New States.

incited them to hostilities. This bold measure at once threatened to involve the country in a war with Spain; but the difficulties were finally settled by Spain agreeing to sell Florida to the United States for five millions of dollars. A treaty to that effect was signed by the Spanish minister at Washington in 1819. This was not, however, promptly ratified by the king of Spain, and, in consequence, Florida did not come into the possession of the United States before 1821. 3. During Monroe's administration the Union was enlarged by the admission of five new States. Georgia had claimed all the domain west of her present limits as far a. the Mississippi river, but ceding it to the general government, it became the Mississippi Territory. The western portion of this was admitted into the Union as Mississippi (1817), and two years later the other part was admitted as Alabama (1819). The year before this last event, the Territory of Illinois, shorn of its northern portion, joined the Union family as the State of Illinois (1818). Maine was at that time what it had been all along from the colonial period, a District of Massachusetts, but the inhabitants of the district desired to have it set apart as a separate and independent State. They adopted a constitution and then made application to Congress for admission into the Union. An obstacle, very much to their surprise, just then presented itself. This was slavery, but not slavery in Maine; it was slavery in Missouri. The Missourians, who had many slaves, also asked for admission to the Union, but they wanted to have their petition granted without any conditions being imposed against slavery. In Congress the two applications were joined in one bill; but, after a long contest, were separated, and Maine became the twenty-third State of the Union (1820).

The

4. As the people of the North were opposed to any increase of the number and power of the slave States, their Missouri representatives in Congress endeavored to prevent Compromise. the admission of Missouri with its constitution permitting slavery. The discussion was long and violent;

1824

Lafayette's Visit to America.

221

but, at length, the measure known as the "Missouri Compromise" was adopted (1820). By this it was provided that slavery should be prohibited in all the territory, except Missouri, lying north of the parallel 36° 30', west of the Mississippi. After the adoption of this compromise, Missouri was admitted (1821).1 (See Appendix, p. 12, 1st clause and note.) 5. Monroe was presiden: two terms. Towards the close of his second, an interesting event took place in the visit made by Lafayette to this country. Accompanied by his son, George Washington Lafayette's Lafayette, he arrived

LAFAYETTE.

visit.

at New York, where he met
with a brilliant reception.
Proceeding on a tour through
the United States, he was every-
where received as "The Nation's
Guest." For more than a
year, his journey was a com-
plete ovation-a perpetual and
splendid pageant.
"The peo

ple appeared delirious with joy
and with anxiety to hail him,

grasp him by the hand, and shower attentions and honors upon him. As he passed through the country, every city, village, and hamlet, poured out its inhabitants to meet him. Celebrations, processions, dinners, illuminations, bonfires, parties, balls, serenades, and rejoicings of every description, attended his way."

6. "In June, 1825, he visited Boston, and on the 17th day

The Monroe Doctrine.-An important event of Monroe's administration was the recognition of the South American republics, which had declared and maintained their independence for several years. This act of recognition had been urged in Congress with great ability by Henry Clay, of Kentucky. The next year (1823) President Monroe, in his annual message, declared that, as a principle, the American continents, by the free and independent position which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power." This principle is known as the Monroe Doctrine."

66

6.6

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 affecting, 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).

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.

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.

6

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."

The tariff.

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 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.

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