The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-30

more and New York kept Richard Henry
Lee, OF Virginia, thirty-three days in
making the distance between the former
point and the latter.
When Congress met at noon on March
4, just eight OF the twenty-five Senators
were present and twelve out OF the fifty
nine Representatives. Most of these were
from New England and points near New
York. The only Senator from the South
was William Few, and he was citizen Of
the State farthest removed in distance
from the seat OF government-Georgia
In the House, William White, of Virginia,
and Thomas Tudor Tucker, OF South Caro-
lima, were the only members from below
tile. old line OF Mason and Dixon who an
swered to their names when the roll was
called in that body on March L.
The State OF New York itself, which
held the seat Of government, was not rep
resented in Congress at the opening, nor
did its Senators take their places until long
after the Inauguration OF the President
The House OF Representatives secured a
quorum on March 80, and the Senate on
April 9. John Langdon, of New Hamp-
shire, was chosen President OF the Senate
tor the purpose OF counting the votes
After the count was concluded messengers
were sent to notify Washington OF his cleo
ton as President and John Adams OF his
choice as Vice-President. Frederick Au-
gustus Muhlenberg, OF Pennsylvania, had
previously been chosen Speaker OF the
House. Adams was inaugurated on April
q and Washington on April 80.
1t was notable body OF men which as
sembed in Federal Hall. in New York,
when all the thirteen States were repre-
sented, 10 legislate for the young Republic.
Let us glance over the roll, taking the
States alphabetically:
Connecticut sent to the First Congress
Senators Oliver Ellsworth and William S.
Johnson, and Representatives BENJAMIN
huntington, Roger Sherman, Jonathan
Sturges, Jonathan Trumbull and jeremiah
Wadsworth. Three of these-Ellsworth
Sherman. and Trumbull-were men OF
great ability and political experience, and
OF international reputation. Ellsworth had
been member OF the Continental Con-
gress, and OF the Constitutional Conven-
ton, and aiterward was successfully Chief
Justice OF the United States Supreme
Court and an Envoy to France. Sherman,
too, had been member Of the old Con-
gress of the Confederation. as well as Of
the Constitutional Convention, was one OF
the signers oil the Constitution, and was
one OF the most accomplished astronomers
OF the day. Trumbull had previously been
a Revolutionary hero, and was subsc.
quently Speaker Of the House, United
states Senator and eleven times Governor
OF his State.
William Few and james Gum, Sena.
tors, and Abraham Baldwin, James Jack
son and George Matthews, Representa-
tives, were the men chosen by Georgia.
Few had served in the Revolutionary army,
the Continental Congress and the Conycn.
ton which framed the Constitution. In
the latter years OF his life he removed 10
New York, and was for time q member
OF the lower branch OF the Legislature.
Baldwin, who had also been a revolution
AIRY veteran, was no, so well known ~ + w
at the time of the First Congress, nus IN
distinction he ailerward eclipsed his com
patriot, serving in both branches OF Con-
gress, being President pro TEN. of the sen
ate ut his death in 1892 The reputation
OF the other members OF the Georgia dele.
CATION was not so great rs that OF these two.
Maryland was represented in the Senate
by Charles Carroll and John Henry. an /
in the House by Daniel Carroll. Bcnlmin
Coniee, George Gale, joshua Sency, VIII.
lam Smith and Michael Juniier Stone The
most distinguished OF these were Carroll
and Henry, The latter, previous to his
appearance in the Senate oi the First Con-
gress, had served in the Congress Of the
Confederation, and was subsequently Gov.
crnor Of his State Carroll had two pccu.
liar marks Of distinction. lie was de.
scendant Of the O'Carrolls, who were
among the most powerful OF the Irish
Princes Of the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries, and was the last of the signcrs OF
the Declaration Of Independence. Carroll.
besides being member Of the Congress
OF the Confederation, served IN the Lcgis.
laiurc Of his State both after AID before
being In the upper branch OF Congress
under the Constitution. lie was ono Of
the leaders OF the Federal party. and on
the defeat OF that organization hc went
into private lie. and tue appeals and de-
mands OF his State that lac again enter
politics were alike unayaiing. One OF the
last acts which brought him before the
country was his laying Of the corner stone
OF tho Baltimore 4 Ohio Railroad In 1925.
In this he alone OF all the men OF the Rev.
oluiionary period identified himself with
n dis,inclivcly modern enterprise. At the
time Of his death, in 1882, when ninety
five ycau OF age lac had been ioryears the
last survivor OF the men whose signatures
arc attached to the Declaration OF Indie.
pcndenrc, and was, for over n quarter Of a
century, the most distinguished citizen OF
Maryland.
On tho roll Of the Massachusetts, delesa.
ton appear the names Of Tristan Dalton
and Caleb Strong, Senators, aud Fisher
Amcs, ElbHdgn Cory, Benjamin Goodhuc,
Jonathan Grout George Leonard. George
Partridge, Theodore Sedgwick and George
Thatcher, Representative At the head
OF the list IN intellect aud In value Of ser
vices stood Strong, Amcs and Gerry
Strong. who was ono OF the most conspicu.
Gus Ecdcuiists OF his State, was one Of thc
immen OF the Constitution, aud after leay.
ing Congress was elected Governor OF Mas
sachusctis In seven successive elections.
Amcs was one Of the youngest men In the
Fint Congress, being only thirty-one when
that body met. Both before and during
his service in Congress he wrote many
political essays which had a high place In
that branch Of literature. His speech la
Congress Ia 1890 advocating the appropria-
ton necessary 10 carry into effect jays
treaty with Great Britain was the mos, cl0.
quent and powerful ever delivered In
either branch of the National Legislature,
except Wcbsior's reply TO Haync, and
John Quincy Adams appeal In iayoroi the
right OF petition. lll.hoalth drove him out
OF politics In early lie, and death closed
his career at the age Of iiity. Gerry was
the most conspicuous Anti-Fcderalist IN
his State. Indeed his aversion 10 the prin.
ciplcs OF the parry OF Washington, Hanlil.
ton and Adams was 70 great that hereiused
10 sign the Constitution. Subsequent 90
| hfa nnnenrance in tho First Congresa he