No man, therefore, who had not declared himself unfriendly to the principles he would be deputed to support, could be less objectionable to France.
[Footnote 46: At his own request, Mr.Pinckney had been recalled; and Mr.King, a gentleman whose talents have been universally acknowledged, and whose services will be long recollected with approbation, had succeeded him.] To the President he was recommended by an intimate knowledge of his worth; by a confidence in the sincerity of his personal attachment to the chief magistrate; by a conviction that his exertions to effect the objects of his mission would be ardent and sincere; and that, whatever might be his partialities for France, he possessed a high and delicate sense of national as well as individual honour, was jealous for the reputation of his country, and tenacious of its rights.
In July, immediately after the appointment of General Pinckney, letters were received from Colonel Monroe communicating the official complaints against the American government which had been made to him in March by Mr.de La Croix, the minister of exterior relations, together with his answer to those complaints.
In this answer the American minister had effectually refuted the criminations of Mr.de La Croix; and the executive was satisfied with it.

But the Directory had decided on their system, and it was not by reasoning, however conclusive, that this decision was to be changed.
As the time for electing the chief magistrate approached, the anxiety of the public respecting the person in office, seemed to increase.

In states where the electors are chosen by the people, names of great political influence were offered for their approbation.

The strong hold which Washington had taken of the affections of his countrymen was, on this occasion, fully evinced.

In districts where the opposition to his administration was most powerful, where all his measures were most loudly condemned, where those who approved his system possessed least influence, the men who appeared to control public opinion on every other subject, found themselves unable to move it on this.