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UNITED STATES.

PERIOD XI.

DISTINGUISHED FOR MONROE'S ADMINISTRATION.

Extending from the inauguration of President Monroe, 1817, to March, 1825.

Sec. 1. On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the oath prescribed by the constitution, and entered upon the duties of president of the United States.

The condition of the country, on the accession of Mr. Monroe to the presidency, was in several respects more prosperous and happy, than on the accession of his predecessor. Not only had war ceased, and the political asperity excited by it given place to better feelings, but efforts were made, in every section of the union, to revive those plans of business which the war had nearly annihilated. The country had suffered too much, however, to regain immediately its former prosperity. Commerce was far from being flourishing; a considerable part of the legiti mate trade was in the hands of foreigners; many ships were lying unemployed, and the ship-building in many ports had nearly ceased. The manufacturing establishments, which had not been entirely broken down, were sustaining a precarious existence. Foreign merchandise was inundating the country; and the specie, borrowed in Europe for the national bank, at an excessive premium, as well as that which was previously in the country, was rapidly leaving it to pay the balance of trade against us.*

* The bank of the United States commenced the importation of specie in 1817, and introduced into the country seven millions three hundred and eleven thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars, at an expense of more than half a million of dollars. As fast as this specie arrived, it was

his inaugural address, however, the president spoke in animating terms of the happy state of the country, and of its prospects of regaining, at no distant period, that measure of prosperity, which, in former years, it had enjoyed.

Sec. 2. The senate having been convened at the same time, a cabinet was formed under the new administration. The department of state was intrusted to Mr. Adams. Mr. Crawford was continued in the treasury. Mr. Calhoun was appointed secretary of war, and Smith Thompson was placed over the department of the navy.

In the above nominations the president appears to have strictly adhered to certain principles, which he had prescribed for himself in a correspondence with Gen. Jackson, who had written to Mr. Monroe an advisary letter touching this important presidential prerogative.

In the above letter to Mr. Monroe, dated Nov. 12, 1816, the general remarks: "Your happiness and the nations velfare, materially depend on the selections, which are made, to fill the heads of departments. Every thing depends on the selection of your ministry. In every instance party, and party feeling, should be avoided. Now is the time to exterminate that monster called party spirit. By selecting characters conspicuous for probity, virtue, capacity, and firmness, without regard to party, you will go far to, if not entirely, eradicate those feelings which, on former occasions, threw so many obstacles in the way of government, and perhaps have the pleasure and honor of uniting a people heretofore politically divided. The chief magistrate of a great and powerful nation should never indulge in party feelings; his conduct should be liberal and disinterested, always bearing in mind that he acts for the whole, and not a part of the community. By this course you will exalt the national character, and acquire for your. reshipped to Europe, to pay the balance of trade against the United States, or sent to India or China to purchase merchandise. With this specie went a large portion of that which was in the country at the close of the war. The exportation of specie from the United States to China alone, in three years, amounted to above seventeen millions of dollars.

Viz.:-1816-17,
17-18,
18-19,

$4,572,000
5,300,000

7,414,000

$17,286,000

self a name as imperishable as monumental brass. Con sult no party in your choice. Pursue the dictates of that unerring judgment which has so long and so often benefited the country, and rendered conspicuous its rulers."

The advice thus confidentially imparted to Mr. Monroe was acknowledged by the latter to be salutary, but he deemed the time not to have arrived when the object could be fully accomplished. "I agree with you decidedly," he says, "that the chief magistrate of the country ought not to be the head of a party, but of the nation itself. In deciding, however, how a new administration is to be formed, many considerations claim attention, as on a proper estimate of them much may depend of the success of that ad ministration, and even of the republican cause. We have heretofore been divided into two great parties; the contest between them has never ceased from its commencement to the present time, nor do I think it can be said now to have ceased. To give effect to a free government, and secure it from future danger, ought not its decided friends, who stood firm, to be principally relied on? Would not the association of any of their opponents in the administration, itself wound their feelings, or at least of very many of them, to the injury of the republican cause? Might it not be considered by the other party as an offer of compromise with them, and have a tendency to revive that party, on its former principles? My impression is, that the administration should rest strongly on the republican party, indulging towards the other a spirit of moderation, and evincing a desire to discriminate between its members, and to bring the whole into the republican fold, as quietly as possible. The first object is to save the cause, which can be done by those who are devoted to it, only, and of course by keeping them together; or in other words by not disgusting, by too hasty an act of liberality to the other party, thereby breaking the generous spirit of the republican party, and keeping alive that of the federal. The second is to prevent the reorganization and revival of the federal party; which, if my hypothesis is true, that the existence of party is not necessary to a free government, and the other opinion which I have advanced is well founded, that the great body of the federal party are republican, will not be found impracticable. To accomplish both objects, and thereby exterminate all party divisions in our country, and give new strength and stability to our government, is a great undertaking, and not easily executed. I agree perfectly with you in the grand

object, that moderation should be shown to the federal party, and even a generous policy adopted towards it; the only difference between us seems to be, how far shall that spirit be indulged in the outset.

"In the formation of an administration, it appears to me that the representative principle ought to be respected, in a certain degree, at least that a head of a department, there being four, should be taken from the four great sections of the union, the east, the middle, the south, and the west. This principle should not always be adhered to; great emergencies and transcendent talents, would always justify a departure from it, but it would produce a good effect, to attend to it when practicable. Each part of the union would be gratified by it, and the knowledge of local details and means, which would thereby be brought into the cabinet, would be useful. I am in no wise compromitted, in respect to any one, but free to act according to my judgment."

Sec. 3. In the summer and autumn following his inauguration, the president made a tour through the northern and eastern states of the union.

The objects of this tour were connected with the national interests. Congress had appropriated large sums of money for the fortification of the sea coast, and inland frontiers, for the establishment of naval docks, and for increasing the navy. The superintendence of these works belonged to the president. Solicitous to discharge his duty in reference to them with judgment, fidelity, and economy, he was induced to visit the most important points along the sea coast, and in the interior, from a conviction of being better able to direct in reference to them, with the knowledge derived from personal observation, than by means of information communicated to him by others. He left Washington on the first of June, accompanied by Gen. Joseph C. Swift, chief engineer of the United States, and his private secretary, Mr. Mason. Passing through Baltimore, Philadelphia, NewYork, New-Haven, Hartford, New-London, and Providence, he arrived in Boston, in which place and its vicinity he spent several days.

On leaving Boston, he continued eastward to Portland, through Salem, Newburyport, and Portsmouth; and thence directed his course westward to Plattsburg, in the state of New-York. In his route thither, he passed through Dover, Concord, and Hanover, in New-Hampshire, and through

Windsor and Burlington, in Vermont. The important post of Plattsburg occupied his close attention for several days. From this latter place he continued westward to Ogdensburg, Sacket's Harbor, and Detroit. Having now effected the leading objects of his tour, he commenced his return to the seat of government, through the interior of Ohio. At the close of the day, September 17th, he entered Washington, after having been absent more than three months, and having travelled three thousand miles. In the course of his tour, the president examined the various fortifications on the sea board, and in the interior, visited public buildings and institutions devoted to the purposes of literature, the arts, and general benevolence. Although undesirous of attracting public attention on a tour whose object was the good of his country, he was met by a respectable deputation from the various places through which it was understood he would pass, and in lively and patriotic addresses was welcomed to their hospitality.

Sec. 4. Congress met on the 1st of December. In his message at the opening of the session, the president stated that the national credit was attaining a high elevation; that preparations for the defence of the country were progressing, under a well digested system; that arrangements had been made with Great Britain to reduce the naval force of the two countries on the western lakes; and that it was agreed that each country should keep possession of the islands which belonged to it before the war; and that the foreign relations of the country continued to be pacific. The message concluded with recommending the surviving officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army to the special notice of congress, and the repeal of the internal duties, on the ground that the state of the treasury rendered their longer continuance unnecessary.

Sec. 5. On the 11th, the state of MISSISSIPPI was acknowledged by congress as sovereign and independent, and was admitted to the union.

The first European who visited the present state of Mis

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