JAY'S TREATY. 265 16. Mr. Jay, having negotiated a treaty with Great P’T. IV. Britain, returned in the spring of 1795. His treaty P›D. I. provided that the posts, which the British had retained, CH. 11. should be given up to the Americans, and compensa- Nov. 19. tion made for illegal captures; and that the American 1794. government should hold £600,000, in trust for the Jay's subjects of Great Britain to whom American citizens with G. were indebted. But it did not prohibit the right of searching merchant vessels, which was claimed by the British. treaty Britain. by W. 17. While the senate were debating with closed doors, a member had given an incorrect copy to a printer. It was circulated with rapidity, and produced Passes great irritation. The senate, after much debate ac- these cepted the treaty. The president received addresses nate, and is signed from every part of the Union, praying him to withhold his signature; but Washington believing the conditions to be the best which, under existing circumstances, could be obtained, signed it in defiance of popular clamor. . . . Treaties were also made with the western Indians, with Algiers, and with Spain. By the latter, the Mississippi was made the western boundary, and a right to the navigation of the river 1795. and to the use of New Orleans as a place of deposit, was secured to the United States. . . . In 1796, Tennessee was admitted to the Union. 18. The French government tried various means to flatter and cajole the Americans into aiding them in their European wars; but finding a steady system of France. neutrality maintained, they began depredating on the American commerce; their cruisers being encouraged in capturing the vessels of the United States. 19. As the period for a new election of the president of the United States approached, Gen. Washington publicly signified his determination to retire to private life. He received addresses from every part 16. When did Jay's treaty arrive? What were its provisions? -17. What happened while the treaty was before the senate? What was the consequence, and what was done in reference to the treaty? What other business was transacted at this time in congress?-18. What was the conduct of the French? 19. What determination had Washington made? - 266 P'D. I. A FATHER'S COUNSEL. PT. IV. of the country, which though expressing regret at the loss of his services, yet congratulated him on the asCH. III. tonishing increase of national wealth and prosperity, 1796. during the period of his administration over a country, which was more indebted to him, than to any other human being, for its very existence. 20. On returning, Washington published a Farewell Address, in which he called on his countrymen to cherish an immovable attachment to the national union. Wash- He recommended the most implicit obedience to the acts ington's of the established government, and reprobated all obaddress. structions to the execution of the laws,-all combina farewell tions and associations, with the design to overawe the constituted authorities. Good faith and equal justice should be observed towards all. Honesty, no less in public, than in private affairs, is the best policy. Religion and morality are the pillars of human happiness. These great truths, with others, were taught us, as parting precepts, by our parental friend, whose fame, for wisdom, gathers brightness as time passes on. 1797. Mar. 4. sident. CHAPTER III. America resents the indignities of France.—Adams's Administration.-Jefferson's. 1. THE party candidates for president, were ThoAdams mas Jefferson on the part of the republicans, and John presi- Adams on that of the federalists. Mr. Adams was dent, Jefferson elected president, and Mr. Jefferson vice-president... vice-pre- Mr. Adams received intelligence of an open insult on the part of the French government, now in the hands from of the directory. They had desired the American France. minister to quit France, and determined not to receive another, until the United States had complied with their demands. Insult 20. What can you repeat of Washington's Farewell Address? CHAPTER III.-1. Who were the candidates of the two parties for president? Who was made president? Who vice-president? In what year? What government treated our republic with insolence? WASHINGTON'S EXAMPLE, A NATIONAL TREASURE. 267 Marshall and 2. Mr. Adams, to show his desire for peace, not- PT. IV. withstanding this ill usage, appointed three envoys ex- P'D. I. traordinary to the French republic; but they, instead ca. ш. of being openly received, were privately beset with Pinkney, the object of which, was to make them pay intrigues; money, to bribe the persons in power. These shame- Gerry. ful proposals were made in letters signed X. Y. and Z... Nothing seemed now to remain but war. army was provided for by Congress, and Washington appointed to the command. Capt. Truxton of the American frigate Constellation, fought and captured the French frigate L'Insurgente. An parte 3. The French government at length became con- 1800. vinced, that, although the Americans might choose to quarrel among themselves, yet they would not suffer Buonaforeign interference; and they made overtures for a head of renewal of negotiations. Mr. Adams promptly met the dithem, by appointing three envoys to Paris. They found the government in the hands of Napoleon Treaty Buonaparte. With him they amicably adjusted all made. disputes. rectory.. Sept. 30. Dec. 14.. 4. Washington calmly and peacefully expired at Mount Vernon, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His history is that of his country, during the period 1799. of his public services. What may be said of many of Death of the worthies of the revolution, may be eminently said Wash ington.. of him; in no instance has he rendered his country a more important service, than in leaving to her future sons, his great and good example. Nov. Seat of government 5. Suitable buildings having been erected, the seat 1800. of government, agreeably to the law passed by congress in 1790, was transferred from Philadelphia to the city of Washington. A territory, ten miles square, in which it was to be permanently located, had been red to ceded to the general government, by the states of Virginia and Maryland; and received the name of "the 2. Give some account of the X. Y. and Z. mission as it was called? What was done in reference to the expected war? 3. Of what did the French government become convinced? Who was at the head of the French government, and what was done? -4. What interesting event is next related? -5. What transfer was now made? transfer Wash ington. 268 PARTY-SPIRIT'S WORST DAY. PT. IV. District of Columbia."... Mississippi, and a part of the northwest territory, called Indiana, were this year CH. I. made territories with separate governments. P'D. I. 1800. 6. The time had now arrived for electing a president. It was at this period, that the feuds and animosities of the federal and republican parties were at their greatest height. Mr. Adams had lost the people's favour by one of those changes of popular sentiment which public men often experience. He had sanctioned two acts which were regarded as hostile to the constitution; "the Alien Law," which authorised the president to order any alien, whom he should judge Sedition dangerous to the peace and liberty of the country to dend when part from the United States, on pain of imprisonment, and alien and another, called the "Sedition Law," which imposed a heavy fine, and imprisonment for years, upon such as should "write, print, utter, publish, &c, any false, scandalous, and malicious writing against the government of the United States, or either house of congress of the United States, or the president, &c." Under the sedition law, several persons were actually imprisoned. 7. By the constitution, as it then existed, each elector voted for two men, without designating which was to be president. He who was found to have the greatest number of votes, was to be president, and the second on the list, vice-president. The republican Jefferson electors, who had a very considerable majority over Burr. the federal, gave their votes, to a man, for Thomas and Jefferson and Aaron Burr; intending that Jefferson should be president. They had thus an equal number of votes; and the election must, according to the constitution, be decided by the house of representatives. 8. The federalists considered that they might yet defeat their opponents; and probably believing that they should find a grateful friend in Col. Burr, they determined, if possible, to raise him to the presidency. 6. What two unpopular laws had been passed? - 7. How did each elector then vote for president and vice-president? How was the vote of the electors given?-8. What did the federal party now think and do? UNPARALLELED ADVANCE. 269 On counting the votes in the house, Mr. Jefferson and PÄT. IV. Mr. Burr had each an equal number. Thirty-five times P'D. I. the voting went round, and the hour had nearly come, Cн. III. when if a president had not been chosen, the govern- 1801. ment would have been destroyed. At length Jefferson Are had a majority of one State. . . . The constitution was president afterwards amended, so that the same danger might and vicenever occur again. The conduct pursued by both presi parties in congress, on this occasion, manifests how little, party spirit cares for public good. made deut. Second 9. A second census of the United States was completed; giving a population of 5,319,762, an increase of one million four hundred thousand in ten years. census In the same time, the exports increased from nine- 1800 teen to ninety-four millions, and the revenue, from in 4,771,000 to 12,945,000 dollars. This rapid advance 1801. in the career of prosperity, is unparalleled in the history of nations. declared 10. In 1802, Ohio was admitted as an independent 1802. state into the Union. The territory of this state was originally claimed by Virginia and Connecticut, and Ohio adwas ceded by them to the United States, at different mitted to times, after the year 1781. From this extensive and union. fertile tract of country, slavery was entirely excluded. the ana ce France. 11. In 1802, the port of New Orleans was closed against the United States. Spain having ceded Louisiana to the French, the Spanish intendant announced Louisithat the citizens of the United States could no longer ded by be permitted to deposit their merchandise and effects Spain to in the port of New Orleans. The western states apprehended the ruin of their commerce; and great agi- Alarm tation was excited. The right of deposit was subse- western quently restored; but the alarm had shown, how states. important was the possession of the waters of the Mississippi to the western states. 8. What singular position of affairs now presented itself? How did it terminate? What does this affair show with respect to party spirit?-9. In what year was the second census taken? How many inhabitants? What increase of population in ten years? What of exports and revenue?-10. What account can you give of Ohio? - 11. On what account were the western states alarmed and agitated? Was the right of deposit restored? What had this alarm shown. of the |