On his return to America, Monroe published, in December 1797, a defense of his conduct in a pamphlet of 500 pages entitled "A View of the Conduct of the Executive in the Foreign Affairs of the United States as connected with the Mission to the French Republic during the years 1794-96.° The pamphlet was widely cir culated and aroused much discussion throughout the nation. In 1799 Monroe was chosen gov ernor of Virginia and occupied this office until 1803, when he was appointed by President Jef ferson as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to France to aid the resident Minister, Robert R. Livingston, in obtaining the territory at the mouth of the Mississippi, including the island of New Orleans, as an out let for the traders of the West, and to co operate with Charles Pinckney, our Minister at Madrid, for, cession of the Floridas. By the secret treaty of San Ildefonso (October 1800), Spain had ceded Louisiana to France, and in 1801 the Spanish intendant had given notice that New Orleans "would no longer be a
he displayed energy and diligence.
In 1816 Monroe was elected President by the Republican party, receiving 183• electoral votes against 34, for Rufus King, the Federalist candidate. His administration marks the advent of what is erroneously called the °era of good. feeling," when " political rancor is supposed to have ceased. As a matter of note during his administration the first crisis of the slavery issue took place, resulting in the Missouri Com promise in 1820 and the Seminole Campaign of 1817, laying the foundation for the political strife of the Jacksonian era. In 11320 he was re-elected, receiving all the electoral votes but one, and this was cast by an elector of New Hampshire for J. Q. Adams, in order, it is said, that no one might share with Washington the honor of a unanimous election. The important events of Monroe's two administrations are the Seminole Campaign, 1817-18; the acquisition of Florida, 1819; the Missouri Compromise, 1820; the veto of the Cumberland Road bill on con stitutional grounds in 1822, and his celebrated message of 2 Dec. 1823, setting forth the Mon roe Doctrine (q.v.). In 1825 Monroe retired to private life and took up his residence in Loudoun County, Va. He took part in the Constitutional Convention in 1829 called to re vise the State constitution. In his later years, owing to financial difficulties, he was forced to seek aid from Congress, which body in 1826 authorized the payment of $30,000 to him, and after his death the purchase of his papers. He died in New York in 1831, and in 1858, the cen tennial year of his birth, his remains were re interred with solemn ceremonies at Richmond, Va.
Theodore Roosevelt has characterized Mon roe as °a very amiable gentleman, but distinctly one who comes in the category of those whose greatness is thrust upon them. ° This statement is undoubtedly true. Monroe was not a good speaker, he lacked tact and was often indis creet, and he often allowed party feelings to get the better of his own judgment. Yet he was highly respected by his associates, and retained their friendship and admiration until his death.
Writings' of James Monroe' (7 vols., New York 1898-1903; edited by S. M. Hamilton) ; Gilman, D. C., 'James Monroe' in 'American Statesmen Series' (Bos ton 1898)4 Bond, B. W., Mission to France, (in 'Johns Hopkins Studies,' Vol. XXV, Baltimore 1907); Cox, I. J., 'The West Florida Controversy, 1798-1813' (Balti more 1918); Irelan, J. R., 'History of the Life, Administration and Times of James Monroe' (in Vol. V of 'History of the Republic,' Chi cago 1887). Consult also standard histories of the United States.