son vice-president. They entered upon the duties of their office the 4th of March, 1797.*

ン

ADAMS' AND JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION.

1. Mr. Adams, at the commencement of his administration, found the nation involved in difficulties with France. Mr. Pinckney, who had been sent by Washington to adjust existing differences between the two republics, had been rejected by the Directory, or French government, and ordered to quit the country without delay. Depredations were frequently committed on the commerce of the United States, in direct violation of the treaties existing between the two nations. In this state of affairs, President Adams issued his proclamation, and assembled congress on the 15th of June. That body took a decided stand against the demands of the French, and authorized the president to adopt measures to raise an army, enlarge the navy, and increase the revenue of the nation.

2. As the president sincerely desired to avoid war, he appointed John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry joint envoys with Mr. Pinckney, and instructed them to secure, if possible, an honorable reconciliation with the French.

1. How was Mr. Pinckney received by the French government? When was congress assembled? What was the cause of our difficulty with France? A. Our refusal to assist her in her wars against England and other nations of Europe. "We have assisted you," said she, "in your war against England, and now we expect you to assist us in our wars.' 11

2. Who were appointed envoys?

By examining the constitution of the United States, at the close of this work, you will see that the president is chosen by electors appointed by the several states. Each state appoints as many electors as they have members in congress. If they have six representatives and two senators in congress, they choose eight electors. As the constitution originally stood, each elector voted for two candidates, without specifying which he intended for president, or which for vice-president. The candidate who received the highest number of votes, provided it was a majority of the whole, was elected president; and he who received the next highest number, was elected vice-president. In 1804, the constitution was amended, requiring the electors to name in their ballots the persons voted for as president and vice-president.

193

But the new commissioners were also rejected, though permitted to remain at Paris. Agents of the directory at length intimated that a "liberal grant of money" might

lead to terms of accommodation.

"Millions for defence,"

the Americans replied, "but not one cent for tribute." 3. Pinckney and Marshall were ordered to leave the favorable to the French, was afterwards solicited to necountry, but Mr. Gerry, who was thought to be the gotiate. This he declined. In 1798, when these facts were made known in America, all parties united in calling loudly upon the government to assert the rights of the nation. Washington was unanimously appointed

commander-in-chief of the American forces.

The navy

was authorized to cruise against the armed vessels of

France.

4. The army was not called into action. But two naval

The French

battles were fought in the West Indies. frigate L'Insurgent of 40 guns, was captured by the Constellation of 38 guns, under the command of Com modore Truxton. The same commander also attacked another ship of 50 guns, and compelled her to strike her colors, but in the night she made her escape. The French, perceiving the determined spirit of the Americans, and not wishing to be involved in war with them, received, in 1799, commissioners appointed by the presWhen they arrived in France, they found the naparte, with whom a treaty of peace was concluded. government of the nation in the hands of Napoleon Bo5. In the mean time, the people of America were fillIdied on the 14th of December, 1799, after ed with grief at the sudden death of Washington. He

ident.

illness of

only one day. Never was a man more deeply lamers ed. In the house of representatives, it

was

resolved.

"that the speaker's chair should be shroudd in black,

chief of the American forces? What was our na
4. What naval battles were fought? When was

3. How were they treated? Who was appointed

concluded?

5. When did Washington die? What token of

to his memory in congress?

17

Dommander-in

treaty of peace spect we paid

these movements tended only to aggravate the hostile feelings of the two nations.

4. In the mean time depredations were continually committed on our commerce, British cruisers were stationed before our harbors and off our coast, who made it a point to harass, search, and examine our vessels, both those going out and those coming in. By this means the public mind was kept constantly inflamed. A novel incident that occurred about this time, served rather to increase, than to allay this state of feeling. Commodore Rogers, in the frigate President, fell in with a vessel on the coast of Virginia, in the evening of the 11th of May, 1811. Being hailed, the commander of the vessel, instead of replying, repeated the question and fired a gun, which struck the mainmast of the President. Upon this, the commodore poured a broadside into her, which silenced most of her guns, and killed and wounded 32 of her men. Being hailed again, an answer was immediately given that it was the Little Belt, a British manof-war brig, of 18 guns. This was the first check the British commanders had received from us on the ocean. The brig was thus justly punished for her insolent treatment of several American vessels.

5. In the midst of our difficulties with France and England, our frontiers were threatened with an Indian war. There existed at that time a celebrated chief, named Tecumseh. He was distinguished for his ambition, talents, and energy of character, but above all, for his enmity to the whites. He was determined to put an effectual barrier to the further extension of our settlements. And for this purpose, he resorted to every artifice to stir up the minds of the Indians against us. He formed an alliance with the northwestern tribes, and encouraged by British agents, was preparing for open

4. What were the British doing in the mean time? Among the British cruisers on our coast, which was the most active in searching our vessels and insulting the crews? A. The Little Belt, commanded by Captain Bingham. What occurred on the coast of Virginia?

5. With what were our frontiers threatened? For what was Teoumseh distinguished? When and by whom was a council held?

hostilities.

In 1811, General Harrison, then governor of Indiana, held a council* with the chiefs of several tribes, at Vincennes, at which Tecumseh was present. By his influence it was broken up, and nothing short of war was expected to result.

6. Soon after this, every thing on the part of the Indians appeared to indicate approaching hostilities, and General Harrison was sent into their territories, with a body of troops to demand an explanation, and to put a stop to their hostile designs. As he was approaching one of their towns, situated on the Tippecanoe, a branch of the Wabash, he met several chiefs, who offering terms of peace and submission, persuaded him to encamp for the night, as it was then too late to enter upon business. 7. Before morning, however, the savages made a furious assault upon the camp. But the whites were prepared to receive them. For Harrison, knowing the treachery of his enemies, ordered his men to sleep upon their arms, and made every preparation against surprise. After a severe struggle, the Indians were routed with great slaughter. Harrison destroyed their towns, and erected such forts as seemed necessary for the protection of their frontiers, and returned.

6. Who was sent against the Indians? Why? What happened as he was approaching one of their towns?

7. What took place next morning? What was the result? What was this battle called? A. The battle of Tippecanoe. Was Tecumseh present at the battle? A. No, he had gone to visit the Creeks and Seminoles.

* Tecumseh was not present when the council assembled. He entered, however, soon after, and was informed that his father, meaning General Har rison, had reserved a seat for him next himself. "My father!" said Tecumseh, my father! The Great Spirit is iny father, the earth is my mother, and upon her breast will I recline." Saying this, he seated himself upon the ground at some distance from Harrison. Tecumseh boldly remonstrated in the council against a purchase the whites had lately made from the Kickapoos and some other tribes. In a strain of wonderful eloquence, he inveighed against the encroachments of the Americans,-gave a faithful history of the progress of the settlements, from the first cominencement on the Delaware, to the moment at which he spoke. When answered by General Harrison, he grasped his tomahawk, in a fit of phrensy, and boldly charged him with having uttered what was false. The warriors who attended him, twenty or thirty in number, followed his example. But Harrison had fortu nately posted a guard of soldiers near, who put a stop to their fury.

8. The conduct of Great Britain became daily more and more grievous to the nation. Since 1803 her cruisers had captured nine hundred of our vessels, and im pressed more than seven thousand of our seamen. The patience of the nation was exhausted. Congress was assembled by proclamation on the 5th of November, 1811, and the president laid before them the state of our foreign relations, and recommended that measures should be immediately adopted to maintain the honor and interests of the nation. Laws were soon after passed, authorizing the president to make preparation for war, to increase the army, to enlarge the navy, and to borrow money. On the 3d of April, 1812, congress laid an embargo for ninety days on all vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States. Although our government were busily engaged in making preparation for war, a hope was still cherished, that some change in the policy of Great Britain would render an appeal to arms unnecessary. But perceiving no prospect of such a change,

8. What was the conduct of Great Britain? How many of our vessels had been captured? Seamen impressed? Do you think there were any just causes for war? What did congress do? When was war declared?