numbered in their ranks the conservative and aristocratic elements in the population, inclined strongly toward England; whereas the sympathies of Republicans, who attracted to their standard the radicals of the country concerned in the democratization of government, were disposed with equal warmth toward France.
The promulgation of the Neutrality Proclamation[1] of President Washington, April 22, 1793, seemed to settle the question of foreign alliances before the matter had become acute. On the whole, the response which New England gave to the President's proclamation was gratifying. Messages of cordial approval came pouring in from many quarters.[2] The majority of the people rejoiced in the course of prudence and foresight which the national government had been led to pursue.
Still New England was not wholly satisfied. The sentiments of all her people had not been served. An opposition of respectable proportions developed. The columns of the public press carried numerous articles[3] voicing various degrees of hostility to the President's cause of neutrality and affording ample evidence that instead of solidifying the sentiments of the people on the subject of foreign alliances, the proclamation had the effect of widening the breach between the political forces of the country.
This aspect of the case was much aggravated by two important circumstances, one of which developed simultaneously with the publication of the proclamation of neutrality, and the other came to light soon after. These two
- ↑ American State Papers: Foreign Relations, vol. i, p. 140.
- ↑ The issues of the Columbian Centinel for 1793 abound in addresses of this character.
- ↑ Cf. for example, the issues of the Connecticut Courant for July 29, Aug. 5 and 26, 1793, and of the Independent Chronicle for May 7, 16 and 23, 1793. Cf. Channing, History of the United States, vol. iv, p. 128.
