was the last service of General Wayne. In December of 1796 he
died, and was buried at Presque Isle.
[Sidenote: =British Privateers.=]
12. In 1793 George III. issued instructions to British privateers to
seize all neutral vessels found trading in the French West Indies.
The United States had no notification of this measure, and American
commerce to the value of many millions of dollars was swept from the
sea. Chief-justice Jay was sent to demand redress, and in November of
1794 an honorable treaty was concluded. It was specified in the treaty
that Great Britain should make reparation for the injuries done, and
surrender to the United States certain Western posts which until now
had been held by that country.
13. In 1795 the boundary between the United States and Louisiana
was settled. Spain granted to the Americans the free navigation of
the Mississippi. About this time a difficulty arose with the dey of
Algiers. For many years Algerine pirates had been preying upon the
commerce of civilized nations. The dey had agreed with these nations
that his pirate ships should not attack their vessels if they would pay
him an annual tribute. The Algerine sea-robbers were now turned loose
on American commerce, and the government of the United States was also
obliged to purchase safety by paying tribute.
[Illustration: Algerine Pirates.]
[Sidenote: =Admission of Tennessee.=]
14. In 1796 Tennessee, the third new State, was admitted into the
Union. The population already numbered more than seventy thousand. The
first inhabitants of Tennessee were as hardy a race of pioneers as ever
braved the wilderness.
15. Washington was solicited to become a candidate for a third
election; but he refused. In September of 1796 he issued to the
people of the United States his Farewell Address--a document full
of wisdom and patriotism. The political parties at once put forward
their candidates--John Adams as the choice of the Federal, and Thomas
Jefferson of the anti-Federal party. The chief question between the
parties was whether it was the true policy of the United States to
enter into intimate relations with France. The anti-Federalists said,
_Yes!_ The Federalists said, _No!_ On that issue Mr. Adams was elected,
but Mr. Jefferson, having the next highest number of votes, became
Vice-president.