recruiting service progressed, and the president pursued his preparations for war, if it should become necessary.

The alarming state of things in Europe, arising out of the French revolution, now engrossed the attention of the president of the United States.

The minister at the court of France, Mr. Morris, felt himself embarrassed in his situation. The zeal of the French patriots looked for, and expected the same cordial zeal and co-operation on the part of America, towards her sister republic, that France had formerly shewn on her part towards America, in her revolution; but Mr. Morris saw, and the president saw the danger that awaited America, if she gave loose'to her feelings, and embarked on this tempestuous sea of liberty; a sea of liberty now raging with all the violence that the unrestrained passions of men could possibly produce.

On the 17th of April, the president repaired to the seat of government, and on the 18th, he addressed to the heads of departments, in the government, (his cabinet council,) several important queries, relating to the conduct of the United States towards France, and requested their attendance at his house to decide upon the momentous subject.

The cabinet council met at the president's house, agreeable to appointment, and after mature deliberation, gave it as their unanimous opinion, that a proclamation ought to issue, announcing the neutrality of the United States towards all belligerent powers, and warning the citizens thereof, against carrying articles contraband of war, to any, or either of the belligerents; and enjoining upon them, to abstain from all acts inconsistent with a friendly nation, towards those at war.

The council were also unanimous, that a minister ought to be received from France; but upon the terms on which such minister ought to be received, the council were divided in sentiment.

The secretary of state, and attorney-general were of opinion, that the changes in the government of France, had not wrought any change in the relations between that government and the United States, and that the minister ought to be received upon the basis of the existing treaty.

The secretaries of the treasury and of war were of opinion, that the fluctuating state of the French government, ought not to involve the United States, absolutely and unconditionally, in such changes as it may either think proper, or be constrained to make; and that it was of importance to the interest and safety of the government of the United States, under the existing state of things, to absolve herself from the obligations of such treaties as actually existed under the monarchy; thus the cabinet was balanced.

Upon the question, whether it was advisable to convene Congress, the cabinet were unanimous in the negative.

The president next requested the council to express their opinions in writing upon the subjects on which they were divided, with their reasons, and authorities at large; and at the same time directed the attorney-general to prepare a proclamation, which was accordingly done, and approved by the council, and signed by the president, on the 22d, and ordered to be published.

The publication of this proclamation of neutrality opened a field for the display of those passions upon the great theatre of the nation, which we have heretofore witnessed in the national councils. All the bitterness of party burst forth in loud acclamations against the measure. The partizans of France demanded, that in gratitude, the United States were bound to make a common cause with France ; base, avaricious, and unprincipled adventurers, denounced the proclamation as an abridgment of that commerce which they calculated to turn to their advantage, in the traffic of articles contraband of war; and they joined in ́ the party clamours. In this state of things the national

government of France recalled from the United States, the minister of the crown, and sent out Mr. Genet, a subtle, artful, violent jacobin.

Mr. Genet arrived at Charleston, (South Carolina,) on the 8th of April, 1793, and was received by the governor' of the state, and her best citizens, with all that enthusiasm which the American people had cherished for his nation, since the memorable days of York-Town; and which was ready to kindle into a flame at the approach of this diplomatic son of liberty and equality, from the sister republic of France.

All this might have been innocent in itself; but when Mr. Genet presumed, upon the strength of this, to insult the government of the United States, by assuming the power of commissioning privateers to cruise against-nations, then at peace with the United States, and sell their prizes in the ports of the United States, under the authority of the consuls of France, even before he had been accredited by the government of the United States, it opened a door of serious alarm, and produced a serious controversy.

On the 18th, Mr. Genet arrived at Philadelphia, where he was received by the citizens with the same acclamations of joy he had witnessed in Charleston, and when presented to the government, was received by the president, with expressions of sincere, and cordial regard for the French people. Mr. Genet highly approved the proclamation of neutrality, as being favourable to the interest of France; but the executive was silent upon the subject of the French Republic.

The British minister, Mr. Hammond, had laid before the president a statement of the captures of British vessels, which had been made by the authorised privateers of Mr. Genet, and he called a cabinet council, to advise upon the mode of procedure, lawful and expedient to be pursued.

Here again the cabinet were divided; the secretary of state and the attorney-general were of opinion, that the courts of law were the proper tribunal to decide the question, and were disposed to favour the procedure; but the secretaries of the treasury, and of war, were of opinion, that all governments ought to be so far respected as to direct and controul all events relating to peace or war, under their jurisdiction, and that the proceedings of Mr. Genet were an outrage upon the sovereignty, as well as the neutrality of the United States; and therefore the government ought to cause restitution to be made.

The president took time to deliberate, and addressed circular letters to the chief magistrates of the several states, calling on them to enforce the laws of neutrality within their several jurisdictions, and compel a due obedience to the laws with force, if necessary.

Mr. Genet resented this procedure, and remonstrated, by letter, to the president, with an indecorous warmth. Upon which the president signified to Mr. Genet, that it was expected that the armed vessels which had given the offence, would immediately depart from the ports of the United States. Prosecutions were immediately ordered, and actually commenced, against such citizens of the United States, as had been engaged in this privatecring business.

This procedure roused the resentment of Mr. Genet, and he appealed from the government to the people of the United States, in a stile too indecorous to be perpetuated.

Mr. Genet next addressed himself to the secretary of state, remonstrating against the decisions of the executive, and demanding, that those persons under arrest by order of the government of the United States, be released, "as acting under the authority of France, and defending the glorious cause of liberty, in common with her children."

That republican zealot kindled a fire in the United States, that raged with such violence, as shook the government to its centre; and had for its object to subvert the influence, and popularity of the executive, and even if necessary, that high department of the government, and prostitute the American government, and people, to the views of France. The following extracts of the letter of Mr. Genet to the secretary of state, (alluded to as above,) will serve to corroborate these remarks.

"I have this moment been informed, that two officers in the service of the republic of France, citizen Gideon Henfield, and John Singletary, have been arrested on board the privateer of the French Republic, the Citizen; Genet, and conducted to prison. The crime laid to their charge, the crime which my mind cannot conceive, and which my pen almost refuses to state, is the serving of France, and defending with her children the common glorious cause of liberty," &c.

The appeal of Mr. Genet to the American people, through the channels of the public prints, threw the nation into two great parties, the one adhered to the government, and the other rallied round the minister. Civic feasts, and other public assemblages of the people, became general; especially, at the south, and in all the large towns; at which the ensigns of France and America were displayed in union, and the red cap of liberty, and fraternity, triumphantly circulated, from head to head, accompanied with toasts, expressive of the identy of the French, and American Republics, and crowned with the favourite toast, "Principles, not men," in allusion to the popular influence of the president, and as a reflection upon his measures ; particularly the suppression of privateering, and the proclamation of neutrality; often stiled the royal edict.

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