Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. I.djvu/180

144 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS face of the globe. Bonaparte demanded fifty mil lions of francs. Marbois, his negotiator, asked a hundred millions, but dropped to sixty, with the condition that the United States should assume all just claims upon the territory. Thus, for the trivial sum of little more than $15,000,000, the United States secured the most important acquisition of territory that was ever made by purchase. Both parties were satisfied with the bargain. "This ac cession," said the first consul, "strengthens forever the power of the United States, and I have just given to England a maritime rival that will sooner or later humble her pride." The popularity of the administration soon be came such that the opposition was reduced to insig nificance, and the president was re-elected by a greatly increased majority. In the house of rep resentatives the Federalists shrank at length to a little band of twenty-seven, and in the senate to five. Jefferson seriously feared that there would not be sufficient opposition to furnish the close and ceaseless criticism that the public good required. His second term was less peaceful and less for tunate. During the long contest between Bona parte and the allied powers the infractions of neutral rights were so frequent and so exasperat ing that perhaps Jefferson alone, aided by his fine temper and detestation of war, could have kept the infant republic out of the brawl. When the