UNITED STATES.

Period XX.

(ISTINGUISHED FOR JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION

Extending from the inauguration of President Jefferson, 1801, to the inauguration of James Madison as president of the United States, in

1809.

Section I. On the 4th of March, 1801, Mr. Jefferson agreeably to the constitution, was regularly inducted into the office of president of the United States.

At the time of his inauguration, Mr. Jefferson delivered an address, expressive of his political opinions, and the principles by which he designed to shape his administration. These were "Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious, or political: peace, commerce, and honest friendship, with all nations, entangling alliances with none:the support of the State governments in all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestick concerns, and the surest bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies:the preservation of the general government in its whole constitutional vigour, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home, and safety abroad:-a jealous care of the right of election by the people, a mild and safe corrective of abuses which are lopped by the sword of revolution where peaceable remedies are unprovided :-absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority, the vital principle of republicks, from which is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of depotisms :a well disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace, and for the first moments of war, till regulars may relieve them ::-the supremacy of the civil over the military authority:-economy in the publick expense, that labour may be lightly burthened :-the honest payment of our debts, and sacred preservation of the publick faith :-encouragement of agriculture and of commerce as its hand-maid :-the diffusion of information and arraignment

of all abuses at the bar of publick reason :-freedom of religione -freedom of the press :—and freedom of person, under the pro tection of the Habeas Corpus,-and trial by juries impartially selected."-"These principles," added Mr. Jefferson, “should be the creed of our political faith; and should we wander from them in moments of errour or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps, and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety."

Section II. The commencement of Mr. Jefferson's administration was marked by a removal, from responsible and lucrative offices, of a great portion of those whose political opinions were opposed to his own, on the ground that most of the offices at the disposal of the government, had been exclusively bestowed on the ad herents of the opposite party.

In a reply to a remonstrance of merchants of New-Haven, against the removal from office of a federal collector of that port, and the appointment of a gentleman of opposite politicks, the president formally assigned this as the reason of the course he adopted.

"It would have been to me," said he in that reply, "a cir cumstance of great relief, had I found a moderate participation of office in the hands of the majority, (the democratick party.) I would gladly have left to time and accident to raise them to their just share. But their total exclusion calls for prompter correctives. I shall correct the procedure; but that done, return with joy to that state of things, when the only question concerning a candidate shall be, Is he honest? Is he capable? Is he faithful to the constitution ?"

Section III. Congress met on the 8th of December. In his speech at the opening of the session, the president recommended the abolition of the internal taxes-the repeal of the act passed towards the close of Mr. Adams' administration, reorganizing the United States courts, and erecting sixteen new judges-and an enlargement of the rights of naturalization. The debates on these several topicks in both houses of congress were extended to great length, and displayed much eloquence, argu-

ment, and warmth. The recommendation of the president, notwithstanding the opposition, prevailed, and bills in accordance therewith were passed.

The internal taxes, from the time of their establishment, had been extremely unpopular, with the party, which had elevated Mr. Jefferson to the presidency. It was a favourite measure, therefore, of his, to procure their abolition

The national judicial establishment originally consisted of a supreme court, with six judges, who twice a year made a tour of the United States in three circuits. Under this arrangement, great inconveniences were experienced by the court, the bar, and the suitors. The new arrangement in the judicial system, and the increase of judges at the close of Mr. Adams' term, had excited, in a large portion of the citizens, the hope of a more prompt and impartial administration of justice. To that portion of the community the repealing act was a painful disappointment.

Section IV. In 1802, OHIO was admitted by act of congress, as an independent state into the Union.

The state of Ohio derived its name from the river Ohio, which sweeps the southeastern border of the state.

Until 1787, it was inhabited only by Indians, a few Moravians, and trespassers on lands belonging to the publick. By virtue of her charter, the territory was claimed by Virginia, and held by her, although the original charter of Connecticut, extending west to the Pacific Ocean, included a great part of it.

In 1781, the legislature of Virginia ceded to the United States all her rights to the territory northwest of the river Ohio, excepting some few military tracts. In 1788, the first settlement was begun at Marietta, under General Rufus Putnam, from New-England. It had been, the year before, erect⚫d into one district, including the present territories of Michigan, flinois, and Indiana.

Until 1795, the settlement of Ohio was retarded by constant wars with the Indians. But at that time, a general peace with the different tribes, being effected by General Wayne, under Washington, the population of the territory rapidly increased by emigrations from Europe, and still more from New-England.

Section V. The year 1804 was distinguished for an event, which filled a considerable portion of the American people with great grief.

This was the death of Gen. Hamilton, who fell in a duel with Col. Burr, the vice-president of the United States.

Section VI. Mr. Jefferson's first term of of fice ending this year, a new election took place, at which he was re-chosen president, and on the 4th of March again took the oath of office. George Clinton of New-York, was elected vicepresident.

Section VII. During the year which commenced the second of Mr. Jefferson's presidency, a war, which had been continued for several years between the United States and Tripoli, was concluded, and a treaty of peace negotiated by Col. Lear, between the two countries, by which the Tripolitan and American prisoners were exchanged, and the sum of sixty thousand dollars given to the pacha.

The history of this war deserves a place in these pages. The commerce of the United States had been long annoyed by the Tripolitan cruisers-many merchantmen had been taken, and their crews imprisoned and cruelly treated.

As early as 1803, a squadron under Com. Preble had been sent to the Mediterranean, to protect the American commerce, and to bring the corsairs to submission. During the same year, Capt. Bainbridge, in the Philadelphia, joined Com. Preble, and in chasing a cruiser into the harbour of Tripoli, grounded his vessel, and he and his crew were taken prisoners.

Shortly after the surrender of the Philadelphia, the Tripoli tans got her afloat, and warped her into the outward harbour. In this situation, Lieutenant, afterwards Commodore, Decatur, conceived the bold plan of attempting to set her on fire. He had the day before captured a small xebec, laden with fruit and oil, which was bound to Tripoli; and having on board the Enterprize, which he commanded, an old pilot, who understood the Tripolitan language, he suggested his plan to Commodore Preble, who approved of it. He would accept of only twenty men, although a much greater number volunteered, and but one officer, Mr. Morris, a midshipman. With these men, concealed in the bottom of the xebec, on the approach of night, he sailed for the Philadelphia, taking with him the old pilot. On ap