John Jay, one of the most important of the Revolutionary statesmen, was born December 12th, 1745. He took an active part in the earliest proceedings leading to the War for Independence, being a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774, and being chosen to draw up the "Address to the People of Great Britain." Mr. Jay prepared also the first Constitution of the State of New York, and was later elected President of Congress. He was one of the negotiators of the Treaty of Peace of 1782-83, and was afterwards again returned to Congress. In 1789, President Washington appointed him Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In 1792, he resigned this position, and two years later negotiated a treaty with Great Britain. Mr. Jay served two terms as Governor of New York. After 1801 he refused all public offices, and died May 17th, 1829. John Jay. nation, had been long and useful, and reflected the highest credit upon him. On his retirement he issued his famous farewell address, a document of rare merit, exhibiting the highest statesmanship, and filled with sentiments of the most exalted patriotism (Appendix D). It should be read by every pupil in the schools who studies the history of our country. The eight years of Washington's administrations covered a period of increasing prosperity to the United States. The finances of the country were no longer embarrassed. The new republic had won wholesome respect abroad, and new life had been infused into every department of industry. CHAPTER LVI. THE FEDERALISTS AND FRANCE. 1797-1801. 415. The Second President. John Adams was inaugurated the second President of the United States on the 4th of March, 1797, at Philadelphia. The two houses of Congress and a great concourse of people witnessed the imposing ceremony. John Adams. (From a painting by G. Stuart). The whole country was rapidly coming into a condition of great prosperity. The national debt had been funded, and a considerable part of it had already been paid. Provision had been made for the gradual payment of what remained, and the revenue was ample. The Indians had been pacified, and war with England had been averted. The agricultural interests of the country were flourishing, and commerce was rapidly increasing. 416. Foreign Relations. - Only in one direction was difficulty to be apprehended. The treaty which Jay had made with England prevented war between us and that country, but the treaty was unpopular with our people, and nearly caused a war with France. The French government ordered the American minister to leave the country. French cruisers roamed the seas and cap tured, it was estimated, as many as a thousand American vessels. 417. Commission to France. President Adams was desirous of avoiding a war with France, and sent a special commission of three John Adams was born in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts, October 30th, 1735, N. S. He belonged to an old Puritan family, his ancestors having immigrated to New England in 1632. He held an honorable position as a lawyer up to the culmination of the troubles with Great Britain. Attempts were made to win him over to the royal side, but his patriotism and honor were above all bribes of position and courtly favor. The Bay Colony sent Adams as one of its delegates to the Continental Congress in 1774, and again in 1775, in which he took a prominent part. In 1777 he was sent as ambassador to France, and for ten years he spent most of his time abroad in the service of his country. In 1787 he received a cordial welcome home, and was soon elected Vice-President of the United States. He became the natural leader of the Federalist party, and was elected President in 1796. envoys to that country. These were John Marshall of Virginia, afterwards Chief Justice of the United States. Supreme Court, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts. M. Talleyrand was the French minister of foreign affairs. He refused to treat with the envoys, but through other parties it was intimated to them that if they would pay to the French government a quarter of a million dollars, they would be officially received, and all matters in dispute would be speedily settled. Pinckney at once replied in a spirited manner, "Millions for defence, but not one cent for tribute." This soon became a popular motto throughout the country. 418. Warlike Conditions. The French government soon ordered Pinckney and Marshall to leave France. Mr. Gerry remained, but effected nothing. Our army was increased, a naval armament prepared, and the Department of the Navy was established. Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of our forces. In reality a state of war existed, although war had not been declared. American war vessels were fitted out to capture the French privateers. In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte became First Consul of France, thus taking the control Chief Justice John Marshall. (After a painting by Henry Inman.) of the government, and the next year a treaty was negotiated, and peace was restored. 419. Alien and Sedition Laws. In 1798, while these complications with France were existing, Congress passed two laws which became very unpopular with the people, and did much to break down the administration and bring the party of Federalists into a decided minority. The Alien Law gave authority to the President to order any alien whom he should judge dangerous to the United States to leave the country. The Sedition Law gave authority for punishing by fine and imprisonment any person who should speak, write, or publish anything false or malicious. against the government, the President, or Congress. These laws were opposed by large numbers of the people on the ground that they abridged personal liberty and freedom of speech, and therefore were unconstitutional. 420. Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. -The legislatures of Kentucky and Mount Vernon.- President Washington, though granted the highest civil and military honors, was remarkably fond of domestic life, and very glad to retire when freed from public duty. Mount Vernon was his home during all his married life, and here, where he had spent so many happy, quiet years, he was laid at rest. The mansion-house is situated on the Potomac, about fifteen miles from the city of Washington, and occupies one of the most beautiful sites in that section of the country. The estate, on which Washington's home and his tomb stand, is now owned by a society of ladies, and every year thousands visit this memorial of the "Father of his Country." John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States, was born September 24th, 1755, in Virginia. In early life he spent five years in the Revolutionary army, and then began the practice of law in his native county. He gradually rose in his profession, and was fre quently a member of the Virginia legislature. In 1797 Mr. Marshall was sent as Envoy Extraordinary to France, and in 1800 he became Secretary of State under President Adams. In 1801 he was appointed Chief Justice of the United States, which position he held until his death, July 6th, 1835. Six men occupied the Presidential office, and eighteen Congresses enacted laws, during the period that ChiefJustice Marshall was at the head of the Judicial Department of the government. This position he filled with such wonderful ability that it has been said: "He was born to be the chief-justice of any country in which he lived." Judge Story says: "The Constitution, since its adoption, owes more to him than to any other single mind for its true interpretation and vindication." Virginia were intensely opposed to these laws. They passed resolutions. asserting the doctrine that any State had a right to judge for itself how far the national authority should be considered binding. Here was the first official utterance of the doctrine that about thirty years later took the form of nullification (470) in South Carolina under the leadership of John C. Calhoun, and thirty years after that, under the name of secession (¶ 535), plunged the country into a civil war of greater proportion and more gigantic destruction to life and property than any the world had ever seen. 421. Death of Washington. In 1799 the nation was thrown into universal grief by the death of Washington, which occurred at Mount Vernon, on the 14th of December, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. As the successful leader of our armies during the great struggle for independence, and as for eight years the first President of the new nation, for his high moral character, dignified and gentlemanly conduct, judicious and conservative statesmanship, pure patriotism and philanthropy, he had justly won the title that was given him by all, "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.' 422. Presidential Election. In the autumn of the year 1800 occurred another presidential election. The Federalists had become very unpopular by means of the alien and sedition laws. John Adams was the candidate of the Federalists for re-election, and Thomas Jefferson was the candidate of the Republicans for President, and Aaron Burr for Vice-President. The Federalists were defeated; and as Jefferson and Burr had an equal number of votes, the election, according to the Constitution as it then stood, was thrown into the House of Representatives. That body elected Jefferson President and Burr Vice-President. |