The American Montfort (1809–10 election)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Returning to Philadelphia in the spring of 1807, Prime Minister Gallatin presented a vigorous program of government to the members of the new House of Representatives, and the 1807–1810 Congressional term saw passage of several significant legislative items in spite of the limits imposed by a minority government. Foremost among these was an ambitious federal internal improvements plan, outlined in Gallatin's 1808 Report, which called for construction of an extensive network of roads and canals to bind the new states of the Trans-Appalachian West to the rest of the Union. While the united opposition of Federalists and "Old Republicans" led by Virginia's John Randolph prevented passage of the earlier, more expansive version of the infrastructure bill, Gallatin was able to secure funding for an extension of the Cumberland Road. In the realm of foreign affairs, Gallatin narrowly secured Congressional approval for an extension of the 1795 treaty with Britain. In the acrimonious battle on the House floor, the government was upheld by the votes of Federalist members after War Hawks in the Republican caucus joined Clay's Independents to vote against ratification. Tensions were only further exacerbated by the Chesapeake-Leopold affair, when sailors of the HMS Leopold seized the USS Chesapeake off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia and impressed members of the crew into the Royal Navy—an incident that left Clay and the War Hawks howling for revenge.

Gallatin seeks an unprecedented fourth term in government as the 1809 elections draw near. His Republicans present themselves as the party of peace and sanity against the anti-French warmongering of the Federalists and the anti-British warmongering of the Independent Republicans. Though a vocal minority of "Old Republicans" led by Randolph favor a more restrictive interpretation of federal power, the majority stand by Gallatin in favoring extension of the Bank of the United States beyond its original charter (due to expire in 1811) and federal internal improvement programs. In opposition, the Federalists continue to attack Gallatin's foreign policy, warning a Republican majority in the House will inevitably compel Gallatin to declare war on Britain, and themselves favoring an alliance with Britain against France. They support extending the National Bank but oppose Gallatin's internal improvement scheme, unwilling to finance extensive federal projects that will primarily benefit Republican constituencies in the South and West. Finally, the Independent Republicans are calling for an immediate declaration of war against Britain, citing the impressment of American sailors and Indian raids on the frontier. They support internal improvements but are divided over the issue of the Bank, which their leader, Clay, personally supports.

Two days. No cap on the Independent Republicans this time.

[PSOL]

Federalists, the usage of national funds for vote buying is a dangerous precedent for the nation’s future.

[1978 New Wave skinny trousers]

Independent Republicans.

[UlmerFudd]

Independent Republicans.

[Kingpoleon]

I’m rooting for a Clay-Gallatin national unity government for the war.

[Former President tack50]

Republicans (not a warmonger)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The 1809–10 United States general election
War fever gripped the country as Americans went to the polls in the fall of 1809. For all Gallatin's careful efforts to maintain neutrality in the conflict raging in Europe, the constant flow of new stories that told of American sailors abducted on the high seas and pressed into the service His Majesty's navy, combined with rumors that British agents in Canada were fermenting unrest among the tribes of the Northwest, inflamed the passions of a public that would accept no substitute to satisfaction. With the most extreme among the Federalists agitating with equal fervor for war with France, Gallatin's calls for calm fell upon deaf ears: and the general election delivered a stunning defeat for the government, as the majority of Republicans in the South and West defected to the "War party" and the banner of Henry Clay. While the regular Republicans held their own in Pennsylvania and made gains in New England, where some moderate Federalists abandoned their party in disgust for the antics of the "Essex Junto," elsewhere the government slate was obliterated. Only Virginia, where the regular Republican slate—made up mostly of "Old Republicans" whose first loyalty was not to Gallatin, but John Randolph—won enough seats to deny the Independents a majority of the state's delegation and threw several more to anti-war Federalists who carried them by pluralities, prevented Clay from forming a majority government, yielding a hung parliament.


Independent Republican (Henry Clay) 60 seats (+35), 41.9% popular votes
Republican (Albert Gallatin) 46 seats (-25), 29.1% popular votes
Federalist (Timothy Pickering) 36 seats (-10), 29.0% popular votes