The Life of George Washington

Chapter 32. Executive Vigor Confronts War, Rebellion, and Treaty-making (January 1794 to June 1796)

GW_401-450.indd 410 5/2/12 8:00 AM CHAPTER 32 Executive Vigor Confronts War, Rebellion, and Treaty-making (January 1794 to June 1796) Genet recalled.-Is succeeded by Mr. Fauchet.-Mr. Morris recalled.- Is succeeded by Mr. Monroe.-Kentucky Remonstrance.-Intemperate Resolutions ofthepeople ofthat State.- General wayneDefeats the Indians on theMiamis. -Insurrection in thewestern part ofPennsylvania. -Quelled.-Meeting ofCongress.-President's Speech.-Democratic Societies.-Resignation ofColonelHamilton.- He is succeeded byMr. Wolcott.Resignation of General Knox.-He is succeeded by Colonel Pickering. - Treaty with Great Britain.- Conditionally ratified. - Is unpopular. - Mr. Randolph resigns.-Is succeeded by Colonel Pickering.-Mr. McHenry appointed Secretary of war.- Charges against the President rejected. - Treaty with the Indians.- With Algiers. - With Spain. -Meeting ofCongress.-President's Speech.-Mr. Adet succeeds Mr. Fauchet.- The HouseofRepresentatives call on the Presidentfor papers.-He declines sending them.Debates on the treaty-makingpower.- On the billfor makingappropriations to carry the Treaty with Great Britain into effect.- Congress adjourns.- The President endeavours to procure the liberation ofLafayette. 1794 THAT THE MOST material ofthose measures on which the two great parties in the United States were divided might be presented in one unbroken view, some transactions have been passed over which will now be noticed. The resolution of the President to bear with the insults of Mr. Genet until his appeal to the French government should be fairly tried, was shaken by fresh proofs, received in January, of conduct which could not be tolerated . That minister had deliberately planned two expeditions to be carried on against the dominions ofSpain, and had granted commissions to citizens of the United States, who were privately recruiting troops for the service. The first was destined against the Floridas, and the second against Louisi- GW_401-450.indd 411 5/2/12 8:00 AM ~ Wtlr, Rebellion, and Treaty-making * ana. That against the Floridas, while in progress, was fully developed 1 by the vigilance ofthe legislature ofSouth Carolina, and some of its principal agents were arrested. About the same time, intelligence was received that the expedition against Louisiana, which was to be carried on from Kentucky, down the Ohio, was in equal maturity. Believing further forbearance to be incompatible with the dignity, perhaps with the safety of the United States, the cabinet came to the resolution ofsuperseding his diplomatic functions; and a message was prepared, communicating to Congress the determination to carry this measure into execution, unless it should be disapproved by that body, when the business was arrested by a letter received from Mr. Morris, announcing the recall of this rash minister. His successor, Mr. Faucher, arrived in February, and brought with him strong assurances that his government disapproved the conduct of his predecessor .2 Not long afterwards, the executive of France requested the recall of Mr. Morris. Mr. Monroe, a senator from Virginia, who had embraced the cause ofthe French Republic with ardor, and was particularly acceptable to the party in opposition, was appointed to succeed him.3 The discontents long fomented in the west, had assumed an alarming appearance. A remonstrance from the inhabitants of Kentucky, respecting the navi- May 1794 gation of the Mississippi, was laid before the executive and each branch of the legislature. In the language ofan offended sovereign people, injured by the maladministration ofpublic servants, it demanded the use of the Misr . The opposite of enveloped: removed from concealment, exposed (from the French, developper, to unwrap, unravel, display). 2. Joseph (Jean-Antoine) Faucher (1761-1834), appointed by the Jacobin government of Robespierre as minister plenipotentiary to the United States; he arrived in February 1794· 3· James Monroe (1758-1831) of Virginia, Major in the Continental army, state legislator, Confederation Congressman (1783-86), Anti-Federalist inVirginia ratifYing convention, U.S. Senator (1790-94), ambassador to France 1794 to 1796; later Governor of Virginia (17991802 ), envoy and negotiator for Jefferson in Europe (r80I-6), Secretary of State (r8II-17), Secretary of War (1814-15), fifth President of the United States (1816-25). 4II GW_401-450.indd 412 5/2/12 8:00 AM ~ FATHER AND PRESIDENT OF THE NEW REPUBLIC ;>eo sissippi as a natural right, which had been unjustly withheld; and charged the government openly with being under the influence of a local policy, which had prevented its making a single real effort for the security of a good which was all-essential to the western people. Several intemperate aspersions on the legislature and executive were accompanied by...