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that the virtue and happiness of the people may be preserved; and that the Government which they have instituted for the protection of their liberties may be perpetuated." Both Houses of Congress on this occasion voted complimentary Addresses. That of the House of Representatives stated amongst other clauses:-"We entertain a grateful conviction that your wise, firm, and patriotic administration has been signally conducive to the success of the present form of government. The Address of the Senate was voted unanimously; but that of the House was opposed by twelve of its Members; among whom were Edward Livingston, and Andrew Jackson, both prominent leaders of the Republican or Jefferson party.

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An astonishing instance of the frenzy of party may be found in the following paragraph from the Aurora, published in Philadelphia, and which appeared a few days after the Addresses voted by Congress:-"If ever a nation was debauched by a man, the American nation has been debauched by Washington. If ever a nation has been deceived by a man, the American nation has been deceived by Washington. Let his conduct then be an example to future ages. Let it serve as a warning that no man may be an idol. Let the history of the Federal government instruct mankind that the mask of patriotism may be worn to conceal the foulest designs against the liberties of the people." This senseless ebullition against a man who in his own time was regarded as a model of uprightness in public and private life, is only worth citing as a proof that party spirit defies alike the bounds of reason, truth and decency. To the honor of his country let it be said, that such sentiments as the above

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were simply the effusions of some distempered Politicians. The mass of his countrymen entertained for Washington the respect and veneration his conduct and services were calculated to inspire.

On March 3rd, 1797, the Administration of the first President ended.

During this period all disputes with Foreign Nations except France were terminated; Credit was restored; the payment of the Public Debt provided for; Commerce, Manufactures, and Agriculture prospered; the Exports and Imports nearly trebled; and the Public Revenues augmented beyond all expectation. Far more assuring than this, however, was the stability which Washington's Administration had given to the young Constitution. My predominant motive has been," said Washington in his Farewell Address, "to endeavor to gain time to our country to settle and mature its yet recent institutions."

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In commenting on the career of Washington, Guizot thus writes: "The trials of public life were painful to him; he preferred the independence and repose of a private position to the exercise of power. But he accepted without hesitation the task his country imposed on him, and in fulfilling it he made neither with the nation nor himself any compromises that might have lightened the burden. Born for government, although it afforded him little satisfaction, he spoke to the American people what he believed true, and maintained. what he believed wise, with a firmness as inflexible as it was simple, and often at a sacrifice of popularity, the more meritorious as it was not compensated by the mere love of domination. The servant of an infant Republic when the Democratic spirit was in the ascendant, he

obtained its confidence, and assured its triumph by defending its interests against its passions, and by persisting in a policy at once modest and severe, reserved and independent-a rare success, alike honorable to Washington and his country." "Of all great men," says this eloquent writer, "Washington was the most virtuous and the most fortunate. God has in this

world no higher favors to bestow."

Washington was beyond question the foremost of the remarkable men that figured in the American Revolution. Quorum pars magna fuit.

PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS.

WHEN Washington positively declined a re-election, the two rival parties selected their candidates for the Presidency. The Federalists united on John Adams, one of the ablest Statesmen of the Revolution, and the Republicans upon their leader, Thomas Jefferson, who had retired from the Cabinet of Washington, December, 1793, condemning his policy of neutrality.

In the Presidential election of 1796, the Republican Politicians made strong appeals to the popular prejudices against Great Britain. The French Minister, Adet, took an active part in the canvass. He published in the Aurora, the organ of the Republican party, a letter ostensibly written to the Secretary of State, denouncing the “bad faith and ingratitude" of Washington's Administration to France. Adet also published in the Aurora an order to all Frenchmen in the United States to wear during the election the tri-colored cockade, which was generally assumed as a badge by the Republican party. All these intrigues, however, failed, for John Adams, the champion of the neutrality doctrine, was elected, and the peace policy of Washington was sustained by the country.

The Administration of the second President began on March 4th, 1797. He retained the Cabinet of Washington-Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State; Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury; and James McHenry, Secretary of War.

The relations of the country with France were at that time very critical. The French Government incensed at the United States for persisting in their neutral policy resorted to the most hostile measures against her commerce. They ordered all American vessels carrying any productions of Great Britain to be captured. This was in violation of neutral rights, as well as of the Treaty between France and the United States. Under these circumstances President Adams called an extra Session of Congress, May, 1797. There was a majority in both Houses in favor of the Administration. Active preparations were made for the probable contingency of war.

The President dreading this alternative sent three Commissioners to France to negotiate a pacific adjustment of all difficulties. Talleyrand, the Minister of the French Government, demanded large sums of money as the price of peace. The American Government refused these terms, and broke off negotiations. The Congress of 1798 passed an Act suspending all commercial intercourse with France. It created at the same time the Navy Department, and B. Stoddart of Maryland was nominated as Secretary.

As the chances of war were imminent, Washington was solicited to take the command of the armies of the United States. He consented with great reluctance. "With sorrow I should quit," he wrote, "the shades of my peaceful abode to encounter anew the turmoils of war, to which, possibly, my strength and powers might be found incompetent." He was nominated to the chief command, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, even before his answer was received.

Fortunately in November, 1799, the French Government fell into the hands of General Boraparte, and he

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