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CHAPTER X.

James Monroe, elected President. His Policy and Measures similar to Mr. Madison. A practical Statesman. Attentive to the Public Finances. Favors Economy in Public Expenses; and urges the strict accountability of the Officers and Agents of Government. Encouragement to Domestic Manufactures. Internal Improvements. Objections to Appropriations for them. Pension Law. Great number of Pensioners. Negotiations with England on Commerce. Disputes with Spain. Florida Controversy. Modification of Pension Law.

JAMES MONROE, of Virginia, entered on the duties of President, March, 1817; having been elected in the manner provided by the Constitution; and generally pursued the policy adopted by his predecessor, in the last year of his administration, and the year after the war. He was favorable to the support and increase of the navy, and recommended fortifications on the seacoast and other measures of national defence. The Secretary of War, (Mr. Calhoun,) was also decidedly in favor of these measures. Mr. Monroe had less scruples on the subject of expenditures for internal improvements, than his predecessor, who doubted that the Constitution had given such power to the federal gov

ernment.

The address made by Mr. Monroe, at his inauguration as President, March, 1817, and his first message to Congress, December following, disclose in some measure the views which would guide him in administering the federal government, as well as his theory of the Union and of the separate States. "Under the federal Constitution, the States respectively are protected against foreign dangers, while they enjoy, by a wise partition of power, a just proportion of sovereignty, and are improving their police, extending their settlements, and constantly gaining strength and maturity."

He spoke of the importance of the Union, and of the interest of the people in every section to preserve it. "The great agricultural interests of the nation prosper under its protection; and local interests, are also fostered by it. Our fellow-citizens of the north, engaged in navigation, find great encouragement in being the carriers of the productions of other parts of the United States; while the inhabitants of these are amply recompensed, by the nursery for seamen and naval force, thus formed and reared up, for the support of our common rights. Our manufactures find encouragement by the policy which patronizes domestic industry: and the surplus of our produce, a steady and profitable market by local wants, in less favored parts, at home."

On the origin and nature of the federal government, he says, ys, "the defects of the first instrument of our Unionthe confederation-have been remedied, by infusing into the national government sufficient power for national purposes, without impairing the just rights of the States, or affecting those of individuals. Had the people of the United States been educated in different principles; had they been less intelligent, less independent, or less virtuous, can it be supposed that we should have maintained the same steady and consistent career; or been blessed with the same success? While then the constituent body retains its present sound and healthful state, every thing will be safe. The people will choose competent and faithful representatives for every department. It is only when the people are ignorant and corrupt; when they degenerate into a populace;* that they are incapable of exercising the sovereignty. Usurpation is then an easy attainment, and an usurper soon found. The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debasement and ruin."

He spoke in favor of measures for protection and defence against foreign powers-" many of our citizens are engaged in navigation, in commerce, and the fisheries. These interests, as we have seen, are exposed to invasion in wars between other nations; and we should disregard the faithful admonitions of experience, if we did not expect it, and guard against it. We must support our rights, or lose our character; and with it, probably, our liberties. A people who fail to do this, can scarcely be said to hold a place among independent nations."

The attention of the general government to manufactures was strongly recommended; and the opinion expressed that a systematic and fostering care should be afforded to them. "Possessing, as we do, all the raw mate

* The mere populace, or rather the mob or the rabble, must here be intended. In a republic the populace are the people, and therefore the source of power. To prevent their being deceived and corrupted, must be the desire of every true patriot.

rials, the fruit of our own soil and industry," the President said, "that we ought not to depend, in the degree we have heretofore done, on supplies from other countries. While we are thus dependent, the sudden event of war, unsought and unexpected, cannot fail to plunge us into the most serious difficulties. It is important too, that the capital, which nourishes our manufactures should be domestic; as its influence, in that case, instead of exhausting, as it may do in foreign hands, would be felt advantageously on agriculture, and every other branch of industry. Equally important is it, to provide at home a market for our raw materials; as, by extending the competition, it will enhance the price, and protect the cultivator against the casualties incident to foreign markets." A committee was raised in the House of Representatives to consider the expediency of providing by law for clothing the army in domestic manufactured goods; but although the members who expressed an opinion on the subject were in favor of the measure, no act was passed for the purpose, at that session of Con

gress.

Of the powers and duties of the executive relating to the public revenue and finances, the President gave his views very plainly, and very wisely; and it is only by conforming to the course he indicated, that the people's money can be safely kept or collected. "The executive is charged with the disbursement of the public money, and is responsible for the faithful application of it to the purposes for which it is raised. The legislature is the watchful guardian over the public purse. It is its duty to see that the disbursements have been honestly made. To meet the requisite responsibility, every facility should be afforded to the executive, to enable it to bring the public agents, entrusted with the public money, strictly and promptly to account. If the public money is suffered to lie long and uselessly in their hands, they will not be the only defaulters; nor will the demoralizing effect be confined to them. It will evince a relaxation, and a want of tone in the administration, which will be felt by the whole community. A thorough examination should be made; and I will readily promote it."

The President also expressed a hope, that harmony in political opinions would more prevail among the people in future, and observed, he was happy to perceive indications of such a desirable event. Its future benign results were well portrayed; and an assurance given of exertions, on his part, to increase and extend it. No part of his official conduct contradicted the magnanimous spirit, which he dis

covered; and yet his selections for public office were confined, in a great measure, to those of his peculiar political views. The President made a journey through the middle and eastern States, in the summer after his election, as Chief Magistrate of the United States; and though the majority in most of these States had opposed some of the leading measures of the administration of his predecessors, of which he had himself been a member, they united, as one man, in demonstrations of respect and courtesy towards this highest functionary of the federal government.

The visit and intercourse were favorable to the harmony he had recommended; and no one was more ready to cooperate with him in promoting this desirable object, in an honorable manner, than Governor Brooks, then Chief Magistrate of the ancient Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

As the message of the President to Congress, at the opening of the session, December, 1817, was more of a business paper than his inaugural address; relating to the existing state of the country, and to the particular measures which he deemed proper for legislative consideration, a reference to its contents will exhibit the policy of the administration,* and present a view of public events of recent occurrence, at that period.

"The revenue was greatly augmented by an extensive and profitable commerce.-Public credit had attained an extraordinary elevation.-Preparations for defence, in case of future wars, were advancing under a well-directed system, with all reasonable dispatch. - Local jealousies were yielding to more generous and enlightened views of national policy."

A proposition had been made by the administration to the British government, for extending the principle of the Convention made in 1815, (by which the commerce between the ports of the United States and British ports in Europe had been put on a footing of equality,) to the colonies of Great Britain: but was declined by that government: and it was suggested to Congress to adopt regulations, for the protection and improvement of the navigation of the United States, in consequence of the refusal by the British to open their ports in their colonies, on similar terms as had been agreed, as to their ports in Europe. By an act of Congress on the subject of navigation, passed at the same

* The members of Mr. Monroe's cabinet were among the most able political characters. J. Q. Adams was Secretary of State, Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury; and John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War.

session, the ports of the United States were to be closed, after September, 1818, against British vessels coming from any port in the colonies of Great Britain, which were closed against vessels belonging to citizens of the United States; and if they should enter, or attempt to enter American ports, the vessel, cargo, and furniture, were declared forfeited to the United States. The advocates of this act considered it not as a hostile measure towards Great Britain; but a necessary regulation for the due protection of American navigation.

The difficulties with Spain, on account of Florida, which had given the administration much anxiety for several years, still continuing, the subject was noticed at large, in the President's message, at this time; and it was recommended to Congress to settle the dispute, if it could be definitely done, by a purchase of the whole territory. Mexico, at this period, was in a state of commotion and revolt, and other provinces in South America were evidently on the eve of revolutions, of less or greater extent; and it became important to have all old disputes with Spain speedily settled and terminated.

The American Envoy to Spain, had been instructed, in 1815, to demand indemnity for suspending the right of deposite at New Orleans; for a refusal or neglect to fix the boundaries of their territory bordering on Louisiana; and for spoliations on commerce, whether made by Spanish vessels, or by the French, and condemned in their ports. In 1816, the Envoy invited negotiations on these subjects, agreeable to his instructions; but was told, the dispute would be settled at Washington. But it was found that the Spanish minister, near the American government, had not full power to settle any thing; and his object appeared to be delay. In 1818, the executive, by the Secretary of State, offered the following proposition to the Spanish minister, with a view to terminate the differences between the two governments, "A surrender or cession, by Spain, of all territory east of the Mississippi river-Colorado to be the eastern boundary-a reference to commissioners of the claims on account of spoliations-that lands in East Florida and to the river Perdido be held as a security for indemnities allowed-and Spain released from the payment of debts arising from the claims. Evasion, or postponement of the dispute, appeared still to be the object of Spain; for her minister offered nothing definite, or what was most manifestly unacceptable and unreasonable. And when in the summer of 1818, his consent was given for the cession of

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