New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-25


Tho last three volumes Of Mr.. Adamss excellent
history are il possible, more interesting than
their predecessors, and this from the character
of the period treated. 1t may indeed be said
that the administrations OF both Jefferson ana
Madison illustrate strikinely the truth Of the
saving that it is always the unexpected that
happens. The whole history of the War of hide
rendence abounds with examples of this, it is
true: but these two administrations. covering
perhaps the most critical years in the formative
period of the Republic, offer some of the most
remarkable proofs to be found in human history
that what are called logical sequences are by no
means necessary sequences; that maladminlstra-
ton and the most perverse policies need not
entail calamity: that when everything seems on
the point of ruin nothing may be lost, ana that,
given character and intelligence in the required
measure it is impossible for bad government, or
even public apathy, TO bring about enduring mis-
chief In the second administration OF MADISON
the American people appeared to have en'ereo
upon a career of blunders and mlsfOrtunes from
which extrication almost hopeless Inc
prosecution of the war with England was becom
ing less practicable every day. At home the
masses failed TO respond to the Government S
demands for troops An adequate force for carry
ing on military operations upon the Canadian
frontier could not be raised. Nor, had such a
force been procurable, was there any prospect
that il could he employed 10 any good purpose
for the commanders on the border were one more
incapable than another; and to add TO the con-
fusion Monroe and Armstrong, in the Cabinet,
were quarelling as to which OF them snould ILL
the role of Commander-in-Chief.
At the same time Gallatin, in the Treasury.
was struggling with an ever-increasinS load OF
debt and revenue diminishing not less steadily
Congress was afraid TO impose more taxes Se'
could not do without them. The currency was
in terrible state of degradation, and the favor
lite remedy proposed was fiat money. Madison
seeking Russian mediation with England, nap
pened TO hit the worst possible iuncture Tor max
ing the experiment The grand army of Napoleon
had been engulfed in the SHOWS of Russia; the
conqueror's strength was broken. All Europe
was rising against him, and the Car had his
hands full of ambitious projects. The prospect
that France might soon cease TO be a vital factor
in the European situation naturally dlsinchned
the English Government to listen to peace pro-
posas In a short time it expected to he able
10 send large bodies of fresh troops into Canada
and new fleets to blockade the American coasts.
The war with the United States. meantime, was
almost forgotten by the British press and people,
so absorbed were they in watching the last titanic
struggles of the French Emperor. In no matter
what direction the gaze was turned there APP
peared to be nothing encouraging or other than
dsheartening in the prospect, and perhaps the
most disturbing circumstance of all was the atu-
tude o. New-England. which. controlled by the
Federalists. was exhibiting more and more strongly
pronounced opposition to the war, and was drift
ing more and more openly toward disuniOn. The
Fcderalist press and public speakers of 1874
in fact, were scarcely less bold and avowed In
their condemnation of the Union than were the
Southern press and speakers in ls6O-61. They
let il he known plainly that unless peace could
I've had they wanted and would do their best to
obtain dissolution of the Union; and at that
time the cohesive force between the States was
Ear less firm than when Sumter was fired upon.
The war was not popular in any part Of the
Union except the South: and the efficiency of
\ the English blockade increased and the whole
j country began to feel the pressure of strangled
commerce and checked production the feeling
against it grew. During the first two years Of
Madison's second administration the Federal Gov
ernment came near collapse as it has ever done.
At one time the Treasury was so empty that there
was not money enough to pay the departmental
stationery bills. Neither troops munitions
of war could be furnished. The credit of the
Government was gone. Its Treasury bills were
at disgraceful discount Its loans were rejected
by the people Congress virtually admitted its
inability to provide remedies; it exhibited both
want of nerve and want of at this time
Then came the raid upon Washington and the
destruction of the public buildings-a raid, Mr..
Adams holds which should never have been posi-
bic which could not have occurred but for the
amazing neglect and incompetence of Armstrong
and Winder: which practically invited by
the notorious defencelessness of the place Jackson
showed afterward at New-Orleans what might be
done in short time by commander Of resOlu-
ton and intelligence and he was called 10 en-
counter far more formidable expedition than
that which Ross led on the Capital. Madison
thought that the burning of the public build
Jugs would rouse the people from their apathy,
but it did not do so apparently it only rendered
them the more anxious for peace at almost any
price
At this juncture it would have been thought
difficult to add any elements of desperation the
American situation. and when things were at the
worst it became apparent that England was about
70 have her hands freed that her armies which
had been withstanding Napoleon's marshals in
Spain would sooE be bringing their invaluable
experience and prestige to Canada; willie the
United States must thenoeforth stand alone, with
out ally OF friend in the world. What could
he more hopeless than this state Of affairs? All
impotent central Government, Unaffected State
governments, bankrupt treasury sluggish, in
different people, and enemy whose aggressive
means were continually Increasing, while the
means of the Americans were as steadily diminish
ing. But all this, it NAV be said, is plain cause
and effect. Similar situations have existed often
enough in history. Just so; but how often in
history has it been seen that every such clear
prognosticaiion was nullifcd that ali the logical
deductions were contradicted and reversed that
the victory was not TO the strong and tired, but
"a the weak and untried: that the people who
opposed war were ruined by the success of their
own policy, and that those who had favored war
were enriched by the peace they deprecated
Yet all these strange and unforeseen things hap
pcned during Madison's second administration
To explain why and how they happened is, in
deed. not ALWAYS easy. and sometimes il is found