The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-07-02
~ saltwater, Mimi, Thursday, july z, 1891.

to make final effort for the peaceabie ad.
justment of the difficulties. They were
haughtily refused an audience with the
French Directory. They were met by GER
tain unofficial agents of Talleyrand, the
minister of foreign affairs. whose insulting
demands they refused. 1t was on this oc-
casion that Pinckney is said to have uttered
his famous sentence: millions for defense.
but not one cent for tribute!" Two of them
were finally ordered to withdraw from the
country-Mr. Gerry was permitted to re-
main, but he was treated with such inso-
lence that he soon returned. The result OF
this mission was to arouse the indignation
OF the American people. At the second
session of the fifth Congress. in the spring
OF 179S, the government was fully COM
mitted to the policy of armed naval reprisal.
if not of actual war. Measures of defense
followed in quick succession. On the 27th
of April, all act was passed for the con-
structiOn or purchase OF twelve vessels of
% guns. The conduct of naval affairs was
vested in newly created Department of
the Navy. of which Benjamin StOddert was
appointed Secretary. An act "more effect
ually to protect the commerce and coasts"
authorized the President to instruct the
commanders of ships of war to seize any
French armed vessel which had committed
depredatiOns. under whatever authority,
upon American merchantmen, or which was
found lowering upon the coast for the pur-
pose. as we'll as to retake captured Amer
leans. Appropriations were made to fur
ther increase the navy and conduct it's oper.
atiOns. Already. on the 7th of July, 1898,
Congress had declared the treaties with
France to be no longer obligatory. On the
day following the passage Of the act the in
structions were issued, and the ships were
sent to sea as fast as they could be got
ready. The first vessels to put to sea were,
the ''Ganges under Captain Richard Dale.
the ''Constel.aIlon. under Captain Thomas
TruXtun, and the 'Deleware." under Cap
tain Stephen Decature. The latter made
the first capture of the war. the French
privateer "Croyable." IA gun schooner.
She was received into the service and
named the Retaliation" These ships were
soon followed to sea by the UNITED States, !"
"Constitution,' George Washington, !"
and several others. All these were cruising
actively during the autumn of 179S, and in
December the whole force was assembled
in the West Indies, which afforded an ex-
cellent station for operations. 1t was three
months later while cruising near Nevis that
the "ConsteIlation" fell in with the I'm
surgente" and captured her. Several
months before this event. the French gov
ernment. influenced by the active prepara-
tions for war then going forward in Amer.
ica had issued certain DEGREES calculated to
remove in part the most serious ground of
complaint. In consequence of overtures
made through the French and American
ministers at the Hague another commission
was sent in November 1899 to re open me-
gotiations. But the United States contin-
ued in the meantime to prosecute its naval
operations. On the I'd of February, 1900,
the reconsideration" had a protracted and
bloody engagement off Guadalupe with the
French frigate vengeance" The French
ship was beaten. but escaped in the dark
ness. The only other encounter between
ships of war was that of the Boston" with
the corvette ''Berceau" on the 18th of Oc-
tober, 1900, which resulted in the capture
of the latter.
In addition to the strictly naval prizes,
ninety French vessels, carrying altogether
more than 700 guns were captured during
the war. and very large number of Amer
lean merchant vessels were recaptured. By
the close of the year 1900 the purpose of
the campaign had been accomplished. The
treaty with France had been concluded three
months before, and it only awaited ratifica-
tOn. This was completed in the following
February.
The above is condensed from 1.-THE wars of the
United States" by James Russell Soley, professor
Narrative and Critical History of America. Vol.
viii