by Carol Berkin
Conclusion
1. Alexander Hamilton, Conversation with George Beckwith (October 1789), PAH, Vol. 5, pp. 482–490.
INDEX
An Act Concerning Aliens, 208–209
An Act in Addition to the Act, Entitled An Act for the Punishment of Certain Crimes Against the United States (Sedition Act)
arrests and trials, 219–224, 226–231, 237–240, 241–242
bill proposal and reading, 212–216
misdemeanors in, 217–218
ongoing opposition to, 230–231
voting and signing, 216–217, 218
An Act making further provisions for securing and collecting the Duties on foreign and domestic distilled Spirits, Stills, Wines and Teas, 46
An Act Respecting Alien Enemies (Alien Enemies Act), 209–210
Act to punish frauds committed on the Bank of the United States, 232
An Act to Suspend the Commercial Intercourse between the US and France, and the Dependencies thereof, 192
Adams, Abigail, 147, 165, 210–211
Adams, Abijah, 226
Adams, Charles, 129
Adams, John
address requiring apology, 160, 183
alien friends and enemies legislation, 208–209
attack by Republican press, 210–211
characteristics of, 153, 193
choice of negotiators, 164–166, 185–186
criticism of French people, 157
criticism of Republicans, 193–194
delay in XYZ negotiation, 171
dispatches from XYZ envoys, 189–190, 192
election in 1797, 152–153
failure of XYZ mission, 188–189
France in US internal politics, 155
on E. Genet, 146
Hamilton as army leader, 195–196
on hard liquor, 16
instructions to commissioners, 166–167, 190
insult from France and response to, 157, 158, 159–161, 163
Naturalization Act debate and signing, 205
neutrality of US, 86, 159
non-negotiable points in XYZ, 167
overview of XYZ affair, 4–5
peace commission, 162, 163–166, 198–199
political challenges, 153–155
progress of XYZ negotiations, 179
in S. Chase case, 239, 240
and Sedition Act, 218, 219, 221, 222, 227, 228, 238–239
view of the people, 162
views of Hamilton, 154
war as response post-XYZ, 194, 195, 198
XYZ crisis impact, 199
Adams, John Quincy, 146–147, 159, 185
Adams, Samuel, 24
Adams, Thomas, 226–227
Adams, Thomas Boylston, 84–85, 147
Addison, Alexander, 33, 45, 51, 62, 71
Adet, Pierre-Auguste, 155–156
alcohol, excise tax. See excise tax on alcohol
alcohol consumption, 15–17
Alien and Sedition Acts crisis
as challenge to federal authority, 248
constitutionality of bill, 206–207
legislative protest by states, 231–232
and nationalism, 248
naturalization laws revisions, 204–205
nullification of laws, 233, 236–237
overview, 5, 202
passing of, 203
power of interpretation, 215–217
protest resolutions by states, 231–237
protests and resistance, 223–225, 230–232
See also Act in Addition to the Act, Entitled An Act for the Punishment of Certain Crimes Against the United States; Naturalization Act
Alien Enemies Act (An Act Respecting Alien Enemies), 209–210
Alien Friends Act, 206–208, 209–210, 232–233
alien friends legislation, 208–209
aliens as threat, 205–206, 207–208, 209
Allen, John, 189–190, 191, 211, 214
Ames, Fisher, 10, 19, 29, 196
“The Answer” (Hamilton), 155
Argus, or Greenleaf’s New Daily Advertiser, 238
Aurora and Aurora or General Advertiser, 72–73, 157–158, 191
sedition bill and Act, 214, 219, 221, 229
Bache, Benjamin
arrest for libel, 219
attacks on Hamilton, 73, 75–76
death, 219, 221
on France’s rebuff of US, 157–158
on XYZ commission, 167–168, 189
XYZ dispatches response, 191–192
Bache, Peggy, 219
Baldwin, Abraham, 207
Baldwin, Luther, 227
Barlow, Joel, 229
Barras, Paul, 156, 160, 168
Bayard, James, 190, 204–205
Beaumarchais, Caron de, 177, 178
Beckwith, George, 13
Bee (New London), 238
Bellamy, Pierre (aka Y), 171, 173–174, 177, 178, 190
Benezet, Anthony, 16
Bloodworth, Timothy, 19
Brackenridge, Hugh Henry
blame on Hamilton, 75, 76
charges for role in rebellion, 72, 73, 74
compliance to peace terms, 71
loyalty to resisters, 48–49
on negotiation committee, 60
report to Philadelphia, 58
Bradford, David
conduct in Whiskey Rebellion, 71
escape from arrest, 74
gathering of rebels, 55
as leader of violence, 38, 64
on negotiation committee, 60
renewal of violence, 48, 49
Bradford, William, 54, 59, 60
Breckinridge, John, 224, 231, 233–234
Brison, James, 39
Britain
influence in US, 90–91, 114, 120, 123, 129
neutrality of US, 101–103, 147–148, 154–155
privateers and disposition of prizes, 116–117, 120, 122, 138–139
trade during European war, 90–91, 154
trade treaty with US, 148
war declaration by France, 93–94, 99
Brown, David, 237–238
Burk, John Daly, 219–220
Butler, Thomas, 47, 66
cabinet
members in 1789, 11–12
neutrality of US, 95–96, 98
privateers and disposition of prizes, 104–105, 114–115, 123–124, 127
Callender, James Thomson, 239–241
Carrington, Edward, 22
Centinel of Freedom, 227, 231
central government. See federal government
certificate holders of debt, 13–14
Charleston (SC), Genet in, 92–93
Chase, Samuel, 239, 240, 242
citizenship, 204–205
Clark, George Rogers, 130–131
Clarke, Elijah, 44
Clay, Henry, 225
Clinton, Cornelia, 148
Clinton, George, 139
Clymer, George, 32–33, 38
Cobbett, William, 211
Committee of Conference, 62
Committee of Safety, 69
Committee of Sixty, 61, 67
Congress
excise tax legislation, 19–20, 46
failure of XYZ mission, 188–189
Genet’s appeal to, 111, 116, 118, 119, 121, 142
neutrality policy, 145–146
response to XYZ dispatches, 192–193
role in sovereignty, 111
session for French actions and insults, 159–161
Conner, John, 25
Constitution
and Federalists, 1–2, 207, 216, 242–243, 248
legitimacy, 242–243, 248, 249
opposition to acceptance of, 2
and power of federal government, 5, 9, 215
primacy of, 216
ratification, 211
and Republicans, 207, 216, 242–243, 248
rights of aliens, 206–207
in union vs. compact, 207, 216, 232
Conven
tion of 1800, 199
Cooper, Thomas, 238–239
Coxe, Tench, 23, 58, 222
Craig, Isaac, 59–60
Creek Indians and lands, 44
crises of 1790s
and federal authority, 5–6, 246–248
impact on Federalists, 3, 243, 249
and rise of nationalism, 3, 5–6, 246, 248–249
role in foundation of federal government, 3
See also each crisis
Dallas, Alexander, 50–51, 117–118, 133
Dana, Francis, 166
Dana, Samuel, 216
Davie, William Richardson, 199
Deane, Silas, 168
debts of federal government, 12, 87, 91, 105–106, 112–115
Delacroix, Charles-François, 157, 168
Desforgues, Francois Louis Michel Chemin, 135–136
Diary, 134
Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 126
Duane, William, 219, 221–223
Duplaine, Antoine Charbonnet, 137
Durrell, William, 220–221
East Florida, 92–93
election of 1789, 9–10
election of 1797, 152–153, 155–156
Ellsworth, Oliver, 199
Embuscade ship, 92, 101, 102, 117
England. See Britain
European nations in 1790s, view of US, 82–83
European war of 1790s
delicate position of US, 100
impact in US, 89–90
neutrality of US, 4, 82, 86, 95–96, 98–99, 101–103, 111–113, 125–127
Evening Post (New York), 223
excise tax on alcohol
amendments to, 28
collection of, 17, 19, 40–41
collectors and inspectors, 22–23, 24–25, 41, 43, 45, 46–47, 59
complexities involved, 30
compliance to, 40
fact-finding mission, 32–33
federal action to opposition, 23–24, 33–35
in Hamilton’s economic plan, 15, 16–17, 18–19
impact on state governments, 17–18
imported vs. domestic duties, 18
legislation, 19–20, 27, 29–30, 46
militia in, 31, 49–52, 56–57, 65–67
opposition to, 19–20, 26–30, 31–32, 64–65
payment and penalties, 22
presidential proclamation, 35–36, 43, 55–56, 67
rate decrease, 29–30
rejection in Kentucky, 23, 44
repeal of, 78
resistance in Pennsylvania, 20–27, 32
title and extent of statute, 20
extragovernmental political organizations, 77–78
Fauchet, Joseph, 143, 145
Faulkner, William, 32
federal government
acceptance of and commitment to, 2–3, 5–6, 26, 79–80, 152, 200
debts in 1789, 12, 91, 112
distractions during Whiskey Rebellion, 41–42
elections and first session of 1789, 9–10, 83
foundations by Federalists, 1–3, 245–246
impact of crises of 1790s, 3
law and order vs. free associations, 77–78
need for revenue, 12–13, 28
power and authority (see federal power and authority)
as republic vs. monarchy, 2, 31
in union vs. compact, 206, 232
western resentment, 44–45
yellow fever outbreak, 42, 179
See also specific crisis of 1790s
federal power and authority
and aliens, 206–207
challenges to, 2, 9
and Constitution, 5, 9, 215
disregard by state governments, 5, 43–44
first cabinet views of, 11–12
on foreign policy, 247
in Hamilton’s economic plan, 13
and Jefferson resolutions, 232–234
laws and legislation, 9, 233
military response as show of, 53
opposition to in Whiskey Rebellion, 3–4, 43–44, 51, 246–247
and sedition bill, 215–216, 243
in Tenth Amendment, 232
through alcohol excise tax, 17–18
through crises of 1790s, 5–6, 246–248
Federalist 12 and 21, excise tax on alcohol, 15
Federalists
aliens threat, 207–208, 209
battle against Republicans, 201, 202
and Constitution, 1–2, 207, 216, 242–243, 248
crises of 1790s impact, 3, 243, 249
foundations of central government, 1–3, 245–246
French insults response, 161
on French revolution and republic, 84–85
Genet affair impact, 82–83, 106–107, 145–147, 150, 247
immigrant support by Republicans, 203–204, 210
and loyalty of foreigners, 201, 202
nationalism, 246
naturalization laws in 1798, 204–205
power of federal government, 5
priorities in US republic, 89
rallies for in Genet Affair, 132, 134
Sedition Act use, 219, 241–242, 243, 248
on sedition bill and Act, 213–214, 215–216, 218
suppression of liberties, 202
war preparations, 195
XYZ impact, 152, 189–190
Fenno, John, 192, 238
Findley, William
blame for Whiskey Rebellion, 75
and excise tax, 29, 40
interrogation by Hamilton, 74
as leader of violence, 73
report on situation, 39–40
softening of stance, 49
submission to law, 69
foreign policy, 94, 96, 108–109, 247
France
bribes as contributions, 168
change of regime and policies, 135–136, 139–140, 142–143, 148
contempt for weaker nations, 159
criticisms of E. Genet, 136–137
and debt of US, 87, 91, 112, 113–114, 115
demands to US, 87–88
expected support of US, 86
export of revolution, 85–86, 87
goals in US, 81–82, 127
insult to US and sovereignty, 88, 155, 156–161, 163, 191
intervention in US politics, 155–156, 177
mission by G. Logan, 196–197
as model of republic to US, 84
negotiators in XYZ, 162–166
neutrality of US, 82, 86, 98–99, 101–103, 111–112, 147–148, 154, 159–160
overview of Genet and XYZ affairs, 4–5
political situation during XYZ, 168, 169, 198
public opinion in US, 146–147, 191–192, 193–194
revolution and view of in US, 83–86, 103–104
sovereignty of US in own waters, 110–111
US as base of operations, 87
and US trade, 90, 154, 158, 159, 163
war declaration in Europe, 93–94, 99
France-United States: Treaty of Alliance. See treaties of 1778
Freneau, Philip, 107, 128
Fries, John, 197
Gallatin, Albert
constitutionality of alien bill, 206–207
as leader of violence, 38, 73
on nature of Union, 216
on negotiation committee, 60
and peace terms, 65, 71
repeal of whiskey tax, 78
war preparations, 195
Gamble, Rovert, 134
Garrard, James, 231
Gazette (Boston), 219
Gazette of the United States, 36, 132
Gazette (Philadelphia), 196–197
Genet, Edmond Charles
appeal to people and Congress, 82, 111, 116, 118–119, 121–124, 133, 142
as appointee to US, 86–87
asylum in US, 145
character of, 88–89, 99–100, 118, 149
in Charleston, 92–93
credentials presentation, 98, 99–100, 103�
�104
criticism, 134–137, 146–147, 148–149
failure of, 82, 136–137
in Federalists vs. Republicans contest, 82–83, 145–147
on foreign policy of US, 108–109
French ships actions in US, 108–109
greeting of, 91–92, 100–101
Henfield’s case, 126–127
insult to sovereignty and G. Washington, 82, 119, 127, 133, 137–138, 140–142
invasion of Spanish and British American territories, 43, 130–133, 134–135, 144–145
Jacobins’s impact, 135–137
Jefferson criticism, 149
knowledge of US, 89–90
letters of marque, 87, 92
libel suit, 143–144
life in US, 148–149
mission in US, 81–82, 87–88, 92–93, 104, 136, 137
neutrality of US, 98, 99, 101, 111–112
in New York, 132
perceived alliance with Jefferson, 114
privateers and recruitment of Americans, 92–93, 96, 109–111, 114–116, 118–119, 121–123, 126–127, 139–140
recall, 123–125, 127–129, 141–143, 144
reception after war declaration, 94–95, 96–98
role in Genet affair, 4
support of revolution, 88
as threat to Republicans, 129
on trade and debt of US, 105–106, 112, 113–114, 115
on G. Washington, 115–116, 140
Genet affair
applicability after war declaration, 94–95, 96–98
as challenge to federal authority, 247
challenge to G. Washington, 82
neutrality of US, 95–96, 101–103
overview and impact, 4, 149–150
privateers and recruitment of Americans, 104–105, 109–110, 114–115, 116–123, 138–139
proclamation on US citizens, 95, 96
publication of documents, 124, 128–129
replacement for E. Genet, 143, 144, 145
sovereignty of US in own waters, 110–111
test case in US, 126–127
See also Genet, Edmond Charles
George III toast in Philadelphia, 101
Georgia, secession movement, 44
Gerry, Elbridge
arrival in Paris, 170
departure of envoys, 183–185
failure as envoy, 185, 186–187
as negotiator, 165–166, 185–187
personal meetings and actions, 175, 176, 177–178, 180–181, 183
pressure on, 177–178
relationship between negotiators, 180–184
response to French actions, 159–160
views on negotiations, 169–170, 174–175, 177–178
on X, Y and Z demands, 172, 173, 174, 175
Gibson, John, 47
Giles, William, 148
Girondins, 85–87, 135
Grange ship, 102
Grenville, William, 99
Griswold, Roger, 228
Hamilton, Alexander