<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_21"></SPAN>CHAPTER 21</h2>
<h3>THE LAST FEDERALIST ADMINISTRATION</h3>
<p class="side">Hamilton's intrigues against Adams.<br/>
Adams elected, President, 1796.</p>
<p><b>218. John Adams elected President, 1796.</b>--In 1796 John
Adams was the Federalist candidate for President. His rival was
Thomas Jefferson, the founder and chief of the Republican party.
Alexander Hamilton was the real leader of the Federalists, and he
disliked Adams. Thomas Pinckney was the Federalist candidate for
Vice-President. Hamilton suggested a plan which he thought would
lead to the election of Pinckney as President instead of Adams. But
Hamilton's scheme did not turn out very well. For by it Jefferson
was elected Vice-President. Indeed, he came near being President,
for he had only three less electoral votes than Adams.</p>
<p class="side">Relations with France, 1796-97. <i>McMaster,
210-212; Source-Book</i>, 191-194.<br/>
The French government declines to receive an American minister.</p>
<p><b>219. More Trouble with France.</b>--France was now (1796-97)
governed by five chiefs of the Revolution, who called themselves
"the Directory." They were very angry when they heard of Jay's
Treaty (p. 168), for they had hoped that the Americans would make
war on the British. James Monroe was then American minister at
Paris. Instead of doing all he could to smooth over this
difficulty, he urged on the wrath of the Directory. Washington
recalled Monroe, and sent in his stead General Charles Cotesworth
Pinckney of South Carolina. The Directory promptly refused to
receive Pinckney, and ordered him to leave France. News of this
action of the Directory reached Philadelphia three days after
Adams's inauguration.</p>
<p class="side">Adams's message, 1797.<br/>
A commission sent to France, 1797.<br/>
The X.Y.Z. Affair, 1797-98.</p>
<p><b>220. The X.Y.Z. Affair, 1797-98.</b>--Adams at once summoned
Congress and addressed the members in stirring words. He denied
that the Americans were a "degraded people, humiliated under a
colonial sense of fear ... and regardless of national honor,
character, and interest." It seemed best, however, to make one more
effort to avoid war. Adams therefore sent John Marshall, a Virginia
Federalist, and Elbridge Gerry, a Massachusetts Republican, to
France. They were to join Pinckney and together were to negotiate
with the French Directory. When they reached Paris three men came
to see them. These men said that America (1) must apologize for the
President's vigorous words, (2) must lend money to France, and (3)
must bribe the Directory and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. These
outrageous suggestions were emphatically put aside. In sending the
papers to Congress, the three men were called Mr. X., Mr. Y., and
Mr. Z., so the incident is always known as the "X.Y.Z. Affair."</p>
<p class="side">Excitement in America.</p>
<p><b>221. Indignation in America.</b>--Federalists and Republicans
joined in indignation. "Millions for defense, not one cent for
tribute," was the cry of the day. French flags were everywhere torn
down. "Hail Columbia" was everywhere sung. Adams declared that he
would not send another minister to France until he was assured that
the representative of the United States would be received as "the
representative of a great, free, powerful, and independent
state."</p>
<p class="side">Washington appointed Commander-in-chief. Hamilton
and Adams.<br/>
The navy.<br/>
Naval warfare, 1798-99. <i>McMaster</i>, 213-214.</p>
<p><b>222. War with France, 1797-98.</b>--The organization of a
provisional army was now at once begun. Washington accepted the
chief command on condition that Hamilton should have the second
place. There were already a few vessels in the navy. A Navy
Department was now organized. The building of more warships was
begun, and merchant vessels were bought and converted into
cruisers. French privateers sailed along the American coasts and
captured American vessels off the entrances of the principal
harbors. But this did not last long. For the American warships
drove the privateers to the West Indies and pursued them as they
fled southward. Soon the American cruisers began to capture French
men-of-war. Captain Truxton, in the <i>Constellation</i>, captured
the French frigate <i>L'Insurgent</i>. Many other French vessels
were captured, and preparations were made to carry on the naval war
even more vigorously when a treaty with France was signed.</p>
<p class="side">Another commission sent to France.<br/>
The treaty of 1800.</p>
<p><b>223. Treaty with France, 1800.</b>--This vigor convinced the
French that they had been hasty in their treatment of the
Americans. They now said that if another minister were sent to
France, he would be honorably received. Adams wished to send one of
the American ministers then in Europe, and thus end the dispute as
soon as possible. But the other Federalist leaders thought that it
would be better to wait until France sent a minister to the United
States. Finally they consented to the appointment of three
commissioners. Napoleon Bonaparte was now the ruler of France. He
received the commissioners honorably, and a treaty was soon signed.
On two points, however, he refused to give way. He declined to pay
for American property seized by the French, and he insisted that
the treaty of 1778 (pp. 115, 166) was still binding on both
countries. It was finally agreed that the Americans should give up
their claims for damages, and the French government should permit
the treaty to be annulled. John Adams always looked upon this
peaceful ending of the dispute with France as the most prudent and
successful act of his whole life. But Hamilton and other
Federalists thought it was treachery to the party. They set to work
to prevent his reëlection to the presidency.</p>
<p class="side">Repressive Laws. <i>McMaster</i>, 211-212.<br/>
The naturalization act.<br/>
The alien acts.<br/>
The Sedition Act.</p>
<p><b>224. Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798.</b>--The Federalists,
even if they had been united, would probably have been defeated in
the election of 1800. For they had misused their power to pass
several very foolish laws. The first of these laws was the
Naturalization Act. It lengthened the time of residence in the
United States from five to fourteen years before a foreign
immigrant could gain the right to vote. This law bore very harshly
on the Republicans, because most of the immigrants were
Republicans. Other laws, called the Alien Acts, were also aimed at
the Republican immigrants. These laws gave the President power to
compel immigrants to leave the United States, or to live in certain
places that he named. The worst law of all was the Sedition Act.
This was aimed against the writers and printers of Republican
newspapers. It provided that any one who attacked the government in
the press should be severely punished as a seditious person.
Several trials were held under this law. Every trial made hundreds
of persons determined to vote for the Republican candidate at the
next election.</p>
<p class="side">Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions 1798-99.
<i>McMaster</i>, 212-213.<br/>
Jefferson and Madison on the Constitution.<br/>
The Kentucky Resolutions of 1799.</p>
<p><b>225. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, 1798-99.</b>--In the
exciting years before the Revolutionary War the colonial
legislatures had passed many resolutions condemning the acts of the
British government (see pp. 77, 84). Following this example
Jefferson and Madison now brought it about that the Virginia and
Kentucky legislatures passed resolutions against the Alien and
Sedition Acts. They declared that the Constitution was a compact
between the states. It followed from this that any state could
determine for itself whether any act of Congress were
constitutional or not. It followed from, this, again, that any
state could refuse to permit an Act of Congress to be enforced
within its limits. In other words, any state could make null or
nullify any Act of Congress that it saw fit to oppose. This last
conclusion was found only in the Kentucky Resolutions of 1799. But
Jefferson wrote to this effect in the original draft of the
Kentucky Resolutions of 1798. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
called the voter's attention to the Federalist abuse of power and
did much to form public opinion.</p>
<p class="side">Death of Washington, 1799.</p>
<p><b>226. Death of Washington, 1799.</b>--In the midst of this
excitement George Washington died. People forgot how strongly he
had taken the Federalist side in the last few years, and united to
do honor to his memory. Henry Lee spoke for the nation when he
declared that Washington was "first in war, first in peace, and
first in the hearts of his countrymen." To this day, we commemorate
Washington's birthday as we do that of no other man, though of late
years we have begun to keep Lincoln's birthday also.</p>
<p class="side">Election of 1800. <i>McMaster</i>, 215.<br/>
Jefferson and Burr.<br/>
The election in the House of Representatives.</p>
<p><b>227. Election of 1800.</b>--It was for a moment only that the
noise of party conflict was hushed by the death of America's first
President. The strife soon began anew. Indeed, the election of 1800
was fought with a vigor and violence unknown before, and scarcely
exceeded since. John Adams was the Federalist candidate, and he was
defeated. Jefferson and Burr, the Republican candidates, each
received seventy-three electoral votes. But which of them should be
President? The Republican voters clearly wished Jefferson to be
President. But the Federalists had a majority in the House of
Representatives. They had a clear legal right to elect Burr
President. But to do that would be to do what was morally wrong.
After a useless struggle the Federalists permitted Jefferson to be
chosen, and he was inaugurated on March 4, 1801.</p>
<p>[Illustration: PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, 1790. "Observe good faith
and justice towards all nations." --<i>Farewell Address.</i>]</p>
<br/>
<p>QUESTIONS AND TOPICS</p>
<br/>
<p>CHAPTER 19</p>
<p>§§ 192-194.--<i>a</i>. Describe the method of electing
President employed at first.</p>
<p><i>b</i>. Describe Washington's journey to New York and the
inaugural ceremonies, and compare them with the inauguration of the
last President.</p>
<p>§§ 195, 196.--<i>a</i>. In whose hands do appointments
to federal offices lie?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. What was the great difference mentioned in § 196?
Why was the difference so great?</p>
<p>§§ 197, 198.--<i>a</i>. Why was Washington "stiff and
aristocratic"?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. Would Washington have accepted the title of king? Give
the reasons for your answer.</p>
<p>§§ 199-202.--<i>a</i>. Give the reasons for the
different views expressed in Congress as to customs duties. What
are customs duties?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. Explain how slavery influenced the views of the
Southern members.</p>
<p><i>c</i>. Compare the extent and population of the United States
in 1791 with the extent and population to-day.</p>
<p><i>d</i>. What two new states were admitted in 1791-92? What was
their attitude on slavery? What changes would their admission make
in Congress?</p>
<p>§§ 203, 204.--<i>a</i>. Explain carefully Hamilton's
plan. What were its advantages? What is meant by the phrase "public
credit"?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. What is meant by the phrase "assumption of the state
debts"?</p>
<p>§§ 205, 206.--<i>a</i>. What question arose concerning
the site of the national capital? How was it settled? Was this a
good way to settle important questions?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. Why did Hamilton want a Bank of the United States? Was
this bank like one of the national banks of to-day?</p>
<br/>
<p>CHAPTER 20</p>
<p>§§ 207, 208.--<i>a</i>. Compare carefully the
principles of the Federalists and the Republicans. Which party
would you have joined had you lived then? Why? Which ideas prevail
to-day?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. Discuss Jefferson's views as to the value of
newspapers.</p>
<p>§§ 209-212.--<i>a</i>. Why did the Republicans
sympathize with the French Revolution?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. How was the action of the Republicans regarded by
Washington? By Hamilton?</p>
<p><i>c.</i> Why did Washington issue the Proclamation of
Neutrality?</p>
<p>§ 213.--<i>a</i>. What is the difference between a tax laid
by a tariff on imported goods and an internal revenue tax?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. How was the rebellion suppressed? Compare this with
Shays's Rebellion.</p>
<p>§§ 214-216.--<i>a</i>. State the reasons for the
trouble with Great Britain. How was the matter settled?</p>
<p><i>b.</i> Explain the trouble over the traffic on the
Mississippi.</p>
<p><i>c</i>. How was this matter settled?</p>
<p>§ 217.--<i>a</i>. Why did Washington decline a third
term?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. What are the important points in his Farewell
Address?</p>
<p><i>c</i>. How far has later history proved the truth of his
words?</p>
<br/>
<p>CHAPTER 21</p>
<p>§ 218.--<i>a</i>. How did Hamilton set to work to defeat
Adams? Do you think his action justifiable?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. What was the result of Hamilton's intrigues?</p>
<p>§§ 219-221.--<i>a</i>. To what was the refusal to
receive Pinckney equivalent? Describe the X. Y. Z. Affair.</p>
<p><i>b</i>. What is a bribe? How must bribery in political life
affect a government?</p>
<p><i>c</i>. How was the news of this affair received in America?
What does this show about the feeling of both parties toward the
government?</p>
<p>§§ 222, 223.--<i>a</i>. Describe the preparations for
war. Why was a Navy Department necessary?</p>
<p><i>b</i>. Why was France wise to make peace with the United
States?</p>
<p><i>c</i>. How was the matter finally settled?</p>
<p>§§ 224, 225.--<i>a</i>. Describe the Naturalization
Act.</p>
<p><i>b</i>. What power did the Alien Act give the President? What
danger is there in such power?</p>
<p><i>c</i>. What is sedition? Compare the Sedition Act with the
First Amendment.</p>
<p><i>d</i>. What were the theories on which the Kentucky and
Virginia Resolutions were based?</p>
<p>§§ 226, 227.--<i>a</i>. What position does Washington
hold in our history? Why is it deserved? <i>b</i>. Describe the
election of 1800. Why was it fought so bitterly? <i>c</i>. Why
should disputes as to elections for President go to the House?
<i>d</i>. How was it known that Jefferson's election was the wish
of the voters?</p>
<br/>
<p>GENERAL QUESTIONS</p>
<p><i>a</i>. Write an account of life in the United States about
1790, or life in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Charleston.
<i>b</i>. Prepare a table of the two political parties mentioned,
with dates and account of origin. As you go on, note upon this
table changes in these parties and the rise of new ones. <i>c</i>.
On an Outline Map color the thirteen original states and then fill
in, with dates, new states as they are admitted. Write on each
state F. for free or S. for slave, as the case may be.</p>
<br/>
<p>TOPICS FOR SPECIAL WORK</p>
<p><i>a</i>. Early life of Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, or
Hamilton. <i>b</i>. Washington's Farewell Address.</p>
<br/>
<p>SUGGESTIONS</p>
<p>In this period we meet two questions, which are still important,
tariff legislation and political parties. In connection with the
Tariff Act of 1789 (§ 200), touch upon the industries of the
different sections of the country and explain how local interests
affected men's actions. Show how compromise is often necessary in
political action.</p>
<p>It is a good plan to use Outline Maps to show the important
lines of development, as the gradual drifting apart of the North
and the South on the slavery question.</p>
<p>Illustrate by supposed transactions the working of Hamilton's
financial measures. By all means do not neglect a study of
Washington's Farewell Address. Particular attention should be given
to the two views of constitutional interpretation mentioned in
§ 207, and considerable time should be spent on a study of
§§ 224 and 225.</p>
<SPAN name="205.jpg"></SPAN><br/>
<p class="ctr"><ANTIMG src="images/205.jpg" width-obs="100%" alt=""><br/>
<b>THE UNITED STATES IN 1800.</b></p>
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<hr style="width: 35%;">
<br/>
<br/>
<h2><SPAN name="VIII"></SPAN>VIII</h2>
<h3>THE JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICANS, 1801-1812</h3>
<h4>Books for Study and Reading</h4>
<p><b>References</b>.--Higginson's <i>Larger History</i>, 344-365;
Scribner's <i>Popular History</i>, IV, 127-184; Schouler's
<i>Jefferson</i>.</p>
<p><b>Home Reading</b>.--Coffin's <i>Building the Nation;</i>
Drake's <i>Making the Ohio Valley States;</i> Hale's <i>Man Without
a Country</i> and <i>Philip Nolan's Friends.</i></p>
<br/>
<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_22"></SPAN>CHAPTER 22</h2>
<h3>THE UNITED STATES IN 1800</h3>
<p class="side">Area.<br/>
Population.</p>
<p><b>228. Area and Population, 1800.</b>--The area of the United
States in 1800 was the same as at the close of the Revolutionary
War. But the population had begun to increase rapidly. In 1791
there were nearly four million people in the United States. By 1800
this number had risen to five and one-quarter millions. Two-thirds
of the people still lived on or near tide-water. But already nearly
four hundred thousand people lived west of the Alleghanies. In 1791
the centre of population had been east of Baltimore. It was now
eighteen miles west of that city (p. 157).</p>
<p class="side">Philadelphia.<br/>
New York.<br/>
The new capital.</p>
<p><b>229. Cities and Towns in 1800.</b>--Philadelphia was the
largest city in the United States. It had a population of seventy
thousand. But New York was not far behind Philadelphia in
population. Except these two, no city in the whole United States
had more than thirty thousand inhabitants. The seat of government
had been removed from Philadelphia to Washington. But the new
capital was a city only in name. One broad long street,
Pennsylvania Avenue, led from the unfinished Capitol to the
unfinished White House. Congress held its sessions in a temporary
wooden building. The White House could be lived in. But Mrs. Adams
found the unfinished reception room very convenient for drying
clothes on rainy Mondays. A few cheaply built and very
uncomfortable boarding-houses completed the city.</p>
<p class="side">Roads, coaches, and inns.<br/>
Traveling by water.</p>
<p><b>230. Traveling in 1800.</b>--The traveler in those days had a
very hard time. On the best roads of the north, in the best coach,
and with the best weather one might cover as many as forty miles a
day. But the traveler had to start very early in the morning to do
this. Generally he thought himself fortunate if he made twenty-five
miles in the twenty-four hours. South of the Potomac there were no
public coaches, and the traveler generally rode on horseback. A few
rich men like Washington rode in their own coaches. Everywhere,
north and south, the inns were uncomfortable and the food was poor.
Whenever it was possible the traveler went by water. But that was
dangerous work. Lighthouses were far apart, there were no public
buoys to guide the mariner, and almost nothing had been done to
improve navigation.</p>
<br/>
<p class="ctr"><ANTIMG src="images/207.jpg" width-obs="60%" alt=""><br/>
<b>THE "CLERMONT," 1807.</b></p>
<br/>
<p class="side">The first steamboat.<br/>
Fulton's steamboat, 1807. <i>Higginson</i>, 241-242.</p>
<p><b>231. The Steamboat.</b>--The steamboat came to change all
this. While Washington was still President, a queer-looking boat
sailed up and down the Delaware. She was propelled by oars or
paddles which were worked by steam. This boat must have been very
uncomfortable, and few persons wished to go on her. Robert Fulton
made the first successful steamboat. She was named the
<i>Clermont</i> and was launched in 1807. She had paddle wheels and
steamed against the wind and tide of the Hudson River. At first
some people thought that she was bewitched. But when it was found
that she ran safely and regularly, people began to travel on her.
Before a great while steamboats appeared in all parts of the
country.</p>
<p class="side">Western pioneers.<br/>
Settlements on the Ohio. <i>Eggleston</i>, 232-234;
<i>Higginson</i>, 243.</p>
<p><b>232. Making of the West.</b>--Even before the Revolutionary
War explorers and settlers had crossed the Alleghany Mountains. In
Washington's time pioneers, leaving Pittsburg, floated down the
Ohio River in flatboats. Some of these settled Cincinnati. Others
went farther down the river to Louisville, in Kentucky, and still
others founded Wheeling and Marietta. In 1811 the first steamboat
appeared on the Western rivers. The whole problem of living in the
West rapidly changed. For the steamboat could go up stream as well
as down stream. Communication between the new settlements, and New
Orleans and Pittsburg, was now much safer and very much easier.</p>
<p class="side">Cotton growing.<br/>
Beginning of exportation, 1784.</p>
<p><b>233. Cotton Growing in the South.</b>--Cotton had been grown
in the South for many years. It had been made on the plantations
into a rough cloth. Very little had been sent away. The reason for
this was that it took a very long time to separate the cotton fiber
from the seed. One slave working for a whole day could hardly clean
more than a pound of cotton. Still as time went on more cotton was
grown. In 1784 a few bags of cotton were sent to England. The
Englishmen promptly seized it because they did not believe that so
much cotton could be grown in America. In 1791 nearly two hundred
thousand pounds of cotton were exported from the South. Then came
Whitney's great invention, which entirely changed the whole history
of the country.</p>
<p>[Illustration: THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. As designed by Thomas
Jefferson.]</p>
<p class="side">Eli Whitney.<br/>
His cotton gin, 1793. <i>McMaster</i>, 195-196.</p>
<p><b>234. Whitney's Cotton Gin, 1793.</b>--Eli Whitney was a
Connecticut schoolmaster. He went to Georgia to teach General
Greene's children. He was very ingenious, and one day Mrs. Greene
suggested to him that he might make a machine which would separate
the cotton fiber from the cotton seed. Whitney set to work and soon
made an engine or gin, as he called it, that would do this. The
first machine was a rude affair. But even with it one slave could
clean one hundred pounds of cotton in a day. Mrs. Greene's
neighbors promptly broke into Whitney's shop and stole his machine.
Whitney's cotton gin made the growing of cotton profitable and so
fastened slavery on the South. With the exception of the steam
locomotive (p. 241) and the reaper (p. 260), no invention has so
tremendously influenced the history of the United States.</p>
<p class="side">Early manufactures.</p>
<p><b>235. Colonial Manufactures.</b>--Before the Revolutionary War
there were very few mills or factories in the colonies. There was
no money to put into such undertakings and no operatives to work
the mills if they had been built. The only colonial manufactures
that amounted to much were the making of nails and shoes. These
articles could be made at home on the farms, in the winter, when no
work could be done out of doors.</p>
<p class="side">New manufactures established.<br/>
Invention of cotton spinning machinery.</p>
<p><b>236. Growth of Manufactures, 1789-1800.</b>--As soon as the
new government with its wide powers was established, manufacturing
started into life. Old mills were set to work. While the Revolution
had been going on in America, great improvements in the spinning of
yarn and the weaving of cloth had been made in England. Parliament
made laws to prevent the export from England of machinery or
patterns of machinery. But it could not prevent Englishmen from
coming to America. Among the recent immigrants to the United States
was Samuel Slater. He brought no patterns with him. But he was
familiar with the new methods of spinning. He soon built spinning
machinery. New cotton mills were now set up in several places. But
it was some time before the new weaving machinery was introduced
into America.</p>
<br/>
<br/>
<hr style="width: 35%;">
<br/>
<br/>
<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_23"></SPAN>CHAPTER 23</h2>
<h3>JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATIONS</h3>
<p class="side">Jefferson's political ideas. <i>Higginson</i> 239;
<i>McMaster</i>, 216.<br/>
Republican simplicity.</p>
<p><b>237. President Jefferson.</b>--Thomas Jefferson was a
Republican. He believed in the republican form of government. He
believed the wisdom of the people to be the best guide. He wished
the President to be simple and cordial in his relations with his
fellow-citizens. Adams had ridden to his inauguration in a coach
drawn by six cream-colored horses. Jefferson walked with a few
friends from his boarding house to the Capitol. Washington and
Adams had gone in state to Congress and had opened the session with
a speech. Jefferson sent a written message to Congress by a
messenger. Instead of bowing stiffly to those who came to see him,
he shook hands with them and tried to make them feel at ease in his
presence.</p>
<p class="side">Proscription of Republicans by the Federalists.<br/>
Adams's midnight appointments.</p>
<p><b>238. The Civil Service.</b>--One of the first matters to take
Jefferson's attention was the condition of the civil service. There
was not a Republican office-holder in the government service.
Washington, in the last years of his presidency, and Adams also had
given office only to Federalists. Jefferson thought it was
absolutely necessary to have some officials upon whom he could
rely. So he removed a few Federalist officeholders and appointed
Republicans to their places. Adams had even gone so far as to
appoint officers up to midnight of his last day in office. Indeed,
John Marshall, his Secretary of State, was busy signing commissions
when Jefferson's Attorney General walked in with his watch in hand
and told Marshall that it was twelve o'clock. Jefferson and
Madison, the new Secretary of State, refused to deliver these
commissions even when Marshall as Chief Justice ordered Madison to
deliver them.</p>
<p class="side">The Judiciary Act, 1801.<br/>
Repealed by Republicans.<br/>
Jefferson and appointments.</p>
<p><b>239. The Judiciary Act of 1801.</b>--One of the last laws
made by the Federalists was the Judiciary Act of 1801. This law
greatly enlarged the national judiciary, and Adams eagerly seized
the opportunity to appoint his friends to the new offices. The
Republican Congress now repealed this Judiciary Act and "legislated
out of office" all the new judges. For it must be remembered that
the Constitution makes only the members of the Supreme Court sure
of their offices. Congress also got rid of many other Federalist
officeholders by repealing the Internal Revenue Act (p. 167). But
while all this was done, Jefferson steadily refused to appoint men
to office merely because they were Republicans. One man claimed an
office on the ground that he was a Republican, and that the
Republicans were the saviors of the republic. Jefferson replied
that Rome had been saved by geese, but he had never heard that the
geese were given offices.</p>
<p>[Illustration: THOMAS JEFFERSON.] "Honest friendship with all
nations, entangling alliances with none, ... economy in the public
expense, the honest payment of our debts, and sacred preservation
of the public faith."--<i>Jefferson's First Inaugural.</i></p>
<p class="side">Expenses diminished.<br/>
Internal taxes repealed.<br/>
Army and navy reduced.<br/>
Part of the debt paid. <i>McMaster</i>, 217-218.</p>
<p><b>240. Paying the National Debt.</b>--Jefferson was especially
anxious to cut down the expenses of the government and to pay as
much as possible of the national debt. Madison and Gallatin worked
heartily with him to carry out this policy. The repeal of the
Internal Revenue Act took much revenue from the government. But it
also did away with the salaries of a great many officials. The
repeal of the Judiciary Act also put an end to many salaries. Now
that the dispute with France was ended, Jefferson thought that the
army and navy might safely be reduced. Most of the naval vessels
were sold. A few good ships were kept at sea, and the rest were
tied up at the wharves. The number of ministers to European states
was reduced to the lowest possible limit, and the civil service at
home was also cut down. The expenses of the government were in
these ways greatly lessened. At the same time the revenue from the
customs service increased. The result was that in the eight years
of Jefferson's administrations the national debt shrank from
eighty-three million dollars to forty-five million dollars. Yet in
the same time the United States paid fifteen million dollars for
Louisiana, and waged a series of successful and costly wars with
the pirates of the northern coast of Africa.</p>
<p class="side">The Spaniards in Louisiana and Florida.
<i>McMaster</i>, 218-219.<br/>
France secures Louisiana.</p>
<p><b>241. Louisiana again a French Colony.</b>--Spanish territory
now bounded the United States on the south and the west. The
Spaniards were not good neighbors, because it was very hard to make
them come to an agreement, and next to impossible to make them keep
an agreement when it was made. But this did not matter very much,
because Spain was a weak power and was growing weaker every year.
Sooner or later the United States would gain its point. Suddenly,
however, it was announced that France had got back Louisiana. And
almost at the same moment the Spanish governor of Louisiana said
that Americans could no longer deposit their goods at New Orleans
(p. 170). At once there was a great outcry in the West. Jefferson
determined to buy from France New Orleans and the land eastward
from the mouth of the Mississippi.</p>
<p>[Illustration: JACKSON SQUARE, NEW ORLEANS.]</p>
<p>[Illustration: ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.]</p>
<p class="side">Napoleon's policy.<br/>
He offers to sell Louisiana.</p>
<p><b>242. The Louisiana Purchase, 1803.</b>--When Napoleon got
Louisiana from Spain, he had an idea of again founding a great
French colony in America. At the moment France and Great Britain
were at peace. But it soon looked as if war would begin again.
Napoleon knew that the British would at once seize Louisiana and he
could not keep it anyway. So one day, when the Americans and the
French were talking about the purchase of New Orleans, the French
minister suddenly asked if the United States would not like to buy
the whole of Louisiana. Monroe and Livingston, the American
ministers, had no authority to buy Louisiana. But the purchase of
the whole colony would be a great benefit to the United States. So
they quickly agreed to pay fifteen million dollars for the whole of
Louisiana.</p>
<p class="side">Louisiana purchased, 1803. <i>Higginson</i>,
244-245; <i>Eggleston</i>, 234; <i>Source-Book</i>, 200-202.<br/>
Importance of the purchase.</p>
<p><b>243. The Treaty Ratified.</b>--Jefferson found himself in a
strange position. The Constitution nowhere delegated to the United
States power to acquire territory (p. 164). But after thinking it
over Jefferson felt sure that the people would approve of the
purchase. The treaty was ratified. The money was paid. This
purchase turned out to be a most fortunate thing. It gave to the
United States the whole western valley of the Mississippi. It also
gave to Americans the opportunity to explore and settle Oregon,
which lay beyond the limits of Louisiana.</p>
<SPAN name="217.jpg"></SPAN><br/>
<p class="ctr"><ANTIMG src="images/217.jpg" width-obs="100%" alt=""><br/>
<b>THE UNITED STATES IN 1803.</b></p>
<br/>
<p class="side">Lewis and Clark, 1804-6. <i>Higginson</i>, 245-247;
<i>McMaster</i>, 219-221; <i>Source-Book</i>, 206-209.<br/>
The mouth of the Oregon.</p>
<p><b>244. Lewis and Clark's Explorations.</b>--Jefferson soon sent
out several expeditions to explore the unknown portions of the
continent. The most important of these was the expedition led by
two army officers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, brother of
General George Rogers Clark (p. 116). Leaving St. Louis they slowly
ascended the muddy Missouri. They passed the site of the present
city of Omaha. They passed the Council Bluffs. The current of the
river now became so rapid that the explorers left their boats and
traveled along the river's bank. They gained the sources of the
Missouri, and came to a westward-flowing river. On, on they
followed it until they came to the river's mouth. A fog hung low
over the water. Suddenly it lifted. There before the explorers'
eyes the river "in waves like small mountains rolled out in the
ocean." They had traced the Columbia River from its upper course to
the Pacific. Captain Gray in the Boston ship <i>Columbia</i> had
already entered the mouth of the river. But Lewis and Clark were
the first white men to reach it overland.</p>
<p class="side">Amendment as to the election of President.<br/>
The Twelfth Amendment, 1804.</p>
<p><b>245. The Twelfth Amendment, 1804.</b>--Four presidential
elections had now been held under the method provided by the
Constitution. And that method had not worked well (pp. 171, 176).
It was now (1804) changed by the adoption of the Twelfth Amendment
which is still in force. The old machinery of presidential electors
was kept. But it was provided that in the future each elector
should vote for President and for Vice-President on separate and
distinct ballots. The voters had no more part in the election under
the new system than they had had under the old system. The old
method of apportioning electors among the states was also kept.
This gives to each state as many electors as it has Senators and
Representatives in Congress. No matter how small its territory, or
how small its population, a state has at least two Senators and one
Representative, and, therefore, three electors. The result is that
each voter in a small state has more influence in choosing the
President than each voter in a large state. Indeed, several
Presidents have been elected by minorities of the voters of the
country as a whole.</p>
<p class="side">Jefferson reëlected, 1804.<br/>
Strength of the Republicans.</p>
<p><b>246. Reëlection of Jefferson, 1804.</b>--Jefferson's
first administration had been most successful. The Republicans had
repealed many unpopular laws. By the purchase of Louisiana the area
of the United States had been doubled and an end put to the dispute
as to the navigation of the Mississippi. The expenses of the
national government had been cut down, and a portion of the
national debt had been paid. The people were prosperous and happy.
Under these circumstances Jefferson was triumphantly
reëlected. He received one hundred and sixty-two electoral
votes to only fourteen for his Federalist rival.</p>
<p>[Illustration: STEPHEN DECATUR.]</p>
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