sociate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and their first general assembly met at Xenia, O., in May, 1859. Reports for 1900 showed: 918 ministers, 911 churches, and 115,

United States, GREAT SEAL OF THE. See SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES, GREAT. United States, SUFFRAGE LAWS IN THE. See ELECTIVE SUFFRAGE.

lative power. Their propositions were referred to and finally acted upon by the several colonies, each assuming an independent sovereignty. But war was not to be declared by one colony without 901 members. the consent of this congress of com- United States, CONSTITUTION AND missioners, to whose province Indian GOVERNMENT OF THE. See CALHOUN, JOHN affairs and foreign relations were espe- CALDWELL. cially consigned. All war expenses were to be a common charge, and runaway servants and fugitive criminals were to be delivered up; and it was soon an established rule that judgments of courts of United States, THE, a frigate of the law and probates of wills in one colony American navy, built in Philadelphia, Pa., should have full faith and credit in all in 1797. On Oct 10, 1812, Commodore others. The commissioners of Massa- Rodgers sailed from Boston in the Presichusetts, representing by far the most dent, accompanied by the United States, powerful colony of the league, and assum- forty-four guns, Captain Decatur, and the ing to be a "perfect republic," claimed Argus, sixteen guns, Lieutenant-comprecedence, which the others readily conceded. New Haven was the weakest member of the league, Plymouth next, but all were growing. Fort Saybrook, at the mouth of the Connecticut River, was yet an independent settlement. See SAYBROOK, FORT.

mandant Sinclair, leaving the Hornet in port. The President parted company with her companions on Oct. 12, and on the 17th captured a British packet. The United States and Argus also parted company, the former sailing to the southward and eastward in search of British West Indiamen. At dawn, on Sunday morning, the 25th, the watch at the maintop of the

ward- an English ship-of-war. Decatur spread all his sails and gave chase, and, as the United States drew nearer and nearer the British ship, such loud shouts went up from her decks that they were heard on board the vessel of the enemy. At about 9 A.M. Decatur had got so near that he opened a broadside upon the strange vessel, with much effect. It was responded to in kind, both vessels being on the same tack. They continued the fight by a heavy and steady cannonade with the long guns of each, the distance being so great that carronades and muskets were of no avail.

United Labor Party, a political organization in the United States which grew out of several labor societies which United States discovered a sail to windhad actively entered political life. From the same source was also developed the National Union Labor party. Many members of these two parties were formerly identified with the Greenback-Labor party. In the Presidential campaign of 1888 the United Labor party nominated R. H. Cowdry (Ill.) for President and W. H. T. Wakefield (Kan.) for VicePresident, and this ticket received 2,808 popular votes. The National Union Labor party nominated Alson J. Streeter (Ill.) for President and C. E. Cunningham (Ark.) for Vice-President, and this ticket received 148,105 popular votes, both parties receiving support from the same source, showing want of harmony. In the Presidential campaigns of 1892, 1896, and 1900, commander, perceiving that her only safeneither of these parties appeared under their former names, but in each year a Social Labor party made nominations and received popular votes of 21,164, 36,274, and 39,537 respectively.

United Presbyterians. The United Presbyterian Church of North America was formed in May, 1858, by the union of the Associated Presbyterian Church and As

In the course of half an hour the British vessel was fearfully injured, and her

ty from destruction was to engage in close action, drew up to the United States for that purpose. The latter, with splendid gunnery, sent shots which cut her enemy's mizzen-mast so that it fell overboard. Very soon her main and fore top-masts were gone and her fore-mast was tottering. No colors were seen floating over her deck. Her main-mast was severely damaged,

while the United States remained almost unhurt. Decatur bore away for a while, and his antagonist, supposing his vessel, badly crippled, was withdrawing, set up an exulting shout. To their astonishment the United States tacked and brought up in a position of greater advantage than before. The British commander, perceiving that longer resistance would be useless, struck his colors and surrendered.

York, where she was greeted as "a New-
year's gift." "She comes with the com-
pliments of the season from old Neptune,"
said one of the newspapers. The boys
in the streets were singing snatches of a
song:

"Then quickly met our nation's eyes,
The noblest sight in nature,
A first-rate frigate as a prize,

Brought home by brave Decatur."

The captured vessel was the British frigate Macedonian, thirty-eight guns, Legislatures of States gave Decatur Capt. J. S. Carden. She had received no thanks, and two of them each gave him less than 100 round-shot in her hull, many a sword. So, also, did the city of Philaof them between wind and water, and she delphia. The authorities of New York, in had nothing standing but her fore and addition to a splendid banquet to Hull, main masts and fore-yard. All her boats Jones, and Decatur (Jan. 7, 1813), gave were rendered useless but one. Of her the latter the freedom of the city and re

United States Bank. See BANKS OF THE UNITED STATES.

United States Christian Commission. See CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, UNITED STATES.

officers and men-300 in number-thirty- quested his portrait for the City Hall. six were killed and sixty-eight were The national Congress thanked him and wounded. The loss of the United States gave him a gold medal. was five killed and six wounded. The Macedonian was a new ship, and though rated at thirty-eight, carried forty-four guns. The action occurred not far from the island of Madeira. After the contest Decatur returned to the United States, ar- United States Engineer Corps, a riving off New London Dec. 4, 1812. The technical body under command of the Macedonian, in charge of Lieutenant chief of engineers and attached to the Allen, arrived at Newport Harbor at about War Department. The corps is charged the same time. At the close of the month with all duties relating to construction / both vessels passed through Long Island and repair of fortifications, whether perSound, and, on Jan. 1, 1813, the Macedo- manent or temporary; with torpedoes for nian was anchored in the harbor of New coast defence; with all works of defence;

with all military roads and bridges, and this committee is generally accepted in with such surveys as may be required for the light of a compromise by both Houses. these objects, or the movement of armies The membership of the House is based on in the field. It is also charged with the the population of the country as ascerriver and harbor improvements, with mili- tained decennially by the census, and tary and geographical explorations and therefore changes every ten years. In surveys, with the survey of the lakes, and the Fifty-seventh Congress (March 4, with any other engineer work specially as 1901-March 4, 1903) there are 357 Represigned to the corps by acts of Congress sentatives, of whom 198 are Republicans, or orders of the Secretary of War. 151 Democrats, and eight Populists and Silver men. See CONGRESS, NATIONAL (The Fifty-seventh Congress); SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

United States Homestead Legislation. See EXEMPTIONS FROM TAXATION; HOMESTEAD LAWS.

United States Military Academy. See MILITARY ACADEMY, UNITED STATES. United States Mints. A mint of the United States was established in Philadelphia, Pa., by act of Congress in April, 1792, and began to coin money the next year, but it was not until January, 1795, that it was put into full operation. It was the only mint until 1835, when other mints were established at Charlotte, N. C., Dahlonega, Ga., and New Orleans, La. In 1854 another was located at San Francisco, Cal., and in 1870 at Carson City, Nev., and shortly after at Denver, Col., although no minting has ever been done at the latter place, only assaying. The mints at Charlotte, N. C., and Dahlonega, Ga., were discontinued in 1861. See COINAGE; MINT, FIRST AMERICAN.

United States House of Representatives, one of the branches of the Congress known as the Lower House and the Popular House. The members of this branch are elected directly by popular vote. In it is vested by the national Constitution the sole right to originate laws concerning the finances of the country. The committee on ways and means of the House is the original source of all tariff legislation, and all bills providing for the raising or expenditure of public moneys have their origin in the House. In each of these two forms of legislation the House has the limited co-operation of the Senate-viz.: the Senate may amend a tariff bill or resolution appropriating public moneys in the line either of increasing or decreasing specific amounts. The House has the privilege of passing upon these Senate amendments, and if it declines to accept any part of such changes, it is customary to appoint a conference committee consisting of an equal number of members from the House and Senate, to whom the disputed subject of legislation is referred, and the report of NATIONAL.

United States Naval Academy. See
NAVAL ACADEMY, UNITED STATES.
United States Naval Ships. See
NAVAL SHIPS.

United States Nominating Conventions. See NOMINATING CONVENTIONS,

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

United States of America. The name given to the thirteen English-American colonies in the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. In 1901 their number had increased to forty-five States (see table on opposite page) and seven Territories (Alaska, Arizona, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Indian Territory, New Mexico, and Oklahoma) with the Philippine Islands, Porto Rico, Guam, Wake, Samoa, and Isle of Pines, etc. For details of population in 1900 see CENSUS.