New States.

tory. Its upper part, a strip twelve miles wide, was ceded by South Carolina (§ 11). Its lower part, from the thirtyfirst parallel to the Gulf of Mexico, was claimed by the United States as a part of the Louisiana Purchase (§ 40). Spain's cession in 1819 gave us a clear title to it (§ 94). All the rest of the territory was ceded by Georgia. Mississippi became a State in 1817, as did Ala

bama two years later. Both were slave States. Between these, in 1818, came Illinois, which, by the Ordinance of 1787, was a free State (§ 11).

97. Meanwhile the first of the great debates in Congress touching slavery was well under way. It began over a pe

97. What requests came from Maine? What two objections were made? State the facts in relation to the Mason and Dixon Line (note).

tition from the people of Maine, who, having adopted a constitution for a State government, asked to be admitted to the Union. An objection at once came from the Massachusetts representatives.

The Missouri

Maine, they said, Compromise. belonged to Massachusetts, the connection dating as far back as the colonial times (map 4).* Presently a more serious objection was raised. This time it came from representatives of the slave States. The constitution which the people of Maine had adopted contained a clause against slavery. To admit Maine would be to increase the power of the free States in Congress. †

98. The discussion was complicated by a movement on the part of the people of Missouri, who, willing to have slavery in their midst, also asked for admission to the Union. At length an agreement was reached, which is often referred to as the Missouri Compromise, or the Compromise of 1820. No restriction was put upon Missouri in respect to slavery, but all the rest of the Louisiana Purchase north of 36° 30', was set apart to be free territory, into which, it was declared, slavery should never be allowed to enter. The adoption of this agreement and the admission of Maine took place in 1820. Missouri was admitted the following year (§ 119).

99. Before Monroe retired from office he had the great

* In 1635 the Plymouth Company divided its territory among its members, Ferdinando Gorges getting the western part of Maine (p. 72). The claims of his heirs and of other parties to the other portions of Maine, were bought by Massachusetts in 1677.

The phrase, Mason and Dixon's Line, began now to be heard. It originated with John Randolph, an eccentric member of Congress, from Virginia, and was soon caught up and used in every part of the land. Though the boundary between Pennsylvania on the one side, and Maryland and Virginia on the other was at first intended, the phrase came to mean the separating line between the free States and the slave States. It was derived from two surveyors, Mason and Dixon, by whom most of the boundary line was run (1763-9). (See note 23, Appendix, p. 49.)

98. Give the particulars of the Missouri Compromise. 99. Give an account of Lafayette's visit in 1824.

Of the battle of Brandywine.

Lafayette, the Nation's

Guest.

Every city,

pleasure of shaking hands with America's distinguished friend, the Marquis of Lafayette, who, by resolution of Congress, had been invited to visit the United States. Accompanied by his son, George Washington Lafayette, he visited every one of the twentyfour States then composing the Union (1824). village, and hamlet poured out its inhabitants to meet him. On the spot, where, just fifty years before, a band of patriots combatted an army of King George's well-trained soldiers, he laid the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill monument, Daniel Webster, America's most gifted orator, completing the day's ceremony with an eloquent address. For his return to France, a national ship was provided. It was not forgotten that, fighting gallantly beside Washington

LAFAYETTE.

in the battle of Brandywine, he had been severely wounded (p. 171). The new ship was named the Brandywine. In it he embarked, and, as her sails were hoisted to the breeze, and she left the waters of the Potomac, a thousand voices filled the air with parting cheers (Sept. 1825).

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION.

100. The next election for President had very little of a political nature in it. Monroe's wise policy had nearly wiped out party lines. The electoral votes were cast for four candidates, and were consequently so divided as to give no one a majority. The duty of completing the election then went

to the House of Representatives (Appendix, page 20); and John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts, eldest son of the nation's second President, was chosen. His term commenced on the 4th of March, 1825, as did that of John C. Calhoun, the Vice-President.

Death

in

101. We may be certain that it gave the father much pleasure to see his son occupying, as he had done himself, the highest position in the nation's gift. But it was not his privilege to enjoy this satisfaction many months. On the 4th of July, 1826, John Adams died, and on that very day, the fiftieth anniversary of American independence, the venerable Thomas Jefferson, the

High Places.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

First Railroad.

Father of the Declaration, also died. What a wonderful coincidence! The one had written the Declaration, the other, by argument and eloquence, had done more than any other man to secure its adoption (p. 161). Each had since been Vice-President and President, and now, full of honors, they departed together just as the nation had reached its half-century of growth.

102. As yet there is not a railroad in the United States, if

we except a rude affair, two miles long, built to convey blocks of granite from the quarries of Quincy, Massachusetts, to tide-water. Its cars were drawn by horses. A few steamboats were on the rivers and lakes (§ 49).

101. What is said of the death of two ex-Presidents? Has the death of any other ex-President occurred on our national anniversary? Ans. Monroe died on the 4th of July, 1831.

102. What is said of our first railroad? Of our first ocean steamship?