manner. They afterward annoyed the people in the mining district of Wisconsin, and murdered a number of defenceless families. The alarm became general on the frontier, and many settlers fled from their farms. The militia were called out, and, joined with about four hundred United States regular troops under the command of General Atkinson, pursued the Indians; and after a campaign of about two months, during which two engagements were fought, and the Indians lost over two hundred men killed, the war was brought to an end. Black Hawk was taken prisoner by a party of friendly Indians, and he, with the prophet and other leaders, was taken by order of the government through the principal cities and towns on the seaboard, to show them the power of the United States, after which they gave no further trouble. Treaties were made with the offending tribes, by which they agreed to compensate for the expense of the war by a cession of a valuable part of their territory, and to immediately remove to the west bank of the Mississippi. The United States stipulated to pay thirty thousand dollars annually to the three tribes for twenty-seven years, and other provisions were made for their improvement and civilization.

While these troubles occurred on the northwestern frontier, the inhabitants of Maine, on the northeastern border of the United States, were excited by an unpleasant collision arising out of the award of the king of the Netherlands concerning the boundary line between the United States and the British provinces. In conformity with the treaty of Ghent, the disputed boundary between the territory of the United States and that of Great Britain, on the northeastern frontier, was in 1829 submitted to the arbitration of the king of the Netherlands, who, in January, 1831, gave his decision. In this award, however, the king did not undertake to decide the question submitted to him, but recommended a new boundary not contemplated by either party. Against this decision the American minister at the Hague immediately protested, as being beyond the authority of the arbiter he having decided upon questions not submitted to him, and left undecided the questions in dispute. The British government, having gained the principal object for which it contended, namely, an uninterrupted communication between its provinces, signified its willingness to carry the award into effect.

The state of Maine, on its part, protested against the award as invalid, and denied the authority of the federal government to cede any portion of the territory of a state, by treaty or convention. In this unsettled state the controversy remained; when in September, 1831, the inhabitants of Madawaska, on the disputed territory, in conformity with a law of the state of Maine, passed at the last session of the legislature, met and elected a representative to the general assembly of that state. Upon hearing this, the British provincial authorities sent a military force and arrested three persons who had taken part in the town meeting, and carried them to the province jail for trial. Here they were tried, and sentenced to

three months' imprisonment. This act excited great indignation among the people of Maine. The governor and council took measures to protect the territory from invasion; and a remonstrance against the provincial proceedings being made by the secretary of state to the British minister at Washington, the release of the prisoners was obtained.

In this state of things a negotiation was commenced by the administration of the general government with the state of Maine, with the view of obtaining its consent to the cession of the territory in dispute; and William P. Preble was appointed an agent on the part of the state, to arrange the terms upon which Maine would consent to the execution of the treaty. After some negotiation, Mr. Preble addressed a letter to the governor of Maine, advising the state to cede to the United States her claim to the territory beyond the boundary line recommended by the arbiter, for an ample indemnity. The motive to this advice was not communicated to the public, nor was any information given as to what indemnity was expected; but a confidential message was transmitted by Governor Smith to the legislature, informing that body of the advice of his agent, and stating his belief that an adequate compensation would be made by the United States for the loss of territory. As this belief was founded upon a secret arrangement between the agent and the United States government, the terms were not communicated to the legislature; but enough was stated to leading members of the administration party, who were in the majority in both branches of that body, to secure the passage of resolutions in favor of a treaty between the state and the United States, in relation to the cession. This treaty, however, was not to be binding upon the state, until it had been formally ratified by the legislature; and the resolutions were directed to be sent to the governor of Massachusetts, in order that measures might be taken by that state for the protection of her interests in the ceded territory, the soil being equally claimed by the two states.

The course of the government of Maine, in refusing to furnish copies of the correspondence of the agent with the governor, in relation to the disputed territory, on the ground that most of the same was private and confidential, was not well calculated to insure the confidence of her sister state, and nothing was done by Massachusetts to sanction an arrangement, the terms of which they were not permitted to know.

When the subject was submitted to the senate of the United States, with the accompanying documents, that body, in January, 1832, after discussing and rejecting several propositions, by a vote of 23 to 22, advised the president to open a new negotiation for the adjustment of the boundary.

The operation of the commercial arrangement with Great Britain, mentioned in the preceding pages, made by the administration soon after coming into power, respecting the intercourse between the United States and • American Annual Register.

VOL. II.-18

the British West Indies, proved less favorable to American interests than had been anticipated by its advocates. The result was, that while the interests of the navigation and colonies of England were secured, and the British government reserved the right to impose discriminating duties, with the view of encouraging importations through the northern colonies, the president, in the exercise of a power conferred upon him by Congress, repealed the laws which were imposed to counteract the partial commercial regulations of England; and the navigation of the United States was exposed without protection, to a competition with British vessels, which were favored by heavy discriminating duties. This competition was upon too unfavorable a footing to continue, and the American shipping was soon almost totally excluded from a trade which this very arrangement was intended to secure.

With the exception of the disadvantages to the United States, attending the above arrangement, the foreign relations of the country were conducted with ability as well as energy, by the administration of General Jackson. In the course of the year 1831, treaties were concluded and ratified with the republic of Mexico-one relating to the boundaries between the two countries, and the other to commerce and navigation. Mr. Rives, our minister to France, also concluded a treaty between the United States and the king of the French, which was signed at Paris in July, 1831, on the subject of claims for depredations committed on American commerce, under the government of the directory, the first consul, and the emperor. Negotiations for this purpose had been long continued, by various ministers from the United States, but no satisfactory terms had been definitely settled. The French government had set up an opposing claim, on account of the non-fulfilment of a treaty made in 1778, between the United States and the king of France, for the assistance of the former to defend the West India islands of the latter, if attacked by the British. The American government contended that they were exonerated of all such demands by France, by subsequent events. The change in the French government, by the revolution of 1830, enabled Mr. Rives to bring the long-pending negotiations to a close. By this treaty the French government agreed to pay to the United States, in complete satisfaction of all claims of American citizens for depredations on their commerce, twenty-five millions of francs, or nearly five millions of dollars, in six equal annual instalments. One and a half million of francs were to be allowed by the American government to France, or French citizens, for ancient supplies, accounts, or other claims. An additional article was inserted, by which the United States engaged to reduce the duties on French wines for ten years, in consideration of which stipulation France agreed to reduce the duties on the long staple cotton of the United States to the same rate as on short staple cotton, and to abandon all claims for indemnity under the Louisiana treaty. The sum thus stipulated to be paid by France, did not amount to

more than one third of the just claims of the citizens of the United States, but their liquidation, even upon terms comparatively unfavorable, was so desirable, that the conclusion of this treaty was hailed with universal satisfaction by all parties. After deliberate consideration, it was sanctioned by the senate; but the French chamber of deputies refused to make the appropriation to carry the treaty into effect, and the delay furnished occasion for an unpleasant dispute between the two countries, which was not terminated until the final settlement of the affair, in 1836.

A treaty of 'commerce and navigation was also negotiated at Washington, in August, 1829, between the United States and the emperor of Austria, Mr. Van Buren, secretary of state, acting on the part of the United States, and Baron de Lederer on the part of Austria. This treaty was ratified and concluded in February, 1831. The treaty with the Ottoman Porte (Turkey), already referred to, negotiated in 1830, was ratified by the president and senate in February, 1831, and articles exchanged at Constantinople in October, 1831, between Commodore David Porter, chargé d'affaires of the United States, and the Reis Effendi of the Porte. A convention between the United States and Naples, or the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, was negotiated at Naples in October, 1832, by Mr. John Nelson, chargé d'affaires on the part of the United States, and the secretary of state, prince of Cassaro, on the part of the king of Naples, by which the amount of $1,720,000 was stipulated to be paid to the United States as an indemnity for claims of our citizens for depredations on American commerce by Murat, while king of Naples, from 1809 to 1812. These claims had been considered almost hopeless; but the appearance of a considerable American naval force in the harbor of Naples, doubtless expedited the settlement.

Thus the administration of General Jackson had been eminently successful in the management of our foreign affairs, and the negotiation of numerous treaties contributed largely to sustain the popularity of the president, tending also to insure his re-election. Nor was the nation less prosperous at home than the government fortunate abroad. Abundant harvests rewarded the labor of the farmer, and imparted activity to commerce; while the rapid extension of the manufacturing interest gave employment to thousands, whose industry would have been unprofitably devoted to agriculture, and furnished a home market for the productions of the soil. The domestic policy pursued by the two preceding administrations was now beginning to produce the effects anticipated; while the prosperity of the country at the close of President Jackson's first term, it was insisted by his supporters, was owing to the policy of his administration.

The tone of the government toward foreign nations during General Jackson's administration was moderate but firm, and the honor and interest of the country were maintained in a manner indicative both of spirit and ability. Among other questions that arose during the year 1831 was

one relating to the Falkland islands, which have been often the fruitful source of controversy between civilized nations, and now produced a collision between the United States and Buenos Ayres.

These islands had been leased by the government of Buenos Ayres, to a foreigner named Don Louis Vernet, who undertook to compel sealing vessels to take out licenses to take seals under his authority. Having captured three American vessels, and committed other outrages, when the news arrived in the United States, the president, always prompt to act in vindication of the rights of the nation against foreign aggression, despatched a competent force to protect our sealers in the neighborhood of Cape Horn. Captain Duncan, in the ship-of-war Lexington, had charge of the expedition. On his arrival at the Falkland islands, in December, 1831, he broke up the establishment of Vernet, restored the captured property to the owners, and transported seven of the most prominent actors to Buenos Ayres for trial. The Buenos Ayrean government affected great indignation at the manner in which the settlement had been treated, as it was under the protection of their flag, but they did not think proper to pursue the affair any further.

Chastisement equally prompt was inflicted on the Malays of Quallah Battoo, for a piratical attack on the ship Friendship, of Salem, part of the crew of which vessel they massacred, and it was deemed necessary to punish the offenders in a summary manner. Captain Downes, in the frigate Potomac, was therefore ordered to proceed to Sumatra for the purpose, and arrived at that island in February, 1832. The Malay forts, five in number, were stormed, and after a short resistance by the Malays, of whom between 80 and 100 were killed, and a large number wounded; the town was fired, and the forts destroyed. The contest lasted nearly three hours, and the American loss was 3 killed and 10 wounded.

This chastisement left a salutary impression on the minds of these piratical tribes, and the neighboring rajahs sent deputations to Captain Downes, assuring him of their friendly disposition toward the United States, and expressing their desire to obtain the friendship of the Americans.

The first presidential term of General Jackson was now drawing to a close, and parties arrayed themselves for the approaching election. We have already mentioned the meeting of the anti-masonic convention, in September, 1831, which nominated as candidate for president, William Wirt, and for vice-president, Amos Ellmaker. The national republican convention met at Baltimore in December, 1831, and nominated Henry Clay, of Kentucky, for president, and John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, for vice-president. In May, 1832, a numerous convention of delegates of the administration party met also at Baltimore, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for vice-president, to be placed on the ticket with General Jackson, to whose nomination for re-election no dissent was manifested in