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the president, both of the constitutionality and utility of the bill, upon which he gave it his signature.

The capital stock of the bank was ten millions of dollars, two millions to be subscribed for the benefit of the United States, and the residue by individuals. One fourth of the sums subscribed by individuals was to be paid in gold and silver, and three fourths in the public debt. By the act of incorporation, it was to be a bank of discount as well as deposit, and its bills, which were payable in gold and silver on demand, were made receivable in all payments to the United States. The bank was located at Philadelphia, with power in the directors, to establish offices of discount and deposit only wherever they should think fit, within the Uni

ted States.

The duration of the charter was limited to the 4th of May, 1811; and the faith of the United States was pledged, that during that period, no other bank should be established under their authority. One of the fundamental articles of the incorporation was, that no loan should be made to the United States, for more than one hundred thousand dollars, or to any particular state, for more than fifty thousand, or to any foreign prince, or state, unless previously authorized by a law of the United States. The books were opened for subscriptions in July, 1791, and a much larger sum subscri bed than was allowed by the charter; and the bank went into successful operation."

*

The bill which had now passed, with those relating to the finances of the country, the assumption of the state debts, the funding of the national debt, &c., contributed greatly to the complete organization of those distinct and visible parties, which, in their long and ardent conflict for power, have since shaken the United States to their centre.

Sec. 15. While matters of high importance were occupying the attention, and party strife and conflicting interests were filling the counsels of congress with agitation, an Indian war opened on the northwestern frontier of the states. Pacific arrangements had been attempted by the president with the hostile tribes, without effect. On the failure of these, an offensive expedition was planned against the tribes northwest of the Ohio.

* Pitkin.

The command of the troops, consisting of three hundred regulars, and about one thousand two hundred Pennsylvania and Kentucky militia, was given to Gen. Harmar, a veteran offi cer of the revolution. His instructions required him, if possible, to bring the Indians to an engagement; but, in any event, to destroy their settlements on the waters of the Scioto, a river falling into the Ohio, and the Wabash, in the Indiana territory. In this expedition, Harmar succeeded in destroying some villages, and a quantity of grain, belonging to the Indians; but in an engagement with them, near Chilicothe, he was routed with considerable loss.

Upon the failure of Gen. Harmar, Major General Arthur St. Clair was appointed to succeed him. Under the authority of an act of congress, the president caused a body of levies to be raised for six months, for the Indian service.

Sec. 16. Having arranged the northwestern expedition, directing St. Clair to destroy the Indian villages on the Miami, and to drive the savages from the Ohio, the president commenced a tour through the southern states, similar to that which he had made through the northern and central parts of the union, in 1789.

The same expressions of respect and affection awaited him, in every stage of his tour, which had been so zealously accorded to him in the north. Here, also, he enjoyed the high satisfaction of witnessing the most happy effects, resulting from the administration of that government over which he presided.

Sec. 17. On the 24th of October, 1791, the second congress commenced its first session. Among the subjects that early engaged their attention, was a bill for apportioning representatives among the people of the several states, accord

After much discussion,

ing to the first census." concerning the ratio that should be adopted, between representation and population, congress finally fixed it at one representative to each state, for every thirty-three thousand inhabitants.

The first bill fixed the ratio at one representative for every thirty thousand inhabitants; but to this bill the senate would not agree. A second bill was introduced, providing one representative for every thirty thousand, and dividing eight representatives among those states which had the greatest fractions. This bill the president returned to the house, whence it originated, as unconstitutional, as by it, eight states would send more representatives than their population allowed.

Sec. 18. In December, intelligence was received by the president, that the army under Gen. St. Clair, in battle with the Indians, near the Miami, in Ohio, had been totally defeated on the 4th of the preceding month.

The army of St. Clair amounted to near one thousand five hundred men. The Indian force consisted of nearly the same number. Of the loss of the Indians, no estimate could be formed; but the loss of the Americans was unusually severe; thirty-eight commissioned officers were killed in the field, and five hundred and ninety-three non-commissioned officers and privates were slain and missing. Between two and three hundred officers and privates were wounded, many of whom afterwards died. This result of the expedition was as unexpected as unfortunate; but no want either of ability, zeal, or intrepidity, was ascribed, by a committee of congress, appointed to examine the causes of its failure, to the commander of the expedition.

Sec. 19. Upon the news of St. Clair's defeat, a bill was introduced into congress for raising three additional regiments of infantry, and a squadron of cavalry, to serve for three years, if not sooner discharged. This bill, although finally carried, met with an opposition more warm and pointed, from the opposers of the administration, than any which had before been agitated in the house.

By those who opposed the bill, it was urged, that the war with the Indians was unjust; that militia would answer as well, and even better, than regular troops, and would be less expensive to support; that adequate funds could not be provided; and, more than all, that this addition of one regiment to the army after another, gave fearful intimation of monarchical designs, on the part of those who administered the government.

On the other hand, the advocates of the bill contended, that the war was a war of self-defence; that between the years 1783 and 1790, not less than one thousand five hun dred inhabitants of Kentucky, or emigrants to that country, and probably double that number, had been massacred by the Indians; and that repeated efforts had been made by the government to obtain a peace, notwithstanding which, the butcheries of the savages still continued in their most appalling forms.

Sec. 20. On the Sth of May, 1792, congress adjourned to the first Monday in November. The asperity which, on more than one occasion, had discovered itself in the course of debate, was a certain index of the growing exasperation of parties. With their adjournment, the conflicting feelings of members in a measure subsided; the opposition, however, to the administration, had become fixed. It was carried into retirement was infused by members into their constituents, and a party was thus formed throughout the nation, hostile to the plans of government adopted by Washington, and his friends in the cabinet.

Sec. 21. On the first of June, 1792, KENTUCKY, by act of congress, was admitted into the union as a state.

The country, now called Kentucky, was well known to the Indian traders, many years before its settlement. By whom it was first explored, is a matter of uncertainty, and has given rise to controversy. In 1752, a map was published by Lewis Evans, of the country on the Ohio and Kentucky rivers; and it seems that one James Macbride.

with others, visited this region in 1754. No further attempt was made to explore the country until 1767, when John Finley of North Carolina, travelled over the ground on the Kentucky river, called by the Indians, "the dark and bloody ground." On returning to Carolina, Finley communicated his discoveries to Col. Daniel Boone, who, in 1769, with some others, undertook to explore the country. After a long and fatiguing march, they discovered the beau.tiful valley of Kentucky. Col. Boone continued an inhabitant of this wilderness until 1771, when he returned to his family for the purpose of removing them, and forming a settlement in the new country. In 1773, having made the necessary preparations, he set out again with five families and forty men, from Powell's Valley, and after various impediments, reached the Kentucky river, in March, 1775, where he commenced a settlement.

In the years 1778, 1779, and 1780, a considerable number of persons emigrated to Kentucky; yet, in this latter year, after an unusually severe winter, the inhabitants were so distressed that they came to the determination of abandoning the country for ever. They were fortunately diverted from this step, by the arrival of emigrants. During the revolutionary war they suffered severely from the Indians, incited by the British government. In 1778, Gen. Clarke overcame the Indians, and laid waste their villages. From this time the inhabitants began to feel more secure, and the settlements were extended. In 1779, the legislature of Virginia, within whose limits this region lay, erected it into a county. In 1782, a supreme court, with an attorney general, was established within the district. In the years 1783, 1784, and 1785, the district was laid out into counties, and a great part of the country surveyed and patented. In 1785, an attempt was made to form an independent state; but a majority of the inhabitants being opposed to the measure, it was delayed until December, 1790, when it became a separate state.

In 1792, as stated above, it was admitted into the union. The growth of Kentucky has been rapid, and she has obtained a respectable rank and influence among her sister

states.

Sec. 22. During the recess of congress, preparations were hastened by the president, for a vigorous prosecution of the war with the Indians; but such small inducements were present

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