the government; and that separation, which, perhaps, was a very distant and problematical event, is now near, and certain, and determined in the mind of every man." CHAPTER VI. GENERAL WAYNE'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE NORTH-WESTERN INDIANS.-DEFEAT OF THE CONFEDERATE TRIBES AT THE MIAMI RAPIDS.-NATURALIZATION LAWS. THE DEMOCRATIC CLUBS.-HAMILTON'S RESIGNATION.-THE BRITISH TREATY: ITS RATIFICATION: POPULAR IN DIGNATION.-RANDOLPH'S RESIGNATION THE north-western Indians, unmolested by any important military expedition since their signal victory over St. Clair, had grown continually more insolent and exacting in their demands. The progress of western settlements was impeded by savage inroads: the natives considered all white emigrants from the east as encroachers, and, rendered confident by late successes, seemed rather to court hostilities. It finally became essential to oppose a forcible check to their ravages. To guard against the possibility of a second defeat, the campaign of 1794 was preceded by the fortification of military posts at Greenville, on the Miami, and at the spot rendered memorable by St. Clair's defeat. The latter was named Fort Recovery. The preceding winter and spring were occupied in these works, and in the collection of an army, the command of which was bestowed upon General Wayne. On the 30th of June, 1794, the strength of the position at Fort Recovery was tested by a fierce attack on the part of the Indians, assisted by a number of whitesEnglish or Canadians. The place was successfully defended, although not without heavy loss. In the month of August active operations were commenced. "When the army was once put in motion, important and decisive events rapidly succeeded. The march was directed into the heart of the Indian settlements on the Miami, now called Maumee, a river emptying into the western extremity of Lake Erie. Where the beautiful stream Au Glaise empties into the river, a fort was immeVOL. IV.-50 diately erected, and named Fort Defiance. From this post General Wayne sent emissaries to invite the hostile nations to negotiation, but the pride and rancour of the Indians prevented any favourable results. Little Turtle, indeed, seemed to forebode the impending storm, and advised the acceptance of the terms offered. 'The Americans,' said he, 'are now led by a chief who never sleeps: the night and the day are alike to him. Think well of it. * There is something whispers me it would be prudent to listen to his offers of peace.""* Wayne was commonly called by the Indians the "Black Snake:" another soubriquet, bestowed upon him by his own followers, was that of "Mad Anthony." The American camp was posted in the midst of such extensive and highly cultivated fields of corn as excited the admiration and astonishment of the invaders. The country "presented for miles the appearance of a single village, and rich corn-fields spread on either side." The Indians had retreated down the river from their settlement, upon the advance of the army, and had taken up a position in the immediate vicinity of a British fort, near the Miami rapids. This was one of those posts retained by Great Britain in defiance of former treaties, and constituted, as was generally believed, a dépôt where the Indians could procure arms and counsel, if not direct assistance. General Wayne attacked the enemy in their position, on the 20th of August. The Indians fought bravely: skilled in the use of firearms, and somewhat familiar with the tactics of modern warfare, they were far different opponents from what they had been in earlier times. Their array, however, was broken by a charge of bayonets, and an entire rout ensued. The powerful confederacy was, for the time, annihilated; and the Americans, retracing their steps, spent some time in laying waste the fields and settlements of the wretched savages. Garrisons were posted at the forts within the Indian districts, and the army retired to Greenville for winter-quarters. The more important proceedings of congress, at the winter session of 1794-5, related to the naturalization laws-which were established as at present, requiring five years' residence in the United States, a declaration of intention three years previous to the final application, and one years' residence in the state where the petition is granted;—and the establishment of a system for the appropria tion of surplus revenue for the reduction of the national debt. Indian Races of America. A lengthy and excited debate arose early in the session, upon the question as to what action should be taken in reply to certain remarks in a message of the president, relative to the democratic clubs. In adverting to the circumstances attendant upon the excise tumults, Washington alluded to these associations, as "self-created societies," whose influence had been perniciously extended in oppo sition to the power and authority of government. The senate concurred in this denunciation; the house of representatives compromised the matter in dispute by a general resolution, condemning the action of individuals or societies, which should have resulted in misrepresentations of the proceedings of government, or have countenanced resistance to lawful authority. It was at this session that Alexander Hamilton resigned his office as secretary of the treasury, and General Knox that of secretary of war. Oliver Wolcott, an officer connected with the treasury department, succeeded the former; the place of the latter was occupied by Timothy Pickering, former post-master general. It is said that the principal motive for retirement, on the part of both these distinguished officials, was pecuniary necessity, the pay awarded for their public services being grossly inadequate. A special session of the senate was called early in June, 1795, to deliberate upon a treaty recently arranged between Jay, the American ambassador extraordinary, and the British minister, Lord Grenville. Great Britain, it was found, would consent to few concessions; the most objectionable of her claims were still insisted upon, or left open; and the commercial privileges yielded to America were generally accompanied by onerous restrictions or conditions. She agreed to give up possession of the western posts upon security for payment of debts due to British subjects before the revolution. A reciprocal agreement provided for indemnity in all cases of illegal seizures. With respect to freedom of commerce, the right to trade with the British West Indies was restricted to vessels not exceeding seventy tons measurement, a privilege counterbalanced by a prohibition of any exportation of articles similar to those produced in those colonies, from America to Europe. A wide discretion was still claimed respecting the right to seize supplies destined for any country with which England should be engaged in hostilities. Such articles as were not clearly "contraband of war," were, it is true, to be paid for if seized. No indemnity could be procured for those who had suffered loss from the abduction of slaves by the British during the war; and the right to impress subjects of the king, if found on board American vessels, was insisted upon, and remained undecided. Goods belonging to an enemy were still claimed by England to be liable to seizure on board the vessels of a neutral. The treaty was approved by a two-thirds vote of the senate, (objection being taken to the article relating to the West India trade, upon which action was suspended,) and received the ratification of the president on the 14th day of August, notwithstanding a storm of popular indignation, which had broken out upon its publication. The terms agreed upon fell so far short of the expectations or wishes of the people, that meetings were every where held, and violent denunciatory resolutions passed. A memorial accompanied the ratification, protesting against the claim, enforced by recent orders of admiralty, respecting the indiscriminate seizure of provisions which might be destined for the relief of an enemy. At this time, certain private communications between Mr. Edmund Randolph, the secretary of state, and Fauchet, the successor of Genet as ambassador from France, having come to the knowledge of the British government by an intercepted dispatch, had been made known to the president. The tendency of these disclosures was to reflect upon the secretary an imputation of double-dealing, and of some unwarrantable propositions. He accordingly resigned his office, at the same time entering into an elaborate defence of his conduct, and indignantly denying the validity of conclusions adopted by his political opponents. A discussion of the merits of the case is entirely beyond our limits, and it may, indeed, be doubted whether we have means for arriving at a determinate opinion respecting the affair. CHAPTER VII. INDIAN TREATY AT FORT GREENVILLE.- -TREATIES WITH ALGIERS AND SPAIN: THE MISSISSIPPI OPENED TO AMERICAN TRADE. DEBATE IN CONGRESS UPON JAY'S BRITISH TREATY. TENNESSEE ADMITTED INTO THE UNION. FRENCH PROCEEDINGS IN RESPECT TO THE -WASHINGTON'S RETIREMENT FROM OF- THE Indians of the north-west, finally convinced of the superior power of the United States, and learning that their old allies, the British, were about to evacuate the western military posts, expressed a willingness to treat pacifically. A great meeting was brought about at Fort Greenville at the beginning of August, 1795, at which General Wayne, on behalf of the United States, entered into a definite agreement with the principal chiefs respecting future bounda ries, &c. The Indians gave up all claim to an immense tract included in the present state of Ohio, together with other lands farther west. Before the next session of congress very important treaties were also negotiated with the Dey of Algiers, and with the Spanish government. In common with several European nations, the United States submitted to the disgraceful imposition of a heavy tribute, in order to secure safety for her commerce from the attacks of the Algerine corsairs, and for the release of prisoners still held in captivity, victims of former piracies. With Spain more honourable arrangements were established. The boundaries of her provinces of Florida and Louisiana were assigned, and free navigation throughout the Mississippi was secured to the citizens of the United States. These several treaties having been ratified by the senate and president, together with that concluded with Great Britain, were brought before the house of representatives, at its winter session, for the purpose of such action being taken, and such appropriations made, as should give them full effect. Those relating to Indian affairs, Algiers, and Spain, were readily disposed of: the English treaty called forth all the fury of the opposition. A previous refusal |