In the course of the year, France, having become the ally of Spain, American citizens, were, by proclamation, deprived of their rights of trade and deposite at New Orleans. The alarm being given, it spread through the country, and soon produced the necessary inquiry, by the president. The official agents of both France, and Spain, resident at Washington, disavowed the authority of a proclamation published by the intendant of his Catholic Majesty on that subject: while it was believed by many, that he had been instigated by Buonaparte; who thus meant to feel the pulse of the American government. No event could have been more injurious to Kentucky, than to be thus excluded from the exercise of a right admitted, and actually enjoyed under a treaty; which, it had been asserted with clamour, was essential to her growth, and almost to her existence. It is true. great sensation was felt; the spirit of the country was roused; and had it been made the cause of war by the govern ment, Kentuckians would have been found among the foremost in the field. But Mr. Jefferson was president of the United States, and force, not a remedy, for a violated right, in his creed, where France, and Buonaparte, might be concerned. Mr. Monroe was sent envoy to Paris, not Madrid, the better to understand this thing, and to seek an accommodation. It was soon ascertained, that Buonaparte claimed Louisiana, and that 5t was for sale. A purchase was effected, from the grand despot,

the master spirit; "who wanted money, and must have it:" And thus, the right of navigation, and deposite, were secured; and peace, the while, preserved. This history necessarily excludes details, which would be appropriate only, in that, of the United States. But before the purchase was announced

[1803.] The year 1803, succeeded, in the order of compu tation, and the seasons; to witness the efforts of the different parties in congress, on the very interesting subject of the Mississippi: and how instances of former federal conduct, which had been virulently censured, were now taken for examples, and imitated; though not avowed, nor applauded, by President Jefferson, and his adherents-the former calumniators. A single instance, among others, will suffice; and that shall consist of the comparison between the appointment of Mr. Monroe, and that of Mr. Jay: they are parallels. The conduct of the dominant party, on the two occasions, if it be desired to ascer ́ tain principle, or estimate character, furnished evidence against itself, not to be mistaken. But what is of more importance, Louisiana being about to be transferred to France, and the court of Spain, unwilling to incur any responsibility, or run any further risk, as to its possession, strongly menaced, restored the rights of navigation, and deposite, agreeably to treaty, with out Buonaparte's order; and thus removed the cause of complaint, and excitement. Some of the federalists, had been for making, the breach of treaty, at once, so palpable, and so injurious, the occasion of immediate war on the Spanish territory: they were thought in error, by acting against their own party, precepts, and example; which prescribed a previous application for redress. While their opponents, deviating from sentiments formerly avowed, became right, by opposition. Not intending to convey the idea, that to be in opposition, was the motive to it; for another will be presented, in which the in ducements may be found.

From Mr. Jefferson, the party took its tone; and without regard to Washington's example, had not his disposition been pacific from nature, it would have been rendered such, by his knowledge, that Buonaparte, was to adjust the trembling X*

VOL. II.

balance. There is no hesitation in saying, that whatever motive preponderated, the course pursued by the president, was substantially correct; and that the purchase of the country, at fifteen millions of dollars, as the alternative of war, had success been, what it rarely is, certain; was wise, and cheap. While, however, the event was uncertain, Kentucky was deeply agitated, and prepared for conflict.

In the month of October congress had assembled, and received confirmation from the president, that the rights of the citizens by treaty, to navigate the Mississippi, and use the port at Orleans, were not only restored, but confirmed, by a purchase of the country.

On the 20th of December, 1803, William C. Claiborne, governor of the Mississippi territory, by proclamation, made known that the government of the United States, was in possession of Louisiana-and thus was consummated the treaty of the 30th of April of the same year. An event of great impor tance to the United States in general, and to Kentucky, in particular. Then, and yet, beneficial; but opening prospects of boundless extent: and such as formerly, and now present perplexing problems, to many of those politicians of the east, whose ardent wishes had been, and still are for a limited territory, whose extended and ample parts, while they filled up an irresistible whole, should also, in their compactness of form, have embraced, the principle of an eternal duration. But it is obvious, that a territory without bounds, is also one, without a centre. And as in natural bodies, were it not for the centripetal force, the centrifugal would prevail; so it may well be apprehended, as to political bodies, that by extent, the principle of attraction, which is but a common sympathy, founded on a perception of common interest, may be converted into that of repulsion, and terminate in dissolution.

What sympathy can exist, beyond the colonial state, between the future inhabitants, of the river, Columbia, and the country of the Pacific ocean, and those of the Atlantic? But this page is too narrow for a discussion of the subject, and it is foregone.

The year, otherwise, seems to have passed on without furnishing topics for this history, until the session of the legislature in November. And even that field, is unusually barren.

The first act to be noticed, is one for the division of Mason county; and the establishment of GREENUP-to take effect from and after the first day of February next ensuing; that is to say, 1804-"Beginning on the Ohio river opposite the mouth of the Scioto river, thence a course so as to include all the branches of Tygert's creek, until it intersects the Fleming line; thence with the Fleming line to the line of Floyd county; thence with the line of Floyd, to Big Sandy, and down that to the Ohio, and with the Ohio, to the beginning."

An act vesting in the United States exclusive jurisdiction over five acres of land, at and on the upper side of the mouth of Licking, for the purpose of an arsenal; reserving to the state the right of reclaiming refugees from justice; was passed.

The representation of the state was regulated at this session; upon a ratio of one representative for every six hundred quali fied electors; which gave sixty-three members to the house. of representatives. An increase of one member only, since the last apportionment.

The amendment, proposed to the constitution of the United States, relative to the election of president and vice president, was adopted and ratified by an act of this year.

The taxes were raised on land, twelve and a half cents per hundred acres of first rate land, and in a similar proportion, on the other classes.

Four separate acts for divorces, were passed-two on the application of the husbands, on complaint that their wives, respectively had left them; and in one case was living in adultery-in the other, had wasted his goods: in the remaining two cases, the wives complained of desertion, and a state of adultery with other women. Facts were required to be found by a jury, to authorize a judgment, for the plaintiff.

This session, added seventy-eight acts to the code: partaking largely of the local, personal, and relief kind; with some

1

relative to courts, inspections, &c., which have not been no ticed; as amendments, and repetitions, are too frequent for in sertion.

Amount of revenue for the year, terminating the 4th of November, 1803. To receipts, including two thousand four hundred and twenty-four dollars and some cents, in the treasuryfifty-eight thousand, six hundred and thirty-three dollars, fifty cents, five mills. Disbursements, fifty-seven thousand, sixtytwo dollars, sixty-nine cents, eight mills-leaving, one thousand, five hundred and seventy dollars, ninety-five cents and seven mills, in the treasury.

[1804.] The year 1804, may be anticipated, as one of a pleasing aspect. For although the present dominant party, pursuing the dictates of their policy, and gratifying the feelings of their hearts, in relation to the federalists, found a majority in the house of representatives, to impeach Judge Chase, a member of the supreme court, of the United States; yet he was acquitted by the senate, as will be further seen.

In February, a republican caucus, was held in Washington city, for the purpose of nominating candidates for president and vice president of the United States-John Breckenridge of Kentucky, had twenty votes; George Clinton, of New York, however, obtained a large majority, for vice president:-Mr. Jefferson, was unrivalled for the presidency. And so the nomination, became a preordination, to the people, and to the electors. If a conjecture might be hazarded on this subject-the first, would be, that without such nomination, and in cases where there will be three, or more, candidates for the presidency, the election, will ever devolve on the house of representatives: the second, is, that the intermediate machinery of electors, might be dispensed with, to advantage: and the third that the second congress, in each president's administration, should, within the first three days of its first session, openly, and publicly, by votes to be placed on the journal, nominate two persons, for the presidency—to be voted for by the people, unless another was, or others were preferred; and in the event of no two having a majority, of all the votes