in the harbor of Tripoli, and was forced to surrender. Later on, however, a very high tide floated her off, giving the Tripolitans a fine addition to their navy. Stephen Decatur, one of the American officers, entered he harbor with a small vessel in which were concealed a number of men. Under the pretense that his ship was in distress, he pushed up close to the Philadelphia, leaped aboard it with his men, swept the enemy into the sea, set the ship on fire, and sailed away unharmed amidst the thundering fires of the batteries. The city was repeatedly bombarded, and the Pasha was so thoroughly humiliated that he was glad to sue for peace (1805). As a result of the treaty (a) the other Barbary States, surprised at this stand of the United States, also ceased their attacks on our commerce; (b) our merchant marine tncreased and became a training school in which our officers and seamen were prepared for the impending war with England; (c) Jefferson was forced to increase the navy, the good effects of which were soon to be felt. 370. France and Great Britain Plunder American Ships. The Barbary Powers were not the only enemies of American commerce. France and Great Britain, at war with one another, were trying to injure each other's trade, altogether regardless of the injury inflicted upon American commerce. Some of the arrogant measures of the two belligerents, which nearly swept American trade from the seas, were: (a) the British government published an "Order in Council" (1806) declaring all French ports from Brest to the Elbe in a state of blockade. Napoleon retaliated by the "Berlin Decree" (1806), declaring the British Islands in a state of blockade; (b) England, by another "Order in Council" (1807), forbade neutral vessels to enter a French port without previously stopping at a British port and paying a tax, and doing the same thing on the return voyage. "Neutral vessels" here meant American vessels, as nearly all Europe was at war. Napoleon promptly replied by his "Milan Decree," which declared that any neutral vessel which had paid English port, might be seized at any French port. duty at an According to law, ships are not allowed to enter a "blockaded" port except at the risk of being captured and confiscated. A blockade, however, to be effective, must have the entrance of the port guarded by ships. France and Great Britain both asserted only a "paper blockade," that is, issued mere blockading declarations without stationing any ships to enforce the same. American vessels bound to or from blockaded ports were captured anywhere on the high seas by the cruisers of both belligerents. 371. England Claims the Right of Search and Impressment. The arbitrary ruling of the English with respect to our neutral commerce finally became unbearable when England again began to search our vessels for seamen of English birth and to impress them into the British navy. British war vessels even anchored outside American ports and hundreds of American vessels were captured and thousands of our seamen impressed. The height of insult was reached when the British frigate Leopard overhauled the American frigate Chesapeake off Hampton Roads, Virginia, and ordered her to submit to search. Upon refusal, the Leopard opened fire on the Chesapeake, which, unprepared for battle, surrendered. Four men, three of whom were American citizens, were seized and impressed into British service. The whole nation was aroused at this outrage. Jefferson, in a letter to Lafayette, said that never since the battle of Lexington had he seen the country in such a state of indignation. The English government offered a half-hearted apology, but reaffirmed the right of search. 372. The Embargo Act. What could America do in the face of such outrages? One of two things: (a) make war on both France and England. Jefferson strongly preferred peace to war; or (b) lay an embargo on American shipping, forbidding trade with either nation. This course, however, would ruin thousands of merchants and traders, and deprive great numbers of seamen of employment. Jefferson decided to try the embargo, and the Embargo Act, nicknamed "O grab me act," was passed (1807), forbidding American ships to leave for a foreign port under any condition. This was intended to prevent the loss of our ships and seamen and punish both France and England by depriving them of American goods. The act proved a complete failure. It seemed more like punishing America than Great Britain and France. All classes of industries, except manufacture, suffered severely under the law. The New England Federalists declared it unconstitutional, and threatened secession. France and Great Britain laughed at the embargo; consequently, the act was repealed after fourteen months and replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act, by which all commerce was prohibited with Great Britain and France, and their colonies. Though the Embargo Act was a failure, it did some good by causing many of the people to turn to manufacturing, and from this small beginning our country has gradually grown to be one of the greatest manufacturing nations of the world. 373. Other Events. The unpopular Naturalization Act was repealed (1802) and the number of years' residence required for citizenship was reduced from fourteen to five, the same as it is at present. Ohio, with a population of forty-five thousand, was admitted. (1802) into the Union as the seventeenth state, without slavery. The second census of the United States was taken in 1800; it showed a population of over five million and was the basis for a new apportionment of representatives. The unit was fixed at one representative for every thirty-three thousand inhabitants, and thus the membership of the House was in creased from one hundred and five to one hundred and forty-one. In order to avoid the repetition of a contest such as the tie vote between Jefferson and Burr had occasioned, the Twelfth Amendment, which provided that the electors cast separate ballots for President and Vice-president, was proposed by Congress. The amendment was ratified by the states (1804). Congress put a stop to the importation of slaves after January, 1808. The law was heartily endorsed by Jefferson, who, like Washington and most leading men of the South, held slaves, but sincerely hoped that the country would find some peaceful means of freeing the negroes. 374. Jefferson Retires to Monticello. Jefferson's popularity suffered greatly on account of the embargo. He was, however, not long in regaining his former prestige, and the people urged him to accept the presidency a third term. However, he followed the example of Washington and refused. On leaving the capitol he retired to Monticello, his beautiful home in Virginia, where he spent the remainder of his useful life. His wisdom. gained for him in his old age the title of "Sage of Monticello." CHAPTER XX JAMES MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICAN-1809-1817 375. Madison and Clinton Are Elected. James Madison, Secretary of State, and George Clinton, Vice-president, during the previous administration, were the Republican candidates for the election of 1808. They were elected by a large majority of electoral votes over Charles C. Pinckney and Rufus King, the Federalist nominees. The same principles (economy at home and peace abroad) continued to control the government and the same harmony, though not the same strength, was visible in the Cabinet. Albert Gallatin, one of our greatest financiers, continued at the head of the Treasury Department, and in 1811 James Monroe was chosen Secretary of State. Madison (1751-1836), like Washington and Jefferson, was a native of Virginia (the Mother of Presidents). He had, as we have seen, acquired an enduring reputation as the foremost framer of the Constitution, as leader of his party in Congress, and as Secretary of State. He was universally esteemed for his kindly disposition, great refinement, statesmanship, and learning. Inasmuch as he was a most intimate friend of Jefferson, and a strong supporter of the Jeffersonian policy, his administration may be looked upon as a continuation of that of his predecessor. He hated war, and, like the three preceding presidents, thought it more conducive to the general welfare of the nation to avoid it. This, however, was fast becoming impossible. 376. Foreign Difficulties Continue. Foreign affairs were in a deplorable condition when Madison began his administration: |