name, in the language of the Indians, signifies a curved spoon, the curvature, to their imaginations, resembling that of the river Tennessee.

The territory of Tennessee was granted, in 1664, by Charles II. to the Earl of Clarendon, and others, being included in the limits of the Carolinas. About the beginning of the next century, Carolina was divided into two provinces, and Tennessee fell to the lot of the northern province. Near the year 1754, fifty families were settled on the Cumberland river, where Nashville now stands; but they were dislodged by the savages soon after. In 1765, a number of emigrants settled themselves beyond the present limits of North Carolina, and were the first of the colonists of Tennessce. By the year 1773, the inhabitants had considerably increased. When the constitution of North Carolina was formed, in 1776, that district sent deputies to the meeting. In the year 1780, a small colony of about forty fami lies, under the direction of James Robertson, crossed the mountains, and settled on the Cumberland river, where they founded Nashville. In 1785, the inhabitants of Tennessee, feeling the inconveniences of a government so remote as that in the capital of North Carolina, endeavored to form an independent one, to which they intended to give the name of the "State of Franklin;" but differing among themselves, the scheme for the time was abandoned. In 1789, the legislature of North Carolina passed an act, ceding the territory, on certain conditions, to the United States. Congress, in the following year, accepted the cession, and by another act, passed on the 26th of May, 1790, provided for its government under the title of "The territory of the United States, south of the Ohio." In 1796, congress passed an act enabling the people to form a state constitution, which having been adopted and approved, Tennessee was acknow ledged as a sovereign state in the union.

Sec. 38. On the meeting of congress in 1796, resolutions were passed to carry into effect the treaties negotiated the preceding year. On the subject of the treaty with Great Britain, the liveliest sensibility still prevailed. After a spirited and protracted debate of seven weeks, on the subject of making the necessary arrangements for this treaty, resolutions to that effect passed the house by a majority of only three.

Sec. 39. As the time for a new election of the chief magistrate of the union approached, Gen. Washington signified his intention to retire from public life. Wishing to terminate his political course with an act suitable to his own character, and permanently useful to his countrymen, he published a valedictory address to the people of the United States, fraught with maxims of the highest political importance, and with sentiments of the warmest affection for his country

Among the topics of paramount importance to the nation, upon which the father of his country most eloquently descanted, in his farewell address, the union of the states was one which seemed to lie near his heart.

"The unity of government," said he, "which constitutes you one people, is now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence; the support of your tranquillity at home; your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize. But, as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point of your political fortress, against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immoveable attachment to it, accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts."

In conclusion, this great and good man bore his solemn testimony to the importance of religion and morality, as intimately connected with political prosperity: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity,"

he observed," religion and morality are indispensable sup ports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them-a volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligations desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? and let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

Sec. 40. In February, 1797, the votes for his successor were opened, and counted in the presence of both houses of congress. The highest number appearing in favor of Mr. Adams, he was declared to be elected president of the United States, for the four years ensuing, commencing on the 4th of March. Mr. Jefferson succeeded Bir. Adams in the vice-presidency.

NOTES.

Sec. 41. MANNERS. We can remark, during this period, no very distinct change in the manners of the people of the United States, except that the introduction of French philosophy seems to have affected, in some degree, the sober habits and strict morality of the people, which, although - relaxed by the war, had now begun to resume their influence.

Sec. 42. RELIGION. At the close of the preceding period, we observed that religion had revived, in a degree, from the injuries it suffered during the revolutionary war; and we might have expected, that under the auspices of a wise

and settled government, conducted by a practical Christian, like Washington, it would have acquired a still more commanding influence. Such, however, was not the fact.

As the people of the United States heartily espoused the cause of the revolution in France, and sympathized with that people, in their struggle for freedom, it was but too natural, that the sentiments of the revolutionists, on other than political subjects, should be imbibed. As the French revolutionists were almost universally deists, or atheists, these sentiments were extensively spread over the United States.

pur

For a time, the boldness of the enterprises, the splendor of the victories, and the importance of the conquests, achieved by the French republic, promoted the extension of French infidelity in the United States. "Most eyes," says Dr. Dwight, "were disabled from seeing the nature of the poses, which the revolutionists had in view, and of the characters which were exhibited on this singular stage. In the agitation and amazement excited in all men, few retained so steady optics as to discern, without confusion, the necessary consequences of this stupendous shock."

*

Infidelity was also greatly extended, at this time, by the writings of Paine, Godwin, and others, which were industriously circulated through the country." The perspicuous and simple style of Paine, his keen powers of ridicule, directed against the Bible, and above all, the gratitude which multitudes felt for the aid his pen had given to our revolution, contributed to impart to him a peculiarly powerful influence. His vicious life, however, and the horrible enormities committed by the French revolutionists, gave such a fearful comment upon their principles, as at length, in a great measure, to bring them into discredit, and to arrest their growing influence.

Sec. 43. TRADE AND COMMERCE. These flourished, during this period, beyond all former ex

* Godwin's Political Justice, and Paine's Age of Reason, powerfully urged on the tide of infidelity. An enormous edition of the latter publication was printed in France, and sent to America, to be sold for a few pence only; and where it could not be sold, it was given away.

ample. In 1797, the exports of the United States of all kinds, amounted to fifty-six millions eight hundred and fifty thousand two hundred and six dollars. The imports amounted to seventyfive millions three hundred and seventy-nine thousand four hundred and six dollars. Our vessels visited every part of the world, and brought wealth and luxuries from every country.

Sec. 44. AGRICULTURE. Aside from the importance of agriculture, as furnishing us with the greatest portion of our food, it began now to derive greater consequence, as furnishing materials for our manufactures, and, still more, as contributing largely to our exports. In 1796, it was estimated that three fourths of the inhabitants of the United States, if not a greater proportion, were employed in agricultural pursuits. Sec. 45. ARTS AND MANUFACTURES. During this period, manufactures attracted the attention of government. Mr. Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, made a report to congress, on the subject, in which he set forth their importance to the country, and urged the policy of aiding them. Since that time, the revenue laws have been framed, with the view to the encouragement of manufactures, and their promotion has been considered as a part of the settled policy of the United States. Although the flourishing state of commerce commanded the attention, and absorbed the capital of the country, in some degree, to the exclusion of other objects, still manufactures made considerable progress.

Sec. 46. POPULATION. The inhabitants of the United States, at the close of this period, amounted to about five millions.

Sec. 47. EDUCATION. The adoption of the fede