Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/52

 FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTIOX

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iirmy of the South. In 1782 he was elected lo the state assembly, and soon called to the txecutive council. He sat in the Congress oi [783-86, in Xew York, and there pre- sented his bill for the temporary govern- ment of the new northwest territory, and which culminated in the ordinance of 1787. He was appointed one of the judges to de- cide the Xew York and Massachusetts boun- dary question, but as both states were op- posed to his views as to the right of free navigation of the Mississippi, he resigned. After leaving Congress, he practiced law in Fredericksburg. He was elected to the state assembly, and also to the state conven- tion of 1788. called to consider the ratifica- tion of the United States constitution. Fear- ing the result of a highly centralized power, he cast his vote against the ratification, but was reconciled by the adoption later of the first- ten amendments. In 1790 he became United States senator to fill an unexpired term (Grayson, deceased), serving until '705- when President Washington appointed him minister to France. An aggressive an- ti-Federalist, while in the senate he had an- tagonized some of the views of the presi- dent and several of his appointments, and his appointment to the French mission was a great surprise to the nation. He was se- verely criticized for his friendliness to France, and the apprehension that the Brit- ish ministry might be oflFended. led to hi.s recall, and on his returning home he wrote an exhaustive vindication. He was elected governor of Virginia and served from 1799 to 1802. On the election of Jefferson to the presidency. Monroe was again sent to France as an additional plenopotentiary. and with Robert R. Livingston procured the cession of the Louisiana territory. He

subsequently filled diplomatic appointments to Spain, where he negotiated for the pur- chase of Florida, but failed; and to Great r.ritain. where with William Pinkney he concluded a treaty. The instrument failed to protect American seamen from impress- ment or to secure indemnity for American goods seized, and the president would, not send it to the senate, whereupon Monroe re- turned and gave out a defense of his con- duct. He was a third time elected to the state assembly, and in 181 1 was again elected governor, but left the office after a few months to take the post of secretary of state under President Madison. He also acted as secretary of war, 1814-15. In 1816 he was elected president, and his conduct of the office and the peaceful condition of the country led to his re-election, with prac- tically no opposition — a unique instance in the history of American politics. In his message to Congress in 1823, in reference to a possible attempt by Spain to regain I'lorida. he laid down the principles known a? "The Monroe Doctrine." using these words: "We should consider any attempt on their part (a foreign power) to extend t.heir system to any portion of this hemis- phere, as dangerous to our peace and safe- ty." and again: "The American continents by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." He subsequently effected a treaty with Spain and concluded the purchase of the Floridas. Although favoring internal improvements, he vetoed the Cumberland Road bill, holding that Congress had no authority to make appropriations for in- ternal uses unless of national importance.

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