For the moment, a spirit was roused on which an American may reflect with pride, and which he may consider as a sure protection from external danger.

In every part of the continent, the favourite sentiment was "millions for defence, not a cent for tribute." The disposition still existed to justify France, by criminating the American government, by contending that her intentions were not really hostile, that her conduct was misrepresented by men under British influence, who wished for war, or had been deceived by unauthorized intriguers; that, admitting it to be otherwise, she only demanded those marks of friendship which, at a critical moment, she had herself afforded; that the real interests of the United States required a compliance with this demand; that it would cost more money to resist than to yield to it; that the resistance would infallibly be ineffectual; and that national honour was never secured by national defeat.

Neither these sentiments, nor the arguments which were founded on them, accorded with the general feeling; and it required the co-operation of other causes to establish the influence of those who urged them.
[Sidenote: Measures of hostility adopted by the American government against France.] In congress, vigorous measures were adopted for retaliating injuries which had been sustained, and for repelling those which were threatened.

Amongst these was a regular army.

A regiment of artillerists and engineers was added to the permanent establishment; and the President was authorized to raise twelve additional regiments of infantry, and one regiment of cavalry, to serve during the continuance of the existing differences with the French republic if not sooner discharged.