Evening star., 1939-03-05
tied States Congress Assembled New York $50 Years Ago
Condition of Roads
Prevented Quorum
Being Present
Diversity Of Types Found
Among Early Senators
And Representatives

to build from the ground. The trainers Of the Con-
sttuon had done little more than provide blueprint
The Nation virtually bankrupt. The first
necessity. to find revenue One of the laments
the delay in getting organized was due to the fear
that duties could not be collected the spring i'm
ports. It commonly understood that the National
Government was to depend much possible on in
direct taxation. Import duties would be the main
source They actually remained until the Civil War.
Consequently the second act of the First Congress
to pass tariff bill. 1t frankly
There had been some debate over protection of
various articles but this very minor factor in
tariff legislation.
The first act to receive the approval of the Pres-
dent June l. 1889, had been to regulate the
of taking oaths required of all Federal and State
officers by the Constitution Before this bill became
law Washington alone had been under oath, except
that the House had earlier passed resolution under
which the members present had been
The first Congress had three sessions-Apr 6-Sep-
tember 90, 1789 January 4-August 12 1870; Decem-
ber g. 179OMarch g. 1871, in all 16 months of the
a. There very little political division know
it. Almost all the members had been Federasts dur
ing the ratification contests and the few who had not
generally in their desire establish the
new Government on firm basis. The chief division
sectional, and this showed mainly in the tariff
discussion of the first session and that the of
Government in the second session, the latter being
also involved in the funding question.
Ninety -Four Public Laws Passed
And Bank of U. S. Established.
The First Congress passed "a public laws IS public
resolutions and 10 private laws and resolutions The
only important resolution that for the amend
ment of the Constitution. Of the public laws various
of them notifications, continuances, extensions
or temporary like those appropriations and changes
in the time of the meeting of Congress Altogether
some 40 matters were the subject of Congressional
consideration and regulation In connection with the
all important matter of finance, revenue pro-
vlded for by acts levyng mposts tonnage excise
appropriation bills providing for the expenditures; the
public debt funded State debts assumed and pro-
vision made for reducing the debt The auditing and
settlement of the of the States with the
general Government continued.
AS an aid to the handling of these financial matters
the Bank of the United States was incorporated
Salaries in the executive legislative and judicial
partments were fixed The obligation to the invalid
soldiers OF the revolution recognized and provi-
sion made for pensions The great executive depart
ments Of State, Treasury and War were established
and regulated and provision made for foreign inter-
course Foreign and interstate trade control was
treated in the bills for the regulation of the customs
registry and clearance of vessels lighthouses buoys
ana other navigation aids. coastWse trade regulation
of in the merchant service State inspection of
exports and Indian trade
The ordinance of 1875 on the administration of
public lands continued under the Government but
several other acts relating to the subject passed.
the cesson by North Carolina of what became Ten
was accepted provision made for the territorial
government OF the region and the Northwest Terri
tory Ordinance of 1887 re-enacted Vermont and
Kentucky were admitted States, though neither
became formally member early enough to be repre-
sented in the First Congress- laws extended to
them and their representation provided for under the
vided
Permanent Seat of Government Is
Located on the Potomac.
A naturalization act was passed; provision made
for copyrights and patents records and SEAL and also
for Interstate comfy while assent was given to cer-
tain State acts which would otherwise be legal.
Indian hoses made necessary various acts relating
| to the establishment of the Army One of the most
| important laws that establishing and regulating
| the judiciary, which supplemented by others on
process IN the courts and on crimes Finally the per-
| manent seat OF Government located the Po-
| tomac River and the construction of the National
Capital there ordered, the temporary Capital being
moved, meanwhile to Philadelphia.
These acts were of enduring quality and they
were framed as the instruments of an active and
powerful Government. AS John Quincy Adams ex.
Apressed it, They fixed the character of the Const-
tlon as practical system. Washington did not use