the balcony of Federal Hall, New York, on the site of which the United States Treasury now stands, and took the oath of office in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, and a large crowd of citizens assembled in the streets below. He then repaired to the Senate chamber, and there delivered an address to both Houses of Congress. The plan of the new government being now completed, Congress proceeded to its organization through the departments of the judiciary, of state, of the treasury, of war, and of attorney-general.

President Washington appointed Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton, of New York, Secretary of the Treasury, and General Henry Knox, of Massachusetts, Secretary of War. John Jay, of New York, was made ChiefJustice of the United States, and Edmund Randolph, of Virginia, Attorney-General.

Frederick A. Muhlenberg, of Pennsylvania, was chosen Speaker of the House; but his election was not a party triumph, for parties were still in a state of utter confusion. Between the extreme Anti-Federalists, who considered the Constitution a long step toward a despotism, and the extreme Federalists, who desired a monarchy modeled on that of England-there were all varieties of political opinion. Washington, through the universal confidence in his integrity and good judgment, had the ability to hold together the conservative men

of all parties for a time, and prevent party contest upon the interpretation of Federal powers until the Constitution should be tested and its value demonstrated to the people.

In 1792 the second Presidential election took place. Washington was anxious to retire, but yielded to the wishes of the people, and was again chosen President by the unanimous vote of the electoral colleges of the several States.

The electoral votes were counted in February, 1793, and found to be for George Washington 132 (all the electors having voted for him), for John Adams 77, for George Clinton 50, for Thomas Jefferson 4, and for Aaron Burr 1. Washington was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1793.

At the close of his term of office Washington withdrew to his home at Mount Vernon, to enjoy the repose he had so well earned, and which was so grateful to him. His administration had been eminently successful. When he entered upon the duties of the Presidency the government was new and untried, and its best friends doubted its ability to exist long; the finances were in confusion, and the country was burdened with debt; the disputes with Great Britain threatened to involve the country in a new war; and the authority of the general government was uncertain and scarcely recognized. When he left office the state of affairs was changed. The government had been severely tested, and had been found equal to any demand

upon it. The disputes with England had been arranged, and the country, no longer threatened with war, but was free to devote its energies to its improvement. Industry and commerce were growing rapidly.

ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN ADAMS.

4th of March, 1797-4th of March, 1801.

At the elections held in the fall of 1796 the Federalists put forward John Adams, of Massachusetts, as their candidate, while the Republicans or Democrats supported Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia. The contest was very bitter, and resulted in the election of Mr. Adams. Mr. Jefferson, receiving the next highest number of votes, was declared Vice-President, in accordance with the law as it then stood.

The electoral vote was counted in February and was as follows: For John Adams 71, for Thomas Jefferson 68, for Thomas Pinckney 59, for Aaron Burr 30, and the rest scattering.

On the 4th of March, 1797, Mr. Adams, the second President of the United States, was inaugurated at Philadelphia, in the presence of both Houses of Congress, and Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated as Vice-President. Mr. Adams was dressed in a full suit of pearl-colored broadcloth, and wore his hair powdered. He was in the sixtysecond year of his age, and in the full vigor of health and intellect.

Mr. Adams made no changes in the cabinet left by President Washington, and the policy of his administration corresponded throughout with that of his great predecessor. He came into office at a time when this policy was to be subjected to

the severest test, and was to be triumphantly vindicated by the trial. Mr. Adams began his official career with the declaration of his "determination to maintain peace and inviolate faith with all nations, and neutrality and impartiality with the belligerent powers of Europe."

During the summer of the year 1800 the seat of the general government was removed from Philadelphia to the new federal city of Washington, in the District of Columbia. On the 22d of November, the session of Congress was opened in the unfinished capitol of Washington.