eld his party
under perfect control. The mischievous results of the embargo policy
were evident enough to a sufficient number of Republicans to secure in
February, 1809, the repeal of that measure, to take effect the next
month as to all countries except England and France, and, with regard to
them, at the adjournment of the next Congress. But the prohibition of
importation from both these latter countries was continued till the
obnoxious orders in council and the decrees should be repealed.

CHAPTER XVIII

MADISON AS PRESIDENT

Mr. Jefferson named his own successor. Of the three Democratic
candidates, Madison, Monroe, and George Clinton, he preferred Madison
now, and urged Monroe to wait patiently as next in succession. Beyond
two lives he did not, perhaps, think proper to dictate; and, besides,
Clinton was not a Virginian. What little opposition there was to Madison
in his own party came from those who feared that he was too thoroughly
identified with Jefferson's policy to untie the knot in which the
foreign relations of the country had become entangled. Of the 175
electoral votes, however, he received 122; but that was fewer by 39 than
had been cast for Jefferson four years before. Of the New England
States, Vermont alone gave him its votes, changing places with Rhode
Island, which had wheeled into line again with the Federalists.

During the winter of 1808-9, after Madison's election but before his
inauguration, he had quietly conferred with Erskine, the British
minister at Washington, upon the condition of affairs. Much was hoped
from these conferences; but the end which they helped to bring about
was the reverse of what was hoped for. Could Madison have had his way,
he would probably have preferred that Congress should have left
untouched at that session the questions of embargo and non-intercourse;
for the tone of the debates and the tendency of legislation naturally
led the English ministry to doubt the assurances which Erskine gave that
these proceedings did not truly represent the friendly disposition of
the incoming President. In answer to those representations, however,
there came in April from Canning, the foreign secretary, certain
propositions which were so presented by Erskine, and so received by the
administration, as to promise a settlement of all differences between
the two governments. Erskine was a young man, anxious very likely for
distinction; but a laudable ambition to be of service i