In the midst of Madison’s campaign, in 1794, Carey wrote a Short Account of Algiers, criticizing the British for encouraging the Barbary pirates to attack American ships. Carey favored Madison’s views. That indicated his first break with the Federalists. Carey advocated creating a navy, however, which Jeffersonian and Madison opposed.
Carey had long advocated a strong navy. In the Pennsylvania Evening Herald, he promoted the formation of an American navy to protect the commercial interests of the United States. In the American Museum, he featured articles that argued that a powerful navy was essential if the United States were to pursue effective relations with Britain.[1]
After the Revolution, the navy was disbanded leaving America’s merchant marine defenseless. President Washington appealed to Congress to create a navy of six frigates. He faced stiff opposition from both Madison and Jefferson. Madison argued that economic sanctions were an economical alternative to the expense of six frigates, which would add to public debt and increase taxes. A navy of six frigates was no match for the large and powerful British fleet.[2]
After Portugal signed a peace treaty with Algeria, leaving American vessels vulnerable to North African corsairs, Congress passed the Naval Act of 1794 creating the navy of six frigates that Washington had requested. Although Congress was willing to create a small navy, it did not authorize the economic sanctions Madison also proposed as retaliation against Britain for its hostile acts to America’s merchant marine.[3]
Carey considered creating a navy and Madison’s economic sanctions as crucial for successful relations with Britain. He lobbied for both. In his second edition of A Short Account of Algiers appeared on October 20, 1794, he reiterated Madison’s position the British were using their “sooty allies” the “Algerines” to plunder America’s ships, curb republicanism, and connive against the French. He then suggested that America build twenty frigates join the Scandinavian League of Armed Neutrality and improve its relations with France, all measures that President John Adams endorsed and implemented.[4]
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[1] Edward C. Carter II, “Mathew Carey, Advocate of American Naval Power,“ American Neptune, V. 26 N. 3 (July, 1966)179-180.
[2] George C. Daughan, 1812: The Navy’s War, (New York: Basic Books, 2011) 6.
[3] Carter, “Mathew Carey, Advocate of American Naval Power,” 181-2.
[4] Carter, “Mathew Carey, Advocate of American Naval Power,” 182.