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the United States; and his practices for a time corresponded with his language.

About this period, the Executive of the French government made known to the President their wishes that Mr. Morris might be recalled. He immediately complied with their request, and nominated Colonel Monroe of Virginia as his successor; an appointment peculiarly pleasing to the friends of France.

The task of the Executive was rendered still more delicate, arduous and difficult, by the conduct of Great Britain.

The court of London had declined a treaty with Congress under the old confederation. At the commencement of the federal government, the administration was disposed to negotiate with Great Britain, without committing the honour of the nation. Mr. Governeur Morris, who was in England on private business, was directed to open an informal conference with members of the British cabinet on the subject of American affairs. With much address he executed this commission, but to little purpose. He informed the President, that the Duke of Leeds and Mr. Pitt manifested à disposition to live on terms of amity and friendship with the United States; but discovered no inclination to enter into a commercial treaty with them; that they complained of the neglect of the American government to execute the stipulations of the treaty of peace, for which neglect they justified their retention of the Western Posts.

In this situation the French revolution found

Great Britain and the United States. At the commencement of the war between France and England, various circumstances indicated the probability that America would be brought into the contention with Britain.

The warm and animated expressions of fraternity made by the American people towards France, the festivals in celebration of French victories, and the manifest partiality which many discovered for her in the management of the war, probably led the British cabinet to think that the United States were disposed to become parties in the war, and induced them to adopt measures to meet this hostile spirit. On the other hand, the unfriendly indications of the English court, and the impressments of American seamen in the British ports, in addition to the common vexation of neutrals on the high seas, and the attempt to starve France by carrying American provision vessels into English ports, was so much fuel to feed the passions of the Americans already in a blaze.

In this state of national affairs, the President met Congress on the 4th of December 1793. In the speech delivered on this interesting occasion, he thus noticed his re-election to the presidency.

"Since the commencement of the term for which I have been again called into office, no fit occasion has arisen for expressing to my fellow citizens at large, the deep and respectful sense which I feel of the renewed testimony of public approbation. While, on the one hand, it awakened my gratitude for all those instances of affec

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tionate partiality with which I have been honoured by my country; on the other,. it could not prevent an earnest wish for that retirement, from which no private consideration should ever have. But influenced by the belief that my conduct would be estimated according to its real motives, and that the people, and the authorities derived from them, would support exertions, having nothing personal for their object, I have obeyed the suffrage which commanded me to resume the executive power; and I humbly implore that Being on whose will the fate of nations depends, to crown with success our mutual endeavours for the general happiness." He then made the following communications respecting the measures of the administration.

"As soon as the war in Europe had embraced those powers with whom the United States have the most extensive relations, there was reason to apprehend that our intercourse with them might be interrupted, and our disposition for peace drawn in question, by suspicious too often entertained by belligerent nations. It seemed therefore to be my duty to admonish our citizens of the consequence of a contraband trade, and of hostile acts to any of the partics, and to obtain by a declaration of the existing state of things, an easier admission of our rights to the immunities belonging to our situation. Under these impressions the proclamation was issued.

"In this posture of affairs, both new and delicate, I resolved to adopt general rules, which should conform to the treaties, and assert the pri

vileges of the United States. These were reduced into a system, which shall be communicated to you.".

After noticing those legislive provisions which his experience dictated as necessary, he proceeded:

"I cannot recommend to your notice measures for the fulfilment of our duties to the rest of the world, without again pressing upon you the necessity of placing yourselves in a situation of complete defence, and of exacting from them the fulfilment of their duties towards us. The United States ought not to indulge a persuasion, that, contrary to the order of human events, they will for ever keep at a distance those painful appeals to arms with which the history of every other nation abounds. There is a rank due to the United States among nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war."

After advising the greatest appropriations for the redemption of the public debt, which the resources of the country would permit, he in the following manner concluded the address.

"The several subjects to which I have now referred open a wide range to your deliberations, and involve some of the choicest interests of our common country. Permit me to bring to your remembrance the magnitude of your task. Without an unprejudiced coolness, the welfare of the

government may be hazarded; without harmony, as far as consists with freedom of sentiment, its dignity may be lost. But as the legislative proceedings of the United States will never, I trust, be reproached for the want of temper or of candour, so shall not the public happiness languish from the want of my strenuous and warmest cooperations."

The party in the United States opposed to the general system on which the federal government had been administered, by associating the cause of France with their own, had increased their members in the present Congress; but they were not prepared to attack the discernment or the patriotism of the President. The House of Representatives, in their answer, thus noticed the unanimous suffrage by which General Washington had a second time been elected to the presidency.

"It was with equal sincerity and promptitude they embraced the occasion for expressing to him their congratulations on so distinguished a testimony of public approbation, and their entire confidence in the purity and patriotism of the motives which had produced this obedience to the voice of his country. It is to virtues that have commanded long and universal reverence, and services from which have flowed great and lasting benefits, that the tribute of praise may be paid without the reproach of flattery; and it is from the same sources that the fairest anticipations may be derived in favour of public happiness." The proclamation of neutrality was in a cautious manner approved, and a disposition was expressed to support the Executive.

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