in declaring the illustrious dead to have been among warriors, statesmen and patriots

6. The administration of Adams and the eighteenth century drew to a close together. The new Republic was growing strong and influential. The census of 1800 showed that the population of the country had increased to over five millions. The seventyfive post-offices reported by the census of 1790 had been multiplied to nine hundred and three; the exports of the United States had grown from twenty millions to nearly seventy-one millions of dol lars. In December of 1800, Congress assembled in Washington city. Virginia and Maryland had ceded to the United States the District of Columbia, a tract ten miles square lying on both sides of the Potomac. The city was laid out in 1792; and in 1800 the population numbered between eight and nine thousand.

7. With prudent management the Federal party might have retained control of the government. But much of the legislation of Congress had been unwise and unpopular. The "Alien Law," by which the President was authorized to send foreigners out of the country, was specially odious. The "Sedition Law," which punished with fine and imprisonment the freedom of speech and of the press, was denounced as an act of tyranny. Partisan excitement ran high. Mr. Adams and Mr. Charles C. Pinckney were put forward as the candidates of the Federalists, and Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr of the Democrats. The election was thrown into the House of Representatives; and the choice fell on Jefferson and Burr.

RECAPITULATION.

Opposition to the new administration.-France demands an alliance.-Orders the destruction of American commerce.-Pinckney is dismissed.-The extra session of Congress.-Gerry, Marshall and Pinckney are sent to France.--The Directory want money.-Pinckney's answer.-An American army is organized. -Washington commander-in-chief.-The work of the navy.-Truxtun's victory.-Napoleon seeks peace.-Death of Washington.-Close of the administration.-Growth of the country.-The Alien and Sedition laws.-Overthrow of the Federal party.-Jefferson is elected president.-And Burr vice-president.

CHAPTER XLVI.

JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION, 1801-1809.

T the beginning of his administration, Mr. Jefferson transferred

to of

cratic party. Such action was justified by the adherents of the

President, on

the ground that the affairs of a republic will be best administered when the officers hold the same political sentiments. One of the first acts of Congress was to abolish the system of internal reve

nues. The unpopular laws against foreigners and the

freedom of the

press were also

repealed.

2. In the

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

year 1800, a line was drawn through the North-west Territory from the mouth of the Great Miami River through Fort Recovery to Canada. Two years afterward the country east of

this line was erected into the State of Ohio and, in 1803, was admitted into the Union. The portion west of the line was organized under the name of INDIANA TERRITORY. Vincennes was the capital; and General William Henry Harrison was appointed governor. About the same time, MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY was organized.

In

3. More important still was the purchase of Louisiana. 1800, Napoleon had compelled Spain to make a cession of this territory to France. He then prepared to send an army to New Orleans to establish his authority. But the United States remonstrated against such a proceeding; and Bonaparte authorized his minister to dispose of Louisiana by sale. The President appointed Mr. Livingston and James Monroe to negotiate the purchase. On the 30th of April, 1803, terms were agreed on; and for the sum of eleven million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars Louisiana was ceded to the United States. It was also agreed that the United States should pay certain debts due from France to American citizens-the sum not to exceed three million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Thus did the vast domain west of the Mississippi pass under the dominion of the United States.*

4. Out of the southern portion of the great province the TERRITORY OF ORLEANS was organized, with the same limits as the present State of Louisiana; the rest continued to be called THE TERRITORY OF LOUISIANA. Very justly did Mr. Livingston say to the French minister as they arose from signing the treaty: "This is the noblest work of our lives."

5. In 1801 John Marshall became chief-justice of the United States. In the colonial times, the English constitution and common law had prevailed in America. When the new Republic was organized, it became necessary to modify the principles of law and to adapt them to the altered form of government. This great work was accomplished by Chief-Justice Marshall.

men.

6. The Mediterranean pirates still annoyed American merchantThe emperors of Morocco, Algiers and Tripoli became especially troublesome. In 1803 Commodore Preble was sent to the Mediterranean to protect American commerce and punish the pirates. The frigate Philadelphia, under Captain Bainbridge, sailed

See Map V.

directly to Tripoli. When nearing his destination, Bainbridge gave chase to a pirate which fled for safety to the harbor. The Philadel phia, in close pursuit, ran upon a reef of rocks near the shore, and was captured by the Tripolitans. The officers were treated with some respect, but the crew were enslaved.

7. In the following February, Captain Decatur sailed to Tripoli in a Moorish ship, called the Intrepid. At nightfall, Decatur steered into the

harbor, slipped

alongside of the

Philadelphia,

sprang on deck

with his daring band, and killed or drove overboard every Moor on the vessel. In a moment the frigate was

CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL.

fired; Decatur and his crew escaped to the Intrepid without the loss of a man.

8. In July of 1804, Commodore Preble arrived at Tripoli and began a siege. The town was bombarded, and several Moorish vessels were destroyed. In the mean time, William Eaton, the American consul at Tunis, had organized a force, and was marching overland to Tripoli. Hamet, who was the rightful sovereign of Tripoli, was coöperating with Eaton in an effort to recover his kingdom. Yusef, the Tripolitan emperor, alarmed at the dangers around him, made overtures for peace. His offers were accepted

by Mr. Lear, the American consul for the Barbary States; and a treaty was concluded on the 4th of June, 1805.

9. In 1804 the country was shocked by the intelligence that Vice-President Burr had killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. As his term of office drew to a close, Burr foresaw that he would not be renominated. In 1803 he became a candidate for governor of New York; but Hamilton's influence in that State prevented his election. Burr thereupon sought a quarrel with Hamilton; challenged him; met him at Weehawken, on the morning of the 11th of July, and deliberately murdered him. Thus the brightest intellect in America was put out in darkness.

10. In the autumn of 1804, Jefferson was reëlected. For VicePresident George Clinton of New York was chosen in place of Burr. In the next year, a part of the North-western Territory was organized under the name of MICHIGAN. In the same spring, Captains Lewis and Clarke set out from the falls of the Missouri River, with thirty-five soldiers and hunters, to explore Oregon. For two years, through forests of gigantic pines, and along the banks of unknown rivers did they continue their explorations. After wandering among unheard-of tribes of savages, and traversing a route of six thousand miles, the adventurers, with the loss of but one man, returned to civilization.

11. After the death of Hamilton, Burr fled to the South. At the opening of the next session of Congress he returned to preside over the Senate. Then he took up his residence with an Irish exile named Blannerhassett, who had built a mansion on an island in the Ohio, near the mouth of the Muskingum. Here Burr made a treasonable scheme to raise a military force, invade Mexico, detach the South-western States from the Union, and overthrow the government of the United States. But his purposes were suspected. The military preparations at Blannerhassett's Island were broken up. Burr was arrested in Alabama and taken to Richmond to be tried for treason. Chief-Justice Marshall presided at the trial, and Burr conducted his own defence. The verdict was, "Not guilty for want of sufficient proof." Burr afterward practiced law in New York, lived to old age, and died in poverty.

12. During Jefferson's second term, the country was much