QUESTIONS.

1. How did France interpret the nineteenth article of the treaty of 1778?

2. How did Adet attempt to influence the presidential election?

3. Why was Gouverneur Morris recalled from France?

4. What seems to have been Monroe's object?

5. Describe his address in the hall of the French National Convention.

6. What did he say to the French government about its infraction of the treaty with the United States?

7. What did he endeavor to persuade the United States to do with reference to the war between France and England?

8. How did he purpose to secure protection against Algiers and get possession of the western posts?

9. Why did he wish to communicate Jay's treaty to the French government?

10. Draw a parallel between Jay and Monroe.

11. Account for his conduct in France.

12. Why did he refuse to state the American view of Jay's treaty?

13. When was he recalled, and why?

14. What seems to have been Washington's opinion of him? 15. Shortly after Monroe's recall, Gallatin wrote to his wife as follows: "The time they chose to recall Monroe, was when from his correspondence they had reason to believe he had succeeded in allaying the resentment of the French. Then, thinking they had nothing to fear from France, and that they had used Monroe so as to obtain every service that he could render, they recalled him with the double view of giving to another person the merit of terminating the differences and throwing upon him the blame, if any, that existed before." Discuss and explain.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE EXTRA SESSION OF 1797.

In the presidential election of 1796, Jefferson received sixty-eight and John Adams seventy-one votes. Adams was therefore elected President, and Jefferson Vice-president. When Adams was inaugurated in March,

Pinckney.

1797, our relations with France were in a France rejects very critical condition. The conduct of the Republicans in the United States and of Monroe in France, had borne their natural fruits. Charles C. Pinckney reached Paris as Monroe's successor in December, 1796. The day after his arrival (December 9) he and Monroe waited upon De La Croix, the French minister of foreign affairs, Pinckney presenting his credentials and Monroe his letters of recall. These the minister promised to submit to the French Directory, and to send Pinckney and his secretary "letters of hospitality," without which, according to the laws of France, no stranger could remain in Paris. A few days later (December 12) De La Croix notified Monroe that the Directory would not receive another minister from the United States until the grievances of which France complained were redressed. "But this breach," he added, in the style of Genet, "did not oppose the continuance of affection between the French Republic and the American

people, which is grounded on former good offices and reciprocal interests, an affection which you have taken pleasure in cultivating by all the means in your power."

Pinckney at once wrote to De La Croix inquiring if it was the wish of the Directory that he should leave France immediately, or whether he should remain till he heard from the United States. De La Croix replied verbally, through Pinckney's private secretary, that, since the recall of Monroe, the Directory acknowledged no American minister. As to his going or staying the Directory would decide. February 3, 1797, he was finally notified that he was rendering himself liable to arrest by having stayed in Paris nearly two months in violation of the law forbidding strangers to stay there without "letters of hospitality." Pinckney at once asked for his passport and left for Holland.

When Monroe presented his letters of recall (December 20), to the Directory, he again declared that the principles of the French Revolution were the same as those of the American Revolution. He assured the Directory that it was with the most "heartfelt satisfaction that he beheld victory and the dawn

Monroe's fare

well speech to the Directory.

of prosperity upon the point of realizing under the auspices of a wise and excellent constitution, all the great objects for which in council and in the field they had so long and so nobly contended." The President of the Directory replied as follows: "By presenting this

*Italics are mine.

day to the Executive Directory your letters of recall, you offer a very strange spectacle to Europe. France, rich in her freedom, surrounded by the train of her victories, and strong in the esteem of her allies, will not stoop to calculate the consequences of the condescension of the American government to the wishes of its ancient tyrants. The French Republic expects, however, that the successors of Columbus, Raleigh and Penn, always proud of their liberty, will never forget that they owe it to France. They will weigh in their wisdom the magnanimous friendship of the French people, with the crafty caresses of perfidious men, who meditate to bring them again under a foreign yoke. Assure the good people of America, Mr. Minister, that, like them, we adore liberty; that they will always possess our esteem, and find in the French people that Republican generosity, which knows how to grant peace as well as to cause its sovereignty to be respected. As for you, Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary, you have combated for principles. You have known the true interest of your country. Depart with our regret."

Hamilton urges that a special envoy should be sent to France.

Adams differed from the leading members of his cabinet as to the course that should be pursued when Pinckney was insultingly driven from France. Timothy Pickering and Oliver Wolcott, Secretaries of State and of the Treasury, respectively, thought that the United States had done enough; that to yield to the demands of France was to

surrender national independence. Fortunately, Hamilton agreed with Adams in thinking that a special envoy should be sent to France. The decision of the French Directory not to receive another American minister until the grievances of which France complained were redressed, could not mean, Hamilton argued, that they would not receive a special envoy. Moreover, if they did refuse to receive him, it would be well to have sent him since the people would thereby be convinced that the government had done all that it could to make peace with France. By such arguments, Hamilton succeeded in breaking down the opposition of Pickering and Wolcott.

Adams' speech to Congress.

Congress assembled in special session on May 13, according to the President's proclamation. In his opening speech the President called special attention to the insidious attempts of the President of the French Directory, in his farewell speech to Monroe, to separate the American people from their government. "Such attempts," he said, “ought to be repelled with a decision which shall convince France and the world that we are not a degraded people, humiliated under a colonial spirit of fear and sense of inferiority, fitted to be the miserable instruments of foreign influence, and regardless of national honor, character and interest." At the same time, he declared his intention to send a new mission to France, since neither the honor nor the interest of the country forbade them to repeat their advances. But he urged Congress to create a navy