Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-02-05
FROM CoLv1N's WEEKLY REc1srxt

from CoLTIN'S WEEKLY REGISTER.
SKETCH, of the PUBLIC CHARACTER of
JAMES MADISON.
MIR. JAMES MADISON is native ofthe
county of Ora"P-. in the state of Virginia.
His family in all its branches are respec-
table, opu,ent, and independent. His flter
colonel J Madison, was man Of great res
pectabili.v; he provided handsomely for :,
large family, and to Mr. Madison, MS old
est son, he gave a considerable estate, in
Guiding his family seat.
Nir. Madison completed his education ut
Princeton College; where he was so much
distinguished for his genius, application,
requirements, and aDiabie qualities, that
he possessed the esteem and respect OF the
president, professors, anr students of that
seminary, in as high degree, as any young
man ever did.
Mr.. MadisoD's first appearance in puhlie
NE was IN the year 1776. He WAS elected
IN the spring OF that year a me- nber OF the
convention of Virginia for HIS native coun-
w. Bythat Convention th> present govern
ment OF Virginia was formed, and the dele-
gates OF Virginia were instructed IN the
month ct May'Of- that year, to vote IN Con-
gress for Declaration of Independence.
Mr.. Madson,it is said, TOOK no T,ai't in the
business or that assembly, owing 10 his ex-
tremc diidencc. lie was soon afterwards
appointed 2 member OF the executive coun-
Gil o: Virginia, and continued a member of
that board until he was delegated 10 repre-
sent that commonwealth IN the Congress
which sat In the year I7-9. During all
this time it is not known that MIR Madison
ever made public display of his abilities,
and 1t is presumed he owed his advance
fi,ssc y.
by some OF our most distinguished citizens
for his talents. Ofthat number. MIR lcfftr-
son IS believed to have been the first to dis
tinguish and tie most active - bring into
his couEtry's service the superior mind Of
Mr.. Madison, whose diffidenco and back
wardness were such. thet it is possible his
services might have been lost to the nation,
II the ujm ST efforts had not been made to
draw him into tho active exercise of his
powers Il is believed by gentleman who
Knew MIR. Madison well when he first went
to Congress, that he would not IN that body,
small as II was, have been able to conquer
MS extreme embarrassment, II it had MT
Deen Tor the great prcsSutS arising from tic
importance Of the crisis, and his being
sometimes associated with men who could
not, without his aid, sustain TIE common
burthen. From their first acquaintance TO
this moment, it is believed there has sui
sisted between Mr. Jefferson and Mr.. Ma
dison the utmost intimacy and confidence,
founded upon mutual esteem and respect.
MIR. Madison continued in Congress un-
I'll the latter part of the year 1888, when
Inc became Ineligible under the confedera-
ton, which limited the service ola member
Of the Virginia assembly From tie cir
cumstance Of Mr.. Madison's having been
educated out oil the state, and his long SER
vice IN Congress, when nc took his seat in
the Virginia assembly he found himself al
most strauger: Bu the very high rcputa-
ton he had acquired in Congress, gave him
place in the confidence Of those who did
not know his person The period was deep
~ Interesting Il began ihen tn be UNDER
stood that tue union OF the states must be
lost, or the government new modelled. In
that session Mr.. Madison made some cf-
forts 20 give to Congress resources to com .
ply with the engagements Of the nation.
10 The state the time was peculiarly i'm
portant. The revis3l Of their body oflaws,
so as 20 make them conform 70 republican
principles, had been referred to commissi-
oners, bad been reported to the legislature
four ycare before, and bad remained unaot.
ed on. That work was now taken up, and
was carried through principally hy the CT
forts q MIR. Madison. And in particular
the bill for religious freedom, which made