N his inaugural address, President Monroe spoke with gratification of the increasing prosperity of the country, the capability of the people properly to administer their own laws, and the necessity, drawn from recent experience, of bestowing more than ordinary attention to the defences of the army and navy. But, while communicating this cheering intelligence, he warned them of the danger to be apprehended by the facilities which the nature of our institutions affords to designing men; assuring them, at the same time, that the only safeguard against such designers, is a pure, uncompromising system of morality. "Had the people of the United States," he says, "been educated in different principles, had they been less intelligent, or less virtuous, can it be believed that we should have maintained the same steady and consistent career, or been blessed with the same success? While, then, the constituent body retains its present sound and healthful state, every thing will be safe. They will choose competent and faithful representatives for every department. It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising the sovereignty. Usurpation is then an easy attainment and a usurper soon found. The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debase ment and ruin. Let us, then, look to the great cause, and endeavour to preserve it in its full force. Let us, by all wise and constitutional mea

sures, promote intelligence among the people, as the best means of preserving our liberties. It is particularly gratifying to me to enter on the discharge of these duties, at a time when the United States are blessed with peace. It is a state most consistent with their prosperity and happiness. It will be my sincere desire to preserve it, so far as depends on the executive, on just principles with all nations, claiming nothing unreasonable of any, and rendering to each what is its due."

In concluding his address, the President observes :

"In the administrations of the illustrious men who have preceded me in this high station, with some of whom I have been connected by the closest ties of early life, examples are presented which will always be found highly instructive and useful to their successors. From these I shall endeavour to derive all the advantages which they may afford. Of my immediate predecessor, under whom so important a portion of this great and successful experiment has been made, I shall be pardoned for expressing my earnest wishes that he may long enjoy in his retirement, the affections of a grateful country, the best reward of exalted talents and the most faithful and meritorious services. Relying on the aid to be derived from the other departments of government, I enter on the trust to which I have been called by the suffrages of my fellow-citizens, with my fervent prayers to the Almighty, that he will be graciously pleased to continue to us that protection which he has already so conspicuously displayed in our favour."

The change of administration made no perceivable difference in the policy of government. Previous to entering on the duties of his office, Monroe was advised by General Jackson, with whom he was on friendly terms, to disregard former party divisions in the formation of his cabinet, and to use his influence and power to destroy party spirit, by appointing the best men to office, without regard to their political preferences. This course Mr. Monroe declined to pursue, confining his appointments generally, as did Jefferson and Madison, to those who professed his own political faith, and with but few exceptions, excluding federalists from office.

Mississippi was admitted into the Union as a state, in 1817. In the summer of the same year, the President made a tour through the northern states, being everywhere welcomed with the warmest demonstrations of a sovereign people. While this was going on, some adventurers, claiming to act under the authority of the revolted colonies of South America, undertook an expedition against East Florida. They were commanded by a man who called himself "Citizen Gregor McGregor, Brigadier-general of the armies of the United Provinces of New Granada and Venezuela, and General-in-chief, employed to liberate the provinces of both the Floridas, commissioned by the supreme governments of Mexico and South America." This man took possession of Amelia Island, at the mouth of

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the St. Mary's river, near Georgia, and began extensive preparations for making it a depôt for buccaneering.

The intelligence of this affair was officially communicated to Congress, in the annual message of December. The President stated that, on account of the friendly relations existing between the South American colonies and the United States, it might well be doubted whether the late aggressive acts received any countenance from these powers; and that the doubt was further strengthened by some facts recently brought to light, and which went very far toward stamping it as a mere individual enterprise. He added, that the island had been made a channel for the illicit introduction of slaves from Africa, an asylum for fugitive slaves from the neighbouring states, and a port for smuggling of every kind.

The President also stated, that an institution of a similar kind and prior establishment had been made at Galveston, in the Gulf of Mexico. "This enterprise," says Mr. Monroe, "has been, marked in a more signal manner by all the objectionable circumstances which characterized the other, and more particularly by the equipment of privateers which have annoyed our commerce, and by smuggling. These establishments, if ever sanctioned by any authority whatever, which is not believed, have abused their trust and forfeited all claims to consideration. A just regard for the rights and interests of the United States required that they should be suppressed, and orders have accordingly been issued to that effect."

At the head of this piratical establishment was an adventurer named Aury, who endeavoured to collect around him a regular civil government. Finding that he was watched by the American government, he left his first rendezvous and removed to Matagorda, about ninety miles west of his first station. The Lafittes and others of the Baratarian pirates were conspicuous in his company, and took several prizes. Some of these were sent to New Orleans for sale, where they were claimed by the Spanish consul, and delivered into his charge.

Finding smuggling difficult at so great a distance from the United States, Aury returned to Galveston, which had been resorted to by some thirty other smugglers, with whom he united his own. After giving notice that Galveston was no longer under his protection, he sailed to Amelia Island, where he found that McGregor had returned to the Spanish main, and that the island was under the control of Hubbard and Ironil, two of McGregor's associates. The two parties were soon united, and in a little while after joined by about twenty half-pay British officers who had been thrown out of employment by the general pacification of Europe. These had intended to join their fellow-countrymen; but finding Aury in command united themselves to him. The outlaws professed to capture only Spanish vessels; but the flag of no nation was respected by them when a rich cargo was within their grasp. In violation of law, they introduced