March 5, Monroe and Tompkins took the oath of office. During Monroe's first administration five states were admitted into the Union, as follows: Mississippi, 1817; Illinois, 1818; Alabama, 1819; Maine, 1820; and Missouri, 1821. Congress met December 3, 1821. P. P. Barbour, a strict Seventeenth Congress, constructionist, was this time elected First Session. Speaker of the House. A bill for the preservation of the Cumberland road was passed, but the President vetoed it, on the ground that, in his opinion, Congress had no constitutional right to pass such a law. In his message, though, he had urged Congress to pass an amendment to the constitution giving it the power to make internal improvements. Efforts were made this session to increase the tariff, but failed. Congress adjourned May 8, 1822. Congress met December 2, 1822. A renewed attempt was Seventeenth Congress,made to increase the tariff and create Second Session. Ja national canal system, but both measures were defeated by the strict constructionists. Congress adjourned March 3, 1823. Congress met December 1, 1823. Henry Clay, now leader Eighteenth Congress, of the loose constructionists, was First Session. Schosen speaker. THE MONROE DOCTRINE. At this time Spain was waging a war against her revolted colonies, and the President, in his message to Congress, December 2, 1823, affirmed as follows: "We owe it to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and the European powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety." This, with the accompanying reasons for the position taken, was a statement of the doctrine that "America is for Americans," and exemplified the policy of Washington-"No entangling alliances." The doctrine was called out by an attempt of the holy alliance to check liberty on both sides of the Atlantic, and to extend a fostering care to the revolted Spanish provinces of Central and South America. When the protest of the United States was joined by England the attempt of the alliance was abandoned. PROTECTIVE TARIFF. Loose constructionist ideas were gradually spreading. Even the President, in his message to this Congress, advocated a more decided leaning toward protection and internal improvements. In every Congress, from 1819 to 1824, bills were introduced for the increase of duties on imports. The tariff of 1816 protected nothing domestic worth speaking of, except coarse cottons. A tariff was now demanded on "such articles of merchandise as come most in competition with American industry." The southern states, though formerly favoring a protective tariff, now voted against it. The navigating and planting states did the same, thinking it would be injurious to their interests; but the grain growing states favored the tariff, in the belief that it would benefit agriculture. After a debate of more than two months Congress adopted the measure known as the Tariff of 1824. This was the all-absorbing question during the session. Clay was the champion of the protective system, and Webster of the opposition. A bill was also passed this session for surveys for a national canal system. Congress adjourned May 27, 1824. ELECTION OF 1824. The friends of William H. Crawford, of Georgia, made anattempt to revive the caucus system of nominating for the presidency, and announced a caucus for that purpose, which met and put Crawford in nomination. This really injured his chances for election. There were in the field, besides him, three other candidates-Jackson, Adams, and Claynominated by state legis latures and other political machinery. Each candidate was a republican. The canvass was very exciting, but as republicanism was not at issue with any opposing party, the considerations were local and personal rather than political. This quadrangular contest was known as the "scrub race." "King caucus" was entirely overthrown, but the election did not decide the contest, hence it was thrown into the House. Congress met December 6, 1824. The great question of the Eighteenth Congress, session was the undecided presidential Second Session. S contest. The electoral vote, when counted, was found to be, for President, 99 for Andrew Jackson, 84 for John Quincy Adams, 41 for William H. Crawford, and 37 for Henry Clay. For Vice-President, Calhoun was elected, receiving 182 out of 260 votes. The three highest were taken, from which a choice was to be made, leaving Mr. Clay and his friends with the power in their hands to make the decision. His position was a very trying one. With reference to it he said, in a private communication to the Hon. F. Brooke, under date of January 28, 1825: "My position in regard to the presidential contest is highly critical, and such as to leave me no path on which I can move without censure. I have pursued, in regard to it, the rule which I always observe in the discharge of my public duty. I have interrogated my conscience as to what I ought to do, and it tells me I ought to vote for Mr. Adams." So he did vote for Mr. Adams and elected him to the place. Clay objected to Mr. Crawford on the ground of ill health, and the circumstances under which he was before the House, and to General Jackson on the ground that he was a military chieftain. Congress adjourned March 3, 1825, and on March 4, Adams and Calhoun were sworn into office. PEOPLE'S PARTY. There was a division among the republicans in the state of New York, at the fall election of 1823, upon the choice of electors. Some wished them to be chosen by the state legislature; others, by the people. The latter portion formed a separate political organization, called the "People's Party." MONROE'S RETIREMENT. The retiring President had the satisfaction of having accomplished his cherished object, that of bringing all parties into the republican fold. His foreign policy had been skillfully managed by John Q. Adams; commerce had recovered from its prostration by war and the embargo; the Missouri Compromise had quieted the slavery agitation for the time; domestic industry had revived; and partisan feuds had quieted into a condition of peace and harmony. |