first in 1818; Alabama as the twenty-second in 1819; Maine as the twenty-third in 1820; and Missouri as the twentyfourth in 1821. The constitutions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Missouri permitted slavery, while Illinois and Maine came into the union as free states.

367. The Missouri Compromise-1820.-Up to the time of this administration the question of slavery had not come prominently before congress. Since the time of the admission of Vermont, a slave and a free state had been admitted alternately into the union-thereby preserving the balance of power between the free and the slave states. In 1819 Missouri and Arkansas were organized as separate territories without any restriction on the question of slavery. This arrangement was opposed in the north, where it was determined that all states formed out of the Louisiana Territory should be admitted as free states. When Missouri applied for admission to the union in 1820 with a constitution permitting slavery, her admission was therefore bitterly opposed in the north. At this time the free state of Maine was also asking for admission. The slaveholding states now opposed the admission of Maine, unless Missouri should be admitted as a slave state.

The debates in congress were heated in the extreme, and the whole country became involved in the controversy. The result was a compromise between the opposing parties, known as the "Missouri Compromise." This was an act passed by congress March 3, 1820, admitting the two statesone free and the other slave; and further providing that slavery should be forever excluded from the territory lying north of the parallel-36° 30′ (the state of Missouri excepted) the line corresponded to the southern boundary of Missouri. The question of slavery in the territory south of that line was to be left to the people as they might determine.

Through the Missouri Compromise, the contest on the question of slavery was postponed for another quarter of a century.

368. The Monroe Doctrine-1823.-At about the time of the purchase of Florida, nearly all the Spanish provinces in South America were in open revolt against Spain, and later even Mexico declared her independence. The United States acknowledged these revolted provinces as sovereign states.

At this time all the monarchs of Europe, except those of Rome and England, had formed a league known as the "Holy Alliance," the avowed object of which was to protect cach sovereign in his own territorial and political rights, and to prevent interference with his system of government. Spain was a member of the Holy Alliance, and it was now rumored that she would receive its support in suppressing the revolt in her American provinces.

Monroe, in anticipation of such an event, served notice (through his annual message to congress in 1823) on the members of the Holy Alliance that they must not interfere in American affairs. In his message he set forth the doctrine that "the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers"; and that the United States should consider any attempt on the part of any foreign power to extend its system of government to any portion of this hemisphere, as dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States. He also intimated that while the United States would raise no objection against any colony or dependency then existing in America, yet any further intrusion or interference on the part of any foreign power would be regarded as "the manifestation of an unfriendly spirit towards the United States."

This declaration has ever since been known, both in the politics and diplomacy of the United States, as the "Monroe Doctrine." Its effect was to check the Holy Alliance in their proposed intervention, and Great Britain at once. acknowledged the independence of the Spanish republics.

369. The Tariff of 1824: Internal Improvements.—In 1824

a new tariff law was passed which increased the duties on metals and agricultural products. Henry Clay was its great champion. This tariff bill, more than any previous bill, combined the two ideas of the raising of a revenue and the protecting of home industries. To quote Clay's words, "The object of this bill is to create a home market and to lay the foundation of a genuine American policy."

Up to this time, the leaders of the "loose construction" party had been persistent in their efforts to induce the government to make appropriations for internal improvements,such as national roads and canals. Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, while in favor of such improvements, had opposed all appropriations on constitutional grounds. Clay, in advocating the tariff of 1824, insisted that it would raise sufficient revenue to enable the government to undertake a system of internal improvements. The passing of this tariff act practically settled this question. Soon thereafter congress, by a decided vote, declared itself in favor of a national canal system, whereupon the "strict constructionists" gradually ceased their opposition on constitutional grounds to appropriations for such purposes.

370. The Fourth Census-1820.-The fourth census disclosed the fact that the United States had a population of 9,638,191, of which 1,538,125 were slaves-19,108 in the north, the remainder in the south. This reveals the fact that emancipation north of Mason and Dixon's line was being rapidly accomplished.

371. The Presidential Election of 1824. At the close of Monroe's administration the "Era of Good Feeling" came to an end. The Federalist party being dead, the DemocraticRepublican party now broke up into factions. Four men, representing the separate factions of the Democratic-Republican party, became candidates for the presidency. John Quincy Adams, Monroe's secretary of state, represented the New England faction, and was nominated by the legislature of Massachusetts; William H. Crawford of Georgia received

the nomination of the party caucus in congress; Henry Clay was nominated by the legislatures of Kentucky and four other states; and Andrew Jackson was nominated by the legislatures of Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

Prior to this campaign, candidates for president had always been nominated by a party caucus composed of the members of congress. This plan had of late been bitterly assailed by the people in all sections of the country-with the result indicated above. Crawford was the last of the congressional caucus nominees for the presidency. Candidates were for a few years nominated by the state legislatures and later by national nominating conventions.

In the election of 1825, no candidate having a majority of all the votes, the election under the constitution was decided by the house of representatives, which chose John Quincy Adams president. John C. Calhoun was the choice of the electoral college for vice-president.

ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

NATIONAL-REPUBLICAN: 1825-1829

372. John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States, was the eldest son of John Adams, the second president. He was a graduate of Harvard College, in which institution he afterwards held the chair of professor of rhetoric. He was an able lawyer, and a diplomat of distinguished ability. He served as minister to each of the four countries, Holland, Prussia, Russia, and England, and assisted in negotiating the treaty of Ghent. He was a United States senator from Massachusetts, and for eight years was Monroe's secretary of state.

Though a Federalist in politics, Adams, at the time of the Embargo Act, became estranged from his party and gave his support to the Democratic-Republican party until his election to the presidency. He then united with Henry Clay in forming the National Republican party. And yet Adams was not a strict party man; he was, rather, a representative

of the "independent" in politics. He favored a protective tariff, and internal improvements at government expense. Though the country prospered, his administration was a stormy one, owing to the bitter attacks of his enemies in congress, and due, also, to his unbending and pugnacious character. Yet few administrations have been marked by greater intelligence or loftier patriotism.

Adams failed of reëlection to the presidency in 1828, but three years later was elected to congress as an independent member from the state of Massachusetts, in which body he served until the day of his death. Shortly after his return to congress, the house of representatives, through the influence of the southern members, passed a rule known as the "gag rule" (1836), forbidding any member presenting petitions to congress in any way referring to the slavery question. Adams insisted that this was an infringement of the "right of petition" as granted in the constitution, and with all his powers of eloquence fought the rule for nine years in every conceivable manner, and finally triumphed, the 'gag rule" being repealed in 1845.

Three years later (February 21, 1848) Adams was stricken with apoplexy while occupying his seat on the floor of the house. He died two days later with the words on his lips, "This is the last of earth; I am content." He was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1767. He died in his eightyfirst year. On account of his eloquent defence of the "right of petition," he was known as the "Old Man Eloquent."

373. Visit of Lafayette.-On the invitation of congress, Lafayette, now aged and grey, visited America in the years 1824 and 1825, and made a tour of the American states. Old memories were revived, and the days of the Revolution were recalled, as Lafayette passed through the states on a journey of triumph. He was greeted by the remnant of the soldiers of the Revolution and by the heroes of a later day, with a warmth and devotion that has seldom been excelled. Remembering his services in the struggle for inde