Part 16 (1/2)

But the most touching tribute of all he received at Trenton. On the bridge spanning the little creek which he had crossed more than once when thirteen years before he was battling for his country's freedom was a floral arch. Under this a party of matrons and young girls carrying baskets of flowers took their stand. As Was.h.i.+ngton pa.s.sed beneath the arch the girls sang a song of welcome and strewed flowers in the road before him. On the arch was the motto: ”The Hero Who Defended the Mothers Will Protect the Daughters.”

When he arrived on the New Jersey side of the North River he was met by a committee of both houses of Congress. They escorted him to a handsomely equipped barge, manned by thirteen pilots, all dressed in white uniforms.

Landing on the New York side, he rode through the streets amid throngs of shouting people, with salutes thundering from war-s.h.i.+ps and from cannon on the Battery, and bells joyfully ringing from church-steeples, to give him a welcome.

The inauguration took place on April 30. A little after noon Was.h.i.+ngton left his house, and under a large military escort made his way to Federal Hall, which was the Senate Chamber.

From there he was escorted out to the balcony overlooking a large s.p.a.ce in the streets below, which were thronged with people. He took his seat by the side of a crimson-covered table, on which lay a Bible.

As Was.h.i.+ngton stood up face to face with the chancellor of New York State, who was to give the oath, a deep hush fell on the mult.i.tude below. ”Do you solemnly swear,” asked Chancellor Livingston, ”that you will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of your ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Const.i.tution of the United States?”

[Ill.u.s.tration: Was.h.i.+ngton Taking the Oath of Office as First President, at Federal Hall, New York City.]

”I do solemnly swear,” said Was.h.i.+ngton, ”that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Const.i.tution of the United States.”

Then with deep earnestness he bent and kissed the Bible held before him, with the whispered prayer: ”So help me G.o.d!”

”Long live George Was.h.i.+ngton, President of the United States!” exclaimed Livingston, and the excited throng took up the cry, shouting with wild enthusiasm. Thus was inaugurated our first President.

Returning to the Senate Chamber, Was.h.i.+ngton there delivered a short address. He was very much agitated, for he had a deep sense of the responsibility which had been put upon him. After he had given his address he attended service in St. Paul's Church, and then went to his new home in New York City.

His life as President was one of dignity and elegance. It was his custom to pay no calls and accept no invitations, but between three and four o'clock on every Tuesday afternoon he held a public reception. On such occasions he appeared in court dress, with powdered hair, yellow gloves in his hands, a long sword in a scabbard of white polished leather at his side, and a c.o.c.ked hat under his arm. Standing before the fireplace, with his right hand behind him, he bowed formally as each guest was presented to him.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Was.h.i.+ngton's Inaugural Chair.]

The visitors formed a circle about the room. At a quarter past three the door was closed, and Was.h.i.+ngton went around the circle, speaking to each person. Then he returned to his first position by the fireplace, where each visitor approached him, bowed, and retired.

One of his first public duties was the choosing of strong men to form his cabinet and help him in his new tasks as President. Thomas Jefferson was made Secretary of State; Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury; Henry Knox, Secretary of War; and Edmund Randolph, Attorney-General. John Jay was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The new government had to settle more than one important question. One of these related to the method of paying the State debts which had been the outcome of the Revolutionary War. The northern States were in favor of having the National Government take care of these debts. Was.h.i.+ngton himself wished in this way to unite the interests of all the States as well as have them feel that they had a share in the new government. The southern States, however, were bitterly opposed to this plan, but they, in their turn, were eager to have the national capital located on the Potomac River.

Alexander Hamilton, by a clever arrangement, persuaded the opposing interests to adopt a compromise, or an agreement by which each side got a part of what it wished. The northern States were to vote for a southern capital if the southern States would vote that the National Government should look after the State debts.

This plan was carried out; and so it was decided that the capital of the United States should be located in the District of Columbia, on the Potomac River, and should be called Was.h.i.+ngton, after George Was.h.i.+ngton.

In 1789, the seat of government was in New York; from 1790 to 1800, it was in Philadelphia; and in 1800 it was transferred to Was.h.i.+ngton, where it has ever since remained.

THE COTTON-GIN AND SLAVERY

One of the most noteworthy events which occurred during Was.h.i.+ngton's administration was the invention of the cotton-gin by Eli Whitney. Whitney was born in Ma.s.sachusetts. While yet a boy he was employed in making nails by hand, for there was no machine for making them in those days. Later, when he entered Yale College, his skilful use of tools helped him to pay his college expenses.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Eli Whitney.]

After being graduated from Yale he went south, where he became a tutor in the family of General Greene's widow, then living on the Savannah River, in the home which, you remember, Georgia gave her husband. While he was in Mrs. Greene's home he invented for her an embroidery-frame which she greatly valued.

One day, while she was entertaining some planters, they began to talk about the raising of cotton. One of her guests said that it did not pay well because so much time was needed to separate the seeds from the fibre.

He added that if a way could be found to do this more quickly the profits would be far greater.

”Gentlemen,” said Mrs. Greene, ”tell this to my young friend, Mr. Whitney.