Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/224

192 sia were felt in disposing the British ministry to heal their quarrel with America.

The treaty of peace at Ghent, negotiated by John Quincy Adams, J. A. Bayard, Henry Clay, John Russell and Albert Gallatin, was concluded December 24, 1814. The news of its completion did not reach America until after the battle of New Orleans. It was simply a treaty of peace, and settled none of the issues on which the war was fought. Practically, however, these issues were decided favorably to the United States. The British government, while not formally yielding the points in dispute, discontinued the objectionable practices.

The last wave from the great European conflict, which had been so portentous of disaster, now receded from American shores. On the whole, the United States had been the gainer. Some injuries had resulted. There had been important losses by the capture of vessels at sea. Some hardships had been endured under embargoes and restrictions. All these had been greatly exaggerated for party purposes, and were more than repaid by the vast extension of commerce, and by the growth of manufactures. Louisiana had been gained, and Florida was soon to be acquired. The Republican party, tested by its undeviating adherence to the wise policy of Jefferson and Madison, emerged from the struggle crowned with laurels and acknowledged as the national bulwark. In 1816 the popular verdict awarded to its judicious administration of affairs a mark of public confidence more signal than any which had been bestowed since the second election of Jefferson.

The electoral vote of 1816 was as follows: