Thomas Jefferson THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Thomas Jefferson PART VII THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
Source Summarized by Walter Antoniotti

TWENTY-SEVEN IN WAIT AT MONTICELLO

Madison reported political events to Jefferson during his two-year stay at Monticello. President Washington dispatched chief justice John Jay to London to settle disputes that occurred after the Revolutionary War. The spirit of war was growing stronger Jefferson reported to Monroe in April of 1794. Monroe then reported on a politics discourse to Jefferson concerning a legislative fight over Jefferson's commerce report and the Senate's attempt to expel Pennsylvania Republican Albert Gallatin because upon election he had not been a U.S citizen for nine years. Both Madison and Jefferson were against a bill creating a 15,000 man army because the hostility with England had passed and both feared the army would be used by Federalists to "...undermine the constitution in a time of crisis. p288

The Whiskey Rebellion against Hamilton's excise tax angered Washington to the extent that his annual message was "...an unapologetic attack on the Democratic-Republican societies." 288

Aaron Burr's fall visit to Monticello resulted in Federalist charges they were plotting a Republican agenda for the new congress. The charming, handsome, adventurous ambitious and younger Burr was the architect of New York Republic politics.

The Jay Treaty was very pro British and there was talk of impeaching President Washington. The treaty was ratified by a small margin and signed by Washington who did not want war!

Approached about running for President Jefferson said he did not have the arrogance to refuse though he wrote "For 'well I know that no man will ever bring out of that office the reputation which carries him into it.' " p298

Alexander Hamilton fights his fatal duel with Vice President Aaron Burr.See Famous Duels from American History

vintage duel engraving men with pistols facing off

TWENTY-EIGHT TO THE VICE PRESIDENCY

Jefferson, like all interested candidates, did not campaign but let like minded people put together a ticket. Campaign literature from New Hampshire read " ' Thomas Jefferson is a REPUBLICAN -- John Adams is an avowed MONARCHIST' " p300 Adams won 71 to 68 with Federalist Pinckney getting 59. Jefferson was not overly disappointed as "The vice presidency was a better place to be." p302 " 'The second office of the land is honorable and easy.' Jefferson said. 'The first is but a splendid misery.' " p305

A large source of election tension was the constitutional provision that a slave counted as three-fifth of a vote when determining the number of congressman and presidential electors. When Jefferson won in 1900, Federalists called him the " 'Negro President .' "

The new President and vice president got along well; though Republicans demonstrating the virulence of the day thought a Jefferson speech too conciliatory.

War with France was a key issue and both Adams and the vice president wanted to avoid it. What became known as the " 'Quasi-War' " with France involved a number of expensive nave battles. p306 Adams having kept Washington's cabinet proved problematic as said members thought of themselves as autonomous of the Presidency. The constant threat of war with one European power than another had everyone uneasy. "In the broad public discourse, driven by partisan editors publishing newspapers, there seemed to be no middle ground., only extremes of opinion or of outcome."...."The passions are too high at present to be cooled in our day." p309. What goes around comes around.

On Christmas day of 1789 Madison expressed the worries of many that felt a new yellow fever epidemic would result in Adams seizing additional power by delaying the meeting of Congress.

The fight between the USS Constellation and L'Insurgente (William Bainbridge Hoff)

TWENTY-NINE THE REIGN OF WITCHES

Jefferson's tenure as VP was a fevered period. Republican Matthew Lyon felt insulted by Federalist Roger Griswold and spit in his face. Matthew fought back with a cane, Roger grabbed a fireplace tongs and they brawled on the house floor.

Much of the period's turmoil was cause by the Alien and Sedition Act which gave the President Adams extraordinary power Federalist felt was needed because of turmoil over the Jay Treaty many felt gave Great Britan a trading advantage. People could be imprisoned for speaking their mind with fines up to $2,000 and jail of up to two years. Washington agreed with the acts, Hamilton felt they were unconstitutional and represented the end of American liberty. Violence broke out in Philadelphia between Federalist and Republicans

The treaty ticked off the French whose political response angered many Americans. Known as the XYZ Affair, the turmoil caused Adams to spend much of his Presidency avoiding war with France.

Personally life was not easy as Hamilton needed money and his sister was married to a alcoholic abuser. His two-year old daughter by Sally Hemings died.

Because of the Alien and Sedition Act Hamilton secretly drafted a Kentucky resolution for nullification of said laws which meant if a state didn't like a Federal law it didn't comply with them. There was becoming a little more settle with political factions. " 'In every free a deliberate society, there must from the nature of man be opposite parties, and violent dissensions and discord, and one of these must prevail over the other for a longer or shorter time.' " p319 The public was on Tom's side and he could do only so much as vice president. Political cartoon of Lyon (holding tongs) brawling with Roger Griswold. Click to enlarge.

The XYZ Affair resulted in a British political cartoon depicting the affair: America is represented by the woman, who is being plundered by five Frenchmen. The figures grouped off to the right are other European countries; John Bull, representing Great Britain, sits laughing on a hill. Click to enlarge.

THIRTY Adams VS. JEFFERSON Redux

Home at Monticello during the spring of 1799"Jefferson worried that Adams was going to raise a 'Presidential militia' the formation of which would 'leave me without a doubt that force on the Constitution was intended.' " p321 The approaching election would be a battle of ideas and personalities in the politics of America.

Federalist felt Jefferson was a dangerous infidel, an atheist for whom a vote for was a vote for no god even though his views appealed to many because they were not anti catholic or anti Jew. Supreme court justice Samuel Chase stated he would not let an atheist testify in court. Reverend Cotton Mather Smith said "Jefferson had obtained property by fraud and robbery..." p315 Republican counted by insisting people of differing opinions were being attack.Cotton Mather Smith

A failed rebellion led by slave Gabriel-1775-1800 had Jefferson exploring whether a foreign country would be open to slaves as he felt that in America there was no sustainable future for slaves and owners.

Unhappy that the Republicans were dong well in New York, Hamilton tried o get Governor John Jay to change the election laws before a Republican majority could take over. He want to " 'prevent an atheist and a fanatic from..." power. p327 The governor was not moved.
The election of 1800 ended in a tie!

U.S Slave Revolts provided \

1712 New York Slave Revolt (New York City, Suppressed)

1739 Stono Rebellion(South Carolina, Suppressed)

1741 New York Conspiracy(New York City, Suppressed)

1800 Gabriel Prosser(Virginia, Suppressed)

1805 Chatham Manor(Virginia, Suppressed)

1811 German Coast Uprising(Territory of Orleans, Suppressed)

1815 George Boxley(Virginia, Suppressed)

1822 Denmark Vesey (South Carolina, Suppressed)

1831 Nat Turner's rebellion(Virginia, Suppressed)

1842 Slave Revolt in the Cherokee Nation(Southern U.S., Suppressed)

1859 John Brown's Raid (Virginia, Suppressed)

" Jefferson's enemies were indeed at work, open to considering any scenario to keep him out of power." p333 Adams told Jefferson the election was his if he would commit to certain Federal policies. Federalist James Bayard tried to get General Samuel Smith to vote for Burr by offering him the Secretary of the Navy. When that failed James said all Jefferson had to do was not dismiss all Federalist office holder, keep the navy and the public debt. Hamilton denied yielding to these bribes so who knows, maybe Bayard gave up though he did later say New England was preparer to go without a constitution and risk a civil war.

Hamilton preferred Jefferson to Burr as " ' He is by far not so dangerous a man and he has pretensions to character." He is also as likely as anyone to " '...promote his own reputation and advantage...' " which should preserve the systems in place. p338

Federalist passed the Judiciary Act of 1801 in early February with Congress to elect The President on February 11. Signed by Adams, the bill increase federal judicial officers, strengthened and expanded the circuit court system and reduced Supreme Court justice from six to five. Adams then appointed John Marshall as chief Justice of the United States.

Through all this Adams, Jefferson, and their wives remand friends continued friends.

James Bayard United States Senator
from Delaware

General Samuel Smith United States Senator
from Maryland

THIRTY-ONE A DESPERATE STATE OF AFFAIRS
" Jefferson's enemies were indeed at work, open to considering any scenario to keep him out of power." p333 Adams told Jefferson the election was his if he would commit to certain Federal policies. Federalist James Bayard tried to get General Samuel Smith to vote for Burr by offering him the Secretary of the Navy. When that failed James said all Jefferson had to do was not dismiss all Federalist office holder, keep the navy and the public debt. Hamilton denied yielding to these bribes so who knows, maybe Bayard gave up though he did later say New England was preparer to go without a constitution and risk a civil war. Hamilton preferred Jefferson to Burr as " ' He is by far not so dangerous a man and he has pretensions to character." He is also as likely as anyone to " '...promote his own reputation and advantage...' " which should preserve the systems in place. p338	Federalist passed the Judiciary Act of 1801 in early February with Congress to elect The President on February 11. Signed by Adams, the bill increase federal judicial officers, strengthened and expanded the circuit court system and reduced Supreme Court justice from six to five. Adams then appointed John Marshall as chief Justice of the United States. Through all this Adams, Jefferson, and their wives remand friends continued friends.	James Bayard United States Senator from Delaware	General Samuel Smith United States Senator from Maryland