ohn Marshall and the
Constitution" in "The Chronicles of America."

The most inveterate foe could not characterize this message as
revolutionary, however much he might dissent from the policies
advocated. It was not Jefferson's way, indeed, to announce his
intentions boldly and hew his way relentlessly to his objective. He
was far too astute as a party leader to attempt to force his will upon
Republicans in Congress. He would suggest; he would advise; he would
cautiously express an opinion; but he would never dictate. Yet few
Presidents have exercised a stronger directive influence upon Congress
than Thomas Jefferson during the greater part of his Administration. So
long as he was en rapport with Nathaniel Macon, Speaker of the House,
and with John Randolph, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means,
he could direct the policies of his party as effectively as the most
autocratic dictator. When he had made up his mind that Justice Samuel
Chase of the Supreme Court should be impeached, he simply penned a note
to Joseph Nicholson, who was then managing the impeachment of Judge
Pickering, raising the question whether Chase's attack on the principles
of the Constitution should go unpunished. "I ask these questions for
your consideration," said the President deferentially; "for myself,
it is better that I should not interfere." And eventually impeachment
proceedings were instituted.

In this memorable first message, the President alluded to a little
incident which had occurred in the Mediterranean, "the only exception to
this state of general peace with which we have been blessed." Tripoli,
one of the Barbary States, had begun depredations upon American commerce
and the President had sent a small squadron for protection. A ship of
this squadron, the schooner Enterprise, had fallen in with a Tripolitan
man-of-war and after a fight lasting three hours had forced the corsair
to strike her colors. But since war had not been declared and the
President's orders were to act only on the defensive, the crew of
the Enterprise dismantled the captured vessel and let her go. Would
Congress, asked the President, take under consideration the advisability
of placing our forces on an equality with those of our adversaries?
Neither the President nor his Secretary of the Treasury seems to have
been aware that this single cloud on the horizon portended a storm of
long duration. Yet within a year it became necessary to delay further
re