UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 381 



France obliged the government to impose taxes. These were loudly 

 complained of as oppressive, and the tax on whiskey occasioned an 

 «pen insurrection in the western parts of Pennsylvania. Although 

 this was easily quelled, the spirit of opposition to the government 

 remained. The alien and sedition laws were likewise causes of 

 great complaint. The former prevented foreigners from being na- 

 turalized in less than fourteen years. The latter provided for the 

 punishment of libels on the government and its officers. The gene- 

 ral carriage of president Adams was haughty and unpopular; and his 

 treatment of general Hamilton, and several others of Washington^ 

 most trusty ministers, gave considerable offence to many of the 

 federal party. 



On the 4th of March, 1801, president Adams's time expired, and 

 at the new election the Hon. Thomas Jefferson had a majority of 

 eight electoral votes, and was chosen chief magistrate. The Hon, 

 Aaron Burr was elected vice-president. 



From the conclusion of the revolutionary war, the commerce of the 

 United States had been harassed by the depredations of the Barbary 

 powers. A number of ships had been captured, and a number of 

 American citizens were detained as prisoners. The treatment these 

 latter experienced was frequently barbarous in the extreme. Several 

 treaties were concluded at different times, in which, after the cus- 

 tom of the European powers, the government engaged to pay them 

 an annual tribute. If this did not arrive regularly, hostilities were 

 recommenced. In 1801, the bashaw of Tripoli demanded an increase 

 of his tribute, which being refused, he issued a declaration of war, 

 and his cruisers commenced their depredations on the American 

 commerce. Upon receipt of this information, the president despatch- 

 ed a small fleet, of three frigates and a sloop of war, under commo- 

 dore Dale, to the Mediterranean. In August, in that year, a very 

 severe engagement was fought off Malta, between a Tripolitan crui- 

 ser of 14 guns, and the United States' schooner Enterprize, captain 

 Sterrett, of 12 guns. After fighting for three hours, the Tripolitan 

 struck. Having completely dismantled her, captain Sterrett ordered 

 her home to Tripoli, where her arrival, in so shattered a conditio^ 

 excited considerable alarm. The squadron remained in the Mediter- 

 ranean during the year 1802, but as their orders were merely to act 

 on the delensive, no events of importance occurred. As the depre- 

 dations of the Tripolitans were, however, still continued, the Ame- 

 rican government, in 1803, sent out a reinforcement of several ves= 

 sels, and gave the command of the fleet to commodore Preble, with 

 orders to commence offensive operations. About this time the em- 

 peror of Morocco appeared disposed to take part with the bashaw of 

 Tripoli. He actually committed several acts of hostility, and had it 

 not been for the determined conduct of the American commodore, a 

 war would doubtless have taken place. The American commander 

 appeared off the town of Tangier with his whole fleet, and threaten- 

 ed them with a bombardment. This intimidated the emperor, and 

 an amicable adjustment of differences was effected. The fleet now 

 returned to Tripoli, where they sustained a considerable loss in the 

 capture of the Philadelphia frigate of 44 guns. In pursuing a crui- 

 ser into the harbour, she ran on a rock, whence they were unable to 

 extricate her. She defended herself for four hours against the Tri- 

 politan gun-boats, but was finally obliged to surrender. The Tripo- 

 litans soon got her off, and towed her into the harbour, She did no^ 



Vol. IE q Q 



