garrisons.

Three days later the House of Representatives passed a bill declaring
war by a vote of 79 to 49. The opposition came largely from the
Northeast. The representatives from Connecticut and Rhode Island were to
a man against war, and they were supported by Federalists from
Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. In the
Senate the vote stood 19 for war and 13 against it. "Except
Pennsylvania, the entire representation of no Northern State declared
itself for the war; except Kentucky, every State south of the Potomac
and Ohio voted for the declaration."

While Congress was debating the alternatives of peace or war, the
British Government took a step which under modern conditions would have
averted hostilities. Taking advantage of a decree of Napoleon dating
from 1810, which declared his edicts revoked so far as American vessels
were concerned, the Ministry announced on June 23 that the British
orders would be withdrawn. But just five days earlier, President Madison
had proclaimed a state of war between the United States and Great
Britain.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

A brief account of the events which formed the prelude to the War
of 1812 may be found in K. C. Babcock, _The Rise of American
Nationality_ (in _The American Nation_, vol. 13, 1906). The
diplomatic and military antecedents of the war are set forth at
greater length in A. T. Mahan, _Sea Power in its Relation to the
War of 1812_ (2 vols., 1905). Biographies contribute much that is
of interest. Carl Schurz, _Henry Clay_ (2 vols., 1887), is one of
the best. J. T. Morse, _John Quincy Adams_ (1882), and Edmund
Quincy, _Life of Josiah Quincy of Massachusetts_ (1867), also
contain interesting information. M. P. Follett, _The Speaker of
the House of Representatives_ (1896); Edward Stanwood, _History of
the Presidency_ (1898); and M. L. Hinsdale, _History of the
President's Cabinet_ (1911), touch upon important aspects of
politics. The volume entitled _Memoirs and Letters of Dolly
Madison_ (1886) gives many charming glimpses of social life at the
capital. The discomforts and hazards of travel in the West are
described with great vivacity by Margaret Van Horn, _A Journey to
Ohio in 1810_ (1912).

CHAPTER XII

THE WAR OF 1812

When hostilities began in North America, the war establishment of the
United States stood officially at 36,700