WASHINGTON. l8l 



imposing duties on imported merchandise, and taxes on 

 tonnage of vessels. Congress then proceeded to complete 

 the Government by instituting an executive cabinet to be 

 composed of heads of the different departments, of the 

 treasury, of war, and of state. Alexander Hamilton was 

 appointed Secretary of the Treasury, General Knox Secretary 

 of War, and Thomas Jefferson Secretary of State. John Jay 

 received the office of Chief Justice ; the associate judges were 

 John Routledge, James Wilson, John Cushing, Robert 

 Harrison, and John Blair. These were the first officers of 

 Washington, and they raised for themselves a monument of 

 fame, inferior only to that of their chief, and they are still 

 gratefully remembered by an admiring country. 



The second session of the first Congress commenced on 

 the ist of January, 1790. The President recommended 

 several subjects as claiming their consideration, among which 

 were : a provision for the common defence, the arming and 

 disciplining of the militia, laws for the naturalization of 

 foreigners, an uniformity in the currency, weights and 

 measures, the advancement of agriculture, commerce and 

 manufactures, the encouragement of new and useful inven- 

 tions, the establishment of post offices and post roads, the 

 promotion and patronage of science and literature, and the 

 adoption of effective measures for the support of the public 

 credit. 



During this session, it was also decided that the seat of 

 Government should be removed for ten years to Philadelphia, 

 and then be established permanently at some place, on the 

 Potomac River. The next year, during his southern tour, 

 Washington selected the position for the future Capital, the 

 duty devolving on him as President. Under his direction the 

 territory was surveyed, the city planned and laid out, and the 

 sites of the public buildings designated. The territory has 

 since been called District of Columbia, and to the city was 

 given the name of its illustrious founder. 



In the year 1791, the first census of the United States 

 was taken, when it appeared that the whole number of 

 inhabitants was three millions, nine hundred and twenty-one 

 thousand, three hundred a?td twenty-six, of whom 695,655 

 were slaves. 



At the meeting of the second Congress at Philadelphia, 

 the President congratulated them on the prosperous condition 

 of the country, on the great success of the bank scheme, and 

 on many other reforms made. The principal laws passed at this 



