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of the old Federalist party and renewed strength to the Republicans. The objects of the war, so far as English arrogance was concerned, were practically accomplished, though the terms of the treaty did not expressly negative the British claims.

War Power of the President is a term applied to the power of the President as Commander-in-chief of the army and navy (Constitution, Article 2, section 2). This power is great or small, according to the emergency it is called upon to face. In serious emergencies it is almost despotic, being limited only by the power of Congress to withhold supplies. In time of peace it is entirely suspended. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued "as a fit and necessary measure of war" by the President as Commander-inchief of the army and navy.

War, Secretary of. (See War Department.) Wars of the United States. The chief wars in which the United States have been engaged since the formation of the government, in 1789, are five in number, and are treated under the headings, Barbary Pirates (the Algerine War), Civil War, Mexican War, War of 1812, and SpanishAmerican War. The most important conflicts with Indian tribes are discussed under Indian Wars. The Aroostook boundary disturbance is mentioned in the article Northwest Boundary, and the title Canadian Rebellion covers another slight difficulty on our northern frontier. (See also Fenians.) The irregular hostilities with France at the close of the last century are treated under X. Y. Z. Mission. For domestic difficulties, sometimes called "wars," see under appropriate headings, as Border War, Buckshot War, Hot Water War, etc.

War to the Knife and the Knife to the Hilt. This sentiment was attributed to the Republicans by the Anti-War Democrats during the Civil War.

War with Tripoli. (See Barbary Pirates.)

Washington, City of. (See Capital of the United States; District of Columbia.)

Washington, George, the first President of the United States, was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, February 22, 1732. He died at Mount Vernon, Virginia, December 14, 1799. He was of English descent. His educa

tion was obtained in the local schools. In his early days he was a land surveyor. He inherited considerable property from his father and from his older brother. He distinguished himself during the French and Indian War, where he rose to the rank of colonel and commander of the Virginian forces. After that war he lived quietly, managing his property and serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses, until sent to the Continental Congress in 1774. In 1759 he had married Martha Danbridge Custis, widow of John Parke Custis. On June 15, 1775, he was appointed by the Congress, Commander-in-Chief of the American. forces engaged in the Revolution; this position he retained to the end of the war. Immediately after the war he resigned his commission and retired to Mount Vernon, whence he emerged as delegate to the Convention of 1787 (which see) of this he became the presiding officer. On the adoption of the Constitution framed by that Convention he was elected President of the United States, receiving the compliment, unparalleled in our history, of a unanimous vote. He was similarly elected for a second term. During his administration the government's finances were put in order and the Bank of the United States was established; Indian troubles on the frontiers were suppressed after two unsuccessful attempts; Jay's Treaty was concluded with England in the settlement of various matters in dispute, and the Whisky Insurrection in Pennsylvania was crushed. In 1797 he was once again called from Mount Vernon, whither he had withdrawn at the expiration of his term as President, to act as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, in a war then threatening with France. When the danger of a war had passed by he again retired to his home, where he died in 1799. With his countrymen his influence, drawn partly from his military fame and partly from his lofty character, was enormous, and it was always exerted for good. The adoption of the Constitution was in many quarters owing to his approval of it. As Commanderin-Chief of the Revolutionary Army he had refused to accept pay. As President, he professed adherence to no party or faction, although his leanings were toward the centralizing tendencies of Hamilton. Personally he was cold, dignified and aristocratic.

Washingon Territory was admitted to the Union as a State by Act of Congress, November 11, 1889. It was part of the Louisiana Purchase (see Annexations 1) and was for a time a part of Oregon. It was organized as a separate territory by Act of March 2, 1853. The northern boundary of this region was for a long time in dispute with Great Britain, but was settled in 1846. (See Northwest Boundary.) It was named in honor of George Washington. The capital is Olympia.

Waterloo. "A Waterloo" has come to be the synonym of a complete and irretrievable defeat. At Waterloo, a village of Belgium, on June 18, 1815, the English and Prussians, under the Duke of Wellington, completely routed Napoleon Bonaparte, who, with the French Army, had for years been maintaining a gigantic and successful struggle against many of the nations of Europe. By this defeat his power and prestige were hopelessly shattered.

Watterson, Henry. Served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; member of Congress from Kentucky, 1876-77. Born at Washington, D. C., 1840.

Wayne, Anthony. Served in the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution; member of the Pennsylvania ratifying convention; member of Congress from Georgia, 1791-92. Born in Pennsylvania, January 1, 1745; died at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1796. (See Mad Anthony.)

Ways and Means, Committee of, is the most important of the standing committees of the House of Representatives. Its function is the ways and means of raising and collecting revenue; or, in other words, the general subject of government revenues; this includes the tariff and internal revenue, as well as the public debt and financial measures. Prior to 1865 the expenditure of the government was also within its scope. This is now in the hands of the Appropriations Committee. (See Appropriations.)

Weaver, James B. Served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Member of Congress from Iowa, 1879-81; unsuccessful candidate on the Greenback-Labor ticket for President, 1880, and on the People's Party ticket for President, 1892 member of Congress from Iowa, 1885-89. Born at Dayton, Ohio, June 12, 1833.

Webster, Daniel, was born at Salisbury, New Hampshire, January 18, 1782, and died at Marshfield, Massachusetts, October 24, 1852. He was a lawyer, and a graduate of Dartmouth. From 1813 to 1817 he represented New Hampshire in Congress as a Federalist, then removed to Boston, serving in Congress from Massachusetts from 1823 to 1827, in the Senate from 1827 to 1841, as Secretary of State from 1841 to 1843, again in the Senate from 1845 to 1850, and once more, from 1850 until his death, as Secretary of State. It is conceded that he was the foremost orator this country has ever possessed. His name is best known in connection with the Dartmouth College case (which see), and his debate with Senator Hayne on Foote's Resolution (which see). Although frequently mentioned as a candidate for the Presidency, he never attained even the formal nomination of his party, although in 1836 the Massachusetts electors cast their votes for him. In 1850 he made his famous Seventh of March speech, regarded by many as a final bid for the Presidency. However that may be, he was not nominated, and died soon after.

We Have Been Unfortunate, but Not Disgraced. On the 28th of March, 1814, during the War of 1812, Captain David Porter lay in the harbor of Valparaiso, Chili, in the United States frigate Essex. Notwithstanding the fact that he was in neutral waters he was attacked by two British vessels, the frigate Phoebe and the sloop-of-war Cherub. His vessel had been crippled by a storm, but he fought bravely, till nearly all his men were disabled, and then struck his colors. He reported to the government, "We have been unfortunate, but not disgraced."

We have Lived Long, but This is the Noblest Work of Our Whole Lives. This remark was made by Robert R. Livingston after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. (See Annexations I.)

We Have Met the Enemy and They Are Ours. During the War of 1812 the control of Lake Erie became necessary to the Americans for an aggressive movement on Canada. To oppose the British squadron, under Commodore Barclay, of six vessels carrying sixty-three guns in all, Commodore Oliver H. Perry gathered nine vessels mounting in all fifty-four guns. On the 10th of September, 1813,

he attacked the British, fought a desperate battle, in the course of which he performed the daring feat of transferring his flag from the Lawrence, which was badly injured, to the Niagara, and defeated the enemy. To General Harrison, who was anxiously awaiting on shore the event of the battle, he sent the following dispatch: "We have met the enemy and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop." This victory was celebrated in a rude song of the day, as follows:

"The tenth of September

Let us all remember,

As long as the world on its axis goes round;
Our tars and marines

On Lake Erie were seen

To make the proud flag of Great Britain come down."

Well-Born, The. A term of contempt applied to the Federalists. The term was used by John Adams during the discussion preceding the adoption of the Constitution. "The rich, the well-born and the able will," wrote he, "acquire an influence among the people that will soon be too much for simple honesty and plain sense in a House of Representatives."

We Love Him for the Enemies that He Has Made. This sentence was uttered by Edward S. Bragg, of Wisconsin, in the Democratic National Convention of 1884, in a speech urging the nomination of Grover Cleveland for President. The reference was to the minority of the New York delegation, which was opposed to Cleveland's nomination, and which had attempted to abolish the Unit Rule for the purpose of compassing his defeat. Cleveland was nominated. Western Reserve. (See Territories.)

West Florida. (See Annexations II.)

West Point and Military Academy. (See United States Military Academy at West Point.)

West Virginia was once a part of Virginia, but its people did not sympathize with the pro-slavery and secession sentiments of the eastern portion of the State, and on the ratification of the ordinance of secession (see Virginia) a convention at Wheeling declared it null and void. A gov

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