James Madison, after serving his country eight years as President, in a most perilous period of its history, retired to private life, followed by the respect and gratitude of the people of the United States.  He was succeeded by James Monroe, who was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1817.

Mr. Monroe was a politician of great moderation.  It was his desire, on entering the presidency, to heal the unhappy dissensions which had distracted the country from the commencement of its government, and conciliate and unite the conflicting political parties.  In forming his cabinet, he consulted eminent individuals of different parties, in various sections of the Union, expressing these views.  Among others, he addressed Gen. Jackson, who, on account of his successful military career, was then rising rapidly into public notice.  In his reply the general remarked:—­

“Everything depends on the selection of your ministry.  In every selection, party and party feeling should be avoided.  Now is the time to exterminate that monster, called party spirit.  By selecting characters most conspicuous for their probity, virtue, capacity, and firmness, without any regard to party, you will go far, if not entirely, to eradicate those feelings, which on former occasions, threw so many obstacles in the way of government, and, perhaps, have the pleasure and honor of uniting a people heretofore politically divided.  The Chief Magistrate of a great and powerful nation, should never indulge in party feelings.”

Admirable advice!  Sentiments worthy an exalted American statesman!  The President of a vast Republic, should indeed know nothing of the interest of party in contradistinction to the interest of the whole people; and should exercise his power, his patronage, and his influence, not to strengthen factions, and promote the designs of political demagogues, but to develop and nourish internal resources, the only sinews of national prosperity, and diffuse abroad sentiments of true patriotism, liberality, and philanthropy.  No suggestions more admirable could have been made by Gen. Jackson, and none could have been more worthy the consideration of Mr. Monroe and his successors in the presidential chair.

In carrying out his plans of conciliation, President Monroe selected John Quincy Adams for the responsible post of Secretary of State.  Mr. Adams had never been an active partizan.  In his career as Senator, both in Massachusetts and in Washington, during Mr. Jefferson’s administration, he had satisfactorily demonstrated his ability to rise above party considerations, in the discharge of great and important duties.  And his long absence from the country had kept him free from personal, party, and sectional bias, and peculiarly fitted him to take the first station in the cabinet of a President aiming to unite his countrymen in fraternal bonds of political amity.