had been disapproved by his State Legislature, informed the President that the Embargo could no longer be enforced in New England, that the Federalist leaders had made all arrangements to break off from federal relations with the rest of the Union unless the Act was repealed, and that an agent from the Canadas was then in New England to offer the assistance of the English Government to the scheme.1

15. Adams's warning impressed the President and the Republican leaders so much that they at once secured the passage of a modification of the Embargo, known as the Non-Intercourse Act. By this the Embargo was repealed, after March 4th, as to commerce with all nations excepting England and France. It was hoped that this would quiet the excitement in New England, without yielding the principle of the Embargo.

16. In February the electoral votes were counted, and were found to be, for President, 122 for James Madison, 6 for George Clinton, and 47 for C. C. Pinckney, and for Vice-President, 113 for George Clinton, 47 for Rufus King, and 15 scattering. Madison and Clinton were therefore declared elected. March 3d, 1809, Congress adjourned, and March 4th Madison and Clinton were sworn into office.

Adams's accuracy has been denied, and it has even been asserted that his appointment, soon after, as Minister to Russia was the reward of his wilful falsification.

CHAPTER VII.

SIXTH ADMINISTRATION, 1809-1813.

James Madison, President.

George Clinton, Vice-President. XIth and XIIth Congresses.

I. The Difficulties with England were XIth Congress, complicated, at the beginning Extra Session. of Madison's term of office, by an unfortunate mistake of the British Minister, Mr. Erskine, caused by his desire for peace. Shortly after the inauguration he informed the President that he was authorized by his Government to withdraw the objectionable orders to the English navy. The President therefore, by proclamation, summoned a Special Session of Congress to meet May 22d, 1809, and suspended the Non-Intercourse Act, as applied to England, after June 1oth. This he was authorized to do by the terms of the Act. Congress met on the day appointed, with a Republican majority in both branches. In the House. Speaker Varnum was re-elected. England had in the mean time disavowed her Minister's offer, and recalled him, and a new proclamation by the President restored the Non-Intercourse Act as before. The Federalists represented the whole misunderstanding as a Republican trick to influence the

elections. There being no business to occupy Congress, it adjourned June 28th.

2. Congress met November 27th, 1809. The XIth Congress, Republican majority was so Ist Session. large that every Administration measure was promptly carried, and there was little party conflict. A continuance of the NonIntercourse Act was voted. Mr. Erskine's successor had contradicted the Secretary of State so frequently and so offensively that Congress, by a strict party vote, passed a resolution declaring his language to be insolent, and requesting the President to recognize him no longer. Congress adjourned May 1st, 1810.

3. Congress met December 3d, 1810. France XIth Congress, had managed so adroitly as to 2d Session. leave it in doubt whether her objectionable decrees had been withdrawn or not. The Republicans chose to consider them withdrawn, and repealed the Non-Intercourse Act, as applied to France. The President endeavored to induce England to withdraw her Orders in Council, but this was refused on the ground that there was no evidence of any repeal by France. The Non-Intercourse Act was therefore continued against England.

4. An effort was made at this Session to recharter the National Bank, which had been chartered in 1791 for twenty years. Opposition to such a bank was a necessary article of belief

1811.]

Adoption of a War Policy.

75

among Strict Constructionists. But the corporation had so many Republican friends in Congress that a bill to re-charter it was favorably reported by the committees of both branches, and after long debate was defeated by a majority of only one vote in the House, and by the casting vote of the VicePresident in the Senate. Thereupon the Bank wound up its business, and ceased to act. Congress adjourned March 3d, 1811.

5. Congress met November 4th, 1811. The ReXIIth Congress, publican majority was still Ist Session. overwhelmingly large, but it contained several rising and energetic members, who afterward became party leaders, and who were now successfully urging upon the party a Change of Policy. Hitherto Jefferson and Madison had made it a peace party, and had carefully avoided. direct conflict with France or England. The capture of over 900 American merchant vessels since 1803 had been no more effectual than such isolated outrages as the Chesapeake case in rousing the Administration to the idea of forcible resistance. Under the new leaders the Republicans became a war party. Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was chosen. Speaker of the House. William H. Crawford, of Georgia, in the Senate, and John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, in the House, became the recognized Congressional leaders of the party. The economical and retrenching policy of Jefferson was abandoned, and preparations were begun for hos

tilities, against the opposition of the Federalists, and the timid or peace loving Republicans. Bills were passed to enlist men, to organize the militia, and to equip and enlarge the navy.

6. The President was given to understand that his nomination for a second term of office depended upon his adoption of the war policy and that his refusal to do so would cause the nomination of De Witt Clinton, of New York, in his stead. Thus pressed the President yielded, and was consequently renominated by the usual caucus of Republican members of Congress, with Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President. Clinton refused to be bound by this bargain, and, having been nominated by a Republican caucus of the New York Legislature, persisted in his candidacy. To profit by this promising division among the Republicans, a caucus of leading Federalists, held in New York City, decided to support Clinton, with Jared Ingersoll, of Pennsylvania, for Vice-President.

7. In March, 1812, the President took the first step in fulfillment of his bargain by sending to Congress, with a special Message, certain documents, which he had purchased from one John Henry for $50,000. Henry claimed to have been the agent sent from Canada in 1809 to detach the New England Federalists from their allegiance to the Union, and his documents purported to show the complicity of the British Government, The