titles in Florida; to relieve the people from the effects of some of the injurious regulations of "Don" Andrew Jackson, the provisional Governor; to authorize Illinois to build a canal from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi, through the public lands; to authorize Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri to appropriate a small per cent of the proceeds of the sales of public lands in those States to the construction of roads and canals; an act to fix the ratio of representation in Congress at one member for every forty thousand of federal population; and a great part of the session was occupied in unsuccessful attempts to pass a general bankrupt law, and to provide for further protection to manufactures. In March, 1822, Mr. Monroe sent to Congress a special message, recommending the acknowledgment of the independence of the South American States. With great unanimity, Congress immediately acted on this proposition, and appropriated one hundred thousand dollars to defray the expenses of opening missions to the new republics of South America. At this session, again came up the great question of internal improvements, in a bill for the repairing of the Cumberland Road. The bill presented for the signature of the President adopted the idea that Congress had the Constitutional right to provide for such improvements. This conflicted with the oft-repeated opinion of Mr. Monroe, which led him to return the bill with his veto. At the same time he took occasion to present to Congress an elaborate investigation of the whole subject. This is one of the most able of all Mr. Monroe's writings, and contains about all that can be offered on that side, a political philosophy which 1 has controlled the conduct of a large class of public men from that day to this. As yet the subject of internal improvements had made no great advancement, in this country, as a matter directly concerning the General Government. One of Mr. Madison's last acts as President was to veto a bill presenting a plan for a system of general improvements, under the patronage of the Government, and Mr. Monroe's first message announced his opinions on the subject to be in conformity with those of his predecessor; and so, during the first term of his Presidency the subject rested in comparative quiet in Congress. In the report of Mr. Calhoun, as Secretary of War, made in January, 1819, is found this language : "A judicious system of roads and canals, constructed for the convenience of commerce, and the transportation of the mail only, without any reference to military operations, is itself the most efficient means for the more complete defense of the United States. Without adverting to the fact that the roads and canals which such a system would require, are, with few exceptions, precisely those which would be required for the operations of war, such a system, by consolidating our Union, increasing our wealth and fiscal capacity, would add greatly to our resources in war." In view of Mr. Calhoun's subsequent career, this must be considered remarkable language, nor was it forgotten two or three years later, when the cautious. friends of a system of internal improvements, aided or directed by the General Government, presented the subject in form to Congress. Appeals and memorials from several States now began to be presented. to Congress, and at last, in the winter of 1821, the committee on roads and canals made a favorable report, and presented a bill, authorizing the President to make surveys for certain proposed improvements, and such other canals and roads as might be deemed important in a commercial or military sense. A few months later, in the same session, another report was made, in which it was announced that the time had come for the Government to begin a system of general improvements, that the financial and other resources of the country then justified it, and the growing necessities of the country demanded it. CHAPTER XXIV. SIXTH ANNUAL MESSAGE-SOUTH AMERICA-GATHERING OWEVER much or little business was really en HOW acted in Congress at this period, abundance of time was found for political contentions. In fact, the "era of good feeling" had passed away. In the Cabinet, in Congress, and everywhere else, the spirit of dissension was uppermost. It was understood, by the principle now believed to be established, that Mr. Monroe would, at the end of this term, give way to somebody else. In his Cabinet there were supposed to be three candidates for the succession, Mr. Crawford avowedly, and Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Adams were understood to be. Their friends were in the factions of Congress, as were those of Henry Clay and DeWitt Clinton. Contention and intrigue marked the spirit of Congress, stood in the way of wise and impartial legislation, and disturbed the peace and harmony of the Administration. This state of affairs had been seen in bitter forms before, and has since continuously defaced the political history of the country. Before the ballots are counted, and the fighting over one election is ended, many-formed conspiracies are set afoot for the next quadrennial contests. Mr. Monroe's influence in Congress and in politics was now nearly ended. In the great conflict about to be waged he had no part. Politicians had little respect for his opinions or wants, and cared little for the interest he took in public affairs. They were looking for the coming President, the man who might serve them better, or better represent their theories of government and administration. The state of affairs in Congress and in the Cabinet was appalling to Mr. Monroe, who took occasion to reveal his mind to Mr. Madison. On the 16th of May, 1822, Mr. Madison wrote : "The aspect of things at Washington, to which you allude, could escape the notice of no one who ever looks into the newspapers. The only effect of a political rivalship among the members of the Cabinet which I particularly anticipated, and which, I believe, I mentioned to you, was an increased disposition in each to cultivate the good-will of the President. The object of such rivalship on and through the proceedings of Congress is to be ascribed, I hope, to a peculiarity and combination of circumstances not likely often to recur in our annals. "I am afraid you are too sanguine in your inferences from the absence here of causes which have most engendered and embittered the spirit of party in former times and in other countries. There seems to be a propensity in free governments which will always find or make subjects on which human opinions and passions may be thrown into conflict. The most, perhaps, that can be counted on, and that will be sufficient, is that the occasions for party contests in such a country and government as ours will be either so slight or so transient as not to threaten any permanent or dangerous consequences to the character and prosperity of the Republic." On the 19th of June, 1822, President Monroe received Manuel Torres as Chargé d'Affaires from Colombia, South America. Torres was the first representative from a South American republic, officially recognized by this Government. Torres was so grateful |