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1799.]

Imperfect War with France.

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eers, armed merchantmen, and even ships of war engaged in conflicts with French vessels. Both parties agreed in voting an increase of the navy, but an increase of the army was earnestly opposed by the Republicans, who believed that this and similar warlike measures were only urged by the Federalists from a desire for party aggrandizement by providing commissions for their party leaders. The President seems to have become at least a partial convert to this view, for in February, 1799, without consulting his Cabinet, and in spite of his expressed determination to send no more ministers to France until assured of a friendly reception, he suddenly appointed three envoys to that country. Two of the Cabinet protested against this action of the President. Their protest was sustained by leading Federalists throughout the country, and the President began to lose, to some degree, the support of the party which had elected him. Congress adjourned March 3d, 1799.

12. The difficulties of the Federalists were now increased by an evident dissension between Hamilton, who was the real leader of the party, and Adams, who was its nominal head. No open quarrel had as yet taken place. But when the envoys to France, who had waited until November for assurances of a friendly reception, were ordered to depart by the President, again without consulting his Cabinet, his apparent eagerness or peace and distrust of Ham ilton widened the breach between them. The

envoys were successful in arranging a treaty with Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then at the head of the French Directory.

13. Congress met December 2d, 1799, with a VIth Congress, stronger Federalist majority.

Ist Session. Theodore Sedgwick, of Massachusetts, a Federalist, was chosen Speaker of the House. There was little party contest in this Session. The Federalist majority had been chosen during the war fever, immediately after the ignominious return of the envoys to France, and neither represented nor felt the undercurrent of irritation which the continued enforcement of The Alien and Sedition Laws was increasing. The Republícan minority were kept in check, through their leaders, by Jefferson, who preferred to allow the popular excitement to work until the Presidential election of 1800. During the Session caucuses of Members of Congress nominated Presidential candidates.' The Federalist candidates were John Adams, of Massachusetts, and C. C. Pinckney, of South Carolina, and the Republican candidates were Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, and Aaron Burr, of New York. Congress adjourned May 14th, 1800.

14. The first important election took place in New York, April 28th, and resulted in the choice of a Republican Legislature, by whom electors were to be chosen. At this first token of Fede

I Nominating Conventions were not called until 1832.

1801.] Election by the House.

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ralist Defeat the slumbering animosities of the party broke forth. The President dismissed a part of his Cabinet, consisting of Hamilton's friends, whom he called a "British faction." Hamilton printed a severe attack upon the President, and endeavored to make arrangements for giving Pinckney a majority of Federalist electors, that he might be chosen President, and Adams Vice-President. The Presidential Election took place in November, 1800. In spite of Federalist divisions. the result was doubtful until the vote of South Carolina turned the scale, and gave the Republican electors a majority.

15. Congress met in the new Federal city of VIth Congress, Washington, November 17th, 2d Session. 1800. The session was mainly occupied by The Undecided Presidential Election, caused by the defective provisions of the Constitution. In February, 1801, the electoral votes were counted, and were found to be, for Jefferson 73, for Burr 73, for Adams 65, for Pinckney 64, and for John Jay 1. There was no name highest on the list. Consequently there was no choice, and an election was to be made by the House of Representatives between the two highest candidates, each State having one vote. It is impossible to say why the Republican leaders, or electors, did not foresee this mischance. The difference of one vote between Adams and Pinckney would seem to show that at least one Federalist elector was acute

enough to waste a vote and avoid a possible tie, for South Carolina's votes, if cast as was hoped by some Federalists for their candidates, would then have seated both these without trouble.

16. The House was Federalist, but was restricted to a choice between two Republicans. Of the two, many Federalists preferred Burr, partly to keep the Presidency from their most dangerous enemy, Jefferson, and partly to baulk the evident intention of the Republicans. The balloting began February 11th. Eight States voted for Jefferson, six for Burr, and two were without votes because of equal division among their members. There being sixteen States there was even yet No Election. Balloting continued with the same result for six days, and the Federalist majority was charged with a design to prolong the balloting in this way until March 4th, the day of inauguration, and then to make Chief Justice Jay provisional President. The charge was denied by the Federalists. Fortunately the trouble came to an end February 17th, when ten States voted for Jefferson, four for Burr, and two blank. Jefferson was then declared elected President, and Burr Vice-President. Congress adjourned March 3d, 1801, and March 4th Jefferson and Burr were sworn into office.

CHAPTER V.

FOURTH ADMINISTRATION, 1801-1805.

Thomas Jefferson, President.

I.

Aaron Burr, Vice-President. VIIth and VIIIth Congresses.

1. Jefferson's Election completed the first great political revolution in the United States since 1787, except that the Federalists still had control of the judiciary. The new President's first Inaugural Message announced the future policy of the Republican party to be the careful fostering of the State governments, the restriction of the powers of the Federal Government to their lowest constitutional limit, the immediate payment of the public debt, and the reduction of the army, the navy, the taxes, and the duties on imports, to the lowest available point. The Republicans were opposed to any currency but gold and silver, and some of their leaders even desired an Amendment to the Constitution denying to the Federal Government the power of borrowing money, believing that a yearly direct tax for the current expenses of the Government would compel the people to decide more carefully on questions of peace, war, and

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