It was the time when the French were eloquently discoursing of the rights of man; but they did not appear to regard the peaceful navigation of the ocean as one of those rights; they were preaching of the virtues of the American republic, but their rulers issued orders and decrees that nearly brought the two governments to the point of actual war.

But the very fact that France and England were almost equally arrogant and aggressive delayed the formal declaration of hostilities.

Within the United States two political parties--the Federalists and the Republicans--were struggling for mastery.
The one defended, though half-heartedly, the British, and demanded drastic action against the French spoliators.

The other denounced British insolence and extolled our ancient allies and brothers in republicanism, the French.

While the politicians quarreled the British stole our sailors and the French stole our ships.