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Here again the cabinet were divided; the secretary of state and the attorney-general were of opinion, that the courts of law were the proper tribunal to decide the question, and were disposed to favour the procedure; but the secretaries of the treasury, and of war, were of opinion, that all governments ought to be so far respected as to direct and controul all events relating to peace or war, under their jurisdiction, and that the proceedings of Mr. Genet were an outrage upon the sovereignty, as well as the neutrality of the United States; and therefore the government ought to cause restitution to be made.

The president took time to deliberate, and addressed circular letters to the chief magistrates of the several states, calling on them to enforce the laws of neutrality within their several jurisdictions, and compel a due obedience to the laws with force, if necessary.

Mr. Genet resented this procedure, and remonstrated, by letter, to the president, with an indecorous warmth. Upon which the president signified to Mr. Genet, that it was expected that the armed vessels which had given the offence, would immediately depart from the ports of the United States. Prosecutions were immediately ordered, and actually commenced, against such citizens of the United States, as had been engaged in this privateering business.

This procedure roused the resentment of Mr. Genet, and he appealed from the government to the people of the United States, in a stile too indecorous to be perpetuated.

Mr. Genet next addressed himself to the secretary of state, remonstrating against the decisions of the executive, and demanding, that those persons under arrest by order of the government of the United States, be released, "as acting under the authority of France, and defending the glorious cause of liberty, in common with her children."

That republican zealot kindled a fire in the United States, that raged with such violence, as shook the government to its centre; and had for its object to subvert the influence, and popularity of the executive, and even if necessary, that high department of the government, and prostitute the American government, and people, to the views of France. The following extracts of the letter of Mr. Genet to the secretary of state, (alluded to as above,) will serve to corroborate these remarks.

"I have this moment been informed, that two officers in the service of the republic of France, citizen Gideon' Henfield, and John Singletary, have been arrested on board the privateer of the French Republic, the Citizen Genet, and conducted to prison. The crime laid to their charge, the crime which my mind cannot conceive, and which my pen almost refuses to state, is the serving of France, and defending with her children the common glorious cause of liberty," &c.

The appeal of Mr. Genet to the American people, through the channels of the public prints, threw the nation into two great parties, the one adhered to the government, and the other rallied round the minister. Civic feasts," and other public assemblages of the people, became general; especially, at the south, and in all the large towns ; at which the ensigns of France and America were displayed in union, and the red cap of liberty, and fraternity, triumphantly circulated, from head to head, accompanied with toasts, expressive of the identy of the French, and American Republics, and crowned with the favourite toast,

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Principles, not men," in allusion to the popular influence® of the president, and as a reflection upon his measures particularly the suppression of privateering, and the proclamation of neutrality.; often stiled the royal edict.

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Thus was the executive, the government, and the nation outraged by this enthusiastic zealot of the French Republic.

Pause reader and reflect, what would have become the fate of America at this time, under the old confederation; or even under the new, with a weak executive? and acknowledge the hand of God in thus preserving the vine he had planted.

At this time certain societies sprang up in America, bearing the political stamp of the Jacobin societies in France, and assumed a dictatorial stile in the politics of the nation. Assurances from these societies led Mr. Genet. to believe, that if he persevered in his appeals to the people, against the government, the people would finally support him, and do justice to France.

To pursue the overt acts of outrage against the executive, as well as the measures of the government, by this diplomatic disciple of liberty and equality, and shew how he meditated war against Florida and Louisiana, by raising troops in Georgia, and Kentucky, without the knowledge and consent of the United States, and in defiance to the government, as well as existing treaties, would exceed the limits of this work, as well as the patience of every true American; suffice it to say, that when the dignified patience of the president had become exhausted, he demanded of the French government, that Mr.Genet should be recalled; and he was recalled. Mr. Genet was succeeded by Mr. Adet, and at the same time Mr. Monroe was sent out to France, to succeed Mr. Morris recalled.

On the 1st of December, Congress met at Philadelphia, agreeable to adjournment; notwithstanding the yellow fever had not wholly subsided,* and on the 4th the president delivered his speech to both houses. This speech

*This malignant disease had raged like the plague through the autumn

gave a dignified, and luminous display of the political state of the nation; was cordially received, and as cordially answered by both houses.

Early in the session, the secretary of the treasury, (agreeable to a resolution of the house passed in February 1791,) presented a luminous and dignified report upon the commercial state of the nation, with his views, and advice thereon, &c.

On the 30th the secretary presented an additional report, which was occasioned by certain regulations of a commercial nature on the part of France, towards the West-India trade, &c. both of which were highly acceptable, and did honor to the department; and with this official act, the secretary, agreeable to previous notice, resigned, and was succeeded by Edmund Randoph, Esq. January

1794.

The limits of this work will not permit me to notice the resolutions brought forward by Mr. Madison, upon this report, nor the long and interesting discussion that followed upon the subject.

In the midst of this commercial strife, the state of Algiers began her depredations upon the commerce of the United States, and captured eleven sail of her merchantThis when communicated to Congress by the executive, led to the following resolution.

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"Resolved, that a naval force, adequate to the protection of the commerce of the United States against the Algerine corsairs, ought to be provided."

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This bill opened again a torrent of debate, and let loose all the violence of party jealousy, and party strife, in the sharp conflict of wordy war.

The bill finally passed by a majority of 11 only, to authorise the building of six frigates, four of 44, and two of

32 guns each. And received the assent of the president.

At this time the depredations of Great-Britain became so serious upon American commerce, under sanction of her commercial decrees, that Congress authorised the president to lay an embargo, which was accordingly done; and on the 16th of April following, the president nomina. ted Mr. Jay as envoy extraordinary, to negociate a commercial treaty with the court of Great Britain.

The recommendation was finally approved, and Mr. Jay, agreeable to appointment, proceeded to the court of London, where he negociated a commercial treaty, agreeable to his instructions.

Pending this negociation an attempt was made to adjust the differences with the hostile Indians by a treaty, which was spun out through the summer and into autumn, so far as to prevent Gen. Wayne from attempting any serious operations. He accordingly advanced to Greenville, and erected a fort upon the ground where the Americans were defeated in 1791, and called it Fort Recovery. Here he fixed his winter quarters.

At the same time a detachment from the garrison of Detroit erected a fort upon the Miami of the Lake, 50 miles within the limits of the United States, which gave great excitement, and occasioned sharp remonstrances from the American government.

Gen. Wayne pushed his preparations to commence the operations of the campaign early; but such were the unavoidable delays, in furnishing the necessary supplies, that he could not take the field before midsummer.

* About the first of August, Gen. Wayne advanced upon the banks of the Miami of the Lake, to the distance of thirty miles from the British Fort, where he was joined by Gen. Scott, at the head of eleven hundred Kentucky militia.

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