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Death of James Monroe

Started by Fred, May 20, 2010, 12:44:01 AM

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Fred

From the July 5, 1831 New York Commercial Advertiser:

Death of James Monroe

   Yesterday, about half past 3, [sic] P.M., the venerable Ex-President, James Monroe, expired at the residence of his son-in-law, Samuel Gouverneur, Esq., in this city. The event has been for some time past expected, and, for the last few days, momentarily looked for. His spirit was permitted to linger in the body until his country's birth-day came, and departed while a grateful nation, for whose independence he had fought and bled, - which venerated him while living and hallows his memory now, as in the front rank of its benefactors, - was holding its universal Jubilee.

    Thus of the six former Presidents, by a coincidence for which it would be difficult to find a parallel in history, three have been called away in a good old age, on the same proud anniversary. Their fellow-citizens knew not in the midst of their rejoicings, while arms were glittering, salutes resounding, and bells ringing gladsome peals, that death was dealing with the fathers of their country. Else had "the day been darkened and the pomp o'ercast." While we write, minute guns are firing, and the bells tolling; and the sad solemnities due to the honored remains of one of the very few "last of the Romans" will soon succeed the festivities of yesterday. The moral illustration this affords is too striking to need being pointed out.

    Mr. Monroe's biography is written in the annals of his country; and the events of his life are connected with those prominent in the pages of her history, from the time when, while yet a youth, he bled in her service at Trenton*, until recently when he sat in the Convention which amended the constitution of his native State. During his administration of the government, the nation flourished in unexampled prosperity; developing its unlimited resources with vast rapidity, and maintaining with dignity its peaceful relations with all the world...

    Mr. Monroe was born in September, 1738, in the County of Westmoreland, Virginia, and died in his 73rd year. In September last he lost his wife, long the cherished companion of his prosperity as well as of his adversity. Embarrassments and afflictions no doubt contributed to hasten his decease. His desire of returning to Virginia, and there closing his days, was often and earnestly expressed. We learn that he retained all his mental faculties to the last, and was perfectly composed and calm.

    When the noise of firing began at midnight, he opened his eyes inquiringly; and when the cause was communicated to him, a look of intelligence indicated that he understood what the occasion was. There can be little doubt that the simultaneous departure of his two predecessors on the same day [John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, July 4, 1826] was present in his mind...

    *We have been favored with the following memorandum in relation to his military services. He entered the army at 18 years of age, and marched under Washington as a Lieutenant, in the retreat through Jersey. He volunteered to attack the Hessians at Trenton, and assumed the command of his company when Captain Washington fell. He was severely wounded in the neck, and carried from the field. He stood by Lafayette, when the latter was wounded at Brandywine; and was subsequently selected by Congress to command a regiment, which was to be raised by Virginia.
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