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of Slavery. This last petition was signed by Dr.
Franklin,1 as president of the society, within a few
weeks of the close of his long and eventful life. in the debate
much bitter Sectional feeling was manifested, chiefly by members
from South Carolina and Georgia. The representatives from other
states, north and south, generally leaned towards anti-slavery
views. This was the first of the angry discussions on slavery
which have occurred in Congress from time to time until the
present day.
13. For some time the relations
subsisting between the United States and Great Britain had
been far from amicable, and a war between the two countries was
imminent.
The principal causes of complaint were,
on the part of the United States, the non-delivery of the western
posts held by England, and the carrying off of slaves at the close
of the Revolutionary War; on the part of Great Britain, the
interposition, by the states, of legal impediments to the recovery
of debts contracted before the war. Added to these sources of
trouble, Great Britain was accused of exciting the hostility of
the Indians on the northern frontier, of impressing American
seamen, and capturing American trading
vessels.
14. To avert the disastrous issue of war,
Chief Justice Jay2 was appointed envoy extraordinary to
England,
where he negotiated a treaty, which was ratified in August,
1795.
The treaty provided indemnity for
unlawful captures, but afforded no redress for the negroes carried
away. The United States agreed to pay the debts contracted before
the war, and the posts on the frontiers were to be evacuated by
the British before June, 1796. The treaty met with great
opposition3 The country was divided in regard to it;
the cabinet were not united in its support; and the president was
not entirely satisfied with it, but gave it his signature on its
approval by the Senate.4 Contrary to the fears of its
strong opposers, the treaty settled the difficulties between the
two countries, and proved of advantage to the United
States.
15. The same year the United States
concluded a treaty with Spain, establishing the northern
boundary of Florida,5 and securing to both nations the
free navigation of the Mississippi.
1 See p. 88, ¶ 7: p. 97, 6; p. 110, note 3; p. 131, ¶ 31, and p. 146, note 2.
2 See p. 146, note 2; p. 150, ¶ 4; and p. 158, ¶ 3.
3 Meetings were held in Boston and other cities, and condemnatory resolutions were passed. In several places mobs threatened personal violence to the supporters of the treaty. Jay was burned in effigy, the British minister was insulted, and Hamilton, an advocate of the treaty, was stoned at a public meeting.
4 See Appendix, p. 13, ¶ 2, Sec. II., Art.II., Const. U. S.
5 The boundary of Florida by this treaty was the same as that agreed upon in the treaty with Great Britain in 1783 (see p. 147, ¶ 38), namely, parallel 31o, from the Mississippi to the Chattahoochee; that river to the mouth of the Flint; thence to the head of the St. Mary's; and that river to the ocean. See p. 170,¶ 2, and p. 192, ¶ 6.
QUESTIONS. -- What was manifested in debate? What further is said of this discussion? 13. What of the relations between the United States and Great Britain? -- What were the principal causes of complaint on the part of the United States? On the part of Great Britain? What other sources of trouble? 14. What was done to avert war? When was a treaty ratified? -- What were the terms of the treaty? How was the treaty regarded in the United States? What further is said of the treaty? 15. What other treaty was concluded this year? What of Florida in connection with this treaty? What of the Mississippi?
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16. The admission of
Tennessee,1 in 1796, made the number of the
United States sixteen.
Tennessee was ceded to the United States
in 1789, by North Carolina,2 emigrants from which state
made the first permanent
settlement on the Watauga, in 1768.3 In 1790 the
territory was organized as the Territory of the United States
south of the Ohio.
17. The second presidential term was now
drawing to a close, and Washington signified his intention to
retire from public life.4 The two great
parties5 into which the people had become divided,
selected for their leaders John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Adams,
the Federalist candidate, was chosen president, and
Jefferson, the Republican candidate, became
vice-president.6
CHAPTER II.
ADAMS'S ADMINISTRATION.7 1797-1801.
1.
THE condition of the
country, on the accession of Mr. Adams, was one of great
prosperity.
At home a sound credit had been
established, an immense floating debt had been funded, and an
ample revenue secured. Funds for the gradual payment of the debt
had been provided, and a considerable part of it had been already
discharged. The agricultural and commercial interests were
flourishing. The western Indians were pacified. War with England
had been averted. In one quarter only was the horizon darkened our
relations with France were still disturbed.
2. The misunderstanding which had arisen
between France and the United States during the
administration of Washington,8 assumed a warlike aspect
soon after the accession of Adams.
1 Tennessee is an Indian word signifying the river of the big bend. The state is named from the River Tennessee. 2 See P. 150, ¶ 1.
3 Fort Loudon was built by the English in 1756, on the Little Tennessee River, at its junction with the Tellico about thirty miles from the present site of Knoxville. The fort was captured by the Indians, and the garrison massacred.
4 As Washington was about to retire forever from public life, he felt it proper to express his views on some subjects connected with the vital interests and the future glory of his country. These he embodied in a Farewell Address, which for purity of language, beauty of conception, and soundness of political sentiments, has never been surpassed. It can never be read but to be admired. We cite only a single sentence. "The unity of government, which constitutes you one people, is dear to you. It is justly so; for it is the mainspring in the edifice of your real independence; the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty you so highly prize."
5 See p. 160, ¶ 9. 6 See p. 150, ¶ 5, note 2. 7 See Appendix, p. 19. 8 See p. 161, ¶ 10.
QUESTIONS. -- 16. When was Tennessee admitted to the Union? What can you tell of the early history of Tennessee? 17. Who succeeded Washington as president? Who became vice-president? Chap. II. 1. What was the condition of the country on the accession of Mr. Adams? -- What can you tell more particularly of the condition of the country? 2. What is said of the misunderstanding with France?
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The army was increased, a naval armament
prepared, and a Department of the Navy established. But
in 1799
Bonaparte took control of affairs in France, and a treaty was
negotiated with him the next year.
3.
The conduct of the French ministers1 to
the United States was offensive to the administration. They
endeavored to incite the people to take part with France against
England. French cruisers were also capturing American
merchant vessels, and selling them in French ports. Attempts were
made by the United States to settle the difficulties; but the
French Directory2 refused to receive ambassadors
sent for that purpose. It was intimated, however, to them, that a
hearing could be obtained by bribing the Directory. This infamous
proposition raised a storm of indignation in America against
France. "Millions for defence, but not a cent for tribute," was
the universal cry throughout the country. The government began to
prepare for war. Washington was appointed commander-in-chief.
Hostilities were, in fact, begun. The French frigate Insurgente
captured the American schooner Retaliation; and the American
frigate Constellation, under Commodore Truxtun, afterwards
captured the Insurgente. Overtures for renewing the
negotiations were presently received from the French
Directory, and were immediately responded to by the president, by
the appointment of envoys for concluding a peace. On their arrival
at Paris they found the Directory overthrown, and the government
in the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte, as First Consul.
4. The party that elected
Mr. Adams was fast losing its hold on the people, and probably no
acts 
of
his administration did so much to break it down as the passage of
the Alien and Sedition Laws,3 in 1798.
5. The alien law authorized
the president to order any alien, whom he should judge dangerous
to the United States, to leave the country.
1 See p. 161, ¶ 10, note 1. 2 The executive power of France at this time.
3 These laws were advocated on account of efforts that foreign emissaries were then making to embroil the United States in European difficulties. They were opposed on the ground that they abridged personal liberty, and freedom of speech, and consequently were unconstitutional.
QUESTIONS. -- What was done in preparation for war? How was war averted? 3. What is said of the conduct of French ministers? What of French cruisers? Of the French Directory? In anticipation of war, who was appointed commander-in-chief? What hostilities actually took place? What negotiations for peace? 4. What is said of the party that elected Mr. Adams? What of the alien and sedition laws? 5. What did the alien law authorize the president to do?
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Under the sedition law, any person could
be punished, by fine and imprisonment, for speaking, writing, or
publishing anything false or malicious against the government, the
president, or Congress. The legislatures of Kentucky and
Virginia, in opposition to these laws, asserted that a
state had a right to judge for itself how far the national
authority should he considered binding. This was the first
official expression of that dangerous doctrine that, one third of
a century later, caused so much alarm, under the name of
nullification,1 and after the expiration of
another third of a century, under the name of secession,
forced the country into a civil war,2 for the magnitude
of which history affords no parallel.
6. Near the close of the century, the
country was plunged into grief at the death of Washington.
He died
at Mount Vernon, the 14th of December, 1799. The whole nation
mourned the loss of the man "first in war, first in peace, and
first in the hearts of his countrymen."3
7. At the next presidential election, the
Federalists put in nomination President Adams and Charles C.
Pinckney, of South Carolina; the Republicans, Mr. Jefferson, of
Virginia, and Aaron Burr, of New York. The Republican candidates
received a majority of the votes, but as each had the same number,
the election went to the House of Representatives, where Jefferson
was elected president and Burr
vice-president.4
CHAPTER III.
JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION.5 1801-1809.
1.
THE commencement of Mr. Jefferson's
administration was marked by the transfer of many offices of the
government to the Republican party. Internal taxes were abolished,
and several 
unpopular
laws repealed.
2. Ohio6 was admitted
into the Union in 1802.
1 See p.198, ¶ 9. 2 See p. 227, ¶ 10. 3 See Appendix, p. ¶ 3, Sec. I., Art. II., Const. U. S.
4 As this was the first time that the election devolved upon Congress, a deep interest was taken in the subject. On the first balloting Jefferson had eight states, Burr six, and two divided, which result continued for thirty-five ballotings. The thirty-sixth resulted in the election of Jefferson. Burr was declared elected vice-president. The Republicans in the House generally supported Jefferson, the Federalists, Burr. 5 See Appendix, p. 19.
6 Ohio, the Indian name of the river which washes the southern border of the state, signifies the beautiful river.
QUESTIONS. -- For what could a person be punished under the sedition law? What did Kentucky and Virginia assert in opposition to these laws? Under what name does the doctrine expressed by these states appear a third of a century later? After another third of a century? When and where did Washington die? How was the whole country affected by his death? At the next presidential election why did the election go to the House of Representatives? Who was elected president? Who vice-president? Chap. III. 1. What marked the commencement of Jefferson's administration? 2. When was Ohio admitted to the Union?
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Ohio was a part of the
North-west Territory,1 another part of which had
previously been organized as the Indiana Territory. To this last
was now annexed the rest of the North-west Territory.2
The 
first
English settlement in Ohio was begun at Marietta, in 1788,
under General Rufus Putnam, from 
New
England. For some years the settlement of the territory was
retarded by wars with the Indians; but a general peace with the
different tribes having been effected in 1795,3 the
population began to increase rapidly by emigration from New
England and front Europe.
3. In 1803 the United States, for fifteen
millions of dollars, purchased Louisiana4 of
France, to 
which
country it had been previously ceded by Spain.
Besides acquiring a vast extent of
territory, the United States thus obtained control of the
Mississippi from its source to its mouth. The, boundaries between
Louisiana and the Spanish province of Mexico were not settled till
1821.5 On the east, the United States, after a few
years, claimed Florida as far as the Perdido River, that being the
eastern limit of the old French province of Louisiana.
4. In the autumn of 1804
Jefferson was reëlected president, and George Clinton,
of New York, was chosen vice-president.
5. In June, 1805, a war, which had
continued for several years, between 
the
United States and Tripoli, was concluded, and a treaty of
peace negotiated, by which American commerce gained some respite
from the depredations of the Mediterranean
pirates.6
6. A treaty of peace with the
piratical Barbary States had been bought, during
Washington's administration, by the payment, of a
heavy
1 See P. 151, ¶ 2. 2 See p. 189, ¶ 4. 3 See p. 159, ¶ 7. 4 See p. 170, ¶ 2.
5 Then it was agreed that the dividing line should follow the Sabine, from its mouth to the thirty-second parallel, thence a meridian to the Red River, that river to the one hundredth meridian west from Greenwich, that meridian to the Arkansas, that river to its source, thence north to the forty-second parallel, and that parallel to the Pacific. The territory of the United States south of this line has since been acquired from Mexico (see p. 218, ¶ 7, and p. 222, ¶ 1, and Map, p. 209). For the northern boundary of the Louisiana purchase, see p. 192, ¶ 6, and p. 207, ¶ 1.
6 See p. 189, ¶ 1.
QUESTIONS. -- What can you tell of the early history of Ohio? 3. When was Louisiana purchased? Of what nation, and for how much money? -- What is said of the boundaries of Louisiana? 4. Who were chosen president and vice-president in 1804? 5. With what state had the United States been engaged in war? When was a treaty concluded, and the result to American commerce? 6. Give a men particular account of the war with Tripoli.
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tribute. But in 1801, the Bashaw of Tripoli, for the purpose of
obtaining a larger sum, declared war. The United States had
already despatched Commodore Dale with a squadron to repel
hostilities. More ships were sent out, and the Americans,
under Dale, Preble, Rodgers, and Samuel Barron, were victorious in
several gallant naval actions.1 A successful land
attack was also made, under the lead of William Eaton, an
adventurous American. The reigning Bashaw of Tripoli had usurped
the 
throne,
and driven his elder brother, Hamet, the rightful heir, into
exile. Eaton, the American consul at Tunis, concerted a plan with
Hamet to expel the usurper. At the head of a few hundred men,
recruited in Egypt, only nine of whom were Americans, Eaton
marched from Alexandria across the desert to the Tripolitan city
Derne. By a joint attack of this motley troop and an American
squadron, the city was taken. This success, and the bombardment of
Tripoli, brought the Bashaw to terms. and a treaty of peace was
made. Prisoners were exchanged, and a ransom was given the Bashaw
for the excess of Americans held by him.
7. On March 2, 1807, an act was passed,
though not without 
strong
opposition, forbidding the introduction of slaves into the
United States after January 1, 1808. The year 1807 also witnessed
the successful application of steam to purposes of
navigation.
After several years of experiment,
Robert Fulton,2 an American engineer, launched a
steamboat, in which he made a voyage from New York to Albany, in
August of this year.
8. Aaron Burr,3
who had fastened a quarrel upon Hamilton,4 and killed
him in a duel, July, 1804, became an object of general distrust,
and failed to be reëlected vice-president. Having formed vast
projects for power and empire in the west, in 1807 he was brought
to trial at Richmond, on two charges: 1st, of treason against the
United States,
1 One of the boldest exploits was achieved by Lieutenant Decatur. Captain Bainbridge, in the Philadelphia, while chasing a cruiser into the harbor of Tripoli, grounded his vessel, and, with his crew, was taken prisoner. Decatur, with the consent of Preble, selected twenty men, concealed them in the bottom of a small vessel, and proceeded, on the approach of night, towards the frigate. On reaching it, Decatur, with his companions, leaped on board, swept every pirate from the deck, and set the frigate on fire. The Americans did not lose a man. For this gallant achievement Decatur received a captain's commission. See p. 188, ¶ 9.
2 John Fitch constructed a boat, which was propelled by steam on the Delaware, in 1786. But Fulton first made steam-navigation practicable and profitable.
3 See p. 165, ¶ 7. 4 See p. 150, ¶ 4, and p. 158, ¶ 5.
QUESTIONS .-- How was the bashaw brought to terms? Terms of the treaty? 7. What act was passed March 2, 1807? For what else is the year 1907 remarkable? -- What is said of Robert Fulton? 8. What projects had Burr formed? On what charges was he brought to trial?
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