distinguished for their talents, are of opinion that the existence of the federal party is necessary to keep union and order in the republican ranks ; that is, that free government can not exist without parties. This is not my opinion. The first object is to save the cause, which can be done by those who are devoted to it only, and of course by keeping them together; or, in other words, by not disgusting them by too hasty an act of liberality to the other party, thereby breaking the generous spirit of the republican party, and keeping alive that of the federal party. The second is, to prevent the reorganization and revival of the federal party, which, if my hypothesis is true, that the existence of party is not necessary to a free government, and the other opinion which I have advanced is well founded, that the great body of the federal party are republican, will not be found impracticable. To accomplish both objects, and thereby exterminate all party divisions in our country, and give new strength and stability to our government, is a great undertaking, not easily executed. I am, nevertheless, decidedly of opinion that it may be done; and should the experiment fail, I shall conclude that its failure was imputable more to the want of a correct knowledge of all circumstances claiming attention, and of sound judgment in the measures adopted, than to any other cause. I agree, I think, perfectly with you, in the grand object, that moderation should be shown to the federal party, and even a generous policy be adopted toward it; the only difference between us seems to be, how far shall that spirit be indulged in the outset; and it is to make you thoroughly acquainted with my views on this highly important subject, that I have written you so freely upon it."* The first session of the fifteenth Congress commenced on the 1st of December, 1817, and continued until the 20th of April, 1818. The democratic majority in both senate and house was overwhelming, the number of federalists in this Congress being few indeed. And after this period, it may be remarked that former party lines became entirely extinct in the national legislature. Mr. Clay was re-elected speaker of the house of representatives, by a vote nearly unanimous. The vice-president, Daniel D. Tompkins, of course presided in the senate, and in his absence John Gaillard acted as president pro tem. The president's message involved many subjects of great interest to the nation, many of which were taken up and acted upon by Congress. The first act of the session was one to abolish the internal duties imposed during the war, namely, duties on licenses to distillers, on refined sugar, licenses to retailers, sales at auction, on pleasure carriages, and stamps. Most of the measures recommended by the president were approved by a large majority of Congress; and there was much harmony among members of different political views. There was much less crimination and bitterness manifested in debate than had appeared at former sessions of Niles's Register, vol. xxvi., pp. 165, 166. Congress. The compensation for members of both houses was fixed at eight dollars a day, and eight dollars for every twenty miles' travel; and the act of March, 1816, providing a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per annum for each member was repealed. An act granting pensions to officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war was passed at this session, in conformity to the suggestion of the president. The law was modified, and in some measure restricted, by an act two years after, which confined the pensions to those who were in destitute circumstances. But, with this modification, the law afforded relief to a great number, not less than thirteen thousand, who had given their personal services and hazarded their lives for the liberties of the country, in the war of the revolution. This act of justice and equity had been long delayed through the inability of the government, but the feelings of the people were at last strongly expressed in favor of doing something for the benefit of those to whom the country owed so much, and who had never received an adequate compensation for their invaluable services. An additional act was passed on the subject of the importation of slaves into the United States, which modified, in some particulars, the law of 1807 on the same subject, but did not materially change its prohibitions and penalties. And a law was enacted forbidding the citizens of the United States to engage in any hostile enterprise against the subjects of a government which was on terms of peace and amity with the United States. There were some attempts at that time to introduce slaves into the country through southwestern ports; and an expedition was apprehended to be in preparation to invade the Mexican territory. The state of Mississippi was, by a resolution of Congress, admitted into the Union on the 10th of December, 1817, and an act was passed in April following, authorizing the people of Illinois territory to form a constitution and state government, preparatory to admission as a state. An act concerning navigation closed the ports of the United States against any British vessel coming from any colony of Great Britain the ports of which were closed against vessels of the United States. This was done as a retaliatory measure, in consequence of the British government having refused to allow a direct trade from the United States to the British West Indies and other American colonies. An act respecting the flag of the United States fixed the number of stripes, alternate red and white, at thirteen, and directed that the Union be represented by stars equal to the number of states, white in a blue field. Three per cent. of the net proceeds of sales of public lands in Indiana was directed to be paid to that state for the purpose of making roads and canals. The duties on certain manufactures, viz., copper, cut-glass, Russia sheetings, iron, nails, and alum, were increased, and the majority in favor of protection to domestic manufactures was large in this Congress. In the senate all but three, • Bradford. and in the house of representatives all but sixteen members, voted for a bill to continue for seven years the duty laid in 1816 on imports of cotton and woollen manufactures. That duty, in 1816, was fixed at twenty-five per cent. on cottons and woollens for three years, and the minimum value of a square yard of cotton was then fixed at twenty-five cents. Still the amount of protection afforded by the tariff of 1816 to the manufacturers of cottons and woollens, was not found adequate to the purpose, and the excessive importations of foreign manufactured goods for several years after the peace, prostrated numerous American manufacturers, and spread ruin and desolation among the industrious classes, including agriculturists as well as mechanics and manufacturers. The bankruptcies among the mercantile portion of the community were also extensive. The subject of internal improvements by the general government was discussed in Congress at this session. A committee who had the subject under consideration reported, that "the dividends of the United States in the national bank be appropriated to such objects;" but there was a strong opposition to the measure; and after repeated debates, relating principally to the constitutionality of such appropriations, the subject was postponed to a future day. And yet a vote was taken in the house, at one stage of the bill, when there appeared a majority of fifteen in favor of appropriating the public funds for canals, and for military and postroads. The speaker, Mr. Clay, was one of the ablest advocates of internal improvement, but it was understood that the opinion and influence of the president were against the measure. A motion was made in the house of representatives, when in committee of the whole, by the speaker, Mr. Clay, for a mission to South America, to express the sympathy of the government of the United States for the colonies there which had declared their independence, with a view to enter into friendly political relations with them at a future day. The specific appropriation was to provide for a minister to Buenos Ayres and the provinces of La Plata, should the executive deem it expedient and proper to appoint one. The proposition was rejected by a vote of 115 to 45. The inhabitants of Spanish America had long been in a degraded condition, and subject to oppression by the mother-country. Their situation was commiserated by our citizens, and they were generally desirous that the people of that section of America might succeed in throwing off the Spanish yoke, and obtaining their independence. But the policy and propriety of a formal declaration in their favor by the government of the United States, at that period, and in their then unsettled state, was doubted both in Congress and by a large portion of the people. Mr. Clay's speech in favor of the measure, however, was marked by statesmanlike views and philanthropic and liberal feelings; which he expressed in his usual style of eloquence and powerful argument. He was answered by Mr. Forsyth, of Georgia, who opposed the projected measure with great ability. The views of Mr. Clay were subsequetly sanctioned by the course of events, which resulted in South American independence. The president, soon after the adjournment of Congress, visited the towns and coasts of Chesapeake bay, for the purpose of examining into the state of the forts and other means of defence in that quarter, and the proper location for a naval depôt. Having accomplished the principal object of his tour, he returned to Washington on the 17th of June, through the interior of Virginia. A treaty having been concluded between the United States and Sweden, which was negotiated by Mr. Jonathan Russell, minister to Stockholm, the same was ratified by the president and senate, in May, 1818. During this year, and while negotiations for a treaty with Spain were pending, serious difficulties arose in Florida, on account of the invasion of the territory then in possession of the Spanish government, by United States troops under General Andrew Jackson, and of the seizure of the fortified towns of St. Marks and Pensacola. General Jackson had been directed to subdue the Seminole Indians, who were then troublesome to the people of the United States in Alabama and vicinity, and strong measures were deemed advisable and necessary by him to effect the object of the government. His excuse for entering the Spanish territory was, that the hostile Indians fled to the Spanish commanders for protection; that they were encouraged by them; and that the safety of the inhabitants in that part of the United States required such proceedings. The president afterward caused the instructions given to General Jackson to be laid before Congress; and he also gave orders immediately for the restoration of the forts and places to the Spanish authorities. Congress again assembled on the 16th of November, 1818, and continued in session until the 3d of March, 1819, when their term of service expired. The state of Illinois was admitted into the Union, by a resolution passed on the 3d of December, 1818. The people of Alabama were authorized to form a constitution and state government, preparatory to admission as a state. An act was passed establishing a territorial government for Arkansas, then a part of the territory of Missouri. The citizens of Michigan territory were authorized to elect a delegate to Congress. Other important laws were the following: To protect the commerce of the United States, and to punish piracy; to regulate the duties on imported wines, reducing the rates thereon; to provide for the civilization of the Indian tribes adjoining the frontiers, by which the president was authorized to employ suitable persons to teach and encourage them in agriculture, and also to instruct their children in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and ten thousand dollars were appropriated for such purpose; an additional act concerning the coasting trade; an act to authorize the president to take possession of East and West Florida, and to establish a temporary government therein; and an act to provide for the prompt settlement of public accounts. The conduct of General Jackson with regard to the Seminole war in Florida, was a subject of inquiry in both houses of Congress. In the house of representatives a report was made on the subject by the committee on military affairs, disapproving of the general's proceedings, and concluding with resolutions of censure. After an able and protracted debate, the report and resolutions were rejected by a large majority. A treaty with Spain was concluded at Washington on the 22d of February, 1819, by John Quincy Adams, secretary of state, on the part of the United States, and Don Luis de Onis on the part of Spain, by which East and West Florida, with all the islands adjacent, were ceded by Spain to the United States. The boundary between the territories of the two powers was also settled by this treaty. A sum not exceeding five millions of dollars was to be paid by the United States, out of the proceeds of sales of lands in Florida, or in stock, or money, to citizens of the United States, on account of former spoliations on American commerce by Spanish vessels-of-war. This treaty was ratified by the king of Spain in Octo ber, 1820. A convention was concluded between the United States and Great Britain, in October, 1818, and afterward ratified by both governments; but the subject of impressment was not embraced in the treaty, nor that of the trade between the United States and the British colonies, though both points were urged by the negotiators on the part of the United States. The principal articles related to the Newfoundland and other fisheries, to the northern boundary line between the territories of each nation, from the lake of the Woods to the Rocky mountains; to the renewal and continuance of the convention of 1815 for the term of ten years; and to the restoration of slaves belonging to citizens of the United States, taken in the course of the war of 1812, as formerly stipulated by the treaty of Ghent. During the summer of 1819, the president made a tour through the southern section of the country, for similar objects to those which had induced his visit to the north in 1817. In his southern tour the president visited Charleston, Savannah, and Augusta; after which he proceeded through the Cherokee nation to Nashville, Tennessee, and thence to Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky; returning to Washington in the month of August. The attention of the government continued to be directed chiefly to the financial concerns of the country, by effecting sales of the public lands, and reducing the national debt, as well as to a gradual completion of fortifications for defence. The demands on the treasury had increased, on account of the great number of pensioners under the law of 1818. More than a million of dollars were paid to the veterans of the revolution in one year; and the revenue arising from imports in 1817 was less than in the |