Page:Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (1st ed, 1833, vol I).djvu/297

 CH. I.] ; the first Wednesday of February following, for the assembling of the electors to vote for a president; and the first Wednesday of March following, at the then seat of congress [New-York] the time and place for commencing proceedings under the constitution. Electors were accordingly appointed in the several states, who met and gave their votes for a president; and the other elections for senators and representatives having been duly made, on Wednesday, the 4th of March, 1789, congress assembled under the new constitution, and commenced proceedings under it. A quorum of both houses, however, did not assemble until the 6th of April, when the votes for president being counted, it was found that George Washington was unanimously elected president, and John Adams was elected vice president. On the 30th of April, President Washington was sworn into office, and the government then went into full operation in all its departments.

§ 279. North-Carolina had not, as yet, ratified the constitution. The first convention called in that state, in August, 1788, refused to ratify it without some previous amendments, and a declaration of rights, in a second convention, however, called in November, 1789, this state adopted the constitution. The state of Rhode-Island had declined to call a convention; but finally, by a convention held in May, 1790, its assent was obtained; and thus all the thirteen original states became parties to the new government.

§ 280. Thus was achieved another, and still more glorious triumph in the cause of national liberty, than 33