Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/203

Rh STATES.

PRESIDENT.

VICE-PRESIDENT.

James Madison.

George Clinton.

C. C. Pinckney.

George Clinton.

James Madison.

Delaware II

Maryland

Virginia

North Carolina

South Carolina Georgia

Kentucky

Tennessee Ohio

Total

The Federalists had gained. Parties were again assuming a sectional aspect. New England was nearly a unit for the Federalists. The South and West were nearly a unit, casting 66 votes for the Republicans and 3 votes for the Federalists. The Middle States were, likewise, nearly a unit, casting 56 votes for the Republicans and 5 votes for the Federalists. Thus, Jefferson left his party stronger than he found it, and in the hands of an able successor, his personal friend and coadjutor.

The first year of Madison’s administration was occupied with efforts to protect American commerce from the inroads of Great Britain and France.

Florida dropped out of foreign negotiations, except that it was occasionally revived by Napoleon, who offered it as a bait on several occasions, when pressed to repeal the Berlin decrees. Meanwhile, the relations of France and Spain had changed. Napoleon had invaded Spain and had placed his brother Joseph on the throne. Then followed the revolt of the &quot;Spanish Patriots,&quot; and England came to their rescue, claiming to be the friend of liberty. The American colonies of Spain seized this as a favorable opportunity for shaking off the nerveless grasp.