While John Adams was President, the successor of Washington, the Alien and Sedition Laws created a stir in the country.  The Federalists gave the President power to send out of the country all foreigners whom he considered dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.  They feared that these foreign citizens, by their free speech and writings might involve us in a war with Great Britain.  This was the Alien Law.  The Democrats contended that they had a right to bring over all the foreigners they pleased and make them citizens.  The Sedition Law condemned to fine or imprisonment any writer of false, scandalous, or malicious statement against the government, Congress, or the President.  The Democrats urged that this law took away freedom of speech and liberty of the press.  Virginia, by James Madison, and Kentucky, by Thomas Jefferson, passed resolutions which have become famous in political history.  Each set of resolutions proclaimed the Union to be only a compact between the States.  They declared the Alien and Sedition laws to be unconstitutional, null and void.  Virginia actually strengthened her military forces, and made ready for secession as far back as this date, 1799.  The laws were not passed.

In 1803 Ohio, the 17th State, was ceded by Virginia, and was admitted—­the first state carved from the Northwest Territory, and employed free labor.

The purchase of Louisiana from Napoleon in 1803 caused much discussion and interest.  It comprised a vast area equal to the whole United States.  Exploring expeditions were sent out to find what the unknown territory was like.  Whenever there was a question of an acquisition to the Union the slave question was also in agitation.  We next hear of secession when the Embargo Act was passed.  In 1807 congress, in order to avoid the war with Great Britain which was fated to come five years later, enacted that no American vessel should leave the country for foreign ports.  New England, where commerce was still the chief industry, suffered most.  She threatened to secede, and both Massachusetts and Connecticut proclaimed the right to nullify the law.  Two years later the act was repealed and again the Union was saved.  Truly Uncle Sam had restive children who could not be driven, but who might at times be coaxed into a good humor.

Now came the quarrel between the State Banks and the National Bank.  The National Bank charter expired in 1811 and congress refusing to grant another, it had to go out of business.  In 1812 Louisiana, a slave state, came in to make the eighteenth addition.

When war with England was declared in order to protect our commerce, again the New England States wanted to secede.  Bells were tolled, business was suspended, flags were at half-mast, and the war was condemned in town meetings—­from the press and the pulpit.  They believed it would ruin rather than protect commerce.  So they wanted to run away by themselves.  When the administration called for militia these states refused to obey.