Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

riors of the revolution; the regular armed force has been reduced, and the constitution revised and perfected; the accountability for the expenditure of public moneys has been made more effective; the Floridas have been peaceably acquired, and our boundary has been extended to the Pacific Ocean; the independence of the southern nations of this hemisphere has been recognised, and recommended, by example and by council, to the potentates of Europe; progress has been made in the defence of the country, by fortifications and the increase of the navy-towards the effectual suppression of the African traffic in slaves-în alluring the aboriginal hunters of our land to the cultivation of the soil and of the mind-in exploring the interior regions of the Union, and in preparing, by scientific researches and surveys, for the further application of our national resources to the internal improvement of our country. In this brief outline of the promise and performance of my predecessor, the line of duty, for his successor, is clearly delineated. To pursue to their consummation those purposes of improvement in our common condition, instituted or recommended by him, will embrace the whole sphere of my obligations."

[ocr errors]

The visit of General la Fayette to the United States, which had commenced on the 13th of August of the preceding year, lasted through the summer of 1825. He had arrived at New York, visited New England, and the southern and western states, and wintered in Washington during the session of congress. On the 15th of June he arrived in Boston, and attended on the 17th of the same month, the 50th anniversary of the battle of Bunker, or rather Breed's Hill, and assisted at the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the monument since erected in commemoration of this victory. In presence of the assembled concourse, comprising many thousands of the people of New England, numerous visiters from other parts of the Union, and a considerable number of the surviving heroes of the battle, an address was delivered by Mr. Webster, which was worthy of the occasion and of the distinguished orator. In September, La Fayette took his departure for France, in a national frigate which was sent out expressly to convey him to the land of his birth.

During the year 1825, treaties were concluded between the United States and the Creeks, Kansas and Osages, by which

How long did La Fayette's visit to | When and how did he return to this country last?

What was done June 17th, 1825 ?

France ?

What treaties were made in 1825?

[blocks in formation]

large tracts of the Indian lands were added to the already extensive public domain.

In 1826, a treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation, between Denmark and the United States was concluded; and a similar treaty was also ratified between our government and the federation of the Centre of America.

On the 4th of July, 1826, John Adams died at Quincy, Massachusetts, in the 91st year of his age; and on the same day, Thomas Jefferson expired at Monticello, in Virginia, in his 83d year. It was noticed as a remarkable coincidence that these distinguished statesmen and patriots, who had both taken so active a part in establishing the independence of the country, and had each sustained its highest office, should depart this life on the day which completed the first half century since they had signed the charter of its freedom. Without the aid of panegyric, of painting, or of sculpture,' says an American historian,* their names will be preserved in the Declaration of Independence, and interwoven with the history of the United States; their actions will present their true portraits to posterity; and the respect of the republic to their memory will be their noblest monument.'

[ocr errors]

The Tariff of duties for the protection of American manufactures, which had been the subject of debate under the administration of Mr. Monroe, was again brought before congress during the last part of Mr. Adams's administration, and in 1828 the new tariff was passed which rendered the system of protection the settled policy of the country. This act was considered by many statesmen, particularly in the southern part of the Union, not only highly oppressive to the great mass of the community, and injurious to commerce, but in direct violation of the constitution itself.

Mr. Adams's period of office being about to expire, an election was held in the autumn of 1828, which gave the first office in the republic to General Andrew Jackson. Mr. Calhoun was a second time chosen vice-president.

In 1826 ?

What was said respecting John Adams
and Thomas Jefferson?
When was the new tariff passed?

What is said concerning it?

When was General Jackson first chosen president?

* Dr. Holmes.

400

TREATY WITH ENGLAND.

CHAPTER XLII.

ADMINISTRATION OF ANDREW JACKSON.

It is a difficult task to write the history of an administration which is not yet closed. The impartial awards of time are necessary in order to pronounce with certainty on the characters of leading men or the tendency of important measures. Leaving this office to the future historian, we propose merely to glance in a cursory manner at the principal events which have distinguished the period of the present administration.

As the political party, who elected President Jackson, had been directly opposed to the supporters of Mr. Adams, the cabinet was changed and a large number of executive officers were removed, and new ones appointed, immediately after the inauguration of the new president. This measure excited considerable clamour, but it was defended by an appeal to the precedent afforded by Mr. Jefferson, who had pursued the same course, though to a much smaller extent. As no re markable difference was apparent in the general policy of the government, the people regarded the change in their executive officers with little solicitude.

In 1830, a new treaty of commerce was concluded with Great Britain by which the ports of that power in the West Indies, South America, the Bahama Islands, the Caicos and the Bermudas were opened to the vessels of the United States, and our ports were thrown open to British vessels coming from those places. The conditions of this treaty and the manner in which it has been permitted to take effect are said to have given the carrying trade between this country and the West Indies chiefly to British vessels.

In May, 1830, a treaty between the United States and Turkey was signed at Constantinople, securing to this country the free navigation of the Black Sea and the trade of the Turkish empire.

During the session of congress which commenced in the autumn of 1831, a bill was brought forward for granting a new charter to the Bank of the United States, the old charter being about to expire in 1836. After a long and animated

What changes took place on the ac

cession of the new president? What treaty was concluded in 1830?

What other treaty was made in 1830 ?

When was the bank charter vetoed?

[blocks in formation]

debate it was passed by a small majority. On receiving the bill for his approbation the president thought proper to return it to congress with a communication in which his reasons were assigned for not affixing his signature to the bill. As the constitutional majority for passing the bill into a law without the signature of the president could not be obtained, the bank ceased to be a national institution at the expiration of its first charter.

In the spring of the year 1832, the Winnebagoes and some other neighbouring tribes of Indians commenced a series of hostilities against the inhabitants on the north-western frontier. A body of regular troops under the command of General Scott being sent against the Indians, defeated them, and on the 27th of August captured the famous chief Black Hawk. This terminated the war. Black Hawk and a number of his Indian friends were taken to Washington, and several other cities of the Union, in order to impress upon them such an idea of the strength and resources of the country as to prevent the Indians from engaging in fresh hostilities. The Indians were then

permitted to return to their own territories.

Congress was occupied during a great part of the session, which terminated in the summer of 1832, in discussing a new tariff bill, which was finally passed. Although it effected many changes in the protective duties, it was considered highly favourable to the American manufacturer, and gave general satisfaction to the supporters of that policy, which had become so popular in many parts of the Union, as to be called the American system. In several of the southern states, it excited the most determined opposition. The state of South Carolina, in convention, proceeded so far as to pass an ordinance, openly resisting the law, and the people actually began to arm themselves for the purpose of carrying the ordinance into effect.

Such was the attitude of affairs when congress assembled in the autumn of 1832, and all parties were anxiously awaiting the result of the threatened collision between the officers of the general government and the people of the opposing state.

In December the president issued a proclamation, in which, after discussing the question of state rights, and asserting the right and power of the general government to regulate com

Give an account of Black Hawk and

his war.

When was a new tariff passed?
What was its character?

Who were dissatisfied with it?

What course was adopted by South
Carolina?

What is said of the president's pro-
clamation?

402

OPPOSITION TO THE TARIFF.

merce and imposts, he exhorted the people of South Carolina to desist from their opposition, and called upon the citizens of the United States to support him in the execution of the laws.

The immediate effect of this proclamation was to unite all the friends of the Union in support of the president. Many of his warmest political opponents declared their determination to give him their aid in preserving the integrity of the Union, and asserting the supremacy of the laws. The government and people of South Carolina, however, were by no means intimidated by this array of power. They still presented a bold front; and Mr. Calhoun, one of their leading statesmen, having resigned the office of vice-president, and been elected to the United States senate, took his seat among the members of that body, to defend the position assumed by his native state.

In this crisis, congress deemed it prudent to blend conciliation with menace, and to alleviate the grievances of which the nullifiers complained. With this view, towards the close of December, 1832, a bill was introduced into the house of representatives, substituting for the obnoxious tariff a new and lower rate of duties, from and after the 3d of March, 1833. This bill gave satisfaction to neither party; and while it was under discussion, another bill was introduced into the senate for enforcing the collection of the duties, which effectually armed the executive for the support of the revenue laws. This bill was ultimately passed.

When a considerable portion of the session had gone by without any satisfactory adjustment of this alarming dispute, Mr. Clay, the same statesman who had effected the reconciliation of northern and southern interests in the Missouri affair, brought forward, in the senate, by way of compromise, a new tariff bill, which met with the support of Mr. Calhoun, and of the other senators from the southern section of the Union. It provided for a gradual reduction of the duties; thus enabling the manufacturers to prepare for the change, and assuring their opponents of ultimate redress. This being a money bill could not originate in the senate; but having been favourably received there as a pledge of peace, was introduced, by way of amendment, into the tariff bill in the other house, and being there agreed to, it was sent back to the senate, and finally

What was its effect?

What was done by congress towards conciliating the nullifiers ?

What was done towards enforcing
the obnoxious laws?
What was proposed by Henry Clay?
What was the character of his bill?

« ZurückWeiter »