Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02
PRESIDENT MONROE.
Ills Political and Ills Domestic Lie
Described.
THE ATHENS OF VIRGINIA
Tho Love of Liberty of the Author
nj the Monroe Doctrine-Oak h""
che Homcstcad-The Hein'e'"
in Hollywood.


ta,nes Monroe was born I'm Westmo'e-
IA county. Va. on April q. 1soS. Ac-
cording 10 family traditions. so re's'oU
lv kept by yirginians, he was oeSee"
d. ed from a family OF Scotch ca'~'
descendants OF Hector MONROE,
oa,cer Of Charles 1. on both siues o'
b,s bonse he was n Virginian' MS II"
cher was Spence Monroe, and ms NO
cher WAS E1lza Jones. from hins
georgia county. Va, sister OF Josepr
uon.s who was twice sent as oeie-
gate from Virginia TO the Cohuhsn'a'
congress. Westnoreland county, "he'e
the future President was BORN hes on
the right bank OF the Potomac anu
Is an especially fertile region ana lam
Gus as the birthplace OF more srea'
men than any other one spot IN Ainei'-
"a So that Monroe's birthplace docs
not undeservedly bear the name gwen
a Il by enthusiastic antiquaries. the
ATHENS OF Virginia Some few years
inter the civil war. when sectional ieeling
yam high. both South as well as Norih'
this congressional district was repre-
scented in Congress by Judge Jonn
Critcher. of Westmoreland county. III
,he course of debate In the House
of Representatiyes member from Mas
sachusetts said that slavery was not
70 much TO be deplored because OF
the cruelty to tire slaves, as because OF
the Ignorance and degradation IL entaileo
upon the masters.
Judge Critcher arose and said; Il peg
10 Interrupt the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts for one moment; while can
over the names OF few siaVe-oWhers
In nv county, in Virginia, who, for
elevation and character, education ana
intellect, cannot be surpassed. The plan
tation adjoining mine on the north
Is Wakefield where George Washing
ton Was born; next 10 me on the south
IS Stratford, where Richard Henry
l.ee-Light-Horse Harry Lee-waS born;
next to Stratford is Chantilly, where
Francis Lightfoot Lee, Arthur Lee, and
Charles Lee were born. IL the gentle
man will ride with me six miles l VIII
show his Monroes creek, where Presi-
dent Monroe was born. If he will ride
with me half an hour longer l will show
him the birthplace of President Madi-
son. If he will then come to my own
home / will show him from my portico
over the tree-tops the chimneys Of the
baronial mansion In which Robert T. Lee
first saw the light. Can Massachusetts
surpass these mem"
During Monroe's early boyhood his
father Spence Monroe, Richard Henry
Lee, John Monroe, and q number Of other
Virginians, became greatly excited by the
passage of the stamp act. In 1716 they
demonstrated against the execution oil
the act. and in many other ways showed
their intolerance of the arbitrary rule OF
the English Under these influences,
among which young Monroe grew to man
hood. II was not remarkable that he early
tfnbibed the love of civil liberty. At the
age OF 10 he entered William and Mary
College. which had then peen IN existence
Jl5 years, when Monroe added another
name TO its list Of future presidents and
distinguished men. At the first signal Of
she Revolution, although only IS, Monroe
left college with a number of other
young students, and three OF the pro
fessors. and joined in the country's de-
fence. beginning his public career at the
headquarters OF Washington. near New
York. as a lieutenant in the Third Viz
einia, Regiment, commanded by Colonel
Hugh Mercer. Monroe was wounded at
Trenton. December 18th of the same
year. From most charming life OF
Monroe. by Daniel c. Gilman, president
of Johns Hopkins University. the follow
ing description of Monroe's first service
IS given: "He was with the troops at
Hearleen. White Plains, and Trenton
where he was wounded December 18th
From this statement 1t appears that as
the British were forming in the main
street OF Trenton the advance-guard of
the American left was led by Captain
William Washington, Of Virginia, and
Lieutenant Monroe. The British were
driven back, and two pieces of artillery
were captured. Captain Washington was
wounded through the wrist, and Lieu
tenant Monroe through the shoulder"
These particular acts of galantry, says
The narrative. cannot be too highly APP
preclated, since TO them may in a great
measure be ascribed the facility of our
success" From the same reliable author
ity Is letter from Washington, in high
commentator of the young Lieutenant,
whose early career began as brilliantly
as IL was destined to end: The zeal he
discovered" says Washington, "by en-
tering the Service at an early age. the
Character he supported in his Regiment.
and the Manner in which he received a
Wound. induced me 80 appoint him TO
Captaincy in one OF the Additional Regi-
ments. This Regiment. failing from the
difficulty Of recruiting, lie entered into
Lord Sterlings family. and has served
Two Campaigns as a Volunteer aid 80 his
1.ordship. lie has in every instance Main
tained the reputation OF a brave, active
and sensible Officer"
while attending Congress In New York
in l1S6 Monroe fell a victim TO the charms
az Miss Eliza Hortwrght. of that city.
lady OF high social position and great
personal charms A student of palmis,ry
might have decided that Monroe's head
line was stronger than the line OF heart,
Tor before declaring his love he writes
90 an old and valued friend to take coun-
fCl with him as tho impDrfaut stcp
Ills friends advice VAS certainly admit
rabe for It's caution, as he suggests
that IL Monroe ilnds in the person mem
toned Ia his letter "sensibllity and kind
ness OF heart. good nature without levity.
moderate share OF good sense, with
some portion of domestic experience and
sconomy'--if these virtues can all
be found In the Young lady of
his choice he predicts for him the bright
est human felicity. aud advises him 10
cue for her hand Monroe. presumably
like the rest Of his sex. felt convinced
he had found all the virtues embodied I'm
the one and only woman 10 him !n the
world. for he writes shortly 10
his devoted friend. Madison: If you
will visit this place l will present you Ia
young lady who will be adopted !,
citizen OF virginia In the course OF this
week. His long married life proved a
most happy one. and his wifc's death
:ust before his own, was said to have
hastened his. This Is most patheticslly
described by Judge Watson. OF Virginia.
who says: II shall never forget the
touching grief manifested by the old man
on the morning after Mrs. Monroe
death. when he sent for me TO 20 &c
his room. and with trembling frame and
streaming eyes, spoke OF the long year,
n