The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-07-15
From the albany Resister,]
TRIBUTE TO MADISON

After the constitution had got into operation
Mr.. Madison was elected member of Congress
from Virginia.-Public business was nj that time
m,ltifarious. Mr.. Madison l.boured hard and
necessarily, but not always with success.-At
the time the funding system was pending, he
introduced motion providing that one half the
! Sums due each individual should revert to the o.
riginl holder, and the other half to the then
holder. But this motion, notwithstanding the
humane intentions of the mover, and its being
supported by Mr. Madison himself. and the pa
triotc Cen Jackson of Georgia, negatived.
This public act of Mr.. Madison's, were it the
only one of his life, is sufficient to immortaiize
him. Knowingtha an army devoted to the cause
| eft liberty, had endured through seven years
war, hunger, cold and almost famine, with
scarcely murmur; and relying for remunera
.:cm SCI. services, ;ii the ttiit vi tie Country HAD
borne their hard fate with composure, his breast
could not rest at case without an effort in their
behalf
Mr.. Madison easily foresaw that the funding
system, when adopted, would raise public secu-
rites to par-he knew also, that not one iifteth
part OF those securities then held by the o.
riginai proprietors, but had been battered for u
song, and were now in the hands of unprincipicd
spectators. Those spectators had not, IN
average. paid more than fifty cents on the pound
Had Mr.. MS motion been adopted, tue specula-
tors would have realized upwards of 100 per cent.
and the original holders would, after :, lapse of
Its adoption would have exemplifed just go
vernment and grateful country. i would be
sorry to accuse, but fear, corruption had alrea-
dy crcpt-nay, had gained an ascendancy in the
walls ot the American senate. The surrniSe was,
that there were too many holders of public secu-
rites in the American legislature, and therefore
Mr.. Madison's motion was lost. 1t will ofcourse
be inferred, that Mr. Madison is both i states
man and philanthropist.
The .follo7sing extTact tionr r. M. .1olinson's
Circular to his constituents Of Kentucky, pre-
sents in one paint Of vie1U the military means,
rvhich svere provided BY the last session Of the
Congress Of the United States
" In this situation have determined to put
our country in state Of defence, and take every
| precautionary measure consistent with re-
sources, to support your rights and your honor
We have passed law 10 raise a military force oil
six thousand men, to fortify vulnerable points
on the frontier against the savages, and to serve
rs rallying points in case OF war-to perform gar
T. son duty, and prevent Orleans and other expo
| sed places from FILLING into the hands of a mari
time foe. The President is authorized to hold in
readiness 100000 militia, 10 be called out, should
they be wanting. Our sea coast now extends
| from Orleans to Main. And for the fertilization
of ourports and hsrbours, Congress has appro.
priated one million Of dollars, and eight hundred
thousand dollars to builcone hundred and eighty
eight Gun Boats, in addition to sixty eight Urea.
| dy built and most of them in seryicc--ma kinG in
all, two hundred and hfty-sx besides twenty
two vessels belonging to the United States, w
! ten frigatcs, one ship, four briggs, three schoo-
neTs and four isetches, ylng III tic aggreg gate
| five hundred and thirty three guns. And the
| U"tcd States nave purchased military stores,
such as arms, powder, lead, cannon, cannon
| balls, salt-petre, &c. sufficient to defend our.
selves, and to carry on three years active war
|