The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-04
PRESIDENT MoNRoEs REMAINs
prom the Baltimore Sun ]


Of Virginia they about to be disinteIed and re-
moved TO Richmond the capital Of bis native State where
Monday next they will he consigned to their final
resting place in Hollywood Cemetery The dsnternent
win take place on the Sd Of July, and ON the 9Th the
Fourth being Sunday Governor Wise viii preside over the
solemn pageant which will restore to the bosom Of yr
gnia the sacred ashes of of her many patriots.
The time for this imposing ceremony has been well
iected On the FOURTH july, and twenty years
ago, the venerable man over whose remains assembled
thousands about to erect shrine passed from this to
a better world. Tho touching coincidence THEN sunk
deeply into the national heart and his public funeral
will awaken memories OF the past and eonsecrae and
sancty the national anniversary we'll that II should
be We live at time when political asperity needs
the softenng influence of ballowed recollectons The
event very naturally gives rise to historic "reminiscences
and do not know that present to our readers
acceptable sketch Of the lustrious deceased than
may be found in funeral Grafton delivered at Aide
Va, the l4th Of July, 1881 by our talented towns
man, VIM r. Preston esq, published in the newspapers
Of that day. from which make the following extracts
cat the shrine Of departed worth offer up tho
gratitude of the heart and all who virtue and
love their country will join with in rendering homage
20 lsudaby identified with thepages Of American
history and inscribed in legible characters fame inn
mortal records James Monroe commenced his career
when his country battling for freedom he strug
gled with her through the stormy of the revolu
tion and devoted the remainder of his life to the
petion and pepetuation of her happiness Washington
Jefferson, Franklin and Adams were his early compan
ions and friends Like them, he be forgotten
When, in distant times, the names of the reacherous
Arnold the vascilating Hull and other contemplate
wretches who endeavored to undo their country shall
be reused from the slunberng namy of years to be
toned with execraon these venerable patriots these
noble hearted fathers Of the revolution shall be
bered with gratitude and respect.
The illustrious subject Of my discourse born in
1853, in Wesmoleland county Virginia. He was cd
uced for the bar and those who knew him well in early
life say he admirably fitted for the duties of his pro-
fesson The trying times in which republic struggles
into existence too fruitful in distractions to the
smooth and of life to admit of quiet
or inactivity. Young Monroe with deep socitude
the unsettled state Of his native land hourly he watched
for suitable opportunity to step forward in her behalf
the occasion presented ITSELF and he at joined the
patriotic bands of his countrymen in opposition to British
thIaldom That period has passed away. The msts of
than fifty years rest upon the bloody scenes of
the revolution Many Of the brave hearts that throbbed
with yalcr in the fight for liberty have crumbled into
dust We, however reap the fruits of their toilthe
flag OF freedom and triumph floats in undsturbed SINGER
ity of domestic happiness and social ease
Mr. Monroe when little than eighteen years Of
age, placed himself captain of company Of artillery
under the command OF General Washington At the battle
Of Trenton, where he behaved brave and gallant Off
he received dangerous wound in the breast which dis
bled him for than year After his recovery he
appointed aid to Major General Lord Sterling, and
subsequently to the command OF regiment to be raised by
Virginia At the close of the he received from the
commander chief his public appreciation soldier,
and retired to enjoy in private life his confidence and
TEEN The affairs of the infant State made it neces
sary to eclect from the band Of revolutionary patriots
such men capable Of properly conducting the af
fairs Of nations. The best and brightest chosen
and among them James Monroe. He was q member Of
what has been emphatcaly styled the Revolutionary
Congress It in the presence Of that body the i'm
mortal Washington babe farewell to his dear compa-
ionsn-a arms and aectionaely recommended his beloved
country to the protection of Almighty God with
fraught with all that affect and inspire the heart
We are to identify the commencement of Mr. Monroes
political period when the usefulness of every
ciftei individual really reuured
loved their country came forward and exerted themselves
TO the utmost for the general welfare. In 1884, when
General Washington deemed it necessary to send min
lister to the French republic James Monroe the
he fixed upon the most capable to transact the very
difficult business then necessary to be accomplished In
this mission he had to encounter the dangers and horrors
Of the French revolution In the midst of the distressing
scenes of boodshed and massacre which ut that time
every day spectaces in France, while serving his
country faithfully, he did not neglect his Godor the du-
ties of humanity.
when about to leave Paris, in 1906 an address
breathing the puret sentiments Of respect and esteem
bis services presented to him, signed by his fellow
citizens, then residents Of that city and when in 1908
he again commissioned minister extraordinary to
the Court Of Napoleon he hailed upon his arrival with
the most lively demonstrations of gratitude and joy Of
the important of this last mission is not
ny to speak The aicabe relations existing between the
two countries SINCE and the very considerable bene
fits secured to the United States by his able negotiation
his sufficient praise On his return to the United
States he retired to the secuson of his country home
enjoying the felicity and peace which always accompany
q mind at He had served his country, and had
served her we'll In the field Of battle and in civil station
he had done his Duty and conscious of the appreciation
of his God, willing to retire to the quiet Of domestic
life. But who had been the bosom friend of
Washington the companion of jefferson and Franklin
who had acted with them the great theatre of events
and was conspcuously Of the glorious band who had bid
defiance TO the storm Of British vengeance not per-
nitted thus quietly to glide from the public view No
he had earned the highest hono of the State and ma
fon sensible of his merit and exalted patriotism deter
mined to reward them
I'm 1910 he elected to the general assembly of
Virginia. and during the session made governor. He
cinently qualified to fill with dignity the highest
Office of his native State but before the conclusion the
term he invited to take part in the federal govern
ment AS Secretary of State and Secretary of War; he
acquitted himself much to the satisfaction of the peo
pie that upon the Presidents retiring in 1877 he was
unanimously elected his Tn the high Office of
President OF the United States, he fully displayed the
patriotic zeal and profound wisdom which had at all
times characterised his action The bold and compreben
siyc national policy which emanatcd from his adninistra-
ton viii go down to future ages leading system AT
tho end Of his second term he retired from Office respect
cd by all parties and beloved and vcDcuted throughout
The Union In 1922 although he was then upwards Of
seventy Of age, he consented at the earnest
quest of his fellowctizens to become member Of the
convention assembled to amend tho constitution Of Virgin
H. In This august body convened to perform the most
Important act Of civil government he discharged his last
official duty to his country This over he permanently
retired to the bosom of his affectionate family
sOf James Monroe II may be truly said that for more
than half century he watched with unceasng anxiety
careful attention the prosperity and happiness of his
natve land His name must ever live in the pages of
impartial history and cannot but feel that the appro-
pirate hour in which he left the world will be esteemed