The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-01-24
THE EX-PRESIDENIS.
SOME HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE IN
DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT
Jef7ersOns Embarrassment - John Quincy
Adams in Congress Cleveland as
Lawyer-Other Ex-prcsidents.

Lawyer-Other Ex-prcsidents.
New York, January 20.-When Mr.. Cleve-
land was asked by a friend what he proposed
TO 40 after he retired from the white house
IN 1889, he looked at his questiOner rather
queefly for moment, as though the qucs-
uon surprised him, and said: DO? Why,
u going to work again; I'm going to prac-
ace law, just as l should have done if l
hadnt come here. l think the most ap-
proprlate thing man can do after he has
retired from public office is to take UP his
private business again, unless, of course, he
is too old"
Notwithstanding this opinion Mr.. Cleve-
aild was with one exception, the only ex-
president who resumed, after his retirement,
DIS professional work 1t has been reported
that PRESIDENT Harrison expects when he
leaves the white house, to return to Indian
apoHs and resume the practice of law, and.
moreover to become an instructor in law in
the great university upon the Pacific coast
There has been a feeling that he who
mas held the office of president should. upon
lcefenlent, ENJOY dlgniiled leisure and
await. like one whose career is ended. the
tyn'ins OF the summons. 1t is probable that
SiliS iceLlnS was due to the course adopted
py President Washington. lie was urged
" DC IL candidate for ii third term but de-
Cllned, as he had fourteen wears before re-
luseu .he crown Ills public reason for not
accepting a third term was that he believed
- pest 10 limit the presidential term if not
by constitutional provision at least bv Gus
t t' WIlch would nave the force of law.
DuU ne hi,u private reason. He was tired
oi p!iohc lite and he yearned for the repose
OF MS estate at Mt. Vernon AS soon. there
80, Us MI Adams was naug,rated Pres
rr.,It w aSLllG,!t returned to the beautiful
p tL which came to him
ln,I7e !, hls Vile upon the
an Ideal HE of Retirement he m - panrr,I
WY, superintendent or overlooked the pron-
cry, watching with intense interest the
cul5lFa ION OF the soil, rising early Frequently
".ni rld:4S many miles before breakfast.
anI ~ the summer time in The aftcrnnn~
walking about his gardens, which. few
IL? ago, we're very Mucn ia ne comb
tioH III WHich they We're when he died I|a
Iiltcr'aiheu some, but not extensively and
i iio Se'ilie,i, III The two years which elapsed
and f,;i t us retirement from the presidency
: MS death, thoroughly to enjoy himself
IAN III '"tacllF as a country gentleman.
John Adams wao al. old man Whom no
ii,aI rom the pIesidcncy, and yet he
t ,fgu Iulrter OK century after he re-
turned to private life, and long nnongb
to see his son Il successor Of h??s r, ~ ~
irrSIHeh'ial Office. MIR Adams on the
lhorH.ng that Mr.. jefferson was 1nar~n-
i E left The capitol ~nd returned to
ii LIS HLnf IN ttGIcy Mass., where he
!i'eu' hot as Washington had, the life of
. country gentleman taking keen en-
Joyihcht IN the simple pleasures of
me tarm, but surrounded hy his hooks
hIS papers, ne passed twenty-five wears main
~ IN ms library, The old gentleman took
d Ken interest IN affairs, and carried on
;ah extensive correspondence. Although
re was no longer an active force still
tIfouSh his communications with men
OF aHa'FS ne managed to maintain some
influence. Nr. Adams died very peace
I Idaia on the fifteenth anniversary of the
dcGlarauoh OF Independence; by sin
guar coincidence Thomas Jefferson, who
was associated with him in the drafting of
that Instrument, died on the same day.
" ZEN Mr. jefferson had finished his
pre- al ten" he went to his estate
AT eilo lie was burdened by
"1a1rassment, although this
no' gtl:erally known until
81 later. iIc kept open house,
ana metmes had as many as tiftv guests
the .ntertainment OF whom cost him hooyi,,
~ when ne was already wondering how he
would he able ID meet his obligations. lie
supervised, or pretended to do So his farm.
but found each year that he was RUNNING.
benlnd' ana at last IN despair was com
PEELED to make an appeal to congress to
buy his library his was done, Jefferson
receiving SIS,O0U. but this sum only tided
him over for brief time
during MS retirement, he edited his ana"
and carried OIL Il veIy great correspondence
with the leading men Of his party and took
until the lay of mis- death keep interest
in public affairs.
Mr.. Madison when he retired from the
presidency, went to his Virginia estate,
living perhaps the most secluded life Of
any OF those who, having gone from the
presidency, returned to private life. His
successor. Mr. Monroe, had something the
experience of Mr. Jefferson. Monroe had
been president during time of prosperity,
when the peaceful condition of the coun-
try and the lack of friction between the
parties had been so great that his admin
istration has been called that of the era
of good feeling Nevertheless, he was
financially embarrassed, and he found it
imperative TO do something to provide for
his support Instead of returning to Vir-
gnia he went to New York city, being
perhaps the first of those who had gained
distinction i'll the practice of law who
sought New York city as a larger field for
their abilities. Mr. Monroe, however, was
not very successful, and he died a few
years after his retirement from the presi-
dency, and by another strange coincidence
upon the 18th of July.
Perhaps the most remarkable career was
that Of John Quincy Adams after his term
as president had expired. He was then
man nearly sixty years of age, and it was
expected that he, following the example of
his father, would return to his home in
Quincy Mass, and yield himself to pur-
suit in which he found great enjoyment,
the study of letters and history. And no
doubt that was Mr.. Adams's intention, but
his constituents would not permit it. They
asked him if he would consent to serve
them as q member of congress, and he re-
piled that he knew no more honorable post.
He began q new career when he became
member of the house and one which would
have given him fame, even had he not al
ready served in what are regarded as more
exalted Offices. He was the leader, pug
nacious. earnest, untiring and vigilant lead
er of his party, and his fight for the right
waged in the house. Mr.. Adams died at
his post He was observed by some of
those sitting near him TO have been over.
come. The house Immediately adjourned
and he was tenderly carried to the supreme
courtroom, where he passed away after
twenty years service as a representative
in congress.
General Jackson went from Washington