Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-25
Dtrglnla Irgua.
RIG II NJ o n d /:
FRIDAY, MARcH Is, 1sos.


not too vague and uninteigihle (, be reduced
10 any thing definite, may be arranged under
the following general heads: That ofhaving
originally been tainted with aristccr-tic prinoi-
pies; 9. OF being at present, a luke warm or
neutrality-suspicious. 5. OF wanting fr,nness
4. or having proposed compromise with the
Taco claimants; ) Of iii-treating MIR 1T,n-
roe while engaged in his embassies abroad;
,s,nd g. Of ncglccting his duty when certain
| ambassador from This country was accused of
odious crirninalitv.-To each of these charges
we will endcavor to give concise and salts
factory answer.
As to the first, we presume it will not be
denied that long before the Constitution of the
United States WAS -iramed, Mr.. Madison. was
universally considered true patriot and sin.
cere friend of liberty. At that time, the dis.
tinction, which has since arisen, between tc-
deraiiSis and republicans was Unknown but he
| was always known to be an excellent xpkig. and
| ardenty opposed 10 all tories and enemies of
this country. 1t is true chat his services du-
ring the American revolution were not in the
field, but in the cabinet Yet, surely, this is
no cause OF reproach because Gas we have
heretofore said) could do every
thing, and wise Legislators were rs necessary
| to the United States as brave soldiers and
| skilful generals. In the old Congress, among
| that bright constellation of statesmen, whose
wisdom guided America in the most perious
and difficult times, the name of TGnies Nd
| dison Shone conspicuous He cxerted himself
there with much fidelity to the public good,
! as Washington himself did, III the more glorious
but not more useful sphere i'll which he moved
! 1t IS also true that he never was violent or
passionate politician. Naturally modest and diff
hdent; as true merit generally is; free from
all pride and arrogance; perceiving, Gas gpise
men always do,) his own deficiencies and
more anxious to improve himself than to tri-
umph over the failings of others, he has always
| endeavored rather TO excel aud convince, than
to treat with acrimony those who opposed him :
His pure intelligence has always been engaged
| IN honest researches after Truth and this
! has naturally given his conduct that sedate APP
pearance of GOODNESS so peculiarly abhorrent
to the habits and feelings of such men as f.4lk-
land, Coron, land their coadjutors the seven.
teen protesters Naughty overbearing, intem-
perate and intolerant, the Chist, at any rate of
this small band, perceives in the mild and mo-
dest Madison striking contrast and continual
reproach to himself-Hinic lille iGchryme.
From this, among other causes, we con-
ceive, arises the antipathy which he dis
plays towards him; in which his humble
associates blindly follow their domineering
and supercilious leader.
After the independence of the u. States
had been established, and peace restored,
we find the genius of Madison active in IRE
serving that liberty, which he had assist
ed in obtaining. The feeble government of
the confederation being found to be made
quate for that purpose, he was the first
who proposed the plan of more. intimate
union among the states, and led the way
to the establishment of the present consti-
tuition. When we consider that union IS
the rock of our political salvation that
the instrument, which MAY with Justice
D be chiefly attributed to MIR Madison, is,
: tho imperfect, the best constitution that
, ever was devised by human wisdom, we
may ask with confidence that the answer
will be favorable TO his cause) in what res
gpect did the part which he took IN that
!, transaction prove that his principles were
monarchical or aristocratic We grant
y there are parts Of the Constitution to which
we object. The most prominent of these
are the extensive patronage yested in the
President, the Improperly o. making the
Senate of the United States court for the
trial of impeachments, and the want OF
responsibility in the Senators and Judges.
But all sciences are frogresSUe and all
the necessary improvements can seldom be
discovered, or made, by the first inventors.
The wonder is not, that the FEDERAL consti-
tuition FRAMED as it was by the representa-
tives of so many states, and With SO many
Earring opinions and int rests to reconcile
and uniteJ should have been defective but
that it should have approached so nearly
to perfection. It's moss admirable feature
is its providing an easy and peaceful me-
thod for its own amendment aud it must
be observed that Mr.. Madison, its founder
and supporter, was so far from being OPP
posed to amendments las his enemies pre-
tend,) that, shortly after its adoption, he
himself proposed and engrafted upon it
twelve most excellent and salutlry amend
ments.
But it is said that he associated with HA-
MILTON in writing the letters OF I'nbHus,
after knowing, (from his prop, sitors in Il e
lconvention,) his monarchcal principles and
that the numbers most hostile to liberty
were written by himself! The latter allega-
tion is heavy charge, indeed, ifWUe. But
we wish that Faikknad. who asserts this, had con-
descended TO let us know which ofthc mmbcrs
of Publius are acknowledged to be of Mr..
Madison's composition TO enable us to judge
ourselves, whether, in fact, they contain
g the most Objectionable e%positions Of that
instrument. Until this is done, we can
not but say that the accusation is too dark
and indefinite to be understood or answer
ed. As to his permitting Hamilton to be
his associate, tho he detested his .nonar-
chcal project it should be recoliected,
that, when the letters of Publius we're
written, the fate Of the Constitution was
very uncertain, and the utmost exertions