CHAPTER V.

WASHINGTON'S ADMINISTRATIONS.

1789-1797.

FEDERAL PARTY IN POWER.

March 4th, 1789, was the time fixed upon for the formal inauguration of the new government, but it

First Congress, Extra Session. was not until April 6th that a sufficient number of Congressmen arrived in New York to constitute a quorum and count the electoral votes. Washington took the oath of office April 29th, the Vice-President having taken his place as president of the Senate a few days before. Thus, at the dissolution of the confederation, the Federal party passed into power and assumed control of the national legislature. The first duty of the party was that of organizing a government based upon the constitution-a task requiring time, patience, and deliberation. Washington, wishing to be a mediator between the political parties, and to show that the administration had only the best wishes of the country at heart, formed his cabinet of men holding opposite political views. In a democratic state like ours the executive can not long hold the position of a mediator if he is not sustained by a compromise party among the people. Washington himself, so well fitted to play this part, was forced more and more to surrender his position in relation to parties. His first administration was devoted to the establishment of an internal policy. The anti-federalists became the determined opponents of this policy, as well as of his external policy developed during his second administration.

ANTI-FEDERALS ORGANIZE.

At the beginning of Washington's administration the antifederals did not constitute an organized opposition to the party in power; but as new measures of the government were advanced, they were taken as issues for drawing party lines, and for perfecting and strengthening the ranks of the minority. The antagonistic views held by Hamilton and Jefferson, members of Washington's cabinet, on the subject of government, aided greatly in establishing party lines. Their ideas made their way into Congress, thence among the people, and formed, principally, the issues on which the political parties were divided for a number of succeeding administrations. Hamilton was the leader of the federal party, and Jefferson of the opposition.

TARIFF AND THE REGULATION OF COMMERCE.

During the first session of Congress a law was passed, in which the principle of a protective tariff was recognized by declaring it to be "necessary for the support of government, for the discharge of the debts of the United States, and the encouragement of manufactures, that duties be laid on goods, wares, and merchandise imported." In the passage of this measure the government recognized the principle of a protective tariff, and the discussion which it called forth mainly shaped the issues on this question for all subsequent controversies. Hamilton's report on the subject, made after the law was passed, is regarded by free-traders as most cunningly devised, and by protectionists as containing arguments never yet answered. The policy of coercing foreign states by means of commercial restrictions had its beginning also in this measure, which, carried out by Mr. Jefferson in the embargo and non-intercourse acts, resulted ultimately in war with Great Britain.

BILL OF RIGHTS.

One of the serious objections to the constitution before its ratification was "the absence of a distinct bill of rights recognizing the fundamental principles of government; the equality of all men, and their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The objections to the constitution, which had been pointed out before its adoption, were condensed during the first session of Congress, and moulded into a bill of rights, "consisting of twelve articles, ten of which were afterward ratified and incorporated as amendments into the constitution." These expressly guarantee freedom of religion, speech, person, and property. They were urged by the more moderate anti-federalists and positively requested by several states, while two states constantly refused to enter the Union because of the defects of the constitution. These considerations determined their adoption. They were opposed by the extreme anti-federalists, who considered them "delusive and insufficient, and only calculated to create a fatal feeling of security against centralized government."

After adopting measures for the organization of the different departments of government, and directing the secretary of the treasury to prepare a plan for the settlement of the public debt, Congress adjourned September 29th, until the following January.

STATE SOVEREIGNTY.

That the interests of the states should be guarded with jealous care was the most prominent political idea in the minds of anti-federals under the confederation. When the new government went into operation their views were not changed, and they continued to base their party upon the leading ideas that delegated authority should be regarded with distrust, and that the power of a state should be su