The election of 1860 resulted, after a campaign marked by great bitterness. in the election of the Republican candidates, Jefferson and Burr receiv ing the same number of votes. The decision fell to Congress, where Jefferson was chosen. chiefly through the influence of his opponent, Hamilton, who was too much of a patriot to desire the success of Burr. Although the Federalists, espe cially of New England. predicted a revolution. Jefferson made few removals on entering office, was painstaking in his seleetions for vacancies, and by his popularity drew from the Federalist Party much of its vital energy. The stately formalities that had marked the inauguration of the preceding Presidents were omitted. Jefferson rode horseback. without attendants, tied his horse to the fence. and walked unceremoniously into the Senate ehamber. Ile also sent written mes sages to Congress. These changes in official eti quette were paralleled in manners and dress: knee-breeches gave way to trousers. and sim plieity. for which the President set an unosten tatious example, beeame the order of the day.
The most important event of Jefferson's quiet first term was the purchase of Louisiana from the French. This step was deemed nneonstitu tional by him. but the necessity of controlling the Mississippi and the obvious need of haste abun dantly justified the action. A little war with Tripoli, the first opposition that the Algerine pirates had received, led to the extinction of the tribute-paying to which Jefferson had so objected. The exploration of the Far West was under taken and settlements across the Mississippi were generously assisted. Four years of pros perity and the almost complete disintegration of the Federalist Party led to the easy reelec tion of Jefferson in 1804. Burr's scheme to in vade Mexico to set up an empire brought about his trial for treason, and the prosecution gave Jefferson's enemies the opportunity to accuse him of gross partisan-hip. Jefferson's second term is remarkable for his consistent and on the whole unsuccessful attempt to apply to foreign affairs principles of action so far in advance of his time that we have not vet arrived at them to-day. The long wars between France and England had made these two nations utterly clueless of the rights of neutrals. The United States. as the principal carrier of neutral goods, suffered most, her ships being attacked no both nations and her crews being impressed into British service. This impressment by the British went on in spite of protest until a erisiP, was reached in June, 1807, when the British ship Leopard fired into the American frigate Chesapeake (q.v.). Redress was demanded, but the British Government re fused to touch the fundamental cause of the trouble. impressment. The measures that Jetfer SOT1 recommended in retaliation were those of commercial restriction such as had been not without effect in the eighteenth century. The Embargo of 1807 forbade American vessels to leave for foreign ports, and the Enforcement Act of 1808 put heavy penalties on the violation of the embargo. These acts proved without effect
as far as changing the attitude of the British was concerned. and brought great distress on the tobacco industry of Virginia and CM the commerce of Now England and the Middle States. This policy was abandoned in 1809, shortly before Jef ferson retired from office and took up the care of his plantation at Monticello. Here he ceased entirely from active political life, but by means of his facile pen still exerted an important influ ence on the Government, especially upon his suc cessors and disciples, Madison and Monroe. His house was the Mecca to which all America seemed to turn, his open and generous hospitality finally bringing financial distress upon hint—a distress that both the Government and private indivtduals helped to relieve. Jefferson's chief public service during this period was the founding of the Uni versity of Virginia—a claim on posterity so great that he desired to have it eommemorated in his epitaph. along with his authorship of the Dec laration. Tn .Tune, 1826, his health failed rapidly and lie (lied duly 4th, the same day that his pre decessor in office. John Adams. passed away.
In person .Tefferson was tall (6 feet 2 inches), with a bony but strong frame, angular features, ruddy complexion, sandy or reddish hair, and light hazel eyes. In dress and hearing he was so far removed from the formal as to he almost slovenly. Ills manners were remarkably winning and his disposition very kindly, not only to his family and his friends, but to his slaves. While not precisely learned, he probably had the most receptive mind of his generation, and it is by no means certain that. although lie was on the whole a far from strong Executive. he was not the most influential statesman of his day. In religion it is probable that he was not far from what was then known and execrated as a 'free thinker': as an idealist he did not underestimate the sub limity of Christ's character, but he had no belief in the orthodox theological ideas as to redemp tion. His views on slavery were far beyond those of his time, but all of his efforts to effect a reform in Virginia were unavailing. The influ ence that he has had through the Democratic Party has been but the most open expression of the deep influence he has had in the democratiz ing of all American ideas. The unfailing trust which the people of his day put in him was due largely to the deep and steady confidence he bad in them.
Consult: Works, Congressional Edition (Wash ington, 1853-55) : also the latest and best by P. L. Ford (10 vols.. New York. 1892-99) ; Memoir and Correspondence, by T. J. Randolph. his grandson (4 vols.. Charlottesville, Va.. 1829). For his biography consult: Parton (Boston. 1874) Morse. in "American Statesmen Series" (Boston. 18831; Schouler, in "Makers of Ameri ca" (New York, 1893) ; Randall (3 vols., New York, 1888) ; Adams. History of the United States (9 vols., New York, 18-99-91). For an ap preciation of his genius consult Trent. Southern Statesmen of the Old Regime (New York. 1897).