Lafayette was a citizen of the United States, an American
officer, and no more in the French service, his adopted government could
do nothing effectual in his behalf, and for three years he lay in the
dungeon at Olmutz. His wife and daughter were permitted to share his
dungeon life; and finally his eldest son, bearing the name of
Washington, came to seek an asylum in the United States. His reception
here we shall consider hereafter.

CHAPTER XX.

CLOUDS GATHERING--JEALOUSY OF EXECUTIVE INFLUENCE--ANGRY PARTY
DEBATES--CALLS FOR INFORMATION RESPECTING FINANCIAL
AFFAIRS--HAMILTON CHARGED WITH BEING A DEFAULTER--HIS REPLY AND THE
RESULT--VENERATION FOR WASHINGTON TOUCHED BY PARTY RANCOR--FORMS TO
BE OBSERVED AT HIS SECOND INAUGURATION--THE CEREMONY--ACCOUNT BY AN
EYE-WITNESS--WASHINGTON CALLED TO MOUNT VERNON--DEATH OF HIS
NEPHEW--INTELLIGENCE OF DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST ENGLAND BY
FRANCE--OF THE DEATH OF KING LOUIS--EXCITEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES
IN FAVOR OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONISTS--POPULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF
SYMPATHY IN BOSTON AND ELSEWHERE--DANGEROUS TENDENCY OF THAT
SYMPATHY--CITIZEN GENET AND HIS MISSION--WASHINGTON HASTENS BACK TO
PHILADELPHIA--CABINET COUNCIL--PROCLAMATION OF
NEUTRALITY--OPPOSITION TO THE MEASURE.

When the last session of the second Congress commenced in Philadelphia
on the fifth of November, 1792, ominous clouds were gathering in the
political horizon, which gave Washington many apprehensions of an
impending storm. Party spirit was growing more and more violent; war
with the Indians in the Northwest was progressing; discontents with the
operations of the excise laws were assuming alarming aspects; the
attitude of the European governments brought serious questions to those
who controlled public affairs in the United States; and the cabinet,
where unity of feeling was necessary in order to counsel the president
well, was yet torn by dissentions, with no prospect of their being
healed.

There was much apparent good feeling among the members of Congress when
they first met, but action upon public business soon aroused party
spirit in all its rancor. It was first summoned from its sleep by a
motion for the secretaries of war and of the treasury to attend the
house, and give such information as they might possess concerning the
conduct of the Indian war in the Northwest, with which there was much
public dissatisfaction. This propositio