網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

sider the threatening relations with France. Jonathan Dayton, Federalist, of New Jersey, was elected Speaker of the House. The use of the three frigates already built was authorized and 80,000 militia were called for. An act was passed punishing privateering on a friendly nation by a fine of $10,000, and imprisonment for ten years. The House Committee on Ways and Means was first organized at this session.

War with France Threatened. — Adams appointed John Marshall, Elbridge Gerry and C. C. Pinckney commissioners to treat with France. They met in Paris Oct. 4, 1797, and were approached with a proposi tion to bribe members of the French Directory. They refused with indignation, Implicating Talleyrand, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, and were ordered out of France. It was on this occasion that Mr. Pinckney is reported to have given utterance to the famous sentence declaring that the United States had "Millions for defense; not one cent for tribute." Partisan feeling was general and bitter throughout the country and diplomacy was strained to the utmost to avert actual hostilities with France.

Congress organized the Navy Department and authorized a provisional army of 10,000 men. Harper's Ferry was selected as a site for a government armory and manufactory. Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the army with the rank of Lieutenant-General. The patriotic song "Hail, Columbia," was first sung in May, 1798. Commanders of ships of war were instructed to seize French armed vessels attacking American merchant-men or hovering about the coast for that purpose. Commercial intercourse with France was suspended and in July all treaties with that country were declared void. Although several naval engagements took place, a state of war did not exist according to international judicial opinion. The passage of the Alien and Sedition laws (q. v.) was one of the notable acts of the Fifth Congress.

March 30, 1799, upon assurance from France that a representative from the United States would be received with the "respect due a powerful nation" Adams sent William Vans Murray as Minister and associated with him Chief Justice Ellsworth, of Connecticut, and Gov. Davie, of North Carolina. All were received by Napoleon, first Consul.

Foreign Policy.-Party lines and party strife during the Adams administration were more largely influenced by foreign than by domestic political issues. Despite the humiliation inflicted upon the young Republic by both France and Great Britain, Adams resolutely followed Washington's policy of strict neutrality. It was difficult to steer safely between the bitter feeling against Great Britain which the Democrats displayed, and the dislike for France manifested by the Federalists. The decrees issued by France against American commerce caused Adams to convene Congress in special session soon after his inauguration. In his message on this occasion he reviews the situation and asks Congress to consider how war with France may be averted. said: (page 226) "I shall institute a fresh attempt at negotiation and shall not fail to promote and accelerate an accommodation on terms compatible with the rights, duties, interests, and honor of the nation." The special commission composed of Pinckney. Marshall, and Gerry was sent to France, but was not openly received.

He

Then followed the X. Y. Z. affair (q. r.), and the publicity of the despatches relating to it aroused great excitement in Europe

and a storm of indignation in Americă From all parts of the United States ca.ne the war-cry. "Millions for defense; not one cent for tribute." It was then that the nucleus of the navy was formed, and the army strengthened and commanded by WashIngton, who accepted the rank of lieutenant general. Then the French directory saw the error they had committed and made overtures to the United States. Adams met them, though his manner of doing so by appointing Vans Murray to negotiate peace antagonized Hamilton and his friends and brought about a rupture in the Cabinet. Adams always stoutly maintained that this was the most meritorious act of his life; and later generations have so testified. "Í desire," he said, "no other inscription over my gravestone than this: 'Here lies John Adams, who took upon himself the responsiThe bility of peace with France in 1800. stringent alien and sedition acts, passed later in this administration. greatly increased the unpopularity of Adams.

Finances.-Adams very closely followed Washington's policy of paying off the national debt as rapidly as possible, so far as the exigencies of war would permit. He, however, deprecated doing so by means of loans. In his First Annual Address (page 253) he said: "The national defense must be provided for as well as the support of Government; but both should be accomplished as much as possible by immediate taxes, and as little as possible by loans." Feb. 12, 1798, in a special message (page 252) he reports a balance on hand at the beginning of the year of $15,494.24. In his Fourth Annual Message (page 297) he is able to report to Congress a greater rev enue during the year than ever before, and says: "This result affords conclusive evidence of the great resources of this country and of the wisdom and efficiency of the measures adopted by Congress for the protection of commerce and preservation of public credit." In his reply to the Senate (page 302) he fully agrees that the great increase in revenue is a proof that the measures of maritime defense were founded in wisdom. This policy has raised us in the esteem of nations." By proclamation of July 22, 1797 (page 239) all foreign silver coins, except Spanish milled dollars and parts of such dollars, shall cease to pass current or to be legal tender within the United States after Oct. 15, 1797; and all foreign gold coins shall cease to be legal tender after July 31, 1798. It also records the fact that coinage of silver began at the Mint of the United States on Oct. 15, 1794 and of gold on July 31. 1795.

Tariff-July 8, 1797, an act was passed "laying additional duty on salt Imported into the United States and for other purposes."

Public Debt-During the administration of John Adams the public debt of the United States stood as follows: January 1, 1798, $79.228,529.12; 1799, $78,408.669.77: 1800, $82,976,294.35; 1801, $83,038,050.80.

Commerce.-The retaliatory prohibition of trade with certain of the French West Indies was removed by proclamations in 1799. These applied to ports in the Island of Santo Domingo. The defensive measures adopted by Congress for the protection of merchant vessels under convoy of an armed frigate, together with the renewal of amity and friendship with France, caused a rapid recuperation in commercial circles. Com mercial transactions in the country for the year 1800 are represented as follows:

Total money in circulation, $26,500,000; Revenues, $10,848,749; Expenditures. $7. 411,370: Imports, $91,252,768; Exports. $70,971,780

Political Complexion of Congress.-In the Fifth Congress the Senate of thirty-two members was made up of twenty-one Federalists and eleven Democrats; the House, of 105 members, was made up of fifty-one FedIn the eralists and fifty-four Democrats. Sixth Congress the Senate, of thirty-two members, was made up of nineteen Federalists and thirteen Democrats; the House, of 105 members, was made up of fifty-seven Federalists and forty-eight Democrats.

The Sixth Congress, the last to assemble in Philadelphia, met Dec. 2, 1799, and Theodore Sedgwick, of Massachusetts, was The death elected Speaker of the House.

of Washington (Dec. 14) was announced to Congress Dec. 19 (page 287), and in his eulogy Henry Lee of Virginia used the memorable phrase, "First in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen." At this session a gold medal was awarded to Thomas Truxtun, who, in command of the Constellation, had captured the French ship of war L'Insurgente and the frigate La Vengeance. The frigate George Washington carried tribute money from the United States to the Dey of Algiers and was required to carry the Dey's ambassador to Constantinople.

Successor Elected.-When the electoral rotes were counted in February it was found that Jefferson and Burr, DemocraticRepublican candidates, had each 73 votes; John Adams, Federalist, 65, and C. C. Pinckney, Federalist, 64, and John Jay, 1. The tie between Jefferson and Burr was sent to the House to decide, and after seven days, in which thirty-six ballots were taken, Jefferson and Burr were elected. Adams, John:

Annual addresses of, 240, 261, 279, 295. Addresses of Senate in reply, 244, 265, 282, 298.

Replies of President, 246, 267, 283,

299.

Addresses of House in reply, 247, 267, 283, 300.

Replies of President, 248, 270, 286,

302.

Liographical sketch of, 217. Constitutional amendment relative to postponement of meeting of Congress suggested by, 240.

Death of, announced and honors to be paid memory of, 914. Referred to, 930.

Death of Washington announced by, 287.

Address and replies, 288, 289, 290. Division between people and government discouraged by, 229. Exequaturs issued consuls of France revoked by, 260.

Finances discussed by, 228, 243, 252, 265, 281, 297.

Foreign policy discussed by, 228. Hostile policy of France discussed by, 262.

Inaugural address of, 218.

Oath of office, notifies Congress of

time and place of taking, 1220. Pardons granted insurgents in Pennsylvania by, 293.

Portrait of, 216.

[blocks in formation]

Peter B. Porter, from May 26, 1828. Secretary of the Navy

Samuel L. Southard (continued). Attorney-General

William Wirt (continued). Postmaster-General

trained in

He

John McLean (continued). Party Affiliation.-Though politics and diplomacy by his father, John Quincy Adams soon manifested independence of political thought and action. broke with the Federalists when he gave unqualified support to Jefferson on the Louisiana Purchase, and, later, on the embargo. Speaking of the Federalists defending the Leopard affair, he said: "This was the cause which alienated me from that day and forever from the councils of the Federalist party." It was not long until he became active in Republican circles, both as a diplomat and as a Cabinet officer. During his administration, he was Whig so far as favoring internal improvements, the national bank, and high tariff on importations. As ex-President, he was elected to Congress (1831) by the anti-Masonic party, but he there maintained a perfectly independent attitude. When he left Congress he supported the Abolitionists, and from 1836 until 1845 he was fierce in his denunciation of gag-rule.

John Quincy Adams became Chief Magistrate by popular choice in an election where personality was concerned more than party affiliation. The election of 1824 was not regulated by Congressional caucus, which had lost its importance with the waning of

EXTENT OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT J. Q. ADAMS, 1825-1829.

[blocks in formation]

NH.

1788

NEW YORK

1788

MASS 1788 CONN 1788

PENNSYLVANIA 1787

VIRGINIA 1788

N. J. 1767

MD 1788

DEL

KENTUCKY 1792

TENNESSEE 1796

NORTH CAROLINA

1789

SOUTH CAROLINA

1788

MISSISSIPP 1817

ALABAMA 1819

LOUISIANA 1812

GEORGIA 1788

[graphic]

the Federalists, nor by national convention, which mode of nomination did not originate until formed by the Anti-Masons in 1830.

Vote. The contest was free for all, and narrowed down to four candidates: Adams, Jackson, Crawford, and Clay. Twenty-four States took part in the election, which was held Nov. 2. This is the earliest election in which there appears a record of the popular vote, as most of the electors were chosen by that means. That record shows that Andrew Jackson received 155,872 votes; John Quincy Adams, 105,321; William H. Crawford, 44,282; and Henry Clay, 46,587. The electoral vote, counted on Feb. 9, 1825, gave Andrew Jackson, 99; John Quincy Adams, 84: William H. Crawford, 41; and Henry Clay, 37.

Tote in House.-As no one received a majority, the House proceeded on the same day to elect a President from the three highest candidates. This excluded Clay, the most popular of the candidates in the House. John Quincy Adams was elected by the votes of thirteen States; Jackson received seven, and Crawford four. The electoral college had elected John C. Calhoun VicePresident, with 182 votes. In the electoral college, had three New York men, who were returned as Clay men, voted in accordance with their Instructions, Clay would have been one of the three to go to the House, and the result might have been very dif ferent. This was the second time that the House was called upon to choose a President.

Political Complexion of Congress.-In the Nineteenth Congress (1825-1827) the Senate, of forty-eight members, was made up of thirty-eight Democrats and ten Whigs; and the House, of 213 members, was made up of seventy-nine Federalists and 134 Democrats. In the Twentieth Congress (18271829) the Senate, of forty-eight members, was made up of thirty-seven Federalists and eleven Whigs; and the House, of 213 members, was made up of eighty-five Federalists and 128 Democrats.

John W. Taylor, of New York, was elected Speaker of the House in the Nineteenth Congress, which numbered among its members Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, James K. Polk, of Tennessee.

and

In 1826 the South American States called a general congress to meet in Panama and invited the United States to be represented (page 884). During the debate on the subject in the Senate John Randolph referred to the association of Adams and Clay as that of the Puritan and the blackleg. Α duel followed between Clay and Randolph. The disappearance of William Morgan from Canandaigua, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1826, gave rise to the Anti-Masonic party.

Indian Affairs.-Numerous treaties were made with Indians during Adams' administration, among them the cession of the lands of most of the tribes inhabiting territory east of the Mississippi River and their remoral to the Indian Territory. The refusal of the Creeks to be bound by a treaty signed by their chiefs formed the subject of special message by Mr. Adams (page 890).

Tariff-Two acts relating to the tariff were passed in this administration-that of May 22. 1824, and of May 19, 1828. Speaking of the latter in his Fourth Annual Message (page 980) President Adams said: The tariff of the last session was in its details not acceptable to the great interests of any portion of the Union, not even to the interests which it was specially intended to serve. Its object was to balance the burdens upon native industry imposed by the operation of foreign laws, but not to

...

aggravate the burdens of one section of the Union by the relief afforded to another. But If any of the duties imposed by the act only relieve the manufacturer by aggravating the burden of the planter, let a careful revisal of its provisions, enlightened by the practical experience of its effects, be directed to retain those which impart protection to native industry and remove or supply the place of those which only alleviate one great national interest by the depression of another."

Internal Improvements.-The policy of President Adams differed materially in regard to internal improvement from those of his immediate predecessors. In his Inaugural Address (page 864) he said: "To pursue to their consummation those purposes of improvement in our common condition instituted or recommended by him [Monroe] will embrace the whole sphere of my obligations. To the topic of internal improvement emphatically urged by him at his Inauguration, I recur with peculiar satisfaction. It is that from which, I am satisfied, the unborn millions of our posterIty who are in future ages to people this continent will derive their most fervent gratitude to the founders of the Union: that in which the beneficent action of its Government will be most deeply felt and acknowledged. The extent and limitation of the powers of the General Government in relation to this transcendently important subject will be settled and acknowledged to the common satisfaction of all, and every speculative scruple will be solved by a practical public blessing."

Public Debt.-The public debt of the United States during the administration of President Adams stood as follows: January 1, 1826, $81,054,059.99; 1827, $73,987,357.20; 1828, $67,475,043.87; 1829, $58,421,413.67.

In his Second Annual Message (page 924) the President says: "It is well for us, however, to be admonished of the necessity of abiding by the maxims of the most vigilant economy, and of resorting to all honorable and useful expedients for pursuing with steady and inflexible perseverance the total discharge of the debt." In his Third Annual Message (page 952) he says: "The deep solicitude felt by our citizens of all classes throughout the Union for the total discharge of the public debt will apologize for the earnestness with which I deem it my duty to urge this topic upon the consideration of Congress-of recommending to them again the observance of the strictest economy in the application of the public funds."

Finance. In his Fourth Annual Message (page 977), at the close of his administration, President Adams was able to say: "The condition and prospects of the revenue are more favorable than our most sanguing expectations had anticipated." He reported a balance in the Treasury, Jan. 1, 1828, of $5,861,972.83; with a prospect of a balance of over $5,000.000 on the first of the coming year. "The receipts for the present year have amounted to near two millions more than was anticipated at the mencement of the last session of Congress.'

com

Slavery. "The African Slave Trade." said President Adams in his First Annual Message (page 875), "has long been excluded from the use of our flag, and if some few citizens of our country have continued to set the laws of the Union, as well as those of nature and humanity, at defiance by persevering in that abominable traffic, it has been only by sheltering themselves under the banners of other nations less earnest for the total extinction of the trade than ours."

sider the threatening relations with France.
Jonathan Dayton, Federalist, of New Jer-
sey, was elected Speaker of the House. The
use of the three frigates already built was
authorized and 80,000 militia were called
for. An act was passed punishing priva-
teering on a friendly nation by a fine of
$10,000, and imprisonment for ten years.
The House Committee on Ways and Means
was first organized at this session.

War with France Threatened. — Adams
appointed John Marshall, Elbridge Gerry
and C. C. Pinckney commissioners to treat
with France. They met in Paris Oct. 4,
1797, and were approached with a proposi-
tion to bribe members of the French Direc-
tory. They refused with indignation, im-
plicating Talleyrand, the French Minister
of Foreign Affairs, and were ordered out of
France. It was on this occasion that Mr.
Pinckney is reported to have given utter-
ance to the famous sentence declaring that
the United States had "Millions for de-
fense; not one cent for tribute." Partisan
feeling was general and bitter throughout
the country and diplomacy was strained to
the utmost to avert actual hostilities with
France.

Congress organized the Navy Department
and authorized a provisional army of 10,-
000 men. Harper's Ferry was selected as a
site for a government armory and manu-
factory. Washington was appointed com-
mander-in-chief of the army with the rank
of Lieutenant-General. The patriotic song
"Hail, Columbia," was first sung in May,
1798. Commanders of ships of war were
instructed to seize French armed vessels
attacking American merchant-men or hov-
ering about the coast for that purpose.
Commercial intercourse with France was
suspended and in July all treaties with
that country were declared void. Although
several naval engagements took place, a
state of war did not exist according to inter-
national judicial opinion. The passage of
the Alien and Sedition laws (q. v.) was one
of the notable acts of the Fifth Congress.

March 30, 1799, upon assurance from
France that a representative from the
United States would be received with the
"respect due a powerful nation" Adams sent
William Vans Murray as Minister and as-
sociated with him Chief Justice Ellsworth,
of Connecticut, and Gov. Davie, of North
Carolina. All were received by Napoleon,
first Consul.

Foreign Policy.-Party lines and party
strife during the Adams administration were
more largely influenced by foreign than by
domestic political issues. Despite the hu-
miliation inflicted upon the young Republic
by both France and Great Britain, Adams
resolutely followed Washington's policy of
strict neutrality. It was difficult to steer
safely between the bitter feeling against
Great Britain which the Democrats dis-
played, and the dislike for France mani-
fested by the Federalists. The decrees is-
sued by France against American commerce
caused Adams to convene Congress in spe-
cial session soon after his inauguration.
In his message on this occasion he reviews
the situation and asks Congress to consider
how war with France may be averted.
said: (page 226) "I shall institute a fresh
attempt at negotiation and shall not fall
to promote and accelerate an accommoda-
tion on terms compatible with the rights,
dutles, interests, and honor of the nation."
The special commission composed of Pinck-
ney, Marshall. and Gerry was sent
France, but was not openly received.

He

to

Then followed the X. Y. Z. affair (q. v.),
and the publicity of the despatches relating
to it aroused great excitement in Europe

and a storm of indignation in America.
From all parts of the United States came
the war-cry. "Millions for defense; not one
cent for tribute." It was then that the
nucleus of the navy was formed, and the
army strengthened and commanded by Wash-
Ington, who accepted the rank of lieutenant
general. Then the French directory saw
the error they had committed and made
overtures to the United States. Adams met
them, though his manner of doing so by
appointing Vans Murray to negotiate peace
antagonized Hamilton and his friends and
brought about a rupture in the Cabinet.
Adams always stoutly maintained that this
was the most meritorious act of his life;
and later generations have so testified.
desire," he said, "no other inscription over
my gravestone than this: 'Here lies John
Adams, who took upon himself the responsi-
bility of peace with France in 1800.' The
stringent alien and sedition acts, passed
later in this administration, greatly in-
creased the unpopularity of Adams.

"I

Finances.-Adams very closely followed
Washington's policy of paying off the na-
tional debt as rapidly as possible, so far
as the exigencies of war would permit. He.
however, deprecated doing so by means of
loans. In his First Annual Address (page
253) he said: "The national defense must
be provided for as well as the support of
Government; but both should be accom-
plished as much as possible by immediate
taxes, and as little as possible by loans.'
Feb. 12, 1798, in a special message (page
252) he reports a balance on hand at the
beginning of the year of $15,494.24. In his
Fourth Annual Message (page 297) he is
able to report to Congress a greater rev-
enue during the year than ever before, and
says: "This result affords conclusive evi-
dence of the great resources of this coun-
try and of the wisdom and efficiency of the
measures adopted by Congress for the pro-
tection of commerce and preservation of
public credit." In his reply to the Senate
(page 302) he fully agrees "that the great
increase in revenue is a proof that the meas-
ures of maritime defense were founded in
wisdom. This policy has raised us in the
esteem of nations." By proclamation of
July 22, 1797 (page 239) all foreign silver
coins, except Spanish milled dollars and
parts of such dollars, shall cease to pass
current or to be legal tender within the
United States after Oct. 15, 1797; and all
foreign gold coins shall cease to be legal
tender after July 31. 1798. It also re-
cords the fact that coinage of silver began
at the Mint of the United States on Oct.
15, 1794; and of gold on July 31. 1795.

Tariff-July 8, 1797, an act was passed
"laying additional duty on salt imported
into the United States and for other pur-
poses."

Public Debt.-During the administration
of John Adams the public debt of the United
States stood as follows: January 1, 1798,
$79,228,529.12; 1799, $78,408,669.77; 1800,
$82,976,294.35; 1801, $83,038,050.80.

Commerce. The retaliatory prohibition of
trade with certain of the French West Indies
was removed by proclamations in 1799.
These applied to ports in the Island of
Santo Domingo, The defensive measures
adopted by Congress for the protection of
merchant vessels under convoy of an armed
frigate, together with the renewal of amity
and friendship with France, caused a rapid
recuperation in commercial circles. Com-
mercial transactions in the country for the
year 1800 are represented as follows:

Total money in circulation, $26,500,000;
Revenues, $10,848,749; Expenditures, $7,
411,370; Imports, $91,252,768; Exports,
$70,971,780

« 上一頁繼續 »