USA > New York > New York City > The story of the city of New York > Part 22
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On the Saturday following, news reached New York of the adoption of the Constitution by the convention, and again the city was thrown into par- oxysms of joy. The bells rang triumphant peals, and the great fort on the Battery, and the federal ship Hamilton fired salutes, while the merchants and citizens went in a body to the homes of Hamilton, Jay, Livingston, and other leading Federalists and testified their approval with cheers. Even the anti-Federalists, it is said, forgot their fears, and cheered as heartily as the rest.
Congress formally adopted the Constitution Sep-
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tember 13, 1788, and appointed the first Wednesday in January, 1789, as the day when the people should meet to choose electors for their first President ; it also provided that the first Congress under the new Constitution should meet in New York on the 4th day of March following. Then there was fresh excitement in the city, for a suitable capitol had to be provided in which Congress might meet. Thirty-two thousand dollars were quickly subscribed, and the old City Hall, which has been described as standing at the corner of Broad and Wall streets, was given into the hands of Major L'Enfant to be remodelled and re- furnished. Major L'Enfant was a gallant French- man, a skilled engineer and architect, who had offered his services to Congress in the beginning of the Revolution, and who first taught American en- gineers how to build forts and earthworks. Later he planned our capital city, Washington. When the City Hall came from his hands it was admitted by all critics to be a tasteful and appropriate edifice. The basement story was of the Tuscan order, and was pierced with seven openings. Four massive pillars in the centre supported four Doric columns and a pediment. The frieze was ingeniously divided to admit thirteen stars in metopes, which, with the American eagle and other insignia in the pediments, the tablets filled with thirteen arrows over the win- dows, and the olive branches united, marked it as a building designed for national purposes. The two chief apartments were the Senate Chamber and the Hall of Representatives. The former, on the left of the vestibule, was forty feet long, thirty wide, and
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twenty high, with an arched ceiling. There were three windows in front opening into a gallery (shown in the engraving p. 367) twelve feet deep and guarded by an iron railing. The chamber was deco- rated with pilasters of an order invented by Major L'Enfant. Tuscan pilasters adorned the lobby,- forty-eight feet long and nineteen wide-by which the chamber was approached. The hall of the House of Representatives, opposite the Senate Chamber, was a spacious apartment sixty-one feet deep, fifty-eight wide, and thirty-six high. In form it was octangular, four of its sides being rounded in the form of niches. Above the lofty windows were placed Ionic columns and pilasters, and in the panels between the windows were carved trophies, and the letters U. S. in a cipher surrounded with laurels. The chair of the Speaker occupied a raised dais, approached by several steps opposite the main entrance, and in front in two semicircular rows were the seats of the members. Two galleries were provided for spectators. We have been thus par- ticular in our description of this building because here the first President of the United States- George Washington-took the oath of office, and because here the first Congress under the Constitu- tion assembled. The first Congress and the first President-truly New York has been honored above her peers.
Congress was to have met on the 4th of March, 1789, but, as the day came, only eight Senators and thirteen Representatives presented themselves-not enough of either branch for a quorum,-the missing
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members having been delayed by the state of the roads. A great gulf seems to open between us and the year, 1789, when we compare the means of transit then in vogue with those that we enjoy. "Stage-boats" and stage-coaches were the only public conveyances. Six days by sloop and coach were often consumed in the journey from New York to Philadelphia. In March the travelling was es- pecially difficult, and it was not until the 6th of April that the members, toiling slowly forward by stage or on horseback, now mired in the March mud, now water-bound by swollen rivers, reached the cap- ital in sufficient numbers to organize the Congress.
When organized, however, it was not long in learn- ing who had been chosen the first President. Wash- ington had received every vote-the only President unanimously elected. John Adams, of Massachu- setts, was elected Vice-President. Washington, ap- prised by official messenger, left his home in Virginia on the 16th of April for New York. His journey was a triumphal procession ; in every city and town crowds gathered spontaneously, and hailed him as their deliverer. At Gray's Ferry, near Philadelphia, a civic crown of laurel was dropped upon his head as he passed underneath an arch and through long avenues of laurel transplanted from the neighboring forests. At Trenton, thirteen beautiful maidens strewed flowers in his pathway, and chanted an ode in praise of the hero. At Elizabethtown Point, he was met by a Committee of Congress, with Elias Boudinot at its head, the mayor and recorder of New York, and other officials, and escorted on board
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an elegant barge, provided for the purpose, and com- manded by Commodore Nicholson. As the little vessel moved from the shore, scores of other barges, beautifully decorated with flags and streamers, fell into line, and the procession swept through the nar- row strait of the Kill von Kull, and across the beau- tiful bay to New York, while guns thundered and bands of music played, and the ships in the harbor, literally covered with bunting, dipped their colors in salute to the Chief-Magistrate. At the railing of the ferry stairs on Murray wharf, Governor Clinton stood ready to receive him, and the two, preceded by the military and Committee of Congress, and attended by the mayor and aldermen, the clergy, the foreign ministers, and numbers of distinguished citizens, passed through the crowded streets, amid deafening huzzas, to the Osgood mansion, on the corner of Cherry Street and Franklin Square, which had been prepared for the President's reception. Washington arrived on the 24th of April ; John Adams, the Vice- President, on the 22d. Six days were employed in preparations for the inaugural ceremonies, which, as completing the fabric of a national government, it had been decided should be of the most imposing character. Thunder of guns, therefore, aroused the city on the memorable 30th of April, 1789. At nine o'clock every bell in the city rang merry peals for a few moments and then suddenly ceased. All din of traffic was hushed, and, in its place, vast throngs of eager people in holiday attire filled the streets. New York had never before been so crowded with visitors. They had come from town and country for hundreds
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of miles around, and every incoming packet on sound and river but added to their numbers. All waited with bated breath the beginning of the ceremonies. After a measured interval the bells began again in slow, solemn tones, summoning the people to the churches to implore the blessing of God on the young nation and its untried President.
After the religious services, the military formed in Cherry Street, opposite the house of the President, and when he came forth, attended by the joint com- mittee of the Senate and House of Representatives, formed in columns and took position at the head of the procession. Following them came the sheriff of the city and county of New York, the committee of the Senate, the President-elect, the committee of the House, Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, Secretary John Jay, Secretary Henry Knox, the Commissioners of the Treasury, and distinguished citizens, in car- riages. To the sound of martial music, the proces- sion then swept down Pearl Street to Broad, and up Broad to Wall, where, in front of Federal Hall, the regiments halted and opened ranks on either side, through which Washington and the distinguished company passed into the capitol and up the stairway to the Senate Chamber. Here the Senators and Representatives-dignified, reverend men, every one chosen for his commanding genius, statesmanship, and public services-awaited the chief. As he entered, John Adams arose, advanced, received him with the stately courtesy of the day, and conducted him to the Vice-President's chair, which he had just vacated ; then, after formally introducing him to the august body, he said :
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" Sir-The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States are ready to attend you, to take the oath required by the Constitution, which will be administered by the Chancellor of the State of New York."
"I am ready to proceed," was the President's reply. Vice-President Adams then conducted him to the gallery overlooking Wall Street, accompanied by the Senators, the Chancellor in his judicial robes, and other gentlemen. A wonderful sight met the eyes of the distinguished company. Wall and Broad streets were a sea of upturned faces; the windows, balconies, and house-tops were filled with gayly dressed ladies ; flags and banners, caressed by the mild spring zephyrs, waved everywhere, all bearing the magic word Washington. From the whole vast throng, it was observed, not a whisper arose. But soon a group of three appeared between the central Doric columns of the gallery-the noble figure of the President on the right, opposite him Chancellor Livingston, in his robes, and between them the Sec- retary of the Senate, holding upon a crimson cushion an open Bible. Then the Chancellor, in words that reached every ear, repeated the solemn oath : " You do solemnly swear 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 Constitution of the United States." " I swear," said Washington, as he bent to kiss the Bible, adding with fervor: "So help me God." ' Chancellor Livingston turned to the multitude and, waving his hand, cried with strong, triumphant voice :
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" Long live George Washington, President of the United States !" and from the people arose resound- ing cheers, while the spires shook with pealing of bells, and over all swelled the thunder of cannon from. forts and ships and marshalled ranks. A calm onlooker would have said the city was mad with joy. And truly it had cause. .
A great idea was firmly rooted that day-the idea of nationality. No more petty, weak, separated States, but a mighty nation, America, the United States. No doubt to those patriotic men the future opened its ravishing vistas, and they saw beyond our time what this nation hopes to be,-first among peoples, the noblest, strongest, grandest-because the freest- nation of the earth !
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PART III. 'THE FREE CITY.
369 - 370
XVIII.
THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS.
FOR a year New York continued to be the capital. -the court town. Washington and his cabinet ministers - Jefferson, Hamilton, and Knox, John Adams, the Vice-President, Chief-Justice Jay, Gov- ernor Clinton, and other high officers of government -removed their families to the city and formed the court circle. In the diary left by Washington during this period we gain pleasant glimpses of the inner life of this circle. Official life was then attended with much more of stately ceremonial and court etiquette than is now practised. The President's intercourse with Congress was modelled after the English form, and his messages to that body were delivered in person, after the fashion of the English kings. In his diary for January 8, 1790, he gives an interesting account of this ceremony. A committee first perfected arrangements. Then, at eleven o'clock, he set out for Federal Hall-where Congress, in joint session, was assembled-"in a coach," he tells us,
"drawn by six horses, preceded by Col. Humphreys and Major Johnson, in uniform, on my two white horses, and followed by Messrs. Lear and Nelson in
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my chariot, and Mr. Lewis, on horse-back, following them. In their rear was the Chief-Justice of the United States and the Secretaries of the Treasury and War Departments (Hamilton and Knox), in their respective carriages and in the order they are named. At the outer door I was met by the door-keepers of the Senate and House, and conducted to the door of the Senate Chamber, and passing from thence to the chair, through the Senate on the right and the House on the left, I took my seat. The gentlemen who attended me followed and took their stand behind the Senators, the whole rising as I entered. After being seated, at which time the members of both Houses also sat, I rose as they also did, and made my speech, delivering one copy to the President of the Senate and another to the Speaker of the House of Representatives ; after which, and being a few minutes seated, I retired, bowing on each side to the assembly (who stood) as I passed, and descending to the lower hall, attended as before, I returned with them to my house."
A few days later Congress was ready to return an answer to the President's message, and at his request waited on him at his house in Franklin Square, "the members of both coming in carriages, and the latter, with the Mace, preceding the Speaker." " The ad- dress of the Senate was presented by the Vice-Presi- dent, and that of the House by the Speaker thereof."
In the social amenities of the times, the Chief Magistrate was also a prominent figure. He kept a retinue of servants, horses, and carriages; the silver- plate and lighter articles of furniture were transferred from Mount Vernon, first to the Franklin-Square
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house, and in 1790 to the McComb mansion on Broadway, a little south of Trinity Church, which remained the President's home during his stay in New York. He loved riding, walking, and all forms of manly exercise, and his noble figure-six feet three in height and straight as an arrow-became a famil- iar object to the citizens. He entertained gener- ously, and was entertained with equal hospitality. When Congress called with its answer to the address, twelve favored members, we are told, remained to dine. We read of his going in the post-chaise with Madam Washington to call on the Vice-President and his wife at Richmond Hill. On his return he walked to Rufus King's to make a social call, but neither that statesman nor his wife were at home. Another time he honors Secretary and Mrs. Hamil- ton, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus King, General and Mrs. Philip Schuyler, Mrs. Greene, and Mrs. Adams with tickets to his private box in the John Street theatre; and when the distinguished party enters, the audi- ence rises, and remains standing until it is seated. In one day we find he made business calls on Chief- Justice Jay and Secretary Knox, called informally on Governor Clinton, Mr. Ralph Izard, General Philip Schuyler, and Mrs. Dalton, entertained at dinner Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Izard and son, Dr. Johnson, lady and daughter, and Chief-Justice Jay, and after- ward went with Mrs. Washington to the dancing as- sembly and remained there until ten o'clock. His levees on Tuesday were great social occasions. On the 12th (December, 1789) he "exercised with Mrs. Washington and the children in the coach between
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breakfast and dinner,-went the fourteen miles' round." This "round" followed the " Old Boston Road " as far as McGowan's Pass, thence westerly to the Bloomingdale Road, lined at that time with villas and country-seats, and back along the banks of the Hudson to the city,-the favorite drive of New Yorkers in those days. On the 14th he "walked round the Battery in the afternoon." On Christmas- day, "went to St. Paul's Chapel in the forenoon. The visitors to Mrs. Washington this afternoon were not numerous, but respectable."
New Year's Day introduced a new custom to the courtly Virginian,-the custom of congratulatory calls. Between twelve and three he was visited by the Vice-President, Governor Clinton, the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, the foreign ambassadors, and the principal gentlemen of the city. Later in the day great numbers of ladies and gentlemen gathered to Mrs. Washington's weekly levee, which was held on this day (Friday). In the evening those guests that remained were regaled on plum and plain cake, tea and coffee, and the evening was spent in social intercourse. Washington in- quired whether this custom of New Year's calling was a long-established one or otherwise; and on being told that it had been introduced by the Dutch founders of New Amsterdam, remarked that with the influx of emigrants many of the ancient customs and manners of the city would, of necessity, be changed, "but whatever changes take place," said he, "never forget the cordial and cheerful observ- ance of New Year's Day." The houses of Jay,
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Hamilton, Knox, Vice-President Adams, and Gover- nor Clinton were also centres of social courtesies during this period.
Meantime the question of a site for the permanent capital of the nation was agitating the minds of Congressmen and of the people. New York would undoubtedly have been chosen, but neither State nor city was willing to cede the ten miles square of territory demanded by the general government. Philadelphia was mentioned, but Southern Senators objected because her Quakers " were eternally dog- ging Southern members with their schemes of emancipation." Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia advocated a site on the Potomac which, as we know, was finally chosen. But while the capital city was being built, Congress decided to hold its sessions in Philadelphia ; and when it rose on the 12th of August, 1790, adjourned to meet in Philadelphia the next December,-a decision that caused great dissatis- faction in New York. A print of the day represents Robert Morris marching off to Philadelphia with Federal Hall on his back and the Evil One on the roof of Paulus Hook ferry-house beckoning en- couragingly and crying, " This way, Bobby."
Thus New York lost her court circle. President and Senators, legislative processions, weekly levees, court balls, and State pageants faded from her streets, and were seen no more. Not entirely to her disadvantage, however, for her genius was commer- cial, and along this line her marvellous development was to come. Not then, however; it was not chiefly to commerce, but to politics, that the bold and dar-
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ing spirits of that day turned. In fact, law and pol- itics were almost the only openings then available to men of genius. Of art, science, literature, there was none ; and of commerce, very little. Hence, we find that the great lawyers of that day were statesmen, and the great statesmen were lawyers. Clinton, Hamilton, Burr, Jay, Livingston, Duane-it was so in almost every case.
For a time after the adoption of the Constitution party spirit was stilled, but it very soon revived. There were too many points of difference between the two great parties for them to remain long at peace. These parties were the Federalist and the Republican-the same that had been defined by the contest over the Constitution, but they had now be- come much stronger, and their creeds were more sharply defined. The Federalist was styled by its opponents "the English party." Its leaders re- garded the English constitution as the most perfect ever devised by man. They advocated a national form of government, a powerful standing army, the formality and etiquette of courts, a diplomatic ser- vice like that of Europe, the restriction of the suf- frage, the encouragement of foreign commerce and of domestic manufactures-the latter by a protective tariff. They disliked France and the French people, and viewed with horror the French Revolution, which was now beginning to attract the attention of the world. The Republicans, on the other hand, advo- cated simplicity and economy in the government, a doing away with all monarchical forms, the employ- ment of a well-drilled militia instead of a standing
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army, open sessions of Congress, an extension of the franchise, the encouragement of agriculture and inter- nal trade, rather than of foreign commerce, and they ardently espoused the cause of the French people.
The success of the Constitution, which was largely an embodiment of the federal principle, had placed the Federalists in power, but the Republicans were still numerous and powerful. New York City, under the leadership of Hamilton, Jay, and others, was staunchly Federalist, but the State at large, con- trolled by Governor George Clinton, was Republi- can. The differences between the two parties were so great, and the prize in view-the privilege of shaping the destiny of the young nation-so coveted, that their struggle for supremacy became the most bitter and exciting ever known in American politics.
The story has been often told, and we will content ourselves with a brief history of the closing struggle which took place in New York, and in which two famous citizens of the city were the chief actors. These two men were Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr; the former a Federalist, the latter a Republican. Both have before appeared in our story,-Hamilton, as one of the chief framers of the Constitution, and as Washington's Secretary of the Treasury, where he had originated the financial policy of the nation. At this time, 1799, he had re- signed from the treasury and was practising law in New York, although his influence with its leaders still gave him almost supreme power in the Federal party. Aaron Burr, whom we last saw leading Silliman's brigade from New York before the British
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advance, had also studied law, and was now a lawyer in New York, and the only rival of Hamilton at its bar. He had filled several official positions with credit : had been Attorney-General of New York in 1789, Senator from New York, 1791-1797; and, in the presidential contest of 1796, had received thirty electoral votes for President. He had been defeated for reelection to the Senate in 1797 by the Federal- ists, under Hamilton's leadership, and at once set to work to withdraw New York from their grasp, per- ceiving clearly that, with the electoral vote of that great State, the Republicans could elect their Presi- dent in. 1800. He laid his plans with matchless tact, and carried them out with energy. Presidential electors, at that time, were chosen by the State Legislatures. He therefore caused himself to be elected to the New York Legislature, and, while there, bestowed favors and compliments, and other- wise ingratiated himself with rural members whom he knew to possess great influence with their home constituents ; he was also in constant communication with the party leaders in different States, and ar- ranged with them for a settled method of procedure in the campaign. Then, as the year 1800 approached, he brought his marvellous powers as an organizer to work, to so discipline and organize the party in New York City as to insure victory. Aaron Burr first taught politicians the resistless power of party or- ganization in winning victories. True, there were other leaders-Edward Livingston, the jurist and statesman, who was given the mayoralty of New York for his services in this campaign ; his relative,
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Judge Brockholst Livingston ; ex-Governor George Clinton, the War Governor, and others ; but it was generally admitted that Burr's matchless tact and
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energy won the victory. He began by gathering about him a body-guard of able, ardent, resolute young spirits-men of education and wit,-for the
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most part without birth or fortune, but ambitious of distinction, and imbued them with his courage and activity. These were the ward-workers, the men who attended to the primaries and caucuses, and saw to getting out a full vote ; the "Tenth Legion"-The- odosia, Burr's daughter, called them ; " Burr's Myr- midons," they were styled by the Federal leaders. Burr played, too, with rare tact upon the two fac- tions of the party led by the Clintons and the Liv- ingstons.
As the year 1800 drew near, all admitted that the only hope of Republican success lay in car- rying New York. That State, at this time, was Fed- eralist. John Jay was Governor. In the election of 1799, the Republican ticket, headed by Aaron Burr, had been beaten by a majority of 900. In April, 1800, the Legislature which was to elect presidential electors was to be chosen. Burr strained every nerve to make this body Republican. The strongest names that could be obtained were nominated-George Clinton, so long Governor of New York, Horatio Gates, the conqueror of Burgoyne, Samuel Osgood, Washington's Postmaster-General, and others whose names were towers of strength. He marshalled his body-guard again, and infused into the party in general that discipline and blind fealty which has ever since made New York a Democratic city. He made lists of Republican voters, noting each one's age, habits, residence, health, and tempera- ment ; he held ward and general meetings, and ad- dressed them, and watched with a wary eye the movements of his opponent, alert to take advantage
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