FRENCH DECREES AND BRITISH ORDERS 275 able weakness of mind, America lost one of her most PT.IV gifted sons. . . Mr. Jefferson received his second pre- p’D. II. sidential election; and such was his popularity, that ca. 1. out of 176 votes, he received 162. George Clinton 1805 of New York, was chosen vice-president. Neither 1807 Burr's 5. Col. Burr was a dark and subtle man. party had, any longer, confidence in him. He went to the west, and there set on foot some great scheme, which he was carrying on, when, becoming suspected of treasonable designs against the government, he was seized, and taken to Richmond for trial. It was sup- treason posed, that he intended to possess himself of the bank able pro of New Orleans; and that he was raising an army, with which he meant, either to subdue Mexico, or some other of the Spanish provinces. Sufficient evidence of his guilt not appearing on trial, he was acquitted. ject. 6. Although a neutral policy had been steadily maintained, the American nation was now made to 1806 suffer in her commerce, by the measures which Eng- to land took, on the one hand, to humble France, by 1809 keeping all eutrals from trading at her ports; and the Am.com counter measures assumed, on the other hand, by the merce eniperor Napoleon, to keep all neutrals from the ports belonging to Great Britain. injured. Fr. or 7. The "decrees" made by France, and the " orders in council" made by Great Britain, for these purposes, were unjust, and contrary to the laws of nations. The United States were not in right obliged to abstain from trading to the French ports, because the sovereign of Great Britain commanded it; nor to abstain Eng. and from trading to Great Britain, because it was so ordered ders and by the French emperor. And when these two nations proceeded, which on both sides they did, to take, and condemn as prizes, American vessels for disobeying their unlawful decrees, they both committed acts of war upon our nation. 8. The American government by its agents at the courts of Great Britain and France, remonstrated in 5. What further account is given of Cel. Burr? 6. How did America now suffer in her commerce ?-7. What may be said of the decrees and orders in council as regards the right of the rase? What did both nations with regard L. S. 7 decrees. 276 MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION. PT.IV. decided terms. P'D. II. As the shipping of the country was so much exposed to seizure, congress laid an embargo CH. 1. This also deprived the nations, which had injured the 1807. American commerce, of the advantages of their trade. An em- But the measure was much disliked by many of the American people. bargo, 9. There were other causes of complaint against the English. In the exercise of what they termed the right of search for British native born subjects, their Pretend naval officers entered and searched American vessels ed right on the high seas; and repeatedly took, not only naturalized, but native American citizens. The Leopard, a British ship of war, attacked and overpowered an American frigate, the Chesapeake, but a few miles from the coast, and took from her four men. of search. 3 Outrage Chesa presi 10. The outrage upon the Chesapeake, which hapupon the pened before the embargo was laid, was resented by the peake. whole nation. But the English government sent out Mr. Rose, who made such explanations as satisfied the 1809. federal party.... In 1809, Mr. Madison was inaugurated Madison president, and Mr. George Clinton of New York was dent. re-elected vice-president. . . In the meantime the embargo met with the most violent opposition throughout Non-in- the country. The government repealed it and subs substi- tuted a law, prohibiting all intercourse with Fran tuted. or Great Britain; with a proviso, that should either revoke her edicts, this non-intercourse law should cease to be enforced, as it regarded that nation. tercourse arrange 11. In April, a treaty was concluded with Mr. ErsMr. Er- kine, the British minister; which engaged on the part skine's of Great Britain, that the orders in council, so far as ment dis they affected the United States. should be withdrawn. The British ministry refused their sanction, alledging winistry. that their minister, whom they recalled, had exceeded his powers. His successor, Mr. Jackson, insinuated owned by the 8. What course was taken by the Am. government?-9. What other cause of complaint was against England? What was done by a British armed ship? 10. What was the national feeling respecting this outrage? Who were made president and vice-president? In what year? What law was substituted for the embargo?-11. What arrangement was made by Mr Erskine ? What was done by the British ministry? What was Mr. Jackson's behaviour, and the consequence? at seas THE TWIN BROTHERS. ea xii P'D. IL 'n a correspondence with the secretary of state, that PT.IV the American government knew that Mr. Erskine was not authorized to make the arrangement. This accusation was denied by the secretary, but repeated by Mr. Jackson. The president then declined further inter course. CH. I. 12. In 1810, France repealed her decrees, and the 1810. president issued a proclamation on the 2d of Novem- French ber, declaring, that all the restrictions imposed by the decrees non-intercourse law, should cease, in relation to France and her dependencies. 13. The population of the United States, by the third census, taken in 1810, was 7,239,903.... An encounter took place off Cape Charles, between the American frigate President, commanded by Com. Rogers, and the British sloop of war, Little Belt, commanded by Capt. Bingham. The attack was commenced by the Little Belt, but she was soon disabled. a token that war was at hand. This was repealed. 1811. May 16, Attack on the Presi dent. Br. loss, 32. Tecum tawa. 14. The appearance of a hostile confederacy, had been discovered among the Indians on the western Indians frontier. At its head, was the great chief Tecumseh, hostile. and his twin brother, Elskwatawa. Tecumseh, who was the master-spirit, took upon himself the depart- and ments of war and eloquence, while Elskwatawa was Elskwa to invest himself with the sacred and mysterious character of "Prophet." Pretending to be favored with direct communications from the Great Spirit, he by tricks and austerities, gained belief. He then began The Ina species of drill, the object of which seems to dians led have been to discipline the Indians to obedience and by their union. He ordered them to kill their dogs, and these tion. faithful friends were instantly sacrificed. They must not, he said, permit their fires to go out; and at once the fire of every wigwam was watched as by vestals. 15. While the Prophet thus manifested, that priestcraft, in its worst form, may inhabit the desert as well 12. What was done by France? What by the president? 13. What was the population? Of what year? What encounter took place- -14. What two remarkable characters appeared among the Indians? Give an account of Tecumisel? Of Elks watawa? supersti 3 278 THE SECRET MISSION. • of love. PT.IV. as the city, Tecumseh was going from one Indian conPD. II. federacy to another, and, by his eloquence, inflaming CH. 1. their minds against the whites. He did not, like Tecum- Philip, believe it possible to exterminate the entire seh's white population, but he thought the combined Indian power, might suffice to set them their bounds. views. 16. Gov. Harrison, of the Indiana territory, was directed to march against them with a military force. On the 7th of November, he met a number of the Prophet's messengers at Tippecanoe, and a suspension of hostilities was agreed upon until the next day. Harcanoe. rison formed his men in order of battle; and they thus w. 180. reposed upon their arms. Just before day, the faithInd. 270. less savages rushed upon them. But the war-whoop Harrison at Tippe Am. k.& Am. losses. was not unexpected. The Americans stood, repelled the shock, and repulsed the assailants. Tecumseh was at a distance, not having expected, that the whites would strike the first blow. 17. The French decrees being annulled, commerce had begun with France, and nine hundred American vessels, richly laden, had been captured by the British since the year 1803. The president recommended to congress, that the United States should be placed in Prepara- an attitude of defense. Provision was accordingly tions for made to increase the regular army to 35,000 men, and to enlarge the navy. The president was authorized to borrow eleven millions of dollars, and the duties on mported goods were doubled. war. Henry's 18. Mr. Madison laid before congress documents, 1812. which proved that in 1809, the British government, by its agent, Sir James Craig, governor of Canada, had disclo sent John Henry, as an emissary to the United States; to intrigue with the leading members of the federal 1809. party, and lead them, if possible, to form the eastern ii. part of the union into a nation, or province, dependent on Great Britain. Henry proceeded through Vermont sure. Secret - 15. What was made manifest by the Indian prophet? What was Tecumseh doing? What were his views? - 16. Who was sent against the Indians? Describe the battle of Tippecanoe ? 17. How many of the American vessels had the British taken ? Since what year? What measures were taken to prepare for war?-18. What disclosure was made by the President? and New Hampshire to Boston; but he returned with- PT. IV. out effecting, in any degree his purpose. P'D. II. CH. II. 1812 CHAPTER II. War of 1812.-Condition of the country.-Hull's surrender. June 18 War de 1. On the 18th of June, 1812, war with Great Britain was formally declared. In 1775, the Americans were comparatively a warlike people; they had now become clared. enervated by a peace of nearly forty years. In 1808, the regular army consisted of only 3,000 men; but during that year, the government increased it to nine Military thousand. The act to raise an additional force was het. passed so short a time previous to the declaration of inadewar, that not more than one-fourth of the number were enlisted at that time; and those were, of course, raw and undisciplined. force of quate. State of 2. The state of the revenue in 1812, was extremely unfavorable to the prosecution of an expensive war. Derived almost solely from duties on merchandise imported, it was abundant in a state of commercial pros- the reperity; but in time of war and trouble, the aggressions of foreign powers, while they produced an increase of public expenditure, almost destroyed the means of defraying it. venwo The na na better condition than the army. 3. The condition of the navy was better than that of the army. The situation of the United States, as a maritime and commercial nation, had kept it provided with seamen. The recent contest with Tripoli, had given to the officers and men, some experience in war. But the navy was small. Ten frigates, ten sloops, and Dearone hundred and sixty-five gun boats, was all the born. public naval force, which America could oppose to the thousand ships of Great Britain.... Henry Dearborn, a CHAPTER II.-1. At what time was war declared? What was the condition of the army? - 2. What was that of the revenue? -3. What that of the navy? Who was inade commander? General com mander in-chief 3 |