country.” In 1788 he was chosen to the State legislature, in which
assembly he advocated important educational measures, in view of
elevating the character of the great mass of the people, and rendering
them capable of higher enjoyments. In 1789 he was elected a member of
the first Congress under the constitution, in which body he remained
during the eight years of Washington’s administration. He was a strong
advocate of the federal policy, and on every question of importance took
an active part. He opposed the commercial resolutions of Mr. Madison,
because he thought “that commerce could not be served by regulations,
which should oblige us to ‘sell cheap and buy dear,’ and he inferred
that the effect of the resolutions could only be to gratify partialities
and resentments, which all statesmen should discard.” In April, 1796, he
delivered his celebrated speech on the appropriation for Jay’s Treaty, a
production full of the deepest pathos and richest eloquence.[A] At the
termination of the session of Congress, Mr. Ames travelled at the south
for his health, which had for many months been gradually sinking. On
his partial recovery, he took his seat at the next session, and entered
upon the duties of his office. At the end of this session he returned
to his home at Dedham, and declining a re-election, took upon himself
the practice of his profession. He continued writing political essays
during the remainder of his life, all of which bear the mark of the
statesman and ripe scholar. In the year 1804 he was called to the chair
of the presidency of Harvard College, which honor he declined on account
of failing health, and a consciousness that his habits were not adapted
to the office. On the morning of the Fourth of July, 1808, he expired,
having just completed the fiftieth year of his age.[B]