under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labour, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labour may be due.

New states may be admitted by congress into this union, but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other; nor shall any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without consent of the legislatures of the states concerned, as well as of the congress. The congress shall have power to dispose of the territory or other property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union, a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature or of the executive against domestic violence,

"V. The congress, whenever two thirds of both houses deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution; or on application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, they shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatives of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the 'congress.

VI. All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption of this constitution, shall be as valid against the United States, under

this constitution as under the confederation. This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties which shall be made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. The senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers shall be bound by oath, or affirmation, to support this constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

"VII. The ratification of the conventions of mine states shall be sufficient for the establishment of this constitution, between the states so ratifying the same."

The above constitution was signed by General Washington as president, and the delegates from twelve states, on the 17th of September 1787, and received the approbation of all the states. Some amendments have since been enated, respecting the free exercise of religion, the freedom of the press, the right of the people to assemble and pe tition for redress of grievances, and to keep and bear arms: also respecting security against un warrantable seizures or searches, trials, and indictments, quartering of soldiers, excessive bail, and other rights preserved to the people.

ོན

COMMERCE, INVENTIONS, MANUFACTURES, by&c.

THE vast extent of sea coast which spreads before the United States; the number of excellent harbours and seaport towns; the various creeks and bays which indent the coast; and the rivers, lakes, and canals, which peninsulate the whole country; added to its agricultural advantages and improvements, give this part of the world superior advantages for trade. "Our commerce," says Dr. Morse, "including our exports, imports, shipping, factories, manufactures and fisheries, may properly be considered as forming one interest. This has been considered as the great object and the most important interest of the New England states, but erroneously; for, according to the best calculations, the proportion of property and the number of men employed in manufactures, fisheries, trade, and navigation, do not, even in this commercial part of the union, amount to one eighth of the property and people occupied in agriculture. In this estimate, suitable deductions are made from the value and popu lation of the large towns, for the idle and dissi pated, for those who live upon their incomes, and for supernumerary domestic servants. But taking the union at large, the disproportion is much greater. The timber, iron, cordage, and many other articles necessary for building ships to fish or trade, nine parts in ten of their cargoes, the subsistence of the manufacturers, and a great part of their raw materials are the produce of our lands.

VOL. X.

Since commerce has ever been considered as the handmaid of agriculture, particularly in this country, where the agricultural interest so greatly predominates; and since neither can flourish without the other, policy and interest point out the ne cessity of such a system of commercial and agricultural regulations as will form and properly preserve a due connection and balance between them."

The consumption of fish, whale-bone, oil and other articles, obtained through the fisheries, in the towns and counties bordering on the coast, has augmented rapidly within a few years; insomuch that in Philadelphia alone, there are annually vended five thousand barrels of salmon, mackarel, and pickled cod-fish; besides dried fish, oil, spermaceti candles, &c. so that a little fleet of sloops and schooners are almost constantly employed in this business. The demand for these articles is proportionably great in other parts of the United States, especially in Boston, and the large commercial towns that lie along the coast north-eastward, which enter largely into the fishing-trade.

The quantities of fur exported from the northern parts of America to Great Britain, have amounted annually to upwards of forty thousand pounds sterling, estimated from the freight during the years 1768, 1769 and 1770. The sales of fur which took place in London in 1782, produced four thousand seven hundred pounds; the next year it was somewhat increased; and, in 1784, it exceeded two hundred and forty-five thousand pounds. All this fur is paid for by British manufactures, and about a fourth part of it is wrought in England, where its value is doubled.

The principal trade of New Hampshire, was formerly with the West India sugar islands, to which they exported all the various kinds of lumberhorses, cattle, sheep, poultry, salted provisions, pot and pearl ashes, dried fish, &c, and received in return rum, sugar, molasses, and cocoa. Their ships were commonly sent to the West India islands for freight to Europe, or to the Bay of Honduras for logwood, and from thence to Europe, where they were sold. They also ex ported masts, yards, and spars, for the royal navy of Great Britain.

In the year 1787, the exports from Massachu setts execeded the imports; and it seems highly probable, from the rapid increase of agricultural improvments, and the prevailing spirit of indus try and economy, that the balance in favour of this state will be annually increased. New Eng, land rum, pot-ash, lumber, fish, and the produce of the fishery, constitute the principal articles of export. No less than four thousand seven hun. dred and eighty hogsheads of New England rum were distilled and exported from this state in the year 1788, besides à considerable home consumption.

New markets for the products of this state are continually increasing. The Cape of Good Hope, the Isle of France, Surat, Batavia, and Canton, have recently opened their ports, to receive beef, pork, bacon, cheese, butter, ginseng, timber, and several other articles. To Great Britain are sent bees-wax, staves, flax-sced, pot and pearl ashes, &c. To the West Indies, lumber, beef, pork, fish and flour. The whale, cod, and mackarel fisheries employ a great number of hands, and yield very considerable profits; and it is much