the first ballot, eight states voted for Mr. Jefferson, six states for
Mr. Burr, and the votes of two states were divided. Unexpectedly, no
choice was effected during the first day, and an adjournment became
necessary. The balloting was continued on the following day, and,
indeed, until Tuesday, the 17th of February, when the thirty-fifth
ballot, as had all the previous ballots, resulted the same as the first.
The excitement of members, and of citizens attracted from various parts
of the country to see the issue of a novel political contest, had now
become intense. Every possible influence was exerted by the respective
parties. Mr. Nicholson, of Maryland, being too unwell to sit during the
protracted ballotings, had a bed prepared for him in one of the
committee-rooms, to which the ballot-box was carried by the tellers on
the part of the state. For several days, the members ate little, and
slept still less. At length, however, the long contest was terminated by
the thirty-sixth ballot, which resulted in the election of Mr.
Jefferson--ten states having voted for him, four for Mr. Burr, and two
in blank. The following table exhibits the final result:
Key: A. Thos. Jefferson, of Virginia.
B. Aaron Burr, of New York.
C. John Adams, of Massa'tts.
D. C. C. Pinckney, of S. Carolina.
E. John Jay, of New York.
---------+-----------------+----+----+----+----+----
No. of | | | | | |
Electors | STATES. | | | | |
from each| | A. | B. | C. | D. | E.
State. | | | | | |
---------+-----------------+----+----+----+----+----
6 | New Hampshire, | | | 6 | 6 |
16 | Massachusetts, | | | 16 | 16 |
4 | Rhode Island, | | | 4 | 3 | 1
9 | Connecticut, | | | 9 | 9 |
4 | Vermont, | | | 4 | 4 |
12 | New York, | 12 | 12 | | |
7 | New Jersey, | | | 7 | 7 |
15 | Pennsylvania, | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
3 | Delaware, | | | 3 | 3 |
10 | Maryland, | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
21 | Virginia, | 21 | 21 | | |
4 | Kentucky, | 4 | 4 | | |
12 | North Carolina, | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | Tennessee, | 3 | 3 | | |
8 | South Carolina, | 8 | 8 | | |
4 | Georgia, | 4 | 4 | | |
---------+-----------------+----+----+----+----+----
138 | Whole No. of | | | | |
| electors, | 73 | 73 | 65 | 64 | 1
| Majority, 70 | | | | |
[Illustration]
FOOTNOTES:
[65] Before the time of embarkation, Mr. Henry died, and Governor
Davie was appointed in his place.
[66] Paulding's Life of Washington.
[67] Life of Jefferson, vol. ii. p. 45.
[68] Gibbs' Memoirs of the Administrations of Washington and John Adams.
VIII. THOMAS JEFFERSON, PRESIDENT.
[Illustration: Thomas Jefferson.]
INAUGURATED AT WASHINGTON, MARCH 4, 1801.
AARON BURR AND GEORGE CLINTON, VICE-PRESIDENTS.
HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
James Madison, Virginia, March 5, 1801, Secretary
of State.
Samuel Dexter, Massachusetts, (_continued } Secretaries
in office_), } of Treasury.
Albert Gallatin, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1802, }
Henry Dearborn, Massachusetts, March 5, 1801, Secretary
of War.
Benjamin Stoddert, Maryland, (_continued } Secretaries
in office_), } of the Navy.
Robert Smith, Maryland, January 26, 1802, }
Joseph Habersham, Georgia, (_continued } Postmasters
in office_), } General.
Gideon Granger, Connecticut, January 26, 1802, }
Levi Lincoln, Massachusetts, March 5, 1801, } Attorneys
John Breckenridge, Kentucky, December 23, 1805, } General.
Cæsar A. Rodney, Delaware, January 20, 1807, }
SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina, Seventh Congress, 1801.
Joseph B. Varnum, Massachusetts, Eighth do. 1803.
Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina, Ninth do. 1805.
Joseph B. Varnum, Massachusetts, Tenth do. 1807.
Mr. Jefferson was inducted into office, with the usual imposing
ceremonies, on the 4th of March, 1801; on which occasion, deviating
from the example of his predecessors, he transmitted to congress a
_written message_, instead of delivering a speech in person--a
practice which has been followed by his successors in the presidential
chair, without an exception.
This message was a remarkable document, inasmuch as it set forth the
"essential principles" of our government in the narrowest compass, and
with great clearness and precision of language. These were, "Equal and
exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or
political; peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations,
entangling alliances with none; the support of the state governments, in
all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic
concerns, and the surest bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies;
the preservation of the general government, in its whole constitutional
vigor, as the sheet-anchor of our peace at home and safety abroad; a
jealous care of the right of election by the people, a mild and safe
corrective of abuses, which are lopped by the sword of revolution, where
peaceable remedies are unprovided; absolute acquiescence in the
decisions of the majority, the vital principle of republics, from which
there is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate
parent of despotism; a well-disciplined militia, our best reliance in
peace, and for the first moments of war, till regulars may relieve them;
the supremacy of the civil over the military authority; economy in the
public expense, that labor may be lightly burdened; the honest payment
of our debts, and sacred preservation of the public faith; encouragement
of agriculture, and of commerce as its handmaid; the diffusion of
information, and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of the public
reason; freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of
person, under the protection of the _habeas corpus_; and trial by juries
impartially selected. These principles form the bright constellation
which has gone before us, and guided our steps through an age of
revolution and reformation."
The leading events in the presidential career of Mr. Jefferson, will
require us to notice the--
Purchase of Louisiana. Attack on the Chesapeake.
War with Tripoli. British Orders in Council.
Murder of Hamilton. Milan Decree.
Rëelection of Jefferson. Embargo.
Conspiracy and Trial of Burr. Election of Mr. Madison.
Difficulties between France and England.
_Purchase of Louisiana._--By the treaty of 1783, the Mississippi was
made the western boundary of the United States, from its source to the
thirty-first degree of latitude, and following this line to the St.
Mary's. By a treaty of the same date, the Floridas were ceded to
Spain, without any specific boundaries. This omission led to a
controversy between the United States and Spain, which nearly
terminated in hostilities. By a treaty with Spain, however, in 1795,
boundary lines were amicably settled, and New Orleans was granted to
American citizens as a place of deposit for their effects for three
years and longer, unless some other place of equal importance should
be assigned. No other place being assigned within that time, New
Orleans continued to be used as before.
In 1800, a secret treaty was signed at Paris, by the plenipotentiaries
of France and Spain, by which Louisiana was guarantied to France, and,
in 1801, the cession was actually made. At the same time, the Spanish
intendant of Louisiana was instructed to make arrangements to deliver
the country to the French commissioners. Upon receiving intelligence
of this intended transfer, great sensibility prevailed in congress,
and a proposition was made to occupy the place by force; but, after an
animated discussion, the project was relinquished, and negotiations
with France were commenced by Mr. Jefferson, for the purchase of the
whole country of Louisiana, which ended in an agreement to that
effect, signed at Paris, April 30th, 1803, by which the United States
were to pay to France fifteen millions of dollars. Early in December,
1803, the commissioners of Spain delivered possession to France; and,
on the 20th of the same month, the authorities of France duly
transferred the country to the United States.
_War with Tripoli._--In his message to Congress, in 1801, Mr.
Jefferson spoke of the relations of the United States with all nations
as pacific, except with Tripoli, the least considerable of the Barbary
states. This power had made demands, the most unjust, upon the
American government, and had threatened war, because that government
had failed to comply with those demands before a given day. Thus
threatened, the president had sent out Commodore Dale with a squadron
of two ships and a sloop-of-war, to blockade the harbor of Tripoli, by
which piratical cruisers should be prevented from making depredations
upon American commerce.
In 1803, it became necessary to add to this Mediterranean force.
Accordingly, a squadron of seven sail was ordered, of which Commodore
Preble was put in command. In October, the frigate Philadelphia,
forty-four, Captain Bainbridge, while in eager pursuit of a small
vessel, grounded in the harbor of Tripoli, and, in this situation, was
compelled to surrender. The officers became prisoners, and the crew
slaves. In this emergency, Stephen Decatur, then a lieutenant under
Commodore Preble, proposed a plan for rëcapturing or destroying the
Philadelphia. The American squadron was at that time lying at
Syracuse. Agreeably to the plan proposed, Lieutenant Decatur, in the
ketch Intrepid, four guns and seventy-five men, proceeded, under the
escort of the Syren, Captain Stewart, to the harbor of Tripoli. The
Philadelphia lay within half gun-shot of the bashaw's castle, and was
guarded by several cruisers and gun-boats. The Intrepid entered the
harbor alone, about eight o'clock in the evening, and succeeded in
getting near the Philadelphia, between ten and eleven o'clock, without
having awakened suspicion of her hostile designs. This vessel had been
captured from the Tripolitans, and, assuming on this occasion her
former national appearance, was permitted to warp alongside. The
moment the vessel came in contact, Decatur and his followers leaped on
board, and soon overwhelmed the crew. Twenty Tripolitans were killed.
All the surrounding batteries being opened upon the Philadelphia, she
was immediately set on fire; when, a favoring breeze springing up, the
Intrepid extricated herself from her prey, and sailed triumphantly out
of the harbor.
In July, 1804, Commodore Preble having concentrated his forces before
Tripoli, opened a tremendous fire of shot and shells, which was as
promptly returned by the Tripolitan batteries and shipping. At the
same time, two divisions of gun-boats--the first under the command of
Captain Somers, the second under Lieutenant Stephen Decatur--advanced
against those of the enemy.
Lieutenant Decatur, bearing down upon one of superior force, soon
carried her by boarding; when, taking his prize in tow, he grappled with
another, and, in like manner, transferred the fight to the enemy's deck.
In the fierce encounter which followed this second attack, Lieutenant
Decatur, having broken his sword, closed with the Turkish commander,
and, both falling in the struggle, gave him a mortal wound with a
pistol-shot, just as the Turk was raising his dirk to plunge it into his
breast. Lieutenant Trippe, of Lieutenant Decatur's squadron, had boarded
a third large gun-boat, with only one midshipman and nine men, when his
boat fell off, and left him to wage the unequal fight of eleven against
thirty-six. Courage and resolution, however, obliged the numerous foe to
yield, with the loss of fourteen killed and seven wounded. Lieutenant
Trippe received eleven sabre wounds, and had three of his party wounded,
but none killed.
On the 4th of September, Commodore Preble determined to send a
fire-ship into the enemy's harbor. For this service, the Intrepid was
fitted out, being filled with powder, shells, and other combustible
materials. Captain Somers conducted the enterprise, having for his
associates Lieutenants Wadsworth and Israel, all volunteers. At eight
o'clock in the evening, she stood into the harbor, with a moderate
breeze. Several shots were fired at her from the batteries. She had
nearly gained her place of destination, when she exploded, without
having made any of the signals, previously concerted, to show that the
crew was safe. Night hung over the dreadful catastrophe, and left the
whole squadron a prey to the most dreadful anxiety.
Doubt, however, was at length turned into certainty. She had
prematurely blown up, destroying one of the enemy's gun-boats, and
shattering several others. Commodore Preble, in his account, says,
that he was led to believe that those boats were detached from the
enemy's flotilla to intercept the ketch, and, without suspecting her
character, had suddenly boarded her, when the gallant Somers and the
heroes of his party, observing the other three boats surrounding them,
and no prospect of escape, determined to put a match to the train
leading directly to the magazine; and, he adds, that his "conjectures
respecting this affair are founded on a resolution which Captain
Somers and Lieutenants Wadsworth and Israel had formed, never to be
taken by the enemy, and never to suffer him to get possession of the
powder on board the Intrepid."
The reigning bashaw of Tripoli, at this time, was an usurper, while
the lawful one and an older brother, Hamet Caramelli, was at Tunis in
exile. At the commencement of the war, William Eaton, then American
consul at Tunis, becoming acquainted with Hamet, concerted an
expedition to expel the usurper, and restore the rightful heir to the
throne. To such an enterprise, the sanction of the American government
being necessary, General Eaton repaired to the United States, and laid
his plan before our government; but they, thinking the scheme
altogether too romantic, yet not wishing wholly to discourage it, made
him agent for the government; he sailed with the fleet for the
Mediterranean, and proceeding to Alexandria, prevailed on the viceroy
of Egypt to suffer him to have an interview with the exiled bey. They
met near Grand Cairo, and entered into a convention for the purpose of
attacking Tripoli. Eaton was to be commander-in-chief of the land
forces. Their army consisted of a few American sailors, a small
company of artillery, a few straggling Greeks, the servants of Hamet
Bashaw, and some camel-drivers. With this motley band, Eaton dashed
across the desert in the most noble style, fearless of all
difficulties. Here he was joined by a few Arabian cavalry, and, after
suffering every hardship, arising from hunger and a scorching sun, the
party reached Bomba, where they found the Argus and Hornet, under the
command of Captain Hull. The army, of nearly four hundred, continued
their march to Derne. On the 25th of April, 1804, they encamped on an
eminence which commanded the place, and forthwith demanded a
surrender. The inhabitants of Derne treated the summons with contempt.
A furious assault was the consequence, and the place was carried after
a short but desperate action.
Unfortunately for Eaton's projects, at this time he received
intelligence that the American commissioners in the fleet had made
peace with the bashaw then in power. It was stipulated, that Eaton
should evacuate Derne, and repair to the fleet; and that a mutual
delivery of prisoners should take place, among whom was Captain
Bainbridge, with the officers and crew of the Philadelphia; and, as
the bashaw had a balance of more than two hundred prisoners in his
favor, he was to receive sixty thousand dollars. Hamet Bashaw
accompanied Eaton to the United States, with a few of his followers,
while the remainder of the army fled to the mountains. The
commissioners acknowledged that Eaton's success prepared the way for
the treaty of peace. Moreover, the president of the United States, in
a message to congress, spoke highly of his services; and the citizens
every where hailed him as worthy of a place in the lists of chivalry;
but, during his after-life, he ever felt that injustice was done him
by his countrymen, although Massachusetts made him a grant of ten
thousand acres of land as a reward for his services.
_Murder of Hamilton._--On the 12th of July, 1804, General Alexander
Hamilton died in the city of New York, in consequence of a wound
received the day previous, in a duel fought by him with Aaron Burr.
In February, 1804, Colonel Burr was nominated as a candidate for the
office of governor of New York. Judge Morgan Lewis was the opposing
and successful candidate. The contest was violent, and even
"acrimonious." The majority of the democratic party supported Judge
Lewis; a respectable minority favored the election of Colonel Burr.
Similar divisions existed among the federal party. Hamilton and his
immediate political friends were strong in their opposition to Burr.
In the contest, the press was enlisted. Violent, and even libellous
articles, were daily published. In the progress of this warfare, a
letter, written by Dr. Charles D. Cooper to Colonel Burr, was
published, in which, among other matters, there occurred the following
clause: "I could detail to you _a still more despicable_ opinion,
which General Hamilton _has expressed_ of Mr. Burr."
At the request of Colonel Burr, Judge Van Ness called upon General
Hamilton, and demanded an explanation. A few days following, the
latter replied by letter, in which, after expressing his embarrassment
in attempting to meet a charge so _indefinite_, he said: "I stand
ready to avow or disavow, promptly and explicitly, any precise or
definite opinion which I may be charged with having declared of any
gentleman. More than this cannot fitly be expected from me; and,
especially, it cannot be reasonably asked that I shall enter into any
explanation upon a basis so vague as that you have adopted. I trust,
on reflection, you will see the matter in the same light with me."
Colonel Burr was not satisfied, and from this date, June 20th, the
correspondence, thus begun, was continued to the 3d of July, when it
was definitely arranged that a meeting should take place between them
on the morning of the 11th, at Weehawk, on the Jersey shore, at seven
o'clock A. M.
That meeting took place. They fought at ten paces distance. The fire
of Colonel Burr took effect, and General Hamilton fell. The ball
passed through the liver and diaphragm, and lodged in the vertebra.
From the first, it was apparent that the wound was mortal, and of
this, Hamilton was sensible. On the day following, he expired.
The seconds in this most unfortunate and criminal affair were Mr.
Pendleton, the friend of Mr. Hamilton, and Judge Van Ness, the friend of
Burr. By the former, it was claimed that General Hamilton did not fire
first, nor at all at Colonel Burr. Several circumstances corroborated
this statement. In a paper, left by Hamilton, in anticipation of his
interview with Burr, he writes: "I have resolved, if our interview is
conducted in the usual manner, and it pleases God to give me the
opportunity, to reserve and throw away my first fire, and I have thought
of even reserving my second fire, and thus give a double opportunity to
Colonel Burr to pause and reflect." Dr. Hosack, his attendant physician
on the ground, accompanied him on his return across the Hudson to New
York. On their way, Hamilton, observing the pistol which he had used
lying in the boat, said: "Take care of that pistol; it is undischarged,
and still cocked; it may go off, and do harm. Pendleton knows that I did
not intend to fire at him." "Yes," said Pendleton; "I have already made
Dr. Hosack acquainted with your determination."
It may be further added, and to the _dishonor_ of Hamilton it should be
added--and perhaps as a solemn dissuasive against a practice at war with
reason, revelation, and all the dear and important relations of
life--that he accepted the challenge, and repaired to that
duelling-ground, contrary to the convictions of conscience and duty. In
the paper already alluded to, he writes: "My religious and moral
principles are strongly opposed to the practice of duelling, and it
would ever give me pain to be obliged to shed the blood of a
fellow-creature in a private combat forbidden by the laws."--In an
interview with him, a few hours before he expired, and as he was about
to part with him, the late Dr. Mason said to him, "I have one request to
make." He asked "what it was?" The doctor replied, that "whatever might
be the issue of his affliction, he would give his testimony against the
practice of duelling."--"I will," said he; "I _have done it_. If
_that_"--evidently anticipating the event--"if _that_ be the issue, you
will find it in writing. If it please God that I recover, I shall do it
in a manner which will effectually put me out of its reach in future."
Nothing scarcely could exceed the indignation of the public against
the murderer of Hamilton. From that fatal hour, he was shunned by all
classes, and for years roamed abroad, a fugitive from the land in
which he was once honored. Forgetting all party distinctions and
animosities, the people in various parts of the land united in
demonstrations of respect for the memory of Hamilton, and sincere
sorrow at his untimely fall. Next to Washington, no man was, perhaps,
more respected; nor since the departure of the Father of his country
to another world, was the loss of one more deeply or widely deplored.
Hamilton had occupied a conspicuous place for years in the army and
under the government. In the former capacity, he had stood by the side
of Washington. He loved military life, and, as a soldier and a patriot,
deserved well of his country. From his views on several subjects
connected with the organization of the government, and especially the
management of the finances of the country, many dissented. Yet, it
cannot be denied, that the policy he advised, resulted in the prosperity
of the country. He was a strong partisan in his time, and tenacious of
his opinions. There were contemporary with him others of a similar
stamp, yet widely different from him in their political views.
But, aside from his political career, Hamilton was a distinguished
man--possessed of a lofty and comprehensive mind. At the bar, with men
of learning and experience, he was, perhaps, without a rival. "His
eloquence combined the nervousness and copious elegance of the Greek
and Roman schools."
It was truthfully said of him, what was beautifully said of another:
"Incorrupta fides--nudaque veritas,
Quando ullum inveniet parem?
Multis ille quidem flebilis occidit."
_Rëelection of Mr. Jefferson._--In 1805, Mr. Jefferson was elected a
second time to the office of president. The electoral votes were one
hundred and seventy-six, of which he received one hundred and
sixty-two. George Clinton was chosen vice-president. The following is
the official canvass of the votes:
Key: A. Thos. Jefferson, of Virginia.
B. C. C. Pinckney, of S. Carolina.
C. George Clinton, of New York.
D. Rufus King, of New York.
---------+-----------------+----------+---------------
No. of | |PRESIDENT.|VICE-PRESIDENT.
Electors | STATES. |----------+---------------
from each| | A. | B. | C. | D.
State. | | | | |
---------+-----------------+----+-----+-------+-------
7 | New Hampshire, | 7 | | 7 |
19 | Massachusetts, | 19 | | 19 |
4 | Rhode Island, | 4 | | 4 |
9 | Connecticut, | | 9 | | 9
6 | Vermont, | 6 | | 6 |
19 | New York, | 19 | | 19 |
8 | New Jersey, | 8 | | 8 |
20 | Pennsylvania, | 20 | | 20 |
3 | Delaware, | | 3 | | 3
11 | Maryland, | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2
24 | Virginia, | 24 | | 24 |
14 | North Carolina, | 14 | | 14 |
10 | South Carolina, | 10 | | 10 |
6 | Georgia, | 6 | | 6 |
5 | Tennessee, | 5 | | 5 |
8 | Kentucky, | 8 | | 8 |
3 | Ohio, | 3 | | 3 |
---------+-----------------+----+-----+-------+-------
176 | Whole No. of | | | |
| electors, |162 | 14 | 162 | 14
| Majority, 89 | | | |