The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-12-16
James Monroe.

! "MONRoE Is q man whose sou
might be turned wrong side outward
without discovering blemish to TIL
world"
/ So wrote Thomas Jefferson from
Paris, in 1736, of his old law pupil
James Monroe, afterwards Presiden'
of the United States. Aaron Bur-
had very different opinion of thi.
eminent Virginian, which he thus ex
pressed in 1915. ..5.....
Naturally dull and stupid; ex
tre1nely illiterate indecisive-to a de
gree that would be incrediable to one
who did not know him pusillanimous
and, of course, hypoeritical has nc
opinion on an object, and will always
be under the government of the worst
men prstends,, as ! am told, to have
some knowiedge Of military matters,
but never commanded platoon, nor
was ever fit to command one. He
served IN HE Revolutionary WarF That
is, he acted short time as aide de
camp for Lord Stirling, who regularly
drunk every night Monroe's whole
duty was to fill his Lordship's tankard,
and hear with indications of admira-
ton, his Lordship's long stories about
himself. Such is onroe's military
experience. AS lawyer, he was far
below mediocrity. He never rose to
the honor of trying a cause of the
value of hundred pounds"
Which of these two statements are
we to believe? There was a degree
of truth in both. Monroe, as Mr.,
Jefferson says, was a simple minded,
honest republican but, as Burr in
forms us, his mental endowments were
not remarkable, nor his knowledge
extensive. When Burr wrote those
bitter words he was ruined man, and
he saw James Monroe about to step
into the Presidential chair which he
had once confidently hoped himself to
fill, and of which he deemed himself
to abundantly worthy. He dipped
his pen in gall, and wrote as falsely of
Monroe as men always write of men
whom they deem inferior. and yet see
them succeed where they have failed.
The father of James Mnonroe was a
Virginia planter named Spence Mon
roe, who was descended from gen.
tleman who served in the wars of
Charles the First time, on. the side of
the King, and emigrated to Virginia
after the failure of the Royal cause.
James Monroe was born in 1853, and
alter being prepared for college by the
parish clergyman, entered, at the age
of sixteen, William and Mary college
intending to embrace the profession
of the law. When he had been in
college about two years, and had
reached the age of eighteen, the
colonies declared their Independence,
and the Youth abandoned his books
entered the army under General Wash
ington.
Nothing can be more false than
Burr's account of his military career.
As Lieutenant of eighteen Monroe
served with credit in the terrible cam
paign which followed the loss of the
city of New York. In the action
about Harlem Heights, in the battle
of w hite Plains, and during the dis
cousaging retreat through New Jers
ey, he bore part worth of his coun
try and of its course. He won his
first distinction at the battle of Tren-
ton, where he rushed upon an enemy's
battery at the head of "platoon."
(Which Burr says lie never command
eD drove the gunners off, and took
possession Of their guns. While per-
forming this gallant feat, under the
eyes of his general, he was wounded
in his shoulder, and General Wash
ington promoted him to the rank OF
Captain. AT the battle of Brandy
WINE he was standing by the side OF
La Fayette when La Fayette was
wounded. He was eqmmended, too,
for his conduct at Germantown and
Monmouth.
So far was he from being satisfied
with his place on the staff of Lord
Stirling that he signitied his intention
of resigning his commission unless he
could have more active service. Gen.
Washington valued him so highly, that
he asked the Legislature of Virginia
to permit the raising Of a new regi-
ment, and give the command of it to
Major Monroe. The Legislature COM
piled with his request, the regiment
was authorized, and Monroe was
its colonel. But Vir-
ginia had sent so many men to the
war that the raising OF another regi-
ment was found impossible, and Col
onel Monroe, seeing himself without
prospect of command, entered the
office of Governor Jefferson as q stu
dent of law.
This event was decisive of all his
career, for he so complete
ly won the esteem of Mr.. jefferson,
that he was continually placing Mon
roe in situations Wherein man OF
discretion could scarcely fail to gain
distinction Before he had been long
in Governor Jefferson's Office, the en-
smy appeared on the Virginia coast, |
when Col Monroe resumed the sword,
md exerted himself vigorously in put
ting the southern counties in a posture |
If defence. Governor Jefferson sent |
1im soon after, as kind of commits |
'ioner to the Southern army, and, ere !!
ong, the surounder of Cornwallis con-
,luded the war, and restored the young |
audeat to the pursuits of peace.
It is true, as Burr remarks, that |
Monroe never rose to the dignity of
a suit for the value of a |
hundred pounds; but he omitted to
give the honorable reason for this fact |
during the very first year of peace,
when he was but twenty-five years of
lge, he was elected a number of the
Virginia Legislature; and from that