#tiny-robespierre

I did a presentation on him here. 

James Monroe never left exactly a written account of his opinions of William Short. For Monroe, however, it took a lot of Monroe to even hold a grudge against another person let alone hate them. 

William Short and James Monroe’s first encounter can be pin-pointed to sometime in the summer or fall of 1775. Monroe was sixteen years old and just beginning his freshman year of College of William & Mary. William Short was fifteen and he was also entering the freshman class. It seems highly unlikely that there was not a single meeting or conversation between considering the small class of only about twenty to forty students. By February of 1775, Monroe had dropped out of the College and enlisted in the army at the age of only seventeen, Short, on the other hand, never had many military duty of any sort and remained at the College until 1779 when he finally graduated. 

By 1780 when Monroe’s military career winded down and he remained by as Thomas Jefferson’s secretary, he began re-taking courses at the college. Jefferson took Monroe on as one of his few pupils in studying law, along with his life-long friend John Mercer and William Short who had just graduated the year prior. Both men became rather intimate with Jefferson, so much so Jefferson became a father figure to both of them (Jefferson once even called William Short his “adopted son). After passing the BAR, both young men became lawyers in Virginia. Like Monroe, Short also took frequent trips to Monticello and became close with Martha Jefferson (Monroe once said to Patsy Jefferson, he thought of Martha as a mother to him). By 1784, Monroe was serving in the Continental Congress and apparently received a few visits from William Short:

“The Subject had been hinted to me [William Short] the Week before by a Friend in Annapolis. He told me he should bring on the Question, that he was anxious about it on Account of its Moment to the Southern Interest, which he was convinced could be by no Body so well consulted for as by you. He added as his Success in this Scheme was yet doubtful, he should not have mentioned it (and desired me to be silent), but that he thought he owed it to me to give me timely Information, as he was sure if any Body went it would be you, if you could be prevailed on.”

The same year, on a separate ships, Short accompanied Jefferson to Paris to serve as his secretary to the new Ambassador of France. Before Jefferson had left, Monroe and Madison created a set of codes used in their correspondence in case it fell into the wrong hands, in Paris, Jefferson gave the responsibility of cracking these coded messages from Monroe to William Short. In all of his letter to Jefferson at the time, Monroe refers to Short as “My friend short” and always wished for Jefferson to relay messages to Short, mostly begging him to write to him and pardoning his own sloth at not writing. 

“Pray apologize for me to Short. Tell him I will write a letter which shall have retrospect to what I should have said in this and shall also [add?] whatever shall intervene.”

However, something that would gather smoke later in life was that Jefferson never let Short know of Monroe’s urgent wish for him to write to him, hence why Short did not write to his college friend. Such as this written on July 27th, 1787:

“Where is Short? How is he. Remember me to him.”

In every letter it is seen of Monroe’s to Jefferson around the time in France it always end with “Send my regards to Mr. Short”. In a more brought up letter of Jefferson’s he wrote of how his dream was to have Madison and Monroe’s land border his, in that letter thought it is never mentioned in biographies: Jefferson said Monroe, Madison and Short, not just Monroe and Madison. To this Monroe replied:

“I rejoice to hear that Short is to be our neighbour.”

After Jefferson returned to the United States in 1789, Short stayed on in Europe serving as the chargé d'affaires. In 1794, James Monroe was appointed Ambassador to France and arrived in the first days of August. Besides his family, with him with a Skipwith, one of William Short’s cousins who was to serve as his secretary. Short was a frequent visitor and it had been exactly ten years since that had last set eyes on one another. Short in a letter wrote that he considered Monroe to be “honest” and “kind”. However, both men shared different views on the French Revolution, Monroe was a little more liberal to the issue while Short was conservative and deeply disturbed by the blood shed he witnessed around him. By 1797 when Monroe was set to return, Short entrusted him with letters he wrote to Thomas Jefferson:

“If I resume my pen once more to address you from this side of the Atlantic it is more that I may not let Colo. Monroe go without carrying some sign of life from me, than from any hope I retain of being able to add by it either to your instruction or amusement.”

It was not long before Monroe was back in Europe in 1802 to serve once again as Ambassador to France but even before, Short would direct his messages to Monroe, for he knew how busy and lost Jefferson’s correspondence once and knew Monroe saw him frequently enough to hand him the letters

“Jas. Monroe’s best respects to Mr. Jefferson. He has the pleasure to send him a letter from Mr. Short with two pamphlets.”

After arriving in Paris, after only about two years, Monroe was then appointed Ambassador to Spain and he chalked that up to a terrible experience. Short would let Jefferson know of the current situations. "Monroe I suppose is now at Madrid or on his way…” Short said of Monroe “he is the person to aim at, if success is desired…” however, Short mentioned that Monroe was a tiny bit impulsive “to those who know [Monroe] well presents a lever by which he may be acted on as completely as…a child”. Regarding Monroe’s humiliating recall from France in 1797, “He has once had the appearance of being in disgrace—but it was in fact only a pouting fit & all on his side” he believes Monroe was a bit petty, “& he was then so completely the master that he could have done whatever he should have thought worth his while, although there were some things done against his will by surprize”, in aspects he thought Monroe had been deceived. “Whilst I was in that Country [Short had visited Virginia briefly in 1802] he held the Department of Foreign affairs, but I know that he has been as influential since; as then when he governed absolutely all the Departments” through it all, Short still believed Monroe was the most capable of his position and that he was a hard worker:

“I had from peculiar circumstances which were related at the time…He has strong passions & easily acted on…he was brought to confide himself to me as much perhaps as any man could do in the delicate case of negotiating a peace with France without the participation of England, where all his fears of discovery were alive, but where his irritation against England was worked up still higher…& he may be assured that whatever he consents to he will either persuade or force the Court to subscribe—I state this from a supposition that there has been no revolution in the real situation of the P. of P. whatever the apparent one may be…“

A few items gathered is that Monroe brought himself to confide in Short over certain issues and submitted his impulsion to the anxiety of negotiating with England and France without letting the other country know. “I think Monroe may obtain a great deal of him by getting the right side of him” Through it all, Short finished his report on Monroe with "Monroe will be able to judge on the spot” and confirmed he was a man of strong judgement. 

“I have postponed from day to day answering your kind & friendly letter of the 15th. because I expected every day would fix the point of Monroes return or stay. The papers now tell us he has really taken leave—of course his return certain.—This would in some degree diminish my original sin of Virginianism—which I suppose would, if necessary, be objected, by those who are fearful or not friendly; notwithstanding my present domicil &c. that I might state as washing it off.”

Short, growing impatient over his tame and perfect diplomatic record not being utilized, was angry over not received the foreign positions he wished to achieve. Knowing James Madison wouldn’t be any better than Thomas Jefferson in regards to appointed into into these positions, when Short heard that Monroe was nominated a candidate against Madison for disagreements in foreign affairs and policy (which Monroe had never consented to and soon dropped out, embarrassed his name had been put in), Short immediately jumped at the chance to support Monroe over Madison:

“…it is believed at Paris that Mr Monroe is to be your successor…a hope that from his knowlege of the present situation of that Country, & of me, he will take a different view of the advantages I should have there, from what has been hitherto done.”

Above he presents his opinions of why he supported Monroe over Madison after inquiry from Jefferson in a letter of 1807. “I should add that this is a person who is particularly partial to me, but who has much at heart a good understanding between the two countries.” Monroe was not too close to him, however, he admitted his sound soul and wish to do what is right for the benefit of others. “I am unacquainted…with the present relative situation of this country & France; but of this I am certain, & I think you will agree with me, that from the character of Bonaparte—his power—his multifarious & gigantic views, there never was a moment when it could be more important for the U.S. to have near him a vidette acquainted with all the byepaths, who would thus, if he could not avert an impending danger, be able to discover it sooner & give the earliest information of the necessity of preparing for it.” Short also cites Napoleon’s friendship and acquaintance with Monroe as an important factor, “I speak of this in our general relations with him, & without regard to the particular affair of Florida”, Short did not care about Monroe not gaining Florida in the Louisiana Purchase. ”…his most partial friends can wish, & surely I am not disposed to depreciate them, yet he must be there morally sound & muet and moreover…to a certain degree; so as that he cannot possibly but by chance see any thing until it shall have burst out to light & become visible to all—of course when the danger is more pressing & the remedy more difficult.“

In summary, William Short heard James Monroe might be the next president of the United States and welcomed him for the fact that he might gain the diplomatic positions that James Madison took from him. He spoke of Monroe’s in depth diplomatic experience and his knowledge of Monroe’s extensive knowledge of both England and France. Short added later:

“This circumstance & the return of Monroe, which does away the objection of Virginianism, tell me that this is the most favorable, if not the only moment for my wishes. If I had not the prospect of public advantage as well as my own gratification in view, I really would not ask this of you—but as my gratification would be real, so my gratitude would be sincere.”

He professed a sort of wish that Monroe would in fact become president upon his return and asked Jefferson to throw his support behind Monroe instead of Madison for the fourth president of the United States. He then added farther:

“Mr Monroe I see is at Washington. I shall write to congratulate him & enquire how long he will remain there, as I shall have no other opportunity of seeing him. The reception he has met with at Richmond gives pleasure here to those whom I have heard speak of it—as they think it will increase his chance for the chair of government—It is said the Federal interest will be for him throughout the Union—If this be well established, I should suppose it would injure him with the great majority of the country.”

Since Monroe had moved homes, Short never got the chance to write to him and wrote to Jefferson years later with “Where does Monroe live?” 1808, President Jefferson nominated Short to become the first minister to Russia, During the presidency of Madison, who won, much to Short’s dismay, just after Short arrived in France to engage in talks with the Russian ambassador to France, the Senate refused to send anybody to Russia because Madison went back on that Jefferson as applied. Owing to Monroe’s friendship with Madison, Short began to darken his view of Monroe, whom did not have anything to do with the issue. 

Something would occur by 1813 which would apply a damper on their relationship for a few years. A land dispute occurred in which Monroe accidentally sold land Short did not wish to acquire to him. Short wished to have his money back but Monroe was busy in the capital serving as both Secretary of State and Secretary of War to send him the money (he was already in debt from Congress not paying him what he had earned in many years of service). Short grew a little angrier at him because Short was also in debt with a man who Monroe needed to pay but as said before, he was caught up at the moment which delayed the set of payments. 

Jefferson confronted the issue in an attempt to discontinue the discontent between the two men. Unlike Short, Monroe never uttered or wrote a single ill word of Short and even during the darker part of their friendship considered them both to “have a sincere friendship”. Monroe was “happy” that Jefferson was trying “to settle [the] affair between us, since it would have given content to all parties.” Monroe soon found time to leave the money with another person in Virginia to delivered it to Short. During 

During when Monroe was serving as both Secretaries under Madison, Short found Monroe too speedy and thought he needed to slow down his work and quit one of the secretary positions. By 1815 with James Monroe’s almost certain election to the presidency, Short, still holding a bit of disdain towards the entirety of the Madison Administration wrote of the possible Monroe presidency to Jefferson:

“For my part I hope now our destiny will be a happy one, whoever may be the President, & feeling myself personally dead as to all such matters I take very little interest in them.”

During the first months of 1817 when Monroe was elected, Short wrote that "Monroe seems to have now his hands full of other matters.” Illustrating that Monroe’s “voyage…is producing a favorable effect as to himself & is doing away the virulence of party spirit.” He compliments “His kind & unassuming demeanor, with those who make the first advances to him” even those who were against the Madison Administration “And so prone are men, even the fullest blooded Republicans, to idolatry” he spoke that Monroe would “meet with crowds every where not only disposed to make the first advances, but to worship if he pleases, as long as he shall present himself clothed with the purple.” He was headed to Boston where he did not doubt the largest celebrations would be made, seeing as the state of Massachusetts voted primarily for Monroe, even both John and John Quincy Adams. He continued on:

“I am pleased with the cordial manner in which he has been recieved every where—first because I am glad to see a base party spirit subsiding, & secondly because I have great good will towards Monroe.”

Short had revived his friendship and good will for James Monroe. 

“…I did not see him here; & I was sorry for it. When I went to wait on him at his lodgings he was out; & I left my card.“

William Short and his college friend would collaborate on two more things in their lives. Until the 1800s, Short was a strong abolitionist and freed all of the slaves he got from his father. Later he favored colonization as the best way to help blacks, protect slave owners, and thwarted the proponents of a hasty abolition. He gave $10,000 to the American Colonization Society in his will, and frequently made donations of which Monroe was one of the heads.

The second was their work on the University of Virginia, a little before Monroe’s election. 

The last thing Short wrote ever of Monroe celebrates “The long experience of public affairs which Monroe has had” believing he had grown as a person since their meetings in Paris in the early 1800s, that it “must have matured his judgment” and said Monroe’s “heart was always good” he was ready to support that Monroe Administration through it all, thinking Monroe began “his administration under most favorable auspices”. Finally: