CHAPTER XI.

THE THIRTY YEARS' PEACE.

REFERENCES.

General. - James Schouler, History of the United States, ii. Chap. ix., iii. Chaps. x.-xii.; R. Hildreth, History of the United States, vi. 575-713 (to 1821); Bryant and Gay, Popular History of the United States, iv. 244281; G. F. Tucker, The Monroe Doctrine; J. L. Bishop, History of American Manufactures; E. Channing, The United States, pp. 197–207.

Biographies. American Statesmen Series: D. C. Gilman, James Monroe; J. T. Morse, Jr., John Quincy Adams; C. Schurz, Henry Clay; W. G. Sumner, Andrew Jackson; H. C. Lodge, Daniel Webster; H. von Holst, John C. Calhoun; E. M. Shepard, Martin Van Buren; H. Adams, John Randolph; James Parton, Andrew Jackson, and his Andrew Jackson (Great Commander Series); B. Tuckerman, Memoirs of Lafayette.

Special. F. W. Taussig, Tariff History of the United States; D. C. Gilman, James Monroe, pp. 125-174; C. Schurz, Henry Clay, i. 137-202; E. Stanwood, History of Presidential Elections, "The Second Adams,” "Andrew Jackson" pp. 79–101; Josiah Quincy, Figures of the Past; A. Johnston, American Politics, pp. 82-114; American History Leaflets, No. 4, The Monroe Doctrine; J. F. Rhodes, History of the United States, i. 14-42.

197. Increase of National Feeling. (1815.) It is pleasant to leave accounts of war, and to turn the attention, at least in part, to interests which belong to peace, and which bind a people together most firmly, and best stimulate a healthy national growth, such as improved means of communication, mechanical inventions, philanthropic efforts, and education.

The beginning of Monroe's term of office marks an epoch in the history of the United States. Previously many had looked upon the Union as an experiment, but after 1815 the

ERA OF GOOD FEELING.

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national feeling greatly increased, and party questions related to public policy rather than to forms of government. In the thirty years of peace following the War of 1812, the great subjects which claimed the attention of the people were those of internal policy, such as the tariff, internal improvements, -national roads, canals, railroads, - public lands, education, and slavery. Party lines for a time seemed to disappear, and Monroe's Presidency has therefore been called the "era of good feeling."

198. Era of Good Feeling. (1815-1819.) - Monroe seemed to have taken Washington as his model and to have followed his example whenever possible.

Like him, early in his term of office he made an extended tour through the states. Nominally for the purpose of inspecting the defences of the seaboard, the journey really was to heal as far as practicable party animosities. Travelling was slow in those days, and three months. and a half were taken up in visiting the eastern and middle states. Monroe was received everywhere with enthusiasm, the old Federalists for the moment being almost as full of zeal as the President's own party, and Jefferson's words, "We are all Federalists, we are all Republicans," seemed for the time to be literally true. A second tour in 1819 was made to the southern states. A Presidential tour now is no uncommon thing, but in Monroe's day it meant a great deal, and the effect upon the people was marked.

JAMES MONROE.

199. Cession of Florida; General Jackson. (1819.) — Spain owned Florida, but it could hardly be said she governed it. There were but few settlements or forts, and the country was really held by various tribes of Indians, the chief of whom were known as the Seminoles. Runaway slaves from Georgia and Alabama found it a safe place of refuge, and adventurers saw in it an attractive field for their lawless operations. During the War of 1812 there was continual trouble, which lasted after peace had been made; Spain was either indifferent to complaints or helpless to keep order. In fact, there was regular border warfare. In 1817 General Andrew Jackson was sent to take command of the United States forces. In his instructions he was allowed to pursue a flying enemy across the boundary, but he was not to attempt to take any Spanish post without direct orders from Washington. In the conduct of the campaign, however, he acted without regard to instructions. He accused the Spanish commanders of aiding the Indians, probably a true charge in some instances, and took several of the towns and forts, among them Pensacola. He captured two British subjects, had them tried by court-martial, and promptly hanged them, though the evidence against them was of a doubtful character. Thus in a very short time he had violated the rules of international law, and brought the country to the verge of war with two nations. Pensacola was soon restored to Spain; but as it was evident that the Floridas would continue to be a troublesome possession, Spain became more willing to enter into negotiations for their cession to the United States, and in 1819 a treaty for the purchase was signed at Washington. This was not ratified by both countries until 1821. In consideration of the United States renouncing all claims upon Spain for spoliations, and agreeing to pay to American claimants

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$5,000,000, Spain ceded all the Floridas to the United States. The western boundary of the Louisiana Purchase was also fixed by this treaty.1

200. Agreement relative to the Great Lakes. (1817.) - In 1817 Great Britain and the United States mutually agreed to limit the naval force of each power on the Great Lakes to two vessels on the upper lakes, to one vessel on Lake Ontario, and one on Lake Champlain; each vessel was not tc exceed one hundred tons' burden, and was to be armed with but a single small cannon. This was but a police force to preserve order and protect the collection of revenue. It was also agreed that no vessels should be built or armed on the Great Lakes for war purposes.

201. Protection to Home Industries. (1817.)- One effect of the War of 1812 had been to shut out English manufactures, and in consequence to stimulate the manufacture of cotton and woollen goods in the United States. As has been seen, the New England states turned their attention from the carrying trade to manufactures. Now that peace was made, the English merchants poured their goods into the United States, underselling American manufacturers, who were unable to compete in prices; indeed, it was alleged that the English merchants sent their goods over with the avowed purpose of breaking down any competition in America, and in order to do this were willing for a time to sell below cost. A proposed reduction of the tariff was postponed, and in

1 Omitting particulars, the boundary may be described as following the Sabine, Red, and Arkansas rivers, to the forty-second parallel of latitude, and thence to the Pacific Ocean. In agreeing to these boundaries the United States lost Texas, a part of which she had previously claimed under the Louisiana treaty, but whose worth was unknown or undervalued at that time.

1817 the "American Society for the Encouragement of American Manufactures was formed. Now more than ever was Protection made a definite policy; for though the theory had been distinctly recognized, revenue had been the object of every financial measure; after this time "protection" has often been made the primary object in legislation, and revenue the secondary 1 (sect. 156).

In 1816 a number of southern men, among them Calhoun, advocated at least a moderate protective policy; but before long they were led to believe that such a policy was against the interests of the South, particularly of the cotton-producing states, and in a few years most southern men became strong opponents of protection (sect. 218).

202. Internal Improvements. (1806-1819.)-In 1806 Congress had made an appropriation for the construction of a national road from Maryland to Ohio, the first instance of the kind under the Constitution. In 1805 Jefferson in his second inaugural recommended an amendment to the Constitution, giving the states the surplus revenue to expend on roads, canals, and education. Madison and Monroe both vetoed bills making appropriations for the construction of roads at the national expense, on the ground of unconstitutionality, but both had agreed in thinking that such works

1 Protection, or a protective tariff, is a tax laid upon imported goods so high that it will encourage such goods to be manufactured at home. The advocates of protection claim that those engaged in manufacturing will buy of the farmers, thus giving them a home market for their products; and that there will be a greater diversity of interests in the country, making it to a great extent independent of foreign nations. The advocates of free trade claim that it is best for each country to produce that for which it is best fitted by nature; that manufactures will spring up as soon as the country is ready for them; that protection benefits a few at the expense of the many ; and that a policy of free trade will tend to peace between nations.