Page images
PDF
EPUB

230

*

REACTION IN PUBLIC OPINION.

lowed by others from Beverly, Salem, Hartford, Princeton, Newark, Baltimore, Richmond, Alexandria and other cities. One of the causes of this reversion of feeling was the unwarranted manner in which affronts were offered the President, the government and the citizens. A sample of such conduct was the action of the French frigate La Concord at Boston. Soon after she arrived a huge white placard was placed at her masthead containing the names of several of the most prominent men of the town who were accused of being aristocrats, unfriendly to the French Revolution, and averse to having Americans serve in French privateers. This was too much for Boston, and though the

French Society denied responsibility

and the captain declared it had been done while he was ashore, the anger of the people was not appeased. On the contrary, it was aroused to a still higher pitch by the actions of the same ship. A British ship had been captured by a French privateer and sent to Boston for condemnation, but its owners replevined the ship and a United States marshal was sent to serve the writ. The French vice-consul, however, told the prize-master to retain possession of the ship, which he did for three days, when it was drawn. to the wharf by the marshal. On October 3, 1793, Washington issued a proclamation revoking the exequatur

* McMaster, vol. ii., pp. 134-135.

of the vice-consul.* of the vice-consul.* This provoked

a storm of protest, particularly from Genêt, who wrote an insolent note to Jefferson saying that he did not recognize the proclamation as valid, that Washington had overstepped his authority, and demanding that the viceconsul's conduct should be investigated by the sovereign State of Massachusetts.f

Many other instances were now brought to light wherein the French had defied the government and set its laws at naught, and to ruin his cause still more completely Genêt attacked Washington most intemperately, threatening to appeal from the President to the people. Washington scarcely noticed this further than to

ask, "Is the minister of the French Republic to set acts of this government at defiance and then threaten the executive with an appeal to the people?" The statement that this attack on Washington had been made had appeared in print over the signatures of John Jay and Rufus King; and early in August Genêt wrote a

*Ford's ed. of Jefferson's Writings, vol. vi., p. 401; American State Papers, Foreign Relations, vol. i., pp. 178-182; Turner, in Report of Ameri can Historical Association for 1903, vol. ii., p. 281. † Lodge, George Washington, vol. ii., p. 156; MeMaster, vol. ii., pp. 135-136. "A more remarkable chapter can hardly be found in the history of diplomacy, than might be furnished from the records of this mission of Genêt. It is a memorable instance of the infatuation to which a man of respectable talents and private character may be driven by political frenzy."- Sparks, Life of Washington, p. 452. See also Tucker, Life of

Jefferson, p. 312.

Ford's ed. of Washington's Writings, vol. xii.,

p. 302.

WASHINGTON DEMANDS GENÊT'S RECALL.

dictatorial letter to Washington in which he demanded that the latter make an explicit denial that such a threat had been made.* Washington did not deign to notice this audacious epistle, but Jefferson sent a very frigid note to the effect that the Secretary of State was the proper personage to be addressed by foreign agents, and that it was not customary for them to carry on direct correspondence with the President.† Thereupon Genêt wrote a note to Attorney-General Randolph demanding that the government should prosecute Jay and King for libel, but Randolph told him that it was no affair of the government's and that if Genêt felt abused he must seek redress in the State courts.‡

This unwarranted conduct convinced Washington that Genêt's usefulness to the French government had been so greatly impaired as to necessitate his recall. On August 1 a cabinet meeting was held and it was decided that Genêt must go. Therefore on August 16, 1793, Jefferson wrote a letter to Morris, the American minister at Paris, giving a full account of the matter, with the correspondence, to be laid before the French government. He concluded his note by saying, "If our citizens

*Lodge, George Washington, vol. ii., p. 157; Pellew, John Jay, p. 288; Bassett, Federalist System, p. 96.

† Schouler, United States, vol. i., p. 272. McMaster, vol. ii., pp. 137-141.

252.

Ford's ed. of Jefferson's Writings, vol. i., p.

VOL. IV-16

231

have not already been shedding each other's blood it is not owing to the moderation of M. Genêt.”*

[ocr errors]

The dignity and firmness of the President had now produced their usual effect,† and the opposition party felt that an attack on the administration could be placed on no ground more disadvantageous than on its controversy with M. Genêt. The conduct and language of that minister were offensive to reflecting men of all parties. To the various considerations growing out of the discussions themselves, and of the parties engaged in them, one was added which could not be disregarded. The party in France to which M. Genêt owed his appointment had lost its power; and his fall was the inevitable consequence

* Ibid, vol. vi., pp. 371-393; Morse, Thomas Jefferson, p. 159. On the preparation of this letter, see Jefferson's Anas, in Ford, vol. i., p. 259 et seq.

In writing to Richard Henry Lee, Washington alludes to the trial through which he had just passed. He says: "The specimens you have seen of Mr. Genêt's sentiments and conduct in the gazettes form a small part only of the aggregate. But you can judge from them to what test the temper of the executive has been put in its various transactions with this gentleman. It is probable that the whole will be exhibited to public view in the course of the next session of Congress. Delicacy towards his nation has restrained the doing of it hitherto. The best that can be said of this agent is, that he is entirely unfit for the mission on which he is employed; unless (which I hope is not the case), contrary to the express and unequivocal declaration of his country made through himself, it is meant to involve ours in all the horrors of a European war."- Lodge, George Washington, vol. ii., pp. 157-158. On the discussions in the Cabinet regarding Genêt's recall, see Ford's ed. of Jefferson's Writings, vol. i., pp. 265 et seq., 270 et seq.

232

GENÊT SUPERSEDED; PROPOSED EXPEDITIONS.

of the fall of his patrons. That he would probably be recalled was known in America, and that his conduct had been disapproved was generally believed. The future course of the French Republic toward the United States could not be foreseen; and it would be committing something to hazard not to wait its development." A new minister (Fauchet) was therefore appointed, who arrived in February of 1794. Fauchet was accompanied by three commissioners who were to act with him in all matters concerning the relations of France and the United States. On October 11, 1793, the French Committee of Public Safety decreed that the commissioners should disavow Genêt's conduct and send him back to France. The commissioners were instructed also to disarm the privateers fitted out by Genêt and to dismiss such consuls as had been concerned in any proceedings

tending to compromise American neutrality. They were also to attempt the negotation of a new treaty of commerce.* This had been included in Genêt's instructions, had been urged long before his time, and continued to be urged for some years to come, without result.† Though the commissioners were instructed send Genêt to France, he never returned because his political friends at home, the Girondists, had fallen from

to

power, and also because he had married a daughter of Governor Clinton. He continued to live unnoticed in his adopted country until his death at Schodack, New York, July 14, 1834.*

Before he had been superseded, however, the country was given additional evidence of his misconduct. Jefferson had received numerous hints that Genêt's agents were fomenting trouble in the South and West by raising, arming and drilling two armies one to go down the Mississippi and attack the Spanish settlements at New Orleans, and the other to attack the Floridas. It was stated that 5,000 men were being enlisted in South Carolina in the service of France, and in December of 1793 the Assembly of that State took the matter under advisement. But though several arrests were made and there was plenty of evidence for a conviction, nothing came of the inquiry. The Kentucky authorities did not even go through the form of a prosecution, and the entire matter was dropped. Though requested by Fau

* For something of his later history, see Bonney, Legacy of Historical Gleanings, vol. i., P. 159 et seq.

See Marshall, Life of Washington, vol. ii., pp. 260-284; Lodge, George Washington, vol. ii., p. 159; Von Holst, Constitutional and Political History, vol. i., pp. 116-117; Ford's ed. of Jefferson's Writings, vol. i., pp. 235-236 and vol. vi., p. 316; Reports of the American Historical Association for 1896, vol. i., pp. 930-1107; 1897, pp. 569-679; 1903, vol. ii., pp. 10-12, 199, 205, 219

* Turner, in Report of American Historical 223, 264-268, 567, 826, 840, 990, 1015, 1038, 1048, Association for 1903, pp. 287-294.

† Ibid, pp. 9, 108-114, 129, 135, 202, 207, 209, 344, 638, 649, 725, 743.

1075, 1097; American Historical Review for April, 1897, April and July, 1898, January and April, 1905; Albach, Annals of the West, p. 663; Amer

RESULTS OF GENÊT'S MISSION.

chet to do so, the government refused to arrest Genêt "" upon reasons of law and magnanimity."*

The Genêt affair considerably injured the Republican cause, for the rancorous attacks of Genêt discredited all who supported him. Jefferson, too, became disgusted with his actions, writing to Madison on July 7 as follows:

"Never in my opinion, was so calamitous an appointment made as that of the present Minister of F. here. Hot headed, all imagination, no judgment, passionate, disrespectful, & even indecent towards the P. in his written as well as verbal communications, talking of appeals from him to Congress, from them to the people, urging the most unreasonable and groundless propositions & in the most dictatorial style, &c., &c., &c. Even if it should be necessary to lay his communications before Congress or the public, they

[blocks in formation]

233

Το

will excite universal indignation. complete our misfortune, we have no channel of our own through which we can correct the irritating representations he may make." *

Later, on August 3, he again wrote to Madison:

"We have decided unanimously to require the recall of Genêt. He will sink the Republican interest if they do not abandon him. Hamilton presses eagerly an appeal i. e. to the people. Its consequences you will readily seize, but I hope we shall prevent it tho the Pr. is inclined to it." †

Madison also said that Genêt "must be brought right if possible," or "his folly will otherwise do mischief which no wisdom can repair." The episode tended also to draw Washington to the Federalists, and from that time on he naturally became more and more alienated from Jefferson and Madison.

[blocks in formation]

234

THE NEW ENGLAND OHIO COMPANY.

CHAPTER VII.

1790-1796.

WESTWARD EXTENSION: THE WHISKEY REBELLION: INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

[ocr errors]

Joel Barlow and the New England Ohio Company Gallipolis Extent of westward settlement - Cherokees' cession of lands in Tennessee - Founding of Knoxville - Founding of Blount College - Social conditions in Tennessee Indian wars-Tennessee's admission to the Union The Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution-Case of Chisholm vs. Georgia-The Whiskey Rebellion-Washington's Message to Congress, and its answers The Democratic societies - Peter Porcupine Amending the naturalization law Hamilton's plans to support public credit - Recommendation to increase import duties - Internal taxation-Hamilton's retirement Adjournment of Congress.

[ocr errors]

Meanwhile the course of westward extension had been steady, though slow. Ohio still remained a desert, with only a few hamlets here and there. On the Ohio, Wheeling, west of Pittsburg, was a place of only 50 cabins, but it boasted of a stockade, and in times of trouble had a garrison of 150 troops. Below Wheeling, near the Muskingum, was Marietta, a town of 200 houses; and still farther down the river, opposite the Little Kanawha, was Belle Pré.*

Close to the mouth of the Great Kanawha stood the interesting town of Gallipolis. The New England Ohio Company had urged Congress to sell its Ohio lands, and the offer to purchase them was extended to take in another company, since famous as

For the conditions of the various settlements, see Thomas Chapman, Journal of a Journey through the United States, 1795-96, in Historical Magazine (June, 1869); Autobiography of Major Samuel Forman, in Historical Magazine (December, 1869). In general, see also Hulbert, The Ohio River (1906); Slocum, The Ohio Country, 1783-1815 (1910).

the Scioto Land Company. When this company came into possession of its lands, it sent an agent (one Joel Barlow) to France to procure emigrants.* Going to Paris, Barlow, before 1791, secured 500 emigrants from Havre, Bordeaux, Nantes and Rochelle, to whom he sold title deeds to estates at four shillings per acre. When these emigrants landed at Alexandria, Va., they were detained for some time, and did not begin their journey to the Ohio country before the summer. After innumerable trials, they reached the spot described in their deeds, to find that the Scioto Company did not own a foot of the land and that the whole transaction had been a swindle.†

Nevertheless, they determined to stay where they were, and immedi

*King, Ohio, p. 217.

+ Hulbert, The Ohio River, pp. 263-265; McMaster, vol. ii., pp. 146-149. On the transactions by which this territory came to be known as the property of the Scioto people, see King, Ohio, p. 219 et seq.

« PreviousContinue »