JEFFERSON RE-ELECTED.

165

had been killed in a duel by Aaron Burr, the Vice-President. The prominence of the men increased the horror felt in regard to such a barbarous custom. Burr had already become unpopular and distrusted by his party, and so had not been renominated for Vice-President. This disappointed man collected a force of men, either for the purpose of setting up a government of his own within the Louisiana Territory, or for attacking the Spanish possessions. In 1807 he was arrested on a charge of treason, and was taken to Richmond, Virginia, for trial before Judge Marshall, but the prosecution failed for want of evidence, as well as for want of jurisdiction. Disgraced and ruined, he soon disappeared from public view, and died in neglect and poverty in 1836.

178. Jefferson re-elected; Public Improvements. (1805.) — Jefferson was renominated for President in 1804, with George Clinton of New York as candidate for Vice-President. The Federalists nominated C. C. Pinckney of South Carolina and Rufus King of New York. In accordance with the twelfth amendment of the Constitution, ratified September 25, 1804, the electors cast separate ballots for President, and VicePresident respectively. Jefferson and Clinton were chosen by a very large majority, the Federalists only receiving 14 out of 176 electoral votes.

At the beginning of Jefferson's second term everything seemed in a highly prosperous state, the country was increasing rapidly in wealth and population, and the debt was being paid off at a rate which would soon extinguish it. The President suggested in his inaugural that an amendment should be made to the Constitution to provide for the just division among the states of the surplus revenue to be applied to objects of public improvement, such as " rivers, canals, roads, arts, manufactures, education, and other great objects within

66

each state." Congress, however, believed that the power to appropriate money for public improvements was given or implied in the Constitution, and it exercised this assumed power in voting money in 1806 for a national road west from Cumberland in the state of Maryland. In view of the enormous sums voted for public improvements in late years, especially in the periodical "River and Harbor Bill," and the tendency to seek national aid in almost every enterprise, it is interesting to remember that the legality of such a measure was once seriously called in question. An extensive plan of improvement was projected, but, owing to unexpected circumstances, was not carried out. In 1807, in accord with the Constitution (Art. I., sect. 9), Congress passed a bill prohibiting the foreign slave trade after January 1, 1808.1

179. Affairs in Europe; Napoleon. (1804-1807.) — Though affairs were prosperous at home, things were very different in Europe. Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1804, became Emperor of France, and the war with Great Britain was prosecuted with greater vigor than ever. For a time the United States had profited greatly by this state of things, for, being a neutral power, her ships could trade with all belligerent nations, and in this way much of the carrying trade of the world fell into her hands, bringing wealth to her citizens. But Great Britain resolved to put a stop to this neutral trade, and in 1806 issued a proclamation, declaring that all the ports in Europe between Brest and the mouth of the river Elbe were closed, or blockaded, and warning all vessels not to attempt to enter them. Napoleon retaliated by his Berlin Decree, which declared the British Isles to be in a state of

1 Notwithstanding this law, it is estimated that about 15,000 negroes were surreptitiously brought into the country every year by men of all sections, who, for the love of gain, engaged in the nefarious trade.

INJURIES TO AMERICAN COMMERCE.

167

blockade, forbade France or any of her allies to trade with them, and ordered the confiscation of all British merchandise. England, in 1807, met this decree with her "Orders in Council," by which she declared all ports blockaded from which the British flag was excluded, and prohibited a neutral from selling ships to the belligerent power, and forbade all vessels to trade with France or any of her allies. This restricted American commerce to England and Sweden. Napoleon again retaliated with his Milan Decree, in which he declared any vessel a lawful prize which obeyed the English "Orders in Council."

180. Injuries to American Commerce. (1807.) — Between France and England the American commerce suffered greatly; for, if a vessel went to Europe, unless she touched at an English port and paid dues or taxes on her cargo, she ran the risk of being taken by English men-of-war; while, if she followed this course, she ran the risk of being seized by the French, should she attempt to enter any Continental port. Besides this, England claimed the right to stop all vessels to see if there were any British sailors on board; if any were found, these were seized, or impressed, as it was called, taken on board the war vessel, and compelled to serve in the British navy. England had long claimed this right, and it may be remembered that Jay had vainly tried to get England to abandon this claim when he negotiated his treaty in 1795. As the American commerce increased, these impressments became more frequent, and the English officers more and more overbearing in their actions, until at length the British frigate Leopard stopped the United States frigate Chesapeake, off the Chesapeake Bay, when in no condition to fight, and by force compelled her commander to give up four of his men whom the British captain claimed

to be British citizens. This gross indignity was resented by all Americans, and almost precipitated war. It was not until 1811 that reparation for this outrage was offered and accepted.

181. Embargo. (1807-1809.) - Jefferson soon issued a proclamation warning British cruisers not to enter American ports; and called an extra session of Congress to decide what should be done. Jefferson, greatly averse to war, for which he knew the country was in no condition, recommended what he thought would be most effectual under any circumstances. an embargo. Congress acted promptly on this suggestion, and passed the Embargo Act of 1807. This act forbade the departure of any vessel for any foreign port; foreign vessels were forbidden to load in American ports; and vessels in the coasting trade were required to give bond that they would not trade outside the United States. This experiment was a total failure. "American shipping ceased to exist, American commerce was annihilated, American seamen were forced to seek employment under the British flag, and British ships and British commerce alone occupied the ocean." The opposition to this measure first came from New England, whose citizens were chiefly interested in commerce. They saw their chief means of support destroyed at a blow; and, after ineffectual attempts to get this act repealed, they gradually turned their attention to other pursuits, and manufacturing became their chief interest, rendering them to a large degree independent of the sea. In the southern and agricultural states the effect of the embargo came more slowly, but was severely felt, for they found that a foreign outlet for their crops was essential to prosperity. So in 1809 Congress was compelled to modify its former action by what is known as the Non-intercourse Act. This removed all restrictions except as regarded England and France.