tions were made, but it was understood that the Republican electors would cast their votes for Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, and Aaron Burr, of New York, and the Federalist electors for John Adams, of Massachusetts, and Thomas Pinckney, of Maryland. Hamilton's ardent political zeal had made so many enemies that he was not considered à suitable candidate. The Federalists claimed support as the authors of the Government, the friends of neutrality, peace, and prosperity, and the direct inheritors of Washington's policy. The Republicans claimed to be the friends of liberty and the rights of man, the advocates of economy and of the rights of the States, and refused to recognize their opponents as the inheritors of any policy but that of England. The Presidential election took place in November, 1796, and the French Minister undertook to influence it by an extraordinary "Address to the American People," in which he hinted that his Government would cease intercourse with the United States unless the Republicans were successful. Federalist electors were chosen in most of the Northern States, while the Southern States, with the exception of Maryland, generally chose Republicans. The result was a slight Federalist majority. 22. Congress met December 5th, 1796, but its IVth Congress, proceedings gave little opportunity for party contest.

2d Session.

1 Until about 1824-1828 electors were generally chosen, not directly by the people, but by the Legislatures of the various States.

1797.]

Presidential Election.

43

In the House an attempt was made to renew the last year's expression of want of confidence in Washington, but it was defeated. In February, 1797, the electoral votes were counted, and were found to be, for John Adams 71, for Thomas Jefferson 68, for Thomas Pinckney 59, for Aaron Burr 30, and the rest scattering.' John Adams was therefore declared to be elected President, and Thomas Jefferson Vice-President. The Executive was thus Federalist, with a possibility of a Republican succession, in case of the death, disability, or impeachment and removal of the President. It was plain that a mode of election which offered so much temptation to the cupidity of party or the caprice of fortune was faulty, and could not endure. A further experience of its danger, however, was needed to enforce its amendment. Congress adjourned March 3d, 1797. March 4th Adams and Jefferson were sworn into office.

I Two electors obstinately voted for George Washington.

CHAPTER IV.

THIRD ADMINISTRATION, 1797-1801.

John Adams, President.

Thomas Jefferson, Vice-President.

Vth and VIth Congresses.

1. THE beginning of Adams's Administration was marked by a more open manifestation of bad feeling on the part of the French Republic, which was ascribed by the Federalists to the anger of the French Directory on account of the Republican defeat, and by the Republicans to the anxiety of two successive Federalist Administrations to be in close dependence upon England. In 1797, Monroe, an ardent Republican, who had been Minister to France, was recalled, and C. C. Pinckney was sent in his place. On Monroe's departure from Paris the French Directory announced, in studied terms of affection for the American people and of contempt for the American Government, their intention to receive no more American Ministers until their grievances were redressed. Prominent among these grievances was Jay's Treaty. At the same time Pinckney was ordered to quit the territory of France at once.

1797.]

The X.Y.Z. Mission.

45

2. Upon receipt of this news the President hastily Vth Congress, called an Extra Session of ConExtra Session. gress for the 15th of May. Both branches had Federalist majorities, and Jonathan Dayton, of New Jersey, was chosen Speaker of the House. The main business of the Session was to listen to an Address of the President in which he announced his intention to send three envoys to France, as a last effort to obtain peace. Many of the Republicans considered the whole. trouble to be the result of Federalist intrigues, but a majority of both Houses approved the President's course. Congress adjourned July 10th, 1797, and

the envoys soon after departed for France.

Through the Summer of 1797 parties remained as before, each accusing the other, perhaps with equal justice, of a willingness to sacrifice the interests of America to those of a foreign country. A foreign traveler about this time said that there seemed to be in America many English, many French, but very few Americans.

3. The envoys to France, after patiently enduring for months a treatment unworthy of the ambassadors of a free people, including a demand for a bribe to the French Directory, and a loan to the French Republic, as preliminaries to any negotiation, received peremptory orders to quit France, and returned with empty hands. Their mission is frequently called The X.Y.Z. Mission, from the initials used by the agents who demanded the

bribes. In the mean time French attacks on American commerce, which had hitherto been cloaked to some extent by a pretense of respect for international law, had now become an open warfare. American shipping papers were a sufficient warrant for the capture and condemnation of the vessels which carried them.

4. Congress met November 13th, 1797. At first Vth Congress, the Republican disposition to Ist Session. tolerate almost any treatment from France was continued, and early in 1798 the House voted down a proposition to arm American vessels. April 8th the Senate voted to publish the X.Y.Z. letters, and the dispatches of the envoys. To England they seemed of such importance that they were sent everywhere in Europe to excite feeling against France. In America one burst of indignation from the Federalists converted many of the Republicans, and silenced the rest. "Millions

for defense; not one cent for tribute" became a rallying cry, in and out of Congress.

5. Under the influence of the War Spirit a number of acts were passed to place the nation in readiness for hostilities. A provisional army was ordered, of which Washington was commissioned Lieutenant-General. American men-of-war were ordered to seize any French vessels which should commit depredations on American commerce. Intercourse with France was suspended. The treaties with France were declared no longer binding upon