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Reconstruction

of

the Union.

Constitution, forbidding slavery in the land, and had sent it to the States for ratification. In the course of the year it was adopted by a sufficient number of States to make it a part of the Constitution. Now, the war being ended, the new condition of affairs must be met. As fast as possible the Union must be restored to its former condition, slavery excepted. This was called Reconstruction. How should this be done? In a certain way, thought Congress; in another way, thought the President. Congress was Republican. As Johnson had been elected Vice-President by Republicans, he was supposed to be in full accord with them.

60. Day by day Congress made progress in the direction of reconstruction, not, however, without stubborn opposition from the President. The latter held that the States in the late Confederacy had never been out of the Union, hence that representatives sent from them to Congress should be admitted into that body at once. Congress, not disputing the first part of this assertion, insisted as evidence of good faith on the part of such States that the negroes, including the former slaves, should be citizens of the United States, with the same right to vote that other citizens possessed. This led to the adoption by Congress and the States of two more amendments to the Constitution, the Fourteenth and the Fifteenth, and completed the legislation, so far as the Constitution goes, in relation to slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment emancipated the slaves, the Fourteenth made them citizens, and the Fifteenth gave them the right to vote (Appendix, p. 30).

61. So opposed was the President to the stand taken by Congress that he did not hesitate to call it a New Rebellion. The breach between him and Congress grew wider until the

60. Give an account of the dispute between Congress and President Johnson. What is said of the three amendments to the Constitution?

61. Give an account of the impeachment and trial of the President.

House of Representatives, believing that he had been guilty of acts contrary to law, impeached him. He was tried before the Senate, as provided by the Constitution (Appendix, p. 12). At the end of two months a vote was taken on some of the charges. A large majority of the Senators, but not twothirds, were in favor of conviction. The Constitution says that "no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present." It being evident that so many would not vote against the President, the Senate as a court adjourned (May, 1868).

Nevada, Nebraska,

and Alaska.

62. While Lincoln was President a part of the territory acquired from Mexico in 1848 (map 6) was admitted to the Union as the State of Nevada (1864). More than two years later, Johnson then being President, a part of the Louisiana Purchase was admitted as the State of Nebraska (1867). In the same year the territorial property of the United States was increased by the purchase of Alaska (map 8). This vast tract, larger by far than the thirteen original States, was bought of Russia for seven million two hundred thousand dollars. At first the American people looked upon the far-off region as nothing but rocks and ice. In derision, they called it "Seward's Purchase," Mr. Seward, as Secretary of State, having favored the bargain. Soon they began to know that its waters swarmed with fish, that millions of seals valuable for their furs resorted to its islands, and that its forests would furnish timber when all the near forests had been exhausted.

GRANT'S ADMINISTRATION.

63. General Grant, nominated by the Republican party for President, was elected by a large majority; and, on the

62. What is said of Nevada? Nebraska? Alaska? What are the boundaries of Alaska (map 8) ?

63. What is said of Grant's election? Of Texas? Of Reconstruction?

4th of March, 1869, began his administration. Texas was the last State to accept the amendments to the Constitution, and, consequently, to be admitted to representation in Congress. The Reconstruction of the Union was then complete (1870).

Settlement of

with England.

64. And now the day of settlement with Great Britain could no longer be put off. There were several causes for just complaint, but overshadowing all others was Disputes the injury done to American commerce by the Alabama and other cruisers built in English ship-yards (§ 48). At length a treaty was concluded in the city of Washington, hence known as the Washington Treaty, for the settlement by arbitration of all causes of difference between the two countries (1871). Under this treaty, five arbitrators--one from each of the countries, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Great Britain, and the United States-met in Geneva, Switzerland, 1872. They had full authority to examine all the claims for losses inflicted by the Alabama and her English-built consorts, and to determine the damage. Their award amounted to fifteen and a half million dollars; and that sum was promptly paid by the British Government.

Next came the settlement of the dispute commonly known as the San Juan Question, respecting the northwestern boundary line (§ 6). This line, leaving the 49th parallel, bends southward around Vancouver Island, but the exact location of the bend

was in doubt. The question was referred to the Emperor of Germany, who decided that the claim put forth by the United States was perfectly right (1872).

64. What was the Washington Treaty? State fully how the Alabama claims were

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settled. The San Juan dispute.

65. To settle the dispute respecting the right to fish off Newfoundland and its neighboring waters was not so easy. In order to understand that dispute we must go back to the treaty that ended our first war with England. The decision then reached gave to the people of the United States the right to fish in "all the sea waters" in and about the British possessions in North America (p. 201). From that time till 1814 there was no dispute concerning that right. When negotiations were carried on in 1814 to end our second war with England, the British commissioners, asserting that "all treaties are put to an end by a subsequent war between the two parties," maintained that this second war had destroyed all the fishing rights conceded

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ULYSSES S. GRANT.

to us by the first treaty. As the American commissioners would not assent to this doctrine no mention whatever was made of the subject in the new treaty (p. 257).

66. In consequence of this neglect the old controversy was soon revived. In 1818 a treaty was concluded which gave to the people of the United States the right to fish as formerly, but only outside of three miles from the land of the British domain. This, we see, was a concession to British demands. Our fishermen were observing the terms of this new treaty in good faith when their vessels in the fishing waters were molested and even seized. In 1845 another treaty was made, but, as it was not satisfactory to our fishermen, it was terminated twelve years later. This brings us to the Washington Treaty

65. Repeat what is said of the fishery dispute to the close of 1814.

66. Give the further history of that dispute.

of 1871, which provided for the formation of a commission of three persons to settle the dispute (§ 64). After a delay of six years one commissioner was appointed by President Grant, one by Queen Victoria, and one by the Emperor of Austria. By a majority vote, the American commissioner dissenting, it was decided that a treaty should be made for twelve years, during which time our fishermen should be allowed to fish as formerly; but that for this privilege the United States should pay the sum of five and a half million dollars. This was at the rate of nearly four hundred and sixty thousand dollars a year. Though the award was known by our government to be far too much, the amount was paid (1878), and the dispute set aside for a time.

The Nation's

67. General Grant was the candidate of the Republicans for a second term, his competitor being Horace Greeley, "a distinguished journalist and leader of public opinion." Grant was elected (1872).* In this Centennial. second term occurred the centennial of the nation's birth (1876). One hundred years before, in Philadelphia's Old State House, the United States were declared to be free and independent. It was therefore fitting that in the Quaker City the centenary event should receive special attention. In that city's great park nearly two hundred buildings were erected, in which was held a World's Fair. Products from the farm and workshop of every State in the Union and from every important foreign country were exhibited in great profusion. Works of art, and other articles

*Greeley was nominated by Republicans who did not like Grant's administration. He was also nominated by a Democratic convention. Before the result was officially known, he died. The death of his wife, at whose bedside he had long watched day and night, added to the excitement and strain to which he had been subjected during the election canvass, broke him down.

67. What is said of Grant's second election? What is said of Greeley (note)? Of the nation's centennial? Of the World's Fair?

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