LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 Chap.La'-KiCopyright No 
 
 Shelf-M^, 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
Hand Book 
 
 FOR 
 
 American Citizens; 
 
 THINGS EVERY PATRIOT SHOULD KNOW, 
 
 BY ]^y 
 
 Henry Mann, 
 
 Author of " Ancient and Mediceval Republics. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 THE CHRISTI^^nS" HEnA. 
 
 Louis Klopsch, Proprietor, 
 BIBLE HOUSE. NEW YORK 
 
 
Copyright 1895, 
 By Louis Klopsch. 
 
 Press and Bindery of 
 HISTORICAL PUBLISHING CO» 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
PREFACE, 
 
 The object in issuing this manual is to place in 
 the hands of the citizen a weapon which will arm 
 him for the performance of his duties and the de- 
 fence of his rights. The information herein con- 
 tained has been carefully compiled from trust- 
 worthy sources. It is not specially intended for 
 the theorist ; it deals with the Republic as it has 
 been and as it is, and with the Constitution and 
 laws as they are, and not as this or that dreamer 
 thinks that they ought to be. If knowledge is 
 power, then the citizen who reads and studies this 
 book will have power — power to do his part intel- 
 ligently in upholding the institutions whose estab- 
 lishment has cost so much, and on whose perma- 
 nence the happiness of mankind may depend. The 
 Old Flag appears all the dearer and more glorious 
 the more we study the history which it represents, 
 and the rights and privileges won for us by the men 
 who bore it through the storms of many a battle- 
 field. The American who fails to acquaint himself 
 with the origin and character of American institu- 
 tions, and with his own rights and obligations as 
 a citizen and a sovereign is lacking in loyalty to 
 his country, to his home and to himself. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Pabt L 
 
 ORIGIN OP THE NATION. 
 Chaxacter of the Colonists, 17 
 Beconiing a Nation, ... 21 
 Beginning of the Union, . 22 
 Declaration of Independ- 
 ence, 23 
 
 Articles of Confederation, 28 
 Washington's Resigna- 
 tion, 39 
 
 Demand for a Constitu- 
 tion 41 
 
 Constitution of the United 
 
 States 43 
 
 Washington's Farewell 
 Address, 63 
 
 Part II. 
 
 THE MONROE DOCTRINK 
 
 Not a Part of National 
 Law 82 
 
 Text of the Monroe Doc- 
 trine, . 83 
 
 Minister Anderson at 
 Bogota, 84 
 
 The Holy Alliance and the 
 Monroe Doctrine, . . 86 
 
 How Seward Enforced 
 the Monroe Doctrine, 88 
 
 The Monroe Doctrine To- 
 day 91 
 
 Pabt m. 
 
 THE SLAVERY ISSUK 
 
 Antagonism Between. 
 
 North and South, . . 93 
 Beginning of Negro 
 
 Slavery 94 
 
 The Missouri Compromise, 95 
 The Wilmot Proviso, . . . 96 
 Compromise of 1850, ... 98 
 The Fugitive Slave Law, 98 
 Kansas and Nebraska Act,106 
 Buchanan's Hope— Lin- 
 coln's Prophecy, ... 106 
 Emancipation Proclama- 
 tionf 108 
 
 pakt rv. 
 
 THE TARIFF ISSUE. 
 
 As Old as the Union, ... Ill 
 
 Tariff Legislation 113 
 
 The Tariff After the War,114 
 Becomes the Leading Is- 
 sue, 11* 
 
 The Wilson Tariff Law, .116 
 Tariff Rates Compared, .117 
 Reciprocity, llfl 
 
 (13) 
 
Pap^ I. 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE NATION. 
 
 Character of the Colonists. 
 
 To comprehend with intelligence the rights and 
 obligations of citizenship, and the political condi- 
 tions under which we live, it is necessary to glance 
 back to the origin of American institutions. The 
 American Republic did not spring into being sud- 
 denly, like Minerva from the brain of Jove. The 
 origin of our nation and of its fundamental laws 
 must be sought far back in the ages. Their root 
 was in that English middle class, removed alike 
 from noble and from serf, which retained and cul- 
 tivated throughout every vicissitude of civil and 
 religious revolution the sturdy and homely virtues 
 of their ancestry. The spirit which enabled the 
 founders of these States to overcome every obstacle 
 which English jealousy and savage hostility could 
 place in their way, was the spirit which our Ger- 
 manic ancestors displayed when they battled for 
 their liberties under Arminius ; it was the spirit of 
 the barons at Runnymede and of the seamen who 
 confronted the Armada. The men who fashioned 
 the rude beginnings of American nationality were 
 chiefly Englishmen of the seventeenth century, un- 
 tainted by the corruption of the court, deeply im- 
 bued with religious sentiment and with a high 
 esteem for secular learning, in which indeed many 
 of them were thoroughly proficient. While they 
 loved freedom they detested anarchy, and had 
 the strongest respect even for the technicalities of 
 law. ' 
 
 (17) 
 
i8 HAND BOOK FOK 
 
 Much has been said of the religious intolerance 
 which some of the early settlers — especially the 
 Puritans — displayed toward dissenters from the re- 
 ligious creed of the majority. As to this it ought 
 to be sufficient to state that the Puritan colonies 
 did not invite promiscuous immigration any more 
 than a religious community of the present day 
 throws open its doors to strangers irrespective of 
 their religious belief. The Puritan communities 
 were intended for Puritans only, and all others 
 were trespassers. That this was the Puritan view 
 was shown by the declaration of the General Court 
 of Massachusetts Bay, to the effect that the Quakers 
 who had been put to death, when they returned 
 after banishment from the colony, were guilty of 
 suicide. Of course, in this enlightened age, such 
 an explanation appears grotesquely inadequate, but 
 it shows that the Puritans were not cruel for cruel- 
 ty 's sake. They had sailed thousands of miles to 
 worship God in their own way, without intrusion 
 or molestation, and they resented molestation after 
 the fashion of the century in which they lived. If 
 their course was tyrannical, it was tyranny very 
 different in degree from that of the persecutors in 
 England, who drove Englishmen from their homes 
 because they would not conform to the established 
 creed. However the early settl ers of New England 
 were not all averse to religious libei'ty. Rhode 
 Island gave a lively example of order combined 
 with complete freedom of conscience, no member 
 of the community founded by Roger Williams 
 and his associates being under any compulsion 
 whatever as to the profession or practice of reli- 
 gion. 
 
 It should be remembered that other religious ele- 
 ments, beside Puritan and Pilgrim, had their part 
 in the early settlements — the Quakers in Pennsyl- 
 vania, the Huguenots in South Carolina and the 
 Roman Catholics in Maryland. Some attempt has 
 been made to claim for the last-mentioned the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 19 
 
 credit which really belongs to the founders of 
 Rhode Island, of making religious freedom an ori- 
 ginal feature of their colonial laws. The obvious 
 fact is that in the condition of English feeling at 
 that time toward the Pope and his spiritual sub- 
 jects, Roman Catholics would not have been per- 
 mitted to persecute Protestants on any soil subject 
 to the English crown, and in addition the so-called 
 toleration in Maryland was not toleration at all, as 
 compared with the complete liberty which pre- 
 vailed in Rhode Island ; the Maryland statutes 
 providing, for instance, that any person speaking 
 disrespectfully of the mother of Christ should have 
 the tongue bored with a red-hot iron. The Mary- 
 land claim to precedence over New England in rec- 
 ognizing the rights of conscience will not stand 
 the test of impartial examination. That torch was 
 lighted on the shores of Narragansett, not Chesa- 
 peake Bay. 
 
 The religious element did not enter largely into 
 the settlement of colonies other than those already 
 named. The thrifty Dutch intended to use New 
 Amsterdam for a trading post ; the Virginia colo- 
 nists were adventurers, and Carolina was designed to 
 be the field of an absurd scheme of government, 
 conceived in the brain of Locke. The object of 
 William Penn in settling Pennsylvania was more 
 humanitarian than religious, and at the same time 
 not unmingled with a desire for personal aggran- 
 dizement. 
 
 The American colonists were Englishmen, and 
 had no desire for or thought of political separation 
 from the mother country. Of course I include in 
 this designation the Dutch, the German, the 
 Swedish, French and any other alien settlers who 
 were politically absorbed by the English. The 
 colonists considered themselves entitled to all of an 
 Englishman's rights and privileges, and those of 
 New England were earnest and even aggressive 
 in asserting their rights. The influence of New 
 
20 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Eugland upon the destinies of Old England was 
 already apparent, while the generation which landed 
 at Plymouth and Boston remained in its prime. The 
 sympathy between the exiled dissenters and their 
 brethren at home was warm and energetic, and it 
 might be said that the first English Revolution — 
 the uprising of the English middle class against 
 the tyranny of King and Church — had its blowpipe 
 in Massachusetts. Nevertheless the feeling of the 
 colonists, down to the period of the Revolution, was 
 always loyal and friendly toward the British con- 
 nection, and even in Massachusetts there was very 
 little public expression of disloyalty. Looking 
 over the newspapers of the earlier years in the lat- 
 ter half of the eighteenth century, I have been 
 surprised to note the adulatory language used re- 
 garding the king and crown of Great Britain. It 
 is clear that only the gravest oppression could have 
 driven the colonists to sever the ties which bound 
 them to England, and that but for the madness 
 which possessed George III. and his advisers the 
 colonies would have remained a part of the British 
 empire. 
 
 It is a mistake, therefore, to suppose that the 
 American Revolution had its conception in a desire 
 for absolute independence. The colonists simply 
 resisted the withdrawal and denial of rights which 
 belonged to them as British subjects. The Revolu- 
 tion had been in progress for some time before it 
 became a war for independence. At first it was 
 only armed resistance to oppression. General 
 Washington, when he commanded at Cambridge, 
 regarded his own forces as in once sense British, 
 and spoke of his antagonivSts as " the ministerial 
 troops." Even then George III., by timely and 
 reasonable concessions, might have saved America 
 for Great Britain, and it is to be noted that, when 
 the time came to declare independence, some who 
 had been most earnest patriots up to that limit, 
 refused to cast their lot with their countrymen. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 21 
 
 Becoming a Nation. 
 
 When the colonies threw off the British yoke, 
 the change was accompanied by no local changes of 
 serious moment. Each colony already had its 
 local government, the chief of which was either 
 appointed by the king, as in New York, or elected 
 by the colonists themselves, as in Rhode Island. 
 The machinery of local government was perfect in 
 itself, and sufficiently democratic to be readily 
 adapted to the new conditions. The colony be- 
 came a State, with a legislature and officials sub- 
 stantially as before, but no longer acknowledging 
 allegiance to the crown of Great Britain. This 
 state of affairs was in one sense a great help and in 
 another a great hindrance to the cause of indepen- 
 dence. The local machinery of government pro- 
 ceeding without clash or disorder, was useful in 
 organizing support for the general cause, and in 
 proving to the people that the royal guardianship 
 had not been necessary to their welfare — that it 
 had been potent only for evil. On the other hand 
 the division of pov^er among so many different 
 States, each a centre of authority and jealous of its 
 recently acquired sovereignty, tended to hamper 
 and embarrass the military arm of the nation. Had 
 the first French Republic been divided into as 
 many States as there were provinces in old France, 
 instead of being directed by that relentless and 
 terrible Convention, it could surely not have pre- 
 sented the fierce and successful resistance to em- 
 battled Europe which it did present. In the late 
 Southern Confederacy, notwithstanding that it was 
 founded on the cardinal doctrine of State's Rights, 
 the central government at Richmond soon saw that 
 the recognition of State sovereignty was incom- 
 patible with effective and concentrated military 
 effort, and the Confederacy became a military des- 
 potism, the State governments retaining only the 
 shadow of power. Had Washington not been 
 
22 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 possessed of nearly superhuman fortitude and dis- 
 cretion, the jealousy and selfishness of the con- 
 federated States might have defeated the c 
 which he carried to a providential conclusion. 
 
 cause 
 
 Beginning of the Union. 
 
 The American Union had its beginning on Mon- 
 day the fifth of September, 1774, when there as- 
 sembled at Carpenter's Hall, in the city of Phila- 
 delphia, a number of men who had been chosen 
 and appointed by the several colonies in North 
 America to hold a Congress for the purpose of dis- 
 cussing the grievances imputed against the mother- 
 country. This Congress resolved on the next day 
 that each colony should have one vote only. On 
 Tuesday, the second of July, 1776, the Congress 
 resolved, " That these United Colonies are, and of 
 right ought to be, Free and Independent States," 
 etc., etc. ; and on Thursday, the fourth of July, the 
 whole Declaration of Independence having been 
 agreed upon, it was publicly read to the people. 
 Shortly after, on the ninth of September, it was 
 resolved that the words " United Colonies" should 
 be no longer used, and that the " United States 
 OF America " should thenceforward be the style 
 and title of the Unioa On Saturday, the fifteenth 
 of November, 1777, ^ Articles of Confederation 
 and Perpetual Uniou of the United States of 
 America" were agreed to by the State delegates, 
 subject to the ratification of the State Legislatures 
 severally. Eight of the States ratified these articles 
 on the ninth of July, 1778 ; one on the twenty-first 
 of July ; one on the twenty-fourth of July ; one on 
 the twenty-sixth of November of the same year ; 
 one on the twenty-second of February, 1779 ; and 
 the last one on the first of March, 17S1. Pler'e was 
 a bond of union between thirteen independent 
 States, whose delegates in Congress legislated for 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 23 
 
 the general welfare, and executed certain powers, 
 so far as they were permitted by the articles afore- 
 said. 
 
 As the Articles of Confederation were preceded 
 by the Declaration of Independence, that — the 
 greatest document of human origin since the be- 
 ginning of the world — should be given first. It is 
 as follows : 
 
 Declaration of Independence, 
 
 in congress — thursday, july 4, 1 776. 
 
 Agreeably to the order of the day, the Congress re- 
 solved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into 
 their further consideration the Declaration ; and after 
 some time the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Har- 
 rison reported that the committee had agreed to a decla- 
 ration, which they desired him to report. (The com- 
 mittee consisted of Jefferson, Franklin, John Adams, 
 Sherman and R. R. Livingston.) 
 
 The Declaration being read, was agreed to, as follows : 
 
 A Declaration 
 
 BY THE representatives OF THE UNITED STATES OF 
 AMERICA, IN congress ASSEMBLED, 
 
 When, in the course of human events, it becomes 
 necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands 
 which have connected them with another, and to assume, 
 among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal 
 station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God 
 entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of man- 
 kind requires that they should declare the causes which 
 impel them to the separation. 
 
 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men 
 are created equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator 
 with certain inalienable rights ; that among these, are 
 life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure 
 these rights, governments are instituted among men, de- 
 riving their just powers from the consent of the governed : 
 
24 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 that, whenever any form of government becomes de- 
 structive of these ends, it is the right of the people ^o 
 aher or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, 
 laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing 
 its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely 
 to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, 
 will dictate that governments long established, should not 
 be changed for light and transient causes; and, accord- 
 ingly, all experience hath shown, that mankind are more 
 disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right 
 themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are ac- 
 customed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpa- 
 tions, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design 
 to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, 
 it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to pro- 
 vide new guards for their future security. Such has been 
 the patient sufferance of these colonies, and such is now 
 the necessity which constrains them to alter their former 
 systems of government. The history of the present 
 King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and 
 usurpations, all having, in direct object, the establishment 
 of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, 
 let facts be submitted to a candid world : 
 
 lie has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome 
 and necessary for the public good. 
 
 He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of imme- 
 diate and pressing importance, unless suspended in ihetr 
 operation till his assent should be obtained ; and when so 
 suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 
 
 He has refused to pass other laws for the accommoda- 
 tion of large districts of people, unless those people would 
 relinquish the right of representation in the legislature ; 
 a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants 
 only. 
 
 He has called together legislative bodies at places un- 
 usual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of 
 their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them 
 into compliance with his measures. 
 
 He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for 
 opposing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights 
 oif the people. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 25 
 
 He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions 
 to cause others to be elected ; whereby the legislative' 
 powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the 
 people at large for their exercise ; the state remaining, in 
 the meantime, exposed to all the danger of invasion from 
 without, and convulsions within. 
 
 He has endeavored to prevent the population of these 
 states, for that purpose, obstructing the laws for natural- 
 ization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage 
 their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new 
 appropriations of lands. 
 
 He has obstructed the administration of justice by 
 refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary 
 powers. "^ ^ 
 
 He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for 
 the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of 
 their salaries. 
 
 He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent 
 hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out 
 their substance. 
 
 He has kept among us, in times of peace, standine 
 armies, without the consent of our legislature. 
 
 He has affiscted to render the military independent of 
 and superior to the civil power. 
 
 He has combined, with others, to subject us to a iuris- 
 diction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged 
 by our laws ; giving his assent to their acts of pretended 
 legislation : ^ 
 
 For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us- 
 For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment! 
 for any murders whicu they should commit on the inhabi* 
 tants of these states ; 
 
 For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world- 
 l- or imposing taxes on us without our consent • * 
 
 For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial 
 by jury; 
 
 For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pre- 
 tended offences ; *^ 
 
 For abolishing the free system of English laws in a 
 neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary 
 
26 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 government, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render 
 it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing 
 the same absolute rule into these colonies ; 
 
 For taking away our charters, abolishing our most 
 valuable laws, and altering, fundamentally, the powers of 
 our governments ; 
 
 For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring 
 themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all 
 cases whatsoever. 
 
 He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out 
 of his protection, and waging war against us. 
 
 He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt 
 our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 
 
 He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign 
 mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, 
 and tyranny, already begun, with circumstances of cruelty 
 and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, 
 and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation. 
 
 He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive 
 on the high seas, to bear arms against their countiy, to 
 become the executioners of their Iriends and brethren, or 
 to fall themselves by their hands. 
 
 He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and 
 has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our fron- 
 tiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of 
 warfare is an undistinguished destruction, of all ages, 
 sexes, and conditions. 
 
 In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned 
 for redress, in the most humble terms ; our repeated peti- 
 tions have been answered only by repeated injury. A 
 prince, whose character is thus markeil by every act 
 which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free 
 people. 
 
 Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British 
 brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of 
 attempts made by their legislature to extend an unwar- 
 rantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them 
 of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement 
 Vjere. We have appealed to their r.arive justice and mag- 
 nanimuy, and we have conjured them, by the ties of ©ur 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 
 
 27 
 
 common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, which 
 would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspon- 
 dence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice 
 and consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the 
 necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, 
 as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war — in peace, 
 friends. 
 
 We, therefore, the representatives of the UNITED 
 STATES OF AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS 
 assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World 
 for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and 
 by the authority of the good people of these colonies, 
 solemnly publish and declare. That these United Colonies 
 are, and of right ought to be. Free and Independent 
 States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to 
 the British crown, and that all political connection be- 
 tween them and the State of Great Britain, is, and ought 
 to be, totally dissolved; and that, as FREE AND 
 INDEPENDENT STA TES, they have full power 
 to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish 
 commerce, and to do all other acts and things which 
 INDEPENDENT STATES may of right to do. And, 
 for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance 
 on the protection of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, we mu- 
 tually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and 
 our sacred honor. 
 
 The foregoing Declaration was, by order of Congress, 
 engrossed, and signed by the following members : 
 
 JOHN PIANCOCK. 
 
 New Hampslilre . Rhode Island. 
 
 JOSIAH BaRTLETT, 
 
 William Whipple, Stephen Hopkins, 
 
 Matthew Thornton. William Ellery. 
 
 Connediait. New York. 
 
 Roger Sherman, William Floyd, 
 
 Samuel Huntington, Philip Livingston, 
 
 William Williams, Francis Lewis, 
 
 Oliver Wolcott. Lewis Morris. 
 
28 
 
 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 A'ew Jersey. 
 
 Richard Stockton, 
 John Witherspoon, 
 Francis Hopkinson, 
 John Hart, 
 Abraham Clark. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 Robert Morris, 
 Benjamin Rush, 
 Benjamin Franklin, 
 John Morton, 
 George Clymer, 
 James Smith, 
 George Taylor, 
 James Wilson, 
 George Ross. 
 
 Massachusetts Bay. 
 
 Samuel Adams, 
 John Adams, 
 Robert Treat Paine, 
 Elbridge Gerry. 
 
 Delaiuare. 
 
 C^sar Rodney, 
 George Read, 
 Thomas M'Kean. 
 
 Maryland. 
 Samuel Chase, 
 William Paca, 
 Thomas Stone, 
 James Carroll, of Carroll, 
 ton. 
 
 Virginia. 
 George Wythe, 
 Richard Henry Lee, 
 Thomas Jefferson, 
 Benjamin Harrison, 
 Thomas Nelson, Jun., 
 Francis Lightfoot Lee, 
 Carter Braxton. 
 
 North Carolina. 
 William Hooper, 
 Joseph Hewes, 
 John Penn. 
 
 South Carolina. 
 Edward Rutledge, 
 Thomas Heyward, Jun., 
 Arthur Middleton. 
 
 Georgia. 
 Button Gwinnett, 
 Lyman Hall, 
 George Walton. 
 
 Artici^es of Confederation. 
 
 The Articles of Confederation were adopted by 
 Congress about two years after the Declaration of 
 Independence, and were intended to bind the States 
 together for an effective prosecution of the war, as 
 well as to insure their perpetual union for the com- 
 mon welfare and defence. The independence of 
 the United States had been acknowledged by 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 29 
 
 France in the beginning of the year, and the Amer- 
 ican cause had been made more hopeful by Wash- 
 ington's victory at Monmouth. Although com- 
 monly known as Articles of Confederation, it 
 should be kept in mind that their full designation, 
 as already stated, was "Articles of Confederation 
 and Perpetual Union." They were as follows : 
 
 In Congress, July 8, 1778. 
 
 ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND PERPETUAL UNION 
 
 Between the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts 
 Bay^ Rhode Island and Providence Plantations^ Con- 
 necticut , New Yorky New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Dela- 
 ware^ Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South 
 Carolina, and Georgia. 
 
 Art. I. The style of this confederacy shall be, " The 
 United States of America P 
 
 Art. 2. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and 
 independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and rights 
 which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to 
 the United States in Congress assembled. 
 
 Art. 3. The said states hereby severally enter into a 
 firm league of friendship with each other, for their com- 
 mon defence, the security of their liberties, and their 
 mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist 
 each Other against all force offered to, or attacks made 
 upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sover- 
 eignty, trade, or any other pretence whatever. 
 
 Art. 4. \ I. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual 
 friendship and intercourse among the people of the differ- 
 ent states in this union, the free inhabitants of each of 
 these states, paupers — vagabonds, and fugitives from jus- 
 tice excepted — shall be entitled to all privileges and im- 
 munities of free citizens in the several states : and the 
 people of each state shall have free ingress and egress to 
 and from any other state, and shall enjoy therein all the 
 privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same 
 duties, impositions, and restrictions, as the inhabitants 
 thereof respectively ; provided, that such restrictions shall 
 
30 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property 
 imported into any state, to any other state, of which the 
 owner is an inhabitant ; provided also, that no imposition, 
 duties, or restriction, shall be laid by any state on the pro- 
 perty of the United States, or either of them. 
 
 ^ 2. If any person, guilty of, or charged with treason, 
 felony, or other high misdemeanor, in any stale, shall flee 
 from justice, and be found in any of the United States, he 
 shall, upon the demand of the governor or executive 
 power of the state from which he fled, be delivered up 
 and removed to the stale having jurisdiction of his offence. 
 
 ^ 3. Full faith and credit shall be given, in each of 
 these states, to the records, acts, and judicial proceedings 
 of the courts and magistrates of every other state. 
 
 Art. 5.^1. For the more convenient management of 
 the general interests of the United States, delegates shall 
 be annually appointed in such manner as the legislature 
 of each state shall direct, to meet in Congress on the first 
 Monday in November in every year, with a power re- 
 served to each state to recall its delegates; or any of them, 
 at any time within the year, and to send others in their 
 stead, for the remainder of the year. 
 
 ^ 2. No state shall be represented in Congress by less 
 than two, nor more than seven members ; and no person 
 shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three 
 years, in any term of six years ; nor shall any person, 
 being a delegate, be capable of holding any ofifice under 
 the United States, for which he, or any other for his 
 benefit, receives any salary, fees, or emolument, of any 
 kmd, 
 
 ^ 3. Each state shall maintain its own delegate in a 
 meeting of the states, and while they act as members of 
 the committee of these states. 
 
 § 4. In determining questions in the United States in 
 Congress assembled, each state shall have one vote. 
 
 ^ 5. Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall 
 not be impeached or questioned in any court or place out 
 of Congress, and the members of Congress shall be pro- 
 tected in their persons from arrests and imprisonments 
 during the time of their going to and from, and attend- 
 
AMERICAN" CITIZENS. 31 
 
 ance on Congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of 
 the peace. 
 
 Art, 6. ^ I . No state, without the consent of the United 
 States in Congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, 
 or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference, 
 agreement, alliance, or treaty with any king, prince, or 
 state, nor shall any person holding any ofifice of profit or 
 trust under the United States, or any of them, accept of 
 any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind what- 
 ever, from any king, prince, or foreign state ; nor shall the 
 United States in Congress assembled, or any of them, 
 grant any title of nobility. 
 
 ^ 2. No two or more states shall enter into any treaty, 
 confederation, or alliance whatever, between them, with- 
 out the consent of the United States in Congress assem- 
 bled, specifying accurately the purposes for which the 
 same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue. 
 
 ^ 3. No state shall lay any imposts or duties which 
 may interfere with any stipulations in treaties entered into 
 by the United States, in Congress assembled, with any 
 king, prince, or state, in pursuance of any treaties already 
 proposed by Congress to the courts of France and Spain. 
 
 ^ 4. No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace 
 by any state, except such number only as shall be deemed 
 necessary by the United States in Congress assembled, for 
 the defence of such state, or its trade ; nor shall any body 
 of forces be kept up by any state, in time of peace, ex- 
 cept such number only as, in the judgment of the United 
 States in Congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite 
 to garrison the fo^ts necessary for the defence of such 
 state ; but every state shall always keep up a well regu- 
 lated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and ac- 
 coutred, and shall provide and constantly have ready for 
 use, in public stores, a due number of field-pieces and 
 tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition, and 
 camp equipage. 
 
 § 5- No state shall engage in any war without the con- 
 sent of the United States in Congress assembled, unless 
 such state be actually invaded by enemies, or shall have 
 received certain advice of a resolution being formed by 
 
32 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 some nation of Indians to invade such state, and the 
 danger is so imminent as not to admit of delay till the 
 United States in Congress assembled can be consulted , 
 nor shall any state grant commissions to any ships or ves- 
 sels of war, nor letters of marque or reprisal, except it be 
 after a declaration of war by the United States in Con- 
 gress assembled, and then only against the kingdom or 
 state, and the subjects thereof, against which war has 
 been so declared, and under such regulations as shall be 
 established by the United States in Congress assembled, 
 unless such state be infested by pirates, in which case 
 vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept 
 so long as the danger shall continue, or until the United 
 States in Congress assembled shall determine otherwise. 
 
 Art. 7. When land forces are raised by any state for the 
 common defence, all officers of or under the rank of 
 colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each state 
 respectively by whom such forces shall be raised, or in 
 such manner as such state shall direct, and all vacancies 
 shall be filled up by the state which first made the appoint- 
 ment. 
 
 Art. 8. All charges of war, and all other expenses that 
 shall be incurred for the common defence or general wel- 
 fare, and allowed by the United States in Congress as- 
 sembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, 
 which shall be supplied by the several states, in propor- 
 tion to the value of all land within each state, granted to 
 or surveyed for any person, as such land and the build- 
 ings and improvements thereon shall be estimated, accord- 
 ing to such mode as the United States in Congress as- 
 sembled shall, from time to time, direct and appoint. The 
 taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied 
 by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the 
 several states within the time agreed upon by the United 
 States in Congress assembled. 
 
 Art. 9. ^ I. The United States in Congress assem- 
 bled shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of 
 determinmg on peace and war, except in the cases men- 
 tioned in the sixth article, of sending and receiving am- 
 bassadors ; entering into freatips and alliances, provided 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 33 
 
 that no treaty of commerce shall be made, whereby the 
 legislative power of the respective states shall be re- 
 strained from imposing such imposts and duties on for- 
 eigners, as their own people are subjected to, or from 
 prohibiting the exportation or importation of any species 
 of goods or commodities whatsoever; of establishing 
 rules for deciding in all cases what captures on land or 
 water shall be legal, and in what manner prizes taken by 
 land or naval forces in the service of the United States 
 shall be divided or appropriated ; of granting letters of 
 marque and reprisal in times of peace ; appointing courts 
 for the trial of piracies and felonies committed on the 
 high seas ; and establishing courts for receiving and de- 
 termining finally appeals in all cases of captures ; provided 
 that no member of Congress shall be appointed a judge of 
 any of the said courts. 
 
 § 2. The United States in Congress assembled shall also 
 be the last resort on appeal in all disputes and differences 
 now subsisting, or that hereafter may arise between two or 
 more states concerning boundary, jurisdiction, or any other 
 cause whatever ; which authority shall always be exercised 
 in the manner following : Whenever the legislative or 
 executive authority or lawful agent of any state in contro- 
 versy with another, shall present a petition to Congress, 
 statmg the matter in question, and praying for a hearing, 
 notice thereof shall be given by order of Congress to the 
 legislative or executive authority of the other state in con- 
 troversy, and a day assigned for the appearance of the 
 parties by their lawful agents, who shall then be directed 
 to appoint, by joint consent, commissioners or judges to 
 constitute a court foi hearing and determining the matter 
 in question; but if they cannot agree, Congress shall 
 name three persons out of each of the United States, and 
 from the list of such persons each party shall alternately 
 strike out one, the petitioners beginning, until the number 
 shall be reduced to thirteen ; and from that number not 
 less than seven, nor more than nine names, as Con- 
 gress shall direct, shall, in the presence of Congress, 
 be drawn out by lot ; and the persons whose names shall 
 be so drawn, or any five of them, shall be com- 
 
34 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 missioners or judges, to hear and finally determine 
 the controversy, so always as a major part of the judges, 
 who shall hear the cause, shall agree in the determination ; 
 and if either party shall neglect to attend at the day 
 appointed, without showing reasons which Congress shall 
 judge sufficient, or being present, shall refuse to strike, 
 the Congress shall proceed to nominate three persons out 
 of each state, and the secretary of Congress shall strike in 
 behalf of such party absent or refusing; and the judgment 
 and sentence of the court, to be appomted in the manner 
 before prescribed, shall be final and conclusive ; and if any 
 of the parties shall refuse to submit to the authority of 
 such court, or to appear or defend their claim or cause, 
 the court shall nevertheless proceed to pronounce sentence, 
 or judgment, which shall in like manner be final and de- 
 cisive; the judgment or sentence and other proceedings 
 being in either case transmitted to Congress, and lodged 
 among the acts of Congress, for the security of the parties 
 concerned : provided, that every commissioner, before he 
 sits in judgment, shall take an oath, to be administered by 
 one of the judges of the supreme or superior court of the 
 state where the cause shall be tried, " well and truly to 
 hear and determine the matter in question, according to 
 the best of his judgment, without favor, affection, or hope 
 of reward." Provided, also, that no state shall be 
 deprived of territory for the benefit of the United States. 
 
 ^ 3. All controversies concerning the private right of 
 soil claimed under different grants of two or more states, 
 whose jurisdiction, as they may respect such lands, and 
 the states which passed such grants are adju'^ted, the said 
 grants or either of them being at the same time claimed 
 to have originated antecedent to such settlement of juris- 
 diction, shall, on the petition of either party to the Con- 
 gress of the United States, be finally determined, as near 
 as may be, in the same manner as is before prescribed for 
 deciding disputes respecting territorial jurisdiction between 
 different states. 
 
 § 4. The United States in Congress assembled shall 
 also have the sole and exclusive right and power of reg- 
 ulating the alloy and value of coin struck by their own 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 35 
 
 authority, or by that of the respective states ; fixing the 
 standard of weights and measures throughout the United 
 States ; regulating the trade, and managing all affairs with 
 the Indians, not members of any of the states; provided 
 that the legislative right of any state, within its own limits, 
 be not infringed or violated; establishing and regulating 
 post offices from one state to another throughout all the 
 United States, and exacting such postage on the papers 
 passing through the same, as may be requisite to defray 
 the expenses of the said office ; appointing all officers of 
 the land forces in the sc. vice of the United States, except- 
 ing regimental officers ; appointing all the officers of the 
 naval forces, and commissioning all officers whatever in 
 the service of the United States; making rules for the 
 government and regulation of the said land and naval 
 forces, and directing their operations. 
 
 ^ 5. The United States in Congress assembled shall 
 have authority to appoint a committee to sit in the recess 
 of Congress, to be denominated, " A Coinmittee of the 
 States,^^ and to consist of one delegate from each state; 
 and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as 
 may be necessary for managmg the general affairs of the 
 United States under their direction ; to appoint one of 
 their number to preside; provided that no person be 
 allowed to serve in the office of president more than one 
 year in any term of three years ; to ascertain the neces- 
 sary sums of money to be raised for the service of the 
 United States, and to appropriate and apply the same for 
 defraying the public expenses ; to borrow money or emit 
 bills on the credit of the United States, transmitting every 
 half year to the respective states an account of the sums 
 of money so borrowed or emitted ; to build and equip a 
 navy ; to agree upon the number of land forces, and to 
 make requisitions from each state for its quota, in propor- 
 tion to the number of white inhabitants in such state, which 
 requisition shall be binding; and thereupon the legislature 
 of each state shall appoint the regimental officers, raise 
 the men, clothe, arm, and equip them, in a soldier-like 
 manner, at the expense of the United States ; and the 
 officers and men so clothed, armed, and equipped, shall 
 
30 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed 
 on by the United States in Congress assembled ; but if the 
 United States in Congress assembled shall, on considera- 
 tion of circumstances, judge proper that any stale should 
 not raise men, or should raise a smaller number than its 
 quota, and that any other state should raise a greater 
 number of men than the quota thereof, such extra number 
 shall be raised, officered, clothed, armed, and equipped in 
 the same manner as the quota of such state, unless the 
 legislature of such state shall judge that such extra number 
 cannot be safely spared out of the same, in vhich case 
 they shall raise, officer, clothe, arm, and equip, as many 
 of such extra number as they judge can be safely spared, 
 and the officers and men so clothed, armed, and equipped, 
 shall march to the place appointed, and within the time 
 agreed on by the United States in Congress assembled. 
 
 § 6. The United States in Congress assembled shall 
 never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque and 
 reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or 
 alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, 
 nor ascertain the sums and expenses necessary for the 
 defence and welfare of the United States, or any of them, 
 nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the 
 United States, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the 
 number of vessels of war to be built or purchased, or the 
 number of land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a 
 commander-in-chief of the army or navy, unless nine 
 states assent to the same : nor shall a question on any 
 other point, except for adjourning from day to day, be 
 determined, unless by the votes of a majority of the United 
 States in Congress assembled. 
 
 § 7. The Congress of the United States shall have 
 power to adjourn to any time within the year, and to any 
 place within the United States, so that no period of ad- 
 journment be for a longer duration than the space of six 
 months, and shall publish the journal of their proceedings 
 monthly, except such parts thereof relating to treaties, 
 alliances, or military operations, as in their judgment 
 require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the delegates 
 of each state, on any question, shall be entered on the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 37 
 
 journal, when it is desired by any delegate ; and the del- 
 egates of a state, or any of them, at his or their request, 
 shall be furnished with a transcript of the said journal, 
 except such parts as are above excepted, to lay before the 
 legislatures of the several states. 
 
 Art. lo. The committee of the states, or any nine of 
 them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of Con- 
 gress, such of the powers of Congress as the United 
 States, in Congress assembled, by the consent of nine 
 slates, shall, Irom time to time, think expedient to vest 
 them with ; provided that no power be delegated to the 
 said committee, for the exercise of which, by the Articles 
 of Confederation, the voice of nine states, in the Congress 
 of the United States assembled, is requisite. 
 
 Art. II. Canada acceding to this confederation, and 
 joining in the measures of the United States, shall be 
 admitted into and entitled to all the advantages of this 
 Union : But no other colony shall be admitted into the 
 same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine states. 
 
 Art. 12. All bills of credit emitted, moneys borrowed, 
 and debts contracted by or under the authority of Con- 
 gress, before the assembling of the United States, in pur- 
 suance of the present confederation, shall be deemed and 
 considered as a charge against the United States, for pay- 
 ment and satisfaction whereof the said United States and 
 the public faith are hereby solemnly V'ledged. 
 
 Art. 13. Every state shall abide by the determination 
 of the United States in Congress assembled, in all ques- 
 tions which by this confederation are submitted to ihem. 
 And the articles of this confederation shall be inviolably 
 observed by every s'ate, and^the union shall be perpetual; 
 nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in 
 any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a 
 Congress of the United States, and be afterward con- 
 firmed by the legislature of every state. 
 
 And whereas it hath pleased the great Governor of the 
 world to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respec- 
 tively represent in Congress to approve of, and to author- 
 ize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and 
 Perpetual Union, Know ye, that we, the undersigned del- 
 
38 
 
 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 egates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given 
 for that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in 
 behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely 
 ratify and confirm each and every of the said Articles of 
 Confederation and Perpetual Union, and all and singular 
 the matters and things therein contained. And we do 
 further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our 
 respective constituents, that they shall abide by the 
 determinations of the United States in Congress assem- 
 bled, in all questions which by the said confederation are 
 submitted to them ; and that the articles thereof shall be 
 inviolably observed by the states we respectively repre- 
 sent, and that the union shall be perpetual. In witness 
 whereof, we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. 
 
 Done at Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania, the 
 9th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1778, and in the 
 third year of the Independence of America. 
 
 New Hampshh'e. 
 JOSIAH Bartlett, 
 John Wentworth, Jun. 
 
 Massachusetts Bay, 
 John Hancock, 
 Samuel Adams, 
 Elbridge Gerry, 
 Francis Dana, 
 James Lovel, 
 Samuel Holten. 
 
 Rhode Island, dr'r. 
 William Ellery, 
 Henry Marchant, 
 John Collins. 
 
 Connecticut. 
 Roger Sherman, 
 Samuel Huntington, 
 Oliver Wolcott, 
 Titus Hosmer, 
 Andrew Adams. 
 
 New York. 
 James Duane, 
 Fra. Lewis, 
 William Duer, 
 Gouv. Morris. 
 
 Nfew Jersey, 
 Jno. Witherspoon, 
 "Nath. Scudder. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 Robert Morris, 
 D.\niel Roberdeau, 
 JoNA Bayard Smith, 
 William Clingan, 
 Joseph Reed. 
 
 Delatuare. 
 Thomas M'Kean, 
 John Dickinson, 
 Nicholas Van Dyke. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 39 
 
 Maryland. CoNS. HARNETT, 
 
 JOHN HANSON, JNO. WiLLIAMS. 
 
 Daniel Carroll. South Carolina. 
 
 . . Henry Laurens, 
 
 Virginia. ^^^ Henry Drayton, 
 
 Richard Henry Lee, j^q. Matthews, 
 
 John Banister, Richard Hutson, 
 
 Thomas Adams, Thos. Heyward, Jun. 
 Jno. Harvie, ^ 
 
 Francis Lightfoot Lee. Ueorgta. 
 
 Jno. Walton, 
 
 North Carolina. Edward Telfair, 
 
 John Penn, Edward Langworthy. 
 
 Washington Resigns His Commission. 
 
 It is not the purpose of this book to follow the 
 American Revolution throughout its ever memor- 
 able course of struggle, of triumph, of midnight 
 darkness and glorious sunburst. With the conclu- 
 sion of the war we come to another declaration 
 which should be kept ever present in the minds of 
 Americans— Washington's speech on resigning his 
 commission. Washington took leave of his officers 
 and army at New York, and repaired to Annapolis, 
 Md., where Congress was then in session. On the 
 20th of December, 1783, he transmitted a letter to 
 that body, apprising them of his arrival, with the 
 intention of resigning his commission, and desiring 
 to know whether it would be most agreeable to 
 receive it in writing or at an audience. It was im- 
 mediately resolved that a public entertainment be 
 given him on the 22d, and that he be admitted to 
 an audience on the 23d, at twelve o'clock. Accord- 
 ingly he attended at that time, and, being seated, 
 the President informed him that Congress was 
 prepared to receive his communications. Where- 
 upon he arose, and spoke as follows : 
 
 " Mr. President : The great events on which my 
 resignation depended having at length taken place, I have 
 
40 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 now the honor of offering my sincere congratulations to 
 Congress, and of presenting myself before them, to sur- 
 render into their hands the trust committed to me, and to 
 claim the indulgence of retiring from the service of my 
 country. 
 
 " Happy in the confirmation of our independence and 
 sovereignty, and pleased vs^ith the opportunity afforded the 
 United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign 
 with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffi- 
 dence: a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so 
 arduous a task ; which however was superseded by a 
 confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of 
 the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of 
 Heaven. 
 
 *' The successful termination of the war has verified the 
 most sanguine expectations; and my gratitude for the 
 interposition of Providence, and the assistance I have 
 received from my countrymen, increases with every review 
 of the momentous contest. 
 
 " While I repeat my obligations to the army in general, 
 I should do injustice to my own feelings not to acknowl- 
 edge, in this place, the peculiar services and distinguished 
 merits of the gentlemen who have been attached to my 
 person during the war. It was impossible that the choice 
 of confidential officers to compose my family should have 
 been more fortunate. Permit me, sir, to recommend, in 
 particular, those who have continued in the service to the 
 present moment, as worthy of the favorable notice and 
 patronage of Congress. 
 
 "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last 
 act of my official life by commending the interests of our 
 dearest country to the protection of Almighty God, and 
 those who have the superintendence of them to His holy 
 keeping. 
 
 '* Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire 
 from the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate 
 farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so 
 long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave 
 of all the employments of public life." 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 41 
 
 Demand for a Constitution. 
 
 It became apparent in a very few years that the 
 Articles of Confederation were not sufficient to 
 secure the establishment of a powerful and united 
 government that could command order at home and 
 respect abroad. The bond of union rested loosely 
 on the several states, and ambitious men did not 
 hesitate to imperil that bond, frail as it was, in the 
 pursuit of their selfish aims. Great Britain affected 
 to regard the discordant Americans with contempt, 
 and it is said that the English king even began to 
 entertain a hope that the time would come when 
 Americans, weary of their experiment, would again 
 seek shelter under the British flag. Sagacious men 
 everywhere throughout the country saw the neces- 
 sity for a Constitution that would create a nation in 
 fact as well as in name. Chief Justice Story said 
 of the government under the Articles of Confed- 
 eration : "There was an utter want of all coercive 
 authority to carry into effect its own constitutional 
 measures This of itself was sufficient to destroy 
 its whole efficiency as a superintendent government,, 
 if that may be called a government which posse^-^^ed 
 no one solid attribute of power. In truth Congrtv^s. 
 possessed only the power of recommendation. 
 Congress had no power to exact obedience, or 
 punish disobedience of its ordinances ; they could 
 neither impose fines, nor direct imprisonments, nor 
 divest privileges, nor declare forfeitures, nor sus- 
 pend refractory officers. There was no power to- 
 exercise force." 
 
 On the 2ist of February, 1787, Congress adopted 
 the following resolution : 
 
 " Whereas there is provision in the Articles of 
 Confederation and Perpetual Union for making; 
 alterations therein by the assent of a Congress of 
 the United States, and of the legislatures of the 
 several states; and, whereas, experience hath 
 evinced that there are defects in the present Con- 
 
42 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 federation, as a mean to remedy which several of 
 the states, and particularly the state of New York, 
 by express instructions to their delegates in Con- 
 gress, have suggested a Convention for the purposes 
 expressed in the following resolution, and such 
 Convention appearing to be the most probable 
 mean of establishing in these states a firm national 
 government — 
 
 ' * Resolved, That in the opinion of Congress it is 
 expedient that on the second Monday in May next, 
 a convention of delegates who shall have been 
 appointed by the several states, be held at Phila- 
 delphia, for the sole and express purpose of revising 
 the Articles of Confederation, and reporting to 
 Congress and the several legislatures such altera- 
 tions and provisions therein, as shall, when agreed 
 to in Congress and confirmed by the states, render 
 the Federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies 
 of government and the preservation of the Union." 
 
 The day appointed b}' this resolution was the 
 second Monday in May ; but the 25th of that 
 month was the first day upon which a suflBcient 
 number of members appeared to constitute a repre- 
 sentation of a majority of the states. They then 
 electee* George Washington their President, and 
 proceeded to business. On the 17th of September, 
 17P7, the Constitution was adopted by the Conven- 
 tion, and subsequently ratified by Conventions of 
 the several states, as follows : 
 
 By Convention of Delaware, . . . 7th December, 1787. 
 
 •* ** Pennsylvania, . 12th December, 1787. 
 
 " " New Jersey, . . i8th December, 1787. 
 
 " *' Georgia 2d January, 1788. 
 
 " '* Connecticut, . . . 9th January, 1788. 
 
 « « Massachusetts, . . 6lh February, 1788. 
 
 " « Mary-land, .... 28th April, i'/88. 
 
 « " South Carolina, . . . 23d May, 1788. 
 
 ** ** New Hampshire, . . 21st June, 1788. 
 
 '« " Virginia, 26th June, 1788. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 43 
 
 By Convention of New York, .... 26th July, 1 788. 
 
 " North Carolina, 21st November, 1789. 
 
 " " Rhode Island, . . . 29th May, 1790. 
 
 Following is the Constitution of the United 
 States, with the amendments, and the date of 
 their adoption : 
 
 THE CONSTITUTION 
 OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.* 
 
 [Preamble.] 
 We, the people of the United States, in order to fonn a 
 more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic 
 Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote 
 the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Lib- 
 erty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and 
 establish this Constitution for the United States of 
 America. 
 
 Article I. 
 [the legislative department.] 
 Section i. All legislative Powers herein granted shaU 
 be vested m a Congress of the United States, which shall 
 consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. 
 
 Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be com- 
 fjosed of Members chosen every second Year by the 
 People of the several States, and the Electors in each 
 State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors 
 of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature. 
 
 No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have 
 attained to the Age of twenty-five Years, and been seven 
 Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, 
 when elected, bean Inhabitants that State in which he 
 shall be chosen. 
 
 ranlt^u'i^^"^''^''n """P^ °'' ^^^ ""'^inal in punctuation, spelling, 
 capitals etc —in al respects except the words and figures whicli 
 are enclosca in brackets, and the reference marks 
 
44 
 
 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned 
 among the several States which may be included within 
 this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which 
 shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of 
 free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term 
 of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of 
 all other Persons.''^ The actual Enumeration shall be 
 made within three Years after the first meeting of the 
 Congress of the United States, and within every subse- 
 quent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by 
 Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not 
 exceed one for everv thirty Thousand, but each State shall 
 have at Least one Representative ; and until such enumera- 
 tion shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be 
 entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island 
 and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five. New 
 York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware 
 one, Maryland six, Virginia ten. North Carolina five. South 
 Carolina five, and Georgia three. 
 
 When vacancies happen in the Representation from any 
 State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs 
 of Election to fill such Vacancies. 
 
 The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker 
 and other officers ; f and shall have the sole power of 
 Impeachment. 
 
 Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be com- 
 posed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the 
 Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall 
 have one Vote. 
 
 Immediately after they shall be assembled in Conse- 
 quence of the first Election, they shall be divided as 
 equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the 
 Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expira- 
 tion of the second Year, of the second Class at the 
 Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the third class at 
 the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one-third may be 
 
 * " Other persons " refers to slaves. See Amendments, Art. 
 XIV , Sections i and 2. 
 
 t The principal of these arc the clerk, sergeant-at-arms; door- 
 keeper, and postmaster. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 45 
 
 chosen every second year; and if Vacancies nappen by 
 Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Leg- 
 islature of any State, the Executive thereof may make 
 temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the 
 Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies. 
 
 No person shall be a Senator who shall not have 
 attamed to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years 
 a Citizen of the Unhed States, and who shall not, when 
 elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall 
 be chosen. 
 
 The Vice President of the United States shall be Presi- 
 dent of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they 
 be equally divided. 
 
 The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a 
 President, pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice Presi- 
 dent, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of 
 the United States. 
 
 The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all 
 Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall 
 be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the 
 United States is tried, the Chief Justice sliall preside: 
 And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence 
 of two thirds of the Members present. 
 
 Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend 
 further than to removal from Office, and Disqualification 
 to hold and enjoy any Office of Honor, Trust or Profit 
 under the United States : but the Party convicted shall 
 nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, 
 Judgment and Punishment, according to Law. 
 
 Sec. 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding 
 Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be pre- 
 scribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the 
 Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such 
 Regulations, except as to the places of chusing Senators. 
 
 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every 
 Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in 
 December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different 
 
 Sec. 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elec- 
 tions, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and 
 
46 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Busi- 
 ness ; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, 
 and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent 
 Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as 
 each House may provide. 
 
 Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, 
 punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with 
 the ConcuiTcnce of two-thirds, expel a Member. 
 
 Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, 
 and from time to time publish the same, excepting such 
 Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy ; and the 
 Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any 
 question shall, at the Desire of one-fifth of those Present, 
 be entered on the Journal. 
 
 Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, 
 without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than 
 three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the 
 two Houses shall be sitting. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall re- 
 ceive a Compensation* for their Services, to be ascer- 
 tained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the 
 United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, 
 Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from 
 Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their re- 
 spective Houses, and in going to and returning from the 
 same ; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, 
 they shall not be questioned in any other Place. 
 
 No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time 
 for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office 
 under the Authority of the United States, which shall 
 have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall 
 have been increased during such time ; and no Person 
 holding any Office under the United States, shall be a 
 Member of either House during his Continuance in 
 Office. 
 
 Sec. 7. All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in 
 
 ♦The present compensation is $5,000 a year, and an allowance 
 of 20 cents for every mile of travel to and from the national capi- 
 tal. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 47 
 
 the House of Representatives ; but the Senate may pro- 
 pose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. , 
 
 Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Rep- 
 resentatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a. 
 Law, be presented to the President of the United States ; 
 If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall returni 
 it, with his Objections to the House in which it shall have 
 originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on 
 their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such 
 Reconsideration two-thirds of that House shall agree to 
 pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections 
 to the other House, by which it shall likewise be recon- 
 sidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that House it 
 shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of 
 Both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and 
 the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill 
 shall be entered on the Journal of each House respec- 
 tively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President 
 within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have 
 been presented to him, the Same shall be a law, in like 
 Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by 
 their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it 
 shall not be a Law. 
 
 Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Con- 
 currence of the Senate and House of Representatives 
 may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) 
 shall be presented to the President of the United States ; 
 and before the same shall take Effect, shall be approved 
 by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed 
 by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representa- 
 tives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed 
 in the Case of a Bill. 
 
 Sec. 8. The Congress shall have Power. 
 
 To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, 
 to pay the Debts and provide lor the common Defence 
 and general Welfare of the United States ; but all Du- 
 ties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the 
 United States ; 
 
 To borrow Money on the credit of the United States ; 
 
 To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among 
 the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; 
 
48 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization,* and 
 uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout 
 the United States ; 
 
 To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of 
 foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and 
 Measures ; 
 
 To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the 
 Securities and current Coin of the United States ; 
 
 To establish Post Offices and post Roads ; 
 
 To promote the progress of Science and useful Arts, by 
 securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the 
 exclusive Rightf to their respective Writings and Dis- 
 coveries ; 
 
 To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court ; 
 
 To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed 
 on the high Seas, and Offences against the Lawr of Na- 
 tions; 
 
 To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, 
 and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and 
 Water ; 
 
 To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of 
 Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two 
 Years ; 
 
 To provide and maintain a Navy ; 
 
 To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of 
 the land and naval Forces ; 
 
 To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the 
 Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel In- 
 vasions ; 
 
 To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the 
 Militia, and for governing such part of them as may be 
 employed in the Service of the United States, reserving 
 to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, 
 
 * The Naturalization laws require a foreigner to be in the coun- 
 try five years before he is entitled to citizenship. 
 
 f An Author obtains a copyright by application to the Librarian 
 of Congress, and it is secured for twenty-eight years. 
 
 An Inventor secures a patent from the Patent Office, at Wash- 
 ington, for a certain number of years, prescribed by the Commis- 
 sioner of Patents. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 49 
 
 and the Authority of training the Militia according to the 
 Disciphne prescribed by Congress ; 
 
 To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatso- 
 ever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) 
 as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Accept- 
 ance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government 
 of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over 
 all places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of 
 the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of 
 Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, Dock- Yards, and other need- 
 ful Buildings; — And 
 
 To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper 
 for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all 
 other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Govern- 
 ment of the United States, or in any Department or 
 Officer thereof. 
 
 Sec. 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons 
 as any of the Stales now existing shall think proper to 
 admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to 
 the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a 
 Tax or Duty may be imposed on such Importation, not 
 exceeding ten dollars for each Person. 
 
 The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not 
 be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Inva- 
 sion the public Safety may require it. 
 
 No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be 
 passed. 
 
 No Capitation, or other direct Tax shall be laid, unless 
 in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before 
 directed to be taken. 
 
 No Tax or Dut> shall be laid on Articles exported 
 from any State. 
 
 No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of 
 Commerce or Revenue to the Pons of one State over 
 those of another ; nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, 
 one State, be obliged to enter, clear, or pay Duties in an- 
 other. 
 
 No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in 
 Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a 
 regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and 
 
50 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from 
 time to time. 
 
 No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United 
 States : And no Person holding any Office of Profit or 
 Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Con- 
 gress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, 
 of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign 
 State. 
 
 Sec. io. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, 
 or Confederation ; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal ; 
 coin Money; emit Bills of Credit ; make any Thing but 
 gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts ; pass 
 any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impair- 
 ing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of No- 
 bility. 
 
 No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, 
 lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except 
 what may be absolutely necessary for executing its in- 
 spection Laws : and the net Produce of all Duties and 
 Imposts laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be 
 for the Use of the Treasury of the United States ; and all 
 such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul 
 of the Congress. 
 
 No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay 
 any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in 
 time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with 
 another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, 
 unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as 
 will not admit of Delay. 
 
 Article II. 
 [the executive department.] 
 
 Sec. I. The executive Power shall be vested in a 
 President of the United States of America. He shall 
 hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, 
 together with the Vice President, chosen for the same 
 Term, be elected, as follows : 
 
 Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legis- 
 lature thereof may direct, a Numner of Electors, equal to 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 51 
 
 the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to 
 which the State may be entitled in the CongreiS : but no 
 Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of 
 Trust or Profit under the tinned States, shall be appointed 
 an Elector. 
 
 * The Electors shall meet in their respective States, 
 and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least 
 shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with them- 
 selves And they shall make a List of all the Persons 
 voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each ; which 
 List ihey shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the 
 Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to 
 the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate 
 shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Repre- 
 sentatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall 
 then be counted. The Person having the greatest Num- 
 ber of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a 
 Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed ; and 
 if there be more than one who have such Majority and 
 have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Rep- 
 resentatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them 
 for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then 
 from the five highest on the List the said House shall in 
 like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the 
 President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Repre- 
 sentation from each State having one Vote : a Quorum for 
 this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from 
 two-thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States 
 shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the 
 Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest 
 Number of Votes of Jie Electors shall be the Vice Presi- 
 dent. But if there should remain two or more who have 
 equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot 
 the Vice President. 
 
 The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the 
 Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their 
 Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the 
 United States. 
 
 * This clause has been superseded by the 12th Amendment. 
 
52 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen 
 of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this 
 Constitution, shall be ehgible to the Office of President; 
 neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who 
 shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, 
 and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United 
 States. 
 
 In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, 
 or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the 
 Powers and Duties of the said office, the same shall 
 devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by 
 Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resigna- 
 tion, or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, 
 declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and 
 such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be 
 removed, or a President shall be elected. 
 
 The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his 
 Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased 
 nor dimmished during the Period for which he shall have 
 been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period 
 any other Emolument from the United States, or any of 
 them. 
 
 Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall 
 take the following Oath or Affirmation : 
 
 " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully exe- 
 *' cute the Office of President of the United States, and will 
 " to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend 
 ^♦the Constitution of the United States." 
 
 Sec. 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of 
 the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Mili- 
 tia of the several States, when called into the actual Service 
 of the United States; he may require the opinion, in 
 writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive 
 Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of 
 their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant 
 Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United 
 States, except in Cases of Impeachment. 
 
 He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and 
 Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two- 
 thirds of the Senators present concur ; and he shall nomi- 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 55 
 
 nate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the 
 Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers 
 and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other 
 Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not 
 herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be estab- 
 lished by Law ; but the Congress may by Law vest the 
 Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think 
 proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in 
 the Heads of Departments, 
 
 The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies 
 that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by 
 granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of 
 their next Session. 
 
 Sec. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Con- 
 gress Information of the State of the Union, and recom- 
 mend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall 
 judge necessary and expedient ; he may, on extraordinary 
 Occasion*?, convene both Houses, or either of Ihem, and in 
 Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the 
 time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time 
 as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors 
 and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the 
 Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the 
 officers of the United States. 
 
 Sec. 4. The President. Vice President and all civil 
 Officers of the United States, shall be removed from 
 Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason^ 
 Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. 
 
 Article III. 
 [the judicial department.] 
 
 Section i. The Judicial Power of the United States^ 
 shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior 
 Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and 
 establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior 
 Courts, shall hold their Offices during good behaviour, and 
 shall, at stated times, receive for their Services, a 
 
54 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Compensation which shall not be diminished during their 
 continuance in Office. 
 
 Sec, 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in 
 Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws 
 of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall 
 be made, under their Authority; — to all Cases affecting 
 Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls ; — to all 
 Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction ; — to Contro- 
 versies to which the United States shall be a Party ; — to 
 Controversies between two or more States ; — between a 
 State and Citizens of another State ; — between Citizens of 
 different States, — between Citizens of the same State 
 claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and 
 between a State, or the Citizens thereof and foreign States, 
 Citizens or Subjects. 
 
 In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Minis- 
 ters and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be 
 Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. 
 In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme 
 Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and 
 Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations 
 as the Congress shall make. 
 
 The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeach- 
 ment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in 
 the State where the said Crimes shall have been com- 
 mitted ; but when not committed within any State, the 
 Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may 
 by Law have directed. 
 
 Sec. 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist 
 only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their 
 Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall 
 be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two 
 Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open 
 Court. 
 
 The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punish- 
 ment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work 
 Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life 
 of the Person attainted. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 55 
 
 Article IV. 
 [miscellaneous.] 
 
 Section i . Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each 
 State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings 
 of every other State. And the Congress may by general 
 Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records 
 and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. 
 
 Sec. 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to 
 all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several 
 States. 
 
 A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or 
 other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in 
 another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority 
 of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be 
 removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime. 
 
 No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, 
 under the Laws thereof, escaping into anothtir, shall, in 
 Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be dis- 
 charged from such Service or Labour, but shall be deliv- 
 ered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or 
 Labour may he due. 
 
 Sec. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress 
 into this Union j but no new State shall be formed or 
 erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State ; nor 
 any State be formed by the Junction of two or more 
 States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the 
 Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the 
 Congress. 
 
 The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make 
 all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Terri- 
 tory or other Property belonging to the United States ; 
 and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as 
 to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any 
 particular State. 
 
 Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every 
 State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, 
 aid shall protect each of them against Invasion, and on 
 . Ipplication of the Legislature, or of the Executive 
 
56 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against do- 
 mestic Violence. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses 
 shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to 
 this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legisla- 
 tures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a Con- 
 vention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case,, 
 shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this 
 Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three- 
 fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three- 
 fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratifica- 
 tion may be proposed by the Congress ; Provided that no. 
 Amendment which may be made prior to the Year one 
 thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner 
 affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of 
 the first Article ; and that no State, without its Consent^ 
 shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate. 
 
 Article VL 
 
 All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, 
 before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid 
 against the United States under this Constitution, as 
 under the Confederation. 
 
 This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States 
 which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all 
 treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority 
 of the United States shall be the Supreme Law of the 
 Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound 
 thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any 
 State to the Contrary notwithstanding. 
 
 The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, 
 and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and 
 all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United 
 Slates, and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath 
 or Affirmation, to support this Constitution ; but no reli- 
 gious Test shall ever be required as a qualification to any 
 Office or public Trust under the United States. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 
 
 57 
 
 Article VII. 
 
 The Ratification of the Conventions of Nine States, 
 shall be sufficient for the EstabUshment of this Constitu- 
 tion between the States so ratifying the same. 
 
 Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the 
 States present the Seventeenth Day of September in 
 the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
 and Eighty-seven and of the Independence of the 
 United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness 
 whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names, 
 
 G° Washington — 
 PresicTt and deputy from Virginia. 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 John Langdon 
 Nicholas Oilman 
 
 new YORK. 
 Alexander Hamilton 
 
 NEW JERSEY. 
 
 Wil Livingston 
 Wm Paterson 
 David Brearley 
 Jona Dayton 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA. 
 B Franklin 
 Robt Morris 
 Tho Fitzsimons 
 James Wilson 
 Thomas Mifflin 
 Geo Clymer 
 Jared Ingersoll 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 Nathaniel Gorham 
 Rufus King 
 Gouv Morris 
 
 DELAWARE. 
 
 Geor Read 
 John Dickinson 
 Jaco Broom 
 Gunning Bedford Jun 
 Richard Bassett 
 
 MARYLAND. 
 James M' Henry 
 Danl Carrol 
 Dan of St Thos Jenifer 
 
 VIRGINIA. 
 John Blair 
 
 CONNECTICUT. 
 Wm Saml Johnson 
 Roger Sherman 
 James Madison Jr 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA. 
 Wm Blount 
 Hu Wilhamson 
 Richard Dobbs Spaight 
 
58 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA. GEORGIA. 
 
 cfarSfnckney ^™^"^ ^^"^ 
 
 Charles Cotesworth Pinckney 
 Pierce Butler 
 
 Attest: William Jackson, Secretary, 
 
 ARTICLES 
 
 IN ADDITION TO, AND AMENDMENT OF, 
 
 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 
 OF AMERICA. 
 
 Proposed by Congress^ and ratified by the Legislatures 
 
 of the Several States, pursuant to the fifth article 
 
 of the original Constitution, 
 
 Article I. 
 
 Congress shall make no law respecting an establish- 
 ment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; 
 or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ; or 
 the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to 
 petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the secur- 
 ity of a free State, the right of the people to keep and 
 bear Arms, shall not be infringed. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any 
 house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of 
 war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 59 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 The right of the people to be secure in their persons, 
 houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches 
 and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall 
 issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or 
 affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be 
 searched, and the person or things to be seized. 
 
 Article V. 
 
 No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or 
 otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or 
 indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arismg in the 
 land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual 
 service in time of War or public danger ; nor shall any 
 person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in 
 jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any 
 Criminal Case to be a witness against himself, nor be 
 deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process 
 of law ; nor shall private property be taken for public 
 use, without just compensation. 
 
 Article VI. 
 
 In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy 
 the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial 
 jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall 
 have been committed, which district shall have been 
 previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the 
 nature and cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with 
 the witnesses against him ; to have Compulsory process 
 for obtaining "Witnesses in his favor, and to have the 
 Assistance of Counsel for his defence. 
 
 Article VII. 
 
 In Suits at common law, where the value in contro- 
 versy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by 
 jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shaU 
 be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the Uniica 
 States, than according to the rules of the common law. 
 
6o HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Article VIII. 
 Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive 
 fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments in- 
 flicted. 
 
 Article IX. 
 The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights, 
 shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained 
 by the people. 
 
 Article X * 
 The powers not delegated to the United States by the 
 Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are 
 reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. 
 
 Article XI.| 
 The Judicial power of the United States shall not be 
 construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, com- 
 menced or prosecuted against one of the United States by 
 Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of 
 any Foreign State. 
 
 Article XII.J 
 The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and 
 vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of 
 whom at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same 
 state with themselves ; they shall name in their ballots the 
 person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the 
 person voted for as Vice President, and they shall make 
 distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of 
 all persons voted for as Vice President, and of the num- 
 ber of votes for each, which hsts they shall sign and 
 certify, and transfer sealed to the seat of the government 
 of the United States directed to the President of the 
 
 * The first ten amendments were proposed at the first session of 
 the first Congress (17S9), and declared adopted in 1791. 
 
 f The eleventh amendment was proposed at the first session of 
 the third Congress (1794), and declared adopted in 1798. 
 
 I This article is substituted for Clause 3, Sec, I., Art. II., page 
 317, and annuls it. It was declared adopted iu 1804. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 6l 
 
 Senate; — The President of the Senate shall, in presence 
 of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the 
 certificates and the votes shall then be counted; — The 
 person having the greatest number of votes for President, 
 shall be the President, if such number be a majority of 
 the whole number of Electors appointed ; and if no per- 
 son have such majority, then from the persons having the 
 highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those 
 voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall 
 choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in 
 choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by 
 states, the representation from each state having one 
 vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member 
 or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority 
 of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if 
 the House of Representatives shall not choose a President 
 whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, 
 before the fourth day of March next following, then the 
 Vice President shall act as President, as in the case of 
 the death or other constitutional disability of the Presi- 
 dent The person having the greatest number of votes 
 as Vice President, shall be the Vice President, if such 
 number be a majority of the whole number of Electors 
 appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from 
 the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall 
 choose the Vice President; a quorum for the purpose 
 shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Sena- 
 tors, and a majority of the whole number shall be neces- 
 sary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible 
 to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice 
 President of the United States. 
 
 Article XIII.* 
 Section i. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, 
 except as punishment for crime, whereof the party shall 
 have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United 
 States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 
 
 * The thirteenth amendment was proposed at the second session 
 of the thirty-eighth Congress (1865), and declared adopted in 1865. 
 
62 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this 
 article by appropriate legislation. 
 
 Article XIV.* 
 
 Section I. All persons born or naturalized in the 
 United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are 
 citizens of the United States and of the state wherein 
 they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law 
 which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citi- 
 zens of the United States ; nor shall any state deprive any 
 person of life, liberty, or property, without due process 
 of law, nor deny any person within its jurisdiction the 
 equal protection of the laws. 
 
 Sec. 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among 
 the several states according to their respective numbers, 
 counting the whole number of persons in each state, ex- 
 cluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at 
 any election for the choice of Electors for President and 
 Vice President of the United States, representatives in 
 Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or 
 the members of ihe Legislature thereof, is denied to any 
 of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty- one 
 years of age, and citizens of the United Slates, or in any 
 way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or 
 other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be 
 reduced in the proportion which the number of such 
 male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citi- 
 zens twenty-one years of age in such state. 
 
 Sec. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Repre- 
 sentative in Congress, or Elector of President and Vice 
 President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the 
 United States, or under any state, who, having previously 
 taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer 
 of the United States, or as a member of any slate Legis- 
 lature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, 
 to support the Constitution of the United States, shall 
 
 * The fourteenth amendment was first proposed at the first 
 session of the thirty-ninth Congress, 1866, and declared adopted in 
 x868. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 63 
 
 have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same 
 or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But 
 Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each house, 
 remove such disability. 
 
 Sec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United 
 States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for 
 payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppress- 
 ing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. 
 But neither the United States nor any state shall assume 
 or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrec- 
 tioQ or rebellion against the United States, or any claim 
 for the loss or emancipation of any slave ; but all such 
 debts, obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and 
 void. 
 
 Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, 
 by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. 
 
 Article XV.* 
 
 Section i. The right of citizens of the United States 
 to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United 
 States, or by any state, on account of race, color, or 
 previous condition of servitude. 
 
 Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce 
 this article by appropriate legislation. 
 
 Washington's Farkweh, Address. 
 
 Washington vv^as elected the First President, and 
 inaugurated, April 30, 1789, at New York city, 
 which was then the seat of the Federal govern- 
 ment. After two terms as Chief Magistrate, during 
 which he succeeded in making the authority of the 
 United States obeyed and respected everywhere 
 throughout the Union, while he also rebuked the 
 
 * The fifteenth amendment was proposed at the second session 
 of the fortieth Congress, in 1869, and declared adopted in 1870. 
 
64 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 attempts of France to encroach on the rights of the 
 American people, President Washington retired to 
 private Hfe. His Farewell Address will ever hold 
 a place in American memories, as the final and in- 
 valuable public utterance of him who was indeed 
 the Father of Our Country. 
 
 Friends and Fellow- Citizens : 
 
 The period for a new election of a citizen to administer 
 the Executive Government of the United States being not 
 far distant, and the time actually arrived when your 
 thoughts must be employed in designating the person who 
 is to be clothed with that important trust, it appears to me 
 proper, especially as it may conduce to a more distinct 
 expression of the public voice, that I should now apprise 
 you of the resolution I have formed, to decline being con- 
 sidered among the number of those out of whom a choice 
 is to be made. 
 
 I beg you, at the same time, to do me the justice to be 
 assured that this resolution has not been taken without a 
 strict regard to all the considerations appertaining to the 
 relation which binds a dutiful citizen to his country; and 
 that, in withdrawing the tender of service, which silence, 
 in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no di- 
 minution of zeal for your future interest ; no deficiency 
 of grateful respect for your past kindness, but am sup- 
 ported by a full conviction that the step is compatible 
 with both. 
 
 The acceptance of, and continuance hitherto in, the 
 office to which your suffrages have twice called me, have 
 been a uniform sacrifice of inclination to the opinion of 
 duty, and to a deference for what appeared to be your 
 desire. I constantly hoped that it would have been much 
 earlier in my power, consistently with motives which I 
 was not at liberty to disregard, to return to that retire- 
 ment from which I had been reluctantly drawn. The 
 strength of my inclination to do this, previous to the last 
 election, had even led to the preparation of an address 
 to declare it to you ; but mature reflection on the then 
 perplexed and critical posture of our aff^airs with foreign 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 65 
 
 nations, and the unanimous advice of persons entitled to 
 my confidence, impelled me to abandon the idea. 
 
 I rejoice that the state of your concerns, external as 
 well as interna!, no longer renders the pursuit of inclina- 
 tion incompatible with the sentiment of duty or propriety ; 
 and am persuaded, whatever partiality may be retamed 
 for my services, tliat, in the present circumstances of our 
 country, you will not disapprove my determination to 
 retire. 
 
 The impressions with which I first undertook the ardu- 
 ous trust were explained on the proper occasion. In the 
 discharge of this trust, I will only say, that I have with 
 good intentions contributed towards the organization and 
 administration of the Government the best exertions of 
 which a very fallible judgment was capable. Not un- 
 conscious in the outset of the inferiority of my qualifica- 
 tions, experience, in my own eyes — perhaps still more in 
 the eyes of others — has strengthened the motives to diffi- 
 dence of myself; and every day the increasing weight of 
 years admonishes me, more and more, that the shade of 
 retirement is as necessary to me as it will be welcome. 
 Satisfied that if any circumstances have given peculiar 
 value to my services, they were temporary, I have the 
 consolation to believe that, while choice and prudence 
 invite me to quit the political scene, patriotism does not 
 forbid it. 
 
 In looking forward to the moment which is intended 
 to terminate the career of my public life, my feelings do 
 not permit me to suspend the deep acknowledgment of 
 that debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved country 
 for the many honors it has conferred upon me ; still more 
 for the steadfast confidence with which it has supported 
 me ; and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of 
 manifesting my inviolable attachment, by services faithful 
 and persevering, though in usefulness unequal to my zeal. 
 If benefits have resulted to our country from these ser- 
 vices, let it always be remembered to your praise, and as 
 an instructive example in our annals that, under circum- 
 stances in which the passions, agitated in every direction, 
 were liable to mislead; amidst appearances sometimes 
 
66 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 dubious, vicissitudes of fortune often discouraging; in 
 situations in which, not unfrequently, want of success 
 has countenanced the spirit of criticism — the constancy 
 of your support was the essential prop of the efiforts, and 
 a guarantee of the plans, by which they were effected. 
 Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I shall carry it with 
 me to my grave, as a strong incitement to unceasing vows, 
 that Heaven may continue to you the choicest tokens of 
 its beneficence ; that your union and brotherly affection 
 may be perpetual ; that the free Constitution, which is the 
 work of your hands, may be sacredly maintained ; that 
 its administration, in every department, may be stamped 
 with wisdom and virtue; that, in fine, the happiness of 
 the people of these states, under the auspices of liberty, 
 may be made complete, by so careful a preservation and 
 so prudent a use of this blessing as will acquire to them 
 the glory of recommending it to the applause, the affec- 
 tion, and the adoption of every nation which is yet a 
 stranger to it. 
 
 Here, perhaps, I ought to stop ; but a solicitude for 
 your welfare, which cannot end but with my life, and 
 the apprehension of danger natural to that solicitude, 
 urge me, on an occasion like the present, to offer to your 
 solemn contemplation, and to recommend to your fre- 
 quent review, some sentiments which are the result of 
 much reflection, of no inconsiderable observation, and 
 which appear to me all-important to the permanency of 
 your felicity as a people. These will be afforded to you 
 with the more freedom, as you can only see in them the 
 disinterested warnings of a parting friend, who can pos- 
 sibly have no personal motive to bias his counst-l ; nor 
 can I forget, as an encouragement to it, your indulgent 
 reception of my sentiments on a former and not dissimilar 
 occasion. 
 
 Interwoven as is the love of liberty with every ligament 
 of your hearts, no recommendation of mine is necessary 
 to fortify or confirm the attachment. 
 
 The unity of government, which constitutes you one 
 people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is 
 a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence — 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 67 
 
 the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace 
 abroad, of your safety, of your prosperity, of that very 
 liberty which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to 
 foresee that, from different causes and from different 
 quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices em- 
 ployed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this 
 truth ; as this is the point in your political fortress against 
 which the batteries ot internal and external enemies will 
 be most constantly and actively (though often covertly 
 and insidiously) directed — it is of infinite moment that 
 you should properly esumate the immense value of your 
 National Union to your collective and individual happi- 
 ness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and 
 immovable attachment to it ; accustoming yourselves to 
 think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political 
 safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with 
 jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest 
 even a suspicion that it can, in any event, be abandoned; 
 and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every 
 attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the 
 rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link to- 
 gether the various parts. 
 
 P^or this you have every inducement of sympathy and 
 interest. Citizens by birth or choice, of a common coun- 
 try, that country has a right to concentrate your affec- 
 tions. The name of American, which belongs to you in 
 your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride 
 of patriotism, more than any appellation derived 
 from local discriminations. With slight shades of differ- 
 ence, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and 
 political principles. You have, in a common cause, fought 
 and triumphed together; the independence and liberty 
 you possess are the work of joint counsels and joint efforts 
 •^of common dangers, sufferings, and successes. 
 
 But these considerations, however powerfully they 
 address themselves to your sensibility, are greatly out- 
 weighed by those which apply more immediately to your 
 interest : here every portion of our country finds the 
 most commanding motives for carefully guarding and 
 preserving the union of the whole. 
 
68 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 The North, in an unrestrained intercourse with tlie 
 South, protected by the equal laws of a common govern- 
 ment, finds, in the productions of the latter, great addi- 
 tional resources of maritime and commercial enterprise, 
 and precious materials of manufacturing industry. The 
 South in the same intercourse, benefiting by the agency 
 of the North, sees its agriculture grow, and its commerce 
 expand. Turning partly into its own channels the sea- 
 men of the North, it finds its particular navigation invig- 
 orated; and while it contributes, in different ways, to 
 nourish and increase the general mass of the national 
 navigation, it looks forward to the protection of a mari- 
 time strength to which itself is unequally adapted. The 
 East, in like intercourse with the West, already finds, 
 and in the progressive improvement of interior communi- 
 cation, by land and water, will more and more find a 
 valuable vent for the commodities which it brings from 
 abroad, or manufactures at home. The West derives 
 from the East supplies requisite to its growth and com- 
 fort; and what is perhaps of still greater consequence, it 
 must, of necessity, owe the secure enjoyment of indispen- 
 sable outlets for its own productions, to the weight, in- 
 fluence, and the future maritime strength of the Atlantic 
 side of the Union, directed by an indissoluble community 
 of interest as one nation. Any other tenure by which the 
 West can hold this essential advantage, whether deriyed 
 from its own separate strength, or from an apostate and 
 unnatural connection with any foreign power, must be 
 intrinsically precarious. 
 
 While, then, every part of our country thus feels an 
 immediate and particular interest in UNION, all the parts 
 combined cannot fail to find, in the united mass of means 
 and efforts, greater strength, greater resource, proportion- 
 ably greater security from external danger, a less frequent 
 interruption of their peace by foreign nations ; and what 
 is of inestimable value, they must derive from union an 
 exemption from those broils and wars between them- 
 selves, which so frequently afflict neighboring countries, 
 not tied together by the same government ; which their 
 own nvalships alone would be sufficient to produce, but 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 69 
 
 which opposite foreign alliances, attachments, and in- 
 trigues, would stimulate and embitter. Hence, likewise^ 
 they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown mili- 
 tary establishments, which, under any form of govern- 
 ment, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be 
 regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty ; in 
 this sense it is that your union ought to be considered as 
 a main prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one 
 ought to endear to you the preservation of the other. 
 
 These considerations speak a persuasive language to 
 every reflecting and virtuous mind, and exhibit the con- 
 tinuance of the Union as a primary object of patriotic 
 desire. Is there a doubt, whether a common government 
 can embrace so large a sphere ? Let experience solve it. 
 To listen to mere speculation, in such a case, were crim- 
 inal. We are authorized to hope, that a proper organiza- 
 tion of the whole, with the auxiliaiy agency of govern- 
 ments for the respective subdivisions, will afford a happy 
 issue to the experiment. It is well worth a fair and full 
 experiment. With such powerful and obvious motives to 
 Union, affecting all parts of our country, while experience 
 shall not have demonstrated its impracticability, there will 
 always be reason to distrust the patriotism of those who, 
 in any quarter, may endeavor to weaken its bands. 
 
 In contemplating the causes which may disturb our 
 Union, it occurs as a matter of serious concern, that any 
 ground should have been furnished for characterizing 
 parties by geographical discriminations — Northern and 
 Southern — Atlantic and Western: whence designing men 
 may endeavor to excite a belief that there is a real differ- 
 ence of local interests and views. One of the expedients 
 of party to acquire influence within particular districts, is 
 to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts. 
 You cannot shield yourselves too much against the jeal- 
 ousies and heart-burnings which spring from these mis- 
 representations ; they tend to render alien to each other 
 those who ought to be bound together by fraternal 
 affection. The inhabitants of our western country have 
 lately had a useful lesson on this head ; they have seen 
 in the negotiation by the Executive, and in the unani« 
 
70 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 mous ratification by the Senate, of the treaty with Spain, 
 and in the universal satisfaction at that event throughout 
 the United States, a decisive proof how unfounded were 
 the suspicions propagated among them of a policy in the 
 general Government, and in the Atlantic States, un- 
 friendly to their interests in regard to the Mississippi, 
 they have been witnesses to the formation of two treaties 
 — that with Great Britain, and that with Spain— which 
 secure to them everything they could desire in respect to 
 our foreign relations, toward confirming their prosperity. 
 Will it not be their wisdom to rely for the preservation 
 of these advantages on the Union by which they were 
 procured ? Will they not henceforth be deaf to those 
 advisers, if such there are, who would sever them from 
 their brethren, and connect them with aliens ? 
 
 To the efficacy and permanency of your Union, a Gov- 
 ernment for the whole is indispensable. No alliance, 
 however strict between the parts, can be an adequate sub- 
 stitute ; they must inevitably experience the infractions 
 and interruptions which all alliances, in all time, have 
 experienced. Sensible of this momentous truth, you 
 have improved upon your first essay, by the adoption of 
 a Constitution of Government better calculated than your 
 former for an intimate Union, and for the efficacious man- 
 agement of your common concerns. This Government, 
 the offspring of our own choice, uninfluenced and un- 
 awed, adopted upon full investigation and mature delib- 
 eration, completely free in its principles, in the distribu- 
 tion of its powers, uniting security with energy, and 
 containing within itself a provision for its own amend- 
 ment, has a just claim to your confidence and your support. 
 Respect for its authority, compliance witli its laws, 
 acquiescence in its measures, are duties enjoined by the 
 fundamental maxims of true liberty. The basis of our 
 political systems, is the right of the people to make and 
 to alter their constitution of Government; but the Con- 
 stitution which at any time exists, till changed by an 
 explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly 
 obligatory upon all. The very idea of the power and 
 the right of the people to establish Government, pre- 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 71 
 
 supposes the duty of every individual to obey the estab- 
 lished Government. 
 
 All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all com- 
 binations and associations, under whatever plausible 
 character, with the real design to direct, control, counter- 
 act or awe the regular deliberation and action of the con- 
 stituted authorities, are destructive to this fundamental 
 principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize 
 faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force, to 
 put in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the 
 will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising 
 minority of the community; and, according to the alter- 
 nate triumphs of different parties, to make the public 
 administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incon- 
 gruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of con- 
 sistent and wholesome plans, digested by common 
 counsels, and modified by mutual interests. 
 
 However combinations or associations of the above 
 description may now and then answer popular ends, they 
 are likely, in the course of time and things, to become 
 potent engine?, by which cunning, ambitious and unprin- 
 cipled men, will be enabled to subvert the power of the 
 people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of govern- 
 ment, destroying, afterward, the very engines which had 
 lifted them to unjust dominion. 
 
 Toward the preservation of your Government, and the 
 permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite, not 
 only that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions 
 to its acknowledged authority but also that you resist with 
 care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however 
 specious the pretexts. Oue method of assault may be to 
 effect, in the forms of the Constitution, alterations which 
 will impair the energy of the system, and thus to under- 
 mine what cannot be directly overthrown. In all the 
 changes to which you may be invited, remember that time 
 and habit are at least as necessary to fix the true character 
 of Governments as of other human institutions ; that ex- 
 perience is the surest standard by which to test the real 
 tendency of the existing constitution of a country; that 
 facility in changes, upon the credit of mere hypothesis and 
 
72 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 opinion, exposes to perpetual change, from the endless 
 variety of hypothesis and opinion ; and remember, 
 especially, that for the efficient management of your 
 common interests, in a country so extensive as ours, a 
 Government of as much vigor as is consistent wiih the 
 perfect security of liberty, is indispensable. Liberty itself 
 will find in such a Government, with powers properly 
 distributed and adjusted, its surest guardian. It is indeed 
 little else than a name, where the Government is too 
 feeble to withstand the enterprises of faction, to confine 
 each member of the society within the limits prescribed 
 by the laws, and to maintain all in the secure and tranquil 
 enjoyment of the rights of person and property. 
 
 I have already intimated to you the danger of parties 
 in the state, with particular reference to the founding of 
 them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take 
 a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most 
 solemn manner, against the baneful effects of the spirit of 
 party generally. 
 
 This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our 
 nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the 
 human mind. It exists under different shapes, in all 
 Governments, more or less stifled, controlled or repressed; 
 but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest 
 rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. 
 
 The alternate domination of one faction over another, 
 sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dis- 
 sension, which in different ages and countries has per- 
 petrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful 
 despotism. But this leads, at length, to a more formal 
 and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries 
 which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek 
 security and repose in the absolute power of an individual, 
 and, sooner or later, the chief of some prevailing faction, 
 more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns 
 this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on 
 the ruins of public liberty. 
 
 Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind 
 (which, nevertheless, ought not to be entirely out of sight), 
 tfae oommon and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 73 
 
 are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise 
 people to discourage and restrain it. 
 
 It serves always to distract the pubhc councils, and 
 enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the com- 
 munity with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; 
 kindles the animosities of one part against another; 
 foments, occasionally, riot and insurrection. It opens the 
 door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a 
 facilitated access to the Government itself, through the 
 channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the 
 will of one country are subjected to the policy and will 
 of another. 
 
 . There is an opinion that parties, in free countries, are 
 useful checks upon the administration of the Government, 
 and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. Tnis, withm 
 certain limits, is probably true; and in governments of a 
 monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, 
 if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in thos^ 
 of the popular character, in governments purely elective, 
 it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural 
 tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that 
 spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being con- 
 stant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of 
 public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to 
 be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent 
 its burstmg into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should 
 consume. 
 
 It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking, in 
 a free country, should inspire caution in those intru-ted 
 with its administration to confine themselves within thei'^ 
 respective constitutional spheres, avoiding, in the exercise 
 of the powers of one denartment, to encroach upon 
 another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consoli- 
 date the powers of all the departments in one, and thus 
 to create, whatever the form of Government, a real des- 
 potism, A just estimate of that love of^ power, and 
 proneness to abuse it which predominates in the human 
 heart, is sufiicient to satisfy us of the truth of this posi- 
 tion. The necessiiy of reciprocal checks in the exercise 
 of political power, by dividing and distributing it into 
 
74 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 different depositories, and constituting each the guardian 
 of the public weal, agamst invasions by the others, has 
 been evinced by experiments, ancient and modern; some 
 of them in our own country, and under our own eyes. 
 To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute 
 them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution 
 or modification of the constitutional powers be, in any 
 particular, wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in 
 the way which the Constitution designates. But let there 
 be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one 
 instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the cus 
 tomary weapon by which free Governments are destroyer"*. 
 The precedent must always greatly overbalance, in per 
 manent evil, any partial or transient benefit which the us. 
 can, at any time, yield. 
 
 Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political 
 prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable sup- 
 ports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of 
 patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars 
 of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of 
 men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the 
 pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A 
 -volume could not trace all their connections with private 
 and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, where is the 
 security for property, for reputation,' for life, if the sense 
 of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the 
 instruments of investigation in the courts of justice ? And 
 let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality 
 can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be 
 conceded to the influence of refined education on minds 
 of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid 
 us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion 
 of religious principles. 
 
 It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a 
 necessary spring of popular Government. The rule, 
 indeed, extends with more or less force to every species 
 of free Government. Who, that is a sincere friend to ii, 
 can look with indifference upon attempts to shake rlie 
 foundation of the fabric ? 
 
 Promote, then, as an object of primary importaDce, 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 75 
 
 institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge In 
 proportion as the stmcture of a government gives force 
 to pubhc opinion, it is essential that public opinion should 
 be enlightened. 
 
 As a very important source of strength and security, 
 cherish public credit. One method of preserving it is to 
 use it as sparingly as possible; avoiding occasions of ex- 
 pense by cultivating peace, but remembering also that 
 timely disbursements to prepare for danger frequently 
 prevent much greater disbursements to repel it ; avoiding, 
 likewise, the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning 
 occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time 
 of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars 
 may have occasioned ; not ungenerously throwing upon 
 posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear. 
 The execution of these maxims belongs to your rep- 
 resentatives, but it is necessary that pubhc opinion should 
 co-operate. To facilitate to them the performance of 
 their duty, it is essential that you should practically bear 
 in mind, that toward the payment of debts there must be 
 revenue ; that to have revenue there must be taxes ; that 
 no taxes can be devised, which are not more or less in- 
 convenient and unpleasant ; that the intrinsic embarrass- 
 ment inseparable from the selection of the proper objects 
 (which is always a choice of difficulties,) ought to be 
 a decisive motive for a candid construction of the conduct 
 of the Government in making it, and for a spirit of 
 acquiescence in the measures for obtaining revenue, which 
 the public exigencies may at any time dictate. 
 
 Observe good fai:h and justice toward all nations; 
 cultivate peace and harmony with all; religion and 
 morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be that good 
 policy does not equally enjoin it ? It will be worthy of 
 a free, enlightened, and, at no distant period, a great 
 nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too 
 novel example of a people always guided by an exalted 
 justice and benevolence. Who can doubt that, in the 
 course of time and things, the fruits of such a plan would 
 richly repay any temporary advantages which might be 
 lost by a steady adherence to it ? Can it be that Provi- 
 
76 HAND BOOK TOP 
 
 dence has not connected the permanent fehcity of a nation 
 with its virtue ? The experiment, at least, is recommended 
 by every sentiment which ennobles human nature. Alas ! 
 is it rendered impossible by its vices? 
 
 In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more 
 essential than that permanent inveterate antipathies 
 against particular nations, and passionate attachments for 
 others, should be excluded; and that, in place, of them, 
 just and amicable feelings tov^'ard all should be culli- 
 vated. The nation which indulges toward another an 
 habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is, in some 
 degree, a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its 
 affection ; either of which is sufficient to lead it astray 
 from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation 
 against another, disposes each more readily to ofier 
 insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, 
 and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or 
 trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence frequent col- 
 lisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The 
 nation prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes 
 impels to war the Government, contrary to the best 
 calculations of policy. The Government sometimes par- 
 ticipates in the national propensity, and adopts, through 
 passion, what reason would reject; at other times it makes 
 the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of 
 hostility, instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister 
 and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes 
 perhaps the liberty, of nations has been the victim. 
 
 So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation to 
 another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the 
 favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary 
 common interest, in cases where no real common interest 
 exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, 
 betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and 
 wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or justi- 
 fication. It leads also to concessions to the favorite 
 nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly 
 to injure the nation making the concessions ; by unne- 
 cessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, 
 and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 77 
 
 retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are 
 withheld; and it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded 
 citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation), 
 facihty to betray, or sacrifice the interest of their own 
 country, without odium; sometimes even with popularity; 
 gilding with the appearance of a virtuous sense of obliga- 
 tion, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a 
 laudable zeal for public good the base or foolish compli- 
 ances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation. 
 
 As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, 
 such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly 
 enlightened and independent patriot. How many oppor- 
 tunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, 
 to practice the art of seduction, to mislead public opinion, 
 to influence or awe the public councils ! Such an attach- 
 ment of a small or weak, toward a great and powerful 
 nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter. 
 
 Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I 
 conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens,) the jealousy 
 of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since 
 history and experience prove that foreign influence is one 
 of the most baneful foes of republican government. But 
 that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial; else it 
 becomes the instrument of the very influence to be 
 avoided, instead of a defence against it. Excessive par- 
 tiality for one foreign nation, and excessive dislike for 
 another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger 
 only on one side, and serve to veil, and even second, the 
 arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, who may 
 resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become 
 suspected and odious; while its tools and dupes usurp 
 the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender 
 their interests. 
 
 The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign 
 nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have 
 with them as little political connection as possible. So 
 far as we have already formed engagements, Jet them be 
 fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. 
 
 Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have 
 none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be 
 
78 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which 
 are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, 
 it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by ariificial 
 ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the 
 ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or 
 enmities. 
 
 Our detached and distant situation invites and enables 
 us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people, 
 under an efficient government, the period is not far off 
 when we may defy material injury from external annoy- 
 ance ; when we may take such an attitude as will cause 
 the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon, to be 
 scrupulously respected ; when belligerent nations, under 
 the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not 
 lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may 
 choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, 
 shall counsel. 
 
 "Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation ? 
 "Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground ? Why, 
 by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of 
 Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of 
 European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice ? 
 It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances 
 •with any portion of the foreign world ; so far, I mean, as 
 we are now at hberty to do it ; for let me not be under- 
 stood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing 
 engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to 
 public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the 
 best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements 
 be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, 
 it is unnecessary, and would be unwise to extend thtm. 
 Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable es- 
 tablishments, on a respectable defensive posture, we may 
 safely trust to temporary aUiances for extraordinary 
 emergencies. 
 
 Harmony, and a liberal intercourse with all nations, are 
 recommended by policy, humanity and interest. But even 
 our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial 
 hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or 
 preferences; consulting the natural course of things; 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 79 
 
 diffusing and diversifying, by gentle means, the streams of 
 commerce, but forcing notliing ; establishing, with powers 
 so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to de- 
 fine the rights of our merchants, and to enable the Gov- 
 ernment to support them, conveniional rules of inter- 
 course, the best that present circumstances and mutual 
 opinions will permit, but temporary, and liable to be, from 
 time to time, abandoned or varied, as experience and cir- 
 cumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view, 
 that it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested 
 favors from another ; that it must pay, with a portion of 
 its independence, for whatever it may accept under that 
 character; that by such acceptance it may place itself in 
 the condition of having given equivalents for nominal 
 favors, and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for 
 not giving more. There can be no greater error than to 
 expect, or calculate upon, real favors from nation to na- 
 tion. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which 
 a just pride ought to discard. 
 
 In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an 
 old and affectionate friend, 1 dare not hope they will 
 make the strong and lasting impression I could wish ; that 
 they will control the usual current of the passions, or 
 prevent our nation from running the course which has 
 hitherto marked the destiny of nations ; but if I may even 
 flatter myself that they may be productive of some partial 
 benefit, some occasional good ; that they may now and 
 then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to wai-n 
 against the mischiefs of foreign intrigues, to guard against 
 the impostures of pretendedpatriotism ; this hope will be 
 a full recompense fo'- the solicitude for your welfare by 
 which they have been dictated. 
 
 How far, in the discharge of my official duties, I have 
 been guided by the principles which have been delineated, 
 the public records and other evidences of my conduct 
 must witness to you and the world. To myself, the as- 
 surance of my own conscience is that I have at least be- 
 lieved myself to be guided by them. 
 
 In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe, my 
 proclamation of the 22d of April, 1793, is the index to 
 
8o HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 my plan. Sanctioned by your approvini^^ voice, and by 
 that of your Representatives in both Houses of Congress, 
 the spirit of that measure has continually governed me, 
 uninfluenced by any attempts to deler or divert me 
 from it. 
 
 After deliberate examination, with the aid of the best 
 lights I could obtain, I was well satisfied that our country, 
 under all the circumstances of the case, had a rit^ht to 
 take, and was bound in duty and interest to take, a neutral 
 position. Having taken it, I determined, as far as sliould 
 depend upon me, to maintain it with moderation, perse- 
 verance and firmness. 
 
 The considerations which respect the right to hold this 
 conduct, it is not necessary on this occasion to detail, I 
 will only observe that, according to my understandmg of 
 the matter, that right, so far from being denied by any of 
 the belligerent powers, has been virtually admitted by 
 all. 
 
 The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be inferred, 
 without anything more, from the obligation which justice 
 and humanity impose on every nation, in cases in which 
 it is free to act, to maintain inviolate the relations of peace 
 and amity toward other nations. 
 
 The inducements of interest, for observing that con- 
 duct, will best be referred to your own reflections and ex- 
 perience. With me, a predominant motive has been to 
 endeavor to gain time to our country to settle and 
 mature in its yet recent institutions, and to progress, 
 without interruption, to that degree of strength and con- 
 sistency which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, 
 the command of its own fortunes. 
 
 Though in reviewing the incidents of my administra- 
 tion, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am, never- 
 theless, too sensible of my defects not to think itj^robable 
 that I may have committed many errors. Whatever they 
 may be, I fervently beseech the Almighty to avert or 
 mitigate the evils to which they may tend. I shall also 
 carry with me the hope that my country will never cease 
 to view them with indulgence; and that, after forty-five 
 years of my life dedicated to its service with an upright 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 81 
 
 zeal, the faults of incompetent abilities will be consigned 
 to oblivion, as myself must soon be to the mansions of 
 rest. 
 
 Relying on its kindness in this, as in o*her things, and 
 actuated by that fervent love towards it which is so natural 
 to a man who views in it the native soil of himself and 
 his progenitors lor several generations, I anticipate, with 
 pleasing expectation, that retreat in which I promise my- 
 self to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoyment of par- 
 taking, in the midst of my fellow-citizens, the benign 
 influence of good laws under a free government — the 
 ever favorite object of my heart — and the happy reward, 
 as I trust, of our mutual cares, labors and dangers, 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 
 United States, lyth September, lygd. 
 
82 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Part II. 
 THE MONROE DOCTRINE. 
 
 Not a Part of Nationai, Law. 
 
 The Monroe Doctrine, so-called, is not a part of 
 the national law. The people and government of 
 the United States are in no sense committed to its 
 enforcement ; yet it undoubtedly has a strong hold 
 upon American, sentiment, and the American peo- 
 ple would regard with disfavor any failure to main- 
 tain the principle therein embodied. James Mon- 
 roe, the fifth President of the United States, was 
 a cautious and prudent statesman as well as a 
 courageous soldier. Throughout the war between 
 Spain and her revolted colonies in South America, 
 he maintained a strict neutrality. In his message 
 to Congress in December, 1819, President Monroe 
 said that "the greatest care has been taken to 
 enforce the laws intended to preserve an impartial 
 neutrality; our ports have been equally open to 
 both parties, and our citizens have been equally 
 restrained, from interfering with either to the preju- 
 dice of the other." On \he 8th of March, 1822. 
 President Monroe communicated to Congress a 
 message in which, after noticing the progress of 
 the war in South America, he stated that "when we 
 regard the great length of time this war has been 
 prosecuted, the complete success which has 
 attended it in favor of the provinces, the present 
 condition of the parties, and the utter inability of 
 Spain to produce any change in it, we are com- 
 pelled to conclude that its fate is settled, and that 
 the provinces which have declared their independ- 
 ence are in the enjoyment of it and ought to be 
 recognized. ' ' This message and the accompanying 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 83 
 
 documents were referred to a committee, which 
 made a long report, recommending the recognition 
 of the independence of the Mexican and South 
 American Republics. Congress adopted the report, 
 and not long afterward ministers were appointed 
 to Colombia, Mexico and Buenos Ayres. This in- 
 troductory statement is necessary, as it is soiiie- 
 times sought to convey the impression that the 
 Monroe Doctrine was a fulmiuation against foreign 
 rule in America, and was influential in securing 
 South American independence. As a matter of 
 fact the South Americans had gained their inde- 
 pendence before President Monroe gave utterance 
 to his famous ^'doctrine," in a subsequent message 
 of December 2, '823. 
 
 The words of the memorable declaration consti- 
 tute two paragraphs of the message. In the first 
 of these paragraphs President Monroe declares that 
 the governments of Russia and Great Britain have 
 been informed that the American continents hence- 
 forth are not to be considered subjects for future 
 colonization bv any European powers. In the 
 second paragraph he says that the United States 
 would consider any attempt on the part of tne 
 European powers to extend their system to any 
 portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our 
 peace and safety. He goes further and says that if 
 two governments estabhshed in North or South 
 America who have declared their independence of 
 European control should be interfered with by any 
 European power, +his interference would be re- 
 garded as the manifestation of unfriendly disposi- 
 tion to the United States. These utterances were 
 addressed especially to Spain and Portugal. The 
 two passages of the message are as follows : 
 
 Text of the Monroe Doctrine. 
 " At the proposal of the Russian imperial government, 
 made through the minister of the emperor residing here, 
 full power and instructions have been tiansmitted to the 
 
84 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 minister of the United States at St. Petersburg to arrange, 
 by amicable negotiation, the respective rights and interests 
 of the two nations on tlie northwest coat>t of this conti- 
 nent. A similar proposal has been made by his imperial 
 majesty to the Government of Great Britain, which has 
 likewise been acceded to. Tlie Government of the 
 United Stales has been desirous, by this friendly proceed- 
 ing, of manifesting the great value which they have invaria- 
 bly attached to the friendship of the emperor, and their 
 solicitude to cultivate the best understanding with his 
 government. In the discussions to which this interest has 
 given rise, and in the arrangements by which they may 
 terminate, the occasion has been judged proper for 
 asserting as a principle in which the rights and interests 
 of the United States are involved, that the American con- 
 tinents, by the free and independent condition which 
 they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to 
 be considered as subjects for colonization by any European 
 
 power We owe it, therefore, to candor, and 
 
 to the amicable relations existing between the United 
 States and those powers, to declare that we should con- 
 sider any attempt on their part to extend their system to 
 any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace 
 nnd safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies 
 of any European power we have not interfered, and shall 
 not interfere. But with the governments who. have de- 
 clared their independence and maintained it, and whose 
 independence we have, on great consideration and on 
 just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any 
 interpObiiion for the purpose of oppressing them, or con- 
 trolhngin any other manner their destiny, by any Euro- 
 pean power, in any other light than as the manifestation 
 of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States." 
 
 Minister Anderson at Bogota. 
 
 On the 9th of December, 1823, the seventh day- 
 after the Monroe Doctrine was enunciated at Wash- 
 ington, Mr. Anderson, minister of the United 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 85 
 
 States to Colombia, delivered his credentials to the 
 government at Bogota, being the first minister 
 received from any foreign power outside of Spanish 
 America. Mr. Anderson's address on that occasion 
 may no doubt be regarded as reflecting the views 
 of, if not directly dictated by President Monroe, 
 and is of interest in connection with the President's 
 celebrated message. He said : 
 
 " Mr. President : The President of the United States, 
 animated by an ardent wish to continue the relations of 
 perfect harmony and generous friendship between our 
 respective countries, has commanded me to give the mobt 
 satisfactory expression to the liberal feelings which he, as 
 well as the people of the United States, must ever enter- 
 tain toward the institutions of freedom in every country. 
 I tender to you his anxious wishes for the restoration of 
 peace to this republic, and prosperity to its citizens. My 
 own admiration of the liberal institutions of Colombia, 
 and of the glorious manner in which they have been 
 created and sustained, affords the surest pledge of the 
 sincerity of my sentiments. If this mission shall have the 
 happy effect of giving solidity and duration to the harmo- 
 nious feelings of our countrymen, it will be a source of 
 unaffected joy to every friend of free government. 
 
 '* It is en this contment, and in this age, Mr. President, 
 that m?n has been awakened to the long lost truth, that, 
 under Heaven, he is capable of goverumg himself; that 
 God has not given to him in vain the part and intellect of 
 a human being. Every motive that can operate on a good 
 man, urges him to cherish the institutions founded on the 
 development of these truths, and to nourish the principles 
 v»'hich can alone sustain them. The sublimest .spectacle 
 that we can enjoy, is to contemplate our fellow man ex- 
 plaining and teaching, by reason and argument, the truth, 
 that * voluntary agi'eetnent is the only legitimate source of 
 political power.'' When a nation is penetrated with this 
 truth, its liberty is placed beyond the reach of force or 
 fraud. 
 
 ** Under such governments, we may fondly hope to see 
 
86 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the people of this continent devoted only to those acts 
 which give comfort and enjoyment to domestic life, and 
 the highest polish to intellectual improvement. It has 
 long, indeed, been the doctrine of despots, that the arts of 
 peace are too limited to fill the employments of man ; and 
 their sincerity, in this doctrine, has been manifested by 
 the slaughter of millions. Let it, then, be the high duty 
 of those who guide the destinies of the American repub- 
 lics, by abstaining from every hostile collision, to demon- 
 strate the falsehood of a principle so mortifying to good 
 men, and consolatory only to tyrants. Time has not yet, 
 indeed, permitted us to see, in its full extent, the effect 
 which the principles of government evolved on the Amer- 
 ican continent, may have on the habits or practices of 
 man; but enough has already been disclosed to cheer the 
 friends of peace, and to animate them to new vigilance in 
 cherishing those principles, which, abjuring war and 
 blood-shed, lead only to peace. 
 
 " In conclusion, let me say, that, while the establish- 
 ment of this republic gives to the world a most brilliant 
 example of the triumph of valor and of virtue, so may it 
 continue to succeeding generations, an illustrious monu- 
 ment of the omnipotence of truth and a good cause." 
 
 The H01.Y A1.LIANCE AND THE Monroe 
 Doctrine. 
 
 While the Monroe Doctrine was of no assistance 
 to the people of South America in obtaining their 
 independence, it was undoubtedly of great and 
 immediate influence in preventing the destruction 
 of republican government in South America by the 
 allied powers of Europe. One of the chief objects 
 of "the Holy Alliance," formed upon the overthrow 
 of Napoleon for the purpose of readjusting the map 
 of Europe, was to quench forever the torch of 
 liberty lighted at the fires of the French revolu- 
 tion. It is an interesting fact, which has escaped 
 the historical attention due to it, that no royal house 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 87 
 
 was more anxious to see free institutions overthrown 
 in America than the miserable House of Bourbon, 
 replaced by foreign bayonets on the throne of 
 France, and ever fearful that the French people 
 might again 1 e aroused to cast off the degenerate 
 and odious dynasty thus reimposed upon them. 
 The cabinet of Louis XVIII. attempted by intrigue 
 and artifice to establish in the United Provinces — 
 now known ns Argentina — a monarchy under a 
 European prince related to the Bourbons. The 
 prince selected was the Duke of Lucca, and it was 
 proposed that France should furnish the necessary 
 land and naval forces to support the new king on 
 his throne, and that the Duke should marry a 
 princess of Brazil. The congress of the United 
 Provinces was actually induced to consent to this 
 proposal, on the condition that France should 
 supply troops, ships and money for the maintenance 
 of the monarchy, and that Brazil should make 
 certain territorial concessions. The people, how- 
 ever, had more virtue than their rulers, and 
 although driven to hard straits in resisting Spain, 
 they refused to barter their liberties to France. 
 The scheme fell through, and those who had favored 
 it were treated with indignation and contempt. 
 There is no doubt that the announcement of the 
 Monroe Doctrine put a quietus for the time being 
 upon European intrigue against the South Ameri- 
 can republics. These intrigues were, however, 
 promptly revived as the United States became 
 involved in civil war, and European dynasties were 
 once more animated with the hope that the one 
 republic in America whose power they feared and 
 whose prowess they had been taught by severe 
 experience to respect was on the brink of destruc- 
 tion. The story of Maximilian needs not to be 
 recalled by this generation. Suffice it to say^ that 
 never was a capital sentence inflicted more justly 
 than in the case of that Austrian prince, and never 
 was a more wholesome lesson administered to the 
 
88 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 royalties of Europe. Any European prince who 
 should volunteer now for a mission similar to that 
 of Maximilian would doubtless be looked upon by 
 his relatives as a fit subject for medical examina- 
 tion as to his sanity. 
 
 How Seward Enforced The Monroe 
 Doctrine. 
 
 In a dispatch to the French minister, February 
 12, 1866, relating to the presence of the F^'rench in 
 Mexico, Secretary of State William H. Seward 
 delivered the following practical interpretation of 
 the Monroe Doctrine, as applied to one of the 
 independent republics of this continent : 
 
 *'The United States have not seen any satisfac- 
 tory evidence that the j)eople of Mexico have 
 spoken, and have called into being, or accepted, 
 the so-called empire, which it is insisted has been 
 set up in their capital. The withdrawal of the 
 French forces is deemed necessary to allow such a 
 proceeding to be taken by Mexico. Of course the 
 Emperor of France is entitled to determine the 
 aspect in which the Mexican situation ought to be 
 regarded by him. Nevertheless the view which I 
 have thus presented is the one which this nation 
 has accepted. It therefore recognizes, and must 
 continue to recognize in Mexico only the ancient 
 republic ; and it can in no case consent to involve 
 i'sclf, either directly or indirectly, in relation with 
 or recognition of the institution of the Prince Maxi- 
 milian iu Mexico. Under these circumstances it 
 has happened, either rightfully or wrongfully, that 
 the presence of European armies in Mexico, main- 
 taining a European prince with imperial attributes, 
 without her consent and against her will, is deemed 
 a source of apprehension and danger, not alone to 
 the United States, but also to all the independent 
 and sovereign republican States founded on the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 89 
 
 American continent and its adjacent islands. * * * 
 The United States rest content with vsubmitting^ to 
 France the exigencies of an embarrassing situation 
 in Mexico, and expressing the hope that France 
 may find some manner which shall at once be con- 
 sistent with her interest and honor, and with the 
 principles and interest of the United States, to 
 relieve that situation without injurious delay." 
 
 When the Emperor Napoleon, several months 
 after this clear and courteous statement of the policy 
 of the United States had been transmitted, still 
 sought to postpone the withdrawal of the French 
 troops, Mr. Seward sent the following ultimatum : 
 
 "The Emperor's decision to modify the existing 
 arrangement without any understanding with the 
 United States, so as to leave the whole French 
 army in Mexico for the present, instead of with- 
 drawing one detachment in November current, as 
 promised, is now found in every way inconvenient 
 and exceptionable. We cannot acquiesce, first, 
 because the term * next spring,' as appointed for 
 the entire evacuation, is indefinite and vague ; and, 
 second, because we have no authority for stating 
 to Congress and to the American people that we 
 have now a better guarantee for the withdrawal of 
 the whole expeditionary force in the spring than 
 we have heretofore had for tlie withdrawal of a 
 part in November; third, in full reliance upon at 
 least a literal performance of the Emperor's existing 
 agreement, we have taken measures, while facili- 
 tating the anticipated French evacuation, to co- 
 operate with the republican government of Mexico 
 for promoting the pacification of that country, and 
 for the early and complete restoration of the con- 
 stitutional authority of that government. The 
 President sincerely hopes a}id expects that the 
 evacuation of Mexico will be carried into effect 
 with such conformity to the existing agreement as 
 the inopportune complication which calls for this 
 dispatcii shall allow. Instructions will be issued 
 
90 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 to the United States military forces of observation 
 to await in every case special directions from the 
 President. This will be done with a confident ex- 
 pectation that the telegra]:»h or the mail may 
 seasonably bring us a satisfactory resolution from 
 the Emperor in reply to this note." 
 
 In November, iS66, the United States appointed 
 a minister, accredited to the republican govern- 
 ment of Mexico. Our minister was advised as 
 follows : 
 
 ** There are some princ^'ples which may be safely laid 
 down in regard to the policy which the government will 
 expect you to pursue. The first of these is that, as a 
 representative of the United States, you are accredited to 
 the republican government of Mexico, of which Mr. 
 Juares is President. Your communications, as such 
 representative, will be made to him, wheresoever he 
 may be ; and in no event will you officially recognize the 
 Prince Maximilian, who claims to be Emperor, or any 
 other person, chief, or combination as exercising the 
 executive authority in Mexico, without having first 
 reported to this department. * * * It may possibly 
 happen that the President of the Republic of Mexico 
 may desire the good offices of the United States, or even 
 some effective proceedings on our part, to favor and 
 advance the pacification of a country so long distracted 
 by foreign combined with civil war, and thus gain time 
 for the re-establishment of national authority upon prin- 
 ciples consistent with a republican and domestic system 
 of government. It is possible, moreover, that some dis- 
 position might be made of the land and naval forces of 
 the United States, without interfering within the jurisdic- 
 tion of Mexico, or violating the laws of neutrality, which 
 would be useful in favoring the restoration of law, order 
 and republican government in that country. The Lieu- 
 tenant-General of the United States Army possesses 
 already discretionary authority as to the location of the 
 forces of the United States in the vicinity of Mexico. 
 His military experience will enable him to advise you 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 91 
 
 concerning such questions us may arise during the transi- 
 tion stage of Mexico from a state of military siege by a 
 foreign enemy to a condition of practical self-government. 
 At the same time it will be in his power, being near the 
 scene of action, to issue any orders which may be exped- 
 ient or necessary for maintaining the obligations resting 
 upon the United Slates in regard to proceedings upon the 
 borders of Mexico. For the-e reasons he has been 
 requested and instructed by the President to proceed 
 with you to your destination, and act with you as an 
 adviser, recognized by this department, in regard to the 
 matters which have been herein discussed." 
 
 The Emperor Napoleon did not wait for the 
 United States to take hostile action. The French 
 troops were withdrawn, and Maximilian's empire 
 fell like a house of cards. 
 
 The Monroe Doctrine To-day. 
 
 Notwithstanding the lesson of Mexico, Europe 
 has not given up the idea of controlling American 
 destinies, and the Monroe doctrine does not apply- 
 only to attempts to impose monarchical institutions 
 on free American States. Only two or three years 
 ago the Marquis of Lome, son in-law to the Queen 
 of Great Britain, of Canada, and I may add also, 
 of British Guiana, proposed that England and Ger- 
 many should estabUsh a protectorate over the 
 Argentine Republic. Such was the statemeiit 
 published to the world, and I have never seen it 
 denied. It is safe to say that Lome probably re- 
 flected the views of Windsor, if not of Downing 
 street. The enemies of the republican govern- 
 ment in Brazil were, according to published reports, 
 ' ' financed ' ' in their attempted revolution by British 
 capitalists, whose loans were to be repaid on the 
 restoration of the empire. The Brazilian rebels 
 were certainly supported in the most rabid manner 
 
92 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 by the London Times and other Knglish news- 
 papers. For years England gave encouragement 
 and patronage to a burlesque monarchy on the 
 eastern coast of Nicaragua, and recently exacted a 
 heavy fine from that republic, ostensibly for injury 
 to British subjects, but really as a punishment for 
 extending Nicaraguan authority over England's 
 proteges on the Mosquito coast. England's en- 
 croachment on Venezuela is at present under con- 
 sideration by the American Government. The 
 Monroe doctrine stands for a principle as vital to 
 the welfare of the American people and of the 
 American continent to-day as when it was first 
 proclaimed in the face of the conquerors of 
 Napoleon. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 93 
 
 Part III. 
 THB SlyAVBRY ISSUE. 
 
 Antagonism Between North and South. 
 
 While tlie slavery issue is generally regarded as 
 the chief cause of the antagonism between North 
 and South which resulted in the greatest of modern 
 wars, yet that antagonism appears to have existed, 
 of course in a less embittered form, even before 
 the Revolution. The Puritans of New England 
 took a different side from the planters of Virginia 
 in the struggle between Cavaliers and Roundheads, 
 and the social, religious and political distinctions 
 which existed between the two classes in England 
 did not lose any of their acerbify in America. The 
 two sections made common cause in the Revolu- 
 tion, but even during that struggle mutual jealousy 
 and dislike occasionally cropped out. General 
 Washington, when in command at Boston, was ac- 
 cused by the members of the General Court of 
 being cold in his manner toward them, and as 
 Washington denied the charge of incivility, it 
 seems plain that the New England legislators nmst 
 have had their imaginations stimulated by distrust. 
 Count Axel P'ersen, the distinguished Swedish no- 
 bleman who was attached to the American army 
 during the Revolution, and who may be regarded 
 as an impartial witness, made some excursions in 
 Virginia after the capture of Yorktown, and en- 
 tered the following observations in his memoirs : 
 "All the traders here are regarded as inferior to 
 the land owners, who say that the former are not 
 gentlemen , and will not associate with them . They 
 hold aristocratic principles, and when one sees 
 them, one can hardly understand how they have 
 
94 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 come to join the general confederation and accept 
 a government founded upon conditions of absolute 
 equality. But the same spirit which has led them 
 to throw off the English yoke might well urge 
 the-m on to other measures, and I should not be 
 surprised to see Virginia, when peace comes, de- 
 tach itself from the other States." Thus Count 
 Fersen foretold secession even before independence 
 had been achieved. 
 
 Beginning of Negro Slavery. 
 
 Negro slavery had been introduced into the West 
 India Islands long before the Dutch ship, in 1619, 
 sailed up the James River and landed twenty Afri- 
 cans. The fact should be noted that, two years 
 after this event, cotton-seed was, for the first time, 
 planted at the South, for the growth of slavery and 
 the culture of the cotton plant were closely con- 
 nected. Tobacco was already (in 1621) very ex- 
 tensively grown, and was then produced entirely 
 by slave labor. For several years, only a few 
 cargoes of negroes were brought to the colonies, 
 and these came in Dutch ships ; but, encouraged 
 by the English, companies for carrying on the 
 trade were formed, and even ships built and owned 
 in New England were engaged in the business. In 
 the course of time every one of the thirteen col- 
 onies had slaves. Some of the colonies remon- 
 strated against the trade ; but what could this avail 
 so long as the English Government favored the 
 trade, and the king himself profited by the gains ? 
 In 1750 there were about tv.o thousand slaves in 
 Massachusetts ; in New York city about a sixth of 
 the population were slaves ; in the tobacco- grow- 
 ing colonies— Maryland, Virginia and North Caro- 
 lina — a third were slaves ; in South Carolina, 
 where rice was the principal production, there 
 were more slaves than free persons. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 95 
 
 The Continental Congress, after the adoption of 
 the Declaration of Independence, resolved that no 
 more slaves should be imported ; but the Constitu- 
 tion of the United States, which went into opera- 
 tion thirteen years later, permitted such impor- 
 tation until the year 1808. Thenceforth no more 
 slaves could be brought into the country. Previous 
 to the adoption of the Constitution, Congress passed 
 an act which is commonly known as the "Ordi- 
 nance of 1787." This prohibited slavery in all the 
 territory northwest of the Ohio River. Massachu- 
 setts was the first State to abolish slavery ; then 
 the other Northern States, one after another, most 
 of them by a system of gradual emancipation, 
 followed the example. Though no more slaves 
 were brought to the country, slaves continued to be 
 bought aud sold at the South as before. 
 
 S^ave-labor at the North was not profitable, owing 
 to the cold climate, which did not agree with the 
 African as well as the sunny temperature of the 
 South. Yet slavery couhl never have flourished 
 in the South but for the cotton-gin. The planta- 
 tions were languishing and cotton could be culti- 
 vated only in small quantities, because it was diffi- 
 cult to separate the fibre from the seed. At this 
 time, Eli Whitney, of Massachusetts, went to 
 Georgia and invented the cotton-gin. The diffi- 
 culty of separating the cotton from the seed was 
 removed. The invention set the whole South in 
 motion. Not a pound of cotton had been exported 
 from the United States in 1792. In 1793, the gin 
 was invented. In 1794 one million five hundred 
 thousand pounds of cotton were sent to Europe, 
 and slave-labor was immediately in demand. 
 
 The Missouri Compromise. 
 
 The difference between the two sections became 
 more clearly defined, as slavery disappeared from 
 
96 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the North and increased in the South, When 
 Missouri applied for admission into the Union it 
 was proposed in Congress to prohibit the introduc- 
 tion of slavery into the new State. This had the 
 effect of arra5ing the South against the North— the 
 slave-holding against the non slave holding States 
 — and the whole subject of slavery became an ex- 
 citing topic of debate throughout the country. 
 The question was disposed of by a compromise 
 which tolerated slavery in Missouri, but otherwise 
 prohibited it in all the territory of the United 
 States, north and west of the northern limits of 
 Arkansas. The section of the bill containing the 
 compromise was as follows : 
 
 Sec. 8. That in all the territory ceded by France to the 
 United States under the name of Louisiana, which lies 
 north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes north lati- 
 tude, not included within the limits of the State contem- 
 plated by this act, slavery and involuntary servitude, 
 otherwise than in the punishment of crimes, whereof the 
 parties shall have been duly convicted, shall be and is 
 hereby forever prohibited ; provided always, that any per- 
 son escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is 
 lawfully claimed, in any state or territory of the United 
 States, such fugitive may be lawfully reclaimed and con- 
 veyed to the person claiming his or her labor or service as 
 aforesaid. 
 
 The Wilmot Proviso. 
 
 This agreement, the "Missouri Compromise," 
 was observed for a third of a century ; still the 
 slavery question cropped out from time to time, 
 " abolition societies " became numerous, and when 
 Texas, a slave State and a former province of 
 Mexico, asked to be admitted into the Union, the 
 application, though stoutly resisted by most of the 
 Northern members of Congress, was finally 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 97 
 
 granted. The annexation of Texas led to a war 
 with Mexico, and this resulted in the cession to 
 the United States of a large part of the Mexican 
 territory. As slavery in Mexico had been nomi- 
 nally abolished more than twenty years, the terri- 
 tory thus acquired was "free soil." I say " nomi- 
 nally abolished," for serfdom in the form of 
 peonage survived in Mexico, and to-day the condi- 
 tion of the lower class of agriculturists in that 
 country is but little removed from bondage to the 
 proprietors of the soil. In anticipation of the 
 acquisition, Mr. David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, 
 for himself and other members of Congress from 
 the free States, offered an amendment to the bill 
 providing for the purchase of Mexican territory to 
 the effect "that as an express and fundamental 
 condition to the acquisition of any territory from 
 the Republic of Mexico by the United Slates, 
 neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall 
 exist in any part of said territory." This proviso — 
 the " Wilmot proviso," as it was afterward called — 
 passed the House, but not the Senate, 
 
 Though the "Wilmot proviso" did not meet 
 with complete success in Congress, it became the 
 foundation-stone of the "Free Sellers, " whose 
 party cry in 1848, with ex- President Van Buren as 
 their Presidential candidate, was " Free Soil, Free 
 Speech, Free Labor, and Free Men." The Free 
 Soilers were defeated, but their cause survived, and 
 took on fresh life as the opposition to slavery grew. 
 The very measures adopted to make slavery im- 
 pregnable became factors in its overthrow. Cali- 
 fornia, a part of the territory acquired from Mex- 
 ico, soon had a large population, and the people, 
 who were generally opposed to slavery, sought ad- 
 mission to the Union. John C. Calhoun, of South 
 Carolina, and other champions of slavery, resisted 
 the application, and a violent controversy followed, 
 wiiich ended in an agreement known as the 
 " Compromise of 1850." 
 
98 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 COMPROMISK OF 1850. 
 
 Under this compromise California was admitted 
 as a free State, the slave trade — but not slavery — 
 was abolished in the District of Columbia, and the 
 Fugitive Slave Law was enacted. As this measure 
 was one of the chief agencies in exciting the North 
 against slavery, and is often alluded to, even to 
 this day, in political discussions, it is here given in 
 full: 
 
 The Fugitive Slave L4W, 
 
 An Act to amend, and supplementa)y to, the Act entitled 
 " An Act respecting Ftigitives from Justice, and per- 
 sons escaping from the Service of their Masters^'' 
 approved Ftbruary 12, Jjgj. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 
 tives of the Unii(d States of America in Congress assem- 
 bled. That the persons who have been, or may hereafter 
 be, appointed Commissioners, in virtue of any Act of 
 Congress, by the Circuit Courts of the United States, and 
 who, in consequence of such appointment, are authorized 
 to exercise the powers that any justice of the peace, or 
 other magistrate of any of the United States, may exercise 
 in respect to offenders for any crime or offence against 
 the United States, by arrestmg, imprisoning, or bailing 
 the same, under and by vntue of the thirty-third section 
 of the act of the twenty-fourth of September, seventeen 
 hundred and eighty-nine, entitled *' An Act to establish 
 the judicial courts of the United States," shall be, and 
 are hereby, authorized and required to exercise and dis- 
 charge all the powers and duties conferred by this Act. 
 
 Sec. 2. That tlie Superior Court of each organized 
 territory of the United States shall have the same power 
 to appoint Commissioners to take acknowledgments of 
 bail and afBdavits, and to take depositions of witnesses 
 in civil causes, which is now possessed by the Circuit 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 99 
 
 Court of the United States ; and all Commissioners who 
 shall hereafter be appointed for such purposes by the 
 Superior Court of any organized territory of the United 
 States, shall possess all the powers, and exercise ail the 
 duties, conferred by law upon the Commissioners ap- 
 pointed by the Circuit Courts of the United States for 
 similar purposes, and shall moreover exercise and dis- 
 charge all the powers and duties conferred by this Act. 
 
 Stc. 3. That the Circuit Courts of the United States, 
 and the Superior Courts of each organized territory of the 
 United States shall from time to time charge the number 
 of Commissioners with a view to afford reasonable facili- 
 ties to reclaim fugitives from labor, and to the prompt 
 discharge of the duties imposed by this Act. 
 
 Sec. 4. That the Commissioners above named shall 
 have concurrent jurisdiction with the Judges of the Circuit 
 and District Courts of the United States, in their respec- 
 tive circuiis and districts within the several States, and 
 the Judges of the Superior Courts of the territories 
 severally and collectively, in term-time and vacation; and 
 shall grant certificates to such claimants, upon satisfactory 
 proof being made, with authority to take and remove 
 such fugitives from service or labor, under the restrictions 
 herein contained, to the state or territory from which 
 such persons may have escaped or fled. 
 
 Sec. 5. That it shall be the duty of all marshals and 
 deputy marshals to obey and execute all warrants and 
 precepts issued under the provisions of this act, when to 
 them directed ; and should any marshal or deputy mar- 
 shal refuse to receive such warrant, or other process, 
 when tendered, or to use all proper means diligently to 
 execute the same, he shall, on conviction thereof, be fined 
 in the sum of one thousand dollars, to the use of such 
 claimant, on the motion of such claimant, by the Circuit 
 or District Court for the district of such marshal ; and 
 after arrest of such fugitive, by such marshal or his 
 deputy, or whilst at any time in his custody, under the 
 provisions of this act, should such fugitive escape, whether 
 with or without the assent of such marshal or his deputy, 
 such marshal shall be liable, on his official bond to be 
 
loo HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 prosecuted for the benefit of such claimant, for the full 
 value of the service or labor of said fugitive in ihe state, 
 territory, or district whence he escaped; and the beiier to 
 enable said Commissioners, when thus appointed, to 
 execute their duties faithfully and efficiently, in conformity 
 with the requirements of the Constitution of the United 
 States, and of this Act, they are hereby authorized and 
 empowered, within their counties respectively, to appoint, 
 in writing under their hands, any one or more suitable 
 persons, from time to time, to execute ail such warrants 
 and other process as may be issued by them in the lawful 
 performance of their respective duties; with authorUy to 
 such Commissioners, or the persons to be appointed by 
 them, to execute process as aforesaid, to summon and 
 call to their aid the bystanders, or posse comitatus of the 
 proper county, when necessary to insure a faithful obser- 
 vance of the clause of the Constitution referred to, in 
 conformity with the provisions of this act; and all good 
 citizens are commanded to aid and assist in the prompt 
 and efificient execution of this law, whenever their services 
 may be required, as aforesaid, for that purpose ; and said 
 warrants shall run, and be executed by said officers, any- 
 where in the state within which they are issued. 
 
 Sec. 6. That when a person held to service or labor in 
 any state or territory of the United States, has heretofore 
 or shall hereafter escape into another state or territory of 
 the United States, the person or persons to w!ic m such 
 service or labor may be due, or his, her or their agent or 
 attorney, duly authorized by power of attorney, in writing 
 acknowledged and certified under the seal of some legal 
 officer or Court of the slate or territory in which the same 
 may be executed, may pursue and reclaim such fugitive 
 person, either by procuring a warrant from some one of 
 the Courts, Judges, or Commissioners aforesaid, of the 
 proper circuit, district, or county, for the apprehension of 
 such fugitive from service or labor, or by seizing and 
 arresting such fugitive where the same can be d(me 
 without process, and by taking or causing such person to 
 be taken forthwith before such Court, Judge or Com- 
 missioner, whose duty it shall be to hear and determine 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. lor 
 
 the case of such claimant in a summary manner ; and 
 upon satisfactory proof being made, by deposition or 
 athdavit, in writing, to be taken, and certified by such 
 Court, Judge or Commissioner, or by other satisfactory 
 testimony, duly taken and certified by some Court, Magis- 
 trate, Justice of the Peace, or other legal officer authorized 
 to administer an oath and take depositions under the 
 laws of the state or territory from which such person 
 owing service or labor may have escaped, with a certifi- 
 cate of such magistracy, or other authority as aforesaid, 
 wiih the seal of the proper Court or officer thereto 
 attached, which seal shall be sufficient to establish the 
 competency of the proof, and with proof, also by affidavit, 
 of the identity of the person whose service or labor is 
 claimed to be due as aforesaid, that the person so arrested 
 does in fact owe service or labor to the person or persons 
 claiming him or her, in the state or territory from which 
 such fugitive may have escaped as aforesaid, and that 
 said person escaped, to make out and deliver to said 
 claimant, his or her agent or attorney, a certificate setting 
 forth the substantial facts as to the service or labor due 
 from such fugitive to the claimant, and of his or her 
 escape from the state or territory in which such service or 
 labor was due to the state or territory in which he or she 
 was arrested, with authority to such claimant, or his or 
 her agent or attorney, to use such reasonable force and 
 restraint as may be necessary, under the circumstances 
 of the case, to take and remove such fugitive person back 
 to the state or territory whence he or she may have 
 escaped as aforesaid. In no trial or hearing under this 
 Act shall the testimony of such alleged fugitive be ad- 
 mitted in evidence; and the certificates in this and the 
 first [fourth] section mentioned, shall be conclusive of 
 the right of the person or persons in whose favor granted, 
 to remove such fugitive to the state or territory from 
 which he escaped, and shall prevent all molestation of 
 such person or persons by any process issued by any 
 Court, Judge, Magistrate, or other person whomsoever. 
 
 Sec. 7. That any person who shall knowingly and 
 willingly obstruct, hinder, or prevent such claimant, his 
 
I02 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 agent or attorney, or any person or persons lav/fully 
 assisting him, her or them, from arresting such a fugitive 
 from service or labor, either \viih or without process as 
 aforesaid, or shall rescue or attempt to rescue such 
 fugitive from service or labor, from the custody of such 
 claimant, his or her agent or attorney, or other person or 
 persons lawfully assisting as aforesaid, when so arrested 
 pursuant to the authority herein given anddeclared, or shall 
 aid, abet, or assist such person so owing service or labor 
 as aforesaid, directly or indirectly, to escape from such 
 claimant, his agent or attorney, or other person or persons 
 legally authorized as aforesaid ; or shall harbor or conceal 
 such fugutive so as to prevent the discovery and arrest of 
 such person, after notice or knowledge of the fact that 
 such person was a fugitive from service or labor as 
 aforesaid, shall, for either of said offences, be subject to a 
 fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprison- 
 ment not exceeding six months, by indictment and con- 
 viction before the District Court of the United States, for 
 the district in which such offence may have been commit- 
 ted, or before the proper court of criminal jurisdiction, if 
 committed within any one of the organized territories of 
 the United States, and shall moreover forfeit and pay, by 
 way of civil damages to the party injured by such illegal 
 conduct, the sum of one thousand dollars, for each fugitive 
 so lost as aforesaid, to be recovered by action of debt in 
 any of the District or Territorial Courts aforesaid, within 
 whose jurisdiction the said offence may have been com- 
 mitted. 
 
 Sec. 8. That the marshals, their deputies, and the 
 clerks of the said District and Territorial Courts, shall be 
 paid for their services the like fees as may be allowed to 
 them for similar services in other cases ; and where such 
 services are rendered exclusively in the arrest, custody, 
 and delivery of the fugitive to the claimant, his or her 
 agent or attorney, or where such supposed fugitive may 
 be discharged out of custody for the want of sufficient 
 proof as aforesaid, then such fees are to be paid in the 
 whole by such claimant, his agent or attorney ; and in all 
 cases where the proceedings are before a Commissioner, 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 103 
 
 he shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars in full for his 
 services in each case, upon the delivery of the said cer- 
 tificate to the claimant, his or her agent or attorriey ; or a 
 fee of five dollars in cases v^^here the proof shall not, in 
 the opinion of such Commissioner, warrant such certificate 
 and delivery, inclusive of all services incident to such 
 arrest and examination, to be paid in either case by the 
 claimant, his or her agent or attorney. The person or 
 persons authorized to execute the process to be issued by 
 such Commissioner for the arrest and detention of fugi- 
 tives from service or labor as aforesaid, shall also be en- 
 titled to a fee of five dollars each, for each person he or 
 they may arrest and take before any such Commissioner, 
 as aforesaid, at the instance and request of such clamiant, 
 with such other fees as may be deemed reasonable by such 
 Commissioner for such other additional services as may be 
 necessarily performed by him or ihem ; such as attending 
 at the examination, keeping the fugitive in custody, and 
 providing him with food and lodging during his deten- 
 tion, and until the final determination of such Com- 
 missioner; and, in general, for performing such other 
 duties as n^ay be requned by such claimant, his or her 
 attorney or agent, or Commissioner in the premises. Such 
 tees to be made up in conformity with the fees usually 
 charged by the officers of the courts of justice within the 
 proper district or county, as near as may be practicable, 
 and paid by such claimants, their agents or attorneys, 
 whether'such supposed fugitives from service or labor be 
 ordered to be delivered to such claimants by the final 
 determmation of such Commissioner or not. 
 
 Sec. 9. That, upon aiifidavit made by the claimant of 
 such fugitive, his agent or attorney, after such certificate 
 has been issued, that he has leason to apprehend that 
 such fugitive will be rescued by force from his or her 
 possession before he can be taken beyond the limits of 
 the State in which the arrest is made, it shall be the duty 
 of the officer making the arrest to retain such fugitive in 
 his custody, and to remove him to the State whence he 
 fled, and there to deliver him to said claimant, his agent 
 or attorney. And to this end the officer aforesaid is hereby 
 
I04 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 authorized and required to employ so many persons as he 
 may deem necessary to overcome such force, and to retam 
 them in his service so long as circumstances may require. 
 The said officer and his assistants while so empLiyed Uf 
 receive the same compensation, and to be allowed the 
 same expenses as are now allowed by law for transporta- 
 tion of criminals, to be certified by the judge of the dis- 
 trict within which the arrest is made, and paid out of the 
 treasury of the United States, 
 
 Sec. io. That when any person held to service or 
 labor in any State or Territory, or in the District of Colum- 
 bia, shall escape therefrom, the party to whom such ser- 
 vice or labor may be due, his, her, or their agent or 
 attorney, may apply to any court of record therein, or 
 judge thereof in vacation, and make satisfactory proof to 
 such court or judge in vacation, of the escape aforesaid, 
 and that the person escaping owe I service or labor to 
 such party. VVhereupon the court shall cause a record to 
 be made of the matters so proved, and also a general 
 description of the person so escaping, with such conveni- 
 ent certainty as may be; and a transcript of such record, 
 authenticated by the attestation of the clerk and of the 
 seal of the said court, being produced in any other State, 
 Territory or district in which the person so escaping may 
 be found, and being exhibited to any Judge, Commis- 
 sioner, or other officer authorized by the law of the United 
 States to cause persons escaping from service or labor to 
 be delivered up, shall be held and taken to be full 
 and conclusive evidence of the fact of the escape, and 
 that the service or labor of the person escaping is due to 
 the party in such record mentioned. And upon the pro- 
 duction by the said party of other and further evidence 
 if necessary, either oral or by affidavit, in addition to 
 what is contained in the said record of the identity of the 
 person escaping, he or she shall be delivered up to the 
 claimant. And the said Court, Commissioner, Judge, or 
 other person authorized by this Act to grant certificates to 
 claimants of fugitives, shall, U[)on the production of the 
 record and other evidences aforesaid, grant to such claim- 
 ant a certificate of his right to take any such person iden> 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 105 
 
 tifierl and proved to be owing service or labor as aforesaid, 
 which shall authorize such claimant to seize or arrest and 
 transport such pers<in to the State or Territory from which 
 he escaped : Provided, That nothing herein contained 
 shall be constiued as requiring the production of a tran- 
 script of sued record as evidence as aforesaid. But in its 
 absence the cla'm shall be heard and determined upon 
 otht^r satis'actory proofs, competent in law. 
 Approved September 18, 18^0. 
 
 Instead of quieting the controversy, the " Fugi- 
 tive Slave Law" only made it more bitter. Four 
 years later the slavery question was revived iu 
 Congress by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska 
 Bill, the slave-holding States gaining once more 
 what, for the time being, seemed an advantage. 
 
 Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. 
 
 In the Act of 1854, to organize the Territories of 
 Kansas and Nebraska, the so-called Missouri Com- 
 promise was declared null and void, as follows : 
 
 Section 14. * * * That the Constitution, and all the 
 laws of the United States which are not locally inapplica- 
 ble, shall have the same force and effect within the said 
 territory of Nebraska as elsewhere within the United 
 States, except the eighth section of the Act preparatory 
 to the admission of Missouri into the Union, approved 
 March sixth, eighteen hundred and twenty, which, being 
 inconsistent with the principle of non-intervention by 
 Congress with slavery in the States and Territories, as 
 recognized by the legislation of eighteen hundred and 
 fifty, commonly called the Compromise Measures, is 
 hereliy declared inoperative and void ; it being the true 
 intent and meaning of this Act not to legislate slavery 
 into any Territ')ry or State, nor to exclude it therefrom, 
 but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and 
 regulate their domestic institutions in their own way. 
 
lo6 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 subject only to the Constitution of the United States : 
 Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be con- 
 strued to revive or put in force any law or regulation 
 which may have existed prior to the Act of March sixth, 
 eighteen hundred and twenty, either protecting, estab- 
 lishing, prohibiting or abolishing slavery. 
 
 This repeal of the Missouri Compromise led to 
 tremendous excitement throughout the North. 
 The old political organizations broke up, and the 
 Republican party came into existence, as successor 
 to the Free Soil party. The Democrats and Whigs 
 had been divided within their respective party 
 lines on the slavery issue ; but now the Democrats 
 opposed to slavery abandoned their party and 
 joined with the great mass of the Whigs in form- 
 ing the Republican party which took the field in 
 1856, with General John C. Fremont, of California, 
 as its standard-bearer for President. James Buch- 
 anan, of Pennsylvania, was nominated by the 
 Democrats. In the election which followed, every 
 Southern State voted for Buchanan, except Mary- 
 land, which voted for Millard Fillmore, the candi- 
 date of the ephemeral "American" organization. 
 Buchanan carried in the North his own State of 
 Pennnsylvania, and the States of New Jersey, 
 Indiana, Illinois and California. Eleven Northern 
 States voted for Fremont. The popular vote was : 
 for Buchanan, 1,838,169; Fremont, 1,341,264 ; Fill- 
 more, 874,534- 
 
 Buchanan's Hope— Lincoln's Prophecy. 
 
 In his inaugural address President Buchanan ex- 
 pressed the hope ' ' that the long agitation of the 
 slavery question was approaching its end." Far 
 more prophetic was the declaration of Aljraham 
 Lincoln in joint debate with Senator Douglas in 
 Illinois — " I believe this government cannot endure 
 permanently half slave, half free. I do not expect 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 107 
 
 the Union to be dissolved ; I do not expect the 
 house to fall ; but I do expect it will cease to be 
 divided. It will become all one thing or all the 
 other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest 
 the further spread of it, and place it where the 
 public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the 
 course of ultimate extinction, or its advocates will 
 push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in 
 all the States, old as well as new. North as well as 
 South." From the beginning to the end of Presi- 
 dent Buchanan's term the struggle between free- 
 dom and slavery for the control of the territories 
 continued. There was bloodshed in Kansas, and 
 hot and angry debates in Congress. In i860 Mr. 
 Lincoln was nominated for President by the Repub- 
 lican Convention on a platform of opposition to 
 slavery extension. The Democratic Convention 
 split in twain after a prolonged and bitter contro- 
 versy at Charleston, S. C. The Southern wing of 
 the party nominated John C. Breckinridge, of Ken- 
 tucky, and the Northern wing Stephen A. Douglas. 
 The Republicans marched to an easy and certain 
 triumph. Lincoln carried every free State with the 
 exception of New Jersey which divided her elec- 
 toral votes, Lincoln obtaining four. Breckinridge 
 carried every slave State save four— Virginia, Ken- 
 tucky, and Maryland voting for John Bell, Con- 
 servative Unionist, and Missouri for Douglas. 
 
 Secession followed in eleven of the Southern 
 States. While on the part of the North the war 
 was carried on for the preservation of the Union 
 and not for the suppression of slavery, yet the 
 emancipation of the slaves was a foregone conclu- 
 sion from the first, should the North succeed. The 
 Emancipation Proclamation sent forth by President 
 Lincoln on New Year's Day, 1863, was a war 
 measure, issued in accordance with the President's 
 duty and authority as commander-in-chief, to 
 weaken by every means the forces of the enemy. 
 In effect it was the greatest work of constitutional 
 
lo8 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 reform that ever emanated from the hand of man. 
 It had force, however, only where the Union armies 
 obtained control of territory previously held by the 
 Confederates, and was therefore not in complete 
 effect until the close of the war. The Thirteenth 
 Amendment to the Constitution of the United 
 States, riveted the abolition of slavery in the Con- 
 stitution finally and forever. 
 
 Following is the Emancipation Proclamation : 
 
 Proclamation. 
 
 Whereas, On the 22d day of September, in the year 
 of our Lord 1862, a proclamation was issued by the 
 President of the United States, contaimng among other 
 things the following, to wit : 
 
 That on the first day of January in the year of our Lord 
 1863, all persons held as slaves within any State, or any 
 designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then 
 be m rebelhon against the United States, shall be thence- 
 forward and forever free, and the executive government 
 of the United States, including the military and naval 
 authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom 
 of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such 
 persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for 
 their actual freedom : 
 
 That the executive will, on the isl day of January afore- 
 said, by proclamation, designate the S'ates and parts of 
 States, if any, in which ihe people thereof respectively 
 shall tlien be in rebellion against the United States, and 
 the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that 
 day be in good faith represented in the Congress of the 
 United States by members chosen thereto at elections 
 wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State 
 shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong 
 countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence 
 that such State and the people thereof are not then in re- 
 bellion against the United States : 
 
 Now, therefore, 1, Al)raham Lincoln, President of the 
 United vStates, by virtue of the power in me vested as 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 109 
 
 commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United 
 States, in time of actual armed rebellion against the au- 
 thority and government of the United States, and as a fit 
 and necessary war-measure for repressing said rebellion, 
 do, on this ist day of January, in the year of our Lord 1 863, 
 and in accordance with my purpose so to do, publicly pro- 
 claim for the full period of 100 days from the day of the 
 first above-mentioned order, and designate as the Slates 
 and parts of States wherein the people thereof respec- 
 tively are this day in rebellion against the United States, 
 the following, to wit : Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, 
 except the parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jeffer- 
 son, St. John, St. Charles, St. James, Ascension, Assump- 
 tion, Terre Bonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin and 
 Orleans, including the city of New Orleans, Mississippi, 
 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Caro- 
 lina, and Virginia, except the 48 counties designated as 
 West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkeley, 
 Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess 
 Ann and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and 
 Portsmouth, and which excepted parts are, for the present, 
 left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued. 
 
 And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, 
 I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves 
 within said designated States and parts of States are, and 
 henceforward shall be, free ; and that the executive gov- 
 ernment of the United States, including the military and 
 naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the 
 freedom of said persons. 
 
 And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be 
 free, to abstain from all violence unless in necessary self- 
 defence, and I recommend to them that in all cases, when 
 allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages. 
 
 And I further declare and make known that such 
 persons of suitable condition will be received into the 
 armed service of the United States to garrison forts, posi- 
 tions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all 
 sorts in said service. 
 
 And upon this, sincerely believed to be an act of 
 justice, warranted by the constitution, upon military 
 
no HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind 
 aaid the gracious favor of Almighty God. 
 
 In vi'itness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and 
 caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. 
 
 [l. s.] Done at the city of Washington, this 1st day of 
 January, in the year of our Lord 1863, and of the Inde- 
 pendence of the United States the 87th. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln. 
 By the President : 
 
 William H. Seward, Secretary of State. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. i" 
 
 Part IV. 
 
 THE TARIFF ISSUE. 
 
 As OivD AS THB Union. 
 
 The tariff issue has been before the American 
 people ever since the foundation of the Union. 
 The volumes written for and agamst a tarift tor 
 protection would fill a vast library, and both sides 
 remain just as convinced of the soundness of their 
 respective arguments as when the controversy 
 becran at the first session of Congress under the 
 Constitution. It has almost ceased to be a question 
 of the encouragement of domestic manufactures— 
 which have mostly grown to adult proportions- 
 and is now a question of the exclusion of foreign 
 manufactures in order that our own may supply 
 the domestic market. The present sentiment of 
 the country is almost universally favorable to a 
 moderately protective tariff. Public opinion in 
 the South has, in this respect, changed greatly 
 since the South began to manufacture its own cot- 
 ton into cloth, to develop its mines, and subdue 
 its magnificent water power to the service ot in- 
 dustry The American people are not m favor ol 
 a tariff so high as to make the American manu- 
 facturer independent of the consumer's rights and 
 
 It was natural that the South should have 
 opposed a high tariff in the slave-labor period. 
 The South produced raw material, on which no 
 protection was given or desired, and was sure of a 
 market for that material in Europe as well as the 
 United States. The South wanted to buy goods as 
 cheaply as possible with the money received lor 
 
112 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 cotton and tobacco, and the tariff interfered with 
 freedom to purchase in the cheapest market 
 Hence the mdignation expressed by certain citizens 
 ol bouth Carohna m a petition to their Legislature 
 protestmg against the tariff legislation of 1828' 
 and praying to be saved, if possible, "from the 
 conjoint grasp of usurpation and poverty." Hence 
 the attempt of South Carolina in 1832 to nullify 
 the Tariff Law, and President Jackson's message 
 declaring that the laws of the United States must 
 be obeyed. 
 
 While the South regarded the protective system 
 as a grievance and a burden, the North, and 
 especiallj' New England, supported it for manifest 
 reasons. The people of New England made con- 
 siderable wealth m commerce before losing their 
 commercial precedence, but, notwithstanding the 
 fortunes thus accumulated. New England would 
 have been left m barren plight but for the intro- 
 duction and establishment of manufactures. Man- 
 ufactures were to New England what cotton and 
 slaves were to the South. The stonv valleys were 
 planted with factory villages, and rivulets, dam.med 
 by great embankments, became ponds large 
 enough to turn the wheels of many a busy mill 
 The New England and other Northern manufac- 
 turers strove unceasingly to keep up protective 
 duties and to restrict foreign competition and 
 wnile sometimes subjected to low tariff rates, they 
 were never wholly abandoned by the national 
 legislature. 
 
 Tariff Legisi^ation. 
 The tariff pohcy of Congress before the late 
 civil war was unsettled and vacillating, the com- 
 promise feature, so prominent also in the slavery 
 issue, being ever at the front in dealing with pro- 
 tective duties. The dispute over the tariff of 1828- 
 32 was compromised by agreement upon a biU 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 113 
 
 introduced by Henry Clay, and providing for a 
 gradual reduction of duties. In 1842 another 
 tariff bill was passed, conferring substantial pro- 
 tection, but in 1846 Congress enacted a measure 
 devoid of protective features, and placing the 
 tariff on a revenue basis. The "Tariff of 1857 " 
 placed duties lower than they had been at any 
 time since the virtual beginning of protection after 
 the war of 181 2. The tariff of 1857 was not in any 
 narrow seuse a partisan measure. The Senators 
 from Massachusetts voted for it as well as the Sen- 
 ators from South Carolina, and it was fondly 
 hoped by leading statesmen of both the Republican 
 and Democratic parties that the interests of the 
 whole country would be harmonized and benefited 
 by the change. The hope proved as illusory as in 
 the case of slavery. Importations were greatly 
 stimulated by the reduction of duties, and when a 
 disastrous panic swept over the country a few 
 months later, the calamity was connected in the 
 popular mind with the stride back toward free- 
 trade conditions. 
 
 Up to the time of the civil war, the principle of 
 protection as opposed to the principle of free trade 
 had been the cardinal issue in tariff discussions 
 and changes. The enormous expenses of the war 
 made it necessary to raise revenue by ever}' means 
 which the Constitution permitted, and the "Mor- 
 rill Tariff "—so called from Senator Lot M. Morrill, 
 of Maine— was ena :ted, adding largely to the 
 duties on certain, imported articles, and imposing 
 duties on many articles that were before exempt. 
 For the time being the South was out of the con- 
 troversy, and New England had her own way in 
 framing this tariff It may be mentioned here that 
 the Constitution of the Southern Confederacy pro- 
 hibited the imposition of any duties except for 
 revenue. The " Morrill Tariff" and other supple- 
 mentary measures dealing with duties on imports 
 gave high protection to the leading manufacturing 
 industries of the North. 
 
114 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 The Tariff After the War. 
 
 Owing to the continuous demand for revenue to 
 meet the increased expenses of the Government, 
 fulfill the obligations of the war and maintain the 
 national credit, the tariff issue was in suspense until 
 the national elections of iSSo. The South, utterly 
 prostrate and exhausted at the close of the war, 
 was in the mean time rebuilding her shattered 
 homes on the sure foundation of free labor instead 
 of the quicksand of slavery, and her statesmen 
 had problems to deal with which came nearer their 
 hearthstones than that of the tariff. It took the 
 South at least fifteen years to stand forth in fresh 
 vigor and full consciousness of its power and re- 
 sponsibility as a section of the Union, and this re- 
 covery of the South was contemporaneous with the 
 recovery of the nation fiom the financial burdens 
 of the war. Instead of the question being how to 
 raise revenue for national needs, the question was 
 what to do with the surplus revenue. The tariff 
 issue was again forced to the front, therefore, by 
 the logic of the situation. Southern hostility to 
 protection had diminished because the South now 
 needed protection, but the South, as a section, 
 supported tariff reduction both on account of Dem- 
 ocratic party traditions, and because the Southern 
 people believed the benefits of the tariff to be 
 disproportionately in favor of Northern manu- 
 facturers. 
 
 Becomes the Leading Issue. 
 
 The Republicans elected General Garfield in 
 1880 on a platform which declared for maintaining 
 a scale of duties that Avould continue to protect 
 American industries against foreign competition. 
 The Democrats pronounced in favor of a tariff for 
 revenue with incidental protection. In 1882 Con- 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 115 
 
 gress appointed a Commission to report upon the 
 expediency of reducing the tariff duties, and a bill 
 was passed, in accordance with the recommenda- 
 tions of the Commission, making certain reduc- 
 tions The national contest of 1884 was fonyht 
 chiefly on the tariff issue, and the defeat of the 
 Republicans indicated that the nation was prepared 
 for some measure of reform. Mr. Cleveland s 
 message of December, 1887, was devoted exclu- 
 sively to the subject of the tariff. He characterized 
 the existing tariff laws as "vicious, inequitable 
 and illogical." The Democratic House of Repre- 
 sentatives, in accordance with the suggestions con- 
 tained in the President's Message, passed the 
 " Mills Bill," removing the duty on wool, and in- 
 tended to reduce the revenue by fully 150,000,000. 
 The Republican Senate offered a substitute repeal- 
 ing the tax on tobacco and reducing the duty on 
 sugar nearly one-half, the estimated reduction 
 under this bill being about |65,ooo,ooo. In the 
 national election of 1888 the Democrats had a 
 maiority of the popular vote, but a minority of the 
 Electoral College, and the Republicans, notwith- 
 standing their victory, concluded that the demand 
 for a revision of the tariff could not be ignored. 
 The Fifty-second Congress therefore enacted the 
 McKinley Law, which, while it removed the duties 
 on-aiig^ar,if not above 16 Dutch standard and on a 
 mim^r of other articles, added considerably to 
 the duties on woolen manufactures, cotton and silk 
 goods, tin plates and various other articles of gen- 
 eral use by consumers. The McKinley Law m effect 
 largely raised, instead of reducing, the tarilt rates 
 from the standpoint of the shopping public, while 
 the removal of duty on raw sugar wa^; more than 
 counterbalanced by the duty on refined sugar, 
 which enabled the Sugar Trust to make vast prohts 
 out of that article of common table consumption. 
 Two Republican defeats— each of them overwhelm- 
 ing— in 1890 and 1892-seemed to give emphatic 
 
Ii6 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 notice that the nation was not satisfied with the 
 McKinley Law. The election of 1892 was con- 
 tested on the issue of that law, with a complication 
 of labor troubles which weakened the cause of 
 protection. 
 
 The \Vii,son Tariff Law. 
 
 The struggle which preceded the enactment of 
 the so-called Wilson Tariff Law, sometimes called 
 the " Wilson-Gorman Tariff" on account of the 
 agency of Senator Gorman of Maryland in making 
 changes in the bill as it came from the House, was 
 one of the most disgraceful in the history of 
 American legislation. The bill passed the House 
 of Representatives without scandal, but it was 
 alleged, when the measure reached the Senate, 
 that wrongful influences had been brought to bear 
 upon Senators to secure their advocacy of con- 
 tinued high protection for refined sugar. An in- 
 vestigation was held, and the -committee appointed 
 to make the inquiry reported that no charge had 
 been filed before it thai the action of any Senator 
 had been " corruptly or improperly influenced in 
 the consideration of the tariff bill, or that any 
 attempt had been made to so influence legislation." 
 The bill went back to the House retaining free 
 wool as the only original feature of importance, 
 and was received in that body with a burst of 
 indignant protest. Meantime influences were 
 actively at work in the Senate, and there is ground 
 for believing that, had the measure gone back to 
 that body a sufficient number of votes would have 
 been obtained to defeat the measure and leave the 
 McKinley Law in operation. The consummation 
 of this alleged bargain was defeated by the passage 
 of the bill in the House with all the Senate amend- 
 ments. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 117 
 
 The principal differences between the Wilson 
 and McKinley Laws and the tariff of 1883, are 
 indicated by the following table : 
 
 TARIFF RATES COMPARED, 
 
 Schedule. Cotton. Flax. Wool. Silk. 
 
 "New IsLW, Y^er cent aJ valorem, . 41 32 41 46 
 
 McKinley taiiff, 55 42 99 53 ^ 
 
 Mills bill, ;^^ 25 40 50 
 
 Tariff of 1S83, 35 31 67 45 
 
 The sugar bounty is abolished, and a duty of 
 forty per cent ad va/orem imposed upon raw sugar, 
 which before was free, while refined sugar pays 
 one-eighth of a cent a pound and forty per cent, 
 against one-half a cent under the late tariff. Wool, 
 raw hides, and many other articles are duty free. 
 Other diflerences are apparent in the following 
 statement compiled by the treasury department : 
 
 Old Rate. New Rate. 
 
 China, painted, etc., 60.00 35.00 
 
 Bottles, empty, 70.01 52.63 
 
 Bottles, filled, 71.48 53-61 
 
 Demijohns, empty, 37.91 28.43 
 
 Manufactures of glass, . . . . 60.00 35 .00 
 
 Cylinder glass, polished, unsilvered, 20 to 64 13 to 48 
 
 Plate glass, unsilvered, cast, etc., . 98 to 174 88 to 122 
 Plate glass, cast, silvered, above 24 
 
 by 60, 49.39 31.28 
 
 Stained or painted window glass, . 45.00 35.00 
 
 Roofing slate, 25.00 20.00 
 
 Iron ore, 42.77 22.27 
 
 Iron in pigs, etc., 36 to 41 15 to 21 
 
 Scrap iron, 47-83 28.47 
 
 Scrap steel, 43.00 25.59 
 
 Bar iron, 25 to 53 16 to 32 
 
 Bars of rolled iron, 61.77 44-93 
 
 Boiler or other plate iron or steel, . 54.00 25.00 
 
 Rails of sleel, 58.24 33-99 
 
Il8 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Old Rate. New Rate. 
 Sheets of iron or steel, common or 
 
 black, 251070 20 to 55 
 
 Tin plates, 78.44 42.32 
 
 Tin, Manufactures of Steel ingots, 
 
 etc., 29 to 50 20 to 40 
 
 Cast-iron vessels, etc., 26.97 i7-9^ 
 
 Malleable iron castings, ..... 3^ -^3 16-37 
 
 Hollowware, 35.33 23.55 
 
 Firearms, 41 i.j So 30.00 
 
 Nails, 23 to 45 26 to 30 
 
 Railway fish plates, 72.18 25.00 
 
 Hand, back, and other saws, . . . 40.00 25.00 
 
 Screws 47 to ill 331067 
 
 Wheels, 83.72 41.86 
 
 Plates (rolled), braziers' copper, . 35 -oo 20.00 
 
 Gold leaf, 4487 3000 
 
 Silver leaf, 77-78 30.00 
 
 Lead, sheet, 3665 18.33 
 
 Nickel, 23.77 14.26 
 
 Pins, 30.00 25.00 
 
 Zinc, in sheets, 29.19 14-59 
 
 Manufactures of metal, 45. 00 35-00 
 
 Casks, barrels and boxes, ..... 30.00 20.00 
 
 Blocks, wood, 35-00 25.00 
 
 Rice, cleaned iii.85 83.89 
 
 Rice, uncleaned, 64.19 41.08 
 
 Oranges, lemons and limes, ... 12 to 31 12 to 32 
 
 Spirits, distilled, 91 to 367 65 to 264 
 
 Cotton cloths, not over 100 threads, 
 
 not bleached, 35-17 3505 
 
 Cotton, bleached, 38.60 26.53 
 
 Cotton, dyed, colored, etc., . . . 40.80 30.54 
 Cotton, exceeding 100 threads, not 
 
 bleached, 42.39 32.39 
 
 Cotton, bleached, 43-27 35-oo 
 
 Cotton, dyed, etc 43-84 38.84 
 
 Cables, cordage and twine, ... 161031 lo to 20 
 
 Bagging for cotton 32.52 Free 
 
 Woolen yams 278.66 30.00 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 119 
 
 Old Rate. New Rate, 
 Shawls, woolen, not above forty 
 
 cents per pound 136.00 35 -oo 
 
 Blankets, 80 to 104 35-00 
 
 Hats of wool, 86 to 107 3500 
 
 Plannels, not over fifty cents per 
 
 pound, 85 to 104 25 to 35 
 
 Silk, partially manufactured, . . 60.50 20.00 
 Silk webbings, gros-grains, dress 
 
 goods, etc., ... ... 50.00 45.00 
 
 Writing, drawing and other paper, 
 
 N. S. P., 35-00 20.C0 
 
 Dolls and other toys, 35.oo 25.00 
 
 Coal, bituminous, . ..... 22.72 12. 12 
 
 Slack, or culm of coal, 28.68 14-34 
 
 Coke, 20.00 15.00 
 
 Matches, 33-93 20.00 
 
 Haircloth, known as crinoline cloth, ^7-99 20.99 
 
 Haircloth, known as hair seating . 23.22 15-4^ 
 
 Leather, bend or belting and sole, . 10.00 1000 
 
 Calfskins, japanned, 30.00 20.09 
 
 Leaiher,all not specially provided for, 10.00 10.00 
 
 Boots and shoes, 25.00 20.00 
 
 Manufactures of India rubber, . , 30.00 25.00 
 
 Composition metal, copper, . . . 6.49 Free 
 
 Plates of copper, not rolled, . . . 11.80 Free 
 
 Bindmg twine, 6.47 Free 
 
 Paintings in oil or water colors, . . 15.00 Free 
 
 Statuary, 1 5.00 Free 
 
 Hatters* plush, 10.00 Free 
 
 Reciprocity. 
 
 The Wilson Law also repealed what was known 
 as the "Reciprocity Section" of the McKinley 
 Law, which had been intended especially to gain 
 the trade of Central and South America for the 
 United States. The Reciprocity Section provided 
 that " whenever and so often as the President shall 
 
I20 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 / be satisfied that the government of any country 
 producing and exporting sugar, molasses, coffee, 
 tea, and hides, raw or uncured, or any such articles, 
 imposes duties or other exactions upon the agricul- 
 tural or other products of the United States, which 
 in view of the free introduction of such sugar, 
 molasses, coffee, tea and hides into the United 
 States he may deem to be reciprocally unequal and 
 unreasonable, he shall have the power, and it shall 
 be his duty to suspend by proclamation to that 
 effect the provisions of this act relating to the free 
 introduction of such sugar, molasses, coffee, tea and 
 hides, the production of such country, for such 
 time as he shall deem just, and in such case and 
 during such suspension duties shall be levied, col- 
 lected and paid upon sugar, molasses, coffee, tea 
 and hides, the product of, or exported from such 
 designated country as follows," etc. In pursuance 
 of this provision reciprocity treaties had been 
 negotiated with Spain and Brazil. Honduras, Sal- 
 vador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, San Domingo, Ger- 
 many, Austria-Hungary and Great Britain for 
 Jamaica and her other West Indian colonies and 
 British Guiana. The effect of the reciprocity treaty 
 with Spain had been highly favorable, the British 
 consul-general, at Havana, being quoted as saying : 
 " British trade with Cuba has almost become a 
 thing of the past ; and under the recent reciprocity 
 treaty the United States of America practically 
 supplies all the wants of the islands and receives 
 all its produce. The effect has been to throw 
 nearly the entire Cuban trade into the hands of the 
 United States traders, with whom importers of 
 goods from less favored nations cannot compete, 
 having to pay by the terms of such a treaty higher 
 import duties. ' ' On the passage of the Wilson Law 
 Spain promptly abrogated the treaty, and Brazil 
 soon afterward gave three months' notice of abro- 
 gation. All the treaties based on reciprocity have 
 terminated. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 121 
 
 Part V. 
 THE SIIvVER QUESTION. 
 
 Demonetization op Sii^ver. 
 
 The silver question is one of the most important 
 before the people of the United States. It is a 
 question which involves the interests not only of 
 the so-called silver States, but of all the Union, and 
 the financial credit of the nation at home and 
 abroad. It has not reached a final solution, and 
 the result of the coming Presidential election may- 
 depend upon whether the voters in the silver- 
 mining regions prefer the advocacy of free silver 
 to their accustomed party allegiance. 
 
 The first United States Coinage Act was passed 
 in 1792, and authorized the unrestricted mintage of 
 gold and silver at the then prevalent ratio of i to 
 15. One ounce of gold having become, in 1834, 
 equal in commercial value to about 16 ounces of 
 silver, Congress in that year changed the ratio to i 
 to 15,988, or practically i to 16. While the com- 
 mercial value of silver has varied considerably 
 since 1834. the legal ratio has remained the same. 
 Congress in 1873 demonetized the silver dollar. 
 This enactment has been and is the subject of so 
 much controversy that it may be well to quote the 
 provisions bearing upon silver demonetization. 
 
 '* Sec. 14. That the gold coins of the United States 
 shall be a one-dollar piece, which, at the standard weight 
 of twenty-five and eight-tenths grains, shall be the unit of 
 value. [Then follow directions as to other gold coins.] 
 
122 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 "Sec. 15. That ihe silver coins of the United 
 States shall be a trade dollar, a half dollar, or fifty- 
 cent piece, a quarter dollar, or twenty-five cent piece, a 
 dime, or ten-cent piece; and the weight of the trade 
 dollar shall be 420 grains troy ; the weight of the half 
 dollar shall be twelve grams and one-half of a gram; 
 the quarter dollar and the dime shall be respeciively 
 one-half and one-fifth of the weight of said half dollar, 
 and said coins shall be a legal tender at their nominal 
 value for any amount not exceeding ^5 in any one 
 payment. 
 
 "Sec. 17. That no coins, either of gold, silver or 
 minor coinage, shall hereafter be issued from the mint 
 other than those of the denominations, standards and 
 weights herein set forth." 
 
 It is but fair to state that this act was not passed 
 in any stealthy manner, the subject having been 
 under public discussion in and out of Congress for 
 almost three years previously. It is not surprising 
 that the demonetization of silver should have 
 encountered so little opposition when it is remem- 
 bered that the silver dollar was then an obsolete 
 coin. The law had permitted the free coinage of 
 silver since April 2, 1792, yet the total amount 
 coined prior to 1873 was only $8,045,838, while the 
 amount of gold coined during the same period was 
 $781,656,541. The silver dollar was not an actual 
 standard of value for about thirty-five years pre- 
 vious to 1873, there having been practically no 
 silver in circulation during that period. The 
 demonetization of silver was undoubtedly prompted 
 by apprehension that the rapidly increasing output 
 of that metal would lead to disturbance of values 
 and depreciation of the currency, should the silver 
 remain even nominally a standard coin. In that 
 very year of 1873 ^ "^w body of paying ore was 
 discovered in one of the mines of the Comstock 
 lode in Nevada, and the value of silver began rap- 
 idly to decline. The following table shows the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 123 
 
 decline down to the period of the repeal of the 
 Sherman Act in 1893 : 
 
 Silver and Gold Values. 
 
 Calen- Value of fine Gain or Bullion values ^-^^1^1 
 
 dar ounce at aver- loss ofaU. S. rat'o 
 
 years. age quotations. percent. silver dollar. ' ' 
 
 1873 .... $1.30 0.45 gain ^1.004 15.9 
 
 1874 1.28 i.oo loss .989 15.2 
 
 1875 ^-^5 3-00 loss .96 16.6 
 
 1876 1. 16 10.00 loss .90 17.9 
 
 1877 ..... 1.20 7.00 loss .929 17.2 
 
 1878 1. 15 10.00 loss .89 17.9 
 
 1879 1. 12 13.00 loss .869 18.4 
 
 1880 1. 14 1 1.00 loss .886 18.0 
 
 1881 1. 14 12.00 loss .88 18.1 
 
 1882 1. 13 12.00 loss . .878 18.2 
 
 1883 I.I I 14.00 loss .868 186 
 
 1884 I. II 14.00 loss .86 18.6 
 
 1885 1.06 18.00 loss .82 19.4 
 
 1886 0.99 23.00 loss .769 20.8 
 
 1887 0.98 24.00 loss .757 21. 1 
 
 1888 0.94 27.00 loss .727 22.0. 
 
 1889 to.93 28.00 loss .72 22.0 
 
 1890 1.05 19.00 loss .809 19.7 
 
 189I 0.99 23.00 loss .76 20.9 
 
 1892 0.87 33.00 loss .67 23.7 
 
 1893 8 months 0.81 37-oo loss .625 25.5 
 
 The Bland-AlIvISon Act. 
 
 The movement for the restoration of silver as a 
 money metal began in this country in 1878 with 
 the passage of the Bland Allison act. In 1878, the 
 Bland bill for the free coinage of silver dollars 
 passed the House. An amendment, subsequently 
 concurred in by the House, was secured by Mr. 
 Allison in the Senate ; and the measure finally 
 became a law OTcr the veto of President Hayes. 
 
124 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 The coinage of the silver dollar, with full legal- 
 tender power, was restored — not for individuals, as 
 prior to 1873, but on government account — the law 
 requiring the purchase and coinage monthly, by 
 the Government, of not less than $2,000,000 nor 
 more than $4,000,000 w^orth of silver bullion. 
 Although only the minimum amount was pur- 
 chased and coined, the purchases of silver under 
 this act aggregated 291,292,019 ounces, costing 
 $308,199,262, from which there were coined and 
 issued, either in actual dollars or paper certificates, 
 $378,166,795. 
 
 When this bill was passed, continental Europe 
 had already gone far toward the adoption of the 
 gold standard. In 1870 Great Britain was the only 
 gold standard country in the world by law. The 
 United States was practically a gold standard coun- 
 try, for the silver dollar, being undervalued, did 
 not circulate. In 1871 Germany decided on the 
 gold standard, and practically threw her old silver 
 coins on the market in the form of bullion. Hol- 
 land followed in 1873, the Latin Union in 1876, and 
 Spain in 1878. The immediate reason for this 
 movement was the depreciation of silver, and this 
 depreciation continued. Notwithstanding the 
 enormous purchases under the Bland- Allison act, 
 the price of the metal fell from $[.2o>^ an ounce on 
 February 28, 1878, to $0.92 an ounce on May 29, 
 1SS9. 
 
 The Sherman Act. 
 
 In June, 1890, the senate, by a vote of 42 to 25, 
 had passed a bill for the free coinage of silver into 
 legal dollars at the ratio of 16 to i. There being a 
 prospect that the bill would pass the House, the 
 silver law of July 14, 1890 (the so-called "Sherman" 
 law), was framed. It finally passed the House by 
 122 to 90, the yeas being ]2i Republicans and i 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 125 
 
 "Wheeler," and the nays all Democrats. In the 
 Senate the vote stood 39 to 26, a strict party divi- 
 sion, the yeas being all Republicans, and three un- 
 paired Democrats not voting. The treasury was 
 required to purchase 4,500,000 ounces of silver 
 monthly, and the act required the coinage into 
 dollars monthly, until July i, 1891, of 2,000,000 
 ounces of the silver bought. A declaration was, 
 however, inserted by Senator Sherman, to the 
 effect that it is the "established policy of the United 
 States to maintain the two metals on a parity with 
 each other upon the present legal ratio, or such 
 ratio as may be provided by law." Up to July r, 
 1893, the Treasury had purchased, under the opera- 
 tion of this law, about 157,000,000 ounces of silver. 
 There had been a steady outflow of gold from the 
 United States for several years. The stock of free 
 gold in the Treasury fell from $218,818,255 in May, 
 1888, to ^93,582,172 on September 30, 1893. 
 
 Repeai. of Silver Purchase. 
 
 It was for the special purpose of securing a repeal 
 of the silver law of 1890 that President Cleveland 
 convoked the 53d Congress in extraordinary session 
 August 7, 1893. His message, summarizing the 
 main arguments against continued purchases of 
 silver, was not of the character to overcome oppo- 
 sition ; and the debate was prolonged in the House 
 until August 26. The silver men, however, fought 
 a losing battle ; and on August 28, the Wilson 
 bill (so called from Hon. W. h. Wilson, Demo- 
 cratic, of West Virginia, who introduced it August 
 II), was passed by the altogether unexpected 
 majority of 130. It repealed the purchase clause 
 of the Sherman Act, but left unimpaired the 
 legal-tender quality of the standard silver dollars 
 heretofore coined up to that time, and pledged the 
 faith and credit of the United States to maintain 
 
126 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the parity of all its coins. During the contest the 
 silver men, under the leadership of Mr. Bland, of 
 Missouri, made desperate efforts to secure the pas- 
 sage of a free coinage law. Several ratios, ranging 
 from 16 to I to 20 to I, were proposed; but were 
 successively rejected by decisive majorities. A 
 similar fate met a proposal to revive the Bland- 
 Allison Act of 1878. The bill went to the Senate, 
 and after a severe struggle passed that body and at 
 length became a law, November i, 1893. 
 
 One of the most important political results of the 
 repeal of the so-called Sherman Act was the seces- 
 sion from the Republican party of Senator John P. 
 Jones, of Nevada. The latter addressed a letter on 
 September 4, 1S94. to the chairman of the Repub- 
 lican State central committee of Nevada, formally 
 severing his connection with the Republican party, 
 announcing his alliance with " the party that brings 
 this overmastering issue (the silver question) to the 
 front" (presumably the Popuhsts), and giving at 
 length his reasons therefor. In the mam these 
 reasons are. that the Republican party organization 
 is unalterably opposed to the free coinage of silver 
 at the American ratio of 16 to r, or at all, except 
 with the consent of foreign governments and at a 
 ratio to be dictated by them. 
 
 Demands of Sii^ver Advocates. 
 
 The claims of the advocates of free silver coinage 
 seem to be clearly and simply set forth in the 
 following demands of the National Bimetallic 
 League : 
 
 "I. All legislation demonetizing silver and re- 
 stricting the coinage thereof must be immediately 
 and completely repealed by an act restoring the 
 coinage of the country to the conditions established 
 by the founders of the nation. We protest against 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 127 
 
 the financial policy of the United States being 
 made dependent upon the opinion or policies of 
 any foreign government. 
 
 '' 2. We assert that the only remedy for our me- 
 talh'c finrincial troubles is to open the mints of the 
 nation to gold and silver on equal terms at the old 
 ratio of 16 of silver to i of gold. Whenever silver 
 bullion can be exchanged at the mints for legal- 
 tender silver dollars worth 100 cents, that moment 
 412)4 grains of standard silver will be worth 100 
 cents; and, as commerce equalizes the prices of all 
 commodities throughout the v;orld, whenever 412 >^ 
 grains of standard silver are worth 100 cents in the 
 United States, they will be worth that sum every- 
 where else, and cannot be bought for less. While 
 such a result would enhance the price of bullion, a 
 similar rise would be immediately made in every 
 kind of property, except gold and credits." 
 
128 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Part VI. 
 TRUSTS AND MONOPOLIES. 
 
 MoNOPOivY Described. 
 
 Monopoly is the possession by an individual or 
 corporation of the exclusive privilege of supplying 
 some public and general want. Every citizen of 
 the United States lias the right to engage in any 
 lawful business, subject to the conditions imposed ' 
 by law ; but monopolies are nevertheless conferred 
 both by Federal and State legislation. The patent 
 and copyright laws grant monopolies to those who 
 comply "with their requirements. A railway may 
 be a monopoly, so far as part or all of its traffic is 
 concerned, if there is no competing line. Street- 
 railwav and gas and water-supply franchises are 
 often. If not generally, monopolies, for the reason 
 that competition is iinpossible under the terms of 
 the grant. In the case of a street railway, for in- 
 stance, there could not very well be two rival lines 
 on one thoroughfare. 
 
 Certain monopolies which have been engaging 
 public attention for several years, are, however, 
 monopolies only in a conventional sense. They 
 are combinations of trade and capital for the pur- 
 pose of controlling and profitably managing some 
 particular branch of business, previously carried on 
 by several and perhaps numerous competing con- 
 cerns These combinations are generally known as 
 "trusts," and various laws have been passed for 
 their suppression. That they sometimes interfere 
 in legislation and exert great power in politics was 
 shown, in 1894, iu the minority (Republican) 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 129 
 
 report from the Senate Committee on the Sugar 
 Trust scandal, as follows : 
 
 PoLiTicAi, Power of Trusts. 
 
 ** All the witnesses stated that in all these con- 
 ferences and discussions nothing was presented ex- 
 cept the ordinary arguments ofF^-red by an industry 
 in regard to its interests in a tariff bill ; but the un- 
 dersigned feel that the American Sugar Refining 
 company occupies a very different position, not 
 only in the public estimation, but as a matter of 
 fact, from that of any other industry in the coun- 
 try. It is a very rich corporation with an enormous 
 interest in tariff legislation. It is a matter of com- 
 plete indifference to the trust, what duties are levied 
 upon sugar, so long as the form is ad valorem, and 
 a sufficient differential is given in favor of refined 
 sugars. The sugar trust, by the evidence of its 
 president and treasurer, has contributed freely to 
 the State and city campaign funds of both parties, 
 and those contributions have been made in years 
 when national elections were held. This is a 
 thoroughly corrupt form of campaign contribu- 
 tions ; for such contributions, being given to two 
 opposing parties, are not for the purpose of pro- 
 moting certain political principles, but lo establish 
 an obligation to the giver on the part of whichever 
 party comes into power. The trust does not give 
 to political parties for the promotion of political 
 principles in whicb it believes, but for the protec- 
 tion of its own ititerests, as appears by the same 
 tesiimony. The fact that it gives to both political 
 parlies is sufficient proof of the purposes of its con- 
 tributions and of their dangerous nature. 
 
 " For these reasons the undersigned have felt it 
 important to lay before the senate and the country 
 the fact that the sugar schedule as it now stands is 
 according to the testimony in the form desired Oy 
 the sugar trust, and to point out also the methods 
 
I30 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 by which the suj^ar trust reached what it desired 
 
 and obtained, a substantial victory." 
 
 The United States Anti-Trust Law, passed in 
 1890, is as follows : 
 
 AN ACT 
 
 TO Protect Trade and Commerce Against Unlaw- 
 ful Restraints and Monopolies, 
 
 Be it enacted hv the Seriate and House of Representa- 
 tives of the United States of America in Congress as- 
 sembled. 
 
 Seciion I. Every ccntract, combination in the form of 
 trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or 
 commerce among the several States, or with foreign 
 nations, is hereby declared to be illegal. Every person 
 who shall make any such contract, or engage in 
 any combination or conspiracy, shall be deemed 
 guiliy of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, 
 shall be punished by fine not exceeding five thou- 
 sand dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding one 
 year, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the 
 court. 
 
 Sec. 2. Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt 
 to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other per- 
 son or jiersons, to monopolize any part of the trade or 
 commerce among the several States, or with foreign na- 
 tions, shall l>e deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on 
 conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding 
 five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding 
 one year, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of 
 the court. 
 
 Sec, 3. Every contract, combination in form of trust 
 Of otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or com- 
 merce in any Territory of the United States or of the 
 District of Columbia, or in restraint of trade or commerce 
 between any such Territory and another, or between any 
 such Territory or Territories and any Stale or States or 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 131 
 
 the District of Columbia, or with foreign nations, or be- 
 tween the District of Columbia and any State or States or 
 foreign nations, is hereby declared illegal. Every person 
 who shall make any such contract or engage in any such 
 combination or conspiracy, shall be deemed guilty of a 
 misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be pun- 
 ished by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by 
 imprisonment not exceedmg one year, or by both said 
 punishments, in the discretion of the court. 
 
 Sec. 4. The several circuit courts of the L^nited States 
 are hereby invested with jurisdiction to prevent and re- 
 strain violations of this act; and it shall be the duty of 
 the several district attorneys of the United States, in their 
 respective uisiricts, under the direction of the Aitorney- 
 Generai, to institute proceedings in equity to prevent and 
 restrain such violations. Such proceedings may be by 
 way of petition setting forth the case and praying that 
 such violation shall be enjoined or otherwise prohibited. 
 When the parties complained of shall have been duly 
 notified of such petition the court shall proceed, as soon 
 as may be, to the hearing and determination of the case; 
 and pending such petition and before final decree, the 
 court may at any time make such temporary restraining 
 order or prohibition as shall be deemed just in the pre- 
 mises. 
 
 Skc. 5. Whenever it shall appear to the court before 
 which any proceeding under section four of this act may 
 be pending, that the ends of justice require that other 
 parties should be brought before the court, the court may 
 cau-^e them to be summoned, whether they reside in the 
 district in which the court is held or not ; and subpoenas 
 to that end may be served in any district by the marshal 
 thereof. 
 
 Skc. 6. Any property owned under any contract or by 
 any combination, or pursuant to any conspiracy (and 
 being the subject thereoi ) mentioned in section one of 
 this act, and being in the course of transportation from 
 one Slate to another, or to a foreign country, shall be for- 
 feited to the United States, and may be seized and con- 
 demned by like proceedings as those provided by law fear 
 
X32 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the forfeiture, seizure, and condemnation of property im- 
 ported into the United States contrary to law. . 
 
 Sec 7 Any person who shall be injured in his business 
 or property by any other person or corporation by reason 
 of anything forbidden or declared to be unlawful by thi. 
 act, may sue therefor m any circuit court of the United 
 States in the district in which the defendant resides or is 
 found without respect to the amount in controversy, and 
 shall recover three-fold the damages by hirn sustamed, 
 and the costs of smt, including a reasonable attorney s 
 
 ^^^Sec 8. That the word "person," or "persons," wher- 
 ever used in this act shall be deemed to include corpora- 
 tions and associations existing under or authorized by the 
 laws of either the United States, the aws of any of the 
 Territories, the laws of any State, or the laws of any for- 
 eign country. 
 
 Approved July 2, i8go. 
 
 STATE Laws Against Trusts. 
 
 Mr Dodd, in the Harvard "Law Review," sum- 
 marizes anti-trust legislation in the different States 
 as follows-the word -persons" being used for 
 ''persons, corporations, associations, and partner- 
 ships," and the word " agreement," or ' attempt, 
 for "contract, combination, conspiracy, under- 
 standing, arrangement, or act : " . 
 
 In sixteen States, it is a criminal conspiracy for 
 two or more persons to agree to regulate or fix the 
 price of anv article, or to fix or limit the (luantity 
 of any article to be manufactured, mined, pro- 
 duced or sold. Regulating and fixing prices neces- 
 sarily include increasing and reducing prices, but 
 in most of the statutes these are also specified as 
 criminal. ^ , ^^_ 
 
 In six States, it is a crime for two or "jore per- 
 sons to enter into any agreement whereby lull 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. I33 
 
 and free competition in production and sale" is 
 prevented. . . • r 
 
 In two States and one territory, it is a crime tor 
 two or more persons to "attempt to monopolize '» 
 any article. 
 
 In Nebraska, two or more persons are guilty of 
 conspiracy if they agree to suspend or cease the 
 sale of any manufactured products, or if they agree 
 that the profits of anv manufacture or sale shall 
 be made a common fund, to be divided among 
 
 them. . , . , .1 • f 
 
 In Texas and Mississippi, besides the crimes of 
 fixing, regulating, increasing, and reducing prices, 
 it is also a crime for persons to settle the price of 
 any article between themselves, or between them- 
 selves and others. 
 
 In New York, it is a crime to enter into any con- 
 tract whereby competition in the supply or price 
 of articles in common use for support of life and 
 health may be restrained or prevented for the pur- 
 pose of advancing prices. 
 
1J4 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Part VII. 
 LABOR IN THK UNITED STATES, 
 
 Labor's Marvelous Progress. 
 
 Before speaking of the present condition of 
 labor in the United States it may not be amiss to 
 recall something of labor's progress in the past 
 under American institutions. It is unfortunate 
 that stereotyped history should have so little to say 
 about labor, as compared with political events. 
 We hear much of kings and queens and generals, 
 of sieges and battles and tnumphs, but very little 
 of the great unnumbered multitude of toilers who 
 were, and are, the very foundation and, we should 
 add, the pillar of all this pomp and circumstance. 
 If the question should be asked, " What has been 
 the most prominent feature of the past hundred 
 years?" how few would answer, " The emancipa- 
 tion of labor. " Yet the answer would be eminently 
 true. No invention, however useful ; no military 
 achievement, however signal, has been of such 
 measureless advantage to humanity as the change 
 in the conditions of labor since the middle of the 
 eighteenth century. 
 
 It is not from reading ordinary histories that this 
 change is discernible. To comprehend it you nmst 
 delve into the musty old records of the past ; the 
 reports of council and court proceedings, the pages 
 of ancient newspapers, and especially the adver- 
 tising columns. In all of them you will find crop- 
 ping out the fact that the ordinary workingman, at 
 a period not far distant, was hardly different from a 
 serf, while the lot of the workingwoman was even 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 135 
 
 more desperate. The ai3prenticesliip of the last 
 century was only a modified form of slavery, and 
 the female domestic was a bondwoman with but 
 slight prospects of ever being free. White men 
 and women were bound for a term of years to 
 their masters or mistresses, and the term was read- 
 ily extended by the magistrates upon any trivial 
 pretence of misconduct on the part of the servant. 
 The pay, too, was so inadequate that only one re- 
 source remained, as a rule, when the term of 
 service was completed, and that was to renew the 
 obligation and resume the yoke of bondage. At 
 the time of the outbreak of the Revolution the 
 lines of class in this respect were distinctly drawn, 
 and almost as severe, from a social point of view, 
 as that between whites and blacks in the South 
 to-day. 
 
 Effect of Independence on IvAbor. 
 
 The Declaration of Independence was, of course, 
 not intended to liberate the bondman, white or 
 black, except so far as related to political separation 
 from England ; but perforce of circumstances it 
 did have that effect both as regarded the general 
 body of white laborers and- some of the blacks. 
 Perhaps this was one reason why the rich through- 
 out the colonies were frequently on the Tory side. 
 In 1775, before independence was declared, but 
 when war had begun, General Washington, speak- 
 ing of the Massachusetts levies, says : "From the 
 number of boys, deserters and ncfrroes which have 
 been enlisted in the troops of this province I en- 
 tertain some doubts whether the number required 
 can be raised here, and all the general officers agree 
 that no dependence can be put on the militia for a 
 continuance in camp, or regularity and discipline 
 during the short time they may stay. This un- 
 happy and devoted province has been so long ia a 
 
136 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 state of anarchy and the yoke of ministerial op- 
 pression been laid so heavily on it that great allow- 
 ances are to be made for troops raised nnder such 
 circumstances." The "deserters" spoken of by 
 General Washington were doubtless men who had 
 deserted the service of their masters to join the 
 Continental forces, and who preferred fighting for 
 the liberty of their country to personal slavery. 
 The American army in the Revolution was largely 
 composed of such men, and in the stress for re- 
 cruits the authorities made no searching inquiries 
 as to whether the volunteer was or was not some- 
 body's indentured servant. Consequently the War 
 of Independence effected a social as well as politi- 
 cal revolution. It effected a thorough kneading, 
 as it were, of the various elements of the popula- 
 tion, and when it closed the workingman was vir- 
 tually free to labor where he pleased, while the 
 rich and poor were much closer together than they 
 had been before. 
 
 The Workingman's Politicai. Enfran- 
 chisement. 
 
 The conspiracy laws, however, remained. It was 
 still a crime, as in the da} s of Queen Elizabeth, for 
 workingmen to combine with a view of bringing 
 employers to terms, and many harsh prosecutions 
 were instituted and maintained on this ground. 
 Property qualifications excluded the workingman 
 from the suffrage in many of the States, and 
 although at liberty to work where he pleased, and 
 no longer a bondman held by indenture, he was 
 still debarred from a share in the government 
 supported by his toil, and denied the right to 
 combine for the improvement of his condition. As 
 long as the laborer remained apolitical nonentity 
 it was useless for him to hope for a repeal of the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 137 
 
 laws which, if they did not prevent labor organiza- 
 tion, made that organization ineffectual. The prop- 
 erty qualification laws were gradually repealed ira 
 the Northern States where they had existed, except 
 one — Rhode Island — where a property qualification 
 for foreign born voters continued in force until 
 five or six years ago. The workingman, now 
 recognized as a political equal, soon_ made his 
 influence felt, and the rivalry of political parties 
 for his favor led to the gradual effacement of all 
 the statutes which interfered with his right to 
 organize for an increase of wages and the general 
 improvement of his condition. I^abor organizations 
 were formed in all parts of the country, ^ and 
 especially in the centres of industry, and strikes, 
 sometimes prudent and at other times imprudent, 
 sometimes successful and often unsuccessful, gave 
 notice that labor meant to assert its claim to fair 
 and reasonable wages. 
 
 Labor Organization and Improveit 
 Conditions. 
 
 Organization has undoubtedly had an effect lo 
 maintaining wages at a figure sufficient for a com- 
 fortable living. It is only necessary to glance at 
 unorganized trades to perceive this. The workiiK^- 
 man who is unprotected by organization is entire^ 
 at the mercy of his employer, who may or may not 
 be a just man, and who may be disposed to get his 
 work done as cheaply as possible without regard to 
 the effect on the laborer. The employer, indeed^ 
 is justified in having work done as cheaply as he- 
 can, and it is the business of the workingman to 
 get all that he can for his work ; and this he cam 
 only do by some form of organization which will 
 enable employes to act in harmony for their com- 
 mon advantage. The laws which have been passed; 
 
138 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 in nearly every manufacturing State reducing the 
 hours of labor, regulating the employment of 
 children in factories, and providing for factory 
 inspection by officials acting understate authoritry 
 are all chiefly due to organized effort en tbe j art 
 of the workiugmen. There is no doubt that labor 
 organizations are sometimes blindly led, with dis- 
 astrous results for themselves and for tl e public, 
 but labor organization has been and is, on the whole 
 fruitful of benefit not for the workiugman orly 
 — using that term in its narrow sense — but for the 
 community. The welfare of society is promoted 
 by every improvement in the workingman's condi- 
 tion — by weekly payments, by shortened hours, 
 which give him opportunity for recreation and in- 
 struction, and by compellingheartlessrndunscrnpu- 
 lous employers to have regard for the interests of 
 those whose labor fertilizes capital. So far from be- 
 ing gloomy or unpromising, the condition cf labor 
 in this country is most promising, and every reason- 
 able advantage which labor has yet to attain can be 
 achieved ballot in hand, by the exercise of a free- 
 man's duty. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 13^ 
 
 Part VIII. 
 REWGION IN THE UNIIED STATES, 
 
 Church and State. 
 
 It hag already beea stated that religion was an 
 essential element in the oriorin of our naliou— far 
 more important tlian the element^^ of trade and 
 adventure. From the very beg nuiug, the Chuich 
 was closely allied with the State in several of the 
 leading colonies, and this connection continued in 
 a more or less modified form until far in ti^e 
 present century. The writer met i.i his earlier 
 years veteran Baptists and Methodisis, who, when 
 themselves young, h id been imprisoned in Massa- 
 causetts for refusing to contribute tothetupport 
 of the Congregational ministry. Both in the Massa- 
 chusetts and the New Haven colonies freemen 
 were required to be church members This was 
 first ordered in the former colony as early as 1631 
 **To the end that the body of the freemen may be 
 preserved of honest and good men, it is c rdered," 
 ran the statute, "that henceforth no mnu shall be 
 admitted to the f.eedom of the Commonwealth, 
 but such as are memb-rs of some of the churches 
 within the hmits of its jurisdiction." In i66o it 
 was further enacted by the General Court of 
 Massacnusetts— as the legislature of that Common- 
 wealth was then, and still is, designated— that 
 no man whosoever shall be admitted to the free- 
 dom of this body politick but such as are members 
 of some Church of Christ and in full communion." 
 As members of the church were admitted only by 
 the consent of those ahready in membership, it is 
 
I40 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 apparent that the government was virtually eccle- 
 siastical. The English government sought to have 
 privilege of voting in Massachusetts extended to 
 all Protestants " orthodox in religion, though of 
 different persuasions concerning church govern- 
 ment." The Puritans discreetly professed to com- 
 ply with, this request by providing that a freeman 
 must have a certificate signed by the minister of 
 the place where he resided to the effect that he was 
 *• orthodox in religion and not vicious in his life." 
 Practically, the ministers being all of the Congre- 
 gational faith, matters remained as before. New 
 Haven also required that all freemen should be 
 church members. Quakers were debarred from 
 voting in all the New England colonies except 
 Rhode Island. Locke's Constitution for Carolina 
 provided no man should be a freeman "who doth 
 not acknowledge a God, and that God is publicly 
 and solemnly to be worshiped. " Roman Catho- 
 lics were generally disfranchised, even in Mary- 
 land after that province had passed from the 
 control of Lord Baltimore's family. The weight 
 of evidence is against the charge that Rhode Island 
 disfranchised Roman Catholics, although a clause 
 to that effect appeared in several editions of the 
 Rhode Island laws, inserted there probably with a 
 view of propitiating the anti-papal sentiment in 
 England. Jews could not legally vote in New 
 York or South Carolina. 
 
 Church Support in Massachuse'TTS. 
 
 After independence had been declared, the con- 
 vention which framed a constitution for Massachu- 
 setts, provided in the Declaration of Rights that 
 •'the legislature shall from time to time authorize 
 and require the several towns, parishes, precincts 
 and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 141 
 
 make suitable provision at their own expense for 
 the institution of the public worship of God, and 
 for the support and maintenance of public Protest- 
 ant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in 
 all cases where such provision shall not be made 
 voluntarily. All the people of the Common- 
 wealth have also a right to, and do invest their 
 legislature with authority to enjoin upon all 
 the subjects an attendance upon the instructions 
 of the public teachers as aforesaid, at stated times 
 and seasons, if there be anyone whose instructions 
 they can conscientiously all conveniently attend: — 
 
 *'* Provided, notwithstanding, that the several 
 towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, 
 or religious societies, shall at all times have the 
 exclusive right of electing their public teachers, 
 and of contracting with them for their support and 
 maintenance. All moneys paid by the subject to 
 the support of public worship, and of the public 
 teachers aforesaid, shall, if he require it, be uni- 
 formly applied to the support of the public teacher 
 or teachers of his own religious sect or denomina- 
 tion, provided there beany, upon whose instruction 
 he attends ; otherwise it may be paid toward the 
 support of the teacher or teachers of the parish or 
 precinct in which said moneys are raised. 
 
 "And every denomination of Christians, demean- 
 ing themselves peaceably, and as good subjects, 
 shall be equally under the protection of the law ; 
 and no subordination af any sect or denomination 
 to another shall ever be established by law. " 
 
 Notwithstanding the last-quoted paragraph, the 
 Congregational churches were in effect made State 
 establishments by this constitution, the ministers* 
 dues being collected by public officers known as 
 "Tithingmen." The vState Church system con- 
 tinued in full operation until 1815, when so-called 
 dissenters were released from paying taxes for the 
 maintenance of the Congregational ministry, and 
 in 1833 the involuntary support of public worship 
 
142 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 was ftbolished altogether, after a most vigorous 
 controversy between those who opposed and those 
 who advocated the voluntary system. 
 
 Church and State in Connecticut. 
 
 In Connecticut it was provided by the constitu- 
 tion of 1818 that "every society or denomination of 
 Christians " sliould have power and authority to tax 
 the members thereof for the payment of the min- 
 istry, and the building and repairing of places of 
 worship, but a member of any religious society 
 might escape this responsibility by separating him- 
 self therefrom through a formal notice given in 
 writiiig. This practically put an end to the obliga- 
 tory maintenance of the churches in that State, and 
 the Congr< gational pulpits had to depend, like 
 otheis, upon the free contributions of the people. 
 
 The Mormon Hierarchy. 
 
 The only State Church system which has existed 
 within the latter half of the nineteenth century in 
 any part of the United States has been that of the 
 Mormon Churc'i in Utah. Thi^ organization for 
 years held absolute power over the lives and prop- 
 erty of the people of Utah, violating the United 
 States laws by polygamous marriage, and attempt- 
 ing to override the authority of United States offi- 
 cers. It was not until about twenty years ago that 
 the legislative; branch of the government began to 
 take vigorous action against the Mormon hierarchy 
 and system, and the struggle lasted until the public 
 surrender, in September, 1890, of the church 
 authorities, President Woodruff, head of the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 143 
 
 Church, then anuouncitig by a proclamation and 
 iu conference that the Mormons accepted the 
 United States law prohibiting polygamy. The 
 conflict had been attended by an extraordinary- 
 exertion of the powers of this government. The 
 disfranchisement of polygamists, under the-^ 
 Edmunds bill of 1882, was undoubtedly the 
 blow that stunned the hierarchy, and paralyzed . 
 opposition. A singular feature of Mormonisni was 
 that women were invited by admission to the suf- 
 frage to share in maintaining their own degrada- 
 tion ; but the Edmunds bill struck at females as 
 well as males, who shared in the polygamous 
 relation. The admission of Utah as a State is 
 expected by many who have studied the conditions 
 there to revive the despotism of the hierarchy, 
 altiiough polygamy is probabl}'^ dead beyond resur- 
 rection. The law of Congress providing for admis~ 
 sion made it a condition "that perfect toleration 
 of religious sentiment shall be secured, and no- 
 inhabitant of said State shall ever be molested in 
 person or property on account of his or her mode 
 of religious worship. Provided, That polygamous 
 or plural marriages are forever prohibited." It is 
 already reported that the Mormon Church author- 
 ities are assuming a dictatorial attitude, as if they 
 meant to take the reins of the new State in their 
 grasp. 
 
 Religious Statistics. 
 
 The first successful effort to compile religious 
 statistics for a Federal census was in 1890. Mr. 
 H. K. Carroll, LL. D., was appointed by Robert 
 P. Porter, Superintendent of the Eleventh Census, 
 to take the census of the churches, and his work 
 was the first efifectual effort of the government in 
 this direction. In 1850, i860 and 1870 religious- 
 
144 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 statistics were gathered by United States marshals 
 or their agents. In the census of 1850 and i860 
 three items only were given, namely, chiirches, 
 church accommodations and value of church prop- 
 erty. In 1870 a distinction was made between 
 churches or church societies and church edifices, 
 thus making an additional item. In 1880 large 
 preparations were made for a census which should 
 not only be thorough, but exhaustive in the num- 
 ber of its inquiries. A vast mass of detailed 
 information was obtained, but the appropriations 
 were exhausted before it -was tabulated, and the 
 results were wholly lost. Mr. Carroll determined 
 to make the scope of the inquiry broad enough to 
 ■embrace the necessary i^ems of information, and 
 narrow enough to insure success in collecting, tab- 
 ulating and publishing them ; and to devise a 
 method of collecting the statistics which would 
 serve the ends of accuracy, completeness and 
 promptness. It was in some sense to be a pioneer 
 effort, and the plan and methods adopted were 
 designed to bring success within the range of pos- 
 sibility. The method of gathering the statistics was 
 to make the presbytery, the classis, the association, 
 the synod, the diocese, the conference, etc., the 
 unit in the division of the work, and to ask the 
 clerk or moderator, or statistical secretary cf each 
 to obtain the desired information from the churches 
 belonging to the presbytery, association or diocese, 
 as the case might be. This officer received full 
 instructions how to proceed, and sufficient supplies 
 of circulars, schedules, etc., to comumnicate with 
 each church. This method proved to be quite 
 practicable and very satisfactory, although, in all 
 probability, the figures given were in some instances 
 exaggerated. The most flagrant instance of exag- 
 geration was in connection with a Chinese temple 
 in New York city, which claimed 7000 worshipers, 
 whereas the whole State of New York has a Chinese 
 population of less than 3000. The riddle was no 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 145 
 
 doubt correctly solved by the assumption that 7000 
 was the number worshiping in the same temple in 
 the course of a j^ear, the same individuals being 
 counted many times. 
 
 Thk Various Denominations. 
 
 Mr. Carroll afterward published a summary of 
 his work, in which it was perhaps hardly necessary 
 to say that the Church has no claim on the State, 
 and the State no claim on any church. That has 
 happily been the case ever since the final severance 
 of the Congregational faith from State support in 
 New England. It is of interest to observe that 
 many of the 143 religious denominations differ only 
 in name. Without a single change in doctrine or 
 polity, the seventeen Methodist bodies could be 
 reduced to three or four ; the twelve Presbyterian 
 to three ; the twelve Mennonite to two, and so on. 
 Of the distinction between evangelical and non- 
 evangelical churches Mr. Carroll says that "the 
 evangelical churches are those which hold to the 
 inspiration, authority and sufficiency of the Scrip>- 
 tures, the Trinity, the deity of Christ, justification 
 by faith alone, and the work of the Holy Ghost in 
 the conversion and sanctification of the sinner. 
 The non-evangelical churches are those which take 
 a rationalistic view of the deity of Christ and the 
 doctrines of grace, of which the Unitarians may be 
 taken as an example. There are some denomina- 
 tions which have the word evangelical in their title, 
 and yet are thoroughly rationalistic, and therefore 
 non-evangelical. Practically we may distinguish 
 as evangelical all those bodies which are members 
 of the general organization known as the Evangeli- 
 cal Alliance, or in harmony with its articles of 
 faith ; and as non-evangelical all other Protestant 
 bodies." The vast majority of Protestants are in 
 
146 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the evangelical denominations, the number of com- 
 municants being 13 869,483, as against 132,992 non- 
 evangelical communicants. It should be men- 
 tioned, however, that Mr. Carroll counts the 
 Universalists as evangelical. They number 49, 194 
 communicants. The most numerous Protestant 
 denomination are the Methodist, with 4,589,284 
 communicants ; the Baptists coming next, with 
 3.717.969; the Presbyterians following, with 1,278,- 
 332, and the lyutherans with 1,231,072. It may be 
 news to many that the denomination known as 
 "The Disciples of Christ" outnumber the two 
 great creeds which were once rivals for religious 
 control in the British portion of America, the Dis- 
 ciples of Christ numbering 641,051, the Protestant 
 Episcopalians 540,509, and the Congregationalists 
 512,771. The number of Roman Catholics is given 
 as 6,257,871. As the Roman Catholic Church 
 always gives in its published annual statistics the 
 number of baptized members, or population, instead 
 of communicants, the census appointee in each 
 diocese was requested to comply with the require- 
 ments of the census schedules and furnish the 
 number of communicants, in order that the statis- 
 tics of all the denominations might be uniform. 
 This was done in every case. According to informa- 
 tion received from bishops, it is the custom of the 
 Roman Catholic Church for baptized persons to 
 make their first communion between the ages of 9 
 and 1 1 years. Baptized persons below the age of 9 
 years are not included, therefore, in the census 
 returns. Nevertheless I do not think that even 
 this restriction gives a fair opportunity for com- 
 paring the number of those adhering to the Prot- 
 estant denominations with the numbers adhering to 
 the Roman Catholic faith. It would probably be 
 safe to double the number of Protestants, and to 
 add about 15 per cent., as suggested, Mr. Carroll 
 Bays, by some ecclesiastical authorities, to the 
 number of Roman Catholics. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 147 
 
 Non-Orthodox Bodies. 
 
 So-called non-orthodox bodies are not numerous 
 as compared with the vast multitudes of Protestants 
 and Roman Catholics. When the prominence of 
 the Jews in trade and commerce, and in the daily 
 life of our great cities is considered, it is surprising 
 to learn that they are out-numbered by the Latter 
 Day Saints, or Mormons, the Mormon Church hav- 
 ing 166,125 communicants, and the Jewish 130,496. 
 The Theosophists, of whom we have heard so much, 
 number only 695. The proportion of Chinese idol- 
 aters is not given, owing to the manifest inaccuracy 
 of the figures returned, and Mr. Carroll apparently 
 did not meddle with the fascinating and antique 
 mysticism of the Zuuis. The Salvation Army, 
 which has done and is doing such admirable work 
 both in England and America, is represented in 
 nearly every part of the Union, however remote, 
 and it is to be noted with regret that local authori- 
 ties in some parts of the country still show intoler- 
 ance toward the Army's efforts. Besides the better 
 known denominations there are the Dunkards, the 
 Bible Brethren and other sects, of whom but little 
 is heard by the world at large. 
 
 Success of the Voi^untary System. 
 
 Judging from the experience of the United States 
 the voluntary syscem has achieved a success never 
 paralleled by the State -supported hierarchies of the 
 Old World, and religion still has a hold upon the 
 heart and conscience of man as potent as in the days 
 of Paul and Augustine, of Luther and of Savonarola. 
 
148 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Part IX. 
 
 CITIZENSHIP AND SUFFRAGE. 
 
 Thic Citizen's Obi^igations and Rights. 
 
 A citizen is a member of the State. ' Citizenship 
 carries with it certain obligations which cannot be 
 avoided, and certain rights which cannot be denied. 
 The obligations are allegiance to the State and 
 obedience to its laws ; the rights are to the State's 
 protection at home and abroad while engaged in 
 lawful undertakings, and to the privileges and im- 
 munities guaranteed by the fundamental law. 
 These obligations and rights are absolute and in- 
 herent in citizenship. The citizen can be discharged 
 from his obligations only by a change of allegiance 
 in accordance with treaties entered into by the 
 United States with other powers, and permitting 
 such change ; the State can never divest itself of 
 the duty to protect its citizens. Citizenship does 
 not carry with it any political power. The citizen 
 may be a helpless infant, a disfranchised woman, or 
 a full-fledged elector. All these are equally citizens, 
 and their rights are identical, although only one 
 of them has a share in the government of the Re- 
 public. 
 
 The difference between an American elector and 
 the subject of a European power, like England, 
 the German empire, or Italy, is that the voting 
 citizen here has a part in all the government ; 
 there his vote deals only with a section of the 
 government. In England the ballot cannot reach 
 the throne ; in Germany its limit is the Reichstag ; 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 149 
 
 in the United States the head of the State is the 
 creature of the ballot-box. When Benjamin Dis- 
 raeli, in the British Parliament spoke of Abraham 
 Lincoln as the sovereign of the United States he 
 was correctly reminded that the American people 
 were the sovereigns of the United States. The 
 American voter is a sovereign in the fullest sense. 
 He appoints his rulers, and he has the power to 
 change, through the medium of constitutional 
 forms, the laws which guide and control their con- 
 duct. Through the same agency he extends or 
 restricts the franchise. He may be as poor as Job 
 robbed of his possessions, but in the ballot he 
 wields a sceptre more powerful than that of Charle- 
 magne, over an empire more extensive than that of 
 Augustus. He has far better reason to be proud 
 than the Roman citizen, who so highly prized the 
 privilege of living under the aegis of the Caesars. 
 
 Voting is a Privii.kge. 
 
 Although the * ' right to vote " is a common ex- 
 pression, the fact is exemplified throughout Amer- 
 ican history that voting is a privilege and not a 
 right. About one-half of the total number of 
 adult citizens of the United States are debarred 
 from the franchise on account of their sex, while 
 large numbers are denied a share in the suffrage on 
 the ground of ignorance, or for other reasons not 
 prohibited by the Federal Constitution. On the 
 other hand, in some of the States, aliens are per- 
 mitted to vote, provided they have declared their 
 intention to become citizens — an extraordinary 
 condition of affairs, making it possible for a Presi- 
 dent of the United States to be selected— of course 
 through the agency of the Electoral college — by 
 the votes of British, German or Russian subjects. 
 The privilege of voting is, therefore, even in this 
 
I50 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 advanced age, not bestowed according to any uni- 
 versal rule, and is obviously not recognized as one 
 of the rights secured by the Declaration of Inde- 
 pendence. In the beginning of the Republic in- 
 deed, and until a period within the lifetime of 
 many now living, the principle was generally recog- 
 nized iu legislation that the voter ought to have an 
 individual interest in real estate — that he ought to 
 be a taxpayer, and that in casting his ballot for 
 public officers he should feel that he was choosing 
 men who were to use his personal means for the 
 public welfare. Even Pennsylvania confined the 
 suffrage to white taxpayers, notwithstanding the 
 witty query of Benjamin Franklin as to whether a 
 man v/ho was permitted to vote because he owned 
 an ass was any less qualified if he lost the animal. 
 
 It is an interesting fact that, although tbe Eastern 
 States — that term being used in its broadest mean- 
 ing—are commonly looked upon as the fountain of 
 intelligence and enlightenment, manhood suffrage 
 founditsanchoriu the West, and from thence re- 
 acted upon the East, just as woman suffrage is re- 
 peating that history to day. The reason for this is 
 obvious. Men were valued as men in the new vStates, 
 and the arm that could hold a rifle or wield an axe 
 was too important to be measured on a Procrustean 
 bed of property qualification. Inducements, too, 
 had to be held out for immigrants, and what better 
 inducement to the disfranchised citizen struggling 
 with poverty intheEnst than the prospect of pros- 
 perity and enfranchisement in the West ? This influ- 
 ence of equality, irrespective of property, gradually 
 ** backed water," if I may so express it, upon the 
 older communities, until State after State removed 
 property restrictions, so far as the white population 
 was concerned. For the colored people, even in 
 most of the Northern States, these restrictions con- 
 tinued until during or after the war. 
 
 The subject of colored suffrage brings up an in- 
 cident of history worthy of being recalled. When, 
 
i 
 
 AMERICAN CITIZENS. 151' 
 
 in the early part of the century, the question of 
 admitting colored men to the franchise was under 
 discussion in the legislature at Albany, the prop- 
 osition was objected to on the ground that the 
 wealthy families of New York city would be able 
 to exert an undue influence in city and btate affairs 
 through the votes of their colored servants. To 
 Americans of to-day the objection mentioned, and 
 which was most seriously debated, may appear 
 grotesq le, but to the people of that day it had no 
 doubt just as grave and important an aspect as 
 some of tiie problems which agitators of our own 
 generation consider to be portentous of trouble for 
 the Republic. The truth is that the issue of the 
 colored coachmen which so excited our fathers 
 was no more imaginary and illusory than some 
 political spectres which loom up to-day against the 
 twilight sky of the nineteenth ceatury. The nation 
 has much greater vitality than many short-sighted 
 people suppose, and will not be diverted from the 
 highway of progress by difficulties real or unreal. 
 
 QUAWFICATIONS FOR VOTING. 
 
 It is not necessary here to more than mention 
 the religious quahhcation for the franchise which 
 existed in certain American colonies. That 
 passed away with the colonial period, and the sub- 
 ject is dealt with in th2 article on'' Religion." The 
 ownership of property generally ceased to be a 
 requisite for voting in the Northern States before 
 the late CLvil war. In the older States of the South, 
 exclusive of Georgia, the property qaalilicatioa 
 was maintained, Georgia having been controlled 
 in the direction of liberality by thesime influences 
 which affected the newer States, both South and 
 North. Her extensive territory needed develop- 
 ment, and her people wisely provided that »• 
 
152 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 restrictions should be imposed upou white settlers 
 as to their poUtical privileges. For similar reasons 
 Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkan- 
 sas, Texas, and Florida, extended full civic privi- 
 leges to the white man. Tennessee ratlier queerly 
 provided that colored men should not be required 
 to perform military duty in time of peace. The 
 Southern constitutions which denied civil rights to 
 the negro seemed, however, to recognize that he 
 was a citizen, although aslave in the very language 
 of the denial. They also recognized that slavery 
 was not a question of color, the statement that 
 "every free white male citizen" could vote, 
 clearly admitting both that w^hite men could be 
 slaves and that slaves were citizens. It is an inter- 
 esting fact that the original constitution of North 
 Carolina did not exclude free negroes from the 
 suffrage, and that this condition of affairs con- 
 tinued until 1836, when an amendment was adopted 
 providing that '*no free negro, free mulatto, or 
 free person of mixed blood, descended from r.egro 
 ancestors to the fourth generation inclusive (though 
 one ancestor of each generation may have been a 
 white person), shall vote for members of the Senate 
 or House of Commons." There is no doubt that 
 slavery in the South was not wholly dependent on 
 color, and this recalls the fact that not long before 
 the war articles appeared in Southern newspapers 
 urging the enslavement of white mechanics and 
 laborers. The civil war made American slavery 
 historical, and led to the suffrage conditions which 
 prevail to-day. 
 
 Rhode Island alone, among all the States of the 
 Union, maintained a property qualification for 
 foreign born citizens until about six years ago, 
 soldiers of alien birth who had fought gallantly in 
 the war for the Union being denied the privilege 
 of voting unless they owned real estate. It was 
 this that led the writer to indite the following lines 
 ou the Soldiers' Monument in Providence, which. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 153 
 
 appeared about seven years ago in one of the lead- 
 ing New York newspapers : 
 
 *' Aloft above the busy square, 
 Behold the list of heroes there, 
 Whose life-blood crimsoned Southern sand 
 From Roanoke to Rio Grande — 
 And there, above, Columbia's form; 
 In summer sun and wmter storm, 
 With wreath in hand and pensive head 
 She mourns and crowns lier warriors dead I 
 
 " I read the names of many there, 
 Famihar as New England air — 
 Names that have rung the ages down 
 From landing-year at Plymouth town; 
 That rallied to the bugle call 
 At Louisburg and Montreal, 
 And swelled the Continental roll 
 From Bunker Hill to Newburg's goal. 
 
 ** And these again — of stranger sound — 
 This cannot be their native ground — 
 No ; born upon a foreign strand. 
 They heard of this God-favored land. 
 And, scorning rule of king and peer. 
 They sought the rights of manhood here; 
 For us they died — what more could be 
 Their proof o^ faith and loyalty. 
 
 ** And these Rhode Island's helots were ; 
 Denied the freeman's right to share ; 
 Denied the ballot's sacred trust. 
 Because, forsooth, of native dust 
 They owned no part; yet, side by side 
 With native-born they fought and died; 
 And from that monument proclaim 
 Rhode Island's glory and her shame.'* 
 
154 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Woman Suffrage. 
 
 At the present time manhood sufFraj^^e, restricted 
 in some of the States by the payment of a personal 
 tax, audi:i other States by an educational quaUfi- 
 cation, is the rule throughout the United States. 
 Women are endowed with full votiu)^ privileges iu 
 the States of Colorado, Wyoming-, Montana* and 
 Utah. The advocates of woman suffrage organized 
 a vigorous campaign in 1S94 to obtain from the 
 New York Constitutional Convention an indorse- 
 ment of their cause. They appreciated that suc- 
 cess in the Empire State would probably have a 
 decisive influence throughout the United States. 
 Probably the most favorable symptom for woman 
 suffrage was the antagonism which it evoked. For 
 the first time in New York State the opposition was 
 earnest, anxious and resolute. The woman suffrage 
 cause, h )wever, although most ably presented, had 
 no prospect of success in the Convention. On July 
 18, 1894, the suffrage committee voted unanimously 
 (17 to o) against all the main proposals to give 
 suffrag3 to women ; among these were a motion to 
 permit women to vote on all questions relating to 
 schools, excise, or taxes ; a motion to authorize the 
 Legislature to confer on women the right of suf- 
 frage: a motion to permit women owning property 
 to vote ; a motion authorizing women to vote on 
 the question whether they shall become voters ; and 
 a motion authorizing a similar vote by both men 
 and women. Various other motions in committee 
 were defeated by large majorities. On August 8 
 the suffrage committee reported adversely all the 
 amendmentsexceptthat relating to school suffrage. 
 The conv<=ntion, however, proceeded to debate a 
 motion providing for a double submission of the 
 question — once to see if the amendment for woman 
 
 ♦In Montana women who pay taxes vote on the same term« 
 i men. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 155 
 
 suffrage should be submitted in 1895, and once to 
 obtain a vote on the amendment itself. On August 
 15 this motion was defeated by a vote of 97 to 58, 
 and woman suffrage had no further consideration 
 in the convention. The people of Massachusett3 
 rejected w >man suffrage at the election held in 
 November, 1895. 
 
 Kansas has bestowed on women the right to vote 
 in municipal elections, and twenty-three States 
 have conferred school suffrage on women. 
 
 SsciLET Voting — ^The Austrai^ian System. 
 
 Secret voting has always been the practice in 
 this country, and was the rule in the New England 
 colonies, except when the voting was done in open 
 town meeting by show of hamls. The custom of 
 open voting in town meeting still prevails in New 
 England towns when a ballot is not demanded. 
 While under the old system the voting by ballot 
 was professedly secret, it was in fact impossible or 
 almost impossible lor the voter to conceal his 
 choice. For instance, it was the custoni in some 
 places for one party or faction to have ballots of a 
 different color from those of the other partv- I 
 have seen one party with coffee-colored, and the 
 other using white ballots. The object was evident 
 — to know whether the voter, bought with money 
 or bound by intimidation, voted as he was expected 
 to vote. Even where the law required white bal- 
 lots of similar size and appearance it was easily 
 evaded. Hence the introduction of the Australian 
 ballot system, so called because devised and first 
 used in Australia. This system, with modifications, 
 has been adopted in New York, Massachusetts, 
 Connecticut, Maine., New Jersey, Indiana, Rhode 
 Island and other States. It insures ab'^olute 
 secrecy for the voter. Each voter is provided with 
 
156 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 a ballot or set of ballots printed at the public ex- 
 pense and handed to him by the election officers. 
 The ballot or ballots contain the names of all the 
 candidates for the office for which the vote is to be 
 cast. The polls being open the voter enters and 
 gives his name and address. An examination of 
 the registry ascertains his right to vote. An elec- 
 tion officer hands him the ballot or ballots, and he 
 enters a booth, the door of which he closes after 
 him, and there selects and folds his ballot, if there 
 are several, or makes a mark against the candidates 
 he prefers, if it is a single or blanket ballot, or 
 writes in a name, if he prefers to vote for a per- 
 son not in the official list of candidates. The bal- 
 lot is so folded that there is no revelation of its 
 contents until it is opened, after the close of the 
 polls, for the purpose of counting. Each voter is 
 allowed a certain time — not usually exceeding ten 
 minutes — in a booth to prepare his ballot. If physi- 
 cally disabled, or illiterate, he can obtain assistance, 
 upon giving satisfactory evidence that the applica- 
 tion is made in good faith. No solicitation of 
 voters near the polls is permitted ; neither is the 
 voter permitted to state at the polling-place how he 
 has voted. A more technical description of the 
 system might be given, but the above includes all 
 features of importance. A somewhat peculiar law 
 has recently been enacted in New York requiring 
 voters, upon registration, to give their weight, 
 height, etc., and authorizing mention in the regis- 
 tration book of any unusual external marks — the 
 object being to prevent fraudulent voting. 
 
 Naturawzed Citizens. 
 
 Naturalized citizens have the same voting privi- 
 leges as citizens of native origin, except that, under 
 the recently adopted Constitution of the State of 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 157 
 
 New York, no citizea naturalized within ninety 
 days preceding any election can vote at such elec- 
 tion. An alien seeking naturalization as a citizen 
 of the United States must declare on oath before a 
 Circuit or District Court of the United States, or a 
 District or Supreme Court of the Territories, or a 
 court of record of any of the States having common 
 law jurisdiction and a seal and a clerk, at least two 
 years beiore his admission that it is, bona-fide, his 
 intention to become a citizen of the United States, 
 and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity 
 to any foreign State or ruler, and particularly to the 
 one of which he may be at the time a citizen or 
 subject. At the time of his application for admis- 
 sion he must also declare on oath, before some one 
 of the courts above specified, "that he will support 
 the Constitution of the United States, and that he 
 absolutely and entirely renounces and abjures all 
 allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, po- 
 tentate, State or sovereignty, and particularly, by 
 name, to the prince, potentate, State or sovereignty 
 of which he was before a citizen or subject." 
 
 It must appear to the satisfaction of the court to 
 which the alien has applied for final admission that 
 he has resided continuously within the United 
 States for at least five years, and in the State or 
 Territory where the court is held at least one year, 
 and that during that time "he has behaved as a 
 man of good moral character, attached to the prin- 
 ciples of the Constitution of the United States, and 
 well disposed to the good order and happiness of 
 the same." If the applicant bears any hereditary 
 title or belongs to any order of nobility, he must 
 make an express renunciation at the time of his 
 application. 
 
 Any alien twenty-one years old and upward who 
 has been honorably discharged from the armies of 
 the United States may become a citizen on his 
 pjetition, without any previous declaration of inten- 
 tion, provided he has resided in the United States 
 
158 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 at least one year previous to his application and is 
 of good moral character. Any alien who has re- 
 sided in the United States three years next pre- 
 ceding his twenty-first birthday, and has continued 
 to reside thereiti up to the time he makes applica- 
 tion to be admitted a citizen, mav. after he arrives 
 at the age of twenty-one, and after he has resided 
 five years within the United States, including the 
 three years of his minority, be admitted a citizen ; 
 but he must make a declaration on oath and prove 
 to the satisfaction of tlie court that for the two 
 years next preceding it has been his boua-fide in- 
 tention to become a citizen. 
 
 The children of persons who have been duly nat- 
 uralized, being under twenty one at the time of the 
 naturalization of their parents, are, if dwelling in 
 the United States, to be considered as citizens. The 
 children of persons who now are or have been 
 citizens of the United States are considered as citi- 
 zens, though they may be born out of the limits 
 and jurisdiction of the United States. 
 
 The naturalization of the Chinese is prohibited 
 by Section 14, Chapter 126, Laws of 18S2. 
 
 A foreign-born woman who marries a citizen of 
 the United States, either native or naturalized, par- 
 takes of his citizenship, and this rule applies even 
 although the marriage takes place and the parties 
 reside aV^oad. la the same way, according to 
 Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, "a woman who 
 is a citizen of the United States merges her nation- 
 ality in that of a foreign husband on her marriage ; 
 but it does not necessarily follow that she thus 
 becomes subject to all the disabilities of alienage, 
 guch as inability to inherit or transfer real prop- 
 erty." In case of legal separation from her hus- 
 band the wife may elect whether to preserve the 
 foreign nationality acquired by her marriage, or 
 re-acquire her former American citizenship. Upon 
 death of the husband the former citizenship of the 
 wife does not revert ; she must do some act by 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 159 
 
 which to work a change in her nationality if she 
 should desire to do so. 
 
 Rights of Citizens Abroad. 
 
 Section 2000 of the Revised Statutes of the 
 United States expressly declares that *' all natural- 
 ized citizens of the United States while in foreign 
 countries are entitled to and shall receive from this 
 Government the same protection of person and 
 property which is accorded to native-born citizens." 
 
 While the statute quoted is unqualified in its lan- 
 guage, it is qualified by couunou sense in practice. 
 A citizen abroad should exercise the same prudence 
 and discretion in avoiding trouble for his country 
 that lie would or should exercise in avoiding trouble 
 for himself No sensible man will do a thing, or 
 assume an attitude likely to bring on disturbance 
 simply because he has a legal right to do so. Again 
 there comes up the question whether the American 
 citizen abroad who seeks government interference 
 in his behalf has fulfilled the obligations of citizen- 
 ship. Has he shown a disposition to share the 
 common burdens of his countrymen, or has he in- 
 tentionally avoided those burdens, and therefore 
 forfeited all equitable claim upon the American 
 people ? These are questions to be considered and 
 decided by the executive upon any appeal for pro- 
 tection and mediation from Americans abroad. For 
 instance, suppose that an American citizen should 
 have taken refuge in Canada during the civil war 
 to escape the draft, and continued to reside there». 
 it would be an extreme case indeed that would call' 
 for interference in behalf of such a person ; and 
 yet when that extreme is reached, the duty of the 
 United States to protect their citizen is imperative 
 and could not be neglected without a sacrifice ol 
 the national honor. 
 
l6o HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Part X. 
 
 NATIONAL PARTIES AND ADMINISTRA- 
 TIONS. 
 
 Federai^ists and AnTI-FEDERAIvISTS. 
 
 Two parties existed iu the United States when 
 the Federal Constitution was adopted — those who 
 favored and those who opposed a strong central 
 government. The former were known as Federal- 
 ists ; the latter as Anti-Federalists. Washington, 
 with Alexander Hamilton and the elder Adams, 
 guided the Federalists, although it should be 
 needless to say that no narrow partisanship found 
 lodgment in the breast of Washington. He was a 
 Federalist simply because he believed in making the 
 Union powerful and perpetual. Thomas Jefiferson 
 and James Lladison led the Anti-Federalists, who 
 supported State's rights and a liberty of speech and 
 action which the Federalists regarded as danger- 
 ous, and which they sought to supprCvSS by despotic 
 legislation. The Auti- Federalists, who afterward 
 took the name of Republicans, sympathized with 
 the French Revolutionists. The Federalists either 
 believed, like Washington, in keeping strictly apart 
 from Europe's quarrels, or they leaned to Great 
 Britain, so far as they had any preference between 
 the English and the French. When the excesses 
 of the French Revolution had thrown a certain 
 degree of odium upon its supporters, the Anti-Fed- 
 eralists or Republicans were stigmatized by their 
 opponents as Democrats. The name, given as a 
 
AMERICAN CITIZKNS. i6i 
 
 reproach, was soon adopted ; and the party of 
 Jefferson and Jackson called itself Democratic 
 Republican, and its members were usually called 
 Democrats. The name of Federalist having become 
 unpopular owitig to the opposition of the party to 
 the war with England, the Federalists adopted the 
 designation of National Republicans, and some 
 years later, of Whigs Other party names met 
 with in American political writings are of a local, 
 factional or temporary character. **Blue)ight 
 Federalists" was a name given to those who 
 were believed to have made friendly signals to 
 British ships in the war of 1812. "Clintonians " 
 and "Bucktails" were old factions of the Demo- 
 cratic party in New York. "Barnburner" was 
 applied as a term of reproach to a section of the 
 Democracy known as "Free Soil " Democrats, who 
 were in favor of excluding slavery from the Ter- 
 ritories and future States of the Union. 
 
 The contest for the Presidency in 1796, was be- 
 tween the two parties. Federal and Republican, 
 and resulted in the choice of John Adams for Pres- 
 ident, and Thomas Jefferson for Vice-President, 
 the former a Federalist, and the latter a Repub- 
 lican. The Federal party still maintained a ma- 
 jority in both branches of the Fifth Congress. Two 
 laws were passed by this Congress, known in his- 
 tory as the " Alien and Sedition I^aws," the enforce- 
 ment of which caused nmch discontent. The 
 Federalists had a majority in the Sixth Congress, 
 the members of which had been chosen before the 
 revolt against the "Alien and Sedition L,aws " 
 With the election of Thomas Jefferson as President 
 the Republicans obtained full possession of the 
 Government, Up to Jefferson's administration 
 there had been noremovals from office for political 
 reasons. He claimed as a right of his party a due 
 proportion of the offices. In the election of 1804 
 the Federalists were again defeated, and success, as 
 usual led to jealousy and conflict in the ranks of 
 
1^2 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the victors. Jefferson was elected President by the 
 House of Representatives, defeating Aaron Burr 
 on the thirty-sixth ballot. About the begin- 
 ning of Madison's first administration (1809) the 
 word " Democrat." as applied to the Republicans, 
 again appeared, but the name as that of a great 
 political party, was not fully recognized until 1832. 
 
 The Democratic and Wig Parties. 
 
 With the first administration of Jackson began 
 the life under its present name, of the Democratic 
 party. The party opposed to him continued to be 
 called the National Republicans, and were known 
 by this name when they met in national conven- 
 tion at Baltimore, in December, 1831, to nommate 
 Henry Clay. Jackson was re-nominated in the 
 same city, in March, 1832, by the Democrats. This 
 contest was the first in our political history in 
 which the parties made nominations through na- 
 tional conventions. This period is also memor- 
 able on account of the birth of a third party, 
 known as the Anti-Masons, who in their call for a 
 convention at Baltimore, in September, 1831, an- 
 nounced as their principle— " Opposition to Secret 
 Societies." They made William Wirt, of Virginia, 
 their candidate, and carried the State of Vermont, 
 with its seven electoral votes. As yet party plat- 
 forms were unknown, but the National Republicans 
 favored a tariff, internal improvements, renewal 
 of the United States Bank charter, and the removal 
 of the Cherokee Indians. About this time the 
 term, "hard money party," began to be applied to 
 the Democrats, Thomas Benton, and others of 
 its leaders, denied the right of the government, 
 under the Constitution, to make any money except 
 gold and silver. 
 
 For the contest of 1836 the Democrats in con- 
 vention apain at Baltimore nominated Martin Van 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 165 
 
 Buret! for President, and Richard M. Johnson for 
 Vice-President. The opponents of that party about 
 this time began to apply the epithet " Loco-Foco " 
 to tho Democrats. The name originated from an in- 
 cident which transpired at a noisy public meeting in 
 New York City. After the lights had been put out, 
 they were at once relighted by means of a loco- 
 foco match, by one of the members of the dominant 
 wing of the party. It was for some years merely 
 another name fjr the Democratic party, applied by 
 their opponents, the Whigs. The Democrats had 
 previously, in a spirit of derision, applied the term 
 *' Whig " to the National Republic ais. This name 
 was accepted by the latter party, and now the two 
 great opposing parties became known as Democrats 
 and Whigs. The Whigs, and all opposed to Van 
 Buren, imited en William Henry Harrison, but the 
 election in November, 1^36, resulted in a majority 
 of the Van Buren electors. Van Buren came to> 
 the Presidency in March, 1837, on the eve of a 
 financial panic. The Whigs at Harrisburg in 184a 
 nominated William Henry Harrison for President, 
 and John Tyler for Vice-President. The Democrats 
 nominated at Baltimore Martin Van Buren again for 
 President. 
 
 The Liberty Party. 
 
 A third party again appeared in the arena. It 
 was styled the Abolition or Liberty party, and, 
 nominated James G. Birney, of New York, for 
 President, P'rancis Lamoyne, of Pennsylvania, for 
 Vice-President. The leading principle of this new 
 party may be inferred from its name, to- wit : Op- 
 position 10 slavery. The Whigs in their national 
 convention adopted no platform, while the Demo- 
 crats submitted a declaration of principles. They 
 declared the power of the federal government to be 
 limited; opposed a system of internal improvements; 
 
i64 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 proclaimed that "justice and sound policy for- 
 bid the government to foster one branch of in- 
 dustry to the detriment of another, or one section 
 to the injury of another;" urged economy; 
 claimed that Congress had no power to charter a 
 United States bank ; to interfere with the domestic 
 institutions of the States ; that government money 
 must be separated from banking instiiutions, and 
 that this country is the asylum for the oppressed of 
 all nations. Although, as stated, the Whigs had 
 adopted no platform, they joined issue on the gen- 
 eral financial policy of the Van Buren administra- 
 tion, including the position of the Democratic 
 party on the tariff, and protection to the industries 
 of the country. This was the campaign of "Tip- 
 pecanoe and Tyler too," of log cabins, coon skins 
 and hard cider. Harrison and Tyler were triumph- 
 antly elected, and the Whigs had a majority in 
 both branches of Congress. 
 
 The Whigs nominated Henry Clay and Theodore 
 Frelinghuysen in 1844, and the Democrats nom- 
 inated James K. Polk and George M. Dallas. Both 
 parties outlined their principles in platforms. The 
 Whigs declared for a well regulated national cur- 
 rency ; a tariff for revenue, but favoring domestic 
 industry ; distribution of the proceeds of the sales 
 of public lands ; a single term for the Presidency, 
 and reform of executive usurpation. The Demo- 
 crats reaffirmed their platform of 1840, and added 
 a declaration against distribution of the proceeds 
 of sales of public lands among the States, a resolu- 
 tion sustaining the President in his right to use the 
 qualified veto, and one declaring that Oregon, 
 which the British were attempting to seize, ought 
 to be reoccupied, and Texas annexed. The Liberty 
 party was also again in the field with James G. 
 Birney for President, and Thomas Morris for Vice- 
 President. The seven resolutions of its platform 
 all related to slavery. Between the two great par- 
 ties, Whigs and Democrats, the leading questions 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 165 
 
 were tlie annexation of Texas and a protective 
 tariff. Polk and Dallas were elected, the result 
 bein^ determined by the vote of New York. The 
 most important events of this administration were 
 the annexation of Texas, the Mexican War, and 
 the arliustment of the Oregon boundary, not on the 
 line of ' ' fifty- four degrees, forty minutes or fight," 
 but on the line of forty-nine degrees, as proposed 
 by John C. Calhoun v/heu Secretary of State in 
 Tyler's administration. 
 
 In 184S the Democrats nominated Lewis Cass, of 
 Michigan, for President, and William O. Butler, of 
 Kentucky, for Vice-President. The Whigs, at Phila- 
 delphia, nominated Gen. Zachary Taylor, of 
 Louisiana, for President, and Millard Fillmore, of 
 New York, for Vice President. The Democratic 
 platform aflirmed that of 1844 ; congratulated the 
 country on the result of the Mexican War; com- 
 mended tiie qualified veto ; denounced a tariff, ex- 
 cept for revenue ; congratulated the Republic of 
 France, and endorsed Polk's administration. The 
 platform h died "the noble impulse given to the 
 cause of free trade by the repeal of the tariff of 
 1842, and the creation of a more equal, honest, and 
 productive tariff of 1846." The Whigs did not 
 adopt a platform, claiming that their principles 
 were well known. The slavery question was now 
 agitating tlie country. Ijut neither of the great 
 parties was ready or willing to commit itself. In 
 the Whig convention a test resolution ou the ** Wil- 
 mot Proviso " was voted down. 
 
 Free Son. Democrats. 
 
 A third party, the Free Soil Democrats, also 
 appeared in the field, with Martin Van Buren 
 for President, and Charles Francis Adams for 
 Vice-President. Their opponents called them 
 
i66 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 "Barnburners," and so named them in allusion to 
 thestoryof a Dutchfarmer, who, itwassaid, burned 
 bis barn in order to clear it of rats and mice. The 
 *• Barnburners" were pn offshoot of the Demo- 
 cratic party, and mainly confined to the State of 
 New York. They helped to carry that State for 
 Taylor, and thus defeated Cass. The Free Soil 
 Democrats, or "Barnburners," promulgated a 
 lengthy platform, but its essence is embraced in 
 the watchword, or motto which they adopted, to- 
 wit: " Free Soil, Free Speech, Free Labor, Free 
 Men. " The old Liberty party now united with the 
 "Free Soil Democrats." Taylor and Fillmore 
 were elected, but the Democrats controlled the 
 Senate, with the Free Soilers holding the l^alance 
 of power in the House. After sixty-two fruitless 
 ballots, Howell Cobb, of Georgia, a slavery exten- 
 sionist, was elected Speaker, on the sixty-third 
 ballot. This session of Congress witnessed the 
 -compromise measures of 1850 on the slavery issue. 
 President Taylor died in July of that year, and the 
 Whig party began to dissolve. The pro-slavery 
 Whigs now favored the doctrine which was afrer- 
 ward known by the name of squa ter, or popular 
 sovereignty. They would leave the people of the 
 Territories to decide as to the admission of slavery. 
 Agitation of the slavery question continued. In 
 1851 and 1852, three of the great party leaders — 
 Calhoun, Clay and Webster, passed away. The 
 Thirty-second Congress, which met in December, 
 1851, was Democratic in both branches. Fillmore 
 bad become President by the death of Taylor in 
 1850. 
 
 In 1852, again at Baltimore, the Democrats nom- 
 inated Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, and 
 William R. King, of Alabama. A Whig National 
 convention in the same city, brought out General 
 Winfield Scott, of Virginia, and William A. Gra- 
 ham, of North Carolina. The Democratic platform 
 said : No more revenue than is necessary to defray 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 167 
 
 the expenses of the government ; no national 
 banks ; Congress has no right to interfere with, or 
 control the domestic institutions of the States ; ea- 
 dorsement of the compromise measures of 1850. 
 The Whigs in their platform stood for sufl&cient 
 power in the government to sustain it and make 
 it operative ; favored revenue from tariff, framed 
 *' with suitable encouragement to American in- 
 dustry;" and internal improvements; endorsed 
 the compromise measures of 1850, including the 
 "Fugitive Slave Law." In August, 1852, the 
 "Free Soil Democrats," as they called themselves, 
 in a national convention at Pittsburg, nominated 
 John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, and George W. 
 Julian, of Indiana. They repudiated both the 
 other political parties, and declared for no more 
 slave States, no slave Territory, no national slav- 
 ery, r nd no legislation for the extradition of slaves. 
 The six resolutions of their platform all related to 
 the one subject of slavery. The electoral count 
 showed two hundred and fifty- four votes for Pierce 
 and King, and only forty -two for Scott and Graham. 
 The Whig party then ceased to exist. The Demo- 
 cratic party became thoroughly pro-slavery. Presi- 
 dent Pierce committing it in his first message to the 
 compromise measures. The Thirty-third Congress 
 opened with Jourteen Democratic majority in the 
 Senate, and seventy-four over all opposition in tbtt 
 House. 
 
 The Know-Nothing Party. 
 
 In 1852 appeared the secret organization com- 
 monly known in history as the * * Know-Nothing ** 
 party. Its members were silent as to its principles, 
 and hence the name. Its cardmal principle, as 
 known to themselves, was expressed in their motto 
 — "Americans must rule America." Its counter- 
 sign was " Put none but Americans on guard." In 
 
l68 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 1855 this party carried nine States and made its 
 power felt in the congressional elections of that 
 year. It elected forty-three membersof the House 
 of the Thirty-fourth Congress, and there were five 
 Senators of the party. The Know-Nothings were 
 the first to nominate national candidates in 1856. 
 Their convention met in Philadelphia, February 22, 
 with two hundred and twenty-seven delegates 
 present, and nominated Millard Fillmore, of New 
 York, and Andrew J. Donelson, of Tennessee. A 
 number of anti-slavery delegates withdrew from the 
 convention on account of its failure to fciaintain the 
 right of Congress to re-establish the Missouri Com- 
 promise. 
 
 The Democrats in national convention at Cin- 
 cinnati, nominated James Buchanan and John C. 
 Breckinridge. Their platform contained several 
 clauses opposing Americanism ; advocating the 
 restriction of revenue to necessary expenses ; favor- 
 ing a strict construction of federal powers ; against 
 a national bank ; endorsing squatter sovereignty, 
 and approving the Kansas-Nebraska bill. 
 
 Th^ Repubi^ican Party. 
 
 Now came into existence the Republican party 
 of to-day. The free States were aroused at last, 
 and at a grand gathering of five thousand opponents 
 of slavery the name ' ' Republican " was adopted for 
 the new party. The first Republican National 
 convention was held at Philadelphia in June, 1856. 
 The nominees for President and Vice-President were 
 John C. Fremont and William M. Dayton. The 
 platform declared for the preservation of the Union 
 of the States ; denied the right of Congress to give 
 legal existence to slavery in any Territory of the 
 United States ; declared that Congress ought to 
 prohibit "those twin relics of barbarism, polygamy 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 169 
 
 and slavery ; " denounced the pro-slavery policy of 
 the Pierce administration ; demanded the admission 
 of Kansas, with her free State Constitution ; favored 
 government aid for a Pacitic railroad, and pro- 
 nounced for a system of National improvements. 
 Buchanan and i3reckinridge had one hundred and 
 seventy-four electoral votes, and Fremont and Day- 
 ton one hundred and fourteen electoral votes. 
 Fillmore, the "American" candidate, carried 
 Maryland, with eight electoral votes. 
 
 The Democrats Divide. 
 
 In April, 1860, the Democratic national conven- 
 tion was held in Charleston, South Carolina, and 
 after a long struggle between the extreme and the 
 moderate pro-slavery elements, the convention 
 adjourned without making nominations. At an- 
 other convention held in Baltimore in June, 
 Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, and Herschel V. 
 Johnson, of Georgia, were nominated on a plat- 
 form of so-called " squatter sovereignty " — that is a 
 platform which proposed to leave to the people of 
 the Territories the decision as to whether they 
 should admit or debar slavery. This compromise 
 course satisfied neither the extreme advocates of 
 slavery nor its sincere antagonists, and the former 
 held another convention, and nominated John C. 
 Breckenridge, of Kentucky, and Joseph Lane, of 
 Oregon, the Breckenridge wing asserting that the 
 unorganized territory of the United States was open 
 to all kind of property, including slaves. 
 
 LiNcoi^N Expected. 
 
 The Republicans held their National convention 
 in Chicago in May, nominating Abraham Lincola 
 and Hannibal Hamlin. The platform affirmed the 
 principles of the Declaration of Independence; 
 
I70 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 denounced schemes of disunion ; denounced the 
 pro-slavery policy of the Buchanan administration 
 and its extravagance ; denounced the dogma that 
 the Constitution carried slavery into the Territories ; 
 favored the admission of Kansas as a free State ; 
 protection to American industry ; a homestead 
 law ; a Pacific railroad, and internal improvements. 
 The American party, which had now changed its 
 title to the "Constitutional Union party," held a 
 convention in Baltimore, and nominated John Bell, 
 of Tennessee, and Edward Everett, of Massachu- 
 setts. Their platform affirmed the "Constitution 
 of the country, the union of the States, and the 
 enforcement of the laws." The nominations of 
 i860 were followed, especially throughout the 
 Northern States, by one of the most spirited 
 campaigns in the history of parties in this country, 
 resulting in the election of Lincoln and Hamlin. 
 
 The platform of the Republican naiional con- 
 vention for 1864 pledged the party to aid the 
 government in the suppression of the rebellion, 
 and to accept no peace not based on the uncondi- 
 tional surrender of all armed rebels. It demanded 
 an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting 
 slavery ; pledged the party to the payment of the 
 public debt, and approved the "Monroe Doctrine.** 
 The convention renominated Lincoln for President, 
 and recognized the Union men of the South by the 
 nomination of Andrew Johnson for Vice-President. 
 The Democratic national convention in 1864 nomi- 
 nated George B. McClellan and George H. Pendle- 
 ton. The platform declared for union under the 
 Constitution; demanded "after four years' failure 
 to restore the Union by war," the cessation of 
 hostilities, and a peace convention. It denounced 
 the war measures of the administration, and 
 favored the preservation of the rights of the States. 
 The electoral count showed two hundred and 
 twelve votes for Lincoln and Johnson, and twenty- 
 one votes for McClellan and Pendleton. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 171 
 
 Secession having been subdued, the Thirty-ninth 
 and Fortieth Congresses, strongly Republican, 
 were confronted with many new and untried ques- 
 tions of policy. Before ihe commencement of 
 Grant's first administration, in March, 1869, the 
 thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments 
 to the Constitution, and other measures of recon- 
 struction had been adopted. The legal tender act 
 of 1862 was one of the issues between the two great 
 parties up to 1870, when the Supreme Court de- 
 cided in favor of its constitutionality. 
 
 Liberal Republicans. 
 
 In 1872, another new party, styling itself "Lib- 
 eral Republican," sprang up, with Horace Greeley 
 and B. Gratz Brown for President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent. The Democrats accepted these candidates. 
 The Republica 1 party renominated General Grant, 
 with Henry WUson for Vice-President. Horace 
 Greeley was overwhelmingly defeated, and died 
 soon after. In 1876, the leading parties were the 
 Republican and Democratic, Lebides the '* Green- 
 back " or Independent paityand the Prohibition 
 party, all of which held national conveniions, 
 and made nominations for President and Vtce- 
 President. The leading principlts of the Re- 
 publican and Democratic parties have already 
 been cxnlained, while the name of ''Prohibition 
 party" is a sufficient indication <t its aim. The 
 new i)arty know;i as the "Greenback party," now 
 first appearing as a national ors^anizaiion, de- 
 manded th i repeal of the "specie resumption act** 
 of January i j, 1875; the United v^tates note, or 
 "greenback," a^ a circulating medium and legal 
 tender irresueciiv^ uf coin retlemption ; the sup- 
 pression (jf bank pap rand no further issuer fgold 
 bonds. In several States the Democrat* a lied 
 
172 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 themselves with this new party, and in some in- 
 stances the coahtion proved successful, but as a 
 national party it failed to carry a single State, 
 although Peter Cooper, its candidate for President, 
 received a popular vote of eighty-one thousand, 
 seven hundred and forty. 
 
 Ei<ECTORAi, Commission. 
 
 The election of 1876 will always be memorable 
 for its violent contentions, its intrigues, corrup- 
 tions, frauds, its extraordinary procedures, and its 
 result. The Democratic nominees were Samuel J. 
 Tilden, of New York, and Thomas A, Hendricks, 
 of Indiana. The Republican candidates were 
 Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio, and Wm. A. 
 Wheeler, of New York. The controversy and 
 struggle between the rival claimants occupied the 
 closing months of Grant's administration. The 
 dispute as to the result rested chiefly upon the 
 question whether the electoral votes of Louisiana 
 had been justly awarded to Mr. Hayes bj' the 
 returning board of that State. The electoral votes 
 of four States were, however, in question — South 
 Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and Oregon. Double 
 returns had been received from them ; one set an- 
 nouncing Democratic, the other. Republican elec- 
 tors. If the Democratic return was accepted, 
 Tilden was elected by thirty-seven votes ; if the 
 Republican, Hayes was elected by one vote. The 
 Republicans were in power, and held all the offices 
 of Government. The Vice-President^;-^ tern., the 
 presiding officer of the Senate, was a Republican. 
 He was sustained by his party in claiming the right 
 to decide between the lists of the State electors. 
 This would assure the election of Hayes. The 
 Democrats, who had a majority on joint ballot in 
 Congress, denied the claim of the acting Vice-Presi- 
 dent, and insisted that the determination rested 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 173 
 
 with the two Houses of Congress. This, if agreed 
 to, would give the Presidency to Tilden. The 
 view of the Vice-President was upheld by the 
 President and his Cabinet. A large body of troops 
 was collected in Washington and its neighbor- 
 hood, to be ready for any emergency. The Joint 
 Electoral Commission was instituted after long 
 debates, and tedious investigations into the func- 
 tions of the Vice-President and the electoral votes 
 of Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Oregon 
 were accorded to the Republican candidates. This 
 decision was accepted as better than the continu- 
 ance of hazardous discord. Hayes and Wheeler 
 were decl 'red President and Vice-President by the 
 majority of one electoral vote. 
 
 President Hayes withdrew the United States 
 troops from South Carolina and Louisiana in the 
 second month of his administration. In both States 
 there were rival Legislatures and contending claim- 
 ants for the Governorship and other State offices, 
 and there had been, for some months, danger of 
 violent collisions. General Grant had shown a 
 disposition to remove the troops. He left this duty 
 to be executed by his successor. As soon as it was 
 done, the Democratic Governors, — General Wade 
 Hampton in South Carolina, and General Nicholls 
 in Louisiana — were inaugurated. 
 
 Protection to the; Front. 
 
 In the next national contest (1880), the Repub- 
 licans declared for "protective duties," and the 
 Democrats for "tariff for revenue only." The 
 Greenback and Prohibition parties were again in 
 the field with national tickets. The electoral re- 
 sult was two hundred and fourteen votes for the 
 Republican candidates, Garfield and Arthur, and 
 one hundred and fifty-five for Hancock and Eng- 
 lish. The assassination of President Garfield left 
 
174 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the administration in the hands of Vice-President 
 Chester A. Arthur, of New York. The closing 
 year of President Arthur's administration found 
 little change in the situation of parties. The 
 eighth national convention of the Republican 
 party, nominated James G. Blaine, of Maine, and 
 John A. Logan, of Illinois. The Democrats named 
 Grover Cleveland, of New York, and Thomas A. 
 Hendricks, of Indiana. The Republican platform 
 favored a tariff for protection, while the Democrats 
 denounced the tariff then existing, and pledged 
 the party to revise it, as they said, in a spirit of 
 fairness to all interests. The Democrats also de- 
 clared themselves opposed to sumptuary laws, and 
 favored civil service reform. The Greenback and 
 Prohibition parties presented candidates. The 
 Greenback party nominated — or rather adopted as 
 their candidate for President, Benjamin F. Butler, 
 who had previously been nominated by a national 
 convention of persons styling themselves Anti- 
 Monopolists. The epithet "Mugwump " was now 
 heard for the first time, being applied to that fac- 
 tion of the Republican party, mainly in the State 
 of New York, who claimed for themselves special 
 purity of political methods. The "Mugwumps'* 
 in New York, proved as disastrous to the Republi- 
 can party in i88 1. as the "Barnburners" of the 
 same State had to the Democratic in 1848. Cleve- 
 land and Hendricks were elected by 219 electoral 
 votes to 182 for Blair e and Logan. 
 
 President Cleveland made the tariff the leading 
 issue. He called for a general reduction of duties, 
 and was sustained in the demand by his party, 
 which again put him in nomination in 1888 with 
 Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio, for Vice-President. 
 Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, and Levi P. Morton, 
 of New York, were put in nomination by the 
 Republicans on a platform of protection, and were 
 elected, receiving 23^ electoral votes to 168 for 
 Cleveland and Thnrman. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. ITS 
 
 Thk Populist Party. 
 
 In the election of 1892 a new political party — the 
 People's or Populist — presented a formidable front. 
 It was in reality an outgrowth of the Granger and 
 Farmers' Alliance movement in the West and 
 South, organized to uphold agricultural interests 
 against the alleged oppression of corporations, and 
 especially of railways. The Populist party proved 
 a sort of political cave of Adullam to which the 
 great number of voters, dissatisfied with the old 
 parties, resorted. In the South, Populism stands 
 for the numerous white element which considers- 
 that it has been ruled long enough by the aristo- 
 cratic survivors of the war, and which desires— 
 without changing the existing relations between, 
 whites and blacks— to establish greater equality 
 among the whites. In the West the Populists are 
 of allgrades of society, and the party io not pent 
 up within any barrier of class. Extravagances on- 
 the part of Populist leaders have tended to blind 
 the public to the real importance of the movement, 
 which undoubtedly represents a deep-seated protest 
 against certain evils which have grown to mon- 
 strous proportions, and which are becoming more- 
 formidable. Whether a remedy can be found 
 within the Imes of the old parties, or a new party 
 will come to the front is a question as yet unan- 
 swered. 
 
 The candidates for President who received elec- 
 toral votes in 1892 were — Republican, Benjamin. 
 Harrison, renominated, and Whitelaw Reid, of 
 New York, for Vice-President ; Democratic, Grover 
 Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson, of Illinois ; Peo- 
 ple's party, James B. Weaver, of Iowa, and James 
 G. Field, of Virginia. Cleveland and Stevensons 
 received 277 electoral votes, and were elected Presi- 
 dent and Vice-President respectively; Harrison 
 and Reid received 145 electoral votes, and Weave? 
 and Field 22 votes. 
 
176 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 The Presidknt and Riots. 
 
 The tariff struggle of 1894 has been elsewhere 
 described. Of far greater interest and consequence 
 as affecting the rights of citizens and the future of 
 the Republic was the action taken by President 
 Cleveland in the suppression of riotous outbreaks 
 in Illinois and other States. The powers and duties 
 of the President of the United States are fully set 
 forth in the Federal Constitution, whicli also pro- 
 vides that "the United States shall guarantee to 
 every State in this Union a republican form of 
 government, and shall protect each of them against 
 invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or 
 of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be 
 convened) against domestic violence." It is also 
 provided in the Constitution that the President 
 "shall take care that the laws be faithfully exe- 
 cuted." The use by order of President Cleveland 
 of United States troops, in the summer of 1894, to 
 suppress the anti-railway riots in Chicago and other 
 parts of the United States, was formally approved 
 in resolutions of Congress, adopted almost unani- 
 mously ; but evoked a strong protest from the 
 Governor of Illinois, who addressed the President 
 as follows : 
 
 " I submit that local self-government is a funda- 
 mental principle of our Constitution. Each com- 
 munity shall govern itself so long as it can and is 
 ready and able to enforce the law, and it is in har- 
 mony with this fundamental principle that the 
 statute authorizing the President to send troops 
 into States must be construed. Especially is this 
 so in matters relating to the exercise of police 
 power and the preservation of law and order. 
 
 "The question of federal supremacy is in no 
 way involved. No one disputes it for a moment, 
 but under our Constitution federal supremacy and 
 local selfgovcrnment must go hand in hand, and 
 to ignore ihe latter is to do violence to the Consti- 
 tution." 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 177 
 
 President Cleveland briefly replied : 
 
 "Federal troops were sent to Chicago in strict 
 accordance with the Constitution and laws of the 
 United States, upon the demand of the Post Office 
 Department that obstruction of the mails should be 
 removed, and upon the representations of the 
 judicial officers of the United States that process 
 of the federal courts could not be executed through 
 the ordinary means, and upon abundant proof that 
 conspiracies existed against commerce between the 
 States. To meet these conditions, which are clearly 
 within the province of federal authority, the pres- 
 ence of federal troops in the city of Chicago was 
 deemed not only proper but necessary, and there 
 has been no intention of thereby interfering with 
 the plain duty of the local authorities to preserve 
 the peace of the city." 
 
 As a similar crisis may arise at any time it may 
 be of interest to quote the law under which the 
 President acted. His authority is derived from 
 section 5298 of the Revised Statutes, enacted July 
 29. 189 1, and section 5299, which became a law 
 April 20, 1871. The former provides that "when- 
 ever, by reason of unlawful obstructions, combina- 
 tions, or assemblages of persons, or rebellion 
 against the authority of the Government of the 
 United States, it shall become impracticable, in the 
 judgment of the President, to enforce, by the or- 
 dinary course of judicial proceedings, the laws of 
 the United States within any State or Territory, it 
 shall be lawful for ".he President to call forth the 
 militia of any or all the States, and to emplov such 
 parts of the laud and naval forces of the United 
 States as he may deem necessary to enforce the 
 faithful execution of the laws of the United States, 
 or to suppress such rebellion, in whatever State or 
 Territory thereof the laws of the United States 
 may be forcibly opposed, or the execution thereof 
 forcibly obstructed." Section 5299 is as follows : 
 
 "Whenever insurrection, domestic violence. 
 
178 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 unlawful combinations, or conspiracies in any State 
 so obstructs or hinders the execution of the laws 
 thereof, and of the United States, as to deprive any 
 portion or class of the people of such State of any 
 of tbe rights, privileges, or immunities, or protec- 
 tion, named in the Constitution and secured by the 
 laws for tlie protection of such rights, privileges, 
 or immunities, and the constituted authorities of 
 such State are unable lo protect, or, from any 
 cause, fail in or refuse protection of tbe people in 
 such rights, such facts shall be deemed a denial by 
 such State of the equal protection of the laws to 
 which they are entitled under the Constitution of 
 the United States; and in all such cases, or when- 
 ever any such insurrection, violence, unlawful com- 
 bination, or conspiracy, opposes or obstructs the 
 laws of the United States, or the due execution 
 thereof, or impedes or obstructs the due course of 
 justice under the same, it shall be lawful for the 
 President, and it shall be his duty, to take such 
 measures, by the employment of the militia or the 
 land and nnval forces of the United States, or of 
 either, or by other means, as he may deem neces- 
 sary, for the suppression of such insurrection, do- 
 mestic violence, or combinations." 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. i79 
 
 Part XI. 
 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 PFli^ Brief Biographical Sketches of each from Wash^ 
 ington to Cleveland. 
 
 George Washington, 
 
 FIRST PRESIDENT OE THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 The most exemplary character, perhaps, that 
 ever adorned auy era in history, and who received 
 in his life-time the noble appellations of "the 
 Founder of the Republic," and "the Father of his 
 Country," was born in the county of Westmore- 
 land, Virginia, on the 22d day of February, 1732. 
 His early instruction was domestic and scanty, but 
 full of good discipline and sound principles ; and 
 as his father died when he was only ten years old, 
 he had no subsequent opportunities for acquiring a 
 thorough literary or scientific education. George 
 Washington adopted early in life the profession of 
 a surveyor, and he found agreeable and profitable 
 employment in surveying different parts _ of his 
 native Virginia. He also directed much of his atten- 
 tion to the science of arms, in the use of which 
 ^v^xy young man was instructed, in order to repel 
 Ae incursions of the Indians, who were often led 
 
l8o HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 on by skillful Frenchmen. At the age of nineteen 
 he was appointed one of the adjutant-generals of 
 the colony of Virginia, with the rank of major, and 
 «oon after he was advanced toacolonelc3^ and sent 
 by Governor Dmwiddie to the Ohio with despatches 
 to the French commander, who was erecting forti- 
 fications from Canada to New Orleans, in violation 
 of existing treaties. The Governor was so much 
 pleased with the faithful discharge of this duty, 
 that he ordered Washington 's journal to be printed. 
 It afforded evidence of great sagacity, fortitude, 
 and a sound judgment, and firmly laid the founda- 
 tion of his future fame. 
 
 In the Spring of 1755, Washington was per- 
 suaded to accompany General Braddock as an aid, 
 with the rank of colonel, in his disastrous expedi- 
 tion against Fort Du Quesne ; and had his advice 
 been followed on that occasion, the result would- 
 have been very different. 
 
 Three years afterward (1758) Washington com- 
 manded the Virginians in another expedition 
 against the French, which terminatt^d successfully. 
 At the close of this campaign he left the army, and 
 was soon after married to Mrs. Martha Custis, (the 
 widow of Col. Daniel Parke Custis,) whose maiden 
 name was Dandridge, and whose intelligent and 
 patriotic conduct, as wife and widow, will ever be 
 gratefully remembered in American annals. 
 
 In 1759 Washington was elected to the House of 
 Burgesses, and continued to be returned to that 
 body, with the exception of occasional intervals, 
 until 1774, when he was sent to represent Virginia 
 in the Continental Congress. His well-tempered 
 zeal and his military skill, which enabled him to 
 suggest the most proper means for national defence, 
 fixed all eyes upon him, as one well qualified to 
 direct in the hour of peril ; and accordingly, after 
 the first scene of the revolutionary drama was 
 opened at Lexington and Concord, and an army 
 had assembled at Cambridge, he was, on the I5tn 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. i8l 
 
 of June, 1775, unanimously appointed commander- 
 in-chief of the American forces. 
 
 Aficr bringing the war to a successful termina- 
 tion, Washington, on the 23d of December, 1783, 
 formally resigned his commission. 
 
 In May, 1787, lie was elected to the convention 
 which met at Philadelphia for the purpose of 
 forming a constitution, and was at once called 
 upon to preside over its deliberations. After that 
 admirable instrument was adopted by the people, 
 he was unanimously elected the first President of 
 the United States for four years ; at the expiration 
 of which, he was unanimously re-elected for a 
 second term. On the I2ih of December, 1799, 
 this great man, the august instrument of Divine 
 Providence in the achievement of American inde- 
 pendence, was seized with an inflammation in the 
 throat, which grew worse the next day, and termi- 
 nated his life on the 14th, in the 6Sth year of his 
 age. 
 
 John Adams, 
 »scond president op the united states, 
 
 And whose fame as a patriot and statesman is 
 imperishable, was born at Braintree, Mass., October 
 19, 1735. He early displayed superior capacity for 
 learning, and graduated at Cambridge college with 
 great credit. After qualifying himself for the legal 
 profession, he was admitted to practice in 1761, and 
 soon attained that distinction to which his talents 
 were entitled. From the commencement of the 
 troubles with Great Britain, in 1769, he was among 
 the most active in securing the freedom of his 
 country. Being elected to the first Continental 
 
i82 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Congress, he took a prominent part in all the war 
 measures that were then originated ; and subse- 
 quently suggested the appointment of Washington 
 as commander-in-chief of the army. He was one 
 of the committee which reported the Declaration 
 of Independence in 1776, and the next year visited 
 France as commissioner to form a treaty of alliance 
 and commerce with that country. Although the 
 object had been accomplished before his arrival, his 
 visit had otherwise a favorable effect on the exist- 
 ing position of affairs. At the close of the war he 
 was appointed to negotiate a treaty of peace with 
 Great Britain. In 1785 he was sent to England 
 as the first minister from this country, and on his 
 return was elected first Vice-President, in which 
 ofl5ce he served two terms, and was then, in 1797, 
 elected to succeed Washington as President. Many 
 occurrences tended to embarrass his administration, 
 and to render it unpopular ; but it is now generally 
 admitted to have been characterized by patriotism 
 and vigor equal to the emergencies which then 
 existed. Upon the close of his term, Mr. Adams 
 retired to his farm at Ouincy, where his declining 
 years were passed in the gratification of his unabated 
 love for reading and contemplation, and where he 
 was constantly cheered by an interesting circle of 
 friendship and affection. The semi-centennial anni- 
 versary of American Independence (July 4, 1826,) 
 was remarkable, not merely for the event which it 
 commemorated, but for the decease of two of the 
 most active participants in the measures by which 
 indepei'dence was achieved. On that day, Adams 
 and Jefferson were both gathered to their fathers, 
 within about four hours of each other, "cheered 
 by the benediction of their country, to whom they 
 left the inheritance of their fame, and the memory 
 of their bright example." 
 
 President Adams married Abigail Smith, bora hi 
 Weymouth, Mass., November 23, 1744; died at 
 Quincy, Mass., October 28. 1818. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. iS^ 
 
 Thomas Jefferson, 
 
 third president oe the united states, 
 
 Was born at Shadwell, Albemarle County, Va., 
 (near Mouticello, the seat where he died,) April 13, 
 1743. He was educated at William and Mary's 
 College, and graduated with distinction when quite 
 j'^oung. He was a great lover of learning, and par- 
 ticularly of natural philosophy. With the cele- 
 brated George Wythe, he commenced the study of 
 the law, and became a favorite pupil. Mr. Jeffer- 
 son was never distinguished as an advocate, but was 
 considered a good lawyer. Soon after he came to 
 the bar, he was elected a member of the House of 
 Burgesses, and in that body was duly appreciated 
 for his learning and aptitude for business. He at 
 once took fire at British oppression : and in 1774, 
 he employed his pen in discussing the whole course 
 of the British ministry. His work was admired, 
 and made a text-book by his countrymen. In 
 June, 1775, he took his seat in the Continental 
 Congress, from Virginia. In 1776, he was chosen 
 chairman of the committee that drafted the Decla- 
 ration of Independence. This instrument is nearly 
 all Jefferson's, and was sanctioned by his coad- 
 jutors with few alterations. In 1778, Mr. Jefferson 
 was appointed an envoy to France, to form a treaty 
 with that government, but ill health prevented his 
 acceptance of the mission. He succeeded Patrick 
 Henry, in 1779, as G >vernor of Virginia, and con- 
 tinued in that station two years. In 1781, he com- 
 posed his Notes on Virginia. In 178,5, he was sent 
 to France, to join the agents of our country, Mr. 
 Adams and Dr. Franklin. In 1785, he succeeded 
 Dr. Franklin as minister, and remained in France 
 two years, wben he retired, and returned home. 
 In 1789, he was made Secretary of State, under 
 
l84 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Washington, in which situation he was highly 
 distinguished for his talents. Mr. Jefferson re- 
 signed in 1793. In 1797, he was elected Vice- 
 President or ilie United States, and took his ^eat as 
 President of the Senate, on the following 4th of 
 March. In 1801, he was elected President ol the 
 United States, which office he held for eight years. 
 After completing his second term, he retired to 
 private life, in which he spent his days in philo- 
 sophical pursuits, until the 4lh of July, 1826, when 
 he expired, just fifty years after penning the Decla- 
 ration of Independence. 
 
 Thomas Jefferson married in 1772 Martha Wayles 
 (Skelton), born in Charles City County, Va., Octo- 
 ber 19, 1748; died at Monticello, Va., September 
 6, 1782. She was v.ery beautiful, and was a widow 
 at the time of her marriage to Jefferson. 
 
 James Madison, 
 fourth president of the united states, 
 
 Was born in Orange County, Va., March 16, 1751. 
 His studies, preparatory to entering Princeton Col- 
 lege, were pursued under the most accomplished 
 instructors. He was graduated from Princeton 
 with high honor in 1771. On returning to Virginia, 
 he zealously commenced the study of the law, 
 which he subsequently abandoned for political life. 
 
 In 1776, Mr. Madison was elected to the General 
 Assembly of Virginia ; and from this period, for 
 more than forty years, he was continually in oflSce, 
 
 serving his State and his country in various capaci- 
 ties, from State legislator to President. In 1778, 
 he was elected to the Executive Council of the 
 State, where he rendered important aid to Henry 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 185, 
 
 and Jefiferson, governors of Virginia, and by hisr 
 probity of character, faithfulness in the discharge 
 of duty, and amiableness of deportment, he won 
 the approbation of these great men. In the winter 
 of 1779-80, he took his seat in the Continental Con- 
 gress, and became immediately an active and lead- 
 ing member, as the journal of that body abundantly 
 testifies. 
 
 In 1784, '5, '6, Mr. Madison was a member of 
 the Ivegislature of Virginia. In 1787, he became a 
 member of the convention held in Philadelphia, 
 for the purpose of preparing a Constitution for the 
 government of the United States. Perhaps no 
 member of that body had more to do with the 
 formation of that noble instrument, the " Consti- 
 tution of the United States of America," than Mr. 
 Madison, 
 
 It was during the recess between the proposition- 
 of the Constitution by the Convention of 1787. and 
 its adoption by the States, that that celebrated 
 work, "The Federalist" made its appearance.. 
 This is known to be the joint production of Alex- 
 ander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison. 
 In the same year Mr. Madison was elected to Con- 
 gress, and held his seat until the Continental Con- 
 gress passed away. He was a member of the State 
 Convention of Virginia which met to adopt the 
 Constitution, and on the establishment of the new 
 Congress under the Constitution, he was chosen 
 a member, retaining his seat until the close of 
 Washington's administration. 
 
 In 1 801, as one of the Presidential electors, 
 Mr. Madison had the gratification of voting for 
 his illustrious friend Jefferson, who immediately 
 offered him a place in his cabinet, which was ac- 
 cepted. Accordingly he entered on the discharge 
 of his duties as Secretary of State, which duties 
 he continued to perform during the whole of Mr, 
 Jefferson's administration. On the retirement of 
 Mr. Jefferson in 1809, Mr. Madison succeeded to 
 
l86 • HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the Presidency, in which office he served two terms. 
 
 Mr. Madison th'jn retired to his peaceful home in 
 Virginia, where he hved respected by all, until on 
 the twenty-eighth day of June, 1826, the last sur- 
 vivor of the framers of our Constitution was gath- 
 ered to his fathers, full of years and glory. 
 
 President Madison's wife was Dorothy Payne — 
 the beautiful and intellectual "Dolly Madison," 
 -who was born in North Carolina, May 20, 1772, and 
 died in Washington, D. C, July 12, 1849. 
 
 James Monroe, 
 fifth president of the united states, 
 
 One of the few exalted characters that served his 
 •country in both a civil and military capacity, was 
 born in WestmorelanH County, Va., April 28, 1758, 
 and was educated at William and Mary's College. 
 He was graduated in 1776, and commenced the 
 •study of the law. Anxious to aid in the struggle 
 for independence, which had then just begun, he 
 abandoned his studies, and entered the aimy as a 
 •cadet — joining a corps under the gallant General 
 Mercer. Monroe distinguished himself in several 
 •well-fought battles, and rapid promotion followed, 
 until he reached the rank of captain. He was at 
 Harlem Heights and White Plains, and shared the 
 perils and fatigues of the distressing retreat of 
 Washington through New Jersey, as well as the 
 glory of the victory over the Hessians at Trenton, 
 i?vhere he received a musket-ball in the shoulder; 
 Jiotwithstanding which, he valiantly "fought out 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 187 
 
 the fight." He subsequently accepted the post of 
 an aide to Lord Stirling, with the rank of major, iu 
 which position he saw much hard service— being 
 engaged in almost every conflict for the two 
 succeeding campaigns, and displaying great cour- 
 age and coolness at the bloody battles of Brandy- 
 wine, Germantown and Monmouth. 
 
 Aspiring to a separate command, Monroe ob- 
 tained permission to raise a regiment in his native 
 State ; for which purpose he left the army, and 
 returned to Virginia, where he encountered so 
 many unexpected and discouraging obstacles, that 
 he finally relinquished the enterprise, and re- 
 sumed his law studies in the office of Mr. Jefferson- 
 
 In 1780 Mr. Monroe was elected to the Virginia 
 Legislature, and in the following year was made 
 one of Governor Jefferson's Council, in which he 
 continued until 1783, when, at the age of twenty- 
 four years, he became a member of the Contmental 
 Congress. After serving three years in that body, 
 he was again returned to the State Legislature. 
 
 In 17S8, while a member of the convention to 
 decide upon the adoption of the new Constitution, 
 Mr. Monroe voted in the minority against that in- 
 strument ; but this vote did not at all affect his 
 popularity. Two years afterward he was elected 
 United States Senator, and in 1794 he was sent as 
 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary 
 to the French Republic. After settling tne cessioa 
 of Louisiana to the United States, he went to Eng- 
 land to succeed Mr. King as Minister at the Court of 
 St. James. The affair of the frigate Chesapeake 
 placing him in an uncomfortable situation, he re- 
 turned to the United States, and in 18 10, was once 
 more elected to the Virginia Legislature. He was 
 soon after chosen Governor of that State, in which 
 office he remained until Mr. Madison called him to 
 assume the duties of Secretary ot State in his 
 Cabinet. In 1817, he was elected President of 
 the United States, and in 182 1 was unanimously 
 
l88 HAND BOOK FOR ' 
 
 re-elected, with the exception of a single vote in 
 New Hampshire. His administration was a prosper- 
 ous and quiet one, 
 
 Mr. Monroe united with Jefferson and Madison 
 in founding the University of Virginia ; and when 
 the conveniion was formed for ihe revision of the 
 constitution of his State, he was called to preside 
 over its action. Not long after this, he went to 
 reside with a beloved daughter (the wife of Samuel 
 I/. Gouverneur, Ksq.,) in New York city, where he 
 lived until the anniversary of independence in 
 1831, when, " amidst the pealing joy and congrat- 
 ulations of that proud day, he passed quietly and 
 in glory away." 
 
 President Monroe's wife was EHzabeth Kort- 
 right, a dignified and accomplished woman, born 
 in New York city in 1768 ; died in Ivoudou County, 
 Va., in 1830. 
 
 John Quincy Adams. 
 
 SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born at Quincy, Mass., July 11, 1767, and 
 received the advantages of an excellent education 
 before entering Harvard College. After being 
 graduated with marked credit, he commenced 
 uie study of law at Newburyport, in the office 
 of the Hon. Thenphilus Parsons, for many years 
 afterward Chief Justice of Massachusetts. While 
 pursuing his studies he found leisure to write 
 several newspaper essays, which attracted much 
 attention, and displayed maturity of taste and 
 judgment seldom attained so early in life. In 
 1794 Washington appointed him minister to the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 189 
 
 Netherlands, and subsequently transferred him to 
 Portugal. He was afterward, at different periods, 
 minister to Prussia, Russia, and England ; and was 
 one of the commissioners who negotiated the 
 treaty of peace with Great Britain at Ghent in 
 1815. In 1817 he was appointed Secretary of 
 State, in which office he continued during Mr. 
 Monroe's administration, eight years; when he 
 was elected by the House of Representatives, 
 President of the United States—the people having 
 failed in making a choice. lyike his father, he en- 
 countered strong opposition, and only served one 
 term in this office, being defeated in a re-election 
 by General Jackson. Mr. Adams then retired to his 
 farm at Quincy, but did not long remain in private 
 life ; for two years afterward, he was chosen rep- 
 resentative in Congress, and continued to be re- 
 elected until his death, which occurred in the 
 capitol at Washington, February 23, 1848. Two 
 days previous to this sad event, while engaged in 
 his duties in the House of Representatives, he 
 suffered a paralytic stroke, which apparently de- 
 prived him of all consciousness. He was borne to 
 the Speaker's room, where he received every atten- 
 tion that could be bestowed by anxious and devoted 
 friends, but all in vain— his hour was come. The 
 last words he was heard to utter were, "This is the 
 last of earth ! " 
 
 Mr. Adams was a man of rare gifts and rich ac- 
 quisitions. A diligent student, and economical of 
 his time, he found opportunity, amidst all his pub- 
 lic cares, to cultivate his tastes for literature and 
 the sciences. He was one of the finest classical 
 and belles-lettres scholars of his time, and filled the 
 chair of Professor of Rhetoric and Belles- Lettres ia 
 Harvard College for several years. 
 
 President John Ouincy Adams' wife was Miss 
 lyouisa Johnson, a niece of Thomas Johnson, of 
 Maryland. Their son, Charles Francis Adams, be- 
 came famous as a diplomatist. 
 
I90 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Andrew Jackson, 
 seventh president oe the united states, 
 
 Was born at Waxhaw, Lancaster county, S. C, in 
 1767, and while yet a mere lad, did something 
 toward achieving the independence of his coun- 
 try. It is said that he commenced his military 
 career at the age of fourteen years, and was soon 
 after taken prisoner, together with an elder brother. 
 During his captivity, lie was ordered by a British 
 officer to perform some menial service, vhich he 
 promptly refused, and for this refusal he was 
 ** severely wounded with the sword which the 
 Englishman disgraced." He was educated for 
 the bar, and commenced practice at Nashville, 
 Tenn., but relinquished his legal pursuits to " gain 
 a name in arms." In the early part of the war 
 of 181 2, Congress having voted to accept fifty 
 thousand volunteers, General Jackson appealed 
 to the m^itia of Tennessee, when twenty-five hun- 
 dred enrolled their names, and presented them- 
 selves to Congress, with Jackson at their head. 
 They were accepted, and ordered to Natchez, to 
 watch the operations of the British on the lower 
 Mississippi. Not long after Jackson received 
 orders from headquarters, to disband his men, and 
 send them to their homes. To obey, he foresaw, 
 would be an act of great injustice to his command, 
 and reflect diseraceon tbecountr}', and he resoived 
 to disobey. He accordingrly broke up liis camp, 
 and returned to Nashville, bringing all his sick 
 with him, whose wants on the way he relieved 
 ■with his private means, and there he disbanded his 
 troops in the midst of their homes. 
 
 Jackson was soon called to the field once more, 
 and his commission marked out his course of duty 
 on the field of Indian warfare. There for years 
 belabored, and fought, and negotiated, with the 
 extraordinary precedence and undaunted courage. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 191 
 
 It was about this time that the treaty of the " Hick- 
 ory Ground " was framed, which won for him the 
 familiar designation of "Old Hickory." 
 
 The crowning glory of Jackson's military career 
 was the battle of New Orleans ; which will ever 
 occupy one of the brightest pages in American 
 history. After the war Jackson returned to his 
 home in Nashville. In 1818 he was again called on 
 by his country to render his military services in the- 
 expulsion of the Seminoles. His conduct during 
 this struggle has been both bitterly condemned 
 and highly applauded. An attempt in the House 
 of Representatives to inflict a censure on the old 
 hero for the irregularities of the campaign, after a 
 long and bitter debate, was defeated by a large 
 maj ^rity. 
 
 In 1S28, and again in 1832, General Jackson was- 
 elected to fii 1 the Presidential chair ; thus occupying 
 that elevated position for eight successi\ e years. 
 He then retired to his hospitable mansion ("The 
 Hermitage") near Nashville," He died June 8, 
 
 1845. 
 
 Andrew Jackson married Rachel Donelson, born 
 in North Carolina \a 1767; died at the Hermitage, 
 Tenn., D-^c. 22, 1831. The marriage was a peculiar- 
 one. She had been married to a man named Ro- 
 bards from whom she separated. Jackson f uppos- 
 ing that the husband had got a divorce, married 
 her, but was careful to repeat the marriage cere- 
 mony when the divorce was actually procured. He- 
 loved his wife and they lived happily. 
 
 Martin Van Buren, 
 
 EIGnTlI PRESIDENT OE THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born in the flourishing town of Kinderhook, 
 N. Y., September 5, 1782, and early received the- 
 b^t education that could then be obtained in the- 
 
192 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 schools in his immediate vicinity. Having suflfi- 
 ciently prepared himself for the study of law, he 
 •entered the office of Francis Sylvester, in his 
 native town, where he remained about six years. 
 But law did not engross his whole time : he found 
 leisure occasionally to peer into the mysteries of 
 political economy, and finally arrived at the con- 
 clusion that his chances for fame and fortune were 
 at least equal in the arena of politics to anything 
 he might accomplish by a strict adherence to legal 
 pursuits. Fully impressed with this idea, he early 
 ;set about cultivating what little popularity could 
 be gained in his limited sphere, and so won upon 
 the confidence of his neighbors and friends i:S to 
 be appointed, while yet in his teens, a delegate to 
 a convention in his native county, in which im- 
 portant political measures were to be acted upon. 
 
 In iSo3 he was appointed surrogate of Columbia 
 •county, the first public office he ever held ; and in 
 l8i2andl8i6 he was elected to the State Senate, 
 in which body he became a distinguished leader of 
 the Madison party, and one of its most eloquent 
 supporters. 
 
 In 1S21 Mr. Van Buren was elected to the United 
 States Senate, in which he held his seat for nearly 
 eight years, and became remarkable not only for 
 his close attention to business, but also for his de- 
 votion to the great principles of the Democratic 
 party. 
 
 In 1828 he was elected Governor of his native 
 State, and entered upon the duties of that office on 
 the first of January, 1829; but he filled the guber- 
 natorial chair for only a few weeks. In March 
 following, when General Jackson was elevated to 
 the Presidency, he tendered ]\Ir. Van Buren the 
 post of Secretary of State, which was accepted. 
 At the expiration of two years he resigned his seat 
 in the Cabinet, and was immediately appointed 
 Minister to England ; but when his nomination 
 was submitted to the Senate, (June 25, 1831,) it was 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 193 
 
 rejected by the casting vote of the Vice-President, 
 (Mr. Calhoun,) and of course he was recalled. As 
 his friends attributed his rejection entirely to per- 
 sonal and political rancor, it only served to raise 
 Mr, Van Buren in the estimation of his political 
 adherents ; and the result was, that in May follow- 
 ing he was nominated with great unanimity for the 
 Vice-Presidency by the Democratic Convention at 
 Baltimore. His triumphant election was regarded 
 not merely as a high compliment to himself, but 
 as a wholesome rebuke to his opponents. 
 
 In 1836 Mr. Van Buren was put in nomination 
 for the Chief Magistracy, to which he was elected 
 by a large majority over General Harrison ; but at 
 the next Presidential election the tables were 
 turned, and Van Buren only received sixty votes 
 out of two hundred and ninety-four. 
 
 After his defeat he returned to Kinderhook, 
 where he remained some time, and then visited 
 Europe, with one of his sons, whose restoration to 
 health was the principal object of his journey. 
 
 Mr. Van Barea consented once more to become 
 a candidate for the Presidency, and in 1S48 re- 
 ceived the nomination of the Free-soil party ; 
 but he did not secure a sintrle electoral vote. He 
 died at Kinderhook, New York, July 24, 1862. 
 
 President Van Buren's wife was Hannah Hoes, 
 born in Kinderhook, N. Y., in 1782; died in 
 Albany, N. Y., February 5, 1819. She was a do- 
 mestic and charitable woman. 
 
 Wii^wAM Henry Harrison, 
 
 NINTH PRKSIDKNT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born in Charles City County, Va., February 
 9, 1773, and was educated for the medical profes- 
 sion at Hampden Sydney College. He graduated 
 
194 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 at a time when our northwestern frontier was suf- 
 fering much from the neighboring Indians ; and 
 believing that he could be of greater service in 
 repelling the savage invaders than in pursuing his 
 studies, he accepted an ensign's commission irom 
 President Washington, and joined the army. He 
 was promoted to a lieutenancy in 1792, and his skill 
 and bravery were highly commended by General 
 Wayne, under whose command he was engaged in 
 several actions. After the bloody battle of Miami 
 Rapids, he was rewarded with the rank of Captain, 
 and immediately placed in command of Fort Wash- 
 ington. In 1797 he resigned his commission, for 
 the purpose of accepting the ofBce of Secretary of 
 the Nortliwest Territory, from which he was elected 
 a delegate to Congress in 1 799. 
 
 When a territorial government was formed for 
 Indiana, Harrison was appointed Governor, and 
 continued in that office till 1^13. To his c ivil and 
 military duties he add d those of commissioner 
 and superintendent of Indian affairs ; and, in the 
 course of his administration, he conclud' d thirteen 
 important treaties with the different tribes. On 
 the 7th of November, 181 1, he gained tlie cele- 
 brated battle of Tippecanoe, the news of which 
 was received throughout tlie count'-y with a burst 
 of enthusiasm. During the war of 1812 General 
 Harrison commanded the northwestern army of 
 the United States, and he bore a conspicuous part in 
 the leading events r f the campaign of 1 812-13, the 
 defence ojf Fort Meigs, and the victory of the 
 Thames. In 1814, he was appointed, in conjunc- 
 tion with hiscompanionsinarms. Governor Shelby 
 and General Cass, to treat with the Indians in the 
 northwest, at Greenville; and, in the following 
 year, he was placed at the head c f a commission 
 to treat with various other importarit tribes. 
 
 In 1816, General Harrison was elected a member 
 of Congress from Ohio and, in 1S28. he was sent 
 as Minister Plenipotentiary to the Republic of 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 195 
 
 Colombia. On liis return, he took up his residence at 
 North Bend, on the Ohio, where he lived upon his 
 farm in comparative retirement, till 1837, when he 
 became a candidate for the Presidency. Although 
 defeated on the fir.-t trial, four years afterward he 
 was elected by a large majority, and inaugurated 
 in 1841. General Harrison did not long survive 
 thJs crowning honor, as he died on the4th of April, 
 just one month after entering upon his duties. His 
 funeral obsequies were performed on the 7th, and 
 an immense concourse assembled to pay their testi- 
 mony of respect. Funeral services and proces- 
 sions also took place in most of the principal cities 
 throughout the country. As General Harrison was 
 the first President who died while in office, his 
 successor, Mr. Tyler, recommended that the I4tli 
 of May be observed as a day of fasting and prayer,, 
 and accordingly it was so observed. 
 
 President William Henry Harrison's wife was 
 Anna Symmes, born near Morristown, N. J., July 
 25, 1775 ; died near North Bend, Ohio, February 
 25, 1864. 
 
 John Tyler, 
 
 TENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born at Williamsburg, Va., March 29, 1790, 
 and at the age of twelve years entered William 
 and ]\Iary College, where he graduated with dis- 
 tinguished merit five years afterward. Few have 
 commenced life at so early a period as Mr. Tyler- 
 he having been admitted to the bar when only 
 nineteen, and elected to the Virginia Legislature 
 before attaining his twenty -second year. In 1816 
 he was sent to Congress ; in 1825 he was elected 
 Governor of Virginia, and in 1827 United States 
 
196 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Senator, in which capacity he firmly supported 
 the administration of General Jackson — voting 
 against the tariff bill of 1828, and against re- 
 chartering the United States Bank. Notwith- 
 standing this last vote, the friends of the bank, 
 presuming upon his well-known conservatism, at 
 the special session of Congress called by his prede- 
 cessor, introduced a bill lor the establishment of 
 the "Fiscal Bank of the United States," which 
 passed both houses by small majorities, and which 
 Mr. Tyler felt bound to veto. But this did not 
 dishearten the friends of the measure, who modi- 
 fied and rechristened their financial plan, which, 
 under the name of " Fiscal Corporation of the 
 United States," again passed both houses of Con- 
 gress, and was again vetoed by the President. Of 
 course, a large portion of the party that elected 
 him were greatly dissatisfied with his course, and 
 their denunciations of his alleged faithlessness 
 were "loud and deep." To add to the embarrass- 
 ments which surrounded President Tyler, the mem- 
 bers of his Cabinet, with the exception of Mr. 
 Webster, resigned their places ; but even this im- 
 plied rebuke did not shake his integrity of purpose. 
 An equally efficient phalanx of talent was called 
 to his aid, and he had the satisfaction of seeing that 
 his views were endorsed by a large number of 
 leading statesmen. It has been often asserted that 
 Mr. Tyler had pledged himself to sustain the 
 financial schemes of the bank and its friends ; but 
 this has always been denied, and circumstances 
 certainly warrant the conclusion that the assertion 
 is unfounded. So gross and bitter were the assaults 
 made upon him, that he felt called upon to defend 
 himself from their violence ; and, after declaring 
 his determination to do his duty, regardless _ of 
 party tics, he said : " I appeal from the vituperation 
 of the present day to the pen of impartial History, 
 in confidence that neither my motives nor my acts 
 will bear the interpretation which, for sinister 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. i97 
 
 motives, lias been placed upon them." On the 
 expiration of his official term, he retired to his 
 estate at Williamsburg. When the people of sev- 
 eral Southern States voted for secession Mr. Tyler 
 was elected to the Confederate Congress. He died 
 at Richmond, Va., January i8, 1862, and rests there 
 in an unmarked grave, . . 
 
 President Tyler s first wife was Letitia Christian, 
 born at Cedar Grove, New Kent County, Va., No- 
 vember 12, 1790; died in Washington, D. C, 
 September 9, 1842. , -r t v 
 
 President Tyler married as his second wife J uha 
 Gardiner, born on Gardiner's Island, near East- 
 hampton, N. Y., May 4, 1820 ; died in Richmond, 
 Va., July 10, 1889. 
 
 James Knox Polk, 
 
 Ei,«VENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born at Mecklenburg, N. C, November 2, 
 1795, and there received the rudiments of his early 
 education. In 1806 his father removed to Nash- 
 ville, Tenn., taking his family with him, and there 
 it was that Mr. Polk pursued those preliminary 
 studies which were requisite to qualify him for the 
 legal profession. After due preparation , he entered 
 the office of the Hon. Felix Grundy, under whose 
 able instruction he made such rapid progress, that 
 he was admitted to praclice in 1820. His duties at 
 the bar did not prevent him from taking partin the 
 political affairs of the day ; and in this sphere his 
 comprehensive views and zealous devotion to 
 Democracy soon secured him a widely-extended 
 popularity, which resulted in his election to the 
 IvCgislatuVe of Tennessee in 1823. In 1825, while 
 yet i'l his thirtieth year, he was chosen a member 
 of Congress, in which body he remained fourteen 
 
198 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 years — being honored -with the Speakership for 
 several sessions. So well satisfied were his con- 
 stituents with his Congressional course, that he was 
 elected Governor by a large majority, but some 
 «[uestions of local policy defeated his re-election. 
 
 In 1844 Polk was unexpectedly nominated for the 
 office of President of the United States by the 
 Democratic Convention at Baltimore, and, having 
 received sixty-five electoral votes more than the 
 rival candidate, Mr. Clay, he was inaugurated on 
 the 4th of March, 1845. 
 
 Soon after Mr. Polk assumed the reins of govern- 
 ment, the country became involved in a war with 
 Mexico, v/hich was little more than a series of 
 victories wherever the American banner was dis- 
 played, and wliich resulted in important territorial 
 acquisitions. The ostensible ground for this war, 
 on the part of Mexico, was the admission of Texas 
 into the Union, which was one of the first acts of 
 Mr. Polk's admii istration. The Mexicans, how- 
 ever, paid dearly for asserting their claims to Texas 
 as a revolted province, and the prompt and ener- 
 getic course pursued by Mr. Polk was sanctioned 
 and sustained by a large majority of the people. 
 
 But notwithstanding the advantageous issue of 
 the war, the acquisition of Texas, and the satisfac- 
 tory settlement of several vexed questions of long 
 standing, Mr. Polk was not nominated for a second 
 term — various other reasons leading to the selec- 
 tion of another candidate. Perhaps it was fortu- 
 nate for the country and for himself that he was 
 permitted to retire to the more congenial enjoy- 
 ment of private life ; for his health had become 
 very much impaired, and he did not long survive 
 after reaching his home in Nashville. He died 
 June 15, 1849. 
 
 President Polk's wife was Sarah Childress, born 
 near Murfreesboro, Tenn., September 4, 1803 ; died 
 in Nashville, Tenn., August 14, 1891. She was a 
 very handsome and well educated woman. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 199 
 
 Zachary Taylor, 
 
 tweiyfl'h president op the united vstates, 
 
 Was born in Orange County, Virginia, November 
 24, 1790, and, after receiving an indifferent educa- 
 tion, passed a considerable portion of his boyhood 
 amid the stirring scenes which were being enacted 
 at that time on our western border. In 1808 he was 
 appointed a heutenant in the United States infantry, 
 and subsequently was promoted to a captaincy for 
 his efficient services against the Indians. Soon 
 after the declaration of war in 1812 he was placed 
 in command of Fort Harrison, which he so gal- 
 lantly defended with a handful of men against the 
 attack of a large body of savages, as to win the 
 brevtt rank of major. So familiar did he become 
 with the Indian character, and with the mode of 
 warfare of that wily foe, that his services at the 
 West and South were deemed indispensable in the 
 subjugation and removal of several hostile tribes. 
 While effecting these desirable objects, he was oc- 
 casionally rewarded fcr his toils and sacrifices by 
 gradual promotion, and in 1840 attained the rank 
 of brigadier-general. At the commencement of 
 the troubles with Mexico, in 1845, he was ordered 
 to occupy a position on the American side of the 
 Rio Grande, but not to cross that river unless at- 
 tacked by the Mexicans. He was not, however, 
 allowed to remain long in repose: the enemy, by 
 attackmg Fort Brown, which he had built on the 
 Rio Grande, opposite Matamoras, soon afforded 
 him an opportunity to display his skill and valor, 
 and gloriously did he improve it. The brilliant 
 battles of Palo Alto and Resaca dela Palma, where 
 he contended successfully against fearful odds, 
 were precursors to a series of victories which have 
 few parallels in military aunals. The attack on 
 Matamoras, the storming of Monterey, the san- 
 guinary contest at Buena Vista, and the numerous 
 
200 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 skirmishes in which he was engaged, excited uni- 
 versal admiration ; and on his return home, after 
 so signally aiding to "conquer a peace" with 
 Mexico, he was everywhere received with the most 
 gratifying demonstrations of respect and affection. 
 In 1848 General Taylor received the nomination of 
 the Whig party for the office of President of the 
 United States, and, being elected, was inaugurated 
 the year following. But the cares and responsi- 
 bilities of this position were greater than his con- 
 stitution could endure, hardened as it had been 
 both in Indian and civilized warfare. After the 
 lapse of little more than a year from the time he 
 entered the White House, he succumbed to disease, 
 dying July 9, 1850. 
 
 President Taylor's wife, Margaret Smith, was 
 born in Calvert County, Maryland, in 1790. She 
 died near Pascagoula, La., August 18, 1852. She 
 was without social ambition, and took no part in 
 the social duties of the White House, leaving these 
 to her younger daughter, Elizabeth, known as 
 "Miss Betty." 
 
 MlLI^ARD FiLIvMORE, 
 THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born at Summer Hill, Cayuga County, 
 N. Y., January 7, 1800, and did not enjoy the ad- 
 vantages of any other education than what he de- 
 rived from the then inefficient common schools of 
 the county. At an early age he was sent into the 
 wilds of Livingston County to learn a trade, and 
 here he soon attracted the attention of a friend, 
 who placed him in a lawyer's office — thus opening 
 a new, and what was destined to be a most honor- 
 able and distinguished career. In 1827 he was ad- 
 mitted as an attorney, and two years afterward as 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 201 
 
 counsellor in the Supreme Court. Soon attracting 
 attention, he established himself at Buffalo, where 
 his talents and business habits secured him an ex- 
 tended practice. 
 
 His first entrance into public life was in January,, 
 1829, when he took his seat as a member of the 
 Assembly from Erie County. At this time he dis- 
 tinguished himself for his untiring opposition to 
 imprisonment for debt, and the people are indebted 
 to him in a great degree for the expunging of that 
 relic of barbarism from the statute book. Having: 
 gained a high reputation for legislative capacity^ 
 in 1833 he was elected a member of the national 
 House of Representatives. On the assembling of 
 the Twenty-seventh Congress, to which Mr. Fill- 
 more was re-elected by a larger majority than was 
 ever given before in his district, he was placed in 
 the arduous position of Chairman of the Committee 
 on Ways and Means. The measures he brought for- 
 ward and sustained, speedily relieved the govern* 
 ment from its existing pecuniary embarrassments... 
 In 1847 he was elected Comptroller of the State of 
 New York by a larger majority than had beets 
 given to any State officer for many years. In 184S 
 he was selected as candidate for Vice-President^, 
 General Taylor heading the ticket . On his electioo 
 to that high office, he resigned his place as Comp- 
 troller, and entered upon his duties as President ®£ 
 the United States Senate. The courtesy, ability^ 
 and dignity exhibited by him, while presiding -ovsir 
 the deliberations of that body, received general' 
 commendation. Upon the sudden death of Gen- 
 eral Taylor, Mr. Fillmore became President, and 
 promptly selected a Cabinet, distinguished for its 
 ability, patriotism, and devotion to the Union, and 
 possessing in an eminent degree the confidence of 
 the country. 
 
 After serving out the constitutional term, Mr. 
 Fillmore returned to Buffalo, and resumed the: 
 practice of law. He died at Buffalo, March 8, 1874, 
 
ao2 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 President Fillmore's wife was Abigail Powers, 
 the daughter of a clergyman, whom he married 
 Feb. 5, 1826. She died three weeks after the close 
 of his administration, having, Irving says, received 
 her death-warrant while standing by his side on the 
 cold marble terrace of the capitol, listening to the 
 inaugural address of Mr. Fillmore's successor. 
 
 FRANKI.IN PiERCK,* 
 FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born at Hillsborough, N. H., November 23, 
 1804, and early received the advantage of a liberal 
 education. After going through a regular collegiate 
 course at Bowdoin College, which he entered at the 
 age of sixteen, he became a law student in the office 
 of Judge Woodbury at Portsmouth, whence he was 
 ■transferred to the law school at. Northampton, 
 where he remained two years, and then finished his 
 •studies with Judge Parker at Amherst. Although 
 Ihis rise at the bar was not rapid, by degrees he at- 
 tained the highest rank as a lawyer and advocate. 
 
 In 1829 Mr. Pierce was elected to represent his 
 nativetown in the State Legislature, where heserved 
 four years, during the last two of which he held 
 the speakership, and discharged the duties with 
 universal satisfaction 
 
 From 1833 to 1837 Mr. Pierce represented his 
 State in Congress, and was then elected to the 
 United States Senate, having barely reached the 
 
 * For the sketches of the Presidents from George Washington to 
 Franklin Pierce, inclusive, I am largely indebted to " Wells' Na- 
 tional Handbook," a patriotic work published at the time of the 
 civil war. For the idea of appending sketches of the wives of the 
 anarried Presidents I am indebted to " The Presidents of the 
 iJnited States, edited by General James Grant Wilson, and pub- 
 fished by D. Appleton & Co., from which admirable work I have 
 also taken the data regarding those ladies.— H. M. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 203 
 
 requisite age to qualify him for a seat in that body. 
 Mr. Pierce was re-elected at the expiration of his 
 senatorial term, but resigned his seat the year 
 following for the purpose of devoting himself 
 exclusively to his legal business, which had 
 become so extensive as to require all his atten- 
 tion. 
 
 In 1846 Mr. Pierce declined the office of Attorney- 
 Oeneral, tendered to him by President Polk ; but 
 when the war with Mexico broke out, he was active 
 in raising the New England regiment of volunteers ; 
 and afterward accepted the commission of briga- 
 dier-general. General Pierce at once repaired to the 
 field of operations, where he distinguished himself 
 in several hard-fought battles. At Cerro-Gordo and 
 at Chapultepec he displayed an ardor in his coun- 
 try's cause which extorted praise from his most 
 inveterate political opponents ; and on his return 
 home he was everywhere received with gratifying 
 evidence that his services were held in grateful 
 remembrance by the people. 
 
 The Democratic Convention held in Baltimore in 
 
 1852, after trying in vain to concentrate their votes 
 on a more prominent candidate, unexpectedly 
 nominated General Pierce for the office of Presi- 
 dent of the United States, to which he was 
 elected by an unprecedented majority over his 
 rival. General Scott — receiving 254 votes out of 
 296. He was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 
 
 1853. His administration was more remarkable 
 for its futile attempts to reconcile conflicting inter- 
 ests, than for the achievement of any particular 
 measure of great public utility. Mr. Pierce died in 
 Concord, N H., Octobers, 1869. 
 
 The wife of President Pierce was Jane Means 
 Appleton, born in Hampton, N. H., March 12, 
 1806 ; died in Andover, Mass., December 2, 
 1863. 
 
204 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 James Buchanan, 
 
 fifteenth president oe the united states, 
 
 Was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. His 
 father, of the same name, was an Irishman who had, 
 eight years before, emigrated from Donegal, and 
 had become a well-to-do farmer. The son completed 
 his education at Dickinson College, Carlisle, and 
 took his degree in 1809. He then applied himself 
 to the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 
 1812, and settled at Lancaster, in Pennsylvania. 
 
 In the great struggle between President Jackson 
 and the party headed by Mr. Calhoun, Buchanan 
 warmly defended the President and his claims. 
 In the first years of the movement against slavery 
 he saw the large results which were likely to 
 follow, and desired to suppress the agitation in its 
 infancy, andtodothis by suppressing the discussion 
 of the fiubject in Congress. He advocated the recog- 
 nition by Congress of the independence of Texas, 
 and at a later time its annexation. During the 
 presidency of Van Buren, Buchanan greatly distin- 
 guished himself in support of the principal meas- 
 ure of the government — the establishment of an 
 independent treasury. In 1845 he was appointed 
 Secretary of State under President Polk; and at 
 the close of his term of office in 1849, ^^ retired 
 to private life. Four years later he accepted 
 from President Pierce the post of United States 
 Minister to Great Britain. 
 
 He returned from England in 1856, and the same 
 year was nominated as Democratic candidate for 
 the Presidential chair. For a short time there 
 seemed to be ground for hope that political pas- 
 sions and excitement would subside. But this 
 hope was soon found to be fallacious. The troubles 
 in Kansas and the large questions involved in them 
 .gave rise to new discussions and division. The 
 
AMKRICAN CITIZENS. 205 
 
 President gave his support to the pro-slavery party, 
 and dissensions grew during his administration to 
 such an extent that disruption and war between 
 North and South followed the election of his suc- 
 cessor, President Lincoln. From the close of his 
 administration in i86ountil his death, Buchanan led 
 a retired life. He died at Wheatland, in Pennsyl- 
 vania, June I, 1868. Two years before his death he 
 published an account of his administration. 
 President Buchanan was never married. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, 
 Th:^ sixteenth president oe the united 
 
 STATES, 
 
 Was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, Febru- 
 ary 12, 1809, of poor and struggling parents. His 
 father, Thomas Lincoln, was somewhat shiftless, 
 but his mother was a woman of superior intellect, 
 who did all she could for her children. She died 
 when Abraham was about nine years of age. The 
 family cabin was in a wild region with little oppor- 
 tunity for even the most ordinary education, but 
 Lincoln learned all that the backwoods teachers 
 could impart. When nineteen years of age he 
 could write clearly and correctly, and showed such 
 business capacity that he was intrusted with car- 
 goes of farm products which he took to New 
 Orleans and sold. In 1830 Lincoln's father emi- 
 grated to Macon County, Illinois. Lincoln was 
 now six feet four inches in height and of immense 
 muscular strength. He assisted his father to build 
 a cabin, split rails, and clear the ground for plant- 
 ing. This being accomplished Abraham sought 
 other employment, using his leisure time, as before, 
 in constant reading. He learned the elements of 
 
2o6 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 English grammar aud began to study the principles 
 of law. When the Black Hawk war broke out 
 Lincoln served for about three months, being mus- 
 tered out by Lieutenant Robert Anderson, who 
 afterward commanded at Fort vSumter when the 
 shots were fired that opened the rebellion. The 
 young man was resolved not to stay in the ruts and 
 he obtained a nomination for the legislature. He 
 was defeated, but received a good number of votes, 
 including nearly all from his own neighborhood. 
 He now thought seriously of becoming a black- 
 smith, but concluded to buy out a store, giving his 
 notes for the stock. The business was ruined by a 
 worthless partner, but Lincoln faithfully met the 
 notes in full, enduring much hardship and privation 
 to do so. In August, 1834, he was at length 
 elected to the legislature, and was re-elected until 
 1840. He took rank from the first among the lead- 
 ing members of that body, and having acquired 
 some knowledge of law he removed to Springfield, 
 111., and entered into a law partnership. In 
 1846 ]Mr. Lincoln was elected to Congress. He was 
 not a candidate for re-election at the close of his 
 term, but was recognized everywhere as the leader 
 of the Whig party in Illinois. The repeal of the 
 Missouri Compromise aroused all the energies of his 
 nature, and his eloquent protests against that breach 
 of faith evoked a responsive echo throughout the 
 West. When the Republican party was organized 
 Lincoln became its chief in Illinois, and when in 
 1858 Senator Douglas sought a re-election to the 
 Senate the Republicans put Lincoln forward as his 
 antagonist. Their "joint discussions " are historic. 
 The}^ dealt with the question of slavery and excited 
 interest throughout the whole country. In brief 
 they introduced the United States to the future 
 President. In May, i860, ]\Ir. Lincoln was nomi- 
 nated for President by the Republicans on the third 
 ballot, William H. Seward, of New York, being his 
 principal competitor. Thenceforward Abraham 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 207 
 
 Lincoln was a part of the"nation's life, and his his- 
 tory, down to the day of his death, April 15, 1865, 
 from au assassin's cowardly shot, is the history of 
 the civil war. Of Lincoln's character Robert G- 
 Ingersoll has eloquently said : 
 
 "Hundreds of people are now engaged m 
 smoothing out the Hues of Lincoln's face, forcing 
 all features to the common mold, so that he may 
 be known, not as he really was, but, according ta 
 their poor standard, as he should have been. 
 Lincoln was not a type. He stands alone, no an- 
 cestors, no fellows and no successors. He had the 
 advantage of living in a new country, of social 
 equality, of personal freedom, of seeing in the- 
 horizon of his future the perpetual star of hope. 
 He preserved his individuality and his self-respect. 
 He knew and mingled with men of every kind;, 
 and, after all, men are the best books. He became 
 acquainted with the ambitions and hopes of the 
 heart, the means used to accompHsh ends, the- 
 springs of action and the seeds of thought. He 
 was familiar with nature, with actual things, with 
 common facts. He loved and appreciated the poem 
 of the year, the drama of the season. 
 
 "Lincoln was an immense personality ; firm, but 
 not obstinate. Obstinacy is egotism; firmness, 
 heroism. He influenced others without effort, 
 unconsciously, and they submitted to him as men 
 submit to nature, unconsciously. He was severe 
 with himself, and for that reason lenient with 
 others. He appeared to apologize for being 
 kinder than his fellows. He did merciful things- 
 as stealthily as others committed crimes. Almost 
 ashamed of tenderness, he said and did the noblest 
 words and deeds with that charming confusion, 
 that awkwardness that is perfect grace of modesty. 
 "He was an orator, clear, sincere, natural. He 
 did not pretend. He did not say what he thought 
 others thought, but what he thought. He knew- 
 others, because perfectly acquainted with himself. 
 
2o8 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 He cared nothing for place, but everything for 
 principle ; nothing for money, but everything for 
 independence. Where no principle was involved, 
 easily swayed, willing to go slowly, if in the right 
 direction, sometimes willing to stop, but he would 
 not go back, and he would not go wrong. He was 
 willing to wait. He knew that the event was not 
 waiting, and that fate was not the fool of chance. 
 He knew that slavery had defenders but no defence, 
 and that they who attack the right must wound 
 themselves. He was neither tyrant nor slave. He 
 neither knelt nor scorned. With him men were 
 neither great nor small ; they were right or wrong. 
 Through manners, clothes, titles, rags and race he 
 saw the real. Beyond accident, policy, compromise 
 and war he saw the end. He was patient as 
 Destiny, whose undecipherable hieroglyphs were 
 so deeply graven on his sad and tragic face. 
 
 "Nothing discloses real character like the use of 
 power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most 
 people can bear adversity. But if you wish to 
 know what a man really is, give him power. This 
 is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincohi that, 
 having almost absolute power, he never abused it, 
 except upon the side of mercy. 
 
 "Wealth could not purchase, power could not 
 awe this divine, this loving man. He knew no fear 
 except the fear of doing wrong. Hating slavery, 
 pitying the master, seeking to conquer not persons 
 but prejudices, he was the embodiment of the self- 
 denial, the courage, the hope, and the nobility of 
 a Nation. He spoke, not to inflame, not to up- 
 braid, but to convince. He raised his hands, not 
 to strike, but in benediction. He longed to pardon. 
 He loved to see the pearls of joy on the cheeks of 
 a wife whose husband he had rescued from death. 
 I/incoln was the grandest figure of the fiercest civil 
 war. He is the gentlest memory of our world. " 
 
 President Lincoln's wife was Mary Todd, born 
 in Lexington, Ky., December 12, fSi8; died in 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 209 
 
 Springfield, 111., July 16, 1882. She belonged to a 
 family regarded as socially far above lyincoln, 
 and had several excellent suitors ; but she saw the 
 worth of Lincoln, and accepted him. She never 
 recovered from the shock of her husband's tragic 
 death. 
 
 Andre:w Johnson, 
 seventeenth president of the united states, 
 
 Was born in Raleigh, N. C, December 29, 1808. 
 He died near Carter's Station, Tenn., July 31, 1875. 
 His parents were very poor, and his father died 
 when he was four years old. At the age of ten he 
 was apprenticed to a tailor. He learned the alpha- 
 bet from those employed with him. Johnson 
 moved to Greenville, Tenn., and was fortunate in 
 his marriage to an intelligent woman, Eliza McCar- 
 dle, who taught him to write, and read to him 
 when he was at work. 
 
 lu Tennessee, Johnson acquired prominence as a 
 champion of the people against the land-holding 
 aristocracy. He became Mayor of Greenville, and 
 was afterward elected to the legislature, and in 
 1843 to Congress, and remained in Congress for 
 ten years, w^hen he was thrown out by the ' * gerry- 
 mandering" of district lines. Johnson was next 
 elected Governor, and so earnestly advocated 
 measures for the benefit of workingmen that he 
 was known as the "Mechanic Governor," In 
 1857, he was elected to the United States Senate, 
 where he strongly supported the Union cause, 
 although he did not antagonize slavery. His un- 
 yielding opposition to secession won for him popu- 
 larity in the North, as well as among the Unionists 
 of the border States. He supported a vigorous 
 prosecution of the war, and was appointed Military 
 
2IO HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Governor of Tennessee by President Lincoln, 
 March, 1862. 
 
 Although Johnson had always been a Democrat, 
 except in so far as his Unionist course estranged 
 the dominant wing of the part)" from him, the 
 Republicans nominated him for Vice-President in 
 1864, and when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, 
 Johnson became President, In that office, he 
 soon offended the Republican majority in Congress 
 by the veto of party measures of reconstruction, 
 and his defiance of the Teuure-of-Office Act was 
 made a ground for impeachment. 
 
 Thirty- five Senators voted for conviction, and 
 nineteen for acquittal, and the vote for conviction 
 lacking one of two-thirds, the President stood 
 acquitted. After the expiration of his term, he 
 went back to Tennessee. He was elected to the 
 Senate in January, 1875, and died near Carter's 
 Station, Tenu., July 31, 1875. 
 
 If ever a wife made a husband, Eliza McCardle 
 made Andrew Johnson by helping him to develop 
 his really great abilities. She was born in Lees- 
 burg, Washington County, Tenn. , October 4, 1810, 
 and died in Home, Greene County, Tenn., January 
 15, 1876. She appeared little in society. 
 
 UivYSSES vSiMPSON Grant, 
 
 Bightee:nth prEvSident of the united states,. 
 
 Was born at Point Pleasant, Clermont County, 
 Ohio, April 17, 1822. He was descended from 
 Scottish ancestors, but his progenitors for eight 
 generations had been Americans. His father 
 owned a tannery, but Ulysses preferred work on the 
 form. He attended the village school, and in 
 1839 was appointed a cadet in the United States 
 Military Academy at West Point. His name had 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 211 
 
 originally been Hiram Ulysses, but it was entered 
 erroneously at the Academy, and the family acqui- 
 esced in the error. Grant graduated in 1843, 
 twenty-first in a class of thirty-nine. Although 
 this was not a high position, the writer is informed 
 that Grant's abilities made an impression on at 
 least one fellow-cadet who afterward joined the 
 Confederacy. As a second lieutenant, Grant be- 
 haved gallantly in the Mexican War, and was 
 afterward promoted to captain. He resigned his- 
 commission July 31, 1854, and settled on a small 
 farm near St. Louis. Later, he became a clerk 
 in his father's hardware and leather store at 
 Galena, 111. He offered his services to the Na- 
 tional Government at the opening of the war, but 
 received no answer. June 17, 1861, he was ap- 
 pointed Colonel of the Twenty-first Illinois Regi- 
 ment of infantry, and on August 7, he was promoted 
 to Brigadier-General. His career during the civil 
 w^ar cannot, of course, be recited here. He was 
 one of the great generals of the century, and he 
 proved this at a time when the Confederacy was 
 ia the zenith of its power and resources, as well as 
 when he was pressing on relentlessly to Richmond. 
 General Grant was elected President in 1S68, and 
 served two terms — until March 4, 1877. 
 
 The trouble between President Johnson and 
 Congress prevented reconstruction from making- 
 much progress until Grant took charge of affairs. 
 His administration witnessed theawardof ^I5,5oo,- 
 ooo for Anglo-Confederate depredations, by the 
 Geneva Tribunal, and was distinguished also by 
 the financial panic in 1873. When Horace Greeley, 
 Democratic and Liberal Republican nominee for 
 the Presidency in 1872, died a few days after the 
 election, President Grant attended the obsequies. 
 The President suppressed with a firm hand disor- 
 ders in Louisiana which amounted almost to civil 
 war. The close of his administration was made 
 memorable by the Hayes-Til den Presidential 
 
212 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 controve^S5^ In private life, General Grant was 
 unfortunate, being victimized by dishonest part- 
 ners. He died of cancer, at Mount McGregor, 
 July 23, 1885. 
 
 Mrs. Julia Dent Grant survives her famous hus- 
 band. She was born in St. Louis, Mo., January 26, 
 1826, being descended from the brave Captain 
 George Dent, who led the forlorn hope at the 
 storming of Fort Montgomery in the Revolution, 
 Captain Grant married her August 22, 1848. Mrs. 
 Grant was a devoted wife and mother. She saw 
 her husband twice inaugurated as President, and 
 accompanied him in his journey around the world. 
 Mrs. Grant resides in Washington. 
 
 Rutherford Birchard Hayks, 
 
 nineteenth president of the united states, 
 
 Was born in Delaware, Ohio, October 4, 1822. He 
 was educated in the common schools, and was sent 
 afterward to an academy and to Kenyon College, 
 Gambier, Ohio. On his graduation in August, 
 1842, he was awarded the valedictory oration, 
 which he delivered with credit. He afterward en- 
 tered the law school of Harvard Universit}^, and 
 finished his studies there in January, 1845. He subse- 
 quently settled in Cincinnati, and was for some time 
 city solicitor. He had strong anti-slavery feelings, 
 and became captain of a military company 
 promptly after the firing upon Fort Sumter. June 
 7, 1861, he was appointed major of the 23rd Ohio 
 Volunteer Infantry, and on September 19, in the 
 same year, he was appointed by General Rosecrans 
 judge advocate of the Department of Ohio. Pro- 
 moted to lieutenant-colonel in October, 1861, his 
 gallantry at South Mountain, where he led a 
 charge while severely wounded, won for Hayes the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 213 
 
 rank of colonel, September 14, 1862, and as Colonel 
 Hayes he did valuable service for over two years, 
 ever distinguished for his courage and intrepidity, 
 and always at the post of danger when it was the 
 post of duty. He won the rank of brigadier-general 
 at Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, and on March 13, 
 1865 he received the rank of brevet major-general. 
 In December of the same year he took his seat m 
 Congress. In 1867 General Hayes was elected 
 Governor of the State, although the Democrats 
 carried the legislature. He was re-elected Governor 
 in 1869. In 1875 General Hayes was again elected 
 Governor on a sound money platform, and 111 1876 
 he was nominated for President by the Republicans 
 against Samuel J. Tilden, Democrat. The Electoral 
 Commission appointed to consider the disputed 
 returns reported in favor of General Hayes, and he 
 became President. His administration was chiefly 
 marked by the withdrawal of United States troops 
 from the Southern States, whice were thus enabled 
 to assume complete local self-government, and also 
 by the resumption of specie payments in 1879. 
 After his term as President, General Hayes retired 
 to private life. He died at his home in Fremont, 
 Ohio, January 17, 189^. 
 
 The wife of President Hayes was Lucy Ware 
 Webb, born in Chillicothe, Ohio, August 28, 1831 ; 
 died in Fremont, Ohio, June 25, 1889. Mrs. Hayes 
 was distinguished for her interest in temperance 
 work. 
 
 JAMFS ABRAM GARFIEIvD, 
 
 TWENTIETH PRESIDENT OE THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, 
 November 19, 1831. His father was of Puritan an- 
 cestry, and his mother was of Huguenot descent. 
 
214 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 The mother was left a widow with four small chil- 
 dren, of whom James was the youngest. His early 
 life was spent in poverty, but the mother was a 
 brave and conscientious woman, and never lost 
 heart in the struggle to support her little ones. 
 James A. Garfield went to school in a log-hut, 
 where he learned to read, and at ten years of age 
 he helped his mother by working at home or for 
 neighbors. When not working, he was reading. 
 For some mouths he drove a boat on the Ohio 
 Canal, and he also learned the trade of carpenter. 
 Young Garfield eagerly sought higher education, 
 and saved money to enter college. After studying 
 at the Hiram Eclectic Institute, Portage County, 
 Ohio, Garfield came East and entered Williams 
 College in the autumn of 1854. He was duly 
 graduated with the highest honors in the class of 
 1856. On his return to Ohio, he became teacher 
 at Hiram Institute, and afterward its president, 
 and he also pursued the study of law. When war 
 came, Garfield did not hesitate. He was commis- 
 sioned lieutenant-colonel in the Forty-second 
 Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, in August, 1861, 
 and a few months later was placed in command of 
 a brigade in active service. He proved himself a 
 gallant soldier, and his victory over the Confeder- 
 ates at Middle Creek won him a commission as 
 brigadier-general. As chief of staff to General 
 Rosecrans, then in command of the Army of the 
 Cumberland, General Garfield was instrumental in 
 carrying the information to General Thomas which 
 saved the army, and prevented Chickamauga from 
 being an overwhelming defeat for the Union troops. 
 For this action Garfield was promoted to major- 
 general, September 19, 1863. He had been elected 
 to Congress fifteen months before, and at the 
 urgent request of President Lincoln, he resigned 
 his commission to uphold the arms of the President 
 in Washington. He remained in Congress, earn- 
 ing a high reputation as a statesman and party 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 215 
 
 leader, until elected United States Senator in 1880, 
 to take his seat March 4, 1881. In June, 1880, 
 however, General Garfield was nominated for 
 President by the Republican party, and elected 
 over his competitor, General Winfield Scott Han- 
 cock. He therefore entered the White House 
 instead of the Senate. On July 2, 1881, President 
 Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau, a disap- 
 pointed ofifice-seeker. President Garfield was taken 
 to Elberon, N.J., in the hope that the change would 
 benefit him, and died there, September 19, the same 
 year. 
 
 President Garfield's wife, Lucretia Rudolph, was 
 born April 19, 1832, in Hiram, Portage County, 
 Ohio. She met her husband when they were both 
 students at Hiram, and they were married Novem- 
 ber II, 1858. Of their seven children, five are 
 living. 
 
 Chester Ai,an Arthur, 
 twenty-first president of the united 
 
 STATES, 
 
 Was born in Fairfield, Franklin County, Ver- 
 mont, October 5, 1830. His father was the Rever- 
 end William Arthur, a Baptist clergyman, of 
 North of Ireland descent, and his mother was Mal- 
 vina Stone, of American pioneer ancestry. Young 
 Arthur had a good education, and his early life was 
 not attended by any serious trials. At eighteen 
 years of age he was graduated from Union College, 
 and in 1853 he came to New York city and began 
 the study of law. The Rev, Mr. Arthur was a 
 strong opponent of slavery and this feeling was as 
 strong in his son. The young lawyer acted as 
 eounsel for fugitive slaves, defending their claims 
 to liberty, and he upheld the right of the colored 
 
2i6 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 people to ride in the street-cars. Mr. Arthur left 
 the Whig party for the Repablican, and took an 
 active part in behalf of Fremont, in the campaign 
 of 1856. In 1861 Governor Edwin D. Morgan ap- 
 pointed Mr. Arthur on his staff as eugineer-iu-chief 
 with the rank of brigadier-general, and when war 
 began General Arthur, as acting quartermaster- 
 general, began preparing the troops in New York 
 city for the field . On February 10, 1862, he was 
 appointed inspector general, and he inspected the 
 New York troops at Fredericksburg and on the 
 Chickahominy. In July of the same year Gov- 
 ernor Morgan appointed General Arthur quarter- 
 master-general. General Arthur went out of ofl&ce 
 when Governor Horatio Seymour, Democrat, suc- 
 ceeded Governor Morgan, but his administration 
 of the quartermaster-general's department received 
 high commendation from his successor. General 
 Arthur thenceforward devoted himself to law 
 practice until appointed Collector of the port of 
 New York in November, 1872. General Arthur's 
 administration of the Collector's office was made 
 the object of harsh political attack and searching 
 investigation, with the view of obtaining ground 
 for his removal by President Hayes, but the evi- 
 dence showed that the affairs of the custom-house 
 had been conducted with honesty and efficiency. 
 After r tiring from the collectorship General Arthur 
 resumed law practice until elected Vice President 
 with General Garfield in 18S0. Upon the assas- 
 sination of Garfield, Arthur succeeded to the Presi- 
 dency. His administration earned general approval. 
 His course was moderate, discreet and dignified^ 
 and he retired from the White House with the 
 warm esteem of many who had been bitterly op- 
 posed to him when they knew less about him. 
 General Arthur died in New York city, November 
 18, 1886. 
 
 General Arthur's wife, Ellen Lewis Herndon, 
 was the daughter of Commander William Lewis 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 217 
 
 Hemdon, of the United States navy. She died 
 January 12, 1880, the year before her husband be- 
 came President. President Arthur's sister, Mrs. 
 Mary Arthur McElroy, acted as mistress of the 
 White House for her distinguished brother. 
 
 GROVER C1.EVELAND, 
 
 TWBKTY-SECOND AND TWENTY-FOURTH PRESI- 
 DENT OE THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 Was born in Caldwell, Essex County, New Jersey, 
 March 18, 1837. His father, the Rev. Richard Fal- 
 ley Cleveland, a Presbyterian clergyman, was of 
 old New England descent. His mother was the 
 daughter of a Baltimore merchant named Neal, of 
 Irish birth. Mr. Cleveland's full name was Stephen 
 Grover Cleveland, but the Stephen was dropped at 
 an early period in his career. Young Cleveland 
 had some schooling in academies. For awhile he 
 was clerk in a country store, and later he became 
 clerk and assistant teacher in a New York institu- 
 tion for the blind. In 1855 he started to go west to 
 Cleveland, Ohio, in search of employment. At 
 Buffalo he called upon a relative by marriage, 
 Ivcwis F. Allen, a well-known and influential citi- 
 zen. Mr. Allen, who died recently at about ninety 
 years of age, related the story of young Cleveland's 
 visit to the editor of this Hand Book, some years ago. 
 Young Cleveland appeared at the house with a 
 bundle under his arm and told Mr. Allen he was 
 going West. Mr. Allen advised him to remain in 
 Buffalo, adding that the youth could make his 
 home with Mr. Allen until he could find something 
 to do. Cleveland consented to remain, and assisted 
 Mr. Allen in preparing the * 'American Herd-Book, ' * 
 doing his work at the very desk at which the writer 
 was sitting during the conversation. In 1855 Mr, 
 
2i3 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Cleveland obtained a place as clerk and copyist for 
 the law firm of Rogers, Bowen and Rogers, iu 
 Buffalo, receiving four dollars a week for his work 
 during the autumn of that year. He was admitted 
 to the bar iu 1859, but remained three years longer 
 with the firm as managing clerk. He was 
 appointed assistant district attorney of Erie County 
 in 1863, and in 1865 was Democratic candidate for 
 district attorney. Mr. Cleveland was defeated. In 
 1870 he was elected Sheriff of Erie County. At the 
 expiration of his three years' term he formed a law 
 partnership with Lyman K. Bass, the Republican 
 who had defeated him for district attorney, the firm 
 being Bass, Cleveland & Bissell. In 1881 Mr. 
 Cleveland was elected Mayor of Buffalo by the 
 largest majority ever given to a candidate iu that 
 city. He used the veto vigorously, and won gen- 
 eral commendation. In 1882 Mr. Cleveland was 
 nominated for Governor by the Democrats, and he 
 was elected by the tremendous plurality of 192,854 
 over Judge Charles J. Folger, his Republican com- 
 petitor. In 1S84 Governor Cleveland was nomi- 
 nated by the Democrats for the office of President 
 against James G. Blaine, of Maine, and after a 
 most exciting contest Mr. Cleveland was elected, 
 receiving 219 electoral votes to 182 for Mr. Blaine. 
 He made *' tariff reform " the chief aim of his ad- 
 ministration and the leading issue of his party. 
 Renominated in 1888 he was defeated by the Re- 
 publican candidate. General Benjamin Harrison, 
 of Indiana. Mr. Cleveland then made his resi- 
 dence in New York city, where he became con- 
 nected with a prominent law firm. After a bitter 
 contest in his party Mr. Cleveland was renominated 
 in 1892, and re-elected, defeating Mr. Harrison. 
 The strength of Mr. Cleveland as a statesman is in 
 his ability to touch a popular chord at the right 
 time. He says right out what others are thinking, 
 and his courage cannot fail to command the respect 
 even of his most hostile critics. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 219 
 
 President Cleveland married, June 2, 1886, 
 Frances Folsom, daughter of the late Oscar Fol- 
 som, and born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1864. She is 
 the first wife of a President married in the White 
 House. A letter of President Cleveland, contain- 
 ing eloquent testimony to the happiness of his 
 married life, was recently made public. 
 
 Benjamin Harrison, 
 tw]sffty-third president oe the united states, 
 
 Was born August 26, 1833, at North Bend, Ohio, 
 being the son of John Scott Harrison and the 
 grandson of William Henry Harrison, the ninth 
 President of the United States. His great grand- 
 father, Benjamin Harrison, was a delegate from 
 Virginia to the Congress which made the Declara- 
 tion of Independence. The father of ex-President 
 Harrison was a well-to-do farmer, and young Har- 
 rison assisted in work on the farm. He had a log 
 school-house education to begin with, and when 
 fifteen years old he went to Farmers' (now Belmont) 
 College, at College Hill, a suburb of Cincinnati. 
 He afterward became a student at Miami Univer- 
 sity, and there became acquainted with Miss Caro- 
 line Iv. Scott, whom he married before he was 
 twenty-one years of age. He graduated fourth in 
 his class in 1852, and studied law with Storer & 
 Gwynne, of Cincinnati. In 1853 he was admitted to 
 the bar, and in 1854 he put up his sign as an 
 attorney in Indianapolis, where he has ever since 
 resided. He had a hard struggle to gain a foothold, 
 but by conscientious and constant attention to 
 business he gradually won his way to a good prac- 
 tice, and became widely known as a skillful and 
 successful practitioner. 
 
 When the war broke out Mr. Harrison was mus- 
 tered into service as colonel of the Seventieth 
 
220 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Regiment of Indiana infantry volunteers, and 
 served with great credit throughout the war, first 
 as regimental and afterward as brigade commander, 
 being present at the surrender of General Johnston's 
 army at Durham's Station, North Carolina, April 
 26, 1865. In 1876 General Harrison was defeated 
 as Republican candidate for Governor. He made 
 a brilliant canvass of Indiana and other States in 
 the Garfield campaign, and President Garfield 
 offered General Harrison a place in his cabinet, 
 which he declined. General Harrison was elected 
 United States Senator in 1882, and served until 
 1887. His course in the Senate strengthened him 
 with his party and with the country, and he was 
 selected as the most eligible candidate for the 
 Presidency in 1888. In the campaign which fol- 
 lowed Mr. Harrison added to the reputation which 
 he had previously gained as one of the best orators 
 of the age. He has no superior and perhaps no 
 equal in pithy, effective and graceful deliverance in 
 the forum and on the platform. Englishmen have 
 read, as Americans have heard and read, his 
 speeches with admiration. 
 
 As President, Mr. Harrison upheld with firmness 
 and dignity the honor of the nation abroad, while 
 he attended with equal fidelity to the interests of 
 the people at home. In his management of the 
 Chilian controversy he was sustained by Congress 
 without reg ird to party. During the first two years 
 of the administration six new States formed consti- 
 tutions and were admitted into the Union. They 
 were North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, 
 Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. 
 
 President Harrison exhibited from the beginning 
 a desire to strengthen the United States navy. 
 Reciprocal treaties were made not only with the 
 countries of South and Central America, but with 
 leading governments of Burope, resulting in a much 
 freer admission than heretofore of American prod- 
 ucts for consumption in Germany, Austria, France 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 221 
 
 and Spain. The laws and regulations relating to 
 civil service were widened and extended and faith- 
 fully enforced, not only according to their letter, 
 but in accordance with their spirit as shown by the 
 order which allowed only skilled mechanics to work 
 on the new war vessels. The principal event of 
 Mr. Harrison's administration, however, was the 
 passage of the McKinley law. A few days before 
 th« election of 1892 a great sorrow came upon Mr. 
 Harrison in the loss of the wife who had been the 
 companion of his struggles and successes. Upon 
 retiring from the Presidency General Harrison was 
 engaged by the late Senator Stanford to deliver a 
 course of lectures at the Leland Stanford, Jr., Uni- 
 versity, in California, on constitutional law. The 
 circumstances of President Harrison's marriage 
 have already been mentioned. His wife Caroline 
 Lavinia Scott, was born in Oxford, Ohio, October i, 
 1832, and died in Washington, D. C, October 25, 
 1892. 
 
 Congress in 1886 passed a bill, which was duly 
 approved and became law, providing that, if at any 
 time there should be no President or Vice-President 
 the office of President should devolve upon a mem- 
 ber of the Cabinet, the order of succession being as 
 follows : The Secretaries of State, Treasury and 
 War, the Attorney-General, the Postmaster- 
 General, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secre- 
 tary of the Interior. 
 
22'z HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Part XII. 
 
 THE LATEST NATIONAL PLATFORMS 
 
 repubwcan — democratic — populist— pro p! l- 
 bitionist. 
 
 Republican Platform Adopted at Minne- 
 apolis. 
 
 "The representatives of the Republicans of the 
 United States, assembled in general convention on 
 the shores of the Mississippi River, the everlasting 
 bond of an indestructible Republic, whose most 
 glorious chapter of history is the record of the 
 Republican party, congratulate their countrymen 
 on the majestic march of the Nation under the 
 banners inscribed with the principles of our plat- 
 form of 1888, vindicated by victory at the polls and 
 prosperity in our fields, workshops and mines, and 
 make the following declaration of principles : 
 
 Protection. — " We reaffirm the American doctrine 
 of protection. We call attention to its growth 
 abroad. We maintain that the prosperous condi- 
 tion of our country is largely due to the wise rev- 
 enue legislation of the Republican Congress. We 
 believe that all articles which cannot be produced 
 in the United States, except luxuries, should be 
 admitted free of duty, and that on all imports 
 coming into competition with the products of 
 American labor there should be levied duties eqtul 
 
AMHRIV-AN CITIZENS. 223 
 
 to the difference between wages abroad and at 
 home We assert that the prices of manufactured 
 articles of general consumption have been reduced 
 under the operations of the tariff act of 1890, We 
 denounce the efforts of the Democratic majority of 
 the House of Representatives to destroy 9^ thrift 
 laws piecemeal, as is manifested by their attacks 
 upon wool, lead and lead ores, the chief product 
 of a number of vStates, and we ask the people for 
 their iudgment thereon. 
 
 Reciprocity.—'''^^ point to the success of the 
 Republican policy of reciprocity, under which our 
 export trade has vastly increased, and new and 
 enlarged markets have been opened for the prod- 
 ucts of our farms and workshops. We remind 
 the people of the bitter opposition of the Demo- 
 cratic party to this practical business measure, and 
 cfeim that, executed by a Republican Administra- 
 tion, our present laws will eventually give us con- 
 trol of the trade of the world. 
 
 5//^^^_«'The American people, from tradition 
 and interest, favor bimetallism, and the Republican 
 party demands the use of both gold and silver as 
 standard money, with such restrictions and under 
 such provisions, to be determined by legislation, as 
 will secure the maintenance of the parity of values 
 of the two metals, so that the purchasing and debt- 
 paving power of the dollar, whether of silver, gold 
 or paper, shall be at all times equal. The interests 
 of the producers of the country, its farmers and its 
 workingmen. demand that every dollar, paper or 
 coin issued by the Government shall be as good as 
 any other We commend the wise and patriotic 
 steps already taken by our Government to secure 
 an international conference to adopt such measures 
 as will insure a parity of value between gold and 
 silver for use as money throughout the world. 
 
 Free Ballot and Fair Count.—' ' We demand that 
 every citizen of the United States shall be allowed 
 to cit one free and unrestricted ballot m all public 
 
224 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 elections, and that such ballot shall be counted and 
 returned as cast ; that such laws shall be enacted 
 and enforced as will secure to every citizen, be he 
 rich or poor, native or foreign born, white or black, 
 this sovereign right guaranteed by the Constitution. 
 The free and honest popular ballot, the just and 
 equal representation of all the people, as well as 
 their just and equal protection under the laws, are 
 the foundation of our Republican institutions, and 
 the party will never relax its efforts until the integ- 
 rity of the ballot and the purity of elections shall 
 be fuUv guaranteed and protected in every State. 
 
 Southefn Outrages. — "We denounce the con- 
 tinued inhuman outrages perpetrated upon Amer- 
 ican citizens for political reasons in certain .South- 
 ern States of the Union. 
 
 Foreign Relations. — '* We favor the extension of 
 our foreign commerce, the restoration of our mer- 
 cantile marine by home-built ships and the creation 
 of a Navy for the protection of our National interests 
 and the honor of our flag ; the maintenance of 
 the most friendly relations with all the foreign 
 Powers, entangling alliances with none, and the 
 protection of the rights of our fishermen. We re- 
 affirm our approval of the Monroe Doctrine, and 
 believe in the achievement of the manifest destiny 
 of the Republic in its broadest sense. We favor 
 the enactment of more stringent laws and regula- 
 tions for the restriction of criminal, pauper and 
 contract immigration. 
 
 Miscellaneous. — "We favor efficient legislation 
 by Congress to protect the life and limbs of em- 
 ployes of transportation companies engaged in 
 carrying on interstate commerce, and recommend 
 legislation by the respective States that will pro- 
 tect employes engaged in State commerce, and in 
 mining and manufacturing. 
 
 "The Republican party has always been the 
 champion of the oppressed, and recognizes the 
 dignity of manhood, irrespective of faith, color or 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 225 
 
 nationality ; it sympathizes with the cause of 
 Home Rule in Ireland, and protests against the 
 persecution of the Jews in Russia. 
 
 ' ' The ultimate reliance of free popular govern- 
 ment is the intelligence of the people and the 
 maintenance of freedom among men. We there- 
 fore declare anew our devotion to liberty of thought 
 and conscience, of speech and press, and approve 
 all agencies and instrumentalities which contribute 
 to the education of the children of the land ; but, 
 while insisting upon the fullest measure of religious 
 liberty, we are opposed to any union of Church 
 and State. 
 
 Trusts. — " We reaffirm our opposition, declared 
 in the Republican platform of 1888, to all com- 
 binations of capital organized in trust or otherwise, 
 to control arbitrarily the condition of trade among 
 our citizens. We heartily indorse the action already 
 taken upon this subject, and ask for such further 
 legislation as may be required to remedy any defects 
 in existing laws and to render their enforcement 
 more complete and effective. 
 
 Po'it Office Reforms. — ''We approve the policy 
 of extending to towns, villages and rural com- 
 munities the advantages of the free delivery service 
 now enjoyed by the larger cities of the country, 
 and reaffirm the declaration contained in the Re- 
 publican platform of 1888, pledging the reduction 
 of' letter postage to one cent at the earliest possible 
 moment consistent with the maintenance of the 
 Post Office Department and the highest class of 
 postal service. 
 
 Civil Service. — " We commend the spirit and 
 evidence of reform in the Civil Service, and the 
 wise and consistent enforcement by the Republican 
 party of the laws regulating the same. 
 
 Nicaragua Canal.— ''The construction of the 
 Nicaragua Canal is of the highest importance to 
 the American people, both as a measure of National 
 defence and to build vip and maintain American 
 
226 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 commerce, and it should be controlled by the 
 United States Government. 
 
 Territories. — "We favor the admission of the 
 remaining Territories at the earliest practicable 
 date, having due regard to the interests of the 
 people of the Territories and of the United States. 
 All the federal ofl&cers appointed for the Territo- 
 ries should be selected from bona fide residents 
 thereof, and the right of self-government should 
 be accorded as far as practicable. 
 
 Arid Lands. — ** We favor cession, subject to the 
 Homestead Laws, of the arid public lands to the 
 States and Territories in which they lie, under such 
 Congressional restrictions as to disposition, reclam- 
 ation and occupancy by settlers as will secure the 
 maximum benefits to the people. 
 
 Columbian Exposition. — " The World's Colum- 
 bian Exposition is a great National undertaking, 
 and Congress should promptly enact such reason- 
 able legislation in aid thereof as will insure a dis- 
 charge of the expenses and obligations incident 
 thereto, and the attainment of results commensu- 
 rate with the dignity and progress of the Nation. 
 
 Intemperance. — "We sympathize with all wise 
 and legitimate efforts to lessen and prevent the 
 evils of intemperance and promote morality. 
 
 Pensions. — "Ever mindful of the services and 
 sacrifices of the men who saved the life of the 
 Nation, we pledge anew to the veteran soldiers of 
 the Republic a watchful care and recognition of 
 their just claims upon a grateful people. 
 
 Harrison's Administration. — "We commend 
 the able, patriotic and thoroughly American admin- 
 istration of President Harrison. Under it the 
 country has enjoyed remarkable prosperity, and 
 the dignity and honor of the Nation at home and 
 abroad have been faithfully maintained, and we 
 offer the record of pledges kept as a guaranty* of 
 faithful performance in the future." 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 227 
 
 Democratic PIvATform, Adopted at Chicacso. 
 
 "The representatives of the Democratic party of 
 the United States, in National convention assem- 
 bled, do reaffirm their allegiance to the principles 
 of the party as formulated by Jefferson and exem- 
 plified by the long and illustrious line of his suc- 
 cessors in Democratic leadership from Madison to 
 Cleveland ; we believe the public welfare demands 
 that these principles be applied to the conduct of 
 the Federal Government through the accession to 
 power of the party that advocates them, and we 
 solemnly declare that the need of a return to 
 these fundamental principles of a free popular 
 government based on home rule and individual 
 liberty was never more urgent than now, when the 
 tendency to centralize all power at the Federal 
 Capital has become a menace to the reserved rights 
 of the States that strikes at the very roots of our 
 Government under the Constitution as framed by 
 the fathers of the Republic. 
 
 Elections Bill.--''ySfe warn the people of our 
 common country, jealous for the preservation of 
 their free institutions, that the policy of federal 
 control of elections, to which the Republican party 
 has committed itself, is fraught with the gravest 
 dangers, scarcely less momentous than would 
 result from a revolution practically establishing 
 monarchy on the ruins of the Republic. It strikes 
 at the North as well as the South, and injures the 
 colored citizens even more than the white ) it 
 means a horde of deputy marshals at every polling 
 place armed with federal power, returning boards 
 appointed and controlled by federal authority, 
 the outrage of the electoral rights of the people in 
 the several States, subjugation of the colored 
 people to the control of the party in power and the 
 reviving of race antagonisms now happily abated, 
 of the utmost peril to the safety and happiness 
 of all, a measure deliberately and justly described 
 
228 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 by a leading Republican Senator as 'the most infa- 
 mous bill that ever crossed the threshold of the 
 Senate.* Such a policy, if sanctioned by law, 
 wotild mean the dominance of a self-perpetuating 
 oligarchy of office-holders, and the party first in- 
 trusted with its machinery could be dislodged from 
 power only by an appeal to the reserved rights of 
 the people to resist oppression which is inherent in 
 all self-governing communities. Two years ago 
 this revolutionary policy was emphatically con- 
 demned by the people at the polls, but in con- 
 tempt of that verdict the Republican party has 
 defiantly declared in its latest authoritative utter- 
 ance that its success in the coming elections will 
 mean the enactment of the Force bill, and the 
 usurpation of despotic control over elections in all 
 the States. Believing that the preservation of 
 republican government in the United States is 
 •dependent upon the defeat of this policy of legal- 
 ized force and fraud, we invite the support of all 
 citizens who desire to see the Constitution main- 
 tained in its integrity with the laws pursuant 
 thereto which have given our country a hundred 
 years of unexampled prosperity ; and we pledge 
 the Democratic party^ if it be intrusted with 
 power, not only to the defeat of the Force bill, but 
 also to relentless opposition to the Republican 
 policy of profligate expenditure which, in the 
 short space of two years, has squandered an enor- 
 mous surplus, emptied an overflowing Treasury, 
 afler piling new burdens of taxation upon the 
 already overtaxed labor of the country. 
 
 Tariff.— '^VJq denounce Republican protection 
 as a fraud, a robbery of the great majority of the 
 American people for the benefit of the few. We 
 declare it to be a fundamental principle of the 
 Democratic party that the Federal Government has 
 no constitutional power to impose and collect tariff 
 duties except for the purpose of revenue only, and 
 we demand that the collection of sueh taxes shall 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 229 
 
 be limited to the necessities of the government 
 when honestly and economically administered. 
 We denounce the McKinley Tariff law enacted by 
 the List Congress as the culminating atrocity o€ 
 class legislation ; we endorse the efforts made by 
 the Democrats of the present Congress to modify 
 its most oppressive feature in the direction of free 
 raw materials and cheaper manufactured good* 
 that enter into general consumption, and we 
 promise its repeal as one of the beneficent results 
 that will follow the action of the people in intrust- 
 ing power to^ the Democratic party. Since the 
 McKinley tariff went into operation there have 
 been ten reductions of the wages of the laboring 
 man to one increase. We deny that there has beea 
 any increase of prosperity to the country since that 
 tariff went into operation, and we point to the dull- 
 ness and distress, the wage reductions and strike* 
 in the iron trade as the best possible evidence that 
 no such prosperity has resultedfrom the McKinley" 
 act. We call the attention of thoughtful Ameri- 
 cans to the fact that after thirty years of restrictive 
 taxes against the importation of foreign wealth, in. 
 exchange for our agricultural surplus, the homes 
 and farms of the country have become burdened 
 with a real estate mortgage debt of over ^2,500, - 
 000,000, exclusive of all other forms of indebted- 
 ness ; that in one of the chief agricultural. Statea 
 of the West there appears a real estate mortgage 
 debt averaging I165 per capita of the total popula- 
 tion, and that similar conditions and tendencies, 
 are shown to exist in other agricultural exporting 
 States. We denounce a policy which fosters no- 
 industry so much as it does that of the sheriff. 
 
 Reciprocity. — * ' Trade interchange on the basis of 
 reciprocal advantages to the countries participating 
 is a time-honored doctrine of the Democratic 
 faith, but we denounce the sham reciprocity which 
 juggles with the people's desire for enlarged foreign, 
 markets and freer exchanges by pretending to 
 
2^ HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 establish closer trade relations for a country whose 
 articles of export are almost exclusively agricul- 
 tural products with other countries that are also 
 agricultural, while erecting a custom-house barrier 
 of prohibitive tariff taxes against the rich and the 
 countries of the world that stand ready to take 
 our entire surplus of products and to exchange 
 therefor commodities which are necessaries and 
 comforts of life among our people. 
 
 Trusts. — "We recognize in the trusts and com- 
 binations which are designed to enable capital to 
 secure more than its just share of the joint pro- 
 duct of capital and labor, a natural consequence 
 of the prohibitive taxes which prevent the free 
 competition which is the life of honest trade, but 
 we believe their worst evils can be abated by law, 
 and we demand the rigid enforcement of the laws 
 made to prevent and control them, together with 
 such further legislation in restraint of their abuses 
 as experience may show to be necessary. 
 
 Public Lands. — "The Republican party, while 
 professing a policy of reserving the public land 
 for small holdings by actual settlers, has given 
 away the people's heritage, till now a few railroads 
 and non-resident aliens, individual and corporate, 
 possess a larger area than that of all our farms be- 
 tween the two seas. The last Democratic adminis- 
 tration reversed the improvident and unwise policy 
 of the Republican party touching the public 
 domain, and reclaimed from corporations and 
 syndicates, alien and domestic, and restored to the 
 people nearly one hundred million acres of valuable 
 land to be sacredly held as homesteads for our 
 citizens, and we pledge ourselves to continue this 
 policy until every acre of land so unlawfully held 
 shall be reclaimed and restored to the people. 
 
 Silver. — We denounce the Republican legislation 
 known as the Sherman act of 1890 as a cowardly 
 makeshift, fraught with possibilities of danger in 
 the future, which should make all of its supporters, 
 
AMERICAN CITIZRNS. 231 
 
 as well as its author, anxious for its speedy repeal 
 We hold to the use of both gold and silver as the 
 standard money of the country, and to the coinage 
 of both gold and silver, without discriminating 
 agamst either metal or charge for mintage, but the 
 dollar unit of coinage of both metals must be of 
 equal intrinsic and exchangeable value or be ad- 
 justed through international agreement, or by 
 such safeguards of legislation as shall insure the 
 mamtenance of the parity of the two metals and 
 the equal power of every dollar at all times in the 
 markets and m payments of debts ; and we demand 
 that all paper currency shall be kept at par with 
 and redeemable in such coin. We insist upon this 
 policy as especially necessary for the protection of 
 the farmers and laboring classes, the first and most 
 defenceless victims of unstable money and a fluc- 
 tuating currency. 
 
 Bankmg.—''^^ recommend that the prohibi- 
 tory 10 per cent tax on State bank issues be re- 
 pealed. 
 
 Civil Service.— '' 'V\xhY\zo^(iQ is a public trust.' 
 We reaffirm the declaration of the Democratic 
 National convention of 1S76 for the reform of this 
 civil service, and we call for the honest enforce- 
 ment of all laws regulating the same. The 
 nomination of a President, as in the recent Repub- 
 hcan convention, by delegations compo^.ed laro-ely 
 of his appointees, holding office at his pleasure, is 
 a scandalous satire upon free popular institutions 
 and a startling illustration of the methods by 
 which a President may gratify his ambition. We 
 denounce a policy under which federal office- 
 holders usurp control of party conventions in the 
 States, and we pledge the Democratic party to the 
 reform of these and all other abuses which threaten 
 individual liberty and local self-government 
 
 Foreign Policy.— ''r\iQ Democratic party is the 
 only party that has ever given the country a 
 foreign policy consistent and vigorous, compelling 
 
232 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 respect abroad and inspiring confidence at home. 
 While avoiding entangling alliances, it has aimed 
 to cultivate friendly relations with other nations, 
 and especially with our neighbors on the American 
 continent, whose destiny is closely linked with our 
 own, and we view with alarm the tendency to 
 a policy of irritation and bluster which is liable at 
 any time to confront us with the alternative of 
 humiliation or war. We favor the maintenance 
 of a navy strong enough for all purposes of national 
 defence, and to properly maintain the honor and 
 dignity of the country abroad. 
 
 Foreign Oppression. — "This country has always 
 been the refuge of oppressed from every land — 
 exiles for conscience sake — and in the spirit of the 
 founders of our government we condemn the op- 
 pression practiced by the Russian Government 
 upon its Lutheran and Jewish subjects, and we 
 call upon our National Government, in the interests- 
 of justice and humanity, by all just and proper 
 means to use its prompt and best effort to bring 
 about a cessation of these cruel persecutions in the 
 dominions of the Czar, and to secure to the op- 
 pressed equal rights. We tender our profound and 
 earnest sympathy to those lovers of freedom who 
 are struggling for home rule and the great cause of 
 local self-government in Ireland. 
 
 Immigration. — "We heartily approve all legiti- 
 mate efforts to prevent the United States from 
 being used as a dumping ground for the known 
 criminals and professional paupers of Europe, and 
 we demand the rigid enforcement of the laws- 
 against Chinese immigration or the importation 
 of foreign workmen under contract to degrade 
 American labor and lessen its wages, but we con- 
 demn and denounce any and all attempts to restrict 
 the immigration of the industrious and worthy of 
 foreign lands. 
 
 Pensions, — "This convention hereby renews the 
 expression of appreciation of the patriotism of the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 233 
 
 soldiers and sailors of the Union in the war for its 
 preservation, and we favor just and liberal pensions 
 for all disabled Union soldiers, their widows and 
 dependents, but we demand that the work of the 
 Pension Office shall be done industriously, impar- 
 tially, and honestly. We denounce the present 
 administration of that office as incompetent, cor- 
 rupt, disgraceful and dishonest. 
 
 Waterways. — "The Federal Government should 
 care for and improve the Mississippi River and 
 other great waterways of the Republic so as to 
 secure for the interior States easy and cheap trans- 
 portation to the tidewater. When any waterway 
 of the public is of sufficient importance to demand 
 the aid of the government, that such aid should 
 be extended, in a definite plan of continuous work, 
 until permanent improvement is secured. 
 
 Nicaragua Canal. — "For purposes of National 
 defence, the promotion of commerce between the 
 States, we recognize the early construction of the 
 Nicaragua Canal and its protection against foreign 
 control as of great importance to the United States. 
 
 World's Fair. — "Recognizing the World's Co- 
 lumbian Exposition as a National undertaking of 
 vast importance in which the General Government 
 has invited the co-operation of all the powers of the 
 world, and appreciating the acceptance by many 
 of such powers of the invitation so extended, and 
 the broadest liberal efforts being made by them to 
 contribute to the grandeur of the undertaking, we 
 are of the opinior that Congress should make such 
 necessary financial provisions as shall be requisite 
 to the maintenance of the National honor and pub- 
 lic faith. 
 
 Public Schools. — "Popular education being the 
 only safe basis of popular suffrage, we recommend 
 to the several States most liberal appropriations for 
 the public schools. Free common schools are the 
 nursery of good government, and they have always 
 received the fostering care of the Democratic 
 
234 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 party, which favors every means of increasing 
 intelligence. Freedom of education being an es- 
 sential of civil and religious liberty, as well as a 
 necessity for the development of intelligence, must 
 not be interfered with under any pretext whatever. 
 We are opposed to State interference with parental 
 rights and rights of conscience in the education of 
 children as an infringement of a fundamental Dem- 
 ocratic doctrine that the largest individual liberty 
 consistent with the rights of others insures the 
 highest type of American citizenship and the best 
 government. . 
 
 Territories.—'' We approve the action of the 
 present House of Representatives in passing bills 
 for the admission into the Union as States of the 
 Territories of New Mexico and Arizona, and we 
 favor the early admission of all the Territories hav- 
 ing necessary population and resources to admit 
 them to Statehood, and while they remain Terri- 
 tories we hold that the officials appointed to 
 administer the government of any Territory, to- 
 gether with the District of Columbia and Alaska, 
 should be bona fide residents of the Territory or 
 district in which their duties are to be performed. 
 The Democratic party believes in home rule and the 
 control of their own affairs by the people of the 
 vicinage. , 
 
 Za^or.—** We favor legislation by Congress and 
 State IvCgislatures to protect the lives and limbs of 
 railway employes and those of other hazardous 
 transportation companies, and denounce the inac- 
 tivity of the Republican party, particularly the Re- 
 publican Senate, for causing the defeat of measures 
 beneficial and protective to this class of wage work- 
 ers. We are in favor of the enactment by the 
 States of laws for abolishing the notorious sweating 
 system, for abolishing contract convict labor and 
 for prohibiting the employment in factories of 
 children under fifteen years of age. 
 
 Miscellaneous.—''^^ are opposed to all sump- 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 235 
 
 tuary law as an interference with the individual 
 rights of the citizen. Upon this statement of prin- 
 ciples and policies the Democratic party asks the 
 intelligent judgment of the American people. It 
 asks a change of administration and a change of 
 party, in order that there might be a change of sys- 
 tem and a change of methods, thus assuring the 
 maintenance unimpaired of institutions under 
 which the Republic has grown great and power- 
 ful." 
 
 The Platform, as reported from the Committee 
 on Resolutions, contained this declaration, as the 
 first paragraph of Sec. 3, with the heading " Rev- 
 enue Tariffs : " 
 
 "We reiterate the oft-repeated doctrines of the 
 Democratic party that the necessity of the govern- 
 ment is the only justification for taxation, and 
 whenever a tax is unnecessary it is unjustifiable; 
 that when custom-house taxation is levied upon 
 articles of any kind produced in this country, the 
 difference between the cost of labor here and labor 
 abroad, when such a differance exists, fully meas- 
 ures any possible benefits to labor, and the 
 enormous additional impositions of the existing 
 tariff" fall with crushing force upon our farmers and 
 workingmen, and for the mere advantage of the 
 few whom it enriches, exact from labor a grossly 
 unjust share of thj expenses of the government, 
 and we demand such a revision of the tariff" laws as 
 will remove their iniquitous inequalities, lighten 
 their oppressions and put them on a constitutional 
 and equitable basis. But in making reduction in 
 taxes it is not proposed to injure any domestic in- 
 dustries, but rather to promote their healthy growth. 
 From the foundation of this government taxes col- 
 lected at the custom house have been the chief 
 ■source of federal revenue. Such they must con- 
 tinue to be. Moreover, many industries have come 
 
236 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 to rely upon legislation for successful continuance, 
 so that any change of law must be at every step 
 regardful of the labor and capital thus involved. 
 The process of reform must be subject in the exe- 
 cution of this plain dictate of justice." 
 
 On motion of Lawrence T. Neal, of Ohio, the 
 above paragraph was struck from the Platform and 
 the following substituted : 
 
 "We denounce Republican Protection as a fraud, 
 a robbery of the great majority of the American 
 people for the benefit of the few. We declare it to 
 be a fundamental principle of the Democratic party 
 that the Federal Government has no constitutional 
 power to impose and to collect tariff duties, except 
 for the purpose of revenue only, and we demand 
 that the collection of such taxes shall be limited to 
 the necessities of the government when honestly 
 and economically administered." 
 
 The People's Party Pi^atform. 
 
 "Assembled upon the one hundred and sixteenth 
 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 
 the People's Party of America, in their first Na- 
 tional convention, invoking upon their action the 
 blessing of Almighty God, puts forth, in the name 
 and on behalf of the people of this country, the 
 following preamble and declaration of principles : 
 
 "The conditions which surround us best justify 
 our co-operation. We meet in the midst of a 
 nation brought to the verge of moral, political and 
 material ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot 
 box, the legislatures, the Congress, and touches 
 even the ermine of the Bench. The people are 
 demoralized ; most of the States have been com- 
 pelled to isolate the voters at the polling places to 
 prevent universal intimidation or bribery. The 
 newspapers are largely subsidized or muzzled, 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 237 
 
 public opinion silenced, business prostrated, our 
 homes covered with mortgages, labor impover- 
 ished, and the land concentrating in the hands of 
 the capitalists. The urban v^rorkmen are denied 
 the right of organization for self-protection ; im- 
 ported pauperized labor beats down their wages ; 
 a hireling standing army, unrecognized by our 
 laws, is established to shoot them down, and they 
 are rapidly degenerating into European conditions. 
 The fruits of the toil of millions are boldly stolen 
 to build up colossal fortunes for a few, unprece- 
 dented in the history of mankind, and the posses- 
 sors of these in turn despise the Republic and 
 endanger liberty. From the same prolific womb 
 of governmental injustice we breed the two great 
 classes— tramps and millionaires. 
 
 "The national power to create money is appro- 
 priated to enrich bondholders ; a vast public debt, 
 payable in legal tender currency, has been funded 
 into gold-bearing bonds, thereby adding millions 
 to the burdens of the people. Silver, which has 
 been accepted as coin since the dawn of history, 
 has been demonetized to add to the purchasing 
 power of gold by decreasing the value of all forms 
 of property as well as human labor, and the supply 
 of currency is purposely abridged to fatten usurers, 
 bankrupt enterprise, and enslave industry. 
 
 "A vast conspiracy against mankind has been 
 organized on two continents, and it is rapidly tak- 
 ing possession of the world. If not met and over- 
 thrown at once it forbodes terrible social 
 convulsions, the destruction of civilization, or the 
 establishment of an absolute despotism. We have 
 witnessed, for more than a quarter of a century, 
 the struggles of the two great political parties for 
 power and plunder, while grievous wrongs have 
 been inflicted upon the suffering people. We 
 charge that the controlling influences dominating 
 both these parties have permitted the existing 
 drsadful conditions to develop without serious 
 
2^8 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 effort to prevent or restrain them. Neither do they 
 now promise us any substantial reform. They have 
 agreed together to ignore, in the coming campaign, 
 every issue but one. They propose to drown the 
 outcries of a plundered people with the uproar of 
 a sham battle over the tariff, so that capitalists, 
 corporations, national banks, rings, trusts, watered 
 stock, the demonetization of silver and the oppres- 
 sions of the usurers may all be lost sight of. They 
 propose to sacrifice our homes, lives and children, 
 on the altar of mammon ; to destroy the multitude 
 in order to secure corruption funds from the mil- 
 lionaires. 
 
 "Assembled on the anniversary of the birthday 
 of the nation, and filled with the spirit of the grand 
 general and chieftain who established our inde- 
 pendence, we seek to restore the government of 
 the Republic to the hands of the ' plain people * 
 with whose class it originated. We assert our pur- 
 poses to be identical with the purposes of the 
 National Constitution, to form a more perfect 
 union, and establish justice, insure domestic tran- 
 quility, provide for the common defence, prom )te 
 the general welfare, and secure the blessings of 
 liberty for ourselves and our posterit3^ We declare 
 that this Republic can only endure as a free gov- 
 ernment while built upon the love of the whole 
 people for each other and for the nation ; that it 
 cannot |be pinned together by bayonets ; that the 
 civil war is over, and that every passion and resent- 
 ment which grew out of it must die with it, and 
 that we must be in fact, as we are in name, one 
 united brotherhood of freedom. 
 
 " Our country finds itself confronted by condi- 
 tions for which there is no precedent in the history 
 of the world ; our annual agricultural productions 
 amount to billions of dollars in value, which must 
 within a few weeks or months be exchanged for 
 billions of dollars' worth of commodities consumed 
 in their production ; the existing currency supply 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 239 
 
 is wliolly inadequate to make this exchange ; the 
 results are falling prices, the formation of combines 
 and rings, the impoverishment of the producing 
 class. We pledge ourselves that, if given power, 
 we will labor to correct these evils by wise and 
 reasonable legislation, in accordance with the terms 
 of our platform. We believe that the powers of 
 government— in other words, of the people— should 
 be expanded (as in the case of the postal service) 
 as rapidly and as far as the good sense of an intelli- 
 gent people and the teachings of experience shall 
 justify, to the end that oppression, mjustice and 
 poverty shall eventually cease in the land. 
 
 •♦ While our sympathies as a party of reform are 
 naturally upon the side of every proposition which 
 will tend to make men intelligent, virtuous and 
 temperate, we nevertheless regard these questions 
 —important as they are— as secondary to the great 
 issues now pressing for solution, and upon which 
 not only our individual prosperity, but the very 
 existence of free institutions depends ; and we ask 
 all men to first help us to determine whether we are 
 to have a Republic to administer, before we differ 
 as to the conditions upon which it is to be adminis- 
 tered ; believing that the forces of reform this day 
 organized will never cease to move forward until 
 every wrong is righted, and equal rights and equal 
 privileges securely established for all the men and 
 women of this country, we declare, therefore, 
 
 "I. That the union of the labor forces of the 
 United States th's day consummated shall be perma- 
 nent and perpetual ; may its spirit enter into all 
 hearts for the salvation of the Republic and the 
 uplifting of mankind. 
 
 "2. Wealth belongs to him who creates it, ana 
 every dollar taken from industry without an equiv- 
 alent is robberv. * If any will not work, neither 
 shall he eat.' The interests of rural and civic labor 
 are the same ; their enemies are identical. 
 
 ** 3. We believe that the time has come when the 
 
240 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 railroad corporations will either own the people or 
 the people must own the railroads ; and should the 
 government enter upon the work of owning and 
 managing all railroads, we should favor an amend- 
 ment to the Constitution by which all persons 
 engaged in the government service shall be placed 
 under a civil service regulation of the most rigid 
 character, so as to prevent the increase of the 
 power of the National Administration by the use 
 of such additional government employees. 
 
 Money. — " i. We demand a national currency, 
 safe, sound and flexible, issued by the General 
 Government only, a full legal tender for all debts, 
 public and private, and that without the use of 
 banking corporations; a just, equitable and effi- 
 cient means of distribution direct to the people at 
 a tax not to exceed 2 per cent per annum, to be 
 provided as set forth in the sub-treasury plan of 
 the Farmers' Alliance, or a better system ; also by 
 payments in discharge of its obligations for public 
 improvements. 
 
 " a) We demand free and unlimited coinage of 
 silver and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to i. 
 
 *' (^) We demand that the amount of circulating 
 medium be speedily increased to not less than I50 
 per capita. 
 
 " {c) We demand a graduated income tax. 
 
 " (af ) We believe that the money of the country 
 should be kept as much as possible in the hands of 
 the people, and hence we demand that all State 
 and national revenues shall be limited to the neces- 
 sary expenses of the government, economically 
 and honestly administered, 
 
 " {e) We demand that postal savings banks be 
 established by the government for the safe deposit 
 of the earnings of the people and to facilitate 
 exchange. 
 
 Transportation. — " 2. Transportation being a 
 means of exchange and a public necessity, the 
 government should own and operate the railroads 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 241 
 
 in the interest of the people. The telegraph and 
 telephone, like the post-ofi&ce system, being a 
 necessity for the transmission of news, should be 
 owned and operated by the government in the 
 interests of the people. 
 
 Land. — "3. The land, including all the natural 
 sources of wealth, is the heritage of the people, and 
 should not be monopolized for speculative pur- 
 poses, and alien ownership of land should be 
 prohibited. All land now held by railroads and 
 other corporations in excess of their actual needs, 
 and all lands now owned by aliens, should be re- 
 claimed by the government and held for actual 
 settlers only." 
 
 The following supplementary resolutions, not to 
 be incorporated in the platform, came from the 
 Committee on Resolutions, and were adopted, as 
 follows : 
 
 "Whereas, Other questions having been pre- 
 sented for our consideration, we hereby submit the 
 following, not as a part of the Platform of the 
 People's party, but as resolutions expressive of the 
 sentiment of this convention : 
 
 Elections. — " i. Resolved, That we demand a 
 free ballot and pledge ourselves to secure it to 
 every legal voter without federal intervention, 
 through the adoption by the States of the unper- 
 verted Australian or secret ballot system. 
 
 Taxation. — "2. That the revenue derived from 
 a graduated income tax should be applied to the 
 reduction of the burden of taxation now resting 
 upon the domestic industries of this country. 
 
 Pensions. — "3. That we pledge our support to 
 fair and liberal pensions to ex -Union soldiers and 
 sailors. 
 
 Immigration. — "4. That we condemn the fallacy 
 of protecting American labor under the present 
 system, which opens our ports to the pauper and 
 criminal classes of the world, and crowds out our 
 wage-earners ; aud we denounce the present in- 
 
242 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 effective laws against contract labor, and demand 
 the further restriction of undesirable immigration. 
 
 Eight-hour Law. — "5. That we cordially sym- 
 pathize with the efforts of organized workingmen 
 to shorten the hours of labor, and demand a rigid 
 enforcement of the existing Eight-hour law on 
 government work, and ask that a penalty clause 
 be added to the said law. 
 
 Pinkerto7i Men. — " 6. That we regard the main- 
 tenance of a large standing army of mercenaries, 
 known as the Pinkerton system, as a menace to 
 our liberties, and we demand its abolition ; and we 
 condemn the recent invasion of the Territory of 
 Wyoming by the hired assassins of plutocracy, 
 assisted by federal officials. 
 
 Miscellaneous. — "7. That we commend to the 
 favorable consideration of the people and to the 
 reform press the legislative system known as the 
 initiative and referendum. 
 
 "8. That we favor a constitutional provision 
 limiting the office of President and Vice-President 
 to one term, and providing for the election of 
 Senators of the United States by a direct vote of 
 the people. 
 
 ' ' 9. That we oppose any subsidy or national aid 
 to any private corporation for any purpose. 
 
 *• 10. That this convention sympathizes with the 
 Knights of Labor and their righteous contest with 
 the tyrannical combine of clothing manufacturers 
 of Rochester, and declares it to be the duty of all 
 who hate tyranny and oppression to refuse to pur- 
 chase the goods made by the said manufacturers, 
 or to patronize any merchants who sell such 
 goods. " 
 
 The Prohibition Pi^atform. 
 
 "The Prohibition party, in National convention 
 assembled, acknowledging Almighty God as the 
 source of all true government, and His law as the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 243 
 
 standard to which human enactments must conform 
 to secure the blessings of peace and prosperity, 
 presents the following declaration of principles : 
 
 Liquor. — " i. The liquor traffic is a foe to civili- 
 zation, the arch enemy of popular government, 
 and a public nuisance. It is the citadel of the 
 forces that corrupt politics, promote poverty and 
 crime, degrade the nation's home life, thwart the 
 will of the people, and deliver our country into the 
 hands of rapacious class interests. All laws that, 
 under the guise of regulation, legalize and protect 
 this traffic or make the government share in its 
 ill-gotten gains, are * vicious in principle and 
 powerless as a remedy.* We declare anew for the 
 entire suppression of the manufacture, sale, impor- 
 tation, exportation and transportation of alcoholic 
 liquors as a beverage by Federal and State legisla- 
 tion, and the full powers of government should be 
 exerted to secure this result. No party that fails 
 to recognize the dominant nature of this issue in 
 American politics is deserving of the support of 
 the people. 
 
 Woman Suffrage. — *'2. No citizen should be 
 denied the right to vote on account of sex, and 
 equal labor should receive equal wages, without 
 regard to sex. 
 
 Money. — "3. The money of the country should 
 consist of gold, silver and paper, and be issued by 
 the General Government only, and in sufficient 
 quantity to meet the demands of business and give 
 full opportunity for the employment of labor. To 
 this end an increase in the volume of money is 
 demanded. No individual or corporation should 
 be allowed to make any profit through its issue. It 
 should be made a legal tender for the payment of 
 all debts, public and private. Its volume should 
 be fixed at a definite sum fjer capita, and made to 
 increase with our increase in population. 
 
 Silver. — " 4. We favor the free and unlimited 
 coinage of gold and silver. (This plank was 
 
244 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 stricken out by the convention by a vote of 335 for 
 it to 596 against it.) 
 
 Tariff. — "5. Tariff should be levied only as a 
 defence against foreign governments which levy 
 tarifif upon or bar out our products from their mar- 
 kets, revenues being incidental. The residue of 
 means necessary to an economical administration 
 of the government should be raised by levying a 
 burden on what the people possess, instead of upon 
 what they consume. 
 
 Corporations. — *• 6. Railroad, telegraph and 
 other public corporations should be controlled by 
 the government in the interest of the people, and 
 no higher charges allowed than necessary to give 
 fair interest on the capital actually invested. 
 
 Immigration and Naturalization. — "7. Foreign 
 immigration has become a burden upon industry, 
 one of the factors in depressing wages and causing 
 discontent ; therefore our immigration laws should 
 be revised and strictly enforced. The time of resi- 
 dence for naturalization should be extended, and 
 no naturalized person should be allowed to vote 
 until one year after he becomes a citizen. 
 
 Land. — "8. Non-resident aliens should not be 
 allowed to acquire land in this country, and we 
 favor the limitation of individual and corporate 
 ownership of land. All unearned grants of lands 
 to railroad companies or other corporations should 
 be reclaimed. 
 
 Mob Law. — " 9. Years of inaction and treachery 
 on the part of the Republican and Democratic par- 
 ties have resulted in the present reign of mob law, 
 and we demand that every citizen be protected in 
 the right of trial by constitutional tribunals. 
 
 Miscellaneous. — ** 10. All men should be pro- 
 tected by law in their right to one day of rest in 
 seven. 
 
 *'ii. Arbitration is the wisest and most economi- 
 cal and humane method of settling national dif- 
 ferences. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 245 
 
 " 12. Speculations in margins, the cornering of 
 grain, money and products, and the formation of 
 pools, trusts and combinations for the arbitrary 
 advancement of prices should be suppressed. 
 
 " 13. We pledge that the Prohibition party if 
 elected to power will ever grant just pensions to 
 disabled veterans of the Union Army and Navy, 
 their widows and orphans. 
 
 "14. We stand unequivocally for the American 
 public school, and opposed to any appropriation of 
 public moneys for sectarian schools. We declare 
 that only by united support of such common 
 schools, taught in the English language, can we 
 hope to become and remain a homogeneous and 
 harmonious people. 
 
 Repicblicans and Democrats . — "15. We arraign 
 the Republican and Democratic parties as false to 
 the standards reared by their founders ; as faithless 
 to the principles of the illustrious leaders of the 
 past to whom they do homage with the lips ; as 
 recreant to the * higher law, ' which is as inflexible 
 in political affairs as in personal life, and as no 
 longer embodying the aspirations of the American 
 people, or inviting the confidence of enlightened, 
 progressive patriotism. Their protest against the 
 admission of * moral issues ' into politics is a con- 
 fession of their own moral degeneracy. The decla- 
 ration of an eminent authority that municipal mis- 
 rule is * the one conspicuous failure of American 
 politics,' follows as a natural consequence of such 
 degeneracy, and it is true alike of cities under Re- 
 publican and Democratic control. Each accuses 
 the other of extravagance in Congressional appro- 
 priations and both are alike guilty ; each protests 
 when out of power against infraction of the civil 
 service laws, and each when in power violates those 
 laws in letter and in spirit ; each professes fealty to 
 the interests of the toiling masses, but both covertly 
 truckle to the money power in their administration 
 of public affairs. Even the tariff issue, as repre- 
 
246 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 sented in the Democratic Mills bill and the Repub- 
 lican McKinley bill, is no longer treated by them 
 as an issue between great and divergent principles 
 of government, but is a mere catering to different 
 sectional and class interests. The attempt in many 
 States to wrest the Australian ballot system from 
 its true purpose, and to so deform it as to render it 
 extremely difficult for new parties to exercise the 
 rights of suffrage, is an outrage upon popular gov- 
 ernment. The competition of both these parties 
 for the vote of the slums, and their assiduous court- 
 ing of the liquor power and subserviency to the 
 money power, have resulted in placing those pow- 
 ers in the position of practical arbiters of the 
 destinies of the Nation. We renew our protest 
 against these perilous tendencies, and invite all 
 citizens to join us in the upbuilding of a party that 
 has shown in five national campaigns that it pre- 
 fers temporary defeat to an abandonment of the 
 claims of justice, sobriety, personal rights and the 
 protection of American homes. 
 
 Prohibitio7i. — " i6. Recognizing and declaring 
 that prohibition of the liquor traffic has become the 
 dominant issue in national politics, we invite to 
 full party fellowship all those who on this one 
 dominant issue are with us agreed, in the full 
 belief that this party can and will remove sectional 
 differences, promote national unity, and insure the 
 best welfare of our entire laud." 
 
 For the third resolution a minority report favored 
 " the issue of legal-tender Treasury notes, exchange- 
 able in gold or silver bullion, on a plan similar to 
 that which now floats ^340,000,000 of greenbacks 
 on |; 100, 000,000 of gold reserve and makes them 
 more acceptable and convenient than either gold or 
 silver coin." This was defeated on a rising vote — 
 yeas 316, nays 337. 
 
 For the fifth resolution, the minoritj' reported a 
 substitute declaring that the tariff should be so 
 levied as to furnish revenue for the needs of the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 247 
 
 government economically administered, relieving 
 necessities used by the mass of the people, and for 
 the benefit of labor, protecting American produc- 
 tions and manufactures against the competition of 
 foreign nations, and suggesting the appointment of 
 a tariff commission to recommend to Congress 
 duties to meet the wants of the government, so 
 graduated as to protect American skill and labor 
 against the competition of the world. This was 
 defeated by a large vote. 
 
 The sixteenth resolution was reported by a 
 minority of the Committee on Resolutions. After 
 animated debate it was defeated, its friends being 
 unable to rally the 200 votes necessary to order a 
 vote by States. Subsequently it was taken from 
 the table, and by a rising vote added to the Plat- 
 form ; which, with the fourth paragraph out, was 
 then adopted, as reported by James Black, chair- 
 man of the committee. 
 
 During the proceedings, on motion of a delegate 
 from Virginia, speakers were requested to refrain 
 from unnecessary references or illustrations which 
 "could be considered as a reflection on participants 
 in the war of the rebellion." 
 
248 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Part XIII. 
 
 THE PENSION ROLIv. 
 
 The all-sufficient warrant for a just and liberal 
 policy toward the survivors of the war for the 
 Union, and the widows and children of those who 
 have passed away is contained in almost the dying 
 words of Abraham Lincoln, in his inaugural ad- 
 dress, March 5, 1865 — "With malice toward none, 
 with charity for all, with firmness" in the right^'as 
 Qod gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish 
 the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds ; 
 to care for him who shall have borne the battle, 
 and for his widows and orphans ; to do all which 
 may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace 
 among ourselves and with all nations." The 
 United States has dealt generously with the Union 
 veterans of the great struggle upon the result of 
 which depended the destinies, not of this nation 
 only, but of mankind, and if the cost of this 
 generosity is tremendous, it should not be forgotten, 
 that the conflict was the most tremendous of 
 modem times. The principle of granting pensions 
 to the survivors of a war whether they were injured 
 or not is not new in American history. In 1818 — 
 thirty-five years after the w^ar of the revolution — 
 pensions were granted to all the survivors of the 
 war who for any reason stood in need of pecuniary 
 assistance. In those days there were not lacking 
 men who outpoured abuse and contempt on the 
 soldiers of the Republic, but the heart of the peo- 
 ple beat responsive then as it does now to valor, 
 patriotism and truth. I read from a publication of 
 181 7, now before me: "The Diomedes and Sar- 
 pedons of our history remain within our view until 
 the streams of dotage flow from their eyes, and the 
 weakness of second childhood succeeds to the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 249 
 
 firmness of early manhood. Posterity -will see 
 better because they will not see so much, and will 
 wonder at the coldness and indifference with which 
 we regard the revolution independent of its con- 
 sequences. " And thus it will be with the civil war. 
 Honors will not be lacking when the grave will 
 have closed over the last of the brave men who 
 followed Sherman and Grant. 
 
 The pension money is much more widely dis- 
 tributed among the States than might be supposed. 
 The Southern and border States have no small 
 share of it. Missouri receives nearly two millions 
 of dollars more than Massachusetts, and Virginia 
 more than Connecticut. Texas, another State 
 whose people went with the Confederacy, receives 
 nearly twice as much pension money as Oregon — a 
 fact due, no doubt, in a large degree to Northern 
 immigration. Arkansas, one of the States of the 
 Confederacy, closely approaches Vermont on the 
 pension roll, and Kentucky, which earned again 
 during the war the title of the "dark and bloody 
 ground, ' ' is high in the list of pension beneficiaries. 
 The following, from the latest accessible report of 
 the Commissioner of Pensions, shows where the 
 pension money goes within the United States : 
 
 UNITED STATES. NO. AMOUNT. 
 
 Alabama 3,648 1^341,458 62 
 
 Alaska Territory 24 2,743 57 
 
 Arizona Territory 592 81,899 06 
 
 Arkansas 10,160 1,393,25496 
 
 California 13,603 1,869,533 10 
 
 Colorado 6,342 870,528 90 
 
 Connecticut li>5o3 1,170,757 75 
 
 Delaware ........... 2,781 437,846 43 
 
 District of Columbia 8,582 1,440,979 79 
 
 Florida 2,851 422,553 24 
 
 Georgia 3,621 511,270 71 
 
 Idaho 924 124,434 58 
 
 Illinois 69,095 10,299,400 09 
 
250 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 UNITED STATES. KO. AMOUNT. 
 
 Indiana 7o>34i io>84i,565 80 
 
 Indian Territory 2,593 328,213 n 
 
 Iowa 38,495 5*760,363 95 
 
 Kansas 43.530 6,048,592 44 
 
 Kentucky 29,582 4,313,043 17 
 
 Louisiana 4,361 592,079 99 
 
 Maine 20,385 3.047,273 37 
 
 Maryland . . I3>035 1,666,294 83 
 
 Massachusetts 39,607 5,948,985 49 
 
 Michigan 46,371 7,2i8,9.;3 80 
 
 Minnesota 16,633 2,353,450 35 
 
 Mississippi . , 3*987 49S,6io 46 
 
 Missouri 54,179 7.603,813 31 
 
 Montana 1,249 165,667 69 
 
 Nebraska 18,577 2,730,019 98 
 
 Nevada 203 27,273 84 
 
 New Hampshire 9,485 1,413,725 25 
 
 New Jersey 19,675 2,608,215 84 
 
 New Mexico Territory .... 1,283 179,573 55 
 
 New York 89,642 11,937,643 43 
 
 North Carolina 4,904 572 334 40 
 
 North Dakota 1,597 186,761 55 
 
 Ohio 99,837 14,737,191 54 
 
 Oklahoma Territory 5,176 684,8^5 85 
 
 Oregon 4,423 597,395 28 
 
 Pennsylvania 89,378 13,574,346 36 
 
 Rhode Island 4,160 418,923 86 
 
 South Carolina 1,668 223,742 40 
 
 South Dakota 5,290 750,983 64 
 
 Tennessee 16,815 2,658,725 63 
 
 Texas 7,758 1,030,282 82 
 
 Utah Territory 734 105,768 80 
 
 Vermont 9,931 1,529,333 24 
 
 Virginia 8,036 1,204,925 27 
 
 Washington 5,456 733,294 52 
 
 West Virginia 14,947 2,159,023 t;;^ 
 
 Wisconsin 28,516 4,019,524 68- 
 
 Wyoming 682 92,614 60 
 
 Total in States and Territories, 965,947 ;pi39. 530,058 22 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 231 
 
 Part XIV. 
 
 IMPORTANT EVENTS IN AMERICAN HIS- 
 TORY. 
 
 1606. A charter granted to a company in England 
 for the settlement of Virginia, and a colony 
 dispatched, who landed at Jamestown, and chose 
 Edward Wingfield ruler. 
 
 1607. Soon after their arrival, Captain John Smith 
 and others visited the native chief, Powhatan, at 
 his principal residence, near the present site of 
 Richmond.— Wingfield was deposed, and Smith 
 appointed in his place ; but he was soon after cap- 
 tured by the Indians, and detained among them 
 for some time. He was about to be slain by the 
 savages, when Pocahontas, a favorite daughter of 
 Powhatan's, rushed between him and the clubs of 
 his enemies, and finally saved his life. 
 
 1608. When Smith returned he found the colonists 
 in a very bad condition ; after alleviating it as far 
 as practicable, he explored the Chesapeake Bay 
 and its tributary rivers. 
 
 1609. A new charter granted to the London Com- 
 pany enlarging their limits, etc., and Lord De la 
 War appointed governor for life. 
 
 16 ro. In consequence of being injured by an explo- 
 sion of powdor, Captain Smith returned to Eng- 
 land, delegating his authority to George Percy.— 
 Lord De la War arrived just as the colonists were 
 about leaving for England, after having greatly 
 suffered from disease and famine.— A few Dutch 
 traders settled in New Amsterdam, now New 
 York City. 
 
 161 [. Under the new Governor order and content- 
 ment were again restored ; but his health rapidly 
 failing he returned home, and Percy again 
 administered the government until the arrival 
 
252 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 of Sir Thomas Daly, by whom he was super* 
 seded. 
 
 1612. The king granted the London Company 
 another new charter, making important changes 
 in the powers of the corporation, but not affect- 
 ing the political rights of the colonists. 
 
 1613. John Rolfe, a young English officer, married 
 Pocahontas, an event which had a beneficial in- 
 fluence on the relations of the colonists and 
 Indians. 
 
 1614-16. Governor Dale returned to England, after 
 appointing George Yeardley in his place. The 
 culture of tobacco was introduced and soon be- 
 came, not only the principal article of export, 
 but even the currency of the colony. The Dutch 
 began a settlement in Albany, N. Y. 
 
 16 1 7. Yeardley was displaced for a short time by 
 Argall, who ruled with such tyranny and injus- 
 tice as led to the reinstatement of the former, 
 
 1619. The first colonial assembly ever convened in 
 America was held at Jamestown. 
 
 1620. In August a Dutch man-of-war landed twenty 
 negroes for sale at Jamestown, which was the 
 commencement of negro slavery in the colonies. 
 — Ninety young women of respectable character 
 were sent from England as wives for the colon- 
 ists, the prices for whom were fixed at from 120 
 to 150 pounds of tobacco. — December 21st a body 
 of Puritans, dissenters from the Church of Eng- 
 land, landed at Plymouth, and commenced the 
 settlement of New England. 
 
 1621. The Loudon Company granted to the Vir- 
 ginia colony a written constitution. — A treaty of 
 friendship was concluded between the Puritans 
 and the principal chief of the Massachusetts 
 tribe (Massasoit), and similar treaties concluded 
 with other chiefs. 
 
 1622. April 1st, 347 men, women and children of 
 the Virginia colony were savagely butchered by 
 treacherous Indians ; but Jamebtown and the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 253 
 
 neighboring settlements were saved by the plot 
 being revealed the evening before its intended 
 consummation by a friendly Indian, thus put- 
 ting the inhabitants on their guard. 
 
 1623. Miles Standish saves the settlement of Wey- 
 mouth, Mass., from destruction by the Indians, 
 and kills their chief. — First settlement formed at 
 Dover, New Hampshire. 
 
 1624. The IvOndon Company was dissolved, and 
 King James assumed the government of the Vir- 
 ginia colony. — New Jersey settled by the Dutch. 
 
 1627. Delaware settled by Swedes and Danes. 
 1O35. Maryland settled by Irish Catholics, and 
 
 Connecticut settled by. a branch of Puritans from 
 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 1636. Rhode Island settled by Roger Williams, 
 wl;o was banished for his liberal religious senti- 
 ments by the Puritans of Massachusetts. 
 
 1637. The magistrates of the three infant towns of 
 Connecticut — Windsor, Hartford and Wethers- 
 field — formally declared war against the Pequod 
 Indians. 
 
 1643. The colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut, 
 Plymouth and New Haven, form themselves into 
 one confederacy, by the name of " United Colon- 
 ies of New England." 
 
 1644. Another Indian massacre in Virginia, fol- 
 lowed by a border warfare, which continued 
 about two years. 
 
 1648. An indi^ddual accused of witchcraft was exe- 
 cuted at Charlestown, and for several years after 
 (until 1793) numerous others suffered imprison- 
 ment and death for the like alleged crime. 
 
 1650. North Carolina settled by the English. 
 
 1656. First arrival of Quakers in Massachusetts, 
 who were sent back to England in the vessels 
 in which they came, and the four united colonies 
 concurred in a law prohibiting their introduction ; 
 notwithstanding all which they continued to 
 arrive. 
 
254 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 1658. By advice of commissioners of the four 
 colonies, the legislature of Massachusetts de- 
 nounced the punishment of death upon all 
 Quakers returning from banishment, 
 
 1660. Sir William Berkely elected governor bj 
 the people of Virginia, but he afterwards dis- 
 claimed the authority to which he owed his ele- 
 vation, and issued writs for an assembly in the 
 name of King Charles II. 
 
 1661. Edward Whalley and William Goffe, two of 
 the judges who had condemned Charles I. to 
 death, arrived at Boston, and were kindly re- 
 ceived by the people. Messengers were sent to 
 arrest them, but they were concealed and ended 
 their days in New England. 
 
 1663. North Carolina settled by colonists from 
 Virginia, near the village of Edenton. 
 
 1664. An English force, sent to take possession of 
 the whole territory from the Connecticut River 
 to the shores of the Delaware, captured **Ne-vr 
 Amsterdam" from the Dutch, and changed its 
 name to " New York." 
 
 1670. South Carolina settled by the Huguenots. 
 
 1673. The Virginians remonstrated against the 
 unjust taxation on their commercial business, 
 but obtained no redress. — The Episcopal Church 
 became the religion of the State.* A war having 
 broke out between England and Holland, the 
 Dutch reconquered New York, but it was again 
 surrendered to the English the year following. 
 
 1675. The war with the Wampanoags and other 
 tribes, commonly called "King Philip's War," 
 commenced, and was marked by much barbarity. 
 
 1676. King Phillip was shot by a faithless Indian 
 of his own tribe, but this did not er:d the war, 
 which was continued till 1678, when a treaty of 
 peace was concluded. — The people of Virginia, 
 led by Nathaniel Bacon, took up arms in defence 
 of their rights. 
 
 1677. Massachusetts purchased the province of 
 Maine from the heirs of Gorges. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 255 
 
 1680 New Hampshire was separated from Massa- 
 chusetts by a royal commission, and made a 
 royal province ; but the first law adopted by the 
 legislature, which soon after met at Portsmouth, 
 declared "That no act, imposition, law, or ordi- 
 nance, should be made or imposed upon them 
 but such as should be made by the assembly, 
 and approved by the President and Council." 
 
 1682. Pennsylvania settled by Wm. Penn, who 
 founded Philadelphia the year following. 
 
 1686. The charter government of Massachusetts 
 was revoked, and the king appointed a president 
 over the country from Narragansett to Nova 
 
 Scotia. , -, ' 4.x. 
 
 1687 Governor Andros attempted to reclaim the 
 charter granted to Connecticut, but it was 
 secretly taken from the assembly chamber at 
 Hartford by Captain Wadsworth while the sub- 
 ject was under discussion and hidden in a hollow 
 tree since celebrated as the Charter Oak, which 
 was an object of curiosity until 1856, when it was 
 blown down. . , ^ . 
 
 1689 "King William's War" with Prance began, 
 and was continued till 1697, during which all the 
 English colonies suffered by ravages of the 
 French and Indians. 
 1690. The people of New Hampshire took the 
 government into their own hands, and placed 
 themselves under the protection of Massachu- 
 setts.— The conquest of Canada was undertaken 
 by the people of New England and New York 
 acting m concert. An armament, under Sir 
 William Phipps, made an unsuccessful demon- 
 stration against Quebec, and then returned to 
 Boston. The first emission of bills of credit m 
 the colonies was made by Massachusetts to defray 
 the expenses of this expedition. ^ 
 
 1701. *' Queen Anne's War," waged against France 
 and Spain, was commenced this year, and only 
 termin£.ted in 1713 by the treaty of Utrecht. 
 
256 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 1733- Georgia settled by Gen. Oglethorpe, -who 
 landed at Savannah with about 120 emigrants, 
 and began building the town. 
 
 1741. A supposed negro plot occasioned great ex- 
 citement in the City of New York, and between 
 30 and 40 persons were executed before it sub- 
 sided. — The provinces of Massachusetts and New 
 Hampshire were separated. 
 
 1744. "King George's War," which originated 
 in European disputes relative to Austria, again 
 gave the French and Indians many opportunities 
 of harassing the colonists. The most important 
 event of the war in America was the siege and 
 capture of Louisburg, which was restored to 
 France in 1748 by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. 
 
 1754. "The French and Indian War," arising 
 from disputed claims to American territory by 
 the English and French, again plunged the 
 colonies jn difficulties, and materially injured 
 their prosperity, until 1763, when peace was con- 
 cluded. 
 
 1759. Quebec surrendered to the English forces 
 under Gen. Wolfe, who was killed on the battle- 
 field, and all the other French posts in Canada 
 were captured soon after. 
 
 1764. A resolution imposing certain stamp duties 
 on the colonies was adopted by the House of 
 Commons, but it did not become a law till next 
 year. 
 
 1765. A general indignation spread through the 
 colonies when it was known that the ' ' Stamp 
 Act'* had passed. At Boston and Philadelphia 
 the bells were muffled, and rung a funeral peal ; 
 and at New York the Act was carried through 
 the streets, with a death's-head affixed to it, and 
 styled "The folly of England and the ruin of 
 America." The stamps themselves, in many 
 places, were seized and destroyed, and the doc- 
 trine that England had no right to tax America 
 was boldly avowed. — The; First Coloniai* 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 257 
 
 Congress met in New York, nine colonies being 
 represented, and agreed on a *' Declaration of 
 Rights," and other energetic measures. 
 
 1766. The Stamp Act was repealed through the 
 exertions of Mr. Pitt. 
 
 1767. Parliament passed a bill imposing a duty on 
 glass, paper, painters* colors, and tea, which 
 occasioned as much excitement as the Stamp Act, 
 and the colonial assemblies adopted spirited reso- 
 lutions for resisting its operation. 
 
 1768. A vessel was seized by the custom house 
 officers in Boston for violating some of the odious 
 commercial restrictions, but the people compelled 
 them to abandon their prize, and seek refuge in 
 Castle William. 
 
 1770. In March, an affray occurred in Boston be- 
 tween some citizens and the soldiers stationed 
 there which produced a great sensation through- 
 out A^merica.— Parliament passed a bill repeaUng 
 all duties imposed by the Act of 1767, except that 
 on tea, which they allowed the British East India 
 Company to export to America, free from the 
 duties which they had before paid in England. ^ 
 
 1773. The ports of New York and Philadelphia 
 were closed against vessels having cargoes of 
 tea, and they were compelled to return to Eng- 
 land. At Boston, a party of men, disguised as 
 Indians, boarded several vessels, and broke open 
 342 chests of tea, which they emptied into the 
 harbor in the presence of thousands of spectators. 
 
 1774. Parliament passed the Boston Port Bill, which 
 forbade the landing and shipping goods, wares, 
 and merchandise at Boston. The provincial as- 
 sembly resolved that "the impolicy, injustice, 
 inhumanity and cruelty of the act exceeded all 
 their powers of expression. 
 
 1775. An oppressive bill was passed by Parliament, 
 restricting the commerce of all the provinces, 
 except New York and North Carolina. The in- 
 habitants of Massachusetts were declared rebels. 
 
258 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 and 10,000 troops were ordered to America, to 
 aid in reducing the rebellious colonies. — April 
 19. The first blood in the cause of independence 
 was shed at Lexington, about ten miles from 
 Boston, where a party of militia intercepted 
 a division of English soldiers on their way to 
 Concord for the purpose of destroying some mili- 
 tary stores which the people had collected there. 
 At Concord, a smart skirmish took place, and 
 the British made a hasty retreat, after partially 
 accomplishing their object. — May 10. The Con- 
 tinental Congress assembled at Philadelphia, 
 and, after electing John Hancock president of the 
 body, among other important measures, voted to 
 raise an army of 20,000 men. — June 17. A san- 
 guinary battle took place on Breed's Hill (gener- 
 ally now regarded as Bunker Hill) in which the 
 British were severely cut up, but they finally 
 gained possession of the hill, the Americans re- 
 tiring across Charlestown Neck with inconsider- 
 able loss. — July 12. Washington having been 
 appointed commander-in-chief, arrived at Cam- 
 bridge, and entered upon his duties. — Georgia 
 joined the confederation ; after which, the style 
 of the " Thirteen United Colonies " was adopted. 
 — An unsuccessful attempt was made by the 
 Americans for the conquest of Canada, in which 
 Gen. Montgomerj'- was killed during an assault 
 ©n Quebec (Dec. 31), and a portion of his troops 
 were taken prisoners. 
 1776. March 4. Gen. Washington gained possession 
 of Dorchester Heights, and the British left Bos- 
 ton on the 17th. — June 18. Canada evacuated by 
 the Americans. — July 4. The Deci^aration op 
 Independence, by the Continental Congress at 
 Philadelphia, was proclaimed, and hailed with 
 great rejoicings. — August 27. Battle of I^ong 
 Island, in which the Americans were defeated, 
 but Washington made an admirable retreat to 
 New York on the 29tli, and thence across Jersej 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 259 
 
 to Philadelpliia, where Congress was in session. 
 — Bee. 12. Congress adjourned to Baltimore, and 
 soon after invested Washington with almost un- 
 limited powers. — Dec. 26. Washington having 
 amid great perils recrossed the Delaware on the 
 previous night, surprised and captured a large 
 body of Hessians at Trenton, and returned to 
 Pennsylvania with his prisoners. — Dec. 28. Wash- 
 ington took post at Trenton. 
 1777. Jan. 3. Finding himself nearly surrounded 
 by a force far superior to his own, Washington 
 kindled his camp-fires as usual to deceive the 
 enemy, and then by a circuitous route rapidly 
 advanced upon Princeton, where he gained 
 another important victory. — In^ the spring, the 
 Marquis de la Fayette arrived in America from 
 France, having fitted out a vessel at his own ex- 
 pense, and enlisted as a volunteer in the army 
 of Washington declining'all pay for his services ; 
 but Congress, which had returned to Philadel- 
 phia, soon after appointed him a Major-General. 
 — May 6. Gen. Burgoyne, w^ith a powerful force, 
 designed to invade the States by the way of Lake 
 Champlain and the Hudson, arrived at Quebec; 
 and on the i6th of June he left St. Johns for 
 Crown Point, where he established magazines. — 
 June 30. The British army, under Gen. Howe, 
 passed over to Staten Island, leaving Washing- 
 ton in possession of New Jersey.— J liy 5. Gen. 
 St. Clair abandoned Ticonderoga, retreating 
 before Burgoyne's forces, with whom he had a 
 severe skirmish at Hubbardton, and finally suc- 
 ceeded in joining Gen. Schuyler on the Hudson, 
 having lost 200 pieces of artillery and a large 
 quantity of stores. — July 10. Cok Barton, with 
 about forty militia, seized the Commander of the 
 English forces in Rhode Island (Major-General 
 Prescott) while in bed, and conducted him safely 
 through his own troops and fleet back to the 
 mainland. This heroic exploit not only cheered 
 
260, HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 the American army, but secured an officer of 
 equal rank to exchange for Gen. Lee. — August 
 16. — Battle of Bennington, in which the Ameri- 
 cans, led by Col. Stark, obtained au important 
 victory over Col. Baum, who had been sent by 
 Gen. Burgoyne to seize some stores at that place. 
 — Sept. II. Battle of the Brandy wine, in which 
 Count Pulaski, a brave Polander, who had mag- 
 nanimously joined the Americans, distinguished 
 himself, and was soon after promoted to the rank 
 of brigadier, with the command of the cavalry. 
 Gen. Lafayette was severely wounded while en- 
 deavoring to rally the fugitives. — Sept. 13. Bur- 
 goyne crossed the Hudson with his whole army, 
 and took a position on the heights and plains of 
 Saratoga.— Sept. 26. The British army, under 
 Gen. Howe, entered Philadelphia without 
 further opposition. Congress having previously 
 adjourned to Lancaster. — Oct. 4. Washington 
 attacked alarge British force at Germantown.and 
 was repulsed, with the loss of 1200 men in killed, 
 wounded, and prisoners. — Oct. 17. Burgoyne, 
 finding himself surrounded, and despairing of 
 relief, surrendered his army to Gen. Gates, who 
 had recently been appointed to the command of 
 the Northern division, whereby the Americans 
 acquired a fine train of brass artillery, 5000 
 muskets, and immense quantities of other mu- 
 nitions of war. — Oct. 22. A plan of confedera- 
 tion was adopted by Congress, which, however, 
 amounted to little more than a league of friend- 
 ship between the States. — Dec. 11. Washington 
 retired into winter-quarters at Valley Forge. 
 1778. In February, Parliament passed two bills, 
 virtually conceding all that had been the cause of 
 controversy, and sent commissioners to adjust 
 existing ^ differences ; they attempted to gain 
 their objects by private intrigue and bribery, 
 which coming to the knowledge of Congress, 
 that body declared it incompatible with their 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 261 
 
 honor to hold acy intercourse with them.— Feb. 
 6. France acknowledged the independence of 
 America, and concluded a treaty of alliance and 
 commerce. —June 18. The British army evacuated 
 Philadelphia, and retreated to New York, fol- 
 k)wed cautiously by Washington with the main 
 body of his army.— June 28. Battle of Mon- 
 mouth, in which the British were signally ile- 
 feated with great loss, and retreated to Sandy 
 Hook, whence they were taken to New York by 
 their fleet. — July 3. Wyoming was attacked by 
 a large body of British, tories, and Indians, who, 
 after the place had been surrendered, perpe- 
 trated the most inhuman atrocities ; men, women 
 and children were shut up in the houses and 
 IwxTacks, and consumed in one general confla- 
 gration. — Dec. 29. An English army of 2000 
 men landed near Savannah, then defended by 
 only 600 troops, and, after a severe battle, took 
 possession of the city, tlie Americans retreating. 
 1779. May II. Gen. Provost, with a large British 
 force, having invested Charleston, summoned 
 tke city to surrender ; but the approach of Gen. 
 Ivincoln, who had been appointed to the com- 
 mand of the Southern army, compelled him to 
 retreat— July 5. Gen. Tryon made another 
 descent on Connecticut, and plundered and 
 burned the towns of New Haven, East Haven, 
 Fairfield, and Norwalk. — July 16. Stony Point, 
 which had been previously taken by the enemy, 
 was gallantly lecaptured by Gen. Wayne, the 
 British losing upward of 600 men in killed, 
 wounded, and prisoners.— September 23. One of 
 the most bloody battles on record was fought on 
 the coast of Scotland between the American 
 frigate Bon Homme Richard, Captain Paul Jones, 
 and two British frigates, the Serapis and the 
 Countess of Scarborough, which resulted in a 
 victory for the Richard, which was so cut up 
 that she soon after sank. Of a crew of 375, 300 
 
t62 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 were either killed or wounded.— October 9. After 
 a month's siege, acombined attack of the French 
 and Americans, under Count D'Estaing and Gen. 
 Lincoln, was made on Savannah, but it proved 
 unsuccessful, and Gen, Lincoln retired into 
 South Carolina, while Count D'Estaing with- 
 drew his fleet from the American coast. Count 
 Pulaski was mortally wounded during the battle, 
 and a monument has since been erected to his 
 memory on the spot where he fell. 
 1780. During the most of this year military opera- 
 tions were confined to the Carolinas. — April 9. 
 Admiral Arbuthnot, with a powerful fleet, which 
 had transported Sir Henry Clinton with the 
 bulk of his forces from New York to the South, 
 anchored in Charleston harbor, and summoned 
 the city to surrender. This was rejected, and 
 General Lincoln and bis troops made a gallant 
 defence, until May 12, when, most of the forti- 
 fications having been beaten down, and the 
 enemy being about to make an assault, a compli- 
 ance was unavoidable, and the royal government 
 was again established in South Carolina. — May 
 12. Charleston surrendered after more than a 
 month's siege. — ^July 10. A French squadron, 
 under Admiral de Tern ay, arrived at Newport, 
 having on board 6000 men, commanded by 
 Count de Rochambeau. — August 16. Gen. Gates, 
 who was advancing with a considerable force for 
 the relief of the South, encountered the British, 
 under Lords Rawdon and Cornwallis, near 
 Camden, S. C, and after a desperate engage- 
 ment, was compelled to draw off, with the loss 
 of 1000 men, and all his artillery, ammunition 
 wagons, and most of his baggage. Baron de 
 Kalb, second in command, was mortally 
 wounded, dying on the 19th. — September 23. 
 Major Andre, adjutant-general of the British 
 army, was arrested near Tarrytown, N. Y., by 
 militiamen John Paulding, David Williams and 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 265 
 
 Isaac Yan Wert. He was returning from a visit 
 i?^« Arnold then in command of West 
 Poi^ tn4 whom he had successfully negotiated 
 Ke surrender of that post. He was soon 
 after tried, convicted, and executed as a spy, 
 whiL the traitor Arnold ^^ff^unatey escaped^ 
 T^i^ititr allowed to write to Arnold, that officer 
 nf rlurse f^und that his treason was discovered, 
 fndTeclpra^ely fled on board the sloop-of-war 
 vnitiirp then Iving in the Hudson. 
 X7J1 TheWtorir,fold, as one of the reward^ of 
 
 ^ZTvCt^:XZ^S^^-oLis, and plunder- 
 SfganlTstroyingUuc and private property 
 
 to\ Tast -r/coT^Tariefon'-w^re s^^vSlly 
 Tat^^kuSe^aSe-of^cX} s^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 cans, under Gen. Morgan, and lost 300 m killed 
 
 i4re^fXt^d%reTa^;^^^^^^ 
 fede Gen. Gates in the South, arrived at Chemw, 
 and took command of Morgan's divisiom- 
 ??\.o-h Tc Ten Greene encountered the army 
 ^fW^tomwalU^^^ Guilford Court House; 
 hut neithe? party gained a decided advantage. 
 ^«d Greene Withdrew into South Carolina en- 
 SmW on Hobkirk's Hill, about a mile from 
 Cam^Si, whete Lord Rawdon was then posted 
 -Aifril 25 Lord Rawdon made an attack on 
 iobkkk's Hill, but with so little success that he 
 foon after evacuated Camden and Retired be 
 vond the Santee River.— October 8. The Amer 
 fransand British, under Gen. Greene and Col. 
 Stewat^ tnet at Eutaw Springs, and a sanguinary 
 conflS: of nearly four hours ensuef ; jh^n 
 Greene drew off his troops, and Stewart retired 
 to Monk's Corner. -September 6. The traitor 
 
264 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Arnold villainously burned New London, and 
 destroyed much private and public property indis- 
 criminately. — September 30. The combined 
 American and French army, under Washington 
 and Rochambeau suddenly appeared before 
 Yorktown, where Cornwallis had concentrated 
 his forces, and immediately commenced the con- 
 struction of batteries and other works for the 
 efifectual siege of that place. A French fleet 
 commanded by Count de Grasse, had previously 
 entered the Chesapeake, and, by blocking up 
 James and York rivers, prevented the enemy's 
 escape by sea. — October 19. Finding retreat im- 
 possible, and resistance vain, Cornwallis surren- 
 dered the post, and thus 7000 troops and the 
 shipping in the harbor were secured to the victors, 
 and the revolutionary struggle virtually ended. — 
 December 12. A resolution passed the British 
 House of Commons that those who should advise 
 the king to continue the war in America, should 
 be declared enemies of the sovereign and of the 
 country. 
 
 1782. The independence of America was acknowl- 
 edged by Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, 
 and Russia. — Early in May, Sir Guy Carleton, 
 successor of Sir Henry Clinton as commander of 
 all the forces in America, arrived in New York, 
 with instructions to promote an accommodation 
 with the United States, and of course there were 
 no subsequent military operations of importance. 
 — November 30. Preliminary articles of peace 
 were signed at Paris by Mr. Oswald, commis- 
 sioner on the part of Great Britain, and by Jobn 
 Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and Henry 
 Laurens, on the part of the United States. 
 
 1783. April 19. On the eighth anniversary of the 
 battle of Lexington, a cessation of hostilities 
 was proclaimed in the American army. — Sep- 
 tember 3 Definitive treaties of peace were signed 
 by the commissioners of England with those of 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 265 
 
 the United States, France, Spain, and Holland. 
 — iMovember 25. New York was evacuated by 
 the British troops. — December 4. Washington 
 took leave of the army, and the soldiers of the 
 Revolution returned peaceably to their homes. 
 — December 23. Washington resigned his com- 
 mission into the hands of Congress, then sitting 
 at Annapolis, Md., and retired to private life. 
 
 Events Subsequent to Independence. 
 
 1784. Nov. I. Congress convened at Trenton, 
 N. J., but transacted little business of permanent 
 importance. 
 
 1785. June 2. John Adams, first Minister from the 
 United States to Great Britain, had his first 
 audience with the king. 
 
 1786. Shay's Rebellion in Massachusetts and New 
 Hampshire. 
 
 1787. Sept. 17. The Constitution of the United 
 States was adopted at Philadelphia. — Daniel 
 Shay and his party dispersed by Gen. lyincoln. 
 
 178S. Eleven States ratified the Constitution. — 
 Election for President of the United States. 
 
 1789. March 4. Congress assembled at New York, 
 but did not organize till April 6. — April 30. 
 George Washington was sworn into office as the 
 first President, and John Adams as the first Vice- 
 President of United States. 
 
 1790. In May, Rhode Island acceded to the Con- 
 stitution. — Sept. 30. Gen. Harmer defeated by 
 the Indians near Chillicothe. — The first census 
 completed, showing — population, 3,921,326 ; reve- 
 nue 14,771,000; exports, ^19,000,000; imports, 
 $20,000,000. 
 
 1791. Vermont, having acceded to the Constitu- 
 tion, was admitted into the Union. — The first 
 United States Bank was chartered by Congress, 
 but not without powerful opposition. 
 
266 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 1792. The Mint was established. — Kentucky ad- 
 mitted into the Union. 
 
 1793. April 22. President Washington issued a 
 proclamation of neutrality in regard to the 
 affairs of France, which were beginning to affect 
 American politics. — Washington and Adams 
 were re-elected. 
 
 1794. Aug. 20. Gen, Wayne obtained so decisive a 
 victory over the hostile Indians as to produce a 
 salutarv effect upon all the tribes northwest of 
 the Ohio. 
 
 1795. Treaties were concluded with Spain and 
 Algiers. 
 
 1796. Sept. 17. Washington signified his intention 
 to retire from public life, and published his 
 Farewell Address. — Tennessee was admitted into 
 the Union. 
 
 1797. March 4. John Adams was inaugurated as 
 President, and Thomas Jefferson, Vice-Pesident, 
 
 1798. Congress again elected Gen. Washington 
 commander in-chief of the army. 
 
 1799. Dec. 14. Gen. Washington died at Mount 
 Vernon, after a very short illness. 
 
 1800. The seat of government was transferred to 
 Washington City. — Sept. 30. A treaty was con- 
 cluded with the French Directory. — President 
 Adams signed the alien and sedition laws. 
 
 18; )i. Thomas Jefferson was elected President, and 
 Aaron Burr, Vice-President. — Congress declared 
 was against Tripoli. — The second census was 
 completed, and showed— population, 5,319,762; 
 revenue, 112,945,000 ; exports, 194,000,000. 
 
 180?. New Orleans was ceded by Spain to France, 
 and the Mississippi closed against the United 
 States. — Ohio admitted into the Union. 
 
 1803. Louisiana was purchased of the French by 
 the United States for ^15,000,000. — Com. Preble 
 sailed with a squadron for Tripoli ; the frigate 
 Philadelphia got around in the harbor, and was 
 captured by the barbarians. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 267 
 
 1804. Capt. Eaton was appointed navy agent for 
 the Barbary powers. — L/ieut. (afterward Com.) 
 Decatur recaptured and destroyed the frigate 
 Philadelphia, under a terrific fire from the 
 enemy's gnus. 
 
 1805. Thomas Jefferson was re-elected President, 
 and George Clinton Vice-President. — Peace was 
 concluded with Tripoli, and 200 prisoners were 
 given up to the United States. 
 
 1806. England began to impress American seamen, 
 on the plea of their having been born in that 
 kingdom. — Nov. 21. Berlin decree issued by 
 Bonaparte, crippling American commerce. 
 
 1807. Aaron Burr, formerly Vice-President, was 
 tried at Richmond for high treason, but was 
 acquitted, owing to the insufficiency of evidence. 
 
 1808. June 22. The American frigate Chesapeake 
 was fired into by the British ship-of-war Leopard, 
 for refusing to deliver up four men who were 
 claimed as English subjects ; three men were 
 killed and eighteen wounded. — In November, 
 the British government issued the celebrated 
 *' Orders in Council," prohibiting all trade with 
 France and her allies ; and in December, Bona- 
 parte issued the retaliatory " Milan decree," for- 
 bidding all trade with England and her colonies. 
 — Dec. 22. Congress decreed an embargo, the 
 design of which was to retaliate on France and 
 England for unjust commercial prohibitions. 
 
 1809. March i. Congress repealed the embargo act, 
 but at the same time interdicted all commercial 
 intercourse with France or England. 
 
 1810. In November, all the hostile decrees of the 
 French were revoked, and commercial inter- 
 course with the United States was resumed ; but 
 those of England were not only continued, but 
 ships of war were stationed near the principal 
 American ports for the purpose of intercepting 
 our merchantmen, which were captured, and sent 
 to British ports as legal prizes. 
 
268 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 1811. May 16. The British ship-of-war Little Belt» 
 Capt. Bingham, was hailed in the evening on the 
 coast of Virginia by the U. vS frigate President, 
 Capt. Rodgers, but instead of receiving a satis- 
 factory answer, a shot was fired in return, when 
 a brief engagement followed, in which eleven of 
 the enemy were killed and twenty- one wounded. 
 The President had only one man wounded. 
 
 18 1 2. June 17. President Madison issued a proc- 
 lamation of war against England, and exertions 
 were immediately made to enlist 25,000 men, to 
 raise 50,000 volunteers, and to call out 100 000 
 militia, 
 
 1814. In August, Washington City surrendered to a 
 British army, who destroyed the capitol, Presi- 
 dent's mansion, and many other valuable build- 
 ings, etc. — Dec. 24. Treaty of peace with Great 
 Britain concluded at Ghent. 
 
 1815. Jan. 8. Battle of New Orleans, in which the 
 British, under Sir E. Packenham were signally 
 repulsed by the Americans, under Gen. Jackson. 
 
 1816. In April, Congress chartered the U. S. Bank, 
 with a capital of ^35,000,000 — Indiana admitted 
 into the Union. — American Colonization Society 
 formed. 
 
 18 1 7. March 4. James Monroe and Daniel D. 
 Tompkins were inaiigurated as President and 
 Vice-President. — Mississippi admitted into the 
 Union. 
 
 1818. SeminolB War, in which Gen. Jackson 
 obtained many important victories, and finally 
 ''conquered peace." — Jul}'^ 4. Ground first broken 
 in New York for the Hudson and Erie Canal. — 
 Illinois and 4,labama admitted into the Union. 
 
 1819. Feb. 23. The FToridas ceded by Spain to the 
 United States for ^5,000,000, which sum was to 
 be paid to American citizens as indemnities for 
 spoliations on their commerce during the Penin- 
 sular war. 
 
 1820. Maine and Missouri were admitted into the 
 Union. — The Compromise Act passed, by which 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 269 
 
 slavery was excluded from all territory lying 
 north of 36° 30^ N. latitude. 
 
 1821. James Monroe and Daniel D. Tompkins were 
 re-elected President and Vice-President. 
 
 1822. Ministers plenipotentiary sent to Mexico, 
 Buenos Ayres, Colombia, and Chili.— Conven- 
 tion of Navigation and Commerce between the 
 United States and France.— Piracy was alarm- 
 ingly prevalent in the West Indies. 
 
 1824. Aug. 15. Gen. Lafayette arrived in New York 
 from France, and spent the year in traveling 
 through the country, being received at every 
 place with great enthusiasm. 
 
 1825. March 4. John Quincy Adams and John C. 
 Calhoun inaugurated as President and Vice- 
 President.— Sept. 7. Gen. Lafayette embarked 
 for France in the frigate Brandywine, which had 
 been fitted out expressly for his accomodation. 
 
 1826. July 4. Semi-Centennial Anniversary of 
 American Independence. —Remarkable coinci- 
 dence in the death of John Adams and Thomas 
 Jefferson, each on whom died that day. 
 
 1829. March 4. Andrew Jackson and John C. Cal- 
 houn inaugurated as President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent— the latter re-elected. 
 
 1832. The Sacs, Foxes, Winnebagoes, and some 
 other Indian tribes, under the Chief Black Hawk, 
 made war on the Northwestern frontier, but were 
 soon brought to submission.— A convention in 
 South Carolina threatened to dissolve the Union, 
 but the President issued a proclamation (Dec. 12) 
 which allayed all apprehension of trouble. 
 
 1833. March 4. Andrew Jackson and Martin Van 
 Buren were inaugurated as President and Vice- 
 President— the former re-elected. — The public 
 funds were removed from the U. S. Bank, which 
 occasioned much excitement. 
 
 1835. The Plorida War was commenced by Indian 
 hostilities against the settlements.— Dec. 24. 
 Major Dade and upward of 100 men were unex- 
 pectedly attacked, and all savagely butchered, 
 
270 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 except four, who were so horribly mangled that 
 the}' died soon afterward. On the same day, 
 while Gen. Thompson and eight friends were 
 dining together near Fort King, they were fired 
 upon by a party of warriors under Osceola, and 
 five out of the nine were killed and scalped. 
 Gen. Thompson's body was pierced by fifteen 
 bullets. 
 
 1836. The Florida war was vigorously prosecuted 
 by Generals Gaines, Clinch, Jesup, and Call, and 
 several desperate battles were fought, but without 
 any material advantage to the whites. — Arkansas 
 was admitted into the Union, 
 
 1837. March4. Great commercial distress prevailed, 
 and nearly all the banks in the country suspended 
 specie payments. — An extra session of Congress 
 was held in September, but nothing was done, 
 except authorizing the government to issue 
 |io,ooo,ooo in Treasury notes. — Oct. 21. The In- 
 dian chief Osceola was captured, and died the 
 following January. — Michigan was admitted into- 
 the Union. 
 
 1840. General Macomb, who took command of the 
 army in Florida (numbering about 9000), con- 
 cluded a treaty of peace with several Indian 
 chiefs. — The Independent Treasury Bill became 
 a law. 
 
 1841. March 4. William H. Harrison and John 
 Tyler were inaugurated as President and Vice- 
 President. — April 4. President Harrison died, and 
 was succeeded by Mr. Tyler. — May 31. An extra 
 session of Congress convened, but they did little^ 
 except to pass the Bankrupt Bill. 
 
 1842. A treaty adjusting the northeastern boundary 
 of the United States concluded with Great 
 Britain. 
 
 1845. March 4. James K. Polk and GeorgeM. 
 Dallas were inaugurated as President and Vice- 
 Presiclent. — Texas was annexed to the United 
 
 : States, and this led to a war with Mexico, which 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 271 
 
 resulted in a series of brilliant victories, and 
 in the extension of American territory on the 
 Pacific Ocean. Florida was admitted into the 
 Union. 
 
 1846. Iowa was admitted into the Union. 
 
 1847. Wisconsin was admitted into the Union. 
 
 1849. March 4. Zachary Taylor and Millard Fill- 
 more were inaugurated as President and Vice- 
 President. 
 
 1850. July 9. President Taylor died, after a very 
 brief illness, and was succeeded by Mr. Fillmore. 
 — Sept. 18. Fugitive Slave Law approved. — Cali- 
 fornia admitted into the Union. 
 
 1853. Franklin Pierce and William R. King, having 
 been elected President and Vice-President, the 
 former was duly inaugurated, but the latter, 
 being absent in Cuba, whither he had gone for 
 the benelit of his health, was not sworn into of- 
 fice until some time in April. He did not live 
 long after reaching home, and Jesse D. Bright, 
 President of the Senate, assumed his office dur- 
 ing the remainder of the term. 
 
 1854. Congress passed an act to organize the Ter- 
 ritories of Nebraska and Kansas, and also to re- 
 peal the Missouri Compromise Act. 
 
 1857. James Buchanan and John C. Breckinridge 
 inaugurated as President and Vice-President of 
 the United States. — A 5'ear of severe embarrass- 
 ments and financial distress throughout the 
 country. Nearly all the banks in the United 
 States suspended specie payments, as in 1837, 
 and many heavy failures occured. — Minnesota 
 admitted into the Union. 
 
 1858. Specie payments resumed. — Atlantic tele- 
 graph laid. — Crystal Palace burned. 
 
 1859. Oregon admitted into the Union. 
 
 i860. May. Visit of the Ambassadors of the Jap- 
 anese Government to the U. vS. 
 
 June. Arrival of the steamship Great Eastern at 
 New York. 
 
872 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Kov. 8. The election of Abraham Lincoln and 
 Hannibal Hamlin as President and Vice Presi- 
 dent of the United States announced at Wash- 
 ington. — 9-1 1. James Chesnut, Jr., and James H. 
 Hammond, U. S. Senators from South Carolina, 
 resigned their seats in the Senate. 
 
 Dec. 3. The second session of the 36th Congress 
 opened at Washington. — 10. U. S. House of Rep- 
 resentatives appointed a Committee of 33 on the 
 state of the Union. — Howell CobVj, of Georgia, 
 Secretary U. S. Treasury, resigned his office. 
 John A. Dix, of New York, appointed his sucess- 
 or. — 14. Lewis Cass, of Michigan, Secretary of 
 State, resigned. — 20. The South Carolina "Ordi- 
 nance of Secession" passed. — 24. Resignation 
 of the South Carolina Representatives in Con- 
 gress. — -26. Major Anderson removed his com- 
 mand from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. — 
 Messrs. Barnwell, Orr and Adams, Commission- 
 ers appointed by South Carolina to treat with 
 the Federal Government, arrived at Washing- 
 ton. - 27. Captain N. L. Coste, U. S. R. service, 
 in command of the cutter William Aiken, be- 
 trayed his vessel into the hands of the State 
 authorities of South Carolina. — 28. The palmetto 
 flag raised over the custom-house and post office 
 in Charleston, S. C, and Castle Pinckney and 
 Fort Moultrie occupied by the South Carolina 
 military. — 29. John B. Floyd resigned his position 
 as Secretary of War. — 30. South Carolina troops 
 take possession of the U. S. Arsenal at Charles- 
 ton, containing many thousand stand of arms 
 and valuable military stores. 
 
 1861. Jan 3. Fort Pulaski, at Savannah, Ga., taken 
 possession of by Georgia troops. — South Carolina 
 Commissioners left Washington for Charleston, 
 the President declining to receive any official 
 communication from them. — 4. United States 
 Arsenal at Mobile seized by secessionists. No 
 defence. — Fort Morgan, at the entrance of 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 273 
 
 Mobile Bay, taken by Alabama troops. — 8. Jacob 
 Thompson resigned his place in the Cabinet as 
 Secretary of the Interior. — United States sub- 
 Treasury at Charleston seized. — 9. Mississippi 
 Ordinance of Secession passed. — vSteamship Star 
 of the West, with supplies for Fort Sumter, fired 
 into from Morris Island and Fort Moultrie, and 
 driven from Charleston harbor. — 11. Louisiana 
 State troops, under Captain Bradford, took pos- 
 session of the U. S. Marine hospital, two miles 
 below New Orleans. — Florida Convention adopt- 
 ed an Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 62 to 
 7. — Alabama Convention adopted an Ordinance 
 of Secession by a vote of 61 to 39. — 12. Fort Bar- 
 rancas and the Navy Yard at Pensacola, Fla., 
 seized by Southern troops. — 15. Col. Hayne, Com- 
 missioner from South Carolina to Washington, 
 demanded the withdrawal of the garrison of 
 Fort Sumter. — U. S. coast survey schooner Dana 
 seized by Florida State authorities. — 19. Conven- 
 tion of Georgia adopted a secession ordinance by 
 a vote of 208 to 89. — 21. Jefferson Davis, of Mis- 
 sissippi, withdrew from U. S. Senate.— 24. U. S. 
 arsenal at Augusta, Ga., surrendered to the State 
 authorities. — 26. Louisiana State Convention 
 passed an Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 
 113 lo 17. — 29. U. S revenue cutter Robert Mc- 
 Clelland, Captain Breshwood, surrendered to 
 State of Louisiana — Secretary Dix's dispatch to 
 Hemphill Jones at New Orleans, "If any one 
 attempts to haul down the American flag shoot 
 him on the spot." 31. South Carolina authori- 
 ties offer to buy Fort Sumter. — U. S. branch 
 mint and custom-house at New Orleans seized by 
 State authorities. 
 Feb. I. Texas Convention at Galveston passed an 
 Ordinance of Secession, to be voted on by the 
 people on the 23d of February, and to take effect 
 March 2, — 8. Congress at Montgomery adopted 
 a constitution for a provisional government. 
 
fl74 HAND BOOK POR 
 
 Jefiferson Davis, President ; Alexander H. Ste- 
 phens, Vice-President. — U. S. arsenal at Little 
 Rock, Ark., with 9000 stand of arms and forty- 
 cannon, etc., surrendered to State authorities. — 
 13. The election of Lincoln and Hamlin, as 
 President and Vice-President of the United States, 
 formally declared in the Senate by John C. 
 Breckinridge, Vice President. — 18. Jefferson 
 Davis inaugurated President of the Southern 
 Confederacy. — 23. U. S. property to a great 
 amount, together with various army posts in 
 Texas, surrendered to the Confederates by Gen- 
 eral Twiggs. Property valued at ^1,500,000, be- 
 sides buildings. — 27. Peace Convention ai Wash- 
 ington submitted to the Senate a plan of adjust- 
 ment of the national diflBculties, involving seven 
 amendments to the Constitution. 
 
 March i. General Twiggs expelled from the army 
 of the United States. — 4. Abraham Lincoln inaug- 
 urated sixteenth President of the United States, at 
 Washington. A State Convention declared Texas 
 out of the Union. — 5, Gen. P. T. Beauregard took 
 command of the forces investing Fort Sumter, 
 S. C. — 30. Mississippi State Convention ratified 
 the constitution of the C. S. , by a vote of 78 to 7. 
 
 April 3. South Carolina Convention ratified the 
 constitution ot the C. S. , by a vote of 114 to 16. 
 — 12. Attack on Fort Sumter. Reinforcement of 
 Fort Pickens. — 14. Evacuation of Fort Sumter. 
 President's proclamation, calling for 75,000 
 volunteers to suppress insurrection, and also 
 calling an extra session of U. S. Congress on 
 July 4. — 16. The government of the Southern 
 Confederacy call for 32,000 men. — New York 
 Legislature appropriated |;3, 000, coo for war pur- 
 poses. — 17. State Convention of Virginia, in secret 
 session, passed an Ordinanceof Secession.— Sixth 
 Massachusetts regiment, on its way to Washing- 
 ton, attacked by a mob in Baltimore. — U. S. 
 arsenal at Liberty, Mo., seized.— Steamship Star 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 275 
 
 of the West, having been seized by secessionists, 
 was taken into New Orleans. — The ports of South, 
 Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, 
 Louisiana and Texas ordered to be blockaded by 
 the President.— 21. Gosport Navy Yard, opposite 
 Norfolk, Va., set on fire, and vessels scuttled and 
 sunk, by U. S. officers in charge. — Philadelphia 
 & Baltimore Railway taken possession of by U. S. 
 Government. — 25. Gov. Letcher, of Virginia, by 
 proclamation, transferred that commonwealth to 
 the Southern Confederacy. — 26. Gov. Brown, of 
 Georgia, by proclamation, prohibited the pay- 
 ment of all debts to Northern creditors till the 
 end of hostilities. — 27. The ports of Virginia and 
 North Carolina were included in the blockade by 
 the President. — 29. Secession defeated in Mary- 
 land House of Delegates by a vote of 53 to I3. 
 May 3. Gov. Jackson, of Missouri, in a message to 
 the legislature, recommended arming the State, 
 and a union of sympathy and destiny with the 
 slaveholding States, — President Lincoln issued a 
 proclamation calling into service 42,000 volun- 
 teers for three years, and directing the increase 
 of the regular army and navy of the United 
 States. — Virginia admitted into the Southern 
 Confederacy in secret session of Confederate 
 Congress. — Police Commissioners of St. Louis^ 
 Mo., demanded of Capt. Lyon the removal of 
 U. S. troops from all places and buildings occu- 
 pied by them in that city outside the arsenal 
 grounds. — Confederate States* Congress recog- 
 nized war with the United States, and authorized 
 issue of letters of marque and reprisal. — Legisla- 
 ture of Arkansas passed an unconditional Ordi- 
 nance of Secession, 69 to i. — 7. League between 
 Tennessee authorities and Confederate States. 
 — 9. The Confederate Congress authorized Presi- 
 dent Davis to raise such force for the war as he 
 should deem expedient. — 10. Maj.-Gen. R. K. 
 Lee appointed to command the Confederate 
 
276 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 forces in Virginia. — Maj-Gen. McClellaii ap- 
 pointed to command the Department of Ohio. — • 
 The President directed that all officers in the 
 army should take anew the oath of allegiance to 
 the United States. — The secession military, 
 under Gen. Frost, at St. Louis, Mo, , surrendered 
 to Capt. Ivyon, commanding U. S. forces. A 
 inob assailed the U. S. military after the surren- 
 der, and were fired on by them, and many killed 
 and wounded. — 15. A proclamation of neutrality 
 with respect to the civil war in the U. S. was 
 issued by Queen Victoria, in which the subjects 
 of Great Britain v/ere forbidden to take part in 
 the contest, or endeavor to break a blockade 
 " lawfully and effectually established." — 18. Ar- 
 kansas admitted to the Southern Confederacy. — 
 20. Seizure by the Government of principal 
 telegraph offices throughout the free States, and 
 of the accumulated dispatches for twelve months. 
 — Ordinance of Secession passed by North 
 Carolina State Convention. — 24. Assassination 
 of Col. Ellsworth, at Alexandria, Va. 
 June I. British Government prohibited U. S. and 
 Confederate armed vessels from , bringing any 
 prizes to British ports. — 3. Hon, Stephen A, 
 Douglas died at Chicago. — 4. Chief Justice 
 Taney protests against the suspension of the 
 habeas CO rpushy the President. — 6, Gov, Pickens, 
 of S. C, forbade the remittance of funds to 
 Northern creditors. Vote of Tennessee in favor 
 of secession. — 12. Gov. Jackson, of Missouri, 
 issued a proclamation calling 50,000 State militia 
 into service, to protect the "lives, liberty and 
 property of the citizens of the State." — West 
 Virginia State Convention resolved to elect loyal 
 State officers. — Maryland election resulted in the 
 triumph of all the Union candidates but Winter 
 Davis. — 17. Western Virginia Convention unani- 
 mously declared their independence of the 
 Eastern section of the State. — 24. Secession of 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 277 
 
 Tennessee proclaimed by Gov. Harris. Vote 104,- 
 913 for. to 47,238 against.— 25. Virginia vote an- 
 nounced to be 128,884 for, and 32,134 against 
 / secession.— Western Virginia government recog- 
 nized by the President. 
 July 10. Loan bill passed by House of Representa- 
 tives» authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to 
 borrow $250,000,000, redeemable m twenty years. 
 —Bill authorizing $500,000,000 and 500,000 volun- 
 teers to suppressthe rebellion, passed the Senate. 
 —House of Representatives empowered the Pres- 
 ident to close the ports of seceded States.— 
 16. Bill authorizing the President to call out 
 militia to suppress the rebellion, passed the 
 House of Representatives, and the bill to accept 
 services of 500,000 volunteers.- 19. The Captain- 
 General of Cuba liberated all the vessels brought 
 into Cuban ports by privateer Sumter as prizes.-- 
 20. Confederate Congress met at Richmond, 
 Va.— 21. Battle of Bull Run. Union defeat.— 
 22 Briu-.-Gen. Beauregard promoted to the rank 
 of* "General" iu the Confederate army, the 
 highest grade.— 22. Maj.-Geu. McClellan as- 
 sioned to command the Department of the 
 pStomac— 30-31. Missouri State Convention 
 abolished the State Legislature, declared the 
 offices of Governor, Lieu.-Gov. and Sec. of State 
 vacant, appointed special State officers, and 
 provided for a special election by the people m 
 Aug., 1862. 
 186 1. August I. Lieut. -Col. Baylor, commanding 
 the Confederate forces in Arizona, issued a 
 proclamation taking possession of New Mexico, 
 in the name of the Confederate States, declaring 
 all Federal offices vacant, and appointing a 
 secretary, attorney-general and other of&cers. — 
 5. Election in Kentucky for members of the 
 Le.<^islature, the returns showing a large Union 
 majority.— 6. Adjournment sine die of Special 
 Congress at Washington.— 10. Battle of Wilson's 
 
ajS HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Creek, Mo. Gen. Lyon, with 5200 men, was 
 defeated by the combined forces of Gens. Price 
 and McCulloch, 20,000. Gen. Lyon was killed. 
 —12. C. J. Faulkner, ex-Minister of U. S. to 
 France, arrested on a charge of treason. — 14. 
 Gen. F'remont declares martial law in St. Louis, 
 Mo. All loyal men notified by Jeff. Davis to 
 leave the Confederate States in forty days, — 15. 
 Proclamation of President Lincoln declaring 
 •commercial intercourse with the eleven States in 
 rebellion unlawful, excepting such parts thereof 
 as have or may become restored to loyal govern- 
 ment, and forfeiting all vessels therefrom or 
 laound to the same after fifteen days. — 19. Pass- 
 ports required, by notice from the Department of 
 State, from all persons leaving or arriving within 
 the United States. — 20. Gen. McClellan assumed 
 <:ommand of the army of the Potomac. — 24. A 
 portion of the Cherokee Indians made an alliance 
 with the "Southern Confederacy." 
 
 President Lincoln appoints 26 Sep. as a fast- 
 day (12 Aug.). 
 
 The Kentucky Legislature meets (2 Sep.); in 
 the Senate the vote is 27 for Union and 11 for 
 Secession ; in the House, 76 for Union and 24 
 for Secession. 
 
 The Confederate ironclad Merrimac makes its 
 first appearance in sight of Fort Monroe (7 Oct.). 
 The Confederate steamer Theodore, with Mason 
 and Slidell on board, escapes from Charleston, 
 S. C. 
 
 Gen. Fremont and Secretary Cameron hold a 
 conference. An attempt is made to burn the 
 blockading fleet lying at the mouth of the Missis- 
 sippi ; the Confederate ram is disabled. 
 
 Secretary Seward sends a circular to the Gov- 
 •ernors of States advising sea-coast and lake 
 defences (14 Oct.). 
 
 The second naval expedition, consisting of So 
 vessels and 15,000 men, sails from Fortress 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 279 
 
 Monroe (29 Oct.); The naval forces are under 
 Commodore Dupont ; the land forces under Gen. 
 Sherman. 
 
 Lieut. -Gen. Scott resigns as Commander-in- 
 Chief of the armies of the U. S. (31 Oct.); Gen. 
 McClellan is appointed in his place ( i Nov. ) . 
 
 A party in Missouri pass an ordinance of 
 Secession (2 Nov.). 
 
 Maj.-Gen. Fremont is removed from his com- 
 mand (2 Nov.), and is succeeded by Gen. Hunter 
 in the command of the Western Department. 
 Gen. Fremont returns to St. Louis, and is received 
 there with the most enthusiastic tokens of regard. 
 
 Captain Wilkes, of the U. S. Navy, on the San 
 Jacinto, stops the British mail-steamer Trent, 
 and takes off Mason and Shdell, the Confederate 
 Commissioners, as prisoners (8 Nov.), and takes 
 them to Boston (19 Nov.) 
 
 The Confederate Congress meets at Richmond 
 (18 Nov.). 
 
 Mason and SHdell are placed in Fort Warren 
 (24 Nov.). 
 
 A party in Kentucky pass an ordmance of 
 Secession (30 Nov.). 
 
 Gen. McClellan directs the observance of the 
 Sabbath in all the camps of the U. S. Army 
 {30 Nov.). 
 
 Lord Lyons, the British Minister at Washing- 
 ton, is instructed by the British Government 
 (30 Nov.) to leave America in 7 days, unless the 
 U. S. Government consent to the unconditional 
 liberation of Mason and Slidell. 
 
 Jefferson Davis is elected President of the Con- 
 federate States for six years (30 Nov.). 
 
 Congress votes thanks to Capt. Wilkes for 
 capturing Mason and Slidell (2 Dec); the 
 foreign envoys at Washington protest against 
 this act (3 Dec). 
 
 News comes from England of a strong feeling 
 concerning the arrest of Mason and Slidell (15 
 
28o HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Dec); tlie attitude assumed is threatening; 
 troops are sent to Canada by the British Govern- 
 ment as a precaution against military trouble. 
 
 Mason and Slidell are surrendered to the British 
 Minister, Lord Lyons (27 Dec). 
 
 Banks in New York and elsewhere suspend cash 
 payments (30 Dec). 
 
 The national expenses of the j-ear are $85 387- 
 313; the debt is $90,867,828; the imports are 
 ^345,650,153 ; and the exports, $228,699,486. 
 1862. Mason and Slidell leave Fort Warren and 
 sail for England on the British steamer Rinaldo 
 (I Jan.). 
 
 Waldo P. Johnson and Trustan Polk, of Mis- 
 souri, are expelled from the J-'enate (10 Jan.). 
 
 Simon Cameron resigns his position as Secre- 
 tary of War (11 Jan.); E. M. Stanton is appointed 
 in his place. 
 
 The Federal Government decides that the crews 
 of all captured privateers are to be regarded as 
 prisoners of war (3 Feb.). The Confederate 
 steamer Nashville is ordered to leave Southamp- 
 ton harbor, Eng.; the U. S. steamer Tuscarora en- 
 deavors to follow, but is stopped by an English 
 frigate 
 
 Commodore Foote, with 7 gunboats, attacks 
 Fort Henry on the Tennessee River ; the Confed- 
 erate commander, Gen. Tilghman, surrenders 
 the fort unconditionally (6 Feb.). 
 
 Grant captures Fort Donelson, with 15,000 
 prisoners (16 Feb.). 
 
 The Confederate Congress meets at Richmond 
 (19 Feb.). 
 
 Grant captures Nashville, Tenn. (23 Feb.). 
 
 Jefferson Davis is inaugurated at Richmond as 
 President, and A. H. Stephens as Vice-President, 
 of the Southern Confederacy (22 Feb.). 
 
 Congress passes an Act for the additional issue 
 of Treasury Notes (22 Feb.) ; by it $10,000,000, in 
 notes of less than ^5 are authorized in addition 
 to the ^50,000,000 previously authorized. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 281 
 
 Fresident Lincoln approves the Legal Tendex" 
 Act passed by Congress '.25 Feb.) ; by it the Sec- 
 retary of the Treasury is authorized to issue notes 
 of not less than $5 to the amount of $150,000,000, 
 not bearing interest, payable in Washington and 
 New York, the notes to be legal tender for all 
 debts, public and private, and to be received and 
 paid by the Governmetit for all purposes except 
 duties on imports and interest on the public debt ; 
 those to be paid in gold. 
 
 The Confederate iron-plated steamer Merrimac, 
 in Hampton Roads, sinks the Federal ship Cum- 
 berland and compels the Congress to surrende ' 
 (8 March) ; but is repulsed by the Federal iron- 
 clad floating battery Monitor (9 March). 
 
 Gen. McClellan takes command of the Army 
 of the Potomac (11 March), Gen. Fremont of the 
 Mountain Department, and Gen. Halleck of the 
 Mississippi (ii March). 
 
 A severe battle commences at Pittsburg Land- 
 ing between the Federals under Grant and the 
 Confederates under Johnston and Beauregard, 
 and Grant is driven from his position with severe 
 loss (6 April). With the aid of Gen. Buell's re- 
 inforcements Grant recaptures (7 April) the 
 camps from which he had been driven. Over 
 100,000 men are engaged in this sanguinary 
 battle, and about 10,000 are killed and wounded, 
 on each side, Gen. Johnston being among the 
 killed. 
 
 Congress passes a bill abolishing slavery in 
 the District of Columbia (11 April) ; the Act pro- 
 vides for a Commission to remunerate loyal 
 owners ; not over $300 a slave is to be paid ; and 
 J 1, 000, 000 is appropriated for the purpose ; $100,- 
 000 are also appropriated for their colonization. 
 An Act is also passed abolishing slavery in the 
 "Territories of the United States." 
 
 The taking of New Orleans (24 April) by a 
 naval force under Commodore Farrag^ut, aided 
 
282 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 by a land force under Gen. Butler, is one of the 
 most remarkable exploits of this eventful year. 
 The city is strongly defended ; 75 miles below it 
 are two strong forts ; and below these a chain is 
 stretched across the river with earth-works at 
 each end ; between the forts and the chain are 5 
 rafts filled with inflammable material, besides 13 
 gunboats, an iron-clad floating battery, and an 
 iron ram. Commodore Farragut cannonades the 
 forts in vain, but saves his vessels from the burn- 
 ing rafts by seizing and extinguishing each as it 
 floats down. At last he decides to attempt to run 
 by the forts with his fleet. He accordingly gets 
 under way, and while the forts, the steamers and 
 the battery all pour their fire upon the fleet, it 
 steams steadily up the river till all danger is 
 passed ; the Union vessel Varuna alone sinks or 
 disables 6 Confederate steamers ; Farragut an- 
 chors oflF the quarantine station (24 April); and 
 takes possession of New Orlearns (25 April). 
 
 Gen. Butler enters New Orleans with a land 
 force and proclaims martial law (i May). 
 
 The Seward-Lyons treaty between Great 
 Britain and the U. S. for the suppression of the 
 slave-trade is ratified (20 May). 
 
 General Pope is assigned to the command of 
 the Army of Virginia (26 June). The Confeder- 
 ates, under Gen. Robert E. Lee, attack McClel- 
 lan's right wing at Mechanicsville (26 June). 
 
 President Lincoln gives approval to an Act of 
 Congress granting aid for the construction of a 
 railroad from the Missouri to the Pacific Ocean 
 (I July). 
 
 President Lincoln, in response to the official 
 requests of the Governors of 18 States, calls for 
 300,000 volunteers ( I July). The battle of Malvern 
 Hills closes a seven days' struggle with the re- 
 pulse of the Confederates (i July). 
 
 Gen. Halleck is appointed commander of all 
 ike land forces of the U. S. (n July). 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 283 
 
 The Confederates capture Cynthiana, Ky. (17). 
 President Lincoln sanctions a bill confiscating 
 the property and emancipating the slaves ot all 
 persons who shall continue in arms against the 
 Union for 60 days (17 July). 
 
 Gen. Halleck orders Gen. McClellan to evacu- 
 ate the Peninsula of Virginia (3 Aug.). 
 
 The War Department issues an order (4 Aug.) 
 for a draft of 300,000 more men for the service of 
 the U. S. , to serve for nine months, unless pre- 
 viously discharged ; it is also directed that if any 
 State shall not by the 15th of August furnish its 
 quota of men, by volunteers, the deficiency shall 
 be made up by a special draft from the militia. 
 
 The Habeas Corpus Act is ordered to be sus- 
 pended (8 Aug.). Orders are also issued for the 
 arrest of all persons found discouraging enlist- 
 ments, prohibiting the issuance of passports, and 
 enjoining newspaper correspondents from ac- 
 companying the armies (8 Aug.). 
 
 The Federals are defeated at the second battle 
 of Bull Run, and retreat under cover of the 
 night (30 Aug.). 
 
 The battle of Chantilly is fought in the midst 
 of a thunder-storm (i Sep.); Gen. Kearney is 
 shot by a Confederate soldier of whom he made 
 some enquiry by mistake, supposing him to be a 
 Union soldier ; Gen. Stevens is also killed. Gen. 
 Burnside's army evacuate Fredericksburg (i). 
 Union troops evacuate Lexington, Ky. (i). The 
 Confederates are expected to attack Louisvifle 
 (i), and there is great excitement in Cincinnati. 
 
 Gen. Lee crosses the Potomac with his army 
 (5 Sep.), and marches to Fredrick, the bands 
 playing "Maryland, my Maryland." Gen. 
 Bragg enters Kentucky on his grand raid (5). 
 
 Gen. Banks is assigned to the command of 
 the fortifications in and around Washington (7). 
 Gen. McClellan takes the field at the head of the 
 Army of the Potomac (7). Cumberland Gap is 
 evacmated by the Federals (7). 
 
l84 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 The Confederates evacuate Frederick (9). 
 
 Lee, at bay, takes a strong position behind 
 Antietam Creek (14); a desperate struggle ensues 
 at the Bridge, and both forces are nearly de- 
 stroyed ; reinforcements come up, and Harper's 
 Ferry surrenders (15); the Confederates attempt 
 to blockade the Ohio (15) ; and then re cross the 
 Potomac into Virginia (18). 
 
 President Lincoln issues his Emancipation 
 Proclamation (22 Sep.) : " That on the first day 
 of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held 
 as slaves within any State, the people whereof 
 shall then be in rebellion against the United 
 States, shall be then, thenceforth, and forever 
 free ; and the Executive Government of the 
 United States, including the military and naval 
 authority thereof, will recognize and maintain 
 the freedom of such persons, and will do no act 
 or acts to repress such persons, or anv of them, 
 in any effort they may make for their persoual 
 freedom." The President expounds the mean- 
 ing of this proclamation in the following message 
 to Congress; "In giving freedom to the slave, 
 we assure freedom to the free, honorable alike in 
 what we give, and what we preserve. We shall 
 nobly save, or meanly lose, the best hope of 
 earth. The way is plain, peaceful, glorious, just 
 a way which, if followed, the world will forever 
 applaud, and God must forever bless." 
 
 McClellan removed from command, and Bura- 
 si(ie takes his place (Nov. 7). 
 
 President Lincoln enjoins on the forces the 
 orderly observance of the Sabbath (16 Nov. ). 
 
 Gen. Banks' expedition sails for New Orleans 
 (6 Dec). 
 
 Union defeat at Fredericksburg. Great slaugh- 
 ter (Dec. 13). 
 
 The Sioux Indians, becoming dissatisfied with 
 the payment of money claimed by them, take 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 285 
 
 the war-path (26 Dec); Little Crow and other 
 chiefs perpetrate barbarous outrages in Dakota, 
 Iowa and Minnesota; hundreds of the inhabit- 
 ants are butchered; and thousands, driven from 
 their homes, see all they possess burned by these 
 remorseless wretches. The savages are finally 
 routed. Thirty-nine of them are tried, con- 
 demned to death, and hanged at Mankato, Minn. 
 (26 Dec). 
 
 The money issued by the Confederate Govern- 
 ment has steadily depreciated in value. Flour 
 brings I40 per barrel; salt $1 per lb.; a pair of 
 boots, $50. Woolen clothing is scarce, and the 
 army depend largely on captures from the more 
 ample Federal stores. A spool of thread came to 
 tee worth |2o; a pound of sugar, ^75; and a pound 
 of black pepper, I300. 
 
 The National expenses for the year are I570,- 
 841,700; the debt is 1514.211,371; the imports 
 are $205 771,729; and the exports, |?I3, 069,519. 
 1863. President Lincoln issues his Emancipation 
 Proclamation (i Jan.), announced in Sept., 1862. 
 The number of slaves made nominally free by 
 this proclamation is about 3,120,000. 
 
 Gen. Burnside is relieved of the command of 
 the Army of the Potomac (28 Jan.), and Gen. 
 Hooker is appointed in his place. Gen. Sumner 
 and Gen. Franklin are also relieved from duty in 
 the Army of the Potomac (28). A steamer and 
 300 Confederates are captured near Van Buren, 
 Mo. (28). 
 
 Maj.-Gen. Burnside is appointed to command 
 the Department of the Ohio (2 Feb). 
 
 A disloyal State Convention at Frankfort, Ky., 
 is dispersed by the military (18). 
 
 President Lincoln sanctions (3 March) a finan- 
 cial bill which has passed Congress, the first 
 section of which authorizes a loan of ^300,000,000 
 for the current fiscal year, for which bonds are 
 to be issued, payable at such times as the Secre- 
 
286 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 tary of the Treasury may elect, at not Ic^s than 
 ten and not more than forty years. A further 
 clause provides for the issue of Treasury Notes 
 to the amount of ^400,000,000, to run not more 
 than three years, to bear interest at six per cent, 
 and to be legal tender. Fractional currency is 
 to be issued to the amount of ^50,000,000. 
 
 Conscription Act passed (12 March). By this 
 act all able-bodied male citizens, and all persons 
 of foreign birth who have declared their intention 
 of becoming citizens, and who have voted, be- 
 tween the ages of 20 and 45, are made liable to 
 be called into the service of the country, unless 
 specially excepted. The exceptions include the 
 physically or mentally incapable; the only son 
 of a widow, or of infirm parents requiring their 
 son's labor for actual support; the only brother 
 of children without father or mother, under 
 twelve, dependent on him for support; and the 
 father of motherless children under twelve de- 
 pendent on him for support. The conscripts are 
 divided into two classes: First, all below 35 years 
 of age, and all unmarried persons between 35 
 and 45; second, married persons between 35 atid 
 45. The second class are not to be called into 
 the service till the first class are exhausted. It 
 is estimated that, after allowing for all excep- 
 tions, the President has 4,000,000 men he may 
 call upon for service. The act also provides that 
 any person drafted may be discharged by pay- 
 ment of a sum, not exceeding $300, to be fixed 
 by the Secretary of War. 
 
 Admiral Farragut, with seven of his fleet, 
 passes Port Hudson (14 March) after a fierce 
 engagement, in which the Mississippi is disabled, 
 and then burned by the Admiral's orders. 
 
 Admiral Farragut, with the Hartford, Switz- 
 erland and Albatross, engages and passes the 
 grand Gulf batteries (i April); he pursues his 
 course (2 April) as far as Red River, destroyis^ 
 Confederate gunboats. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 387 
 
 At Richmond, Va., exasperated women create 
 a "bread riot (2 April). 
 
 Gen. Grant's army lands near Port Gibson, 
 Miss. (30 April); defeats the Confederates 
 (i May), taking 500 prisoners ; and he begins his 
 march to Vicksburg. 
 
 The battle of Chancellorsville takes place be- 
 tween the armies of Hooker and Lee (2 May); 
 after a very fierce battle, in which the illnstrious 
 ''Stonewall " Jackson is wounded, by mistake, 
 by his own men, the Federals are checked. 
 
 "Stonewall" Jackson dies at Richmond, Va. 
 (10 May), of wounds and pneumonia, aged 39. 
 
 At the battle of Champion Hill, Miss., Grant 
 drives the forces under Pemberton as far as the 
 Big Black River (16); and the Federals, under 
 Grant and Porter, invest Vicksburg (18); they 
 assault Vicksburg (22), and are repulsed after a 
 very heavy fight. 
 
 Gen. Hunter is removed from the command of 
 the Department of the South (i June), and is 
 succeeded by Gen. Gilmore. 
 
 Lee marches into Maryland (15 June); Presi- 
 dent Lincoln calls for 100,000 men to repel the 
 invasion. Lee advances as far north as Cham- 
 bersburg (16); and Gen. Milroy makes another 
 unsuccessful attack on Harper's Ferry (16). 
 
 Rear- Admiral Foote dies in New York City 
 (26 June). 
 
 General Hooker, at his own request, is re- 
 relieved from the command of the Army of the 
 Potomac (29 June), and is succeeded by Gen. 
 Meade. 
 
 The battle of Gettysburg begins (i July); Gen. 
 Geo. G. Meade commands the Union forces, with 
 an army of 80,000 ; Gen. Lee commands the Con- 
 federates, with an army about equal. The Con- 
 federates were utterly defeated after a three days 
 battle, in which both armies showed almost un- 
 exampled valor. 
 
288 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 July 4. — Vicksburg surrendered uncondition- 
 ally by Gen. Pemberton, with 27,000 men and 
 two hundred cannon. 
 
 1863. President Lincoln rejects the demand for the 
 suppression of the conscription in New York 
 State (7 Aug.). 
 
 President Lincoln suspends the Habeas Corpus 
 Act (15 Sept.). 
 
 The Department of the Cumberland and the 
 Mississippi are consolidated under Gen. Grant 
 ( 20 Oct. ). Gen. Rosecrans is succeeded by Gen. 
 Thompson (20). 
 
 The storming and capture of " Lookout Moun- 
 tain '* (24 Nov.); Hooker's celebrated "fight 
 above the clouds;" Gen. Bragg is defeated 
 (24 Nov.). 
 
 Jefferson Davis issues his annual message 
 (7 Dec). U. S. Congress re-assembles (7). 
 
 Longstreet's soldiers begin to desert at the rate 
 of from twenty to fifty per day (23 Dec). 
 
 The national expenses for the year are $895,- 
 796,630; the debt is ^1,098,793,181; the imports 
 are 1252,919,920; and the exports, $305,884,998. 
 
 1864. A great meeting is held at Cooper Institute, 
 New York, to celebrate the First Anniversary of 
 Freedom (i Jan.). 
 
 President Lincoln orders a draft for 500,000 
 men (i Feb.). 
 
 Gen. W. T. Sherman, with his troops, leaves 
 Vicksburg (3 Feb.), and arrives at Meridian, 
 Miss., on his great raid into the heart of the 
 enemy's country (15 Feb.); he destroys the rail- 
 way communications of the enemy and much 
 stores. 
 
 Gen. Grant is appointed to the command of 
 all the armies (9 March), under the title of Lieu- 
 tenant-General. He plans two simultaneous 
 movements: one against Richmond, Va., by the 
 Army of the Potomac, under the command of 
 Gen. Meade ; the other against Atlanta, Ga., 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 289 
 
 under the direction of Gen. W. T, Sherman, who 
 undertakes to march an army across the interior 
 of the rebellious States, from the mountains to 
 the sea. 
 
 The Governors of Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Wis- 
 consin and Indiana offer to raise for the General 
 Government 85,000 men for a hundred days ^23 
 April); the Government accepts the offer (26 
 April), and appropriates ^20,000,000 for payment 
 of the men. 
 
 Grant's army moves across the Rapidan, 
 toward Chancellorsville and the Wilderness (3 
 May). 
 
 The Bill for Reconstruction is passed (4 May). 
 
 A draft is ordered in Massachusetts, New 
 Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota, Kentucky and Mary- 
 land (5 May). 
 
 Lee makes a series of unsuccessful attacks 
 upon the Federal forces in the Wilderness (5, 6, 
 7,8, 10, II, 12 May); during the first two days, 
 in the bloody fray, that lasted from the dawn of 
 the 5th to sunset of the 6th, 15,000 men on each 
 side are slaughtered. 
 
 After the battle of Spottsylvania Court House 
 (9-12 May) Grant telegraphs to Lincoln that he 
 proposes "to fight it out on this line, if it takes 
 all summer." 
 
 Sherman moves from Chattanooga, Tenn. (8 
 May), on his advance to Atlanta. 
 
 Nathaniel Hawthorne dies (16 May), aged 60. 
 
 The South Carolina Union Convention meets 
 at Beaufort (17 May). 
 
 Lincoln is renominated for President, ^and 
 Andrew Johnson for Vice-President (8 June). 
 
 The Fugitive Slave Law is repealed in the 
 House of Representatives (13 June). 
 
 Grant's army crosses the James River (14 June). 
 
 Gen. Leonidas Polk is killed at Pine Moun- 
 tain, Ga. (14); Sherman advances toward Kene- 
 saw (14). 
 
ago HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Confederate privateers have been for some 
 time very destructive to American merchant 
 vessels ; the Shenandoah has destroyed thirty-four 
 whale-ships in the Arctic Seas, and the Alabama 
 has taken sixty-five vessels. The Alabama is 
 attacked (19 June) by the U. S. S. Kearsarge, 
 Captain Winslow, ofiF Cherbourg, France. Dur- 
 ing the action, the two vessels steam at the rate 
 of seven miles an hour, and swing round one 
 another in circles so as to bring their broadsides 
 to bear. After describing seven of these circles, 
 and coming within a quarter of a mile of each 
 other, the Alabama is sunk, Captain Semmes 
 and his men being picked up by an English 
 yacht. 
 
 Secretary Chase resigns (30 June), and Hon. 
 William Fessenden is appointed to fill the 
 Tacancy. 
 
 Sherman's army crosses the Chattahoochee 
 (16 July) in pursuit of Johnston. Johnston is 
 superseded by Gen. John B. Hood (18}. 
 
 Hood makes a desperate but unsuccessful 
 attack on Sherman's lines round Atlanta, losing 
 not less than 20,000 killed, wounded and pris- 
 oners (22 July); Gen. McPherson is killed by a 
 Confederate at this battle. The Louisiana State 
 Convention adopts the new constitution abolish- 
 ing slavery (22). 
 
 A mine containing six tons of powder, under a 
 Confederate fort at Petersburg, explodes, de- 
 stroying the fort and garrison (30 July). Cham- 
 Ibersburg, Pa., is burnt by the Confederates (30). 
 
 Admiral Farragut's fleet passes Forts Morgan 
 and Gaines (5 Aug.); the Confederate ram 
 Tennessee is captured, and several other vessels 
 are destroyed; and Fort Gaines surrenders, and 
 Fort Powell is evacuated (5). 
 
 McClellan is nominated for President by the 
 National Democratic Convention at Chicago, 
 and Geo. H. Pendleton for Vice-President (29 
 Aug.). 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 291 
 
 Federal troops take possession of Atlanta (2 
 
 Sept.). 
 
 The Confederate General John Morgan is killed 
 near Greenville, Tenn. (7 Sept.). 
 
 Sherman's army is concentrated at Atlanta 
 (9 Sept.). 
 
 At the battle of Winchester, Sheridan captures 
 5000 prisoners, all the wounded, and five guns 
 (19 Sept.). The steamer Island Queen is cap- 
 tured and sunk on Lake Erie (19). 
 
 Gen. Grant advances his lines on the north 
 side of the James River to within seven miles of 
 Richmond (28 Sept.). 
 
 The Confederates under Gen. Sterling Price 
 invade Missouri (28). 
 
 Sheridan defeats the Confederates at Cedar 
 Creek (19 Oct.). 
 
 The Presidential election takes place (S Nov.); 
 the Republican candidates, Abraham Lincoln, 
 President, and Andrew Johnson, Vice-President, 
 are elected, receiving the electoral votes of 22 
 States, 213 in all. The Democratic party had 
 nominated Gen George B.McClellan for President, 
 and Geo. H. Pendleton for Vice-President. They 
 secured only the votes of New Jersey, Delaware, 
 and Kentucky, 21 in all. McClellan resigns his 
 command in the army (8). 
 
 General Sherman begins (16 Nov.) his great 
 march from Atlanta to the sea, the army of 60,- 
 000 advancing in two colums under Generals 
 Howard and Slocum, and largely subsisting on 
 ■what could be found in the fertile country 
 through which it passed. 
 
 At the battle of Franklin (30 Nov.), Hood is 
 repulsed with a loss of 5000 men, guns, flags, and 
 1000 prisoners; the Union loss is 1500. 
 
 The second session of the 38th Congress meets 
 (5 Dec). 
 
 Gen Thomas defeats the Confederates under 
 Gen. Hood near Nashville, Tenn. (14-16 Dec). 
 
292 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Sherman storms Fort McAllister (13 Dec), and 
 enters Savannah (21). 
 
 General Butler and Admiral Porter are repulsed 
 in an attack on Wilmington (24-25 Dec). 
 
 The National expenses for the year, including 
 payments on loans, are ^1,298, 144,656 ; the debt 
 is 11,740,690,489 ; the imports are ^329,562,895 ; 
 and the exports, 1320,035,199. 
 1S65. Gen. Sherman resumes his great march north- 
 ward (6 June). Writing of this march, he says : 
 '• Christmas found us at Savannah. Waiting 
 there only long enough to fill our wagons, we 
 began another march, which for peril, labor and 
 results, will compare with any ever made by an 
 organized army. The floods of the Savannah, 
 the swamps of the Combahee and the Edisto, the 
 high hills and rocks of the Santee, the flat quag- 
 mires of the Pedee and Cape Fear Rivers, were 
 all passed in mid-winter, with its floods and rain, 
 in the face of an accumulating enemy ; and after 
 the battles of Averysborough and Bentonsville, 
 we once more came out of the wilderness to meet 
 our friends at Goldsboro." 
 
 A meeting is held at Savannah to thank New 
 York and Boston for their generous supplies of 
 food and clothing (25 Jan.). 
 
 A debate is held in the Confederate Congress 
 concerning the enlistment of negroes (26 Jan.). 
 
 The Confederate Vice-President, Alex. H. Ste- 
 phens, Senator R. M. T. Hunter and Judge 
 Campbell come as Peace Commissioners within 
 Grant's lines (30 Jan.). Sherman reaches Savan- 
 nah River, 50 miles above Savannah (30). 
 
 President Lincoln arrives at Fortress Monroe 
 to meet the Confederate Commissioners (2 Feb.) ; 
 the meeting (3) is without result. At Richmond, 
 gold is 4400 per cent premium (2). 
 
 Gen. Lee assumes supreme command of the 
 Confederate forces (17 Feb.), and recommends 
 arming the blacks. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 293 
 
 ilierman captures Columbia, S. C. (17 Feb. J, 
 The Confederates evacuate Charleston, and it 19 
 occupied (18) by Union forces under Gen. Gil- 
 more ; 200 pieces of artillery and a large supply 
 of ammunition are captured ; 6000 bales of cotton 
 are destroj'^ed ; much ammunition stored in the 
 railroad depot is destroyed, and many lives are 
 lost by the explosion. 
 
 Fort Anderson, N. C, is taken (19 Feb.). 
 
 Schofield captures Wilmington (22). The Con- 
 federate Congress decrees that the colored people 
 shall be armed (22). 
 
 Inauguration of President Lincoln and Andrew 
 Johnson as Vice-President (4 March). 
 
 The Confederate Congress adjourns sine die 
 (17 March). 
 
 The Confederates attack General Grant and 
 are severely defeated (25 March). The three 
 days' battle at Five Forks begins (31) ; Sheridan 
 turns Lee's flank and totally defeats him (i 
 April) ; Lee retreats (2). Richmond is taken 
 (2-3 April). 
 
 General Lee and his whole army surrender to 
 Gen. Grant at Appomattox Court House (9 
 April). 
 
 The Union flag is hoisted over Fort Sumter 
 (12 April). 
 
 On the evening of 14th April, President Lin- 
 coln, Mrs. Lincoln, Major Rathbone and Miss 
 Morris occupy a box at Ford's Theatre, Washing- 
 ton ; at about haL'-past nine o'clock J. Wilkes 
 Booth creeps stealthily into the box, shoots the 
 President, rushes to the front of the box, brand- 
 ishes a large knife, shouts " Sic semper tyrannis t 
 The South is avenged," and leaps on to the 
 stage ; his spur catches in the American flag, and 
 he breaks his leg. The ball enters just behind 
 the President's left ear and lodges in the brain ; 
 he is at once removed to a private house oppo-^ 
 site the theatre. 
 
•94 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 About the same hour an attempt is made to 
 assassinate Secretary Seward and his son, both 
 being wounded. 
 
 President Lincoln dies at twenty-two min- 
 utes past 7 o'clock, a. m. (15 April). Johnson 
 takes the oath of office as President (15. J 
 1865, J. Wilkes Booth, the murderer of the Presi- 
 dent, after ten days' wandering and misery, is 
 tracked to a barn near Bowling Green, Va., and 
 refusing to surrender is shot (26 April). 
 
 Jefiferson Davis captured (May 10) at Irwins- 
 ▼ille, 75 miles south of Macon, Ga. , by the 4th 
 Michigan cavalry, under Col. Pritchard, of Gen. 
 Wilson's command ; also his wife, mother, Post- 
 master-General Regan, Col. Harrison, private 
 secretary, Col. Johnson, and others. 
 
 President Johnson proclaims the opening of 
 the Southern ports (22 May), 
 
 Kirby Smith surrenders (26 May), and the last 
 armed Confederate organization succumbs. 
 
 President Johnson proclaims an amnesty, with 
 certain exceptions (29 May). 
 
 The Confederate Gen. Hood and staff surrender 
 (31 May). 
 
 President Johnson rescinds the order requiring 
 passports from all travelers entering the U. S. 
 (22 June). 
 
 The trial of Payne, Atzerott, Harold, and Mrs. 
 Surratt for complicity in the assassination of 
 President Lincoln is concluded (29 June) ; they 
 are found guilty (29), and executed (7 July). 
 
 A national Thanksgiving for peace is held 
 (2 Nov.). 
 
 All restrictions on southern ports are removed 
 (I Sep.). 
 
 Proclamation of the President putting an end 
 to martial law in Kentucky (12 Oct.). Pardon 
 of Alexander Stephens and other southern offi- 
 cials (12). 
 
 The Confederate privateer Shenandoah sur- 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 295 
 
 renders at Liverpool (6 Nov.), after having de- 
 stroyed about thirty vessels ; the crew are released 
 on parole (8), and the vessel is given up to the 
 American Consul (9). 
 
 The Habeas Corpus Act is restored in the 
 Northern States (i Dec. ). 
 
 The correspondence between the British and 
 U. S. Governments respecting the depredations 
 of the Alabama, Shenandoah, etc., begun in 
 April, closes 2 Dec; the Earl of Clarendon main- 
 tains that * ' no armed vessel departed during the 
 war from a British port, to cruise against the 
 commerce of the U. S." 
 
 The 39th Congress meets, 4 Dec. ; the Repub- 
 lican party predominate, and move resolutions 
 against the restoration of the Southern States to 
 the Union ; eighty-five members from the 
 Southern States are excluded from Congress. 
 
 The National expenses for the year, including 
 payments on loans, are $1,897,674,224 ; the debt 
 is 12,682,593,026; the imports are ^248,555,652 ; 
 and the exports $323,743,187. 
 1866. The celebration of the centenary of American 
 Methodism opens on the first Sunday in Jan. and 
 closes on the last Sunday m Oct. ; during this 
 period the sum of $8,032,755 is collected for 
 church purposes. 
 
 The U. S. Government, having notified France 
 that a longer continuance of French troops in 
 Mexico will be d'sagreeable to it, is informed, 9 
 Jan.. that the Emperor will withdraw a portion 
 in Nov., and the remainder early next year ; our 
 Minister to France is subsequently informed that 
 military reasons will prevent any withdrawals 
 this year. Gen. Ortega, a pretender to the Presi- 
 dency, after spending several months in the 
 U. S., leaves New Orleans 30 Oct., and with his 
 suite is arrested at Brazos Santiago, 3 Nov., by 
 order of Gen. Sheridan, 3 Nov. Gen. Sherman 
 aad Judge Campbell, special commissioners to 
 
296 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 tender tlie sympathy and support of the U. S. 
 to the Republican Government of President 
 Juarez, leave New York on the U. S. S. Susque- 
 hanna, II Nov., and reach Vera Cruz 27. 
 
 Congress passes a bill to enlarge the operations 
 of the Freedmen's Bureau, 6 Feb.; the President 
 vetoes it, 19, and Congress passes it over the 
 veto, 16 July. 
 
 The President declares his hostility to Con- 
 gress and denounces the Reconstruction Commit- 
 tee in a speech at the Executive Mansion, 22 
 Feb. 
 
 Congress passes the Civil Rights bill, 16 
 March ; it is vetoed by the President, 27, and 
 is passed over his veto 9 April. 
 
 A proclamation is issued by the President, 2 
 April, declaring the insurrection in the Southern 
 States, excepting Texas, at an end. 
 
 Jefferson Davis is indicted by the Grand Jury 
 of the U. S. Circuit Court, of Va., 8 May ; Judge 
 Underwood declines to release him on bail, 
 II June. 
 
 A new Atlantic cable is finished, early in May, 
 and successfully laid by the Great Eastern, 27 
 July ; the lost cable of 1865 is picked up, i Sep., 
 spliced, 2, and laid without accident. 
 
 Congress adopts the 14th Amendment to the 
 Constitution, 13 June. 
 
 By Act of Congress, 23 July, Tennessee is for- 
 mally restored to the Union. 
 
 Congress creates the grades of Admiral and 
 Vice- Admiral in the navy and revives that of 
 General in the army, 25 July ; Farragut is pro- 
 moted to Admiral, Porter to Vice-Admiral, 
 Grant to General, and Sherman to Lieutenant- 
 General. 
 
 A gold medal, purchased by the subscriptions 
 of 40,000 French citizens, for Mrs. Abrahfim 
 Lincoln is delivered by a committee to U. S. 
 Minister Bigelow, at Paris, i Dec. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 297 
 
 A bill granting the elective franchise to citizens 
 of the District of Columbia, irrespective of race 
 or color, passes Congress, 14 Dec. 
 
 The national expenses for the year are ^520^- 
 809,416; the debt is $2,783,425,879 ; the imports 
 are |445,5i2,i5S ; and the exports, ^550,684,277. 
 1867. The President vetoes the District of Columbit 
 Bill, 7 Jan. On the same day Representative 
 Ashley, of Ohio, charges him with the commis- 
 sion of acts which kre high crimes and misde- 
 meanors, lor which he ought to be impeached ; 
 and a resolution instructing the Judiciary Com- 
 mittee to investigate the subject is adopted by a 
 vote of I -J to 38. 
 
 T e bill f^r the admission of Colorado into the 
 Uuioa is adopted, but the President vetoes it, 
 28 Jan.; t'le bill for the admission of Nebraska is 
 also adopted ; it is vetoed, 29 Jan., and passed 
 over the vet;-), i March. 
 
 The Evangelical Alliance of the U. S. is 
 organized in New York, 30 Jan.; with William 
 E. Dodge as president. 
 
 Mexico City is evacuated by the French, 5 
 Feb ; Maximilian suddenly leaves La Teja, and 
 unites bis small force with the armies of Mir- 
 amon and Mejia at Queretaro, where with 8000 
 adhccnts they are besieged by Gen. Escobedo 
 during March and April; by the treachery of 
 Gen. Lopez, the Emperor's bosom friend, the 
 Liberal troops are admitted^ to the city, 15 May, 
 and take the entire Imperial force prisoners, 15 
 May ; a court-martial for the trial of Maximilian 
 and Gens. Miramon and Mejia assembles, 13 
 June, and condemns them to be shot, 16 ; despite 
 the protest of the Prussian Minister to Mexico 
 and the appeals for clemency of Secretary Seward, 
 the sentence is carried out, 19 ; the body of 
 Maximilian is given to the Consul-General of 
 Austria, and after being embalmed is conveyed 
 to Austria on an Imperial steamer. 
 
298 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania, introduces 
 the "Military Reconstructiou Bill," providing 
 for the division of the insurrectionary States into 
 five military districts, into Congress, 6 Feb. ; it 
 passes the House, 13, the Senate, with amend- 
 ments, 16, both Houses concur in it, 2 March, 
 the President vetoes it the same day, and Con- 
 gress passes it over the veto. 
 
 An Act designed to restrict the exercise of the 
 power of appointment and removal by the Presi- 
 dent is adopted by Congress, 2 March, vetoed by 
 the President the same day, and passed over 
 the veto. 
 
 Congress adopts a national bankruptcy bill, 
 and establishes a Department of Education, 2 
 March; Henry Barnard, LL. D., President of 
 St. John's College, Annapolis, is appointed and 
 confirmed Commissioner of Education, 16. 
 
 The 40th Congress convenes, 4 March; Schuyler 
 Colfax is elected Speaker of the House for the 
 third time, and Edward McPherson is re-elected 
 clerk ; a supplement to the Reconstruction Act 
 is concurred in, 19, vetoed by the President, 23, 
 and passed over the veto. 
 
 A treaty is signed between the U. S. and 
 Russia, 30 March, for the transfer of the tract of 
 land known as Russian America (Alaska) to the 
 U. S. for the sum of |7, 200,000; ratifications are 
 exchanged, 20 June, and the formal transfer is 
 made to Gen. Rousseau, at New Archangel 
 (Sitka), 9 Oct. 
 
 Jefferson Davis is taken to Richmond, Va., 13 
 May, on a writ of habeas coi'Piis, and on the 
 application of his counsel is admitted to bail in 
 the sum of |ioo,ooo, to appear at Richmond, 26 
 Nov. The following act as sureties on the bond ; 
 Horace Greeley, Augustus Schell, N. Y.; Aris- 
 tides Welsh, David K. Jackman, Phila.; W. H. 
 McFarland, Richard B. Haxall, Isaac Daven- 
 port, Abraham Warwick, G. A. Myers, W. W. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 299 
 
 Crump, James Lyons, J. A. Meredith, W. H. 
 Ivyons, John M. Botts, Thomas W. Boswell, and 
 James Thomas, Jr., all of Virginia; on 26 Nov. 
 the examination is adjourned to March next. 
 
 An international monetary conference is 
 opened at Paris, 17 June, and closed, 9 July ; the 
 creation of a unitary common coin of gold is 
 agreed to, and all the governments represented 
 are asked to give a definite answer to the proper 
 sition before 15 Feb., 1868. 
 
 President Johnson asks Secretaiy Stanton t« 
 resign, 5 Aug.; the Secretary declines, and the 
 President removes him, 12, and appoints Gen. 
 Grant, Secretary of War pro tern ; Stanton retires 
 under protest ; the President gives the Senate 
 his reason for removing the Secretary, 12 Dec. 
 
 The President issues an amnesty proclamation 
 which covers nearly all the whites of the Southern 
 States, 7 Sep. 
 
 A large number of American Episcopalian 
 bishops take part in a Pan-Anglican Synod, held 
 in London, 24-27 Sep. 
 
 The King of Denmark announces, 25 Oct., 
 his resolution to cede the islands of St. Thomas 
 and St. John, in the West Indies, to the U. S. 
 
 The national expenses for the year are I357,- 
 542,675 ; the debt is 12,692,199,21-, ; the impc^rts 
 1417,831,571; and the exports, 1440,722,228. 
 1868. The Senate refuses to approve of the Presi- 
 dent's suspension of Secretary Stanton, 13 Jan., 
 and it thereby becomes void ; Gen. Grant imme- 
 diately vacates the office and Mr. Stanton takes 
 possession; on 21 Feb. the President again 
 removes Mr. Stanton and appoints Adjutant- 
 General Lorenzo Thomas, U. S. A., Secretary 
 ad inteHm ; the President notifies the Senate, 
 aud Mr. Stanton the House, of the action the 
 same day; Mr. Stanton refuses to vacate the 
 office, and has Gen. Thomas arrested, 22 ; the 
 House resolves, 22, by a vote of 126 to 47, that 
 
300 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Andrew Johnson be impeached of high crimes 
 and misdemeanors ; Messrs. Thaddeus Stevens, 
 Penna.; Benjamin F. Butler, Mass.; John A. 
 Bingham, Ohio; George S. Boutwell, Mass.; 
 James F. Wilson, Iowa; Thomas Williams, 
 Penna.; and John A. Logan, Ills., are appointed 
 managers, on the part of the House, Mr. Butler 
 being selected as chief prosecutor, 29 ; the arti- 
 cles of impeachment are accepted by the House, 
 2 iBIarch ; the Senate organizes as a high court 
 of impeachment, with Chief Justice Chase pre- 
 siding, 5 ; the President is summoned to the bar, 
 7, and appears by counsel, 13; ten days are 
 granted to prepare an answer to the indictment : 
 the House denies every averment in the answer, 
 23, and the trial opens, 30 ; the examination of 
 witnesses closes, 22 April : the arguments of 
 counsel are finished, 6 May, and the entire 
 Senate votes, 26, when 35 pronounce the Presi- 
 dent guilty and 19 not guilty ; he is therefore 
 acquitted by one vote. Mr. S'anton retires from 
 office the same day, and Gen. John M. Schofield 
 is appointed and confirmed Secretary of War. 
 
 An Embassy from the Emperor of China, 
 headed by Hon. Anson Burlingame, the Ameri- 
 can Minister, reaches San Francisco, 31 March ; 
 after a short stay the members proceed to Wash- 
 ington, via New York, and enter upon negotia- 
 tions for a special treaty, containing additions to 
 the treaty of 18 June, 1858 ; the new treaty is 
 signed, 4 July, and ratified by the Senate, 16; 
 during the stay of the Embassy in the U. S., Mr. 
 Burlingame and the Chinese princes are the 
 recipients of grand ovations. 
 
 The National Republican Convention is held 
 in Chicago, assembling 20 May ; Joseph R. 
 Hawley, of Conn., is chosen permanent president; 
 the platform denounces all forms of repudiation 
 of the national debt, and condemns the course of 
 President Johnson ; Gen. Grant is nominated for 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 301 
 
 the Presidency, receiving 650 votes ; on the sixth 
 ballot for Vice-President, Schuyler Colfax is 
 nominated, receiving 522 votes. 
 
 Congress passes a bill, 12 June, to admit North 
 Carolina, South Carolina, l/ouisiaua, Georgia, 
 Alabama, and Florida to representation ; a bill 
 to admit Arkansas is vetoed by the President, 20, 
 and passed over the veto. 
 
 The National Democratic Convention is held 
 in New York, convening 4 July ; Horatio Sey- 
 mour is chosen permanent president, 6 ; the 
 platform demands the immediate restoration to 
 all the States of their rights in the Union, 
 amnesty for all past political offences, reform of 
 abuses in administration, payment of the public 
 debt, and the subordination of the military to 
 the civil power ; on the 22d ballot, Horatio Sey- 
 mour is nominated for President, receiving the 
 entire vote, 317 ; Gen. Frank P. Blair receives 
 the nomination for Vice-President. 
 
 An amnesty proclamation is issued by the 
 President, 4 July, pardoning all persons in the 
 Southern States except those under presentment 
 or indictment in any court of the U. S, having 
 competent jurisdiction. 
 
 Secretary Seward issues a notice of the adop- 
 tion of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution 
 by a majority of the States, 20 July. 
 
 In the Presidential election, 3 Nov. , Grant and 
 Colfax receive 3,015,887 popular and 214 electoral 
 votes, and Seymour and Blair 2,703,249 popular 
 and 80 electoral votes. 
 
 Fort Lafayette, New York harbor, is destroyed 
 by fire, i Dec. 
 
 The President issues a second amnesty proc- 
 lamation, 25 Dec, declaring unconditionally 
 and without reservation, a full pardon and 
 amnesty to every person who participated in the 
 late insurrection. 
 
 The cotton crop for the year yields 1250,000,000, 
 or ^90,000,000 more than in i860. 
 
302 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 1869. The 15th Amendment to the Constitution, 
 giving the right of suffrage to all citizens of the 
 Republic, without regard to race, color, or 
 previous condition, is recommended by a joint 
 resolution of Congress, 26 Feb. ; it is subse- 
 quently ratified by the requisite number of States. 
 
 Gen. U. S. Grant is inaugurated eighteenth 
 President of the U. S., 4 March; the 41st Con- 
 gress assembles at noon, the same day. 
 
 The President recommends and Congress 
 sanctions the appointment of a number of mem- 
 bers of the Society of Friends as Government 
 agents among the Indians, April. 
 
 During the month of June, a lay vote is taken 
 in all the Methodist Churches in the U. S., on 
 the long-agitated question of lay representation ; 
 the total vote cast is about 250,000, of which 
 170,000 are cast in favor of the change, and about 
 80,000 against. 
 
 President Grant appoints Gen. Babcock, 2 
 June, a special agent to obtain information con- 
 cerning the Dominican Republic ; on his return 
 from the island, he renders a report favorable to 
 the project of annexation ; he is again sent to the 
 island to assist the U. S. Commercial Agent, 
 Ra3^mond H. Perry, to negotiate for the annexa- 
 tion of the whole territory of the Republic to the 
 U. S. ; a treaty for the annexation of the terri- 
 tory, and a convention for the lease of the Bay 
 and Peninsula of Samana are concluded, 29 Nov.; 
 the Senate rejects the treaty after an exciting 
 debate. 
 
 George Peabody again lands at New York, 10 
 June ; he now endows the Peabody Museum, at 
 Salem, Mass., with $150,000; gives $30,000 to 
 Newburyport for a library ; $30,000 to Phillips 
 Academy, Andover ; $20,000 to the Massachusetts 
 Historical Society ; $20,000 to the Maryland 
 Historical Society ; $25,000 to Kenyon College; 
 $10,000 to the Public Library at Thetford, Vt. ; 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 303 
 
 $60,000 to Washington College, Va. ; and adds 
 ^1,400,000 to his Southern Education Fund. He 
 leaves for London, 30 Sept., and dies there 4 
 Nov. ; the funeral services are held in West- 
 minster Abbey, 12, and the body is placed on the 
 British turret-steamship Monarch for transporta- 
 tion to the U. S., II Dec. 
 
 A great musical jubilee, projected by Patrick 
 S. Gilmore, to commemorate the restoration of 
 peace in the U. S. is held in Boston, 15, 16, 17, 
 18, 19 June. 
 
 A soldiers' national monument, erected on the 
 battleiield of Gettysburg, is dedicated, i July, 
 Gen. Meade, the hero of the fight, making the 
 address. 
 
 A gold clique in New York produces a panic, 
 24 Sept., by forcing the price of gold ; it sells in 
 the morning at 150, and by noon at i62j^ ; the 
 most intense excitement prevails, until the 
 Government announces that it will relieve the 
 market by selling gold, when the price falls to 133. 
 
 The Spanish Government has 30 gunboats built 
 in New York ; they are seized by U. S. Marshals 
 on a charge of being intended for war against a 
 friendly nation, Peru ; Judge Blatchford releases 
 them, 14 Dec, and 18 leave under convoy of a 
 Spanish frigate, 19. 
 
 During the year, the President appoints J. 
 Lothrop Motley, U. S. Minister to Great Britain, 
 vice Reverdy Johnson, recalled ; John Jay, 
 Minister to Aus,tria ; Andrew G. Curtin, Minister 
 to Russia ; Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, Minister to 
 Spain ; and Moses H. Grinnell, Collector of the 
 Port of New York. 
 1870. Fenians begin congregating in force at differ- 
 ent points along the Canadian border in New 
 York and Vermont, 22 May. The present cam- 
 paign contemplates a movement into Wyoming 
 Territory, the capture of the cannon and arms of 
 the British expedition against Louis Riel and a 
 
304 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 raid on the eastern frontier between Kingston 
 and Montreal. President Grant issues a warning 
 proclamation, 24; over 1000 men gather at Bur- 
 lington and nearly 3000 at St. Albans, Vt. ; Gen. 
 O'Neill orders a Fenian advance early in the 
 morning, 25, and shortly afterward an engage- 
 ment occurs at Cook's Corners, St. Armand ; 
 after an hour's skirmishing, O'Neill orders a 
 rest, and retires to a neighboring building where 
 he is arrested by Gen. George Foster, U. S. Mar- 
 shal ; O'Neill threatens resistance, but Foster 
 forces him into a carriage at the point of a pistol, 
 and drives him through his men to St. Albans, 
 where he is lodged in jail. Fighting is resumed, 
 but the Fenians are soon forced to fall back ; an 
 engagement occurs at Trout River, 27, in which 
 the invaders are routed. The subsequent arrest 
 of the leaders of both movements puts an end 
 to the scheme. 
 
 Admiral David G. Farragut, U. S. N., dies at 
 Portsmouth, N. H., 15 Aug., aged 69 ; the funeral 
 is held in New York, 30 Sep. President Grant 
 and other distinguished officers of the army and 
 navy participating. 
 
 Upon the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian 
 war. President Grant issues a neutrality procla- 
 mation, 22 Aug. ; recruiting in New York for the 
 French armies, and the presence there of several 
 French war- vessels, lead him to issue another, 8 
 Oct., particularly defining the duties of citizens 
 of a neutral nation. 
 
 Gen. Robert E. Lee, Commander-in-chief of 
 the Confederate armies, dies at Ivexington, Va., 
 12 Oct., aged 62 ; the funeral is held at Washing- 
 ton and Lee College, of which he had been 
 president since 1866. 
 
 In the U. S. Senate, Mr. Morton introduces a 
 resolution for the appointment of Commissioners 
 to proceed to San Domingo and inquire into all 
 the facts bearing on the question of annexation, 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 305 
 
 12 Dec. ; in the House — the same day — Mr. 
 Banks offers a joint resolution for the appoint- 
 ment of commissioners to negotiate a treaty with 
 San Domingo for the acquisition of all its terri- 
 tory by the U. S. ; Mr. Morton's resolution is laid 
 on the table, but is taken up, 20, and, despite 
 Mr. Sumner's bitter opposition, is passed by a 
 vote of 32 to 9, 30 being absent ; President Grant 
 appoints Hon. Benj. F. Wade, Ohio ; President 
 A. D. White, of Cornell University, and Hon. S. 
 G. Howe, Mass., commissioners to proceed im- 
 mediately to San Domingo, and the U. S. S. 
 Tennessee is ordered into commission to convey 
 the party thither, 
 187 1. By Act of Congress, the income tax law is 
 repealed, 26 Jan. 
 
 Sir Edward Thornton, the British Minister to 
 the U. S., under instructions from his Govern- 
 ment, proposes to Secretary Fish a joint commis- 
 sion for the settlement of the troubles between 
 the U. S. and Great Britain, growing out of the 
 fisheries question, 26 Jan. ; Mr. Fish replies, 30, 
 expressing the desire of the President that the 
 Alabama claims shall also be discussed, to which 
 the Minister assents. The President, 9 Feb., 
 nominates Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State ; 
 Robert C. Schenck, U. S. Minister to Great 
 Britain ; E. R. Hoar, Attorney- General ; Justice 
 Samuel Nelson, U. S. Supreme Court ; and 
 George H. Williams, U. S. Senator, as commis- 
 sioners on the part of the U. S. ; they are con- 
 firmed by the Senate, 10. Queen Victoria 
 appoints the Earl de Grey and Ripon, Sir 
 Stafford Northcote, Sir Edward Thornton, Sir 
 John A. Macdonald, and Prof. Montague Bernard, 
 commissioners on the part of Great Britain. 
 The High Joint Commission begins its sessions in 
 Washington, 27, Lord Tenterden and J. Bancroft 
 Davis, Assistant Secretary of State, acting as 
 joint protocolists. A treaty is signed by the 
 
3o6 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 commissioners, 8 May, providing for the settle- 
 ment by the arbitration of a mixed commission 
 of all the questions at issue ; this treaty is 
 promptly ratified by both governments, and they 
 join in asking the Emperor of Brazil, the King 
 of Italy, and the President of the Swiss Confed- 
 eration to appoint each an arbitrator. The Mixed 
 Commission, consisting of Charles Francis Adams, 
 U. S. ; Sir Alexander Cockburu, Great Britain ; 
 ex-President Staempfli, Switzerland ; Count Sclo- 
 pis, Italy; and Baron Itajuba, Brazil, meets in 
 Geneva, and organizes early in Dec. The British- 
 American Claims Commission, for other claims, 
 is composed of Russell Gurnev, Great Britain ; 
 Judge J. R. Fraser, U. S. ; and' Count Corti, of 
 Italy ; the tribunal adjourns to 15 June next. 
 
 A mass-meeting of the citizens of New York 
 is held, 4 Sept., to consider the mismanagement 
 of the city and county finances and the exposures 
 of the Tweed Ring ; a committee of seventy 
 eminent citizens is chosen to investigate the 
 frauds, and Charles C Conor is selected as legal 
 adviser ; indictments are found against Mayor 
 Hall, William M. Tweed, Commissioner of Public 
 Works, Peter B. Sweeney, Commissioner of 
 Parks, Comptroller Connelly, and others; they 
 are arrested, 26 Oct., and admitted to bail ; Con- 
 nelly flees the country, and Tweed is again 
 arrested, 15 Dec, on a charge of felony. Ma5'^or 
 Hall was upon trial acquitted. 
 
 Chicago has a $r, 000,000 fire, 7 Oct. On 
 the following evening another conflagration 
 breaks out, causing a loss of 250 lives and the 
 destruction of 17,500 buildings ; more than 2000 
 acres of space are burned over, including the 
 business part of the city ; upward of 98,000 are 
 rendered homeless ; the total loss is computed at 
 nearly $200,000,000 ; the -whole country and 
 many European cities respond quickly and nobly 
 to the cries for relief. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 307 
 
 1872. Col. James Fisk, Jr., is sliot in the Grand 
 Central Hotel building, New York, by Edward S. 
 Stokes, 6 Jan., and dies two days later, aged 37. 
 
 Gov. Warmouth, of La., in his message to the 
 Legislature, 8 Jan., charges enormous frauds 
 upon the House of Representatives and its 
 Speaker, Col. Carter ; the Carter party withdraw 
 and begin a movement for the removal of Gov. 
 Warmouth and the seizure of the State House ; 
 the Governor places all the military and police 
 force of the State under the command of Gen. 
 Longstreet ; Carter calls upon the people to arm 
 and rally at the Clay statue, 1 1, but the insurrec- 
 tion is checked by a notice from Gen, Emory, U. 
 S. A., that he will interfere in case of a riot. 
 
 Congress passes a bill creating the Yellowstone 
 Valley, in Montana and Wyoming Territories, a 
 national park, 27 Feb. 
 
 The reduction of the public debt from i March, 
 1869, to I March, 1872, amounts to 1363,697,000. 
 
 The National Liberal Republican Convention 
 assembles in Cincinnati, O., i May; Hon. Carl 
 Schurz is chosen permanent president ; the plat- 
 form calls for civil service reform, a judicious 
 system of taxation, and the speedy resumption of 
 specie payments ; on the sixth ballot, Horace 
 Greeley, of the iV<i?c£/ York Tribune, is nominated 
 for President ; Gov. B. Gratz Brown, of Mo., is 
 elected candidate for Vice-President ; the nomi- 
 nation of Mr. Greeley being deemed injudicious 
 by many Reprblicans, the disaffected ones hold a 
 meeting in New York, 30, and nominate William 
 P. Groesbeck, of Ohio, for President, and Fred- 
 erick L. Olmstead, of N. Y., for Vice-President. 
 
 James Gordon Bennett, founder and proprietor 
 of the New York Herald, dies, i June, aged 77. 
 
 The regular National Republican Convention 
 assembles in Philadelphia, 5 June ; Hon. Thomas 
 Settle, of N. C, is chosen permanent president ; 
 the platform insists on the most complete equality 
 
3o8 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 in the enjoyment of civil, political, and public 
 rights, and that Congress and the President have 
 fulfilled an imperative duty in the ir measures to 
 suppress the treasonable organizations in the 
 lately rebellious States ; President Grant is re- 
 nominated by acclamation; and on the first 
 ballot, Hon. Henry Wilson, of Mass. is elected 
 ■candidate for Vice President. 
 
 The Geneva Tribunal reassembles, 15 June ; it 
 holds its final session, i4vSept , when its decision 
 is rendered, awarding the U. S. $15,500,000 in 
 liquidation of the Alabama claims and tbose 
 arising from the depredations of other Anglo- 
 Confederate vessels. 
 
 The National Democratic Convention is held 
 in Baltimore, 6 July ; Hon. James R. Doolittle, of 
 Wis., is chosen permanent president; the con- 
 vention adopts the Liberal Republican platform, 
 and nominates Messrs. Greeley and Brown. The 
 Extreme Democrats hold a convention in Louis- 
 ville, Ky., 3 Sept., and nominate Charles 
 O'Conor, of N. Y., for President, and John Quincy 
 Adams, of Mass., for Vice-President ; both candi- 
 dates subsequently refuse to serve, 
 
 Hon. William H. Seward dies at Auburn, N. 
 Y. , 10 Oct. , aged 70. 
 
 The Presidential election takes place, 5 Nov.; 
 Grant and Wilson receive 3,592,984 popular and 
 300 electoral votes, and Greeley and Brown, 2,- 
 833,847 popular, equal to 74 electoral votes. 
 
 Gen. George G. Meade, the hero of Gettys- 
 burg, dies, 6 Nov., aged 56. 
 
 Boston is visited by a conflagration, 9 Nov., 
 which burns over 60 acres of ground, and destroys 
 property of an estimated value of $75,000,000. 
 
 Horace Greeley dies in a private msane retreat, 
 29 Nov., aged 61. 
 
 Edwin Forrest, the great tragedian, dies in 
 Philadelphia, 12 Dec, aged 66. 
 1873. William M. Tweed is placed on trial on an 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 309 
 
 indictment for violation of duty in auditing 
 fraudulent claims against the city of New York, 
 8 Jan.; the jury fails to agree, 30; a second trial 
 opens, 13 Nov., and he is found guilty on 204. 
 counts, 19; Judge Davis sentences him to 12 
 years imprisonment on Blackwell's Island and to 
 pay a fine of $12,705. 
 
 Congress passes a bill to abolish the franking 
 privilege, 22 Jan., to take effect i July. 
 
 An amendment to the appropriation bill, offered 
 by Mr. B. F. Butler, providing that on and after 
 4 March, the President shall receive a salary of 
 $50,000 per annum ; the Vice-President, $10,000; 
 the Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court, 
 $10,300; the Associate Justices, each, $10,000; 
 the Cabinet Officers, each, $10,000 ; the Speaker 
 of the House, $10,000 : and the Senators, Repre- 
 sentatives and Delegates, including those of the 
 42d Congress, each, $7500 ; besides the actual 
 expense of travel from residence to Washington 
 at the beginning and close of each session, i& 
 adopted in the House, 24 Feb. and the Senate, i 
 March. 
 
 A political riot breaks out in New Orleans, I 
 March, and the police and military fire upon the 
 rioters in Jackson Square. 
 
 Gen, Grant is again inaugurated President, 4, 
 March ; he selects his secoud cabinet as follows : 
 Secretary of State, Hamilton Fish ; Secretary of 
 the Treasury, William A. Richardson ; Secretary 
 of War, William W. Belknap ; Secretary of the 
 Navy, George M. Robeson; Secretary of the 
 Interior, Columbus Delano : Postmaster- General, 
 John A. J. Creswell ; and Attorney-General, 
 George H. Williams. 
 
 The White Star Steamer Atlantic strikes upon. 
 Marr's Rock, off Nova Scotia, at an early hour, 
 I April, and becomes a total wreck ; of the large 
 number of passengers, officers, and crew on- 
 board at the time, 429 are saved and 547 lost. 
 
3IO HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 During a peace talk in the lava beds of Oregon 
 between a number of Modoc Chiefs and the U. 
 S. Commissioners, ii April, the Indians, under 
 Captain Jack, suddenly attacked the Commission- 
 ers, kill Gen. E. R. S. Candy, U. S. A., and the 
 Rev. Dr. Thomas (Commissioner), and seriously 
 wound Commissioner Meacham ; a military ex- 
 pedition is sent against the Indians and the 
 leaders are captured ; Captain Jack, Black Jim, 
 Boston Charley, and Schonchin are hanged at 
 Fort Klamath, Ore., 3 Oct. 
 
 Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase dies sud- 
 denly in New York, 7 May, aged 65 ; Congress 
 holds funeral ceremonies over the remains in the 
 Senate Chamber, 11. 
 
 Jay Cooke & Co., bankers of New York, fail, 
 18 Sep., with heavy liabilities ; a financial panic 
 is precipitated ; the New York Clearing House is 
 forced to suspend ; the Secretary of the Treasury 
 comes to the aid of the banks by purchasing gov- 
 ernment bonds ; the presidents of all the banks 
 meet in council to devise ways of relief Presi- 
 dent Grant comes to the city, but declines to 
 accede to the bankers' request to aid the banks 
 with the Treasury balance of 1:44,000,000; runs 
 are made on banks and private bankers, and 
 many strong houses fall during the ensuing ten 
 •days. 
 
 The Evangelical Alliance of the World, on the 
 invitation of the American branch, holds a ses- 
 sion in New York, 1-12 Oct.; the distinguished 
 foreign delegates are received by the President, 
 
 15- 
 
 The Cuban war-steamer Virginius, under com- 
 mand of Capt. James Fry, which left New York 
 for Cuba, 8 Oct., is captured by the Spanish 
 steamer Tornado, 31 ; the officers and 175 volun- 
 teers are taken to Santiago de Cuba, where Gen. 
 W. A. C. Ryan, Bernabe Varona, Pedro Cespedes, 
 and Jesus del Sel are tried, convicted, and shot 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 311 
 
 for piracy, 4 Nov.; Capt. Fry and 36 of the crew 
 are shot, 7 ; 12 more suffer the same fate, 8 ; and 
 57, 10 ; the news of the capture produces great 
 rejoicing in Havana and intense indignation in 
 the U. S. The Government puts a strong naval 
 force into commission, whereupon Spain agrees 
 to surrender the Virginius and the remainder of 
 her crew ; this is done, 16 Dec, and while the 
 vessel is being conveyed to New York, she sud- 
 denly sinks off North Carolina ; the survivors are 
 given a great reception by their compatriots 
 upon their return. 
 
 The French steamship Ville du Havre, with a 
 large passenger list from New York, collides 
 with the British ship Loch Earn, 23 Nov., and 
 sinking, carries down 226 persons. 
 
 Prof Louis J. R. Agassiz, the eminent scientist, 
 dies at Cambridge, Mass., 14 Dec, aged 67. 
 1874. Hon. Morrison R. Waite is appointed and 
 confirmed Chief Justice of the U. S. Supreme 
 Court, 21 Jan. 
 
 Ex-President Millard Fillmore dies at Buffalo, 
 N. Y., 8 March, aged 74. 
 
 Hon. Charles Sumner dies at his residence in 
 Washington, 11 March, aged 63, after enjoining 
 Senator Hoar not to let the Civil Rights Bill fail ; 
 funeral ceremonies are held in the National Capi- 
 tal and at the State House, Boston. 
 
 Little Charley Ross is mysteriously abducted 
 from his father's residence in Germantown, 
 Penna.,i July ; his father spends a large fortune 
 searching for the missing boy, but never learns 
 of his fate. 
 
 An immense number of the citizens of New 
 Orleans assemble around the Clay statue, 14 
 Sep.; a committee is appointed to request Gov. 
 Kellogg to abdicate ; upon his refusal, the White 
 League troops are posted about the city, and the 
 metropolitan police and the State troops are 
 marched into line of battle ; the White Leaguers 
 
312 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 attack the police, driving them through the 
 Custom House, in which Gov. Kellogg, Collector 
 Casey, and other officers have taken refuge ; on 
 the following morning, the White League 
 pickets find the Capitol abandoned and take pos- 
 session. On orders from Washington, Gen. 
 Emory, U. S. A., takes possession of all the cap- 
 tured property, and notifies Gov. Kellogg, i8, 
 that he is prepared to restore him to his office. 
 
 John D. Lee, the leader of the Mormons in the 
 Mountain Meadow massacre, in 1857, is captured, 
 I Nov.; he is lodged in jail at Beaver, Utah, and 
 indicted for murder. 
 
 Hon. Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell Univer- 
 sity, at Ithaca, N. Y. (cost |7oo,ooo), dies, 9 Dec, 
 aged 67. 
 
 James Lick, of San Francisco, deeds his immense 
 estate to a board of trustees, and charges them 
 to devote $700,000 to the erection of an observa- 
 tory ; 1300,000 to found and endow the California 
 School of Mechanical Arts ; |250,0C'0 to the erec- 
 tion of a group of bronze statuary, representing 
 the history of the State ; $100,000 to the building 
 of an Old Ladies' Home in Sun Francisco ; 
 $150,000 to the building and maintenance of free 
 baths ; $150,000 to the erection of a bronze monu- 
 ment to Key, the author of the " Star Spangled 
 Banner ; '* $25,000 in gold to the Protestant 
 Orphan Home, San Francisco ; $25,000 to found 
 an Orphan Home in San Jose ; and $10,000 to 
 the purchase of scientific works for the Me- 
 chanics' Institute, San Francisco. 
 
 The national expenses for the year are $287,- 
 133,873; the debt is $2,251,690,468 ; the imports 
 are $595,861,248 ; and the exports, $693,039,054. 
 1875. The State House at New Orleans is guarded 
 by police early in the morning of 4 Jan., the day 
 appointed for the opening of the Louisiana Legis- 
 lature. The Democrats charge frauds upon the 
 Returning Board, and the Republicans charge 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 313 
 
 intimidation upon the Democrats ; Mr. Wiltz is 
 chosen chairman, against the protests of the Re- 
 publicans, who attempt to withdraw, but are 
 prevented ; in the afternoon, Gen. De Trobriand 
 enters the House with U. S. troops, and Mr. 
 Wiltz and several members, who claim to have 
 been irregularly seated, are taken into custody 
 and marched out of the Hall ; the Democratic 
 members then withdraw and the Republicans 
 proceed to effect an organization ; in the mean- 
 time, a second Congressional Committee, consist- 
 ing of George F. Hoar, William A. Wheeler, 
 William P. Frye, and Samuel P. Marshall, is 
 sent to New Orleans, 2 Jan. Mr. Wheeler pro- 
 poses a plan for adjusting the difficulties, to the 
 effect that the Assembly will not disturb the State 
 Government, but accord Gov. Kellogg all legiti- 
 mate support, and that the House as constituted 
 on the award of the committee shall not be 
 changed ; the plan is accepted, twelve members 
 excluded by the Returning Board are admitted, 
 a conservative Speaker is chosen, and both 
 branches of the legislature proceed to work. 
 
 Samuel J. Tilden is inaugurated Governor o£ 
 New York, and pledges himself to an administra- 
 tion of reform, Jan. 
 
 Senator Sherman's Bill, providing for the re- 
 sumption of specie payments on i Jan., 1879, is 
 passed in both Houses, and approved by the 
 President, 14 Jan. 
 
 Ex-Presideni: Andrew Johnson is elected U. S. 
 Senator from Tenn., Jan., and dies, 31 July, 
 aged 67. 
 
 A civil suit is begun against William M. Tweed 
 iu New York, to recover 16,198.950, April; he is 
 discharged from his cumulative sentence, 22 
 June, and immediately re-arrested and held to 
 bail in ^15,000 on a criminal suit and in J^3,ooo,- 
 000 on the civil suit ; he escapes from the officers 
 of the Ludlow Street Jail, while on a visit to his 
 house, 4 Dec. 
 
^14 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Archbishop John McCloskey is invested with 
 the berretta of a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic 
 Church, in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, 
 27 April. 
 
 Hon. Henry Wilson, Vice-President of the 
 U. S., dies at Washington, D. C, 22 Nov., aged 
 62 ; funeral services are held in the rotunda of 
 the National Capitol and at Natick, Mass. Hon. 
 Thomas W. Ferry, of Mich., President /)r<9 tcm. 
 of the Senate, becomes Acting Vice-President. 
 
 William B. Astor dies in New York, 24 Nov., 
 aged 83. 
 
 Hon. M. C. Kerr, Democrat, is elected Speaker 
 of the House at the epening of the 43d Congress, 
 6 Dec. 
 1876, The House of Representatives' Committee 
 on Expenditures in the War Department, having 
 had its attention directed to the alleged abuses 
 in the management of the Post-tradership at 
 Fort Sill, I. T., compels the attendance of Caleb 
 P. Marsh, of New York, who had received the 
 appointmeht in 1S70 ; he acknowledges the reg- 
 ular payment of money to Gen. Belknap, the 
 Secretary of War, in consideration of the ap- 
 pointment. The Committee summons the Sec- 
 retary before it (i March), when he confesses the 
 truth of the statements ; he personally tenders 
 his resignation to the President, 2 March, and it 
 is immediately accepted. The same day the 
 Committee ask the House for his impeachment, 
 and a committee is accordingly appointed and the 
 Senate notified. The Secretary is arrested and 
 released in 125,000 bail, 8 March ; he v/as tried 
 by the Senate on the House charges and his own 
 confession, and acquitted by a vote of 35 to 21, 
 I Aug. 
 
 The Centennial Exhibition in Fairmount Park, 
 Philadelphia, is officially opened, 10 May. Theo- 
 dore Thomas's famous orchestra leads the cere- 
 monies ; Bishop Simpson, of the Methodist 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 3^5 
 
 Epivscopal Church, offers a prayer ; the President 
 of the Board of Finance formally presents the 
 buildings to the U. S. Centennial Commission, 
 by whose President, after the singing of Sidney 
 lyanier's Cantata, they are presented to the Presi- 
 dent of the U. S., who declares the exhibition 
 opened. President Grant and the Emperor of 
 Brazil then start the gigantic Corliss engine, and 
 all the machinery in the vast place moves. The 
 buildings cover a space of 75 acres, and aggregate 
 190 in number, including the five grand struc- 
 tures and the buildings of the States and Terri- 
 tories and foreign nations, representing a cost of 
 ^4,444,000, of which ^1,500,000 were loaned by 
 the U. S. Government. The Exhibition closes 
 10 Nov.; it has been visited by 9,786,151 persons, 
 of whom 7,897,789 paid $3,761,607; the largest 
 attendance on any day was on 28 Sept., when 
 274,919 persons passed the gates. 
 
 A determined warfare against the Sioux In- 
 dians is begun early in June ; Gen. Crook attacks 
 them on Rosebud River, 17 ; a camp of 2000 
 lodges on the Little Horn is attacked, 25, when 
 Gen. Custer, his two brothers, a nephew, and 
 brother-in-law, with 305 officers and men are 
 killed. Gen. MacKenzie surrounds the camp of 
 Red Cloud and Red Leaf, capturing the whole 
 force without a shot, 23 Oct.; the next day, Gen. 
 Crook assembles the Indians at the Red Cloud 
 agency, deposes Red Cloud, and proclaims 
 Spotted Tail chief of all the Sioux. Gen. Mac- 
 Kenzie captures a hostile Cheyenne village of 
 200 lodges, with 500 warriors, 25 Nov. 
 
 William Cullen Bryant is presented with a 
 memorial vase of hammered silver, valued at 
 ^5000, by his friends, in New York, 20 June. 
 
 A. H. Wyman is nominated and confirmed as 
 Secretary of the Treasury, 20, 29 June. 
 
 The Democratic National Convention meets in 
 St. Louis, 28 June, and organizes by electing 
 
3i6 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Hon. John A. McClernand permanent president ; 
 Messrs. Samuel J. Tilden, N. Y.; Thomas F. 
 Bayard, Del.; William S Allen, Ohio; Judge 
 Joel Parker, N. J.; and Gen. W. S. Hancock, 
 U. S. A., are proposed for the Presidential nomi- 
 nation ; on the first ballot, Mr. Tilden receives 
 403 votes in a total of 817, and before the result 
 of the second ballot is announced, his nomina- 
 iion is made unanimous. Hon. Thomns A. 
 Hendricks, of Indiana, is nominated for Vice- 
 President. 
 
 William M. Tweed, after his escape from the 
 officers in New York, goes to Cuba, and sails 
 thence in the Carmen, for Vigo, Spain, 27 July ; 
 on entering the harbor of Vigo, the Carmen is 
 boarded by the Governor, 6 Sep., and Tweed is 
 arrested ; the Spanish Government agrees to 
 return him to the U. S. without the usual forn)ali- 
 ties, and he sails on the U. S. S. Franklin, then 
 homeward bound, 26 ; he arrives in New York, 
 23 Nov., and is at once lodged in jail ; in the 
 meantime, Sheriff Brennan is punished for ne- 
 glect in permitting the escape. 
 
 Colorado is admitted into the Union as a State, 
 4 July; John L. Routt, its first Territorial Gover- 
 nor, is elected first Governor of the State, Oct. 
 
 The Secretary of War, upon the order of the 
 President, instructs Gen. Sherman to dispose of 
 the available troops in such a manner as to pre- 
 vent and punish fraud at the polls on election 
 day, 15 Aug. 
 
 The President declares South Carolina to be in a 
 state of insurrection, and orders troops sent there 
 to preserve the peace at the elections, 17 Oct. 
 
 The State and National elections are the most 
 exciting of any ever held. Federal troops are 
 plentifully scattered throughout the Southern 
 States, and strong forces are congregated in 
 Washington, D. C. and in New York City. In 
 South Carolina, Gen. Wade Hampton, Democrat, 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 317 
 
 and Daniel H. Chamberlain, Republican, are de- 
 -clared elected Governor, and both are sworn in 
 as such ; the State has a dual Legislature, with 
 two speakers trying to preside at the same time, 
 and the members of its Returning Board are 
 arrested and committed to the Columbia jail. In 
 Ivouisiana, both political parties invite prominent 
 gentlemen of the North, and the President sends 
 a committee to witness the counting of the votes 
 by the Returning Board; while another Presi- 
 dential Committee is appointed for a like service 
 in Florida. The popular vote in the Presidential 
 •election, 7 Nov., according to the official returns, 
 is : Tilden, 4,284,265 ; Hayes, 4,033,295 ; Cooper, 
 81,747; Smith, 9522 ; giving Mr. Tilden a popular 
 majority over all others of 157,397 votes. The Re- 
 turning Boards give Mr. Hayes 185 electoral votes, 
 and Mr. Tilden 184; the votes of Florida, lyouisi- 
 ana, and South Carolina, given to the Republi- 
 cans, are disputed by the Democrats. The year 
 closes on the greatest political tension ever 
 known in the country, with the leaders of both 
 parties urging forbearance. 
 
 Congress meets, 4 Dec. ; Hon. Samuel J. Randall, 
 Penna. , is elected Speaker of the House over Hon. 
 James G, Blaine ; a number of bills proposing a 
 more satisfactory method of counting the electo- 
 ral votes for President and Vice-President are in- 
 troduced in both Houses, but there is an aversion 
 to action until the Visiting Committees return 
 from the South and report. 
 
 During a performance of ** The Two Orphans ** 
 in the Brooklyn (N. Y.) Theatre, 5 Dec, a fire 
 breaks out on the stage ; a terrific panic is 
 created : the building is entirely destroyed, and 
 over 300 persons lose their lives by burning, suflFo- 
 cation, or being crushed in the stampede ; the 
 remains of 100 unrecognized bodies are buried in 
 one large grave in Greenwood Cemetery. 
 1877. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt dies at his 
 residence in New York, 4 Jan., aged 82. 
 
5l8 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Messrs. Nicholls (Dem.) and Packard (Rep.) are 
 each inaugurated Governor of Louisiana, at New 
 Orleans, 8 Jan.; the Democrats gain possession 
 of all the public buildings except the State House, 
 9, and during that week the Democratic Legisla- 
 ture gains large accessions from the Republican 
 body. lu accordance with President Hayes's 
 "Southern Policy," theU.S- troops are officially 
 withdrawn from service in the city, 24 April. 
 
 Both parties in Congress compromise, in the 
 matter of the disputed electoral returns, in an 
 arrangement which takes shape in a bill provid- 
 ing for the appointment of an Electoral Commis- 
 sion, which decides in favor of the Republicans. 
 
 President Hayes appoints Frederick Douglass, 
 the well-known colored orator, U. S. Marshal 
 for the District of Columbia, 19 March. 
 
 John D. Lee, convicted for complicity in the 
 Mountain Meadow messacre of emigrants by 
 Mormons, is executed by shooting on the scene 
 of the tragedy, 23 March. 
 
 After a conference with Gen. Wade Hampton 
 and David H . Chamberlain, both claiming to have 
 been legally elected Governor of South Carolina, 
 the President orders the withdrawal of U. S. troops 
 from Columbia, 2 April ; the troops march out 
 of the city, 10, and Mr. Chamberlain surrenders 
 the Governor's office and the papers to General 
 Hampton. 
 
 Gen. U. S. Grant, accompanied by his wife 
 and one son, leaves Philadelphia for an extended 
 tour 17 May. He is received with honor every* 
 where. 
 
 The business centre of Galveston, Texas, is de* 
 stroyed by fire, 8 June, involving a loss of ^i,- 
 525,000. 
 
 Right Rev. Bishop Littlejohn lays the corner- 
 stone of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, a 
 memorial of the late A. T. Stewart, at Garde» 
 City, L. I., 28 June. 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 319 
 
 In consequence of a reduction of 10 per cent 
 in wages, the engineers, firemen, conductors, 
 brakemen, switclimen, and other employes of 
 the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad go on a strike, 
 I July ; by the close of the week, the strike ex- 
 tends to the New York & Erie, the Pittsburg, 
 Fort Wayne & Chicago, the Pittsburg, Cin- 
 cinnati & St. Louis, the Pan-Handle, and Penn- 
 sylvania Central Railroads. State troops are 
 called out in Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia^ 
 and Pennsylvania, and Federal troops in West 
 Virginia. Engagements between the strikers- 
 and their friends and the soldiers occur in Balti- 
 more, 20, in which several persons are killed and 
 a large number wounded, and at Martinsburg, 
 West Va. In Pittsburg, Pa., the troops have 
 encounters, 17 and 21 ; on the latter day, the 
 strikers capture a car filled with coke, saturate 
 the mass with petroleum, and igniting it, push 
 the car to the Round House, which soon becomes 
 a mass of flames with all its contents ; between 
 200 and 300 lives are lost at Pittsburg, 125 loco- 
 motives are destroyed, and 3500 cars are burned. 
 Bloody riots occur in Chicago, 25, 26, that of the 
 second day being a pitched battle in which artil- 
 lery is freely used. By the close of the second 
 week, the strike extends to all the northern 
 roads, and six States are under arms, the troops- 
 being used in protecting property and attempting 
 to move trains. During the second week, the 
 backbone of the strike is broken, and compro- 
 mises between the railroad officials and the dis- 
 afiected employes lead to a gradual reopening of 
 traffic, the withdrawal of the troops, and the 
 return of 84,000 railroad men to duty. The 
 Pennsylvania Railroad suffered more severely 
 than any other, its losses at Pittsburg alone ag- 
 gregating ^12,000,000, for which it subsequently 
 sues the county. 
 
 Brigham Young, President of the Church of 
 
320 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, dies at Salt 
 Lake City, Utah, 29 August, aged 76. 
 1878, Samuel Bowles, for many years editor and 
 proprietor of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican^ 
 dies, 1 6 Jan., after a lingering illness. 
 
 The U. S. Senate, after rejecting the free 
 coinage clause and providing for a conference of 
 the Latin Union States to fix a common ratio 
 between the values of gold and silver, passes the 
 Bland Silver Bill, 16 Feb.; the House concurs in 
 the amendments, 2 1 ; the President vetoes the bill, 
 and both Houses pass it over the veto. 
 
 William M. Tweed dies in Ludlow Street Jail, 
 New York, 12 April. 
 
 A bill to repeal the bankrupt law passes the 
 House, 25 April, by a vote of 206 to 39, and the 
 Senate, 10 May, by a majority of 5; the bill takes 
 effect, I Sept. 
 
 Thomas A. Edison, announces that he has 
 at length discovered a method of dividing the 
 electric current and its light indefinitely, and 
 has perfected a practical system for lighting 
 dwellings and public buildings by means of this 
 current. 
 £879. The Hon. Morton McMichael, of Philadelphia, 
 "father of Fairmount Park," and editor of the 
 North American^ dies, 6 Jan., aged 72. 
 
 A bill providing for the payment of arrears of 
 pensions, having passed both Houses of Congress, 
 is signed by the President, 25 Jan. ; the lowest 
 ■estimate of the amount required to pay all claims 
 under it is ^80,000,000. 
 
 A bill to restrict the immigration of Chinese to 
 the U. S., by making it unlawful for the master 
 of any vessel to bring to this country more than 
 fifteen Chinese passengers, which has passed the 
 House after a heated debate, is passed in the 
 Senate, 15 Feb., by a vote of 39 to 27; the Presi- 
 dent vetoes the bill, i March, and Congress fails 
 to pass it over the veto. During the debate in 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 321 
 
 the Senate, 14, Senator B. K. Bruce occupies the 
 chair, being the first colored man who sat oflfi- 
 cialiy in the seat of the Vice-President of the 
 U. S. 
 
 Congress meets in extra session, 18 March. 
 
 Gen. John A. Dix dies at his residence in New 
 York, 21 April, aged 81. 
 
 Both Houses of Congress pass a bill prohibiting 
 the use of federal troops on election days, May ; 
 the President vetoes it as conflicting with his 
 constitutional prerogatives and as nullifying the 
 laws of 1 792; the bill fails to pass the veto. 
 
 Henry C. Carey, the foremost American polit- 
 ical economist, dies at Philadelphia, 13 Oct., 
 aged 86. 
 
 Maj.-Gen. Joseph Hooker, U. S. A., dies sud- 
 denly at Garden City, L. I., 32 Oct., aged 64. 
 
 Hon. Zachariah Chandler, U. S. Senator from 
 Michigan, is found dead in bed in a hotel in 
 Chicago, I Nov., aged 66. 
 1880. Contrary to general expectation, the I/Cgisla- 
 ture of Maine is organized at Augusta, 7 Jan., 
 without bloodshed, but not without scenes of 
 great excitement. Gen. Chamberlain assumes 
 control of all the public property and institu- 
 tions, 9, promising to hold them for the people 
 until Governor Garcelon's successor is legally 
 elected and qualified. 
 
 The Republican National Convention meets 
 in Chicago, 2 June ; Senator George F. Hoar, of 
 Mass., is choson permanent president. The 
 platform is adopted, 5, and the first ballot for a 
 presidential candidate is taken, 7, with the fol- 
 lowing result : U. S. Grant, 304 ; James G. 
 Blaine, 284 ; John Sherman, 93 ; George F. 
 Edmunds, 34 ; Elihu B. Washburne, 30 ; and 
 William Windom, 10. The 36th and final ballot 
 is taken, 8, when Gen. James A. Garfield, of Ohio, 
 is nominated, he receiving 399 votes to 307 for 
 Grant, 42 for Blaine, 3 for Sherman, and 5 for 
 
322 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Washourne. Gen. Chester A. Arthur, of New 
 York, is nomiuated for Vice-President on the 
 first ballot. 
 
 The Democratic National Convention assem- 
 bles in Cincinnati, 22 June. The New York 
 delegation present a letter from Samuel J. 
 Tiklen, positively declining to allow the use of 
 his name in connection with the Presidential 
 nomination. Hon. John W. Stevenson is elected 
 permanent president, and the Tammany Hall 
 delegation from New York are rejected. On the 
 third ballot, 24, Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, 
 U. S. A., is nominated for President, receiving 
 705 out of 738 votes, and Hon. William H. 
 English, of Ind., is nominated for Vice-President 
 on the first ballot. 
 
 The Presidential election takes place 2 Nov.; 
 the returns show a popular Republican vote of 
 4,459,921; Democratic, 4,447,888; Greenback, 
 307,740 ; and Prohibition, 10,305 ; the electoral 
 votes are : Republican, 214; Democratic, 155. 
 
 Postmaster-General James begins an investiga- 
 tion into the alleged " Star-Route" frauds in the 
 conveyance of the mails, March. He issues an 
 order forbidding any increase of service or com- 
 pensation oa any of the mail routes without his 
 sanction, depriving his assistants of the power of 
 granting increases at discretion. The publication 
 of the manner in which the Star-Route service 
 has been " expedited " creates a great sensation, 
 Gen. Thomas J. Brady, Second Assistant Post- 
 master-General, under these exposures, resigns, 
 20 April; J. h. French, one of his clerks, is 
 removed, 26; and Mr. McGrew, the Sixth 
 Auditor of the Treasury Department, who has 
 had charge of the Post Office accounts, resigns, 
 2 June; the prosecution of the Star-Route case 
 is placed in the hands of the Attorney-General, 
 who is assisted by W. A. Cook, of Washington, 
 D. C, Benj. H. Brewster, of Philadelphia, and 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 323 
 
 (after the accession of President Arthur) George 
 BHss, of New York ; the case is dismissed by 
 Judge Cox, 10 Nov., on the ground that the pro- 
 ceeding by information cannot be sustained. 
 
 Prof. Henry Youle Hind, of Windsor, N. S., 
 an authority on the subject of the Canadian fish- 
 eries, creates an excitement, April, by appealing 
 to the British Foreign Office for permission to 
 substantiate his charge of fraud and forgery pre- 
 ferred against the Canadian officials who pre- 
 pared the Canadian statistics on which the Hali- 
 fax Fishery Commission made the award of 
 $5>5cio, 000 against the U. S. 
 
 Charles J, Guiteau, a disappointed office-seeker, 
 attempts to "remo''"^*' President Garfield by 
 assassination, in the waiting-room of the Balti- 
 more & Potomac Railroad Depot at Washing- 
 ton, D. C. As the President is about taking the 
 cars to spend a few days with his sick wife at 
 Long Branch, N. J., 2 July, Guiteau fires two 
 shots at him, one of which takes effect; he is im- 
 mediately arrested and lodged in the District 
 Jail ; and letters found in his pockets show that 
 he has premeditated the murder of the President. 
 The wounded President is removed to the White 
 House, and several physicians and surgeons 
 make an examination of his injuries and pro- 
 nounce them liable to terminate fatally wnthin a 
 few hours. The intelligence produces consterna- 
 tion throughout the country, and all preparations 
 for the celebration of the 4th of July are aban- 
 doned. The surgeons in attendance are : Drs. D. 
 W. Bliss, J. K. Barnes, J. J. Woodward and 
 Robert Reyburn, of Washington, D. C.;the chief 
 nurse is Mrs. Dr. Edson, of the same city ; and 
 Drs. Hayes Agnew, of Philadelphia, and Frank 
 H. Hamilton, of New York, are summoned as 
 consulting surgeons. Amidst the prayers of 
 Christendom for his recovery, the condition of 
 the President improves and relapses by turns 
 
324 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 until the close of August, when it is determined 
 to remove him from the malarial influences of 
 the national capital to the ocean-purified shore 
 of Long Branch. A special train is prepared 
 and the journey is made, 6 Sep., the distance be- 
 ing covered in aboiit 7 hours, or at the rate of 55 
 miles per hour. He stands the transit well, and 
 becomes cheerful when placed in a room in the 
 Francklyn Cottage facing the ocean. While ap- 
 parently recovering with rapidity, he is suddenly 
 seized with chills, 16, which last until the morn- 
 ing of 19, when even the confident Bliss abandons 
 hope ; at 10 o'clock that night he awakens from 
 a sound slumber, complains of a severe pain 
 around his heart, and expires 10.35, after an 80- 
 day struggle for life, in the 50th year of his age. 
 The remains are taken from Long Branch, 21, 
 and lie in state in the rotunda of the Capitol at 
 Washington until 23, when funeral services are 
 held. They reach Cleveland, Ohio, 24, and lie 
 in state in a memorial pavilion erected on Monu- 
 ment Square until 26, when public funeral cere- 
 monies are held, and the body is temporarily 
 placed in the receiving vault of Lake View Cem- 
 etery. A few moments after the death of the 
 President, the members of the Cabinet at Long 
 Branch notify Vice-President Arthur, in New 
 York, of the event, and urge him to take the oath 
 of oifice without delay ; this oath is accordingly 
 administered to him at his residence by Judge 
 John R. Brady, between 2 and 3 o'clock on the 
 morning of 20 Sep. The new President hastens 
 to Washington and makes a call of condolence 
 upon Mrs. Garfield. He issues a proclamation 
 designating 26 Sep. — the day of the funeral — as a 
 day of fasting and prayer throughout the 
 country. 
 
 Guiteau, in his ceP, attempts to murder one 
 of his guards, William McGill, 7 Aug. He is 
 fired at by one of his guards, Sergeant John 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 325 
 
 Mason, 13 Sep. He is indicted for murder, 7 
 Oct., and brought to trial before Judge Cox, 14 
 Nov., in the Supreme Court of the District of 
 Columbia. The prosecution is conducted by U. 
 S. District Attorney George B. Corkhill and 
 George M. Scoville appears as counsel for the 
 defeuse ; the trial is continued during the re- 
 mainder of the year, resulting in Guiteau's con- 
 viction. ,^. ^ 
 
 Hon. Ambrose E. Burnside, soldier, Governor, 
 and U. S. Senator, dies suddenly at Bristol, B. L, 
 13 Sep., aged 57. 
 1882. Congress passes an anti-Polygamy bill, 
 drafted by Senator Edmunds, of Vt., 22 
 March, which provides for the punishment of 
 polygamy by fine and imprisonment upon con- 
 viction, and also for the disfranchisement of 
 polygamists. 
 
 Henry W. Longfellow, the world-popular poet 
 and man of letters, dies at Cambridge, Mass., 24 
 March, aged 75. . ^ , r ^t. 
 
 Jesse James, the notorious desperado ot the 
 West, is killed by the Ford brothers, at St. Joseph, 
 Mo., 3 April, . ^ o n • 
 
 Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield, is 
 hanged at Washington, June 30. 
 
 Philadelphia celebrates the bicentennial of the 
 Landing of William Penu, 22-27 Oct. 
 1883 Hon. Edwin D Morgan, war Governor of 
 New York, dies in New York City, 14 Feb., aged 
 72 ; his will bequeaths |795.ooc) to various chant- 
 able and educational institutions. ^ ^ , 
 
 The Grand Jury of Washington, D. C, finds 
 indictments against Gen. Brady and ex-Senator 
 Kellogg of La., for complicity in the Star- Route 
 frauds, 27 March ; the taking of evidence in the 
 new trial closes, 12 April The jury bring in a 
 verdict of not guilty as indicted, 14. . ^ , 
 
 The great suspension bridge, spanning the East 
 
326 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 River from New York to Brooklyn, is formally 
 opened, 24 May. Designed by John A. Roebling, 
 C. K., work upon it was begun 3 Jan., 1870, and 
 prosecuted, after the death of Mr. Roebling, 
 under the direction of his son Washington A. 
 Roebling, C. B. The total length from the City 
 Hall, New York, to Sand Street, Brooklyn, is 
 5989 feet ; the length of the main span is 1595)4 
 ft., the towers are 2767^ feet high, and the floor 
 of the bridge at the centre is 135 feet above high- 
 water mark ; each cable is 1534^ inches in diame- 
 ter and is composed of 5000 wires each one- 
 eighth inch in diameter ; the total cost is about 
 ^15,500,000, which is borne equally by the two 
 cities. 
 
 At the close of the fiscal year, 30 June, there 
 are 303,658 pensioners on the Government rolls, 
 of whom 198,648 are army invalids, 74,374 army 
 widows, minor children, and dependent relatives, 
 2468 navy invalids, 1907 navy widows, minor 
 children, and dependent relatives, 4831 survivors 
 of the war of 18 12, and 21,336 widows of men w^ho 
 served in that war ; the amount of all the pen- 
 sions 13132,245,192.43; the total amountpaidon 
 pension account during the fiscal year was $60,- 
 064,009.23, nearly one-half of which was for 
 arrears. The reduction in the interest-bearing 
 debt during the yearis|;i25,58i, 250, which secures 
 a permanent annual reduction in the interest 
 charge of ^5, 923,401 ; the annual charge on 
 interest account is now $51,436,709, a reduction 
 of $99,541,291 in 18 years, during which the prin- 
 cipal of the debt has been reduced $1,205,340,364. 
 The total coinage at the Philadelphia Mint dur- 
 ing the year amounts to 80,691,282 pieces, valued 
 at $21,483,759. 
 
 Dr. J. Marion Sims, the great surgeon and 
 founder of the Women's Hospital in New York, 
 dies, 13 Nov., aged 70. 
 1884. Cincinnati has a three days' reign of mob rule 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 327 
 
 and terror, (28-30 March) ; the trouble originates 
 in the maladministration of justice, the particu- 
 lar case being the rendition by a jury of a verdict 
 of manslaughter against William Berner in the 
 face of the clearest evidence convicting him of 
 the brutal murder of William Kirk. The mob 
 first attack and fire the jail, and then burn and 
 gut the Court-house in spite of the presence and 
 bullets of the militia ; 42 are killed, and 120 
 wounded. 
 
 May : Failure of James R. Keene, who is 
 said to have lost a fortune of I4. 000,000 ; in the 
 following week, the Marine Bank, of which 
 James D. Fish is president, fails with heavy lia- 
 bilities ; this causes the suspension of the firm 
 of Grant & Ward, in which Gen. Grant is sup- 
 posed to be a silent partner, almost immediately, 
 with liabilities estimated at $8,000,000; and the 
 Metropolitan Bank succumbs, (14). General 
 Grant is induced to borrow ^150,000 of Wil- 
 liam H. Vanderbilt, for one day, but the money 
 is received too late to save the bankrupt firm. 
 The General mortgages all his property to Mr. 
 Vanderbilt, and is said to have lost his entire 
 savings. A relief fund is at once started for his 
 benefit, Mr. Vanderbilt generously offering to 
 cancel the General's indebtedness to him for 
 Mrs. Grant's benefit, but the General and his 
 wife decline. Fish and Ward are subsequently 
 arrested, and locked up in Ludlow Street jail. 
 
 The National Republican Convention is held at 
 Chicago, convening 3 June ; Blaine and Logan 
 are nominated. 
 
 The Arctic relief squadron, consisting of the 
 Bear, the Thetis, and the Alert, which sailed from 
 New York in May under command of Commander 
 W. S. Schley, U. S. N., to rescue Lieut. A. W. 
 Greely, U. S. A., and the members of his scientific 
 expedition to Lady Franklin Bay, find Lieut. 
 Greely, Sergeant Brainard, Sergeant Fredericks, 
 
328 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 Sergeant Long, Hospital-Steward Bieberbeck, 
 and Private Connell alive near the mouth of 
 Smith's Sound, 22 June ; Sergeant Ellison is 
 among the survivors, but he dies shortly after 
 the rescue ; all the rest of the party are dead. 
 The relief squadron reaches Portsmouth harbor 
 on the return, 1 Aug., where the Secretary of the 
 Navy, with several war-vessels, is in waiting to 
 greet the survivors. 
 
 The National Democratic Convention is held at 
 Chicago, opening 8 July ; Cleveland and Hen- 
 dricks nominated. 
 
 The Presidential election is held 4 Nov. , and 
 results in the election of Messrs. Cleveland and 
 Hendricks. The Democratic ticket receives 
 4,911,017 popular and 219 electoral votes 
 1885. A bill to place Gen. Grant on the retired list 
 of the army is passed in the Senate, 14 Jan., but 
 is lost in the House, 16 Feb. ; the House passes 
 the bill 4 March. 
 
 President Cleveland withdraws the Nicaragua 
 Canal and Spanish reciprocity treaties from the 
 Senate for further consideration, 12 March. He 
 issues a proclamation, 13, warning all white 
 settlers off the Oklahoma country, Indian Terri- 
 tory. 
 
 James D. Fish, president of the suspended 
 Marine Bank, of New York, and secretly con- 
 nected with the firm of Grant and Ward, is found 
 guilty on charges of misappropriation of funds, 
 II April, and is sentenced to 10 years' imprison- 
 ment, at hard labor, at Sing Sing, N. Y., 22 June. 
 
 Ferdinand Ward is indicted ; he pleads not 
 guilty, 5 ; is tried, convicted, and sentenced to 
 10 years' imprisonment at hard labor, at Sing 
 Sing, N. Y., I Nov. 
 
 A diplomatic understanding is effected between 
 the U. S. State Department and the British 
 Minister at Washington for the extension of the 
 privileges secured by the fishery clause of the 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 329 
 
 treaty of Washington throughout the season now 
 opened, official notice of which is given, 25 June. 
 
 Gen. U. S. Grant, ex-President of the U. S., 
 dies at Mt. McGregor, N. Y., 23 July, aged 63. 
 
 The first session of the 49th Congress is opened, 
 7 Dec; Hon. John Sherman, of Ohio, is elected 
 president /»r<7 tent of the Senate, and Hon. John 
 G- Carlisle, of Ky., Speaker of the House. 
 
 Senator Hoar's Presidential Succession Bill 
 is passed by the Senate, 17 Dec. 
 
 Congress votes a pension of $5000 per annum 
 to the widow of ex-President Grant, 18 Dec. 
 
 Prof. John C. Draper, of New York, dies, 20 
 Dec. 
 1886. Senator Hoar's Presidential Succession Bill 
 is passed in the House by a vote of 183 to 77, 15 
 Jan., and is approved by the President, 19. 
 1886. The House passes a bill to increase the pen- 
 sions of widows and dependent survivors of 
 Union soldiers from |8 to |i2 per month, i Feb . 
 
 Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, U. S. A. com- 
 manding'the Military Department of the Atlantic, 
 and one of the most striking figures in the civil 
 war on the Union side, dies on Governor's Island, 
 New York, 9 Feb., aged 62. 
 
 Hon. Horatio Seymour, ex-Governor of New 
 York, dies at Utica, 12 Feb., aged 75. 
 
 John B. Gough, the famous temperance orator, 
 dies at Frankfort, Penna., while on a lecturing 
 tour, 17 Feb., aged 68. 
 
 The U. S. Senate passes a bill appropriating 
 $25,000 for a monument to ex-President Grant, 
 to be erected in Washington, 23 Feb. 
 
 President Cleveland sends a message to the 
 Senate, i March, forcibly stating his views as to 
 the right of that body to demand from the Ex- 
 ecutive the various papers considered by him in 
 connection with removals from office, claiming 
 that all such information is of a strictly confi- 
 dential character, to be used only for the benefit 
 
330 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 of the country as an aid to the Executive in dis- 
 charging his duty in the matter of appointments 
 and removals. The Senate, under the lead of 
 Senator Edmunds, decides by a majoi-ity of i, 
 that it has the right to call for all such docu- 
 ments. 
 
 The U. S. Senate passes the Blair Educational 
 Bill, which provides for an appropriation of 
 j|579,ooo,ooo to be distributed among the States 
 on the basis of the illiteracy of persons over lo 
 years of age, except in the cases of the white 
 and colored schools, where it is to be distributed 
 on the basis of illiterate persons of school age, 
 5 March. 
 
 A general order is issued, taking eflfect 6 
 March, directing the Knights of Labor to boycott 
 the Gould Railroad System in the southwest ; as 
 a result fatal conflicts between the striking rail- 
 road men, on the one side, and county officials 
 and State militia, on the other, occur at Fort 
 Worth, Texas, i April, and East St. Louis, 9. 
 Boycotting is resorted to very generally through- 
 out the U. S. during March and April, the 
 Knights of Labor ordering the majority of work- 
 ingmen to strike for increased wages, shorter 
 hours, or both. 
 
 An eight-hour demonstration is made by 40,000 
 workingmen in Chicago, i May ; the anar- 
 chists parade the streets with red flags, indulge 
 in incendiary language, and, precipitating a riot, 
 explode a dynamite bomb, with fatal effects, in 
 the midst of the police. The mob is repressed, 
 15, and a number of the most violent anarchists 
 are arrested, and charged with the murder of 
 the police officers, and with inciting to riot. 
 
 Hon. Grover Cleveland, President of the U. S., 
 
 is married to Miss Frances Folsom, by the Rev. 
 
 Dr. Byron G. Sunderland, in the Executive 
 
 Mansion, Washington, D. C, 2 June. 
 
 -J Most Rev. James Gibbons, Roman Catholic 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 331 
 
 Archbishop of Baltimore and Primate of the 
 Church in the U. S., is created c. Cardinal in the 
 consistory of 17 June, and is solemnly invested 
 with the berretta in his cathedral, 30. 
 
 Samuel J. Tilden, ex-Governor of New York, 
 and Democratic candidate for President in 1876, 
 dies at Greystone, his country seat on the 
 Hudson, near Yonkers, N. Y,, 4 August, aged 72, 
 
 The amount paid by the U. S. Government 
 for pensions during the year ending 30 June is 
 $63,797,831, to 365,783 pensioners. 
 
 Eight of the Chicago anarchists are found 
 guilty of murder (20 Aug.); 7 are sentenced to be 
 hanged, and one to be imprisoned for life. 
 
 An earthquake shock is felt throughout a large 
 part of the U. S., east of the Mississippi (about 
 10 p. m., 31 Aug.). It is particularly severe at 
 Charleston, S. C, where many buildings are 
 destroyed and sixty-one persons are killed. Other 
 shocks take place during September and Octo- 
 ber ; a large part of the city is destroyed, millions 
 of damage being done, and thousands of people 
 rendered homeless. Subscriptions for their relief 
 are taken up all through the United States. 
 
 Geronimo and a number of Apaches surrender 
 (4 Sep.) to Gen. Miles, in Skeleton Canyon, 
 Arizona, and are imprisoned at Fort Marion, St. 
 Augustine, Fla. 
 
 Bartholdi's statue of "Liberty Enlightening 
 the World," on Bedloe's Island, N. Y. Harbor, 
 is formally unveiled with imposing ceremonies, 
 including a grand naval parade and a procession 
 on land (28 Oct.). 
 
 Chester Alan Arthur, Ex-President of the U. 
 S., dies at N. Y. City (18 Nov.), aged 56. 
 
 Gen. John Alex. Logan, G. A. R., senator from 
 Illinois, dies at Washington, D. C., (26 Dec), 
 aged 60. 
 1887. The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher dies in Brook- 
 lyn (8 Mar.), of apoplexy, aged 73. 
 
332 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 1888. Election of the Republican candidates, Ben- 
 jamin Harrison, President and Levi P. Morton, 
 Vice-President. 
 
 1889. May 31. The Johnstown Flood, caused by the 
 breaking of a reservoir embankment during a 
 severe freshet. An avalanche of water, half a mile 
 in width and nearly forty feet in height, swept 
 through the Conemaugh Valley, Pennsylvania, 
 at the rate of two miles and a half in a minute, 
 and $io,ooo,coo of property was destroyed, and 
 the loss of life was Variously estimated from 
 2280 to 5000 persons, mostly women and children. 
 
 1890. McKinley bill passed, followed by a Demo- 
 cratic tidal wave. 
 
 The Sioux Indians of the Northwest become 
 restive, and believe that a Messiah is coming to 
 restore the Indians to control of their ancient 
 domains. In December an attempt to disarm the 
 Indians at Wounded Knee resulted in a battle in 
 which two hundred were killed, including many 
 Indian women and children. 
 
 1891. Serious dispute with Chili owing to an attack 
 on United States seamen by a mob at Valparaiso. 
 Chili hesitates to give redress, whereupon the 
 American fleet is ordered to prepare for an emer- 
 gency. Chili finally makes apology and offers 
 indemnity. 
 
 1892. The Presidential campaign, with Harrison 
 and Cleveland again opposed to each other on 
 the tariff issue. 
 
 Serious riots occur at Homestead, Pennsylvania, 
 •vera dispute as to terms of employment between 
 the Carnegie Company and its workingmen. The 
 operatives quit work, and upon an attempt being 
 made to land a number of strangers as alleged 
 deputy sheriffs a battle ensues in which a number 
 •were killed and wounded. The militia are or- 
 dered out, and martial law proclaimed at Home- 
 stead. Order is at length restored. During the 
 excitement an anarchist from the vicinity of New 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 333 
 
 York who had no connection with the strikers, 
 attempted to assassinate Mr. Frick, chairman of 
 the Carnegie Company, m his office, and wounded 
 him, but not fatally. 
 
 October. The World's Columbian Exposition 
 dedicated at Chicago, but not opened until the 
 following year. 
 
 November. Election of Cleveland and Ste- 
 venson, and another Democratic tidal wave. 
 1893. Revolution in Hawaii, the Queen overthrown 
 and a Provisional Government established, whick 
 at once proceeds to negotiate for annexation to 
 the United States. A treaty to that effect is sub- 
 mitted to the Senate by President Harrison. 
 
 President Cleveland recalls the Hawaiian 
 treaty, but his object in doing so does not be- 
 come public until November. He sends the 
 Hon. James H, Blount, of Georgia, as Commis- 
 sioner to Hawaii. 
 
 Repeal of the ^berman Silver Purchase Act at 
 special session of Congress. 
 
 President Cleveland makes an effort to secure 
 the withdrawal from power of President Dole 
 and the remainder of the Hawaiian Provisional 
 Government and the restoration of tlie deposed 
 Queen, Liliuokalani, otherwise known as "Mrs. 
 Dominis," on the ground that the Queen's de 
 position had been brought about through wrong- 
 ful interference on the part of former United 
 States Minister Stevens. The Provisional Gov- 
 ernment refuses to surrender, and prepares to 
 defend itself by force, if necessary. Thereupon 
 President Cleveland adopts a less positive atti- 
 tude, and the controversy gradually ceases. The 
 Hawaiian policy of the President was warmly 
 debated in the Senate and House. In the House 
 the President was ostensibly indorsed ; in the 
 Senate the President was not condemned, but a 
 decided stand was taken in favor of American 
 control over Hawaii and therefore in sympathy 
 with the Provisional Government. 
 
334 HAND BOOK FOR 
 
 The World's Columbian Exposition was 
 opened in May of this year. All civilized and 
 semi-civilized nations of the earth participated. 
 The Exposition grounds on the lake front cov- 
 ered more than a square mile, and contained 
 numerous huge buildings, whose perfect propor- 
 tions, classic architecture, and artistic arrange- 
 ment made the White City famous throughout 
 the world. The total cost of the Exposition was 
 in excess of 131,000,000, and during the six 
 months of its continuance the turnstiles recorded 
 more than 21,000,000 paid admissions. 
 1894. A source of much hardship had been the law, 
 passed as an experiment some years ago, prevent- 
 ing soldiers in the United States army from re- 
 enlisting after ten years* service, as it resulted in 
 driving worthy and valuable men out of the ser- 
 vice. This law was therefore repealed ; and, in 
 its place, it was enacted that : 
 
 " Hereafter all enlistments in the army shall be 
 for the term of three years, and no soldier shall 
 be again enlisted in the army whose service dur- 
 ing his last preceding term of enlistment has not 
 been honest and faithful ; and in time of peace 
 no person (except an Indian) who is not a citizen 
 of the United States, or who has not made legal 
 declaration of his intention to become a citizen 
 of the United States, or who cannot speak, read, 
 and write the English language, or who is over 
 thirty years of age, shall be enlisted for the first 
 enlistment in the army." 
 
 The struggle over the Wilson Tariff Bill occu- 
 pied the time of Congress. 
 
 During the latter part of August, forest fires 
 broke out in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
 and Michigan, culminating, September i, in the 
 partial or entire destruction of a number of 
 towns. The loss of life was estimated at 650, and 
 the loss of property at |i 2,000,000, exclusive of 
 standing timber destroyed. The thrilling and 
 
AMERICAN CITIZENS. 335 
 
 heartrending incidents of this vast and wide- 
 spread calamity would furnish ample material 
 for an entire volume. In a stretch ot territory in 
 Minnesota, twenty-six miles long and fifteen 
 wide, not a single human habitation was left 
 standing. The smoke from the fires rendered 
 navigation dangerous on all the great lakes ex- 
 cept Lake Ontario. 
 
 The most destructive forest fires previous to 
 those above named, in the history of the country, 
 occurred, the first in October, 187 1, in Wisconsin 
 and Michigan, when 2000 persons perished in 
 the flames, and inestimable financial damage was 
 entailed; the second in September, 1881, in 
 Michigan, when 300 lives were lost, together with, 
 an immense amount of property. 
 
 A large district in Texas, west of San Antonio^ 
 was, late in October, swept by a flood, resulting; 
 in the drowning of several hundred persons,, 
 together with immense destruction of property. 
 Half the houses in the town of Uvalde were 
 swept away ; the town of D'hanis was completely 
 submerged ; and thousands of cattle and horses 
 perished. The weight of damage rests upon the 
 Southern Pacific Railroad, estimated at ^1,200,- 
 000. 
 
 November. The Republicans swept the North, 
 electing Levi P. Morton Governor of New York, 
 and carrying nearly every State in which elec- 
 tions were held. The victory is supposed to have 
 been due chiefly to the depressing effect of tariff" 
 uncertainty on business, and in New York in 
 a large degree to the revelations of municipal 
 corruption before the Lexow Investigating Com- 
 mittee. 
 1895. The leading event of American interest has 
 been the uprising of Cuban republicans against 
 the Spanish Government. Spain, doubtless, 
 with a view of propitiating the United States, has- 
 paid the long-pending Mora claim for damage 
 
336 HANDBOOK. 
 
 to the property of an American citizen. Senti- 
 ment throughout the United States, is strongly 
 favorable to Cuba. 
 
 In New York City much agitation has been 
 caused by the enforcement of the law requiring 
 saloons to be closed on Sunday. 
 
 November. The Republicans carry nearly all 
 the States in which elections are held, including 
 Kentucky and Maryland. 
 
 THE END.