The Ladies of the White House; Or, in the Home of the Presidents: Being a Complete History of the Social and Domestic Lives of the Presidents from Washington to the Present Time—1789–1881Holloway, Laura C. (Laura Carter)
History
The Ladies of the White House; Or, in the Home of the Presidents: Being a Complete History of the Social and Domestic Lives of the Presidents from Washington to the Present Time—1789–1881
Holloway, Laura C. (Laura Carter)
Presidents -- United States -- Biography; Presidents' spouses -- United States -- Biography
The novel and interesting features of the case, the venerable relict of
one of the founders of the Republic coming before the country with a
manuscript precious in its relation to its national destiny, were such
that the proposition was not to be met with a cold appreciation of
merits, or with nice questions of Congressional power. It was this
feeling also which induced Congress to pass a subsequent act, giving to
Mrs. Madison the honorary privilege of a copyright in foreign countries.
The work is a record of the Debates in the congress of the convention
during the years 1782–1787.
Congress also conferred the franking privilege upon Mrs. Madison, and
voted her a seat upon the floor of the Senate.
The last twelve years of Mrs. Madison’s life were spent in Washington,
where she mingled in the society of the young and happy, as well as the
aged and recluse. Many remember her dignified bearing, and gentle, kind
manner in her old age, and it was considered a pleasure to be a guest
where she was to be present. On New Year’s and Fourth of July, she held
public receptions, and the throng of visitors was equal to that which
assembled at the President’s house. She took up her residence in
Washington in 1837, in the house in which she died. This house on the
southeast corner of H. street North and Madison Place was built by
President Madison in 1819; after her death it was purchased by Captain
Wilkes and by him enlarged. She died on the 12th of July, 1849, at age
of eighty-two years. Her funeral, which was attended by a large
concourse of people, took place on the 16th, from St. John’s Episcopal
Church, and the interment took place at Montpelier. The grave is near by
that of her husband’s, over which latter a noble monument stands. The
old homestead has passed into other hands, but it will ever be
associated with the illustrious man who gave it name and fame, and the
fact that it is the last resting-place of the fourth President of the
United States, and of his wife, will ever hallow it in the hearts of
reverent Americans.
V.
ELIZABETH K. MONROE.
The era in which Mrs. Monroe lived was the most eventful in the history
of nations, and her record is of interest and value, in a twofold
degree. The women who stamp the influence of their virtues on a time of
public excitement and wonderful changes, bear in their natures strength
of character worthy of emulation; and they become the benefactors of
succeeding ages, as they were the blessings of their own. The memorials
of such should be familiar to the children of America, who under the
genius of Republican institutions, are the inheritors of, and successors
to, their fame and positions. No daughter of Columbia should be ignorant
of the history and experiences of their national ancestors, whose lives
were beautiful in their simplicity, and rich in varied experiences.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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