USA > Ohio > The Western Reserve of Ohio and some of its pioneers, places and women's clubs, Vol. II > Part 29
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His younger daughter had died in Virginia and his eldest daughter arrived in Paris alone and he established a home. He surrounded himself with men of science and took part in the discussions publicly.
M. de Marbois requested information about the United States. Jefferson had copious notes and soon had 200 copies printed on "Notes on Virginia," a book dealer had them trans- lated into French. A London publisher printed an English edition.
Not until we had a President elected did the several states provide salary for home and foreign relations, some contributed small sums, some none at all.
When Mr. Adams, on his return to the United States, was elected vice-president and knew the difficulties of establishing treaties with foreign powers, unless our ambassadors were properly supported when abroad, demanded a provision for them.
Virginia and Massachusetts were the leading colonies. They in Massachusetts resolved it was inconsistent with the dignity of a colony to deliberate in council in the midst of an armed force. Military and naval forces were about the metrop- olis and they were taxed by the Lieutenant Governor for their support. They refused. They were then pronounced in re- bellion. New England, Delaware and South Carolina refused to furnish quarters for the troops. Then Georgia and Rhode Island and at last New Hampshire.
Some submitted and party lines began to be drawn. Tories and Whigs. In Great Britain, sides were taken by the people and one Wilkes was put out of the House because of his as- sault on the King's friends. The anonymous "Junius Letters" then appeared. The total tax in the colonies was less than
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$70,000, the military expenses were $850,000 for the same period.
The Townshend act was to repeal all taxes on British goods, but the duty on tea. Because of the refusal to pay expenses of the soldiers the Assembly of New York had been dissolved for two successive years.
They chose Edmund Burke as their agent in England. The soldiers of New York cast down the liberty pole in New York at the place of rendezvous. The populace avenged this insult on the soldiers and there were frequent brawls between them.
The assembly put the author in prison and he was visited by crowds as a martyr. This occurred before the Boston Tea Party. Time will not permit me to give the "Junius Letters" and speeches by Edmund Burke.
Jefferson adopted Republican simplicity, made few removals and would not put any of his own relatives in office, saying that he would find better men for every place, than his own connections.
His greatest act was the Louisiana purchase for seven million dollars. He also founded the University of Virginia. He said, "That government is best that governs least." "The world is governed too much."
His writings are mostly state papers and letters and "Notes on Virginia." His daughter married and had numerous de- scendants. His death was on the fourth of July, 1826, when eighty three years of age.
John Adams, the second president of the United States, died on the same day and almost the same hour.
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PRESIDENTS MONROE, ADAMS AND JACKSON
Read before the Novelist Club by Mrs. W. G. Rose
March 4, 1817, James Monroe and Daniel D. Thomkins were installed President and Vice President; Secretary of State, John Adams; Secretary of Treasury, William H. Craw- ford, of Georgia; Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina; Attorney General, William West, of Virginia. John McLean, of Ohio, was made Postmaster General in 1823.
During two terms there were few changes made by President Monroe. He looked at once at defenses to strengthen the government at home and took a three months trip to forti- fications all along the Atlantic coast, down the St. Lawrence to Niagara, across Lake Erie to Detroit. He made many speeches to crowds that came to see him.
In the first session of Congress pensions were given to the Revolutionary soldiers. The salary of the congressmen fixed at $8.00 per day and mileage $8.00 for every twenty miles.
Mississippi and Illinois were admitted to the Union. The U. S. flag was defined at 13 stripes of alternate red and white and white stars to represent the states in a field of blue.
A treaty was entered into with Spain for Florida east and west for five million dollars. The President visited all the fortifications of the south before August. There was great stagnation in business and sales of government lands were made to try and extinguish the public debt. The pensions had consumed a million of money.
Alabama was admitted as a state in 1819. Maine had been a part of Massachusetts, now it became a state, also Missouri. Some discussion arose about admitting it as a slave state as Henry Clay had offered a resolution, prohibiting slavery west of the Mississippi river.
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Monroe and Thomkins were unanimously re-elected. The law made one representative for every 400,000 inhabitants.
The independence of Mexico was recognized. The law was never to take any part in the quarrels of Europe. President Monroe adopted these words of Jefferson and it is called the "Monroe Doctrine."
"With existing colonies we have not interfered and shall not interfere, with those who have declared their independence and we have acknowledged them. Any interference with them is unfriendly to the United States."
In 1822 Congress gave 30,000 for internal improvements, such as canals, roads, etc. John Q. Adams was elected in 1825 and said in his inaugural, "Monroe found the city of Washing- ton brick and left her constructed of marble."
Monroe was not a philosopher, but a politician. He was honest and honorable and after retiring from public life, be- came the creator of Virginia University.
His wife was Eliza Hartwright, whose father was a British Captain. She went with her husband to Europe. Mrs. Monroe was much admired as a lady of the White house for her self- poise and a certain stateliness of manner. She died in 1830.
Then President Monroe went to New York City and lived with his daughter, Mrs. Samuel Govoneur, and died the follow- ing year, 1831. The elder of the two children married George Hay, of Richmond, Virginia, where she resided many years.
President Monroe was over six feet tall, well formed, light complexion and blue eyes. Slow and unimaginative, but by all, considered a very honest man.
John Quincy Adams, born at Quincy, Mass., July, 1767, named after his grandfather Quincy who died at the time John was born and it was his dying request that he should receive his name.
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He went with his father to France at 11 years of age. He taught English to some of the Frenchmen and was very exact in his lessons. He returned to France a second time at 13 years of age and was put in a school at Amsterdam, Holland.
He went as Secretary to Francis Dana at 14, to Russia. Then came to Paris alone by way of Denmark, Sweden, Ham- burgh and Bremen.
The whole Adams family spent the year 1787 in Paris. Soon John Adams was made minister to England, but John Quincy came back to Boston and entered Harvard college and graduated in 1787. He studied law with Theophilus Parsons of Newbury three years and at 23 years of age was admitted to the bar.
He read Tom Paine's "Rights of Man" while waiting for clients and replied under the name of Publieo. He also criti- cised Washington's theories. He attracted attention and was sent as minister to Havre, just as the French entered the town under Napoleon. Washington told him to remain, so he did, studying European politics and did not squander his time.
In 1795 he went to London and met his wife to be, Louise Catherine Johnson. He had met her at Nantes in 1779. She had now grown into beautiful womanhood. They were married July, 1797, eighteen years later and Adams was 29 years of age.
Preceding his marriage he had been transferred from the Hague to Portugal. His father was now President and the charge of nepotism might be made, but Washington said his son was the strongest man in consular service and transferred him to Berlin, where he went with his bride.
President John Adams recalled his son. Without consult- ing his cabinet he had appointed him a minister to France, and had been censured. It led to a dismissal of his Cabinet.
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John Quincy Adams began the practice of law in Boston, was chosen to the Legislature as Senator. Then on fourth ballot to the U. S. Senate.
John Quincy Adams when in the Senate of U. S. was hooted by both parties for his father's sake. He was put on hard commit'ees. The settlement with the Spaniards for five million, he helped to settle and for four years labored on weights and measures. Nothing came of it, though he himself, thought it equal to the purchase of Florida.
He believed the western continent ought to belong to the United States. Four were nominated to the presidency: Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, favored by Mr. Jefferson. Henry Clay for four years president of the Senate. John C. Calhoun, Secre- tary of State and John Quincy Adams.
Daniel Webster and John Randolph were tellers and John Q. Adams was declared President. He was not embarrassed by obligations. He placed Clay at the head of his cabinet. William West, Attorney General, and refused to put anyone out of office.
President Andrew Jackson, son of Andrew Jackson, was born in South Carolina, March 19, 1767. His father died soon after his birth. They were of Irish blood and very poor. The three boys entered the British corps nearby to enlist.
One officer ordered them to black his boots and they re- fused. He struck them and they returned the blow. They were then ordered to be shut up in Camden as prisoners of war. Both brothers died before the war was over; one escaped.
Andrew's mother started to Charleston to offer herself as an army nurse, but died on the way, so that Andrew Jackson was alone in the world at 14 years of age, 1784. He left the saddlers trade to study law at twenty-three.
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He had no love for the law; men of his circle loved gossip in the bar-room. They settled difficulties with the pistol and bowie knife. He went to Nashville, Tenn., and boarded with a Mrs. Donaldson. Her daughter, Mrs. Roberts, was accused of intimacy with Jackson, by her husband, and he insisted upon divorce.
Jackson married her even before one had been granted by the state of Tennessee. He lived with her thirty years. He was elected to Congress in 1796. Senator Blount of Tennessee having died. Jackson was made his successor, in two years he resigned and desired the governorship of New Orleans under Aaron Burr. He always pleaded for Burr and believed in an independent western empire.
The war of 1912 was begun by Tecumseh, an Indian, who hoped to unite all of his race from Canada to New Orleans, against the whites. Jackson joined Cocke who was major general. Jackson made every military movement successful, so that men hastened to enlist under him.
When disbanded by the government, he paid the men out of his own pocket and saw them safely home. Congress after- ward remunerated him, principal and interest, by giving him $2,700.
Jackson on account of his defeating the Indians on what they called "Holy Land" of Florida, was made major general in 1814. The British attacked his small force at Mobile Point. They were repulsed and Jackson followed them to Pensacola. He then went to New Orleans, proclaimed martial law and had but just got things in shape when the British appeared again.
The French after the first fight had no interest in the matter and Jackson ordered them to remove to Baton Rouge, but thought better of it. He then required the removal of the
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judge and a contributer to the newspaper, who criticised Jack- son.
There was a trial for this course by U. S. Court and Jack- son was fined 11,000, which he paid. In 1816, Jackson was named as an available candidate for the presidency and it was never wholly silent until his election in 1828.
A man named Lewis put him forward under President Monroe. Jackson was sent out to make a treaty with the Chickesaw Indians. Crawford was secretary of war in Madi- son's cabinet and had infringed on the treaty Jackson had made in his war with the Indians of Florida.
Jackson did not like Crawford. He gave orders without consulting Jackson. Crawford soon gave place to Calhoun, who recognized the justice of Jackson's complaint.
The treaty of Ghent repossessed the Indians of their lands. Jackson was instructed to take command of Georgia and he replied, "Let it be signified to me that it would be desirable that Florida be ceded to the U. S. and in sixty days it will be accomplished." Therefore he undertook it with 3,000 men.
Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison had effected treaties by diplomacy and to submit to Jackson's desultory war- fare was humiliating. Spain could not do the duty devolved upon her and the President countermanded the order of Jackson, for Gaines tc seize St. Augustine. Monroe had a long corre- spondence with Jackson, the result of it all, was, the purchase of Florida.
Jackson was made governor general of Florida, to levy taxes and grant lands. In 1824, there were four aspirants for the Presidency, John Quincy Adams, Calhoun, Clay and Crawford. William D. Lewis married Mrs. Jackson's niece.
He went to South Carolina to plead for Jackson and a
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member of Congress wanted Jackson's opinion of the tariff. It was "masterly evasive." Van Buren was at the head of the New York machine, it was proposed to take the election before the people.
Jackson won. Jackson 99 votes, Adams 84, Clay 39, Craw- ford 1. The election was thrown into the House. Adams received 13, Jackson 7, Crawford four.
Adams was the president and he made Clay Secretary of State. Lewis wrote up Jackson as an injured man, that the election was an injustice on the part of the House. Everybody thought Jackson the coming man.
Calhoun was an enemy of Adams and as president of the Senate made it hard for the president. The things said against Adams was, he had married an English woman, he was rich, he was in debt, he had long held public office, etc.
Jackson also had his faults, in his marriage, in his military record and his duels. Jackson received 140,217 votes more than Adams.
John Q. Adams, Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Mon- roe had all been gentlemen of the best society with a certain dignity and stateliness. Jackson could be a gentleman when he chose to be. All said a man of the people had come.
Mrs. Donaldson, niece of the late Mrs. Jackson, was head of the White House. The bride of a cabinet officer, Mrs. Eaton, alias Pegg O'Neil, was not always a respectable person and ladies objected to her.
Jackson's cabinet was a weak one. Van Buren for his services in New York was made Secretary of State, all the others were unknown men of southern states. It was the first time the Postmaster General was a member of the cabinet.
William B. Lewis had made it in a way that Jackson should
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have entire control. He was made second auditor of the treasury.
Amos Kendall had removed to Kentucky from Massa- chusetts, had fallen out with Clay and at once began to work for Jackson's renomination. Calhoun was vice-president and believed Jackson was not a candidate for re-election. Van Buren thought so also, he was Secretary of State.
Heretofore there had been few removals from office and these had reasons given, 74 in all since Washington was inaugurated.
Jackson said, "To the victors, belong the spoils." He changed 429 postmasters in one year in all, 2,000 changes took place, in the civil service.
Lewis wrote to Col. Stamburgh of Pennsylvania to have the Legislature of Pennsylvania, with their signatures say, that Jackson should be re-elected. Pennsylvania was then, as later, in the hands of managers. The address came back prop- erly signed by 28 members.
In the spring New York Legislature responded to the senti- ment of the Legislature of Pennsylvania. Other Legislatures were ready to respond in a similar method.
A Jefferson celebration was held and Jackson responded to the toast, "Our Federal Union." This was a blow to nullifiers and to Calhoun. Frank P. Blair came to take the editorial of Jackson's organ in 1830.
Jackson did not wish any one in his cabinet that aspired to the presidency, therefore Van Buren resigned and the others and a new cabinet was formed and we hear of Lewis Cass of Michigan, as Secretary of War. Lewis McLane of Delaware was Secretary of the Treasury.
Jackson thought the United States had nothing to do with
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anything not included in the constitution, so would not vote for any internal improvements.
This is considered the proper interpretation today: The south thought the tariff taxed them for the benefit of the manu- facturing states and were opposed to it. The parties seized upon the tariff or industrial interests for president making.
McDuff, of South Carolina, said the tax fell on the southern states, the benefit was to those of the north and if the con- stitution protected anything that was against the rights of a given state that doctrine was null and void, hence the word "nullification."
We can see Cobden's free trade views of England would be accepted readily here. The Bank of the United States repre- sented the Treasury of the United States. Jackson proposed it be a branch of the Treasury department.
The campaign of 1832 was between Clay, Republican, and Jackson, Democrat, and William West for the anti-masons because of the murder of Morgan, of Batavia, N. Y., a brick- layer. It was said that the Bank built houses to rent or sell, and made gifts to roads.
ARE WOMEN'S CLUBS ELEVATING AND EDUCATIONAL?
Read before the Novelist Club by Mrs. W. G. Rose
We need only look at the topics presented in the calendars of the clubs or in the annual conventions to see that the women must search for truth in order to write on these subjects. It is, in other words, University Extension.
In schools and colleges the time is too limited and the mind not sufficiently mature to desire to know contemporaneous history, the philosophy of the Greeks or the religion of the
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Egyptians. To assimilate food, we must have a hunger for it.
Women's Clubs supply this long left want. They are educational and therefore elevating. All museums are inter- esting to one who has studied fossils or anatomy. You soon can perceive the germ from which the many proceed and the effect of climate in nature's evolution.
In floral culture you see the native herb or fruit and appre- ciate the value arising from culture. Why not devote as much time to the cultivating of the human species? Why not educate woman, the mother of the race?
It is a strange anomoly of life, that that which needed most care and thought and education, has been neglected. Women of savage tribes have to do the heavy work and so cripple and dwarf the intellect and body of their offspring. It may be man's innate jealousy, but it is probably woman's will- ingness to be imposed upon and superior love for her children.
Have we not come to a time in our experience, that we should demand the right to liberty of action the same as did the peasantry of France in the Marquett Laws or the yeoman of England when, in the reign of a weak king, they assumed control as in the independence of our colonies, after the Boston Tea Party. Before this Republic was formed, government merely sat down upon its people. It did not try to elevate them. and history is of ways and means to extend their dominions, but this was not entirely true. From the slabs of Nineveh we learn that they had progressed so far that they gave minute instructions in how to produce the best cereals and vegetables. The government was supported by tithes and the amount to be returned as taxes.
History is something beside wars and rumors of wars. It is of a life more or less advanced, in civilization.
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In the London Museum as I gazed at the Gods of Nineveh with a head of man for omniscience, eagles' wings for omni- presence and the body of an elephant to represent infinite strength, I could see why it was time, for God, to come in the form of a man and show that he honored this immortal being for whom all else was made. Their language of the cuneiform letters is easily read.
To the woman who prepares herself for usefulness, there is a place to be useful. Let me quote from some of our Presi- dents' wives who are called the first ladies of the land.
George Washington was accompanied by his wife to the field of battle. Her plain and simple attire made her beloved by every soldier.
The wife of John Adams was opposed, in her marriage, by her parents. He wrote her from Paris. "I wish I under- stood French as well as you. Do teach it to our children." She had the entire charge of the farm and had to pay eight dollars a day for labor in continental money, and four for flour per pound, forty dollars a yard for calico. She wrote him she had not tasted biscuit for four months, but with all this care she taught her children French and the family ac- companied their father to the French court.
She was a descendant of the Quincys and her daughter wrote home, "I am astonished when a French home is elegant and neat at the same time."
Mrs. Madison writes, "Mr. Madison has gone to Windsor there has been a skirmish at Blandensburg. I have taken the portrait of Washington from its frame." She fled in a carriage with priceless papers by the light of the President's burning palace. She fled to a friend's house, but the door was shut against her and she waited for the President in her carriage for two long hours.
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The story is told of Mrs. Monroe going, in a carriage, to call upon Madame LaFayette when in prison, all day, she had expected the summons for her execution and was too weak to express her joy. France, through LaFayette, had aided America, and now the United States, through Mrs. Monroe, repaid a part of the unpayable debt. The unexpected visit changed the purpose of the state officials. France dare not sacrifice a lady, in whom the American minister had such an interest and the Marquis LaFayette was liberated the next morning.
John Quincy Adams said, "The belles of Boston are like beautiful apples that are insipid to the taste."
His wife wrote verses, translated Plato and played on the harp and was perhaps the most scholarly woman who has presided at the White House.
President William Henry Harrison said to a delegation of politicians who went to him on a Sabbath day, "I have too much respect for the religion of my wife to encourage the vio- lation of the Christian Sabbath."
Mrs. Tyler visited the sick and cared for many families. She never spoke of it and it was supposed she was out for an airing until her death, when the poor told of it.
Mrs. Fillmore was maid-of-all-work in their first married life, and the president said, "For twenty-seven years I have always been greeted with a smile." She has always been sur- rounded with books and had a library, and the president asked Congress to provide a library for the White House, and they did. It was selected with care, for Mrs. Fillmore was a highly refined and intellectual woman.
Mrs. Pearce lost by death all her children just previous to her entering the White House. On Sunday evening she would ask her employees to attend church and on their return
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would inquire what they had heard. Webster said he went many times out of respect to her, when he otherwise would have stayed at home.
Mrs. Hayes said, "When I came to Washington I had three sons just starting out in life and I did not think I could be the first to put the wine cup to their lips." Mrs. Hayes says in one of her Home Missionary addresses:
"We believe the character of the people depends on their homes. If our political institutions are imperiled it is because the wealthy are not mindful of the words, 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, de yo even so to them.' Five millions are added every ten years to our population. The Christians of America are not doing their whole duty to the Africans within our borders. The future of America is in the homes and the homes depend on the mothers of America."
Instruction in household skill is imparted only by female teachers. She said to one, "Oh, I am not good, but I do try to keep the Golden Rule."
Mrs. Harrison said to a reporter, after the Ball of the Inauguration. "Why do you tell about the dresses we wear? I think it is not dignified." Her wishes were respected. Dress is not, even now, regularly reported as formerly. She grad- uated at Oxford, Ohio, in 1852 and was an artist in water colors.
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