THE CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, FROM THE PEACE OF 1783 TO THE FEDERAL CONVENTION OF 1787.
CHAPTER I.
January, 1784-May, 1787.
Duties and Necessities of Congress.—Requisitions on the States.—Revenue System of 1783.
| State of the Union from 1783 to 1787 | [233] |
| Dangers and Evils which existed during the Four Years after the War | [234] |
| A New Congress | [235] |
| Washington's Resignation | [235] |
| Congress urge the Attendance of absent Members | [236] |
| Ratification of the Treaty of Peace | [237] |
| Congress perpetually in Session during the War | [238] |
| Number of Delegates from each State | [238] |
| Low State of the Representation | [239] |
| Duties of the Government | [240] |
| Supplies for the Year 1784 | [240] |
| How to be obtained | [241] |
| Old Requisitions unpaid | [241] |
| Supplies necessary for the Year 1785 | [242] |
| Supplies necessary for the Year 1786 | [242] |
| Rhode Island and New Jersey propose to pay their Quotas in their own Paper Currency | [242] |
| Inadequacy of Requisitions | [243] |
| States which had assented to the Revenue System in February, 1786 | [244] |
| Congress make known the Public Embarrassments | [245] |
| Impost granted by all the States except New York | [246] |
| Argument used in Support of her Refusal | [247] |
| Hamilton's Answer to it | [247] |
| Congress recommend to New York to reconsider the Revenue System | [247] |
| The Governor refuses to summon the Legislature | [247] |
| Failure of the Revenue System | [248] |
CHAPTER II.
1784-1787.
Infractions of the Treaty of Peace.
| Provisions of the Treaty of Peace | [249] |
| Departure of the British Troops from the Atlantic Coast | [249] |
| Western Posts retained | [249] |
| Interests of British Subjects | [250] |
| Confiscated Property | [250] |
| Power of Confiscation belonging to the United States | [252] |
| Refugees | [252] |
| State Laws prohibiting the Recovery of British Debts | [253] |
| Articles of the Treaty infringed by New York | [254], [255] |
| Powers of the Government inadequate | [255] |
| Treaty of Peace | [256] |
| Violations of its Articles | [257] |
| Congress recommend to the States to repeal all Acts repugnant to the Treaty | [258] |
| The two Countries remain in the same Position | [259] |
CHAPTER III.
1786-1787.
No Security afforded by the Confederation to the State Governments.—Shays's Rebellion in Massachusetts, and its Kindred Disturbances.
| Defence against External Assaults, the Object of the Confederation | [260] |
| Construction of the State Constitutions | [261] |
| Fundamental Doctrine of the American Constitutions | [262] |
| Commencement of Discontents in Massachusetts | [263] |
| The Confederation without Power to act upon the Internal Condition of a State | [264], [265] |
| State Governments exposed to the Dangers of Anarchy | [265] |
| Insurrection in Massachusetts | [266] |
| Debt of that State at the Close of the War | [266] |
| Decrease of Exports and Fisheries | [267] |
| General Condition of the State | [267], [268] |
| Private Debts | [268] |
| The Tender Act | [268] |
| Effects of this Law | [269] |
| Shays's Rebellion | [269] |
| Firmness of Governor Bowdoin | [270] |
| Insurrection suppressed | [270] |
| Congress unable to interpose | [271] |
| Hostile Disposition of the Western Indians | [271] |
| Troops to be raised by the New England States | [272] |
| Extent of the Disaffection in New England | [273] |
| Beneficial Effect of these Disturbances | [273] |
| The Union necessary to the Preservation of Order | [274] |
| Washington's Anxieties | [274] |