The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-12-16
MORNING, DECEMBER
NO %

though chiefly due to the friendship
of Thomas jefferson, was signally pro
. NOTED by two. events which partook
in some degree, of the accidental.
The first was this: In May, 1894
he went out as minister to France, IL
very peculiar circumstances Gou
yerneur Morris, gentleman too con-
servative in his feelings to sympathize
with the French revolution, had been
recalled at tt request of the reyolu.
tionary government, and to please
the same government, the person selec-
ted to succeed him was James Mon
roe, who was .notorious1y identified
with the principles most dear to the
revolutionists of France, He was re-
ceived in France with unbounded en-
thusiasm. He was embraced by the
president of the National Assembly !:
and, while receiving from him the tri-
.colored flag eethe Erenchs republic, he
presented to him the star spangled
banner of America. The federal par
ty at home disapproved of this open
expression of sympathy, and John
Adams conferred upon Mr.. Monroe
the great distinction of abruptly recall
ling him--an event sufficient of itself
to make him an idol of his party.
The other accident to which have
referred was, if possible, still more
striking. The American minister in
France, Chancellor Livingston, had
been edeavor:ng for some time to ne
gotiate with Napoleon for the pur-
chase of Louisiana. AS the affairs
seemed to liage, Mr.. Jefferson dis
patched Monroe, as his confidential
envoy, to accelerate the affair, giving
him special instructions and powers.
Mr.. Monroe chanced to arrive in the
very nick of time, when Bonaparte
wanted money more pressingly and
than Jefferson wanted the
of the Mississippi. Within
two weeks after his arrival in Paris,
Monroe concluded the treaty by which
France ceded to the United States
for fifteen millions dollars, the immense
tract of territory now comprising
Texas and Missouri. The
whole world, except the two or three
individuals acquainted with the facts,
naturally assigned to Mr.. Monroe the
chief credit of this dazzling diplomatic
triumph-No doubt, he performed his
duty well, but we now know tie true
reason of his success was Napoleon's
urgent need of a small amount of
ready cash. 1t gave him such stand
ing before the. country, however, that
he was a formidable rival % MIR. Ma
olson in 1908, and in 1911 was apoint-
ed by President Madison Secretary Of
State.
During a portion of the war of 1872,
after the capture of of Washington, he
pe1foi med the duties of Secretary or
War in addition to those of Secretary
of State; and while officiating in both
these capacities. he gave striking
proof of his disinterested love of coun-
try. The treasury was empty. A
great British expedition was threaten
Ing the Gulf States, and the govern
n,ent was straining every nerve to send
arms and ammunition for the defence
of New Orleans. At this crisi-, Mr..
Monroe went into one of the bank par
iors of Washington, and made des-
perate attempt to raise little money
on government securities, but the CASH
ier was inexorable. At length, Mr..
Monroe said:
s.Mr. Whann, have you confidence
in my honor? Will yoh accept a.
pledge of that, this backed by all my
private fortune, that this sum, now so
Indispensable to the wants of the gov
ernment, shall be made good? Il
PLEDGE THEM J!
The cashier went TO the directors
room, and, returning soon after, gave
Mr.. Monroe the small sum of money
indispensable to getting off two boat
loads of arms for the lower country,
one of which arrived in time to be us
ed by General jackson in his immort-
al defence Of New Orleans.
This generous conduct was perfect
" characteristic of Mr.. Monroe.
While holding the office of President,
which he did for eight peaceful and
years, he dispensed hos
pitality SO bountiful and continuous
that he retired from the office more
Lnan lmpOVeTlSueuI iO1 hS was oSSPiJ
in debt. During his old age he was
% harassed by his creditors that he re-
at length, to New Y York, where
he found an asylum and home at
he residence fhis son-in-law, Samuel
L. Gouverneur.
He was indeed, one of the most
generous of mer. We may truly say
IF him that he was generous to a fault,
not only to the public, but to his fami-
V and friends. He died in the city |
If New York, on the fourth Of July, !
1881, at the ripe age of seventy-three. |
can well remember, though very |
young at the time, the thrill that
an through the city as the news was
passed from mouth to mouth, that an
,ther President of the United States !
lad died upon the birthday Of the
lation. A few years ago, the body OF
Ir. Monroe was removed from New
Z ork, for final interment in his native
# State.-Parton.
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