Monroe's Musings

Gibbons V. Ogden

2024-12-06T06:48:00.000-08:00

Once again, I’m writing of a Supreme Court ruling. This time, the State of New York gave a steamboat company monopoly to the Hudson River. The Court ruled that New York cannot do so, because the travel on the Hudson is classified as interstate commerce (it passes through New Jersey).

Hands off Europe!

2023-12-06T06:49:00.000-08:00

(The Monroe Doctrine, Mr. Good.)

Earlier this month I proposed an idea in Congress that may change U.S. foreign policies forever! I proclaimed that America should be neutral in all European conflict, and that Europe should not colonize or interfere with the actions of the independent nations of the Americas. I also said that any wars of those types should in the Americas, we would see them as hostile.

Independence of Latin America

2022-09-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

I, along with the rest of the U.S. government have come to recognize the independence of several Latin American nations. Two years ago, the large Spanish territory of Mexico became independent due to numerous revolutions. The leader of one of the first (who was executed eleven years ago) was a Miguel Hidalgo; he created an Indian army and liberated some Mexican states. I have also learned of a Simon Bolivar, who liberated countries in South and Central America; such countries were Gran Colombia, Brazil, and what the United Provinces of Central America is now.

Adams-Onis Treaty

2021-11-06T06:50:00.000-07:00

In February this year, a treaty with Spain was proclaimed. It establishes the borders of the U.S. and New Spain. Although Spain would not grant any official border that was in our favor, John Q. Adams, my secretary of state, soon got foreign minister Onis to do so. During the war, Colonel Jackson exposed the true weakness of New Spain when attacked multiple forts in Spanish Florida. Knowing this, John Q. Adams negotiated aggressively with Onis, and not only won us the favorable border, but ownership of Florida as well, for only around $5.5 million!

McCulloch V. Maryland

2019-05-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Two months ago, the Supreme Court came to a decision to their McCulloch V. Maryland case. Apparently, the State of Maryland wanted to tax the national bank (whose branch’s cashier was James McCulloch).The Court ruled that the states actions may not suppress those of the federal government.

Dartmouth College V. Woodward

2019-04-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

Another Supreme Court ruling happened this year. The New Hampshire secretary of the new board of trustees (Woodward) attempted to change the charter of Dartmouth College, a private school, into a state-owned one. The Court ruled that the charter was a private contract, and can’t be changed after being made official.

The Era of Good Feelings

2017-06-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Today I’m writing on my trip through the Middle and Northern States. A wonderful time this is, this Era of Good Feelings, according to a newspaper while I was in Boston. No political parties fighting and no wars. I’m pleasantly surprised, Connecticut and Massachusetts were quite happy to have me there. Apparently any arguments during the war have disappeared.

“The American System”

2016-10-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

I have recently heard of an economic plan from Henry Clay. He proposes that we impose a high tariff, then use the money gathered in the New England states to buy crops from the South. The money collected by the federal government could be used to reinforce the infrastructure of the Union. I, personally, think that this is still a bad idea, for the Southern states would gain less profit than they would without a tariff.

Tariff of 1816

2016-09-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

As some New Englanders already know, Congress imposed a high tariff on foreign goods. The tariff covers textiles, iron, leather, and paper. I realize that some readers from the South may find that this tax gives to New England by taking wealth from the Southern states. Here in at the capital, we are trying hard to find a solution to this dilemma.

Sectionalists

2016-03-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

The nation is becoming more and more unstable. The New England, Southern, and Western states are competing with each other. Henry Clay (West) says that the country needs more roads, for the regions to trade; Daniel Webster (New England) supports tariffs for business, while John Calhoun (South) opposes them. How on Earth will I unite them!