ted to the assembly of Virginia from the county of
King George, and was appointed by that body, although but twenty-three
years of age, a member of the executive council. In 1783 he was chosen a
delegate to congress for a period of three years, and took his seat on
December 13th. Convinced that it was impossible to govern the people
under the old articles of confederation, he advocated an extension of
the powers of congress, and in 1785 moved to invest in that body power
to regulate the trade between the States.

The resolution was referred to a committee of which he was chairman, and
a report was made in favor of the measure. This led to the convention of
Annapolis, and the subsequent adoption of the Federal Constitution.
Monroe also exerted himself in devising a system for the settlement of
the public lands, and was appointed a member of the committee to decide
the boundary between Massachusetts and New York. He strongly opposed the
relinquishment of the right to navigate the Mississippi river as
demanded by Spain.

Once more we see the value of a proper and elevating marriage, as a
feature in the success of our great men. In 1785 he married a daughter
of Peter Kortright, a lady of refinement and culture. He, being
inelligible for the next three years according to the laws, settled in
Fredericksburg.

In 1787 he was re-elected to the general assembly, and in 1788 was
chosen a delegate to the Virginia convention to decide upon the adoption
of the Federal Constitution. He was one of the minority who opposed the
instrument as submitted, being apprehensive that without amendment it
would confer too much authority upon the general government. The course
of the minority in Congress was approved by the great mass of the
population of the Old Dominion, and Monroe was chosen United States
Senator in 1790. In the Senate he became a strong representative of the
anti-Federal party, and acted with it until his term expired in 1794.

In May of that year he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France,
and was received in Paris with enthusiastic demonstrations of respect.
His marked exhibition of sympathy with the French Republic displeased
the administration. John Jay had been sent to negotiate a treaty with
England, and the course pursued by Monroe was considered injudicious, as
tending to throw serious obstacles in the way of the proposed
negotiations. On the conclusion of the treaty his alleged failure to
present it in i