Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-22

a0a B
A President Without eravestone.

a President Without Gravestone.
y PRESIDENT MONROE HAS NO NoNU- \
MENT There is quiet, beautiful cemete-
ry In the north side of Second street, in
this city New York; between First and
Second avenues, separated from the side
walk by tall iron face, placed upon
granite foundation. The shrubbery is al
ways clean and vigorous; the grass is al
ways the greenest, and the walks are scrup-
ulously neat. There are many tasteful aAd
appropriate monuments to the dead that
sleep within this beautiful inclosure bat
to the memory of the most famous of ifs
dnznh i,1h2hi.antS- -tha=e no MAJ bic 50 Afs
no obelisk, not even head stone erected
But upon simple slab of marble that lies
fat some two feet square npon the earth,
and is almost covered by grass, is the fol-
lowing inscription:
JAMES MONROE.
ROBERT TILLOTSON.
Vault No. I47
There is nothing to indicate that the
James Monroe, mentioned, is the Monroe
who vas in the battle of White Plains, AMI
received ball in the shoulder at the attack
on Trenton, who fought by the side of La
fayette at Brandywine, who was Minister
to France in 1894, and afterwards to Eng
land; who was Secretary of State in 1911,
and for two full terms President Of these
United States. Yet such is the fact, and
that weather stained slab of marble, two
feet square, is all the monument that Ex-
President Monroe has.
1t is curious neglect that leaves the pre-
cious dust of one of the purest patriots that
our country has been blest with, to rest in
such obscurity. Thousand pass every day
by the spot admiring the well-kept grounds,
pausing for the fragrance of the flowing
shrubs, listening to the song of the birds
that find this oasis in the city's desert, but
never dreaming that the author of the
Monroe Doctrine, the fourth President of
the United States lies within few feet of
them. Monuments to men of half his in
intellectual stature, and tithe Of his in
dustry and goodness of heart, and going up
al over the land. Shall we who was re-
elected to the Presidency by vote unan-
imous with single exception, and who
never disgraced his position, have no more
than this?
As Mr.. Monroe was a Virginian, it is
tho supposition of most people that he died
and was buried within the Old Dominion,
but this is an error.
Mr. Monroe, in his last days, resided
with Samuel GonvernsaF, late postmaster
r city. New Pofk5 who married his
srer; their residence was on the cor
ner of prince and Elm street.
The venerable Dr. Francis tells us that
he often met Mr.. Monroe, walking out when
the weather was fine, and that on these oc-
casions he was the object of the most affec-
tionate attentions. He has often met him
making purchases for the family, at Centre
Market, where all the stallmen honor
ed him. He was tall and spare, very mod st
in his bearing, digni6ed and gentlemanly
In his address, he was hesitating and diff
dent, as polite to the poorest and humbles
as to any. He was one of the most indus
tious of men, a hard student, and his cares
left their marks on his face. The wound
that he received at Trenton was felt fol
many years afterwards-indeed, through
out all his life he occasionally suffered from
it.
His last illness was long aud tediou.
one His attendant was his son-in-law'
family physician, DIR. Berger. He ezpi
red at l07 o'clock on the morning of tht
4th of July, 1881.
His funeral was very imposing one
the largest that at that time had ever beer
seen in New York The military. undcI
Gen. Jacob Morton, Grand Marshal, file,
Broadway, from Prince to Broad street
through which it passed to the cemetery
, The day was fine, and the signs of mourn
ing were generally adopted by our citizens
The vault in which his dust still lies, is o.
f, the east cemetery, just to the right of tn
e main walk as you look in from the extranct
The passer-by will note small pole, o
which dove house is perched. With
y yard of that pole is the sacred spot.
. The death of Mr.. Monroe was amour
= ced to Ex President Madison by DR.. j. w
Francis, Immediately upon the deceasc
To this the following reply was sent by MI
7 Madison, which is now, for the first time
published:
LETTER OF JAMES MADISON II
i DR.. JOHN w. FRANCIS.
IL n