his fortified camp, and engaged the troops at Butt's Hill. The two armies were pretty equally matched as to numbers. The engagement lasted for seven hours. It was said by Lafayette that it was the best-fought battle of the war. At all events the respective losses reveal superior generalship on the part of Sullivan, who was the winner of the day. The Americans lost 211; the British 1,023-nearly one-fifth of their whole force. On the General's staff that day two of his brothers served -Colonel Eben Sullivan and James Sullivan (John's substitute in the Durham encounter), then at the age of thirty-four, Judge of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, and afterwards Governor of the same State. It should be mentioned that but 1,500 of the men under General Sullivan's command had ever before been in action. The next service in which the General was engaged was one quite out of the beaten track of civilized warfare. Among the many devices resorted to by the British for suppressing the revolution, the most infamous was the employment of Red Indians for the harassment of the border populations. The Six Nations, as they were called-the most formidable Indian power that ever existed since the white man first trod the American soil-had accepted a British alliance, and made war in their own ferocious fashion, not only on armed combatants, but on the dwellers in peaceful settlements. The romantic valley of Wyoming, lying in lone beauty far away on the Susquehanna's banks, occupied by a simple and industrious population, whose toil kept their fertile slopes in constant bloom, was, among other places, surprised by a band of Red Indian savages led by a British colonel. A horrible massacre followed. The valley was wholly cleared of its inhabitants, several hundreds in number; their houses were given to the flames and their growing crops to devastation. The waters of the Susquehanna were poisoned with dead bodies for weeks afterwards: the air of the woods around was tainted from a like cause.

Indignation seized the mind of Congress when the news of those deeds of horror came to their ears. They resolved at once -pressed as they were for men, provisions and materials of war on every side to organize an expedition for the chastisement of England's Bashi Bazouks. Washington was asked to recommend an officer who could be trusted to carry this expedition through with success; and the Father of his Country named Major-General John Sullivan. The latter, sharing the general indignation, accepted the heavy responsibility, although his health was then very far from good. He made his preparations with all his accustomed care and foresight, saw everything in as perfect order as the limited resources of the government could admit of, and

then swept down on the guilty Six Nations. These latter, reinforced by 700 British regulars, sent to their aid from Canada, and guided by a cloud of British officers, selected a strong position on which to confront the Avenger of Wyoming. General Sullivan, turning their flank, made the position useless. The attack was ordered. So hotly was it begun that before half the American troops could get into action the foe was beaten beyond retrieval, and the power of the once formidable Six Nations gone forever. For nearly a month Sullivan followed the Indians into their own country, even to their very capital, laying waste their towns and fields-meting out to them, with stern retribution, in all save massacre, the pitiless measures they had themselves employed. Then he received their submission, so far as he had power to receive it, and promised to use his influence with Congress to have the conditions ratified—a promise which he did not fail to redeem. When his work was thoroughly performed he turned his steps eastward, and led his people safely into the regions of civilization. How thoroughly his work was done is plain from the fact that the once dreaded Six Nations were never heard of more. The expedition was one requiring the utmost care, circumspection, foresight, and judgment. The wily Indian was the foe; the district to be traversed mainly trackless woods, unknown and intersected with numerous water-courses; the distance to be measured between six and seven hundred miles, and the resources of every kind needed for the expedition, including even provisions, should of necessity be brought along from the first, since none of them could be obtained in the enemy's country.

On his return from this Indian campaign, General Sullivan sent in his resignation. Five years of active service of the most harassing nature had told on even his excellent constitution, and the fatigues of the last expedition had been unexceptionably severe. His physicians advised that rest was absolutely necessary for him. Congress of course accepted his resignation with regret. Washington, in a letter full of the most complimentary expressions, says: "I flatter myself it is unnecessary for me to repeat to you how high a place you hold in my esteem. The confidence you have experienced, and the manner in which you have been employed on several important occasions, testify the value I set upon your military qualifications, and the regret I must feel that circumstances have deprived the army of your services." General Greene, Washington's able second-in-command, wrote in a similar strain; and Sullivan bore with him into his retirement the good will, esteem and affection, of nearly every officer of rank and character in the army.

He was not, however, allowed to remain long out of the public

service. New Hampshire elected him as one of her delegates to Congress, in the middle of 1781, just six months after his retirement from the army. The cause of the patriots had never before worn so gloomy an air. The armies were melting away; the finances of the country were in a wretched condition; disaster followed disaster in the field; the French fleet was blocked up at Newport; Arnold had turned traitor, and thousands were only anxious to follow in his footsteps if they could have done so with impunity. In a short time after Sullivan's second entrance to Congress a change began. Military and financial reorganization occupied his thoughts to good result.

judicious arrangements brought in by him the armies filled up rapidly; and in like manner the finances of the country quickly improved under the direction of a committee of five suggested by him, and of which he was the chairman and the leading spirit. These happy changes continued until the close of the war.

General Sullivan resumed the practice of his profession in his own State, of which he became Attorney-General. It is not a little singular that his son George was afterwards appointed to that of fice, and that George's son, John, in turn held it also. Every honor that New Hampshire could give the general was freely offered. He was elected Governor of the State, among other posts. He, on his part, lost no opportunity of conferring benefits on her people. Space forbids us to go through the long catalogue of his eminent services; but it should be noted that, having set his heart on utilizing the splendid water-power of the State, he induced a number of French artisans to emigrate to New Hampshire, for the purpose of teaching their crafts to her people, and so laid the foundation of her present great manufacturing prosperity.

His last notable service to the United States was the important aid he gave in procuring the adoption of the Federal Constitution, for which several of his most distinguished contemporaries warmly thanked him. Washington conferred on him the only office the state of his health permitted him to accept the Federal judgeship of New Hampshire. This was in September, 1789. For a few years he struggled on through his duties; but at last was visited by utter prostration. A little time of waiting, and then the end came, on the 23d of January, 1795, he being still in his fifty-fifth year.

Our sketch, slight as it is, sufficiently establishes that John Sullivan was a very remarkable man. We think that it proves also an assertion previously made-that, having regard both to conception and execution, American independence owes more to no single man than to Major-General John Sullivan, the "Avenger of Wyoming."-Young Ireland.

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED

STATES OF

AMERICA.

WE, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this CONSTITUTION for the United States of America.

ARTICLE I.

SECTION 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

SEC. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States, and the electors of each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature.

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand; but each State shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

SEC. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators

from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote.

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any State, the executive thereof may make temporary appointment until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall

then fill such vacancies.

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. The Vice-President of the United States shall be president of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments; when sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law.

SEC. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, appoint a different day.

SEC. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide.

Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy,