Orleans by whose negligence the second expedition of Lopez had been permitted. France and England proposed a "Tripartite Treaty" with the United States, by which each party to the contract was to pledge itself now and forever not to attempt the acquisition of Cuba. Edward Everett, then Secretary of State, replied with a masterly paper in December, 1852. He disclaimed any such intention on the part of the United States as was suspected, but asserted, in accordance with the Mon

roe Doctrine, that the question was purely an American one, in which our government would not see with indifference any foreign interference.

In 1850 a rich merchant of New York, Henry Grinnell, fitted out at his own expense two vessels which he sent, under the command of Lieutenant De Haven, on a voyage to the Arctic Ocean. The immediate object of the expedition was to discover some traces

DANIEL WEBSTER.

of Sir John Franklin, who six years before had sailed from England for these northern latitudes. No tidings had been received of his whereabout during all this time, and none were now obtained. In 1853 the government joined Grinnell in sending Dr. Elisha Kent Kane on a similar search. Kane and his men suffered severely and were forced to abandon their ships. They were finally brought home by a relief expedition in 1855. They had gained much scientific information but did not succeed in finding Franklin, though traces of the latter were afterward discovered

In the latter part of 1851 Louis Kossuth arrived in the United States. He came to secure assistance in the struggle of the people of Hungary against the tyranny of Austria. The tour of our country which the distinguished patriot made in 1852 called forth the warmest expressions of sympathy and resulted in his obtaining much private assistance for the cause he represented, but the settled policy of our government prevented any official aid.

A little difficulty arose with England in the course of 1852 regarding the Newfoundland fisheries. Our fishing-vessels already possessed the treaty-right of pursuing their vocation beyond a line three miles from shore. Now the question arose whether, as England claimed, that line should be drawn from headland to headland, thus shutting our vessels out of the harbors, or whether, as our government claimed, it should follow the indentations of the coast-line. Both nations sent armed vessels to the locality concerning which the question arose, but in 1854 the dispute was settled favorably to our claims by negotiation.

In the national election which occurred in the fall of 1852, three parties put candidates in the field. They were Franklin Pierce, of New Hampshire, nominated by the Democrats; General Winfield Scott, by the Whigs, and John P. Hale, by the Free-soil party. The contest resulted in a victory for the Democratic candidates, Pierce and William R. King, of Alabama.

CHAPTER LIV.

PIERCE'S ADMINISTRATION—1853-1857.

Sketch of Pierce-Death of Vice-President King-The "Gadsden Purchase "-A treaty with Japan-The Crystal Palace-Filibustering expeditions of General Walker-Cuban difficultiesThe Ostend Manifesto-The Martin Koszta affair-The Kansas-Nebraska Bill-"Squatter Sovereignty"— The slavery issue once more-The bill passes-The struggle in KansasOrigin of the Republican party-Election of the Democratic candidates, Buchanan and Breckinridge.

On the 4th of March, 1853, Franklin Pierce was inaugurated in his forty-ninth year. He was born in New Hampshire, in November, 1804, was graduated from Bowdoin College twenty years later, and pursued the profession of law. He had represented his native state in Congress, both in the House and in the Senate, and had served under Scott in Mexico. He appointed William L. Marcy, of New York, as his Secretary of State. Vice-President King took the oath of office in Cuba, where he was sojourning for his health, but on returning to his home he died on the 18th of April, 1853.

Another dispute had arisen with Mexico, this time concerning the boundary between New Mexico and the province of Chihuahua. Santa Anna, who was again President of Mexico, sent an armed force to the disputed locality, but the quarrel was finally settled by the purchase of the Mexican claims. The region thus acquired, now forming portions of the territories of Arizona and New Mexico, is known as the "Gadsden Purchase," in honor of our representative who

carried on the negotiations. This was in the first year of Pierce's administration. In the same year a party of engineers were sent to explore a route for a railroad to connect the eastern and western portions of our continent.

In the summer of 1853 Commodore Perry, brother of the hero of Lake Erie, arrived in Japan with a squadron of United States vessels. His object was to negotiate a commercial treaty with Japan, which had hitherto kept her ports closed to the vessels of our own and all Christian nations. In the spring of 1854 he succeeded in concluding a treaty by which two Japanese ports were designated as open to American vessels.

On the 14th of July, 1853, the Crystal Palace was opened in New York for a World's Fair. This was the second that had ever been held, the first having been opened two years previously in London. The Crystal Palace, built by private enterprise, was a magnificent structure composed of glass and iron, and contained exhibits from every civilized nation. The building was destroyed by fire in 1858.

In the first year of Pierce's Presidential term a series of events began which did not end till nearly the close of the next administration. These were a number of filibustering expeditions led by General William Walker against the governments of Central America. In 1853 he attacked with a band of followers a town in Lower California, and the next year invaded the state of Sonora, in Mexico. He was taken prisoner and tried by the authorities of San Francisco. Being acquitted, he organized an expedition in 1855 against Nicaragua. He gained several battles, and in the course of the next year became President of the state; but an insurrection occurred, and in the year 1857 he was driven out.

Arriving at New Orleans, he secured other follow

ers and invaded Nicaragua again. This time he was forced to surrender to Commodore Paulding, of the United States Navy, and was taken as a prisoner to New York. He was liberated by the government, however, and in 1860 he set out on his last filibustering expedition, this time to Honduras. Here he was

In the early part of this administration some difficulties arose with the authorities in Cuba, which again attracted public attention to that island. The President directed our embassadors at London, Paris,