of the articles of confederation proposed by Mr. Patterson-Both debated-The
amendments of Mr. Patterson rejected---Large majority agree to form a new
system of government---To be divided into three great departments, legisla-
tive, executive and judicial-Legislative divided into two branches, house of
representatives and senate-Convention divided on the subject of the represent-
ation of the states in the senate-Sketch of the debate on this question---States
equally divided upon it---The subject referred to a large committee---Commit-
tee report a compromise between the large and small states---This finally
adopted by a majority of the convention---Sketch of the powers granted to
congress---General government prohibited from doing certain acts---The
powers of the states restricted---The organization of an executive attended
with great difficulty---Outlines of the first plan adopted by the convention---
This afterwards rejected and a new plan formed and eventually adopted---
Powers given to the executive---Judicial department to consist of a supreme
court and inferior courts---In what cases they have jurisdiction---Constitution
eventually different, in many respects, from what the members first con-
templated---Difference between the articles of confederation and the constitu-
tion-States divided on the subject of importing slaves, and on the subject of
the powers of congress, relative to navigation acts---These differences settled
by mutual concessions---General Washington's influence in the convention---
Constitution considered by state conventions---People greatly divided in some
of the states---Adopted by three states unanimously---By large majorities in
four states---Rhode Island refuses to call a convention---The other five states
much divided---Doubtful for a time whether they would ratify it without pre-
vious amendments---Massachusetts adopts it, and recommends certain amend-
ments---Convention of New Hampshire meet and adjourn---The system
strongly opposed in New York, Virginia and North Carolina, without previous
amendments---Is warmly debated in the conventions of those states---New
Hampshire follows the example of Massachusetts---Virginia and New York
adopt it in the same manner by small majorities---North Carolina refuses her
assent unless amended,
States institute forms of government agreeably to the advice of congress--
States of Connecticut and Rhode Island proceed according to their charters--
Massachusetts at first conform to their charter as far as practicable--New
Hampshire, South Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, and North Carolina, establish new governments in the course of the
year 1776---Those of New Hampshire, South Carolina, and New Jersey, lim-
ited to the continuance of the disputes with Great Britain---General principles
and outlines of these constitutions---New York establishes a government in
1777---Its general features---Constitution of Massachusetts not finally com-
pleted until 1780---Vermont not a part of the union until 1791---Claimed by
New York and New Hampshire--Declares independence in 1777---Outlines
of her constitution, formed in 1786---Constitution of Georgia as established in
1789---After the formation and adoption of the general government, principles
of making constitutions better understood--Pennsylvania, New Hampshire,
South Carolina, and Delaware, revise and alter their systems of government,
Page.
ed---Its powers and jurisdiction---Vessels of North Carolina and Rhode Island
placed on the same footing with those of the United States, until the 15th of
January, 1790---Congress direct the secretary of the treasury to report, at their
next session, a plan for the support of public credit---Request the president to
recommend the observance of a day of public thanksgiving and prayer---Ad-
journ to the first Monday of January, 1790---North Carolina adopts the con-
stitution in November---Speech of the president at the opening of the second
session of congress---He recommends the promotion of such manufactures,
as would render the United States independent on others for essential arti-
cles, the establishment of a good militia system, and adequate provision for
the support of public credit---Financial plan of the secretary of the treas-
ury, submitted to the house in January-Outlines of this plan-Secretary
recommends funding the debt of the United States, and the assumption of the
state debts-This creates great divisions and long debates in congress-Motion
to discriminate between the original holders and the assignees of the domestic
debt negatived-Assumption of the state debts violently opposed-Debates
on this question-Finally carried-Terms of funding the debts-Commission-
ers appointed to settle the accounts between the states, and principles of set-
tlement adopted-Census of the inhabitants to be taken on the first Monday
of August, 1790-Third session commences the first Monday of December,
1790-Vermont and Kentucky admitted into the union-National bank es-
tablished-Strongly opposed as unconstitutional-Cabinet divided on the
question-President decides in favor of its constitutionality-Duties laid on
spirits distilled within the United States-Opposed in congress, and in some
of the states-Speech of the president at the opening of the first session of the
second congress in October, 1791-Ratio of representation settled--Difference
between the houses and the president as to the constitutional rule of apportion-
ment-Gen. St. Clair and his army defeated by the Indians--Opposition to
the internal duties increases-The two great parties in the United States
more distinctly marked--Cabinet divided--An inquiry into the official conduct
of the secretary of the treasury, instituted in the house of representatives-
Charges exhibited against him-Negatived by a large majority-Supreme
court decides, that a state is liable to a suit in favor of individuals-An amend-
ment altering the constitution in this respect proposed and adopted-The
first term of president Washington's administration expires on the 4th of
March, 1793,
Political relations with Great Britain under the new government--The president
informally sounds the British government relative to the inexecution of the
treaty, and a commercial intercourse-Discriminating duties in the United
States claim the attention of the British ministry-Referred to the committee
of trade and plantations in September, 1789--Report of the committee on this
subject, and also with regard to the terms of a commercial treaty with the Uni-
ted States-West India trade not to be open to the Americans, nor the princi-
ple admitted that free ships should make free goods-English minister arrives
in the United States--Enters into discussion with the secretary of state on the
subject of the treaty-This discussion broken off, by the new state of things
in Europe--British orders of June 8th, 1793, relative to certain articles of pro-
visions destined to France--American government remonstrates against these
orders--Treaties between Great Britain and Russia, and other powers on this
subject---Similar orders issued by Russia and other nations in Europe - Reasons
given in justification of them--Answers of some of the European neutrals-
Algerine cruizers let loose upon American commerce in the Atlantic, in conse-
quence of a truce between Algiers and Portugal--This truce made by a British
agent--Many American vessels captured, and their crews made slaves--
Speech of the president at the opening of congress in December, 1793--Re-
port of the secretary of state concerning foreign restrictions on American com-
merce-Mr. Jefferson resigns--Mr. Madison's commercial resolutions---New
British orders respecting the West India trade--American vessels bound to the
West Indies taken and condemned--Congress divided as to the mode of resist-
ing these aggressions on neutral rights, and obtaining satisfaction and indem-
nity--Various plans proposed in the house of representatives- British estab-
lish a new military post at the rapids of the Miami of the lake--Mr. Jay nomi-
nated minister extraordinary to London-Reasons of the president for this
mission--Mr. Jay's instructions--Non-intercourse bill passed by the house,
but rejected in the senate--Congress take measures of defense-Lay additional
internal taxes--Pass acts to prevent the violation of the neutrality and sove-
reignty of the country---Fauchet arrives as successor to Genet---Has orders to
send Genet to France---Requests liberty of the president to take him by force
or stratagem---President refuses his request---Views of the French government
not changed---Mr. Morris recalled from France, and Mr. Munroe appointed
his successor---His instructions,
Report of a committee appointed by congress to confer with the French minister,
on the subject of the mediation offered by the empress of Russia, and emperor
of Germany, &c. made in May, 1781,
No. 12.
A fragment of Polybius. From his treatise on the Athenian government. This
was presented by Sir William Jones, to Dr. Franklin at Paris, about the last of
June, 1782. It was, no doubt, drawn by him, and was supposed to be an in-
direct mode of sounding Dr. Franklin, as to terms of accommodation with
Great Britain, short of an express and open acknowledgment of the indepen-
dence of the United States,
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