a becoming dignity, and continued to express a high respect and affection for his nation, and an earnest desire to promote its interests.

On the meeting of congress, December, 1793, the proclamation of neutrality was approved by them, as well as the conduct of the government towards Mr. Genet.

Finding on most questions, arising between the French minister and the government of the United States, a wide and an increasing difference of views, and perceiving no beneficial effects resulting from his continuance in that character, the cabinet unanimously advised his recall.

Sec. 28. 1794.

On the last day of December, 1793, Mr. Jefferson, the secretary of state, resigned his office, and was succeeded by Edmund Randolph, the then attorney general. This latter office was filled by William Bradford, a gentleman of considerable eminence in Pennsylvania.

Sec. 29. During the session of congress this year, a resolution passed to provide a naval force adequate to the protection of the commerce of the United States, against the Algerine corsairs. The force proposed was to consist of six frigates, four of forty-four, and two of thirty-six guns.

This measure was founded upon the communications of the president, from which it appeared that the prospect of being able to negotiate a treaty of peace with the dey of Algiers was doubtful; that eleven American merchant vessels, and upwards of one hundred citizens, had been captured by them; and that farther preparations were making for a renewed attack upon unprotected vessels, belonging to the United States.

Sec. 30. During this session of congress, a law passed, prohibiting the carrying on of the slave trade from the American ports.

England had been actively engaged in the slave trade nearly fifty years, when the first settlement was effected in Virginia. Slavery was early introduced into the American colonies. The first slaves, about twenty in number, were brought to Virginia, in 1619, by a Dutch ship. The im

portation of them gradually increased, and although principally bought by the southern planters, slaves were soon found, in great numbers, in all the colonies. In 1784, they amounted to six hundred thousand. In 1790, to six hundred and ninety-seven thousand six hundred and ninety-six. A disgust towards this inhuman traffic appeared very early in the colonies; but it was countenanced and patronized by the English government, and thus introduced into, and fastened upon the country, without the power, on the part of the colonies, to arrest it.

In Massachusetts, in 1645, a law was made, "prohibiting the buying and selling of slaves, except those taken in lawful war, or reduced to servitude by their crimes." In 1703, the same colony imposed a heavy duty on every negro imported, and in a subsequent law on the subject, they called the practice, the unnatural and unaccountable custom of enslaving mankind." In Virginia, as early as 1699, attempts were made to repress the importation of slaves, by heavy duties. These, and other acts, show that the North American provinces would, if left to themselves, have put an end to the importation of slaves before the era of their independence.

In 1778, Virginia abolished the traffic by law; Connec ticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts prohibited it before the year 1789. The continental congress passed a resolution against the purchase of slaves, imported from Africa, and exhorted the colonies to abandon the trade altogether. The third congress of the United States, as stated above, prohibited the trade, by law. Thus we see, in the United States, a very early and settled aversion to the slave trade manifesting itself, and before European nations had consented to relinquish it, several of the states had utterly prohibited it.

Sec. 31. At this session, also, several measures were adopted in anticipation of a war with Great Britain, growing out of her commercial restriction, which bore heavy, and operated most unjustly upon the United States. Bills were passed for laying an embargo for thirty days— for erecting fortifications-for organizing the militia, and increasing the standing army. As an adjustment of differences, however, seemed

desirable, Mr. Jay was appointed envoy extraordinary to the court of St. James, and succeeded in negotiating a treaty with Great Britain the following year.

Among the offensive acts of the government of Great Britain, was an order of June, 1793, prohibiting the exportation of corn to France, and authorizing the capture of neutral vessels carrying it thither. Under this order, many American vessels were captured, and carried into England. In November following, additional instructions were given by the British cabinet, to ships of war and privateers, to bring into port, for trial, all ships laden with goods from France, or her colonies, and such as were carrying provisions, or other supplies, to either. To these causes of complaint, Great Britain had added another, viz. neglecting to deliver up the western posts according to treaty.

While measures were taking, in anticipation of war, the president received advices from England, that the order of November had been considerably modified; that most of the merchant vessels which had been carried into port for trial, would be released; and that a disposition for peace with the United States existed in the British cabinet.

These advices opened to the president the prospect of restoring a good understanding between the two nations, and induced him immediately to nominate an envoy to settle existing differences, and to negotiate commercial arrangements. The nomination of Mr. Jay was approved, in the senate, by a majority of ten.

To those opposed to the administration, no step could have been more unexpected or disagreeable, than this decisive measure of the president. Prejudices against Great Britain had risen to their height, and hostilities against her were loudly demanded, as both just and necessary. It was not singular, therefore, that for this act, the president should receive the severest censures of the opposition party, nor that all who favored his efforts for peace should be included in the general denunciation.

Sec. 32. The suspension of hostilities against the Indians in the northwest, in consequence of their consenting to a conference in the spring of 1791, has already been noticed. This effort to conclude a treaty with them failing, General

Wayne, who had succeeded Gen. St. Clair, enga ged the Indians, August 20th, 1794, on the banks of the Miami, and gained a complete victory over them.

The American troops engaged in this battle did not exceed nine hundred; the Indians amounted to two thousand. In this decisive engagement, Gen. Wayne lost one hundred and seven in killed and wounded, including officers. After the battle, he proceeded to lay waste the whole Indian country. By means of this victory over the Miamis, & general war with the Six Nations, and all the tribes northwest of the Ohio, was prevented.

Sec. 33. This year, 1794, was distinguished by an insurrection in Pennsylvania, growing out of laws enacted by congress, in 1791, laying duties on spirits distilled within the United States, and upon stills. In August, the president issued his proclamation, commanding the insurgents to disperse. This not having the desired effect, a respectable body of militia was ordered out, under Gov. Lee, of Maryland, on whose approach the insurgents laid down their arms, solicited the clemency of the government, and promised future submission to the laws.

From the time that duties were laid upon spirits distilled within the United States, &c., combinations were formed, in the four western counties of Pennsylvania, to prevent their collection. Numerous meetings were held at different times and places, at which resolutions were passed, and, in seve ral instances, violences were committed upon the officers of the revenue. Eighteen of the insurgents were taken, and tried for treason, but not convicted.

Sec. 34. 1795. January 1st, Col. Hamilton resigned the office of secretary of the treasury, and was succeeded by Oliver Wolcott, of Connecticut. Nearly at the same time, Timothy Pickering succeeded Gen. Knox, in the department of war.

Sec. 35. In June, Mr. Jay, having succeeded in negotiating a treaty with Great Britain, the

Af

senate was convened to consider its merits. ter an elaborate discussion of it, that body advised to its ratification by a majority of twenty to ten. Notwithstanding the great opposition to it that prevailed among the enemies of Great Britain, the president gave it his signature. Contrary to the predictions of many in the country, the treaty settled existing difficulties between the two nations, prevented a war, which previously seemed fast approaching, and proved of great advantage to the United States.

The treaty, when published, found one party prepared for its condemnation, while the other was not ready for its defence. Time was necessary for a judicious and careful consideration of its merits.

In the populous cities, meetings were immediately called, and resolutions and addresses forwarded to the president requesting him to withhold his assent. Upon the presider. however, these had no other effect, than to induce him to weigh still more carefully the merits of the treaty. When, at length, he was satisfied of its utility, he signed it, although he thereby incurred the censures of a numerous portion of the citizens.

Sec. 36. In the course of the following autumn, treaties were concluded with the dey of Algiers, and with the Miamis in the west. By the former treaty, American citizens, in captivity in Algiers, were liberated; and by the latter, the western frontiers of the United States were secured from savage invasion. A treaty with Spain soon after followed, by which the claims of the United States, on the important points of boundary, and the navigation of the Mississippi, were fully con. ceded.

Sec. 37. On the 1st of June, 1796, TENNESSEE was admitted, by act of congress, into the union as a state.

Tennessee derives its name from its principal river. This