member of the United States of America." There was no constitution either submitted to, or required by, Congress : nor are there any traces of a constitution of that new state to be found previous to the 9th of July, 1793.

Kentucky was the next state admitted into the Union. On the 18th of December, 1789, shortly after the national convention adopted the federal constitution, the Virginia legislature resolved in favour of authorising Kentucky to organise an independent state. On the 4th of February, 1791, Congress passed an act of consent, that Kentucky should become a separate state, and be admitted into the Union on the 1st day of June, 1792. On the 19th of April, 1792, the state formed its constitution, and organised a state government. On the first day of the next session of Congress (November 5th, 1792), the senators from Kentucky took their seats. The constitution of the state had not been, nor has it ever been, submitted to Congress. The formalities observed in the admission of the states of Vermont and Kentucky, during the first years of the government, and during the administration of Washington as president (and who had been the president of the convention that framed the federal constitution), conclusively prove, that the submission of a constitution was not necessary, as a precedent, to the admission of the new state making the application to become a member of the Union.

Tennessee was the next state admitted. Its constitution had been formed on the 6th of February, 1796; and on the application for its admission, a member from South Carolina objected to its constitution, because "it contained

a clause repugnant to the constitution of the United States." A member from Georgia considered that the objectionable clause was of no particular import; and said, "if repugnant to the constitution of the United States, it was a nullity, because the constitution of the United States was paramount." The state was admitted, even with the objectionable clause, without further discussion.

Ohio was the fourth state admitted. On the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed a law, authorising the people of the territory of Ohio to form a state government. On the 29th of November, 1802, a constitution was framed; and, on the 7th of January, 1803, it was laid before the senate it was referred to a committee, and was never reported upon. At the close of Congress, it was filed in the archives of the senate as "dead matter." On the 19th of February, 1803, Congress passed an act, in which was declared, that, by the law of Congress, approved April 30th, 1802, the people of the territory of Ohio, having been authorised to form a constitution and state government, therefore the said state of Ohio had become one of the United States of America. Louisiana was the first state admitted through formality-not, however, on the question of slavery, but on a pecuniary consideration with the older states. On the 20th of February, 1811, Congress passed an act authorising the people of Louisiana to form a constitution and state government, which was complied with by the adoption of a constitution on the 28th of January, 1812. On the 8th of April, 1812, the state was admitted into the Union by formal act of Congress; but conditional: namely-it was

stipulated that the free navigation of the Mississippi, and other rivers of Louisiana, should be secured for ever to all the older states, free from "any tax, duty, impost, or toll." The Mississippi river traverses the state, and the older (then existing) members of the Union made it a condition of the admission of the state of Louisiana, that the free navigation of that great river should be secured to all the old states of the Union. There was a good reason for the enactment of this stipulatory law. The state of New York, at that very day, like the old feudal knights of the Rhine, exacted as a toll, one dollar from every passenger that travelled in the steam-boats navigating the Hudson river. It thereby derived an immense revenue from the tax levied upon one of the navigable streams of the Union. The state of New York required the people of Louisiana to pay a toll of one dollar for permission to travel upon the Hudson river steam-boats; but on the admission of Louisiana into the Union, it was conditioned that the people of New York were to travel free from tax upon the Mississippi river, running within the state of Louisiana! It was right to secure the free navigation of that great river, not only to the older, but to all the states of the Union.

We cannot, in this work, fully discuss the important issues which have originated on the admission of new states into the Union. The preceding cases are sufficient to prove, that the subsequent policy pursued by the northern states has been politically sectional, without regard to the spirit of the national compact, as practically interpreted by Washington and the other framers of the federal constitution.

VERMONT.

This state was the first admitted into the Union, after the formation of the United States' government of 1789. The territory of Vermont, consisting of an area of 10,212 square miles, was claimed by the states of New York and New Hampshire. The latter alleged that its domain, under the royal charter, extended as far west as the territory of Massachusetts. This allegation was resolutely denied by New York. The people of Vermont were opposed to both claimants, and declared themselves an independent colony. New York exhibited a resolution to maintain its title by force and occupancy: on the other hand, the people of Vermont were determined to resist all attempts at coercion; and their hardy lives had fitted them to enforce their will. The revolutionary war put at rest, for the time being, the domestic conflict between the people of Vermont and the state of New York; each abandoned the home quarrel, and united against a common and foreign foe. After the close of the war the whole country required tranquillity. The long struggle had produced a general desire for peace with all the world, and especially between the colonies. They had conquered their independence at a great cost; and the responsibility of maintaining it was fully appreciated. The people of Vermont were resolute, fearless, and brave. They felt that they had done their part in the achievement of the national glory; and that glory they were determined to enjoy as a sovereignty. Great Britain was anxious to retain Vermont within her American possessions. The states had formed

the confederation government, and were in the full enjoyment of peace. Vermont applied for admission as a state; but New York objected, alleging a claim to the territory. In 1787, application was made to be admitted into the constitutional government as a sovereign state; but New York defeated the effort. It was feared that Vermont, rather than submit to coercion, would join the British possessions; and, in 1789, New York was induced to withdraw its opposition. By an act of Congress, passed March 4th, 1791, Vermont became a member of the constitutional government of the United States.

The face of the country is hilly or mountainous. East of Lake Champlain, its western boundary, the lands, for about five miles, are uneven and fertile. The chain of Green Mountains traverses the state; and, near the centre, it divides-one range extending northward, consisting of broken sections, with the highest peaks; the other range runs north-east, in an unbroken chain. This immense mountain barrier has a valley through it, possessing grand and beautiful scenery. Among the highest of the mountain peaks is the Killington, 3,675 feet above the level of the sea; also the Camel's Rump, on the south side of Onion River, 4,188 feet; and the Mansfield, on the north side of the Onion, 4,279 feet. The land lying east of the mountain ridge, is more hilly than that on the western side. The birch, beech, maple, ash, elm, and bitter-nut, grow to the east; and the oak, pine, and evergreens grow to the west of the mountains. In the valleys the lands are rich, generally moist, and very fertile. The hilly lands are sterile and difficult to cultivate, on account of rocks.