JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION, 1801-1809.
At the beginning of his administration, Mr. Jefferson transferred the
chief offices of the government to members of the Democratic party.
Such action was justified by the adherents of the President on the
ground that the affairs of a republic will be best administered when
the officers hold the same political sentiments. One of the first
acts of Congress was to abolish the system of internal revenues. The
unpopular "Alien" and "Sedition" laws were also repealed.
2. In the year 1800 a line was drawn through the Northwest Territory
from the mouth of the Great Miami River northward, through Fort
Recovery on the head waters of the Wabash, to Canada. Two years
afterwards the country east of this line was erected into the State of
Ohio, which, in 1803, was admitted into the Union. The portion west of
the line was organized under the name of INDIANA TERRITORY.
[Illustration: Thomas Jefferson.]
[Sidenote: =Indiana Territory.=]
3. The new region thus brought under civil government embraced a vast
area of country. It included all of the present States of Indiana,
Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and a small portion of Minnesota.
Vincennes was made the capital. The appointment of Governor and
Superintendent of Indian Affairs was conferred on General William Henry
Harrison. The work imposed upon him was very great. First appointed
by President John Adams, he was afterwards reappointed to the same
position by Presidents Jefferson and Madison. Repairing to his field of
duty, he convened the first Territorial Legislature at Vincennes, in
1805, and entered at once into negotiations with the Indian tribes.
4. During the administration of Governor Harrison, many salutary
measures were adopted with respect to the natives. The Governor sought
to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors among them, and induced
many of the tribes to submit to inoculation, as a means of preventing
the ravages of smallpox. In September, 1809, he met a congress of the
tribes at Vincennes, and effected the purchase of about three million
acres of valuable land in the valleys of the Wabash and White rivers.
It was these progressive measures which aroused the jealousy and alarm
of the Red men, and brought on the Indian war of 1811.
[Sidenote: =The Louisiana Purchase.=]
5. About the same time of the organization of Indiana Territory the
MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY was organized. More important still was the
purchase of the vast region called Louisiana. In 1800 Napoleon had
compelled Spain to make a cession of this territory to France. He now
authorized his minister to dispose of Louisiana by sale. The President
appointed Mr. Livingston and James Monroe to negotiate the purchase.
On the 30th of April, 1803, terms were agreed on; and for the sum of
eleven million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars Louisiana was
ceded to the United States. It was also agreed that the United States
should pay certain debts due from France to American citizens--the sum
not to exceed three million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Thus did that vast domain west of the Mississippi pass under the
dominion of the United States.
6. Out of the southern portion of the great province the TERRITORY OF
ORLEANS was organized with the same limits as the present State of
Louisiana; the rest continued to be called the TERRITORY OF LOUISIANA.
Very justly did Mr. Livingston say to the French minister as they arose
from signing the treaty: "This is the noblest work of our lives."
7. In 1801 John Marshall became Chief-justice of the United States.
In the colonial times, the English constitution and common law had
prevailed in America. When the new Republic was organized, it became
necessary to modify the principles of law and to adapt them to the
altered form of government. This great work was accomplished by
Chief-justice Marshall.
[Sidenote: =War with Tripoli.=]
8. The Mediterranean pirates still annoyed American merchantmen.
The emperors of Morocco, Algiers, and Tripoli became especially
troublesome. In 1803 Commodore Preble was sent to the Mediterranean
to protect American commerce and punish the pirates. The frigate
_Philadelphia_, under Captain Bainbridge, sailed directly to Tripoli.
When nearing his destination, Bainbridge gave chase to a pirate which
fled for safety to the harbor. The _Philadelphia_, in close pursuit,
ran upon a reef of rocks near the shore, and was captured by the
Tripolitans. The officers were treated with some respect, but the crew
were enslaved.
9. In the following February Captain Decatur sailed to Tripoli in a
Moorish ship, called the _Intrepid_. At nightfall Decatur steered into
the harbor, slipped alongside of the _Philadelphia_, sprang on deck
with his daring band, and killed or drove overboard every Moor on the
vessel. In a moment the frigate was fired; Decatur and his crew escaped
to the _Intrepid_ without the loss of a man.
10. In July of 1804 Commodore Preble arrived at Tripoli and began
a siege. The town was bombarded, and several Moorish vessels were
destroyed. In the mean time, William Eaton, the American consul at
Tunis, had organized a force, and was marching overland to Tripoli.
Hamet, who was the rightful sovereign of Tripoli, was cooperating
with Eaton in an effort to recover his kingdom. Yusef, the Tripolitan
emperor, made overtures for peace. His offers were accepted, and a
treaty was concluded on the 4th of June, 1805.
[Sidenote: =Schemes of Aaron Burr.=]
11. In 1804 the country was shocked by the intelligence that
Vice-president Burr had killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. As his
term of office drew to a close, Burr foresaw that he would not be
renominated. In 1803 he became a candidate for governor of New York;
but Hamilton's influence in that State prevented his election. Burr
thereupon sought a quarrel with Hamilton, challenged him, met him at
Weehawken on the morning of the 11th of July, and deliberately murdered
him. Thus the brightest intellect in America was put out in darkness.
12. After the death of Hamilton, Burr fled to the South. At the opening
of the next session of Congress he returned to preside over the Senate.
Then he took up his residence with an Englishman named Blennerhassett,
who had built a mansion on an island in the Ohio, near the mouth of
the Muskingum. Here Burr made a treasonable scheme to raise a military
force, invade Mexico, detach the Southwestern States from the Union,
and overthrow the government of the United States. But his purposes
were suspected. The military preparations at Blennerhassett's Island
were broken up. Burr was arrested in Alabama and taken to Richmond to
be tried for treason. Chief-justice Marshall presided at the trial, and
Burr conducted his own defence. The verdict was, "Not guilty--_for want
of sufficient proof_." Burr afterward practiced law in New York, lived
to old age, and died in poverty.
[Sidenote: =Lewis and Clarke's Expedition.=]
13. In the autumn of 1804 Jefferson was reelected. For Vice-president,
George Clinton of New York was chosen in place of Burr. In the next
year a part of the Northwest Territory was organized under the name
of MICHIGAN. In the same spring, Captains Lewis and Clarke set out
from the falls of the Missouri River with thirty-five soldiers and
hunters to explore Oregon. For two years, through forests of gigantic
pines, and along the banks of unknown rivers, did they continue their
explorations. After wandering among unheard-of tribes of savages, and
traversing a route of six thousand miles, the adventurers, with the
loss of but one man, returned to civilization.
[Illustration: Lewis and Clarke's Expedition.]
14. During Jefferson's second term, the country was much agitated by
the aggressions of the British navy. England and France were engaged in
war. The British authorities struck blow after blow against the trade
between France and foreign nations; and Napoleon retaliated. The plan
adopted by the two powers was to blockade each other's ports with
men-of-war. By such means the commerce of the United States was greatly
injured.
[Sidenote: =Aggressions on American Commerce.=]
15. In May of 1806 England blockaded the whole coast of France.
American vessels, approaching the French ports, were seized as prizes.
The following November Bonaparte issued a decree blockading the British
isles. Again American merchantmen were subjected to seizure. In January
of the next year Great Britain retaliated by prohibiting the French
coasting-trade. These measures were all in violation of the law of
nations.
16. Great Britain next set up the peculiar claim of citizenship, that
whoever is born in England remains through life a subject of England.
English cruisers were authorized to search American vessels for
persons suspected of being British subjects. Those who were taken were
impressed as seamen in the English navy.
[Sidenote: =Impressment of Seamen.=]
17. On the 22d of June, 1807, the frigate _Chesapeake_ was hailed
near Fortress Monroe by a British man-of-war called the _Leopard_.
British officers came on board and demanded _to search the vessel for
deserters_. The demand was refused and the ship cleared for action. But
before the guns could be charged, the _Leopard_ poured in a destructive
fire and compelled a surrender. Four men were taken from the captured
ship, three of whom proved to be American citizens. Great Britain
disavowed this outrage, and promised reparation; but the promise was
never fulfilled.
[Sidenote: =The Embargo Act.=]
18. The President issued a proclamation forbidding British ships of
war to enter American harbors. On the 21st of December Congress passed
the EMBARGO ACT, by which all American vessels were detained in the
ports of the United States. The object was to cut off commercial
intercourse with France and Great Britain. But after fourteen months
the embargo act was repealed. Meanwhile, in November of 1808, the
British government published an "order in council," prohibiting _all_
trade with France and her allies. Thereupon Napoleon issued the "Milan
decree," forbidding all trade with England and her colonies. By these
outrages the commerce of the United States was well-nigh destroyed.
19. While the country was thus distracted, Robert Fulton was building
the FIRST STEAMBOAT. Fulton was an Irishman by descent and a
Pennsylvanian by birth. His education in boyhood was imperfect, but was
afterward improved by study at London and Paris.
[Illustration: Fulton's "Clermont."]
[Sidenote: =Robert Fulton's Steamboat.=]
20. Returning to New York, he began the construction of a steamboat.
When the ungainly craft was completed, Fulton invited his friends to
go on board and enjoy a trip to Albany. On the 2d of September, 1807,
the crowds gathered on the shore. The word was given, and the boat did
not move. Fulton went below. Again the word was given, and _the boat
moved_. On the next day the company reached Albany. For many years this
first rude steamer, called the _Clermont_, plied the Hudson.
21. Jefferson's administration drew to a close. The territorial area of
the United States had been vastly extended. But the foreign relations
of the nation were troubled. The President declined a third election,
and was succeeded by James Madison, of Virginia. For Vice-president,
George Clinton was reelected.