honor of the United States was preserved. The formidable armies in Canada had been baffled and defeated, the capture of Washington followed immediately by the withdrawal of the invaders, and a strong point made which had its effect in substantially gaining the cause that had brought on the war, for the Americans, in the treaty negotiations in progress. The British now turned their attention to the Mississippi river and the coast of the gulf of Mexico. Nov. 7 Gen. Jackson takes Pensacola from the British, who were laboring to raise the Indians to war again. Dec. 15-A British fleet captures the flotilla on Lake Borgne, La. 22-12,000 British troops land below New Orleans, and repulse the Americans. 24-The treaty of peace is signed at Ghent, but is not known in America until Feb. following. 1815. Jan. 8-Gen. Jackson, with only 6,000 men, had intrenched himself in front of the British, who now made an assault on his potion. They were repulsed with great slaughter, losing their general, Packingham, and near 2,000 men. Jackson lost but 7 killed and 6 wounded. The British retreated to their vessels. "15-The U. S. frigate President captured by four English vessels. Feb. 18-Ft. Bowyer, near Pensacola, Fla., invested by the British fleet. It surrenders on the 21st. 17-The treaty of peace which arrived at New York on the 11th by the British sloop of war Favorite, ratified by the American government and Peace proclaimed. 24-Congress authorizes the loan of $18,400,000, and the issue of treasury notes to the amount of $25,000,000. 28-The naval war was continued some time longer. The U. S. frigate Constitution captures two British vessels of war, the frigate Cyane and the sloop Levant, off the island of Madeira. In March the U. S. frigate Hornet captured the British brig Penguin, on the coast of Brazil. The British government, elated by their triumph over Bonaparte, their large army accustomed to conquer in Europe, and the fleets set free from the blockade of the Continent, thought to make an easy conquest of America. But all their attempts were defeated. Had peace been made a little later the Americans might have obtained much better terms. This war had been waged under many difficulties by the American administration. The country and its institutions, were new, and there was no such reserved fund of wealth and credit, as is always found in an old and well organized state. They depended largely on commerce, which was almost destroyed by the great naval force of Great Britain, and the embargo policy. Our navy was gallant and successful; but the government lacked the means, and the unanimous support of the people, requisite to increase it to the necessary strength. The administration did not act with the vigor and efficiency calculated to bring all sections and classes to its support, and the people had not yet the experience and knowledge of the value and strength of their own institutions needful to inspire confidence, so that they were critical and difficult to please, and this spirit impaired the efficiency of nearly all government measures. What they undertook could be only imperfectly done. The old soldiers of the Revolution were dead or unfit by age for good service, and time was necessary to train others and ascertain who had the necessary military capacity for conducting operations with success. Yet, under all these great difficulties, the United States came out of the war with the respect of the world, such as it had never before enjoyed. It became formidable to Europe as a great and vigorous power with which it was not safe to trifle. This was still more clear when the government declared war on the Dey of Algiers, one of the pirate princes of the North of Africa, which, for hundreds of years, had made war on the commerce of all nations almost with impunity. Having violated their treaty with us, the President sent out an adequate naval force June 17-19- which captured two Algerine vessels of war, and threatened Algiers. The Dey, intimidated, immediately made peace, giving liberty to all prisoners without ransom, and full satisfaction for the injuries done to our commerce. No European nation had before so humbled these pirates, and it at once raised the credit of our government, and gained us respect and esteem. June 30 The last hostile act at sea took place in the Straits of Sunda, in the East Indies, where the U. S. brig of war Peacock captured the Nautilus, a British sloop of war. Thus the three American vessels at sea when the war closed, each came home crowned with laurels. The British vessels captured during the war numbered 1,750-the American 1,683. The spirit and energy of the Americans, under all their embarrassments, gave an unmistakable indication of the future greatness and power of the United States. 1816. The last two years' experience had taught the government and the people many important lessons by which they hastened to profit. The coast was fortified, the navy increased, manufactures and commerce encouraged, and the best measures that the wisdom of the times could suggest, employed to restore the finances. The violently factious opposition of parties was much moderated by the confidence gained to our government and institu tions, and the evident folly of excessive fears. The Second U. S. Bank was chartered for 20 years, with a capital of $35,000,000. Nov. 5-Governeur Morris, an eminent and excellent American statesman died. Dec. 11-Indiana admitted into the Union as a State. James Monroe was, this autumn, elected President. CHAPTER XXI. HISTORY OF THE U. S. FROM 1817 TO 1846. MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION. A new era for America commenced with this administration, or rather, reached its period of uninterrupted development; for the whole past history of the country had been a preparation for it, but especially so the late war and its results. The failure of the French revolution, and, finally, the failure of Napoleon Bonaparte and the re-establishment of the old monarchy in France, as a result of the excesses, first of the French republic, and then of the military interference of Bonaparte with the existing state of things in Europe, had an important influence in modifying the politics of the republican party in the United States; so that they came partially in Jefferson's administration, and completely by the close of Madison's, to follow the wise and vigorous policy pursued by Washington and the federal party; while the general government and the institutions of the country became deeply imbued with the regard to popular rights, and attention to the interests and will of the people that formed the leading idea of Jefferson and the original democrat, or, as it was then called, the republican party. Thus the two points of supreme importance, vigor in the general government, and security to the people, were happily mingled and wrought into the spirit and form of our institutions. The leading events of Monroe's two administrations were the attention given to internal improvements—among which may be mentioned the Erie canal in New York, and the encouragements to manufactures—the acquisition of Florida from Spain, and a definite settlement of the slavery question (for the next thirty years only, as it proved,) by the Missouri compromise. The people now began to feel and act together, as a single nation, and material progress was rapid. 1817. Mar. 3-The observance of the neutrality laws strictly enjoined on citizens of the United States by Congress. 4-James Monroe, the fifth President, inaugurated. With his administration commences "the era of good feeling," as it was called. The bitterness of party controversy ceased. June 24-Thos. McKean, of Del., signer of the Declaration of Independence, died. Dec. --Mississippi admitted into the Union, and Alabama erected into a territory. -A war broke out with the Seminole Indians, on the borders of Florida. It came near involving us in a war with Spain. Internal taxes are abolished by Congress. 1818. Mar. 18-A law enacted giving pensions to indigent officers and soldiers. April 4-The Flag of the U. S. rearranged; the stripes to represent the thir teen original States, the stars the present number of States. 18-Illinois is authorized to form a state constitution. May 24-Gen. Jackson took Pensacola, Fla., from the Spaniards on account of the support given by them to the Indians. Oct. 20-A treaty of commerce and for settling boundaries is made with England. 1819. Feb. 23-A treaty for the session of Florida ratified by Congress, but not In this year commenced the discussion on the balance between 1820. Feb. 15-Wm. Ellery, of R., I., signer of the Declaration of Independence, died. Mar. 15-Maine admitted into the Union. Aug. 23-Com. Perry, the hero of Lake Erie, died in the West Indies. The 4th census was taken in this year. 1821. Mar. 4-James Monroe inaugurated on his second term. 22-Com. Decatur died at Washington. Aug. 22-Gen. Jackson takes possession of Florida as its Governor. The U. S. government paid $5,000,000 for Florida. The Spanish officers. were reluctant and dilatory in giving up their places, and Gen. Jackson had occasion for his remarkably decisive action in dealing with them. The governor, Don Cavalla, refusing to give up certain papers according to the treaty, he sent him to prison until all the papers were produced, and banished six other Spanish. officers who interfered with him. 1822. June —A commercial treaty is negotiated with France. Capt. Allen, of the U. S. schooner Alligator, engages a band of pirates in the West Indies, captures one of their schooners, and recaptures five American vessels. Capt. Allen is killed. The ports of the West India islands are opened to American commerce by the English government. Com. Truxton, a meritorious naval officer-Gen. Stark, the hero of Bennington, Vt.,-and Wm. Lowndes, a statesman of S. C., died this year. A new arrangement of the ratio of Representation gives one member of Congress to 40,000 inhabitants. 1823. Com. Porter makes a successful expedition against the West Indian pirates. This year our government acknowledged the independence of the South American Republics, and ministers were appointed to Mexico, Columbia, Buenos Ayres, and Chili. A treaty for the mutual suppression of the slave trade was made by Great Britain and the United States. 1824. April -American and Russian commissioners settle the boundaries between the two countries. Aug. 15—Lafayette arrives from France. He was everywhere received as the guest of the people with the utmost affection and reverence. He spent a year visiting all parts of the Union. A presidential election this autumn does not result in a choice, and the House of Representatives made selection of John Quincy Adams, from the candidates, according to a provision of the Constitution, anticipating such a case. A protective tariff was made this year to encourage cotton manufactures. ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 1825. Mar. 4-J. Q. Adams inaugurated sixth President. "--An act of Congress establishes a navy yard at Pensacola, Fla. June 11-Dan. D. Tompkins, Vice-President with Monroe, died. Nov. 10—Com. McDonough, the hero of Lake Champlain, died. 1826. July 4-John Adams and Thos. Jefferson, whose lives were identified with the foundation and development of our institutions, simultaneously died on this day. Sept. 11-Wm. Morgan, an anti-mason, mysteriously disappears, and is never again heard of. |