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On June 1, 1819, President Monroe surprised Huntsville, Alabama citizens with a visit

This story can also be found in the book Alabama Footprints: Immigrants

President Monroe’s Surprise Visit To Huntsville

“Flurry and excitement” greeted President Monroe and two of his cabinet officers as they rode on horse-back, and unannounced, into the small town of Huntsville, Alabama on Tuesday, June 1, 1819. Huntsville was designated by Congress as a meeting place for the Constitutional Convention, and the small village gained national recognition for leadership in all matters pertaining to the commercial, governmental and political life of the Alabama Territory.

President James Monroe, L.L.D., President of the United States painted by C.B. King engraved by Goodman & Piggot. Dec. 1817 (Library of Congress)

Surprised by the impromptu visit by the president, Clement Comer Clay, immediately led a delegation of distinguished citizens to call upon President Monroe at the Huntsville Inn and to extend him a formal welcome from the town. The Inn, “a three-story brick building erected on the east side of the square before 1817, managed to prepare, with only a few hours notice, a seated dinner for 100 community leaders to honor the President of the United States.”1

President Monroe had been inaugurated only a few months when, on the 2nd of June 1817, he started from Baltimore upon a tour of the North and West, which lasted three and a half months. Two years later he made a tour of the South, and reaching Augusta, Georgia, turned westward, passing Huntsville, Nashville, Louisville and Lexington. His declared objective was to “examine the situation of the fortifications, but these journeys also served the purpose of softening party asperities, and of bringing the Chief Magistrate of the Nation face to face with the yeomanry of the country, thereby stimulating a patriotic spirit and also popularizing his administration.”

Here is an exact transcription of the newspaper article about President Monroe’s visit from the St. Stephens Halcyon, June 28, 1819, which had been reprinted from the Alabama Republican, Huntsville, Saturday, June 5, 1819.

Clement Comer Clay portrait, eighth governor of Alabama (1789-1866) (Alabama Department of Archives and History)

Arrival of the President

On Tuesday last the President of the United States with Mr. Governor his private Secretary and Lieut. Monroe of the Army, very unexpectedly arrived in Huntsville, and put up at the Inn. No intimation of his intention to visit our town had been received by any individual in it; but the citizens solicitous to show their respect to the Chief Magistrate of the Union, appointed a committee to wait upon his Excellency and invite him to a public dinner on which occasion C. C. Clay, Esq., addressed him nearly in the following words:

Sir: In behalf of the citizens of Huntsville, we have the honor to wait upon your excellency, and to communicate the joy with which we hail the arrival of the Chief Magistrate of the nation, in our remote and humble village. Be assured, sir, we duly appreciate the motives which have prompted you to a repetition of the labors we have already seen you perform in the North, by your visit to the Southern portion of the United States. We are sensible of the great advantage of adding practical observation to that extensive information, which we have before seen so happily illustrated.

Permit us to congratulate you on the general tranquillity and prosperity which have prevailed, and on the valuable acquisition of territory which has been made, in our vicinity, under your enlightened administration. We assure you, that we contemplate with feelings of national pride the happy result of a policy founded in principle, and which has for its sole object the exaltation of our country. If, sir, your time and convenience will permit, we should be happy to give you some feeble testimony of our respect and affection, and to have the honor of your Excellency’s company at a public dinner, on to-morrow.

To which the President answered in substance, that, he had undertaken the task of visiting different portions of the United States, more particularly with a view of examining the situation of the fortifications and of selecting suitable sites to be put in a state of defence against foreign aggression, in the event of a future war, which he was happy to say, there was no immediate prospect of; that he conceived it the duty of the chief magistrate of the Union to acquaint himself with a knowledge of the interior country over which he presided, and as far as was practicable to ascertain the state of society, and of improvement in agriculture, manufactures, &c, and also to enquire into the condition of the Indian tribes which were dispersed through the western portion of the Union. In pursuance of these views he had made his former tour and now intended to continue as far West as his other official engagements would permit. He stated it was necessary for him to return to Washington by the 15th of July, when it was probable the Spanish treaty ceding the Floridas to the United States would be received, at which time his presence at the seat of government would be indispensable. He congratulated the committee, on the acquisition of the Floridas which he deemed so essential to the future security of this territory from Indian hostility in that quarter: and concluded by accepting the invitation to dinner.

On Wednesday at 4 o’clock, the President and suite. together with more than one hundred of the most respectable citizens of Madison County, sat down to a sumptuous entertainment prepared by Capt. Toby Jones, at which Col. LeRoy Pope acted as President, assisted by C C. Clay and Henry Minor. Esqrs., as Vice-Presidents. After the cloth was removed the following sentiments were drank, accompanied by the discharge of cannon, and appropriate songs.

TOASTS

  1. Our Country—She has proved that man is not incapable of self-government: may her example have its influence throughout the world.
  2. The Constitution of the United States—A legitimate form of government, instituted by express compact, and supported by the affections of the people.
  3. The Memory of Washington.
  4. The Heroes and Sages of the Revolution—Many “have gone to the abodes of more than mortal freedom” the survivors will be sustained in their declining years by a grateful country.
  5. The Memories of Those Who Fell in the Late War—Then preserved the Independence their sites had won.
  6. Our Distinguished Guest—We rejoice that he lives to dispense the blessings which flow from the achievements in which he participated. His country will never forget the man whose life has been so successfully devoted to her service.

After this toast was drank, the President rose and returned thanks to the company for their kind expressions toward him.

  1. The 8th of January, 1815—As disgraceful to our enemy, as glorious to our country.
  2. Major Gen. Andrew Jackson—He knows his duty to his country, and performs it with energy and fidelity.
  3. General John Coffee—As long as we remember the 8th of January, we cannot forget the 23rd of Dec’r.
  4. Our Navy—Hercules in the cradle strangled the serpent.
  5. The Army of the United States—A specimen of our resources, when called forth by a necessary defence of our right.
  6. The Militia of the United States—Freemen, who defend their homes and firesides, will be invincible when their energies are directed by military science and discipline.
  7. The Late Treaty With Spain—It finishes the work begun by the acquisition of Louisiana.
  8. Agriculture, Commerce and Manufactures—The sources of national and individual prosperity.
  9. Education—A wise and liberal policy has laid the foundation on which it may flourish in our future State.
  10. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison—Their names are identified with the virtue and talents of their country.
  11. Franklin, Rittenhouse and Fulton—The science and arts of the civilized world will perpetuate their fame—man has not degenerated in the Western Hemisphere.
  12. The Memory of Lawrence—Let his last words be our motto in the hour of danger.
  13. The People of the Territories West of the Mississippi—When their numbers entitle them, may they be admitted into the Union, with no other restrictions, than those prescribed by the Constitution.
  14. The Friends of Freedom in South America—Struggling as we have done, may they become as we are.
  15. Our Fair Country Women—They feel the glow of patriotism in common with those who defend them.

By the President of the United States:

The Territory of Alabama—May her speedy admission into the Union advance her happiness, and augment the national strength and prosperity.

By the President of the day

John Adams, of Braintree—The firm and active patriot, during the struggle for our Independence.

By C. C. Clay, Esq:

Public Sentiment—The best shield of merit.

The company rose from the table about sunset, highly delighted with the entertainment they had received and the opportunity they had enjoyed of demonstrating their great regard and affection for Mr. Monroe who now appeared to them more like a plain citizen than the Chief Magistrate of a great nation. The unostentation manners of this truly great man are eminently calculated to endear him to everybody, and more particularly to those who had associated ideas of reverential fear, with human exaltation.

The President left this town on the ensuing day, 3rd inst., for Nashville, and was escorted by a number of respectable citizens several miles of his way; the whole company being on horse-back he conversed freely with those who were nearest him, and after exchanging the most cordial expressions of respect and good will separated from them, with but a faint prospect of ever meeting many of them again.

1Fisk, Sarah Huff, Early Huntsville: 1805-1825, The Huntsville Historical Review, Winter -Spring 2008

ALABAMA FOOTPRINTS Immigrants: Lost & Forgotten Stories (Volume 5)

ALABAMA FOOTPRINTS Immigrants includes some lost & forgotten stories of their experiences such as:

  • The Birth of Twickenham
  • Captain Slick – Fact or Fiction
  • Vine & Olive Company
  • The Death of Stooka
  • President Monroe’s Surprise Visit To Huntsville
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