The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-09
DOMESTIC.
From coiwss Weekly Register.
SKETCH OF THE PUBLIC CHARACTER OF
JAMES ISOM

Mr.. James Madison is native Of the
county of Orange, in the state of Virginia.
His family, in all its branches, are respecta-
BILE, opulent and independent. His father.
colonel ]. Madison, was Il man of great res
probability 4; he provided handsomely for Il
large family, and to Mr.. Madison, his old
est son, he gave considerable estate, inclu-
ding his family seat.
MIR. Madison completed his education at
Princeton College; where he was so much
distinguished for his genius, application, ac-
quircments and amiabe qualities, that he
possessed the esteem and respect of the pre-
sident, professors and students of that SEMI
nary, III as high a degree as any young man
ever did.
Mr.. b7ddison's first appearance in public
life, was in the year 1875. He was elected
IN the spring OF that year a member of the
convention OF Virginia for his native county
BY that convention, the present government
of Virginia was formed, and the delegates
of Virginia were instructed in the month of
May of that year, to vote i'll Congress for a
Declaration of Independence. Mr.. Madison,
1t Is said, took no part in the business of that
assembly. owing to his extreme diffidcnce
he was soon afterwards appointed men,
Der OF the Executive Council CT Virginia, &
was delegated to represent that Common
wealth in the Congress which sat in the year
1779. During all this time it Is not known
that MIR. Madison ever made a public dis
play of his abilities, and it is presumed he
owed his advancement to the strong pledge
that was made by some of our most distIn-
guished citizens for his talents. Of that
number, MIR. Jefferson is believed to have
been the first to distinguish and the most ac-
tive to bring into his country's service, the
superior mind of Mr.. Madison, whose diff
denCe and backwardness were such, that it
is possible his services might have been lost
to the nation, if the utmost efforts had not
been made to draw him into the active exer-
else of his powers. 1t is believed by gem
tleman who knew Mr.. Madison well, when
he first went to Congress, that he would not
In that body, small as it was, have been a
bic to conquer his extreme embarrassment,
II 1t had not been tor the great pressure a
rising from the Importance OF the crisis, and
his being sometimes associated with men
who could not, without his aid. sustain the
common burthen From their first acauain-
lance to this moment, it is believed there has
subsisted between Mr.. Jefferson and Mr. Ma
olson the utmost intimacy and confidence,
founded upon mutual esteem and respect.
Mr. Madison continued in Congress until
the latter part OF the year 1888 when he
became ineligible under the confederation,
which limited the service of member of
the Virginia Assembly. From the circum-
stance of Mr.. Madison's having been educa-
ted out of the state, and his long service in
Congress, when he took his seat in the Vir-
ginia Assembly, he found himself almost
stranger: But the very high reputation he
had acquired in Congress, gave him place
in the confidence of those who did not know
his person. The period was deeply interest
ing. 1t began then to be understood that the
union OF the states must be lost, or the GO
vernment new modelled. In that session, Mr..
Madison made some efforts to give to Con-
gress, resources to comply with the engage
nents of the nation. Iothe state, the time
was peculiarly important. The revisal of
their body of laws, SO as to make them con-
form to republican principles, had been re-
ferred to commissioners, had been reported
to the legislature four years before, and had
remained Enacted on. That 0rk was now
taken up, and was carried through principal
iy by the efforts Of Mr.. Madison And in
particular, the bill for religious freedom,
which made part of that work, was in
debted mainly to his able and Jealous advo-
cation, for its passage without any retrench-
ment Of its liberal principles. Through all
the interesting scenes of that session, Mr..
Madison displayed such talents, integrity and
patriotism, that at the end of that year there
was no,man who stood higher in the conf
dence and affections of all who knew him.
In 1885 he was reelected TO the Virginia
Assembly. During the session of that year
he proposed and carried through that body a
Recommendation that deputies should meet
from all the states, at Annapolis, for the pur-
pose of making some change in the confede-
ration. 1t is known that this effort did not
produce all the good effect expected from it !;
but it is likewise known, that the recommen-
dation of that meeting caused the convocati-
ON of the convention at Philadelphia, that
gave US our present constitution. Mr.. Madi-
son was, it is believed, elceted member of
that convention oy the unanimous vote ofthe
Legislature. 1t is said, in that body there
was no member more distinguished for wis
dom and love Of country. About the same
time Mr.. Madison was reelected member
of the old Congress. The evidence of the
very able support given by him to this consti-
tuition is in print: Upon that subject the rea-
der is referred to the Debates in the Virginia
Convention. Mr.. Madison was elected a
member of the first House of Representa-
tives that convened under the constitution.
His services in that body, during the eight
years Of the administration of GeHcral Wash
ington are known to all. For several years
before the establishment of this government
and until the commencement OF the war be-
tween France and England, there was no
man in America in whom Cen Washington
coDfded more than in Mr.. Madison ; and if