ports of which were closed to vessels of the United States. An act was passed establishing the flag of the United States; and defining it as composed of thirteen stripes, of alternate red and white, and that the Union be represented by one star for each state, the stars to be white in a blue field. Protection was granted on certain manufactures: copper, cut-glass, Russia sheetings, iron, nails, and other articles. The duties on manufactured cotton and woolen goods were continued for a period of seven years. The tariff of 1816, on the two articles of cotton and woolen goods, had been fixed at twenty-five per cent., and the minimum value of a square yard of cotton established at twenty-five cents; still, vast quantities of manufactured goods were brought to this country, to the demoralization of manufacturing industries and the bankruptcy of those who had engaged in them. The subject of internal improvements was discussed in Congress at this session, and developed opposition to governmental supervision of such works.

Serious difficulties arose with Spain in the early part of 1818, caused by the invasion of the Floridas by General Jackson, in pursuit of Indians, who had been making warlike incursions into the southern portion of the United States. In the course of his expedition General Jackson captured and took possession of several Spanish forts, alleging as a reason, that they had given support and aid to the fleeing Indians, and in no other manner could a period be put to their depredations. At this time, treaty negotiations were in progress with Spain, which were interrupted by the invasion of the territory belonging to that government.* By direction of the President the captured posts were restored to the Spanish authorities. the 22d of February, 1819, a treaty was entered into with Spain, by which that power ceded to the United States East and West Florida, with all the islands adjacent, for the sum of five millions of dollars. This treaty covered the Spanish possessions in the southeast, but left a large territory subject to Spain in the west and southwest. Not until October, 1820, was this treaty ratified by the king of Spain. In the meantime Mexico had declared and accomplished her independence from the dominion of Spain, and the ratification of the treaty, which called for a definitive settlement of the question of western boundary, as well as the cession of the Floridas, did not accomplish all that was expected of it. Eight years later the boundary line was determined with Mexico. In the discussion of the provisions to be inserted in the treaty with Spain, that government was prepared to release a considerable body of territory to the westward of the Mississippi river; but strenuous objection being made by statesmen in the eastern states, to any enlargement of the Union in the southwest, it was finally decided to limit the extension in that direction. While this had an effect in preventing the extension of slavery in that direction for a term of years, eventually

* See Life of Andrew Jackson.

it led to the war with Mexico, which had as its direct object the increase of slave territory.

In 1818 a treaty convention was concluded by the United States and Great Britain, relative to the Newfoundland and other fisheries, the northwestern boundary line,-between the Lake of the Woods and the Rocky mountains, and to the renewal and extension of the treaty of 1815 for the term of ten years; also for the restoration of slaves taken in the war of 1812. Although the subject of impressment of seamen was urged upon the British government, no action was taken on that question. During the summer of 1819 the President made a tour through the southern states, having for its object inspection of military posts and fortifications in that portion of the Union. In the course of his journey he visited Charleston, Savannah, and Augusta, thence through the territory occupied by the Cherokee nation, to Nashville; thence to Louisville and Lexington; reaching Washington on his return in August.

The first term of the Monroe administration was signalized by great depression in the money market; business was stagnated, and manufactures were well nigh suspended. Says Thomas H. Benton in his Thirty Years in the United States Senate: "The bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, and before 1820 had performed one of its cycles of delusion and bubble prosperity, followed by actual and widespread calamity. The whole paper system, of which it was the head and the citadel, after a vast expansion, had suddenly collapsed, spreading desolation over the land, and carrying ruin to debtors. The years 1819 and 1820 were a period of gloom and agony. No money, either gold or silver; no measure or standard of value, left remaining. The local banks, -all but those of New England,—after a brief resumption of specie payments, again sank into a state of suspension. The bank of the United States, created as a remedy for all these evils, now at the head of the evil, prostrate and helpless, with no power left but that of suing its debtors, and selling their property, and purchasing for itself at its own nominal price. No price for property or produce. No sales but those of the sheriff and the marshal. No purchasers at execution sales but the creditor, or some hoarder of money. No employment for industryno demand for labor-no sale for the product of the farm-no sound of the hammer, but that of the auctioneer, knocking down property. Stop laws -property laws-replevin laws-stay laws-loan office laws-the intervention of the legislature between the creditor and the debtor; this was the business of legislation in three-fourths of the states of the Union-of all south and west of New England. No medium of exchange but depreciated paper; no change even, but little bits of foul paper, marked so many cents, and signed by some tradesman, barber, or inn-keeper; exchanges deranged to the extent of fifty or one hundred per cent. Distress, the universal cry

of the people; relief, the universal demand thundered at the doors of all legislation, state and federal."

The attention of the government was continually directed to the finan cial concerns of the country, stability in the currency being deemed the chief end to be secured. With this in view, sales of government lands were made, and the proceeds applied to extinguishment of the public debt. Measures were taken looking to further protection of manufactures. The demands on the treasury were greatly increased by the passage of the pension law, more than one million of dollars being paid out of the federal treasury on this one account. The increase of the tariff on foreign productions, while it encouraged home industry, did not increase the revenue derived from the tax on imports; and the financial matters were in an embarrassed condition.

Mr. Clay was elected speaker of the sixteenth Congress, which met December 6, 1819, in which honorable position he had served through sev eral preceding sessions. On the 14th, Alabama was admitted into the Union; and on the 15th of March following, Maine also became a state. Previous to this time Maine had, since the year 1652, been a part of Massachusetts. An act was also passed, on the 6th of March, 1820, authorizing the citizens of Missouri to form a constitution and organize a state government, preparatory to admission into the Union. An excited debate followed the proposition to insist, as a condition precedent, that the future removal or conveyance of slaves into that territory be prohibited. The bill was finally passed without restriction. The second session of the sixteenth Congress began November 13, 1820. At the opening of the session Mr. Clay tendered his resignation, private business of an urgent nature preventing his further serving as speaker of the House. He was succeeded by John W. Taylor, of New York. The most important question before Congress was the admission of Missouri as a state in accordance with the action of the previous session. At that session Mr. Clay had introduced a resolution of compromise, by which slavery was to be forever prohibited in that part of the territory west of the Missouri river and lying north of thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes north latitude.

In the early part of the current session the constitution framed by the citizens of Missouri, was presented to Congress, and was referred to a committee, which reported it to be republican in form; and advised that Missouri be admitted into the sisterhood of states. Objection was made to such disposal of the question, on the ground that the constitution of the state permitted slavery; and further, that it contained a provision which would prove inimical to free persons of color, recognized as citizens in some of the states. Debate was continued for a week, with great heat on both sides. A majority of fourteen in the House decided that Missouri could not be received into the Union under the constitution presented. This vote was