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of the month, it being the anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill, he participated in the ceremony of laying the corner

stone of the monument in commemoration of that event, on the hill where the battle was fought, Daniel Webster being the orator of the occasion. The time for his departure drew near. "A new frigate, the Brandywine, named in honor of the gallant exploits of Lafayette at the battle of Brandywine, was provided by Congress to convey him to France." The farewell scene in the president's house, at Washington, President Adams being then its occupant, was deeply af fecting, and, amid the peals of artillery and the music of military bands, an immense procession accompanied the venerable chief to the banks of the Potomac (1825).

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BUNKER HILL MONUMENT.

The

Administration of John Quincy Adams.

1. "The presidential campaign of 1824 was more spirited and exciting than any that had taken place since the first election of Jefferson. Strictly speaking, it could not be called a party contest, for Monroe's wise and pru10th national dent administration had obliterated party lines." election. All the candidates, four in number-John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William H. Crawford,-agreed substantially to the same political creed. The struggle was therefore a personal and sectional one, more than of a party nature. As no one of the candidates received a majority of the electoral votes, it became the duty of the

1826 Death of Adams and Jefferson.

223

House of Representatives to make a choice, and that choice fell upon John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts. It thus happened that Mr. Adams took

the executive chair, March 4th, 1825, which, just twenty-eight years before, had been taken by his venerated father, and that father still lived, though his work was almost done, and it was not to be his privilege long to see his son in the enjoyment of this, the highest office in the gift of his country.

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JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

Death

and Jefferson.

2. "The 4th of July, 1826, will long be memorable for one of the most remarkable coincidences that has ever taken place in the history of nations. It was the fiftieth anniversary-the Jubilee '-of American Independence. Preparations had been made throughout the Union of Adams to celebrate the day with unusual pomp and display. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had both been invited to participate in the festivities of the occasion, at their several places of abode. But a higher summons awaited them! they were bidden to a jubilee' above, which shall have no end. On that half-century anniversary of American Independence, at nearly the same hour of the day, the spirits of Adams and Jefferson took their departure from earth. Amid the rejoicings of the people, the peals of artillery, the strains of music, the exultations of a great nation in the enjoyment of freedom, peace, and happiness, they were released from the toils of life, and allowed to enter on their rest.

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3. The one virtually the mover, the other the framer, of the immortal Declaration of Independence-they had together shared the dangers and the honors of the revolution, had served their country in various important and responsible capacities, had both received the highest honors in the gift of

their fellow-citizens, had lived to see the nation to which they assisted in giving birth, assume a proud stand among the nations of the earth,-her free institutions framed, consolidated, tried, and matured, her commerce hovering over all seas, respected abroad, united, prosperous, happy at home,— what more on earth could there be in store for them? Together they had counselled, together they had dared the power of a proud and powerful government, together they had toiled to build up a great and prosperous people, together they rejoiced in the success with which a wise and good Providence had crowned their labors, and together, on their country's natal day, amid the loud-swelling acclamations of the national jubilee,' their freed spirits soared to light and glory above."

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4. The subject of domestic manufactures engaged a large share of President Adams's attention. In 1828 a law was passed imposing heavy duties upon certain imported articles, the object being, not only to collect a revenue, but

The tariff. to encourage and protect the manufacture of such

articles in this country. John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, vice-president of the United States, had been the most active and the most zealous of the early advocates of this doctrine; while Daniel Webster, of Massachusetts, was its leading opponent.

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DANIEL WEBSTER.

5. Then the South began to manufacture the cotton it raised, instead of sending it to the North and thence having it transported to England in Yankee ships. A new vision unfolded itself to New England. If the South could prosper by running factories, why could not the North? Cotton-mills, accord

ingly, were planted in New England, and they flourished, for

1828

Internal Improvements.

225

he dull, unintelligent slave labor of the South could not compete with the skilful, enterprising free labor of the North. What followed is apparent. In a little while the North became the advocate of a protective tariff; the South, the opponent. So, too, legislation changed; and we have had since the day when the first protective tariff was called into existence (1816) to the present time (1879), numerous tariffs, some having for their special object protection, others, revenue; and still, with all our varied experience we have not reached a definite, permanent policy on this subject.

Internal

6. Adams was the friend and promoter of internal improvements; and during his administration more was done, aided by the general government, to promote these objects than in all the previous administrations. "More than one million of dollars were expended in enlarg- improvements. ing and maintaining the light-house establishment, half a million in completing the public buildings, two millions in erecting arsenals, barracks, and furnishing armories; upwards of three millions in fortifying the sea-coast; and more than four millions in improving the internal communications between different parts of the country, and in procuring information, by scientific surveys, concerning its capacity for further improvement."

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7. In addition to all this, more than five millions of dollars were appropriated to solace the declining years of the surviving soldiers of the Revolution; and a million and a half expended in extinguishing the Indian title to lands, and defraying the expense of the removal beyond the Mississippi of such tribes as were unqualified for a residence near civilized communities, and in promoting the civilization of those, who, relying on the faith of the United States, preferred to remain on the lands which were the abodes of their fathers. At the same time the interest on the public debt was punctually paid, and the debt itself was in a constant course of reduction."

8. On the 4th of July, 1828, Adams, accompanied by an

immense number of persons,-members of Congress, foreign ministers, and others-was present at the ceremony of "breaking ground" on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canals. canal. The year before, Edward Everett, in an address said: "A system of internal improvement has been commenced, which will have the effect, when a little further developed, of crowding within a few years the progress of generations. Already Lake Champlain from the north, and Lake Erie from the west, have been connected with Albany. Delaware and Chesapeake bays have been united. A canal is nearly finished in the upper part of New Jersey, from the Delaware to the Hudson, by which coal is dispatched to our market. Another route is laid out, across the same State, to connect New York by a railroad with Philadelphia. A water communication has been opened, by canals, half-way from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. A canal of sixty miles in length is open from Cincinnati to Dayton, in the State of Ohio; and another, of more than three hundred miles in extent, to connect Lake Erie with the Ohio, is two-thirds completed."

Jackson's Administration.

1. The presidential contest of 1828 was more exciting than any that had preceded it. There

were two parties contending for

the prize. Adams was

The 11th national the candidate of one, election. which was a union of Republicans with most of the old Federalists. Jackson was the candidate of the other, which was made up in most part of Republicans. The members of this party took the name of Democrats. The contest was exceedingly bit

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ANDREW JACKSON.

ter and personal; not only the public acts, but even the pri

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