Non-fiction: Second Inaugural Address of James Monroe

Overview

James Monroe’s second inaugural address, delivered in March 1821, surveys a nation at peace, expanding in territory and confidence after the War of 1812, yet mindful of recent financial distress and constitutional limits. He strikes a tone of gratitude and prudence, arguing that the United States can safeguard liberty best by maintaining concord at home, neutrality abroad, sound finances, and a steady program of national defense and internal improvement within constitutional bounds.

Foreign Relations and Territorial Settlements

Monroe highlights a broadly pacific international landscape. Relations with Great Britain had improved, marked by boundary arrangements and demilitarization measures that reduced tensions along the northern frontier. With Spain, the cession of Florida and the settlement of a western boundary removed a persistent source of friction and insecurity. He points to amicable ties with other European powers and reiterates a policy of impartial neutrality amid their rivalries. Observing the upheavals in Spanish America, he expresses sympathy for liberty and orderly self-government while maintaining that U.S. recognition must proceed cautiously and in harmony with law and national interest. He stresses the nation’s commitment to suppressing the transatlantic slave trade and to cooperating, as far as policy and jurisdiction allow, with other powers in that humane endeavor.

Finance, Commerce, and the Aftermath of Panic

Acknowledging the severe dislocations that followed the financial panic of 1819, Monroe argues that the underlying resources and enterprise of the country remain strong. Public revenue is sufficient to meet ordinary expenditures and reduce the national debt, a goal he treats as a cornerstone of republican virtue and future security. He cautions against speculative excesses and unstable credit, urging a return to steady habits in banking and trade. Protective measures for domestic industry are discussed in the language of balance: the government should secure fair conditions for American labor and capital without undermining general prosperity or inviting sectional jealousy.

Defense and Internal Improvements

The address reaffirms the postwar “system of defense.” Monroe calls for fortifying key harbors, sustaining a modest but capable Navy to protect commerce and uphold national honor, and maintaining a well-disciplined Army and militia sufficient for emergencies. He praises the national military academy and domestic manufacture of munitions as safeguards of independence. On internal improvements, roads, canals, and related infrastructure, he favors a comprehensive national effort but underscores that the Constitution’s grant of power is doubtful in this sphere. He recommends a constitutional amendment to authorize a uniform plan, administered with equity among the states, so that vital works bind the Union together without overstepping legal limits.

Union, Constitution, and the Missouri Question

Monroe addresses the agitation surrounding the extension of slavery into new territories and the debates that culminated in the Missouri Compromise. He credits the spirit of accommodation for averting a rupture and urges a renewed commitment to the Union’s harmony, the equal rights of states, and strict fidelity to constitutional arrangements. He warns against sectional or geographical parties and reminds citizens that liberty and strength depend upon mutual forbearance and the supremacy of law.

Public Lands, Native Policy, and Civic Purpose

Public lands are presented as both a resource for revenue and a trust for settlement, education, and improvement. Monroe advocates humane and just dealings with Native American nations, promoting peace, gradual advancement in agriculture and education, and the fulfillment of treaty obligations, while also anticipating expanding settlement under legal protections.

Closing Pledge

Monroe concludes with a vow to execute the laws impartially, to preserve peace, to reduce the debt, and to develop the nation’s defenses and internal communications in a manner consistent with the Constitution. The guiding promise is national unity: a prosperous, self-reliant republic, cautious in power yet confident in purpose, secured by public credit, equal justice, and a common devotion to the Union.