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Mr. Jay to conclude a treaty with him, on these disputed questions. The negotiation continued, without coming to any satisfactory result, until the organization of the federal government. It would have been easy to have concluded a commercial treaty between the two coun. tries, on terms very advantageous to the United States; but these concessions, on the part of Spain would have required concessions on our part, respecting boundaries, and the navigation of the Mississippi, which it was not deemed advisable to make. Mr. Jay was inclined, after ineffectually trying for more favourable terms, to the insertion of an article, forbearing the use of the Mississippi, within the Spanish territory, for the space of 20 years, and in this view, he was sustained by the delegations from the eastern and middle states, except that from Delaware, which was absent, and that from Mary. land, which, with the four southern states, warmly opposed it. The policy of this course, however, he was afterwards inclined to doubt, and he was always of opinion, that the United States possessed a perfect right to the navigation, which they ought never to surrender.

The whole question, however, was finally referred, on the 16th September, 1788, to the federal government, and continued to be, more or less a subject of discussion, until the purchase of Louisiana.

Mr. Jay, while acting in this important post, became fully sensible of the weakness and imperfections of the government, under the arti. cles of confederation, and conse. quently warmly advocated all the preliminary measures, which led to the formation and adoption of the federal constitution. He was

not a member of the convention, which formed that instrument, from an impression, that so prominent an officer, under the then existing government, should not participate in its public deliberations. He was, however, present at Annapolis, and afforded to its members essential aid, by his advice, in establishing its provisions.

He afterwards, with Hamilton and Madison, wrote those cele. brated essays, under the signature of the Federalist, which so powerfully contributed to its adoption by the several states, while by the contemporaneous exposition, which they furnish of its meaning and true construction, as signal a benefit is conferred upon the present and future generations.

He was also chosen a member of the convention of the state of New-York, to decide upon the adoption of the constitution, and efficiently contributed, by his character and influence, to the deci sion it ultimately formed.

Shortly after the organization of the federal government, on the 26th of September, 1789, Mr. Jay was appointed chief justice of the supreme court of the United States, an office for which he was pecu. liarly qualified by education, political experience, in the stations he had previously filled, and above all, by that purity of feeling, and fear. less and conscientious obedience to principle, which distinguished him throughout life.

While holding the office of chief justice, Mr. Jay was nominated, in 1792, by the federal party in NewYork as a candidate for the office of governor, in opposition to George Clinton, who was upheld by the anti-federalists of that day. In the election which ensued, Mr. Jay ob.

tained a majority of the votes, but the canvassers burnt the votes of the counties of Otsego, Tioga, and Clinton, in which Mr. Jay had a majority, on account of some alledged informality in the returns, and Mr. Clinton was declared to be elected. The votes of Otsego indicated a large majority in favour of Mr. Jay, and under the law as it then stood, the ballot boxes themselves, were returned to the secretary of state. The sheriff of Otse. go had held over, having been originally appointed for four years, and no successor had been choThe canvassers held, that he was not legally a sheriff, and on that ground ordered, by a party vote, the ballots of that, together with two other counties, where the returns were somewhat informal, to be burnt. The official returns, as declared by the commissioners, were for

sen.

8332

George Clinton, 8440 John Jay, This high-handed measure just. ly excited the indignation of all who were not governed by party feeling; and at the next election, Mr. Clinton, who was in fault chiefly by accepting the office under such circumstances, was compelled to withdraw from the canvass, and Mr. Jay was elected in 1795 over chief justice Robert Yates, by a majority of 1589, receiving 18,481 freehold votes. At the time of his election he was abroad, having been appointed by Gen. Washington, April 19th, 1794, minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain.

Mr. Jay accepted this appoint. ment with great reluctance. It was very improbable that a treaty could be formed upon fair terms, and a failure to adjust the difficulties, which had then so increased as to

highly excite the popular feeling, would necessarily be followed by a war. In either alternative, the office was undesirable, but, yielding to the emergency of the times, he departed on his mission.

On his arrival in England, he found the British cabinet inflated with the uninterrupted but deceitful success, which attended her first movements against the revolutionary government of France. Lord Howe had just achieved a signal victory over her enemy.

Landreci had fallen, and the British army in the Netherlands had not yet met with those reverses which finally compelled it to evacuate the Low Countries. Nothing, therefore, was to be expected through the collateral influence of the European relations of England. The negotiation was to be conduct, ed simply upon American grounds. Mr. Jay, however, did not despair, but carnestly devoted himself to the business of his mission.

Such was the effect of his sincerity, joined with a mild but firm tempe, and a thorough knowledge of the true interests of both powers, that by the 19th of November of that year, all the subjects of con, troversy were adjusted, and the dif ficulties between the two countries settled by the treaty of 1794.

The negotiation of this celebra. ted treaty forms too large a portion of the political history of that period, to be fully stated in this memoir. Some idea may be formed of its importance, from the fact, that it stipulated for the surrender of the North-western posts, procured our vessels admission into the India possessions of Great Britain, placed the commerce between the two countries on the footing of reciprocity, agreed upon a mode for the

amicable settlement of the northern and eastern boundaries, provided security against the abuses of British privateers, and of the petty admiralty courts, and obtain. ed compensation for spoliations upon American commerce amounting nearly to $10,000,000.

A violent clamour was excited against it at home, by those who wished to enlist the United States on the side of the French republic; but Washington, with his usual sagacity, properly appreciated its advantage, and determined to sanction the treaty, which was ratified by the senate, with the exception of the 12th article, relative to the West India trade. The influence of the president carried the treaty through against a violent opposition; and it is now generally conceded, that its provisions are more advantageous to the United States, than any which have since been inserted in any treaty between the two countries.

After concluding the treaty, Mr. Jay returned home, but did not again take his seat on the bench of the supreme court, having been chosen, during his absence, governor of the state of New York. During his administration of the state government, his course was distin. guished by the same unbending rectitude, which had characterized him throughout his public career, and in this station he co-operated with the federal government in maintaining the dignity and character of the country.

In 1798 he was re-elected go. vernor, Robert R. Livingston being his opponent. The vote stood, John Jay, 16,012

R. R. Livingston, 13,632 The country appeared now to be on the eve of a war with France,

and Governor Jay adopted, in conjunction with the federal authorities and the state legislature, measures to fortify the city of NewYork, and to arm and discipline the militia.

The great interests of literature and agriculture were earnestly recommended to the legislature, and a revision was made of the statute code, during his administration, Chief Justice Kent, and Justice Radcliff, being the revisors.

The intense political excitement which now prevailed, rendered his situation far from agreeable. While he was vehemently assailed by his democratic opponents, his innate sense of right prevented him from entering upon a course of proscription of them, and he began to long for that retirement from which he had been drawn only by the exigency of the times. This wish he carried into effect in the summer of 1801, when he retired to Bed.. ford, in Westchester county, never again to participate in the honours or cares of public station.

His character and conduct in retirement, are so beautifully drawn in

an address to the Alumni of Colum. bia College, delivered shortly after his death, that we cannot close this memoir more appropriately, than in the words of that classical writer.

"As the character of Hamilton presents, in its soldier-like frankness and daring, a beautiful example of the spirit of chivalry, applied to the pursuits of the statesman, so in that of Jay, pure and holy justice seemed to be embodied. lived as one

Sent forth of the Omnipotent, to run
The great career of justice.

He

He was endowed above most men, with steadiness of and purpose

Ff

self.command. He had early sought out for himself, and firmly established in his mind, the grand truths, religious, moral, or political, which were to regulate his conduct; and they were all embodied in his daily life. Hence the admirable consistency of his character, which was the more striking, as it seemed to reconcile and unite apparently opposite qualities. That grave prudence, which, in common men, would have swayed every action to the side of timid caution, was in him combined with invinci ble energy. So too in his opinions. No man was more deeply penetrated with the doctrines, or the sentiment of religion; no man more conscientiously exact in its observances; whilst no man could look with more jealousy on any intermixture of the religious with the temporal authority; no man more dreaded, or watched with more vigilant caution, every invasion, however slight, upon the rights of private conscience.

After a long and uninterrupted series of the highest civil employments, in the most difficult times, he suddenly retired from their toils

and dignities, in the full vigour of mind and body, and at an age when, in most statesmen, the objects of ambition show as gor. geously, and its aspirations are as stirring as ever. He looked upon himself, as having fully discharged his debt of service to his country; and, satisfied with the ample share of gratitude which he had received, he retired with cheerful content, without ever once casting a reluc. tant eye towards the power or dig. nities he had left. For the last thirty years of his remaining life, he was known to us only by the occasional appearance of his name, or the employment of his pen, in the service of piety or philanthropy. A halo of veneration seemed to encircle him, as one belonging to another world, though yet lingering amongst us. When, during the last year, the tidings of his death came to us, they were received through the nation, not with sorrow or mourning, but with solemn awe; like that with which we read the mysterious passage of ancient scripture-"And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him."

FOR THE

FIRST FOUR VOLUMES

OF THE

AMERICAN ANNUAL REGISTER:
Comprehending from 4th March, 1825, to 4th March, 1829.

A.

Abolition of Colonial System, vol. i. page 1.
Ackerman, treaty of, iii. 291.
Acts of Congress. For support of go-
vernment, iv. 323. 353. 356.

Relating to pensions and pensioners, iv.
323, 324. 351. 356. 357.

Relating to the army and navy, iv. 325.
327. 347. 350. 351. 352. 354. 356. 357.
359.

Relating to public lands, &c. iv. 324. 326.
335. 339. 344. 345. 347. 351. 353. 356.
357.359.

Relating to the public debt, iv. 324.
Relating to the courts, iv. 324. 335. 339.,
354. 356.

Relating to public buildings, iv. 327.
359.

Relating to Indians and the Indian de-
partment, iv. 328. 346. 357. 359.
Relating to light-houses and harbours, iv.
333. 335. 339. 356. 359.

Relating to the District of Columbia, iv.
341. 344. 349. 350. 359.
Relating to roads and canals, iv. 325.

340. 347. 356. 357. 359.
Relating to certain agents, iv. 325.
Relating to defalcations, iv. 323.
Relating to distribution of books, and
the laws, iv. 328. 346. 356. 357.
Relating to custom-houses and ware-
houses, iv. 344.

Relating to regulating intercourse
with Martinique and Guadaloupe, iv.

328.

Relating to claims under treaty of Ghent,
iv. 328.

Relating to duties on imports, iv. 329.
333. 347. 349. 353. 454.

Relating to treaty with Russia, iv. 333.
Relating to dividing Arkansas from
Louisiana, iv. 333.

Relating to continuance of mint at Phi-
ladelphia, iv. 334.

Relating to suppression of the slave
trade, iv. 346.

Relating to the post office, iv. 346.

Relating to Arkansas Territory, iv. 346.
355.

Relating to Florida Territory, iv. 354.
Relating to an arsenal at Mobile, iv. 347.
Relating to barracks and fortifications,
iv. 357.

Relating to the mackerel fishery, iv. 351.
To explore the country west of the Mis-
sissippi, iv. 352.

Relating to appointment of surveyor, iv.
356.

Relating to deserters from foreign ves-
sels, iv. 358.

Relating to Valley Creek academy iv. 358.
Relating to salt springs and lead mines
in Missouri, iv. 359.

Private acts, iv. 323 to 359.
Adams, John, his death, i. 28.
Adams, John Quincy, inaugurated presi-

dent, i. 29 Inaugural address, 1. 29.
His message, ii. 30. iii. 85. iii. 101.
Principles of administration, ii. 25. iii.
12. Retirement, iii. 34.
Administration, charge of corruption a-
gainst, ii. 23. Defeat of, iii. 31.
Adrianople, peace of, iii. 396.
Africa. Arabs in, i. 293. Slave trade i.

294. Ashantee wars, i. 296. Sir Charles
M'Carthy killed, i. 297.

Alabama University, i. 347. Bank of U.S.

at Mobile, ii. 493. Population, iii. 145.
Alexander, emperor of Russia, his death
and character, i. 253.
Alexandria, fire at, ii. 139.
Algiers. War with Spain, i. 297.
Appropriations. For fortifications, i. 135.

Army advance, &c. i. 138. Surveys,
i. 139. Naval service, i. 140. ii. 140,
153. iii. 119. 126. iii. 145.
Army promotions, i. 364. ii. 503. iii. 558.
Asia. Burman Empire, i. 281. Origin of

war with Great Britain, i. 282. Sha-
puree, i. 282. Doodpatlee, i. 282. Ex-
pedition to Rangoon, i. 283. Opera-
tions there, i. 284. Donabew and Ara-
kan taken, i. 286. Peace, i. 290.
Bhurtpore, i. 291.

Austria. Political condition of, i. 250,

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