Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-30
TuEDAy WE crLpRATE.

the fountains OF patriotism and OF ma
tional pride, in contemplating the
moral and material greatness OF
our country, it will assist TO a
fuller and higher appreciation OF
what has been accomplished in a hun
dred years OF constitutional government
in the United States to recur to some OF
the conditions of the country when
Washington was inaugurated IN New
York city on April 80, 1889. The popu-
latiou OF the new nation was less than
four millions, and the number of inhab-
itants in the metropolis which will to-
day entertain perhaps not less than
three millions of people, was only about
thirty-three thousand. Very generally
the people we're Door, and the few who
we're then accounted rich would be
classed to-day as in only moderate cir
cumstances. There was no foreign
commerce worth considering, and do
mestic trade was carried on in the slow
way OF wagon transportation, except be-
tween the towns of the seaboard and
on navigable rivers, where sailing ves-
sells were the carriers. The very large
majority of the people we're engaged in
agriculture, and the few sim
pie industries that had been
established were only in the
first stage of development. Fulton's
steamboat navigated the Hudson more
than eighteen years after the first in
auguration of Washington, and it was
thirty-eight years after that event when
the first railroads with iron tracks were
laid in the United States. The journey
OF the first president from Mount Ver-
non to New York, made as far as eliza
BEETHOVEN, N. j., by coach, and thence
by barge, consumed seven days. What
a contrast, fairly illustrative OF the
national progress of the country,
was the journey made in a splen-
didly equipped special train by
President Harrison from Washington
to New York in as many hours rs the
| trip of the first tpresident required days.
Yet the citizens of the new republic
| were u happy people. They had
| achieved Independence of foreign
power; they had passed successfully
| through the strife and controversy
much of it very bitter, of framing and
adopting q constitution Sin order to
form more perfect union, establish
| Justice, insure domestic tranquility :,
| promote the general welfare and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity;" they had chosen without
| opposition or turmoil their first presi-
dent. and having created nation and
put in operation the machinery of con-
stitutional government they looked to
the future hopefully, joyfully and con-
fidently.
1t will be interesting to note the cir
cumstances which led to Washington
being inaugurated in New York and to
the occurrence of that event on April
80 instead OF March 4, the date fixed for
the establishment of the new govern
ment. The last article of the constitu-
tion provided that the ratifications OF
the conventions of nine states should
be sufficient for its establishment be-
tween the states so ratifying. The re-
quired number of states was secured by
the action of the New Hampshire con-
vention on June 81, l7SS. 1t then be-
came the duty of the congress Of
the confederation to make arrange
ments for putting in opertion
the new machinery of government
After good deal of discussion it was
decided to make New York the seat oi
government, and on September l3 con.
gress passed a resolution directing tha,
the choice OF electors of president
and vice-president should take place
on the first Wednesday OF January
1889. 1t was provided that the elector:
chosen should meet in their respective
states on the first Wednesday in Feb
ruary and cast their votes, and that the
new congress should meet in New York
on the first Wednesday in March, which
was the fourth day of that month. The
constitution having provided that each
state should appoint electors in the
manner directed by the legislature, in
six of the states which had ratified the
constitution the appointment of elec
tors devolved upon the legislatures
while in the others the choice was left
10 popular election. The electoral col
leges met at the appointed time in Feb
ruary, except that Of New York, whose
vote was lost through IL controversy be.
tween the two branches OF the legis
lature as to their respective rights il
the matter, and without any agreement
everybody cast his vote for Washing
ton. 1t was nearly two months after
April 8, when quorum appeared In
the senate so that that body could or
ganize for the purpose of counting thu
votes for president, which was accom-
plished on that day. Eight days later
Washington was notified at Mount Yer
non of his election. He departed foi
New York on April 16 ant
arrived there on the 23d
the Inauguration being further
delayed by q debate in congress MS tt
the title by which the chief executive
should be addressed, this being finall.
settled ty committee of both house
agreeing that the form of addres
should be "the President OF the United
States" Thus it was that New Yorl
became the first seat of governmen
under the constitution. and Washington
was inaugurated nearly two month
later than the date which had beel
L 4 4. 4.