JAMES MONROE.

James Monroe was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, April 28, 1758, and died in the city of New York, July 4, 1831. He filled the office of President of the United States from the year 1817 to 1825. As a soldier under General Washington he bore a brave record, and especially distinguished himself in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. Afterwards he studied law, and entered political life. Having been sent by Washington as Minister to France, he showed such marked sympathy with that country as to displease the President and his cabinet, who were just concluding a treaty with England, and wished to preserve a strictly neutral policy. He was therefore recalled. Under Jefferson, who was his warm friend, he was again sent to France in 1803, when he secured the purchase of Louisiana. He is said to have always taken particular pride in this transaction, regarding his part of it as among the most important of his public services. Soon after his inauguration as President, he visited the military posts in the north and east, with a view to thorough acquaintance with the capabilities of the country in the event of future hostilities. This tour was a great success. He wore a blue military coat of home-spun, lightcolored breeches, and a cocked hat, being the undress uniform of a Revolutionary officer.

Thus was the nation reminded of his former military services. Monroe was a man more prudent than brilliant, who acted with a single eye to the welfare of the country. Jefferson said of him:"If his soul were turned inside out, not a spot could be found on it." Like that beloved friend, he died, "poor in money, but rich in honor, "and like him also, he passed away on the anniversary of the Independence of the Country he served so faithfully.

Administration.

Monroe became President in 1817.-In 1817, the Seminole Indians becoming troublesome, Jackson invaded Florida and put an end to the matter.-This brought on trouble with Spain, the result of which was that Florida was purchased by the U. S. for $5,000,000 in 1821.-In 1820 Missouri asked to be admitted to the Union.-There was at once a great contest in congress as to whether it should be a free or a slave state.-This was finally terminated by the passage of a bill admitting it as a slave state, but forbidding slavery north of 36° 30 N. Lat. in any future state. -In 1820 Monroe was re-elected.-In 1822 the famous Monroe Doctrine was announced.-This was a protest against further European occupation of American territory.-There was no choice for President resulting from the election in 1834, and the duty of selecting a President fell to the House of Representatives, which elected J. Q. Adams to the office.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

John Quincy Adams was born at Braintree, Mass., July 11, 1767, and died at Washington, February 23, 1848. He was President from 1825 to 1829.

John Q. Adams was a man of learning, of blameless reputation and unquestioned patriotism. As President he was hardly more successful than his father. This was, doubtless, owing greatly to the fierce opposition which assailed him from the friends of disappointed candidates, who at once combined to weaken his measures and prevent his re-election. Their candidate was Andrew Jackson, a man whose dashing boldness, energy and decision attracted the popular masses, and hid the more quiet virtues of Adams. To add to his perplexities, a majority of the House, and one-half of the Senate, favored the new party; and his own Vice President, John C. Calhoun, was also the candidate of the opposition, and of course committed to it. To stem such a tide was a hopeless effort. In two years Adams was returned to Congress, where he remained until his death, over sixteen years afterwards.

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Ten years of public service were thus rendered after he had passed his "three-score years and ten," and so great was his ability in debate at this extreme age, that he was called "the old man eloquent.' Like his father, he was wonderful worker, and his mind was a complete store-house of facts. He lived economically, and left a large estate. He was the Congressional advocate of anti-slavery, and a bitter opponent of secret societies. His fame increased with his age, and he died a trusted and revered champion of popular rights. He was seized with paralysis while occupying his seat in Congress, after which he lingered { two days in partial unconsciousness. His last words were, "This is the last of earth; I am content."

Administration.

In 1826, by a singular coincidence, John Adams and Thos. Jefferson both died on the same day, and that day the anniversary of American Independence, July 4.-The great measure of J. Q. Adams' administration was the Tariff Act of 1828, which was distasteful to the South and led to serious trouble in the next administration,

ANDREW JACKSON.

Andrew Jackson was born in Waxhaw settlement, North or South Carolina, March 15, 1767,and died at the Hermitage, near Nashville, June 8, 1845. He served as President of the United States from 1829 to 1837.

Jackson was of Scotch-Irish descent. His father died before he was born, and his mother was very poor. As a boy, Andrew was brave and impetuous, passionately fond of athletic sports, but not at all addicted to books. His life was crowded with excitement and adventure. At fourteen, being captured by the British, he was ordered to clean the commander's boots. Showing the true American spirit in his refusal, he was sent to prison with a wound on head and arm. Here he had the small-pox, which kept him ill for several months. Soon after his mother had effected his exchange, she died of ship-fever while caring for the imprisoned Americans at Charleston. Left entirely destitute, young Jackson tried various employments, but finally settled down to law, and in 1796 was elected to Congress. Jackson first distinguished himself as a military officer in the war against the Creek Indians which he made a signal victory. His dashing successes in the war of 1812 completed his reputation, and ultimately won him the Presidency. His nomination was at first received

in many States with ridicule, as, whatever might be his military prowess, neither his temper nor his ability seemed to recommend him as a statesman. However, his re-election proved his popular success as a President. His chief intellectual gifts were energy and intuitive judgment. He was thoroughly honest, intensely warm-hearted, and had an instinctive horror of debts. His moral courage was as great as his physical, and his patriotism was undoubted. He died at the "Hermitage," his home near Nashville, Tennessee.

Administration.

General Jackson the candidate of the Democratic Party, was President from 1829 to 1837. His administration was marked by energy and decision.-In 1832 he vetoed the bill to recharter the U. S. Bank.-France was induced to promise the payment of $5,000,000 for damages done to our commerce, and failing to fulfill the promise was th eatened with war, and speedily paid over the balance due (1833).-In 1832 South Carolina voted the Tariff Act of 1828 unconstitutional, and for that reason not binding on the people; and threaten d that the state would leave the Union if the law was enforced.-Jackson promptly put down these “Nullifiers" by force. Two Indian wars, the Black Hawk, 1832, and the Seminole, 1835, disturbed this administration, which taken all in all was a very eventful one.