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Show inolisrn, Strife, Achievement Marked Our Firsf U. S. Congress ng Just 50 Years Ago It Enacted Measures Which Gave Force to Constitution; ssured Bill of Rights; Established Federal Judiciary, Executive Departments, Tariff, stem and Financial Stability, and Set New Nation on Road to Liberty and Progress (WNU Service). 'hiiKiiyisAnf s s .. JnJ.rriti4.. M M. - - - - ('itiffmif. . .. jr. S '.?.,,,, - JfTtt'JtiAy. . . 6 ,fnsytmrt.... OX.- - 2. . . . JVfttnnj'. ..... X .IT t,rJyjfir. A. . Aiyiitrt o. s. m y X. . . iivA.. Catitfw, y, . , J'yc- i. ?. s . M -t q. 4. A is... 'ff'iiAy .t 7h?. cyztr (Htrrr,Tr,f.t(y ,aYM. Page in the Journal of the First Congress of the United States for April 6, 1789, giving the electoral vote and certifying the election of President George Washington and Vice President John Adams. whole people . . . the peaceful arbitrator in all questions touching touch-ing the extent and sway of constitutional con-stitutional power . . . the great moral substitute for force in controversies con-troversies between the people, the states and the Union." Enacted financial measures, conceived by Alexander Hamilton, Hamil-ton, which lifted both the nation and the states out of a morass of debt and bankruptcy caused by war and unstable government, and set the country firmly on the road to prosperity. "He smote," said Daniel Webster of Hamilton and his measures, "the rock of national resources, and copious Probably nsver since has America witnessed so colorful and significant an inauguration as that which made George Washington Wash-ington President. His journey northward from Mt. Vernon had been a continuous continu-ous ovation. His route was virtually vir-tually strewn wi. flowers; his short passage through every community com-munity was made the occasion for songs and speeches of affectionate affec-tionate tribute. In New York he was welcomed with pageantry and acclaim. Such was his enthusiastic welcome. wel-come. Soon he learned, as has each of his successors, that the criticisms and the headaches were to come. So, top, did congress. Few, if any, of its important measures passed without the strife which we have grown accustomed to expect ex-pect on Capitol Hill today. Even over the title with which the President should be addressed ad-dressed congressmen wrangled. Some, with the forms of royalty still in mind, wanted to refer to him as "His Highness"; others as, "His Mightiness." Senator Ellsworth, of Connecticut, protested, pro-tested, for example, that the plain title "President" was too common. There were, he explained, ex-plained, "presidents of fire companies com-panies and of cricket clubs." Something more impressive was desirable. But the majority denounced titles as dangerous, arrogant and even "idolatrous," and finally the simple constitutional form, "The President of the United States," was adopted. Dispute Over Tariff. Probably the first and most lasting legislative antagonisms in congress were roused by the early ear-ly tariff measures. In offering I them, James Madison proposed specific rates on certain articles such as tea, coffee, sugar, molasses, mo-lasses, wines, and spirits; an ad valorem tax upon other imports, and various tonnage duties. But few liked the measures as a whole. The manufacturing districts dis-tricts wanted protection against rival products made with cheaper cheap-er labor abroad. The South ana other agricultural areas objected to high rates, protesting that they would bear the burden. Proposals Propos-als to tax the importation of slaves aroused bitter debate between be-tween North and South. Heated discussion occurred on the proposal to tax rum some of it not dissimilar to arguments heard during our recent prohibition prohibi-tion period. One member insisted insist-ed that, in effect, it asked citizens citi-zens to "drink down the public debt." When an advocate urged the tax as a method of promoting promot-ing temperance, an opponent pointed out that they were legislating legis-lating on "revenue, not morals." But finally the measure passed, including levies on rum. Soon it was yielding some $200,000 a month a welcome and encouraging encourag-ing income. Equally bitter was much of the debate over the financial measures meas-ures proposed by Hamilton to raise funds and to meet the total indebtedness incurred during the war.' The debts, both state and national, amounted in all to about $80,000,000 then an imposing figure, fig-ure, however meager it may seem when compared to the billions bil-lions of public indebtedness created cre-ated during recent years. The problem, moreover, was complicated compli-cated by the fact that many of the certificates, bonds and promises-to-pay issued by the earlier government had been sold by their original holders at discount to speculators. Briefly, Hamilton proposed: first, to fund the national debt by giving the holders of such paper new Federal bonds in exchange; and, second, to have the federal government assume the debts of the states. Violently were such suggestions opposed by members who felt the plan benefited the speculator at the expense of the patriot, and by representatives of those states which had small debts and, therefore, feared discrimination dis-crimination against their constituents. constit-uents. Sound Finances. But the proposals carried, firmly firm-ly establishing confidence in the credit and fiscal soundness of the new nation then, as now, the true foundation of happiness and prosperity for the people. Passage of the National Bank, the Mint and Currency Acts further fur-ther increased the availability of credit and money, thus quickening quicken-ing the young republic's march toward prosperity. Over salary and appropriation measures there also raged spirited spirit-ed discussion. Economical as those expenditures sound in these days of reckless spending, they then evoked frequent storms of criticism. To the President was accorded an annual salary of $25,000, which he accepted reluctantly; to senators sena-tors and representatives a compensation com-pensation of $6 for every day of attendance, with mileage. The secretaries of state and treasury received $3,500 each ; the postmaster-general and the attorney-general, attorney-general, $1,500; the chief justice John Jay $4,000, and the other Supreme court justices, $3,500. Appropriations for the departments, depart-ments, civil list, etc., were similarly simi-larly modest. To this determination determina-tion that the people's money should not be wasted, that sound economy should rule; historians attribute much of the fiscal success suc-cess of the new government. RAYMOND PITCAIRN iORSEBACK.by stage-iach, stage-iach, or aboard the I coast-wise sailing s of the period, there yed, just a century and ; ago this year, some ;:ore men, representing Estate then in our fed-i'nion. fed-i'nion. ' were the newly-elect-mbers of the first con-;;of con-;;of the United States, jr way to the opening "i whose sesqui-centen-"merica now observes. Sg those travelers were Jvhose names were illus-'vhen illus-'vhen as now. There were .Madison and James Mon-fstined Mon-fstined to become Presi-Vthe Presi-Vthe United States. Rich-nry Rich-nry Lee, Robert Morris :arles Carroll, signers of .laration of Independence, eluded in their numbers; j also Rufus King, Roger i and Pierce Butler, who ed write the federal Const:. Con-st:. ' they were to be joined !i noted patriots as George 'I'ton, our first President, , mas Jefferson and Alex-Hamilton, Alex-Hamilton, members of the !l(;.inet of the republic then faking. 'j-eat or small, famous or all were headed for the Active the freshly-refur-"tederal building in the ig city of New York. !,'iey would represent the nd the states in the new a't'j legislature meeting unique un-ique and, as yet, untried otiion- )m?sars earlier a convention jfjielphia had written that aking charter to replace 'icles of Confederation enJ-id proved but "a rope of 'Recognized today as one ienireatest state documents '""tc, our federal Constitution Constitu-tion regarded more as S ine of government; a to be clothed with flesh . id, and to receive the ' ;e this Constitution func-sstablish func-sstablish under it a se-enduring se-enduring republic; to at government of, by, the people would work, responsibility confront-lyl confront-lyl first members of con-rJ con-rJ they journeyed to the 'ess ion back in the early if 1789. 'scouraging Picture. II ile they jogged over rut-' rut-' i or through rough wil-xails, wil-xails, undoubtedly they jpl those early legislators, . . discouraging conditions I "hich they would meet, scrtny thoughtful man there caus, grave cause for pes-;tflAt pes-;tflAt home, freedom, it is :r'been won; but the spec-denttate spec-denttate and national bank-storivic bank-storivic disorganization and fou' lawlessness cast their "$cr the land. The na-diwritory na-diwritory of 865,000 square stsfd a population of less ;nist0,000, and much of the tin, through which their apeioddcd was still uninhab-j. uninhab-j. J the north glowered the tion England, to the south w.ce of Spain. In the west 9 l fierce Indian foe, and ast sailed the navies of .gnt'wcrs whose friendship yecr quite certain. o( spread the picture as con.5 of tiie first United (jj'iigress met in the spring hs -cheered and sustained 1Jie n faith in the new Con-t Con-t that had thrust upon P ch towering responsibili- ow well they met that l'; how faithfully they per-' per-' their duties; how conclu-.'ey conclu-.'ey demonstrated that the (:ould and should rule is by their achievements. n'r3 a Partial record of what Mf congress accomplished: s:d and submitted to the -he Bill of Rights. Now ral part of our Const itu-, itu-, ise first ten amendments ,01lcd not only an eloquent ., ,on of the American spir-jClthe spir-jClthe most significant na--tatcment of personal lib-I lib-I it tolerance and of the safe-itfand safe-itfand privileges of the com-cn com-cn the world had ever seen, fished the first three ex-departments ex-departments State, ty,y and War; then con-,'liand con-,'liand supported probably :fj'5t illustrious cabinet our ill'ias ever known Thomas Alcxallder Hamilton leral Henry Knox. ei;p our federal judiciary, jt; by a Supreme court a puique tribunal of justice. i?d to prolect every citizen ilj usurpation of his consti-1 consti-1 rights, it constituted, in jjjds of the historian, "the ntative of the wisdom and and conscience of the vs ."- SJ i . i t s ' i f ' 'i 4 ' " ''A t " J - " ( s ; :--'. "Y"j - v r - , ily. Actually the first congress of the United States got off to a late start. It had been called for March 4, 1789, and, technically, began on that date; but delays, due largely to rough roads, made the necessary quorum in both houses impossible until early April. Once convened, the congress sat through three sessions, and in two cities the first session in New York, from April until September Sep-tember 29, 1789; the second, also in New York, from January 4 until August 12, 1790, and the third in Philadelphia, from December De-cember 6, 1790, until adjournment adjourn-ment on March 3, 1791. Conflicting Policies. Nor were its works accomplished accom-plished in that perfect harmony which their ultimate success might suggest. Bitter were, many of the discussions, and caustic some of the personal attacks that marked the debates. During its sessions were fought issues that introduced many of the great party controversies which were to rise and fall throughout the whole future political history of the nation. The conflict between adherents of a strong central government gov-ernment and those who would have power reside in the states Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist; Hamilton vs. Jefferson actually created and consistently influenced influ-enced our two-party political system. sys-tem. But the inspiring pageant that dramatized the beginning of our federal government thrust into the background for a while all those lurking difficulties. This was the inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States. Under the Constitutional provisions provi-sions of that period, the counting of the electoral vote for President Presi-dent had been the first important duty of congress. Washington's selection was a foregone conclusion, and the count confirmed popular approval. approv-al. He received 69 votes, representing repre-senting the whole number of electors elec-tors casting ballots. Votes for the second candidate, who was to be vice president, were more scattered, but John Adams had been chosen. It is interesting to observe on the list of those for whom electoral elec-toral votes were cast the now famous name, Lincoln! This, however, was Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, a hero of the Revolution. More than 70 years were to pass before Abraham Lincoln was nominated and elected under conditions con-ditions vastly different but scarcely less serious to the future of our federal union. On March 3, 1791, the first congress con-gress of the United States came to a close in historic Independence Independ-ence square, Philadelphia, where the third and final session had been held. Effectively it had fulfilled ful-filled its mission; devotedly it had supported and made of the Constitution a living force; dramatically dra-matically it had launched on the seas of progress, a new and noble Ship of State. How that ship bore, through later storm and calm, the growing grow-ing nation to a glory of prestige, of expansion and of liberty and well-being for its people unrivaled un-rivaled elsewhere on earth, remains re-mains today one of the grandest epics in all history. GEORGE WASHINGTON streams of wealth poured forth. He touched the dead corpse of public credit, and it stood forth erect with life." Imposed, "for the payment of the debts of the United States and the encouragement and protection protec-tion of manufactures," a tariff on imports thus introducing not only a productive and enduring source of revenue, but a perennial peren-nial political-economic issue which has persisted to this day. Provided for and fixed the site of our present national capital then an undeveloped tract along the Potomac, now the impressively impressive-ly beautiful city of Washington. They also enacted: Measures providing for patents and copyrights, for the naturalization naturali-zation of aliens, for a decennial census, the admission of new states, a national banking system, sys-tem, a mint, and our decimal system of coinage. Legislation encouraging and protecting American shipping so , effectively that within a few years the Stars and Stripes floated float-ed in every commercial port and on every navigable sea. Acts and appropriations providing provid-ing for the salaries of federal officials, of-ficials, (including congressmen themselves) as well as for oilier "operating expenses" necessary to the young republic. But above all, they established a sense of security; a confidence, at home and abroad, in the new nation and the new ideal in government gov-ernment it represented. When they ended their sessions, the fog of doubt and despair that had shrouded the great American experiment ex-periment was largely dispelled. The sun of hope and cheer shone more brightly over the new land. These wonders had been worked neither quickly or eas- |