Historical sketches of the United States, from the peace of 1815 to 1830

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Preface

The favorable manner in which a work, entitled " A History of the late War," has been received, has induced the writer to continue a history from the peace of 1815 to the end of the first session of the twenty-first congress, May 31st, 1830.

Its objects are to give a correct and connected account,

1st. Of the military and naval transactions, embracing the Algerine war ; the measures taken to suppress piracy ; and the Seminole war :

2d. Of the proceedings of congress and the executive relating to important subjects of general policy :

3d. Of judicial decisions on constitutional questions :

4th. Of diplomatic discussions :

iV PKEFACE.

5th. Of the affairs of Europe, and the republics of Southern America, so far as they affect their relations with this country.

In the course of the fifteen years embraced in this history, many important constitutional questions have arisen, been fully discussed, and the opinions of the severaldepartments of government expressed on them. Though most of the subjects are familiar to the community, it is thought that a concise and connected view of the leading principles "on which the government has proceeded, during this period, might be useful.

Few occasions have occurred to call into exercise American valor. Such as have, are highly honorable to the country. One object of this work is to preserve a record of them, and bring them to the recollection of the citizens. They are now to be found only in the fugitive publications of the day.

The diplomatic discussions have been highly important and honorable to the nation. Their principal object, on the part of the United States, has been, to obtain redress for injuries; on the part of other nations, to avoid or procrastinate the claims. Another object has been to place commercial intercourse on a footing of a fair and liberal reciprocity ; and a third, to abolish the slave trade, and the practice of priva-

PREFACE. V

teering; the government uniformly adopting the Washington policy of avoiding all political connections. A view of these discussions, which is attempted in this work, is interesting, as it affords a knowledge of the feelings and policy of other nations towards this.

The work is not intended as an electioneering object. At the same time, it is not the wish, nor within the power of the writer, to conceal his views of the prominent measures of the several administrations within the period, or to prevent the operation which a candid view of past transactions may have on public opinion. In expressing them, however, he trusts it has always been done with a sacred regard to private character.

d by Gods f& tM

Chapter I

Peace establishment. Reduction of the army. Division into military districts. War with Algiers. Its causes. Capture of an Algerine frigate and brig 1 . Negotiation and treaty with the dcy. British expedition against Algiers. Its result. Negotiations between Great Britain and the United States. Convention of 1816. . . ^ Page 13

CHAPTER n.

First meeting of the 14th congress. Message. Repeal of internal duties. Sectional divisions on the tariff. Claims resulting from the war. Compensation law. State of the currency. Origin of banks* Defects in the American system. Bank of the United States. Provisions of its charter. Presidential election of 1817. Congressional caucus. Origin and effects of caucuses. Page 35

' CHAPTER III.

Pecuniary embarrassments, subsequent to the war. Emigration.

State of parties after the peace. Claims of American citizens, on . foreign governments. On France. Spain. Naples. Holland.

Their amount. Principles by which they are supported. Page 57

CHAPTER IV.

Second session of the 14th congress. Message. Compensation law repealed. Internal improvements. Their importance. Mr. Gallatin's report on the subject. Bill for, passed both houses. Negatived by the president, on constitutional objections. Mississippi admitted. Electoral votes counted. Mr. Monroe's inaugural address. Principles of his administration developed, in a correspondence with GeneralJackson. His tour. . . . Page 72

VU1 CONTENTS.

•

CHAPTER V.

Piratical establishment of Aury at Galveston and Amelia Island destroyed. Seminole war. Instructions to General Gaines, and to General Jackson. Indian villages destroyed. Arbuthnotand Ambrister taken. Their trial and execution. Florida* taken. Correspondence between General Jackson and the governor of Georgia. Remonstrances of Spanish government, and proceedings of congress relating to the Seminole war. . . . Page 91

CHAPTER VI.

State of Europe. Progress of American principles. State "of France. Disposition of the Bonaparte family. Congress at Vienna. Holy alliance. Several meetings. Their professions, views, and proceedings. Revolutions in Piedmont, Naples, and Spain, suppressed by their orders. Their views in relation to Spanish America. Page 117

CHAPTER VII.

First meeting of the 15th congress. Message. Revolutionary pension law passed. Beaumarchais claim. Bank of the United States mismanaged. Its embarrassments. Directors changed. Credit restored. Judicial decisions. Hunter's case. On state

- bankrupt and insolvent laws. Cohens vs. Virginia. Steamboat case. Page 135

CHAPTER VHL

Negotiations with Spain. Cession of the Floridas. Delays of the Spanish government in ratifying the treaty. Communications to congress on the subject. Florida treaty ratified. Extension of the northwestern frontier posts. Mandan villages. Yellow-stone river. Application of a German adventurer to be employed in the office of secretary of state. Mr. Adams' reply. Second meeting of the 15th congress. Matthew Lyon's case. Report of the secretary of war, on roads and canals. . Page 159

CHAPTER EK.

First session of the 16th congress. Admission of Maine and Missouri. Missouri question. Origin of slavery, and its introduction into the American system. Excitement on s the subject. Tariff discussion. Separation of the committee of commerce i

CONTENTS. IX

and manufactures. Report of committee on manufacture*, Navigation act. Fourth census. . Page 176

CHAPTER X.

Republics of southern America. Importance. Extent. Situation as to religion, morals, education, and commerce. Progress of their revolution. Views of the government and people of the

. United States regarding them. European policy respecting them. Expulsion of the Spanish troops. Difficulties attending their 1 internal affairs. President's message relating to them. Recognition of their independence. Panama mission. . Page 195

CHAPTER XX

Death of Commodore Perry. Duel between Decatur and Barron. Second session of the 16th congress. Proposition to reduce the civil list negatived. Reduction of the army. Situation of public lands. Relief of land debtors. Electoral votes counted, and result declared. Inaugural address. . . . Page 215

CHAPTER XIL

Forty-fifth anniversary. Mr. Adams' address. Death of Napoleon. Diplomatic discussions with France. Possession of Floridas under the treaty. General Jackson appointed governor. His proceedings. Principles of the United States, In relation to colonies, compared with European Page 226

CHAPTER XHI.

First meeting of the 1 7th congress. Bankrupt bill discussed. Apportionment of representatives. Death of General Pinckney. Cumberland road bill. Discussion with Russia relating to the northwest coast. Deported slaves. Russian ukase against freemasons. Decoudray's expedition. Second session of the 17th congress. Page 233

CHAPTER XIV.

Debts due for the sale of lands. Western banks. Charges against the secretary of the treasury. Report of a committee thereon. Piracies in the West Indies; their principal haunts. Armament for their suppression under Commodore Porter. Key West ; its situation. Foxardo affair. Charges against Commodore Porter;

X CONTENTS.

Mb trial, defense, and sentence of the court. Appointed to the command of the Mexican navy ; his proceedings. Page 249

CHAPTER XV.

Greece. Commencement and progress of the revolution. Contributions for its relief. Views of European governments, and of the United States respecting them. Present state of that people. First session of the 18th congress. Tariff. Report of the committee of manufactures. Final passage of the bill Proceedings in Great Britain to defeat its effects. Massachusetts claim. Bill to abolish imprisonment for debt .... Page 260

CHAPTER XVI.

Presidential election of 1825. Candidates. Their respective claims. Propositions to amend the constitution on the subject. Organization of parties. Their exertions. State of the electoral votes. Vote in the house of representatives. Charges against Messrs. Clay and Adams. Mr. Adams elected. Inaugural address. Formation of the cabinet Second meeting of the 18th congress. Review of Mr. Monroe's administration. . . Page 273

CHAPTER XVII.

Lafayette's arrival, and reception in the United States. His tour. Reception in congress. Grant* to him. Jealousies of the French government regarding his visit. Number and character of the free colored population. Conspiracy of the blacks at Charleston. American colonization society. Its objects, proceedings, and success. Emigration of free blacks to flayti. . Page 291

CHAPTER XVHL

Indians. Number. Title to lands. General character and customs. Efforts to civilize them. Process of obtaining their lands. Principles of the government regarding them. Georgia and the Creeks. Treaty of the Indian Springs. Compact of 1802. Cherokees. Their progress in civilization. State jurisdiction extended over them. Principles and proceedings of the administration of 1829, regarding the Indians. . . . Page 310

CHAPTER XIX.

State of parties consequent on Mr. Adams' election. First session of the 19th, congress. Propositions to amend the constitution.

CONTENTS. XI

Report on discriminating tonnage duties. Of engineers on internal improvements. Panama mission. Mr. Benton's report . on executive patronage. Debate respecting compensation for slaves killed at New Orleans. .... Page 362

CHAPTER XX.

Fourth of July, 1826. Death of Adams and Jefferson ; how noticed. Important principles settled during their political course. Freedom of the press ; of political and religious discussion and opinion. Amelioration of criminal law. Penitentiary system. Improvement in laws respecting the collection of debts, and the transmission of lands. Internal improvements. Project of a canal across the isthmus of Panama. Tea cases. Morgan's abduction. Page 343

CHAPTER XXI.

Second session of the 19th congress. Reports of committees of commerce on the British colonial trade. Value of that trade to the United States estimated. French spoliations before September, 1800. Woolens bill lost. Harrisburgh convention to promote manufactures. Columbia anti-tariff convention. Dr. Cooper's address. Mr. Calhoun's appeal to the house on the subject of a newspaper charge. A challenge resulting from it. Baker's case. North-eastern boundary. . . Page 367

CHAPTER XXn.

First session of the 20th congress. Treasury report Revision of the tariff. Committee of manufactures. Call for testimony allowed. Tariff bill passed. Mr. Chilton's retrenchment resolutions. Report of Committee thereon. Dissent of minority. Free navigation of the St. Lawrence discussed. Death of General Brown, and appointment of successor. Excitement in the south respecting tariff. Views of the British government respecting it. Fortification of the Canadas. . . Page 383.

CHAPTER XXIH.

Presidential election of 1829. Candidates. Preparatory measures. Nomination of General Jackson. Result of the electoral votes. Mr. Adams' last message. Reports of the secretaries. State of the nation at the close of the administration of 1825. Effects of contests for the presidency. . Page 398

XII CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Commencement of the administration of 192$. Tenure* of office. Meeting of the senate. New principles in relation to appointments and removals. Meeting- of the Virginia convention to revise their constitution. Its proceedings, and result First meeting of the 2 1st congress. Subjects recommended in the message. Debates on Mr. Foot's resolutions respecting public lands. Debates on the Indian bill. Report of committee on U. S. bank. Proceedings of ths senate relating to appointments and removals. Veto on the Maysville road bill. New organization of parties Page 408

Conclusion

American system of education compared with European. Com- - mon schools. Academies. Colleges. Their number, and annual meeting of graduates. Motives to exertion. Display of American talent. Annual executive messages and documents. Diplomacy. • Page 435

HISTORICAL SKETCHES, Sec

CHAPTER I.

Peace Establishment— Objects for which a military force is maintained in time of peace— Meeting of a board of general officers at Washington, for reducing the army— Their instructions and report— A proposed of disbanded officers at Harrisburgh— Its objects— Division of the Unite _ States into military districts— War with Algiers— Its causes— Treatment of the American Consul by the Dey— Capture of several vessels ; and slavery of their crews — Sailing of Decatur's squadron— Capture of an Algeriae frigate and brig— Decatur 'appears before Algiers— Negotiation and treaty with the Dey— Decatur's visit to Tunis and Tripoli — Obtains satisfaction from those regencies for injuries to American commerce during the war with England — Arrival ot Commodore fiainbridge with the second division of the fleet— Return of the expedition — Its beneficial results— Loss of the Epervier— British war with Algiers— Lord Exmouth's expedition'— Success, and treaty— American negotiations with Great Britain — British commissioners refuse to treat on the subject of neutral rights- Dispute relating to the fisheries— British claims on the subject of the colonial trade— Propositions of the American commissioners rejected — The subject postponed— Convention of 1815 — Effects of this negotiation on American policy.

Peace establishment. The transition of any country from war to a state of peace, is attended with many embarrassing circumstances. Those of the peace of 1815 in the United States were of apeculiar character. In European monarchies, military officers are appendages of the crown. Having once obtained a commission, the holder is an incumbent for life. If in arranging a peace establishment, his active service is not required, he retires on half pay, bound to repair to the stand* ard of his sovereign at any future call. The armies and navies kept up in time of peace are so numerous, that their reduction to what is denominated a peace establishment at the close of a war, is attended with no serious difficulties. Not so in the United States. The genius of their government is essentially pacific. No useless corps of pensioned officers is to be retained. At the close of the war, they, with their soldiers, are to be discharged, and must resume the character of citizens, except only such numbers as a prudent re- 2

Digitized by VjC

14 HISTORICAL 8KBTCHI8 CH. I.

gard to the preservation of peace renders it expedient to retain.

The only objects for which an American army can be kept up in time of peace are, to garrison the fortresses on the sea-board with such numbers as should be necessary to preserve them from dilapidation ; to establish posts on the frontiers sufficient to protect them from Indian incursions; to preserve some knowledge of the military art ; and to form a nucleus around which an army may be collected in the event of a war. For these purposes a comparatively small number is necessary. The congress which were in session at the time when the treaty of peace was ratified, fixed the military establishment at ten thousand. The number of field officers then in service amounted to two hundred and sixteen ; and of regimental to two thousand and fifty-five ; of the former thirty-nine, and of the latter four hundred and fifty were to be retained. In making this selection the executive had a delicate and difficult task to perform . The late war had called into active service a fine corps of officers, many of whom had distinguished themselves on various interesting occasions. The exchange of a military for a civil life is seldom desired by an officer ; with few exceptions, all were anxious to be retained, and the claims among a great proportion were so nearly balanced, that a designation of the requisite number must necessarily disappoint the expectations, and wound the feelings of many.

Board of General Officers. Generals Brown, Jackson, Gaines, Scott, Macomb, and Ripley, the first two with the rank of major general, and the last four as brigadiers, were retained in service, and ordered to repair to Washington to assist in organizing the establishment.

They were instructed to recommend such only as were competent to engage an enemy in the field. Distinguished military and. approved moral character was to form the basis of their selections. Where the claims of the candidates were in these respects equal, length of service, a capacity for civil pursuits, and their pecuniary circumstances might be taken into account. Where neither direct nor collateral circumstances furnished a distinction, their decision might be governed by lot. Under these instructions the board of general officers proceeded to make the selection, and early in May, reported a list of the requisite number of officers to be retained, which was approved by the president, and occasioned much less dissatisfaction than was apprehended. In publishing the orders for disbanding the army, Mr. Dallas, the acting secretary at war, remarks, "that the president desires it to be distinctly understood that, from the designation of the officers who are retained, nothing more is to be inferred than his approbation of the designated individuals, without derogating, in any degree, from the fame or worth 'of those whose lot it is to retire. The American army of the war of 1812, has hitherto successfully emulated the patriotism and valor of the army of .1776. The closing scene of the example remains to be performed ; having established the independence of their country, the revolutionary warriors cheerfully returned to the walks of civil life, many of them became the benefactors and ornaments of society, in the prosecution of various arts and professions ; and all of them, as well as the veteran few who survive the lapse of time, have been the objects of grateful recollection, and constant regard, it is for the American army, now dissolved, to pursue the same honorable course, in order to enjoy the same inestimable reward. The hope may be respectfully indulged, that the beneficence of the legislative authority will beam upon suffering merit. An admiring nation will unite the civil with the martial honors, which adorn its heroes, and posterity in its theme of gratitude will indiscriminately praise the protectors and the founders of American Independence."

In pursuance of this advice, most of the disbanded officers returned to their civil occupations without complaint. A number, however, who had resorted to Washington for the purpose of procuring themselves to be retained in service, attempted to coll a general convention of their brethren at Harrisburgh in Pennsylvania, for the purpose of soliciting a further reward for their services from the government. {Soon after the determination of the executive was known in relation to the persons to be retained, a publication appeared in the National Intelligencer, calling upon the disbanded officers to hold meetings in their respective districts on the 1st of September, for the purpose of appointing delegates to the proposed convention ; the objects of which were stated to be,

To apply to the general government for such pecuniary emolument as would place the discharged officers of the late army on a footing with those of the revolutionary war :

To obtain pensions for the individuals of any grade and rank, who, by their services and sufferings had merited them :

To obtain from the next congress a grant of the land ^hich had been proposed to be given thein by the last:

And to endeavor to obtain an act of the government to secure to them a preference in any military corps hereafter to be raised.

These propositions were immediately answered by a publication from a disbanded officer through the same channel, in which the proposed convention is severely reprobated. The writer indignantly spurns at the idea of soliciting pensions from the government, except for those who have sustained wounds which disable them from labor.

Those who have distinguished themselves in the late war, the writer observes, have the best guaranty for commissions in any future army, and it is highly unbecoming their spirit and dignity to solicit pensions or employment from the government. This timely and well written reply put an end to those complaints, and nothing further was heard of the proposed convention.

Military Districts. By an order from the war department, of the 17th of May, 1815, the United States, for military purposes, were divided into two districts : the northern, comprehending all the country north of Virginia, and including the state of Ohio, and the territories of Indiana and Michigan ; and the southern, comprehending all the residue. The northern was assigned to General Brown, with Brigadiers Scott and Macomb ; and the southern, to Gen. Jackson, with Brigadiers Gaines and Ripley.

Algiers. The situation in which the United States were placed in relation to Algiers, forbade any reduction of their naval establishment. The war in defence of maritime rights had scarcely closed, before it became necessary to commence another for the protection of American commerce and seamen against Algerine piracies. The northern coast of Africa, bordering on the Mediterranean, formerly the seat of commerce and the arts, has for several centuries been occupied by a mixture of several barbarous nations, disavowing the common principles which regulate the intercourse of civilized society. Mahometans in their religion, they consider all Christians as enemies of the true raith, and deem it a meritorious act to plunder their property and enslave their persons, whenever they fall within their power. On these principles they carry on a piratical warfare against all Christian nations who do not purchase an exemption by tributary treaties. Divided into several regencies,, with a population not much exceeding half a million in the whole, a single European power might subdue them with less expense, and more honor, than to pay them the r&-> quired tribute \ but national interests and prejudices 'have hitherto prevented them from taking this honorable course, and induced them to seek the protection of their commerce by disgraceful stipends. Encouraged by this policy, the Baihary powers have enriched themselves, gradually acquired strength, and reduced their piracy to a system. , The regency of Algiers is the principal, and by far the most formidable of these powers. The dominions of the dey commence on the southern border of the Mediterranean, at about the meredian of Dondon, and extend easterly four hundred and sixty miles ; and in breadth from the sea to the desert, an average of seventy. This territory contains a mixed population of four hundred thousand, consisting of Turks, Arabs, Jews, and renegado Christians, one fifth of which is collected in the city of Algiers. This city is situated on the side of a hill, rising suddenly from the sljpre of a capacious bay, in the western section of the territory : it is surrounded by a wall thirty feet high, a mile and a half in circumference, and twelve feet thick ; its approaches are defended by five hundred cannon. The houses are generally built of brick or stone, contiguous to each other, with flat roofs, so that a person may pass on their tops nearly from one end of the city to the other. The dey's palace and some of the principal mosques are magnificent buildings ; the whole makes a beautiful and commanding appearance from the harbor ; this city is the only one of any consequence in the territory, and has a considerable commerce ; but the principal source of its revenue and wealth, Js the system of piratical warfare carried on against Christian nations.

Algerine piracy. Boon after the close of the revolutionary war, the commerce of the United States began to extend itself to the Mediterranean, and being entirely unprotected, became an object of cupidity to the Barbary powers. Without any previous notice, and without any pretext other- than that congress had not purchased their friendship by a tribute, the Algerine corsairs, between the years 1785 and 1793, captured and carried into Algiers fifteen American vessels. The ships and cargoes were made prizes, and their officers and crews, .amounting to one hundred and eighty, condemned to slavery in its worst forms. Under the confederation, congress had no means to protect commerce, or to ransom their unhappy citizens. Their situation attracted the early notice of the American government under the constitution: but without a navy, 2*

18 HI8T0BI0AL SKETCHES. CB< X+

and without an adequate revenue, it could do no more than adopt the European tributary system.

First treaty with Algiers. Negotiations were set on foot under the direction of Colonel Humphrey, the American minister at Madrid, which terminated in the year 1*205, in a treaty providing for the ransom of the captives, for 9@00,000, being about eight thousand dollars for each pereon, then remaining alive, and the payment of an annual tribute of twenty. three thousand dollars in maritime stores. Sufficient fluids were provided, but owing to the confused state of things in Europe, it became impossible to remit the* by the time stipulated in the treaty. This delay was made a pretext for further exactions. The dey refused to deliver up the captives, and his ultimate compliance was purchased by a further present of a frigate of the value of one hundred thousand dollars. The tribute continued to be paid, and peace with the dey preserved, until the n commencement of the war of 1812. At this period his maritime strength had considerably increased by his exactions from the United State's and several European powers. He was induced to believe that a war between Great Britain and America, would annihilate the naval power of the latter, and render its commerce a rich and unprotected prey to his corsairs. He had then just concluded a treaty with Portugal, by which • he had exchanged the privilege of pirating on the commerce of that nation for an annual tribute. About the same period his old enemies, the Sicilians, had purchased the protection of England, by which he was deterred from pirating on them. The principal source of his revenue arising from a share in the prizes of his corsairs, was t>y these circumstances greatly diminished, and he was induced to seek a war with the United States to replenish his coffers, and give employment to his marine.

Pretences of the dey fop the renewal of his piracies. With a power governed by principles like those of the dey of Algiers, little pretence or provocation was necessary. In the present instance his claims were ; that the cargo of the ship Allegany, which arrived at Algiers in July, 1812, with naval stores for the payment of the annual tribute, stipulated by the treaty of 1795, did not contain such an assortment of articles as he had right to expect : and that the year mentioned in that treaty, was the lunar year of the Mahometan calendar, embracing twelve revolutions of the moon, and a period of three hundred and fifty-four days only : this, in the course of the seventeen years that the tribute had been paid, made a difference of half a year. On this account the dey demanded an arrearage of twenty-seven thousand dollars. This was the first time that the distinction between the Christian and the Mahometan year had ever been claimed, and was now evidently brought forward as a pretext for exacting money, or declaring war. The dey gave orders to his minister of marine, that the cargo of the Allegany should not be received, that she should immediately quit the port, and that the American consul, Colonel Lear, should embark in her, as he would not suffer the representative of any government to reside in his dominions, who did not cause every article to be brought as he ordered. Every attempt to explain on the part of the consul was without effect, and he was given to understand, that unless the arrearage was immediately paid, he should be sent to the marine in chains, the Allegany and her cargo confiscated, every citizen of the United States in Algiers condemned to slavery, and war forthwith declared.

After various ineffectual attempts to mitigate these demands, Colonel Lear received this definitive answer from thedey'sdiagoman : that he should to-morrow morning pay into the treasury twenty-seven thousand Spanish dollars, and immediately depart with his family and alj the citizens of the United States, from the regency of Algiers. On failure of payment, that the penalties first threatened would assuredly be inflicted. This decision, delivered in a haughty and menacing tone, was viewed by the consul as conclusive ; and he, desirous of a averting the threatened calamities from himself and family, as well as from a number of his countrymen who were involved in the same dununciation, made every effort to raise the money. As he was without funds, and under the severe displeasure of the dey, he found it difficult to procure the requisite sum. After nearly twenty-four hours spent in the most anxious solicitude, he found a friend who would accept his draft on the American consul at Gibraltar and advance the money ; and by these means it was procured and paid into the treasury by the time limited in the dey's message. Having committed his concerns to the care of the Swedish consul, Col. Lear, with his family, and about twenty American citizens, embarked on board the Allegany for the United States ; and the dey immediately commenced a piratical warfare upon their commerce. On the 25th of August following, the brig Edwin, of Salem, on a voyage from Malta to Gibraltar, was

20 HISTOHICAX SKETCHES • CH. I.