March 7, 1998
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In 1790 New York State continued to define its boundaries. It
had built a lighthouse on the west side of New York Harbor at
Sandy Hook, which was now part of New Jersey, so the beacon was
transferred to the U. S. Government in February. In October the
common boundary with Vermont was determined, with New York relinquishing
some of the disputed land for a $30,000 payment. Land sales at
the other end of the state were not proving to be as profitable;
Phelps and Gorham sold the land west of the Genesee River back
to Massachusetts. It would be more than another decade before
settlement would begin to pick up to any great extent. Middaugh's
tavern at Lewiston would continue to be rather lonely for some
time.
Meanwhile, back in lower Manhattan, the Federal Government continued
to mind the country's business. Secretary of State Hamilton proposed
in January that the new government assume all state debts incurred
during the recent rebellion. Congress received its first antislavery
petitions (ironically it was on February 11th, the day before
the future birthday of a yet-unborn Abraham Lincoln). March 1st
saw the enactment of the first Census Act. The count for the state
showed a population of 340,120, making it the fifth largest in
terms of population. Secretary of State Jefferson reported for
duty on the 21st and was sworn in the next day. As the year progressed
Congress also created the U. S. Coast Guard to suppress smuggling,
passed a copyright act, a patent act (the first patent recipient
lies buried in Pittsford), and, in August, signed a treaty with
Creek Indian leader Alexander McGillivray, to preserve peace with
the tribes of the south.
One piece of legislation was not having an easy time of it. The
House of Representatives defeated Hamilton's Assumption Act. Many
southern states saw no reason why the Federal government should
assume the wartime debts incurred by the states, especially since
the northern states would benefit most. But in the end Hamilton
held an important bargaining chip. The southern states felt that
the country's government should be at a more central location,
at least in Virginia. Legislative give-and-take continued. In
mid-June Congress gave Hamilton his act, and a southern location
was chosen for the nation's capital. It was decided to have the
President choose the final site. Nothing suggested itself, but
it was agreed to move the capital to Philadelphia for a ten-year
period, while plans for a new Federal City went forward. The nation's
capital prepared to pick up and move on. Congress recessed on
August 12th and New York City passed out of the national limelight.
Life went on across the state. Orange County farmer William Wickham
and his family headed for the Finger Lakes that Fall, wintering
over in northern Pennsylvania. And brothers James and William
Wadsworth arrived in the Genesee Valley.
OUTRO: For Classical ninety-one five, this is David Minor.
© 1998 David Minor / Eagles Byte