Monroe retired from the presidency in 1825, and the seven remaining years of his life were passed principally on his estate in Virginia.  Jefferson said of him, “He is a man whose soul might be turned wrong side outwards, without discovering a blemish to the world,”—­an estimate which was, of course, colored by a warm personal friendship, but which was echoed by many others of his contemporaries.  Certain it is that few men have ever so won the affection and esteem of the nation, and his administration was known as the “era of good feeling.”  He is scarcely appreciated to-day at his true worth, principally because he does not measure up in genius to the great men who preceded him.

At striking variance with the practical unanimity of Monroe’s election was that of John Quincy Adams, his successor.  Over a quarter of a century had elapsed since a northern man had been chosen to the presidency.  That man, strangely enough, was the father of the present candidate, but had retired from office after one acrimonious term, discredited and disappointed.  Since then, the government of the country had been in the hands of Virginians.  Now came John Quincy Adams, calling himself a Democrat, but really inheriting the principles of his father, and the contest which ensued for the presidency was unprecedented in the history of the country.

Adams’s principal opponent was Andrew Jackson, a mighty man of whom we shall soon have occasion to speak, and so close was the contest that the electoral college was not able to make a choice.  So, as provided by the Constitution, it was carried to the House of Representatives, and there, through the influence of Henry Clay, who was unfriendly to Jackson, Adams was chosen by a small majority.  An administration which began in bitterness, continued bitter and turbulent.  Men’s passions were aroused, and four years later Adams repeated the fate of his father, in being overwhelmingly defeated.

But the most remarkable portion of his story is yet to come.  Before that time, it had been the custom, as we have seen, for the ex-President to spend the remaining years of his life in dignified retirement; but the year after Adams left the White House, he was elected to the House of Representatives, and was returned regularly every two years until his death, which occurred upon its floor.  He did much excellent work there, and was conspicuous in more than one memorable scene, but he is chiefly remembered for his battle for the right of petition.  No more persistent fight was ever made by a man in a parliamentary body and some reference must be made to it here.