380 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



appointed. The differences between the two governments, however, 

 grew more serious, and shortly after, when general Pinckney was 

 sent by the president to I ranee as ministtr plenipotentiary, the di- 

 rectory ordered him to quit the country immediately. In fact their 

 conduct was equal to a declaration of war, as they authorized their 

 vessels of war to capture American merchantmen on the high seas. 



In 1797, Washington's second term of service as president ex- 

 pired, and he declined a re-election. Candidates for that high office 

 were immediately put in nomination by the opposite parties. The 

 Hon. John Adams was supported by the federal, and the Hon. Tho- 

 mas Jefferson by the democratic party. The former received the 

 greatest number of votes and was elected president. Mr. Jefferson 

 was chosen vice-president. 



One of the first acts of the new president was to despatch three 

 commissioners to France, to endeavour to procure an amicable set- 

 tlement of the differences with that country. Under various pretexts 

 the directory refused to accredit these ministers in their official capa- 

 city. They, however, gave them to understand through indirect 

 means, that no negociations could be entered into, until the American 

 government should agree to give to France pecuniary satisfaction for 

 the wrongs pretended to have been inflicted on her. This proposition 

 was rejected with becoming indignation, and after the directory had 

 made use of numerous insulting but unavailing threats, to frighten 

 the commissioners into their terms, they thought fit to order two of 

 them to quit their territories. The third, Mr. Gerry, was permitted 

 to remain, and invited to renew the discussions. This treatment of 

 their ministers excited the warmest resentment in the breasts of the 

 American people. As war appeared now unavoidable, congress made 

 preparations, by authorizing the raising of a body of troops; and 

 general Washington was once more called into public life, to take 

 the command of the army. French vessels of war and privateers 

 from St. Domingo had captured a number of American merchant- 

 men, and reprisals were now authorized by the American govern- 

 ment. On the 9th of February, 1799, a very severe action was 

 fought between the American frigate Constellation, captain Truxton, 

 of 36 guns, and the French frigate L' Insurgent, of 40 guns. After 

 fighting for an hour and a quarter, the Ficnch ship struck. Shortly 

 after, captain Truxton had another action with a French ship of 54 

 guns, which he silenced, and would have captured, but owing to the 

 disabled condition of his own vessel, he was unable to give chase. 

 This determined conduct of the American government produced its 

 effect on that of France. They informed the president that if he 

 would appoint new commissioners, they snould be acknowledged and 

 respected. Although the administration had determined that the next 

 propositions for peace should be discussed in the United States, yet 

 the president saw fit to appoint plenipotentiaries to repair to Paris. 

 These ministers signed a treaty of peace on the 3d of September, 

 18:0, and thus terminated the war with France. 



During all this time party divisions continued to increase. The 

 veneration of the people for the character of Washington, was too 

 great to be weakened by the open attacks or secret insinuations of his 

 enemies. But his death, which occurred on the 15th of December, 

 1799, was a great blow to the federal party. The passions of the 

 people, though not to be excited against Washington, were easily 

 inflamed against the members of his administration. The war with 



