1815 Treaty with Algiers. 217 made to fit out ships, new and old, and before many weeks Decatur sailed from New York with a fleet of ten vessels. Two days after passing Gibraltar, he fell in with and captured an Algerian frigate, after a running fight of twenty-five minutes. A day or two later, an Algerian brig was chased into shoal water and also captured (1815).' 25. "On the 28th of June, the squadron rode at anchor in the bay of Algiers. It may be supposed that its formidable appearance awakened both surprise and apprehension in the breast of the Dey. He saw its power, but he Treaty had not yet heard of its successes. Little did he with Algiers. imagine that his favorite admiral was killed and his best ship was a prize. The captain of the port and the Swedish consul came on board. To them Decatur delivered a letter from President Madison for the Dey, in which complaints were made of the faithless violations of the former treaty. The letter further expressed the hope of an amicable adjustment of difficulties without a continuance of the war. The captain of the port was also now first informed of the captures, the account of which was confirmed to his satisfaction by the prisoners on board. 26. The letter, the force which was on hand to sustain its doctrines, and the losses already experienced and keenly felt, soon induced in the Dey a more humble and conciliatory spirit and demeanor than he was accustomed to manifest toward the representatives of foreign powers. He sent an invitation to the commissioners whom President Madison had appointed to negotiate a treaty, to visit him at his palace, and there to make arrangements for a settlement. His policy was to enter into a protracted course of negotiations, in order to gain time, during which he might take advantage of some more favorable change in his affairs. Such delay Decatur wisely determined to avoid. The commissioners, after consultation, refused to go on shore, and declared that negotiations must be conducted on board Decatur's flagship. They also presented the draft of a treaty, to which they declared the Dey must assent. In fine, they would have his majesty understand that they were to dictate the terms of peace, and not he. This was high ground to take in treating with these (the Barbary) states; but it could be, and was maintained. 27. The captain of the port now desired that at least hostilities should cease while negotiations were going on. To this request Decatur promptly replied: Not a minute: if your squadron appears in sight before the treaty is signed by the Dey and sent off with the prisoners, ours will capture it.' After further discussion and some slight alterations in the terms, the agents of the Dey carried the treaty on shore to obtain his consent and signature. In the mean time a corsair hove in sight, coming in toward the harbor close under the shore. True to his word, Decatur made signal for the squadron to chase. This movement of the fleet hastened matters on shore, for soon the boat, with a white flag, was seen coming off. It had been agreed that this should be the signal that the treaty was really signed. When, then, the boat was discovered making all haste toward Decatur's ship, that commander felt obliged to order the chase to be relinquished. 28. This treaty secured for the Americans advantages, in some points, over all other nations, and in all respects placed them on a footing with the most favored. Its principal articles provided that no more tribute should be paid, and that no Americans should evermore be enslaved." Then, proceeding to Tunis and Tripoli, Decatur obtained from both powers" indemnity for American vessels captured under the guns of their forts by British cruisers during the late war." The 29. Two States were admitted to the Union during the administration of Madison. Soon after the "Louisiana Province" had become the property of the United States, 18th and 19th its southern portion was made the Territory of States. Orleans, and this portion, in 1812, was admitted as a State, with the name of Louisiana. The Northwest Ter 1817 The Seminole War and Florida. 219 ritory, after Ohio had been taken out, became the Territory of Indiana, and the southeastern part of this was admitted as the State of Indiana, in 1816. Monroe's Administration. 1. Madison, having served two terms and declining to be a candidate for a third, was succeeded by James Monroe, of Virginia, the nominee of the Republicans. "Shortly after The fifth his inauguration (March 4, 1817), Monroe, imitating the example of Washington, set out president. on a tour through the Eastern States. His declaration of principles in his inaugural ad JAMES MONROE. 2. Monroe's first trouble was with the Seminoles, of Florida, who, joined by other Indians, were committing serious depredations on the settlements of Georgia. Jackson, who had been sent to repress these outrages, finding The and Florida. that the Indians were encouraged by certain per- Seminole war sons in Florida, invaded that territory, although at the time it belonged to Spain, with which country our government was at peace. He took the forts at St. Marks and Pensacola, and put to death two British traders, who, he believed, had supplied the Indians with arms and New States. incited them to hostilities. This bold measure at once threatened to involve the country in a war with Spain; but the difficulties were finally settled by Spain agreeing to sell Florida to the United States for five millions of dollars. A treaty to that effect was signed by the Spanish minister at Washington in 1819. This was not, however, promptly ratified by the king of Spain, and, in consequence, Florida did not come into the possession of the United States before 1821. 3. During Monroe's administration the Union was enlarged by the admission of five new States. Georgia had claimed all the domain west of her present limits as far as the Mississippi river, but ceding it to the general government, it became the Mississippi Territory. The western portion of this was admitted into the Union as Mississippi (1817), and two years later the other part was admitted as Alabama (1819). The year before this last event, the Territory of Illinois, shorn of its northern portion, joined the Union family as the State of Illinois (1818). Maine was at that time what it had been all along from the colonial period, a District of Massachusetts, but the inhabitants of the district desired to have it set apart as a separate and independent State. They adopted a constitution and then made applica tion to Congress for admission into the Union. An obstacle, very much to their surprise, just then presented itself. This was slavery, but not slavery in Maine; it was slavery in Missouri. The Missourians, who had many slaves, also asked for admission to the Union, but they wanted to have their petition granted without any conditions being imposed against slavery. In Congress the two applications were joined in one bill; but, after a long contest, were separated, and Maine became the twenty-third State of the Union (1820). The Missouri 4. As the people of the North were opposed to any increase of the number and power of the slave States, their representatives in Congress endeavored to prevent Compromise. the admission of Missouri with its constitution permitting slavery. The discussion was long and violent; 1824 Lafayette's Visit to America. 221 but, at length, the measure known as the "Missouri Compromise" was adopted (1820). By this it was provided that slavery should be prohibited in all the territory, except Missouri, lying north of the parallel 36° 30', west of the Mississippi. After the adoption of this compromise, Missouri was admitted (1821).1 (See Appendix, p. 12, 1st clause and note.) visit. 5. Monroe was presiden two terms. Towards the close of his second, an interesting event took place in the visit made by Lafayette to this country. Accompanied by his son, George Washington Lafayette's Lafayette, he arrived at New York, where he met with a brilliant reception. Proceeding on a tour through the United States, he was everywhere received as The Nation's Guest." For more than a year, his journey was a complete ovation-a perpetual and splendid pageant. "The peo LAFAYETTE. 66 ple appeared delirious with joy and with anxiety to hail him, grasp him by the hand, and shower attentions and honors upon him. As he passed through the country, every city, village, and hamlet, poured out its inhabitants to meet him. Celebrations, processions, dinners, illuminations, bonfires, parties, balls, serenades, and rejoicings of every description, attended his way." 6. "In June, 1825, he visited Boston, and on the 17th day 1 The Monroe Doctrine.-An important event of Monroe's adminisration was the recognition of the South American republics, which had declared and maintained their independence for several years. This act of recognition had been urged in Congress with great ability by Henry Clay, of Kentucky. The next year (1823) President Monroe, in his annual message, declared that, as a principle, the American continents, by the free and independent position which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power." This principle is known as the "Monroe Doctrine." 66 |