apprehensions. A storm seems to be gathering which portends not a tempest on the ocean, but domestic convulsions. However painful the task, a sense of duty calls upon me to raise my voice, and use my utmost exertions to prevent the passage of this bill. I feel myself bound in conscience to declare, lest the blood of those who should fall in the execution of this measure may lie on my head, that I consider this to be an Act which directs a mortal blow at the liberties of my country, an act containing unconstitutional provisions to which the people are not bound to submit, and to which, in my opinion, they will not submit."*

This, then, was what Jefferson saw in the closing weeks of his administration as a result of his policy of peace: Napoleon approving it, England defying it, and New England on the verge of rebellion. He had meant it to work a revolution in the foreign policy of the country; he found it in danger of working a revolution in the government, and the overthrow of the union.

QUESTIONS.

1. What was the Bayonne Decree?

2. How did the Federalists and Republicans differ with respect to it, and why?

3. What is your opinion of it?

4. Account for Napoleon's approval of the embargo.

5. What effect did the Spanish uprising have on Napoleon's continental system?

* Annals of Congress, 1808-1809, 298.

6. What offer did Pinkney make to the British Government through Canning?

7. What was Canning's reply?

8. What reply did Pinkney make?

9. What did Pinkney mean when he said that the offer of the United States, if accepted by England, would place the United States in the position with relation to France, that England insisted she ought to take?

10. What classes in England were benefited, and what injured by the embargo?

11. Which were the more influential?

12. Describe the attitude of the Federalists towards the foreign policy of the administration and state how far you think it was justifiable.

it?

13. What was the "Enforcing Act?"

14. What effect did it have on New England?

15. Do you think New England should have submitted to

16. What did Hillhouse mean by "my country?"

CHAPTER XXXV.

SUBMISSION OR WAR?

A

FTER the rejection of Monroe's treaty, Monroe was inclined to sulk in his tent. He felt that the Adininistration had set him an impossible task,

Presidential

and rejected his treaty without due con- election. sideration because he had gone contrary to

his instructions. Monroe's attitude inclined most of the Republicans who were dissatisfied with the Administration, and especially those who disliked Madison-who was known to be Jefferson's candidate-to make Monroe their candidate for the presidency. It seemed likely for a time that the unpopularity of the embargo would lead to the defeat of Madison if the Federalists and Anti-administration Republicans could combine on a single candidate. But as Madison was selected by the Republican caucus, party discipline prevailed, and he was elected by 122 out of a total of 176 electoral votes. George Clinton was elected Vice-President.

Before the result of the election was officially known, Jefferson practically threw down the reins

Jefferson

embargo.

of government. When Congress met on and the November 7, 1808, he acknowledged in his

message that his "candid and liberal experiment"offering to England and Napoleon to suspend the embargo

on certain conditions-"had failed." He said that it must "rest with the wisdom of Congress to decide on the course best adapted" to the existing state of things. Gallatin, whom Madison intended to make his Secretary of State, urged Jefferson to recommend some positive course. But in vain. It was evident that the embargo could not be continued much longer, and Jefferson could not recommend its repeal. The theory of commercial restrictions as a means of coercion had been the dream of his life-his one great piece of constructive statesmanship. In all of his hopes for playing a great part in history in advancing the interests of the world, this theory had been an important element. He had hoped to be the philosophic statesman, the humanitarian ruler, whose destiny it was to prove to the world that the brutalities and barbarisms of war could be dispened with. And now to admit that his life-long dream was, after all, only a dream! To admit that in spite of his efforts to save them from it, the American people must travel over the same road that had proved so fatal to the happiness and liberties of the race. To sign the death warrant of his favorite child-the offspring of all his philanthropic hopes! It was too much, and apparently the one great hope that animated him in the closing months of his administration was to be spared the humiliation of signing a repeal of the embargo. He could not bring himself to admit that his policy of peace had failed. "If we go to war now," he said, "I fear we may renounce

forever the hope of seeing an end of our national debt. If we can keep at peace eight years longer, our income, liberated from debt, will be adequate to any war, without new taxes or loans, and our position and increasing strength will put us hors d' insulte from any nation." "If we can keep at peace”—but how was that possible? How were the United States to remain at peace when the two greatest powers in the world insisted on making war upon them? Jefferson refused to say. In December, 1808, he said: "I have thought it right to take no part in proposing measures, the execution of which will devolve on my successor. I am therefore chiefly an unmeddling listener to what others say."

Madison's policy.

As he would formulate no plan that looked beyond the close of his administration, Madison and Gallatin were obliged to take the responsibility. Their plan was to continue the embargo till June 1, pass a total Non-intercourse Act against both France and England, providing for a suspension of it in favor of the one which might revoke her anti-neutral decrees, and, in the event of failing to secure such revocation, a special session of Congress, and a declaration of war against both powers. The Nonintercourse Act would remove England's "grievances" by placing her on an equality with France. England had complained of the Non-importation Act which had gone into effect in 1807, and of the proclamation issued by the President on account of the "Chesapeake" affair