to the argument, precisely in the proportion in which they abolished intercourse with one another." The vote for the measure now stood, 95 grain growing districts against 57 planting; the former favored it, beause they believed it would benefit agriculture, and the latter because they thought it injurious. It is worthy of notice that the Southern States which had formerly voted for a protective tariff, now voted against it. April 19. The "A. B." plot was published in a Washington paper implying official misconduct in the Treasury department with reference to the Western banks. Its object was to destroy the chances of Crawford, who was a presidential candidate. The charges were investigated and found to be groundless. August 13. La Fayette visited America, and was everywhere received with the utmost cordiality. Not only the arches, but every heart said "Welcome La Fayette." He spent a year in visiting the States, and then returned to Europe in the ship Brandywine, which had been especially assigned for this purpose. This frigate had been named to honor the battle in which he had first unsheathed his sword for liberty. Congress voted an appropriation of $200,000 and a township of land. He replied that this immense and unexpected gift "called for the warmest acknowledgments of an old American soldier and adopted son of the United States-two titles dearer to his heart than all the treasures of the world." Surely republics are not always ungrateful. December. Four different plans for the election of President and Vice President were introduced re spectively as amendments to the Constitution by Sen. ators Benton, Dickerson, Hayne and Van Buren. October 4. Mexico established a republican gov. ernment on the plan of the United States. VIII. POLITICAL PARTIES. During the "Era of good feeling," the old party lines were almost entirely obliterated. The British faction, and the French party had gone out together. The old landmarks had been uprooted by the measures preceding and following the war of 1812, and the old Republican, or States Rights, party was left in undisturbed and scarcely opposed possession of the general conduct of government. It appears that in 1820 there was no organized opposition to the renomination of Monroe, and his election wanted but one electoral vote of being unanimous. The attention of the country was directed more particularly to the development of our great national resources. We may, thus, enumerate as the second division of political history, the period of twenty years from Jefferson to the first term of Monroe's administration. The "era of good feeling" dates more destinctively from the second election of Monroe, in 1820. The presidential contest in 1824 became personal rather than political. Crawford, Adams and Calhoun, at that time members of the Cabinet, Clay, Speaker of the House, and Gen. Jackson, all members of the same party, were chief contestants for nomination. These had all previously been in Presi dential caucuses, but, at this time, all but Crawford were opposed to a caucus selection of candidates, and for this reason. It was understood that a plurality of those who would attend the caucus were in favor of Crawford, and, therefore, if the four other candidates submitted to this mode, their chances were already decided in advance. On this account there was but one caucus held, and Crawford was selected without opposition. The remaining candidates were put in nomination by legislative and other political machinery. This famous "scrub race" for the presidency resulted in the defeat of all the candidates, as far as popular and electoral votes were concerned, and completely overthrew "King Caucus." This mode of designating candidates had fallen into great odium; and Rufus King, in commenting on the proposed amendments to the Constitution, gave a scathing review of the caucus system. He denounced it as "a new, extraordinary, self-created, central power, stronger than the power of the Constitution, which has risen up at the seat of government." Conventions of delegates fresh from the the people, being a part of the people, knowing the popular heart, and respecting the popular will in designating candidates, were substituted, and, as long as they were true to the people, gave great satisfaction. The words of Jefferson in a letter to John Adams stating the leading characteristics of the two parties are worthy of preservation. At the origin of the government "we broke into two parties, each wishing to give the government a different direction; the one-the republican-to stengthen the most popular branch, the other-the federal-the more permanent branches and to extend their permanence.' IX. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Senator Benton in 1822 remarked about the financial management, "That at this time, the word 'economy' had an existence in fact as well as in name. It was my first year in Congress; and while 'economy' was claimed as a distinctive republican virtue, (for the name of democrat had not been taken), I owe it to candor, and to justice, to say that I saw the same regard for economy in the federal members, (for neither had they at that time changed their name), that I did in the republican. Less than nine millions a year for working the government at that time." Year. Public Debt. Expenditures. Exports. 1817 $123,491,965 $40,877,646 $87,671,560 1818 103,466,633 35,164,875 Imports. $99,250,000 93,281,133 121,750,000 1819 95,529,648 24,004,199 1820 91,015,566 21,763,024 1821 89,987,427 19,090,572 64,974,382 62,585,724 1824 1822 93,546,676 17,676,592 1823 90,875,877 15,314,171 90,267,777 72,160,281 83,241,541 74,699,030 77,579,267 31,898,538 75,986,657 89,549,007 OUTLINE OF CONCURRENT EVENTS England: George IV. Regent; Death of George III., January 19, 1820, and accession of George IV., coronation July 19, 1821. Napoleon died May 5, 1821. CHAPTER VI. THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Republican. One Term, 1825 to 1829. I. CABINET. PRESIDENT. 1825. John Quincy Adams, Massachusetts. VICE PRESIDENT. 1825. John C. Calhoun, South Carolina. SECRETARY OF STATE. 1825. Henry Clay, Kentucky. SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. 1825. Richard Rush, Pennsylvania. SECRETARIES OF WAR. 1825. James Barbour, Virginia. 1827. Peter B. Porter, New York. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 1825. Samuel L. Southard, New Jersey. POSTMASTER GENERAL. 1825. John McLean, Ohio. ATTORNEY GENERAL. 1825. William Wirt, Virginia. II. SENATORS ELECTED PRESIDENTS PRO 1826. May, Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina. |