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for the injuries sustained by America from these measures. The parties seemed thus very wide of each other; and the Americans transmitted to Washington unfavorable anticipations. It soon appeared, however, that the terms were not meant to be peremptory on either side. In relation to the Indians, the British limited their claim to the including of them in the treaty; and when this was declared incompatible with the States' sovereignty, offered to be satisfied with an agreement that this people should in no shape be molested for the part they had taken in the war. The question of the fishery might be passed over; and in proof of a strong conciliatory spirit, all mention of impressment would be omitted. After these concessions, they proposed the uti possidetis, or state of actual possession. The other party having repelled a basis by which they would have lost considerable portions of Maine, were then asked to give in a counter project. They delivered one, proposing the state before the war, the protection of the Indians as desired by Britain, and the reference of the disputed boundary to a friendly power; adding their original demands as to impressment, blockades, and compensation. The project was returned to them with the last three articles expunged, as wholly inadmissible. They had in fact been instructed that these could not now be insisted upon as a sine qua non; and therefore, as the other terms were admitted, the treaty was finally agreed to, and signed on the 24th December, 1814. Considering that the failure at New Orleans was not then known, the Americans may be considered as having gained conditions fully as advantageous as they had reason to expect.

TREATY, regulating the commerce between the United States and Great Britain, was signed at London, in July, 1815, and ratified by the President on the 22d of December, and thus peaceful relations were completely established between the two nations. During the late war, the Dey of Algiers, probably incited by the British government, began to commit depredations upon the American commerce in the Mediterranean, plundering vessels and carrying their crews into captivity. The government of the United States was unable to compel reparation, until it had concluded a peace with Great Britain, when war was declared against Algiers. Commodore Decatur was ordered to proceed to the Mediterranean, with a squadron consisting of the Guerriere, Constellation and Macedonian frigates, the Ontario and Epervier sloops-of-war, and the schooners Spark, Spitfire, Torch and

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Flambeau. Commodore Bainbridge was to follow, as soon as possible, with another squadron.

On the 17th of June, 1815, Decatur's squadron fell in with, and captured after an obstinate struggle, the Algerine frigate Mazouda, killing 30 men, including Admiral Hammida, and taking 406 prisoners. Proceeding to cruise in the Mediterranean, Decatur, on the 19th, captured an Algerine brig of 22 guns. On the 28th, he arrived in the harbor of Algiers, and so surprised and overawed the Dey by his force and the fame of his deeds, that he was induced, on,the 30th, to sign a treaty of and amity with the United States. By this treaty, the Dey agreed to peace waive the tribute he had demanded from American vessels; to give up all American prisoners without ransom, and to make compensation for property taken or destroyed. Decatur returned the vessel he had captured, to the Dey. He then proceeded to Tunis, where he demanded and readily obtained compensation for two American prizes which had been taken by a British vessel of war, while under the protection of the Bey. From Tunis, Decatur sailed to Tripoli, at which place he arrived on the 5th of August. He made the same demands of the Bashawwhich he had made at Algiers and Tunis, and with the same success. He soon after relinquished his command to Commodore Bainbridge. That officer succeeded in making every arrangement for the security of American commerce in the Mediterranean, and satisfying the demands of the honor and interest of his country.

The rapid growth and prosperity of the republic was indicated among other things by the formation of the territory of Indiana into a State, and its admission into the Union, in 1816; the progress of canals in various states; the institution of a national bank, with a charter of twenty years; and the arrival of many thousands of emigrants, chiefly from Great Britain. The war with that great empire had demonstrated the power, the capability, and the stability of the Union. In 1816, Mr. Madison's second term of office being about to expire, James Monroe was elected to succeed him, and entered upon the duties of his office, March 4th 1817. Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York, was chosen to the office of VicePresident.

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RESIDENT MONROE, in his inaugural address, spoke of the evidences of the increasing prosperity of the country, and the means of maintaining the Union safe from the designs of ambitious men. The policy of the administration differed, in no respect, from that of Madison's. Mr. Monroe had been a strenuous supporter of the political doctrines of Jefferson, and, with but few exceptions, he

now excluded federalists from office.

In 1817, Mississippi was admitted into the Union. In the summer of the same year, the President made a tour through the Northern States, being everywhere welcomed with the warmest demonstrations of a sovereign people. The depredations of a party of smugglers in the Gulf of Mexico, was the first matter of importance that awakened the attention of the government. The smugglers under the command of one Aury, seized upon Amelia Island, which was made their rendezvous. Their conduct becoming outrageous, the executive resolved to employ force to suppress them. The ship-of-war John Adams, with a battalion of artillery, was ordered to expel the intruders from the island. On the 23d of December, the forces came into quiet possession of it; Aury and his party left in February.

Before the end of the year, General Jackson was ordered to march against the Seminole Indians, who had, for some time, been committing

depredations in the southern part of Georgia. The border region was under the immediate command of General Gaines, who had built Fort Scott, Fort Gaines, and Fort Crawford, at different favorable positions. Jackson proceeded to organize his army, which consisted of 4300 men. Marching was the only active service performed by the Americans, and Jackson denominated the expedition a "war of movements." Hitherto the general had been prohibited from crossing the boundary of the Spanish possessions. But an attack upon a party of wounded soldiers, and women, proceeding under the conduct of Lieutenant Scott, and the massacre of most of them, induced the executive to give Jackson ample and general powers of action. He marched to the Spanish fort at St. Marks, of which he took possession, sending the Spanish garrison to Pensacola. Here he captured a Scotch trader, named Arbuthnot, accused of instigating the Indians to hostilities, and hung two Indian chiefs. Soon afterwards, Jackson captured Robert C. Ambrister, a British officer. This man and Arbuthnot were tried for charges never clearly ascertained, found guilty, and executed on the same day. This summary proceeding, in the territory of a friendly power, caused a great sensation throughout the United States. But as General Jackson was ably defended by John Quincy Adams and others in Congress, he was acquitted of all blame. After this transaction, Jackson marched to Pensacola, to arrest some fugitive Seminoles. The Spanish governor remonstrated against this movement; but the general entered the town, and the governor and garrison took refuge in the fortress of Barancas. After a three days' bombardment, the place surrendered. General Gaines captured St. Augustine, and then the territory was in the military possession of the United States.

Congress re-assembled on the 15th of November, 1818. During this session, much important business was transacted. Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State. On the 22d of February, 1819, a treaty was concluded between Spain and the United States, by which Florida was ceded to the latter country. In October of the same year, a treaty was concluded with Great Britain, by which the securities of peace were much strengthened.

The sixteenth Congress assembled on the 6th of December. The great subjects of the tariff, bank, and improvements, were fully and ably discussed. After these, the question respecting the admission of Missouri as a slave State arose, and for a while threatened the dissolution of the Union itself. It was settled by a compromise in 1821. On the 5th of March, 1821, Mr. Monroe was again inaugurated President of the United States, having been elected by a large majority. Daniel

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