may well be doubted; at all events, it was not likely to occur soon again. The wonderful era of six or eight years now beginning, must be looked upon as the Golden Age in the political history of this Nation. Party contention and animosity were gone, or held in abeyance; although the old Federalists still existed with their principles, the party lines were rubbed out, and all the people were willing to be called, what they always really were, republicans; the Administration was without party tricks, honest, earnest, and able, with a plain intention to pursue the best patterns of all the preceding Administrations; the two most popular and able men of the South, full of vigor and desire for national prosperity, before slavery and conflict in its interests had sapped their patriotism, were in the Cabinet; Adams, Rush, and Wirt were as unselfish, patriotic, and able men as ever ornamented the executive branch of the Government; the country followed the example of a harmonious and patriotic Administration, and the "era of good feeling" was the result. This was an age worthy to be cherished in our history. Notwithstanding the extraordinary character of the Cabinet, the President was undoubtedly the head, and to this mild-tempered man, scrupulous as to his own. honor and that of his country, and free from selfish purposes, aiming only at his country's good, must, in an eminent sense, be placed the credit of this model era. The Senate with an amiable and patriotic man in its Chair, and the House with its most brilliant member as Speaker, and all in accord with the Administration, the work of legislation was stripped of much of its usual difficulty, if it was not always marked by wisdom. The main acts of this Congress were based upon the recommendations of the President's message. At this session the salary of Congressmen was fixed at eight dollars a day, and mileage of eight dollars for every twenty miles traveled in the journey to the Capital; provisions were made for pensions to soldiers of the Revolution; Mississippi was admitted as a State on the 10th of December; Illinois was authorized to form a State Government; an act was passed closing the ports of the United States against British vessels coming from British ports shut against this country; Indiana was authorized to spend three per cent of the proceeds of the sale of the public lands in that State, for building roads and canals; the flag of the Republic was fixed to have thirteen stripes alternating red and white with a star for each State on a blue ground in the corner; and some very decided steps were taken in favor of protecting home manufactures. At the head of the protective movement was Henry Clay, and at this time a majority of the members of Congress were with him in this matter. Duties on cotton and woolen imported were laid, and other steps were taken to provide for the public expenses and the payment of the war debt. There was little variety of sentiment on this point, but especially did the men who had favored and supported the war now take hold with energy in the work of preparing the ways for liquidating the debts contracted by it, a feat which was accomplished during General Jackson's Administration. Congress adjourned on the 20th of April, 1818, and a few days afterwards the President went on a short tour to the Chesapeake to look after the defenses there and determine upon the location for a naval depot. This trip was extended into Virginia, and lasted till the 17th of June. CHAPTER XIV. GENERAL JACKSON IN FLORIDA-SEMINOLE WAR-ARBUTH. NOT AND AMBRISTER-HILLIS HAJO AND HIS A DAUGHTER MALEE. BOUT the close of Mr. Madison's Administration an order was sent to one of General Jackson's subordinates directly from the acting Secretary of War, without passing through the General's hands according to the usual course of the military red-tape rule. And long before Jackson was aware of it his engineer, whom he had sent on special employment to the Mississippi, had been taken to New York by the direct order in question. He immediately wrote to President Monroe, who had barely got into office, remonstrating against this irregular conduct; and after having waited about fifty days, somewhat more than the time necessary for a letter and its answer to pass over the long journey in those days, and then receiving no reply from the busy President, he issued the following DIVISION ORDER. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, The Commanding General considers it due to the principles of subordination which ought and must exist in an army to prohibit the obedience of any order emanating from the Department of War to officers of this division who have been reported and been assigned to duty, unless coming through him as the proper organ of communication. The object of this order is to prevent the recurrence of a circumstance which removed an important officer from the division without the knowledge of the commanding General, and, indeed, when he supposed that officer engaged in his official duties, and anticipated hourly the receipt of his official reports on a subject of great importance to his command; also to prevent the topographical reports from being made public through the medium of the newspapers, as was done in the case alluded to, thereby enabling the enemy to obtain the benefit of our topographical researches as soon as the General commanding, who is responsible for the division. Superior officers having commands assigned them are held responsible to the Government for the character and conduct of that command, and it might as well be justified in an officer senior in command to give orders to a guard on duty, without passing that order through the officer of that guard, as that the Department of War should countermand the arrangements of commanding generals, without giving their orders through the proper channel. To acquiesce in such a course would be a tame surrender of military rights and etiquette, and at once subvert the established principles of subordination and good order. Obedience to the lawful commands of superior officers is constitutionally and morally required, but there is a chain of communication that binds the military compact, which, if broken, opens the door to disobedience and disrespect, and gives loose to the turbulent spirits who are ever ready to excite to mutiny. All physicians able to perform duty, who are absent on furlough, will forthwith repair to their respective posts. Commanding officers of regiments and corps are ordered to report specially all officers absent from duty on the 30th of June next, and their cause of absence. The army is too small to tolerate idlers, and they will be dismissed the service. By order of Major-General Jackson. ROBERT BUTLER, Adjutant-General. This extraordinary performance on the part of General Jackson was a subject of common, and mostly unfavorable discussion throughout the country, but the President was really unable to do any thing in the matter. And a few weeks subsequently General Ripley, who was at New Orleans under Jack |