Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-04-05

'hu "a p'irg Of the Constitution and called 70 early
important stations nod.r it, ha, frbute better ia.
deed than have Civ, n, or am ab. 10 sive s.s,nea
cue 10 them from us. There wa. vet soo.ber. of I
whom mention IL to be made. 1, the Revolutionary
history oil The county, the name Of Chancellor Liy.
lnge'cn became early prominent He was member
OF mat Congrss. whier declared Independere,. am,
me.ue,. TOO, OF ne Committee which drew and re-
ported the immortal Declaration Al the neriod Of The
adoption OF the Con tiuon. he its 6sn TREND and
ao'e advocate lie wac a menbtr OF the s ate Con-
ven ion' ing one OF ibst hat of di.,ipg ui-bed and
sheu men, who represented this city In that BODY;
and threw he whole weight OF his lent, ard IN flu
epre mo The drnb'irI scale Of TIE Cons itl.i,n
Gentlemen, as connected with tho Constitution, you
nave also local recollcctions which must bind still, clo
ser TO your attachment and affection 1t commenced
s being, aud its blessings, here IL was in this CITY,
IN the midst Of friends, anxious hopeful and devoted
'a' ,he new Government started in its course. To us,
gentlemen, who younger, it has come down by ira
"'uon; but some around me old enough TO have wit
aessea and dli witness the interesting of the
nrst Inauguration. They remember wha voices of |
gratted patriotism, what sbotts of enthusiastic hope
what accIamations, rent the air-how many eyes
suffused with tears of ioy-how cordially each man
pressed the hand OF him who was next TO him. when
standing in the open air. in the centre of the c " in the
view OF assembled thousands the frat President
heard solemnly TO pronounce the words OF his official
oath, repeating them from the lips of Chancellor Lrv
INosroN. You then thought, gentlemen, that the
great work OF the revolution accomplished. You
then felt that you had Governmept-hat tho United
States were then, inieed, united Eve v benignant
star seemed TO shed its selectest influence on thai aus.
picious hour. Here wcro heroes of tho Revou ion
disciplined AMI schooicd in all the various fortunes OF
the country acting in various relations but all co
operating to the same great end the successful admin
lsration oil the new and untticd Constitution. And he
l-how shall speak of him?-he was AT tile head
who was already first in wsr-who was already first
In The hearts OF his countrymcn, and who was now
shown also, by tho unanimous suffrage o; the country,
first in peace.
Gentlemen, how g'orously bavo tho hopes then In
dulged, been fulfilled Whose expectation was then
so sanguine-I may also ask whose naei naon Then so
extravagan IA 10 forward and contemplate az pro-
bable the one half Of what has been accomp ished in
iorty years! Who among you go back 1889, and
and then beholding what they ere, can be ready
TO consent that the Constitu ion 81 the United States
shall now be weakened, n,alifed, or dishonoredl
Gen lemer, beole leave these PIE ,san, recoiec.
tons, fseI an irress ibe impu'ss Of sny 10 pay
tribute OF res; ect TO another disiingu, person
not indeed feiiow-ciizen Of your own. but associa
ed with those have s'ready mention ed, iu imporian
labors, and an early and nd.a,igable friend and advo
cate in the great cause OF the Consutu ion. Gentle
men, refer to MI Msdistn. am aware, gentlemen,
thst tribute OF regard IRON 10 him OF little i'm
portance but If il shall receive your appreciation and
sanction, il will become OF value. Mr. Madison, thanks
to- kind Providence, IL ye, among the living. and
there is certainly other individual living when
the ceuutry 50 much indebted Tor the blessings Of tho
Constitution. He ives ono of the Commissioners at
Annapolis. 10 1855 at The meeting, oil which have
alrc aJy spoken; meeting. which 10 the great credit
Of Virginia. had lis origin ia proc ling OF that ate
He was member OF the Convention OF 1887, and Of
that OF Virginia the following war. He was thus nj.
timaey acquainted with the whole prcgres. OF The for
nation, OF the Contribution, irem its very first STEP to
its finsl adoption. Ii ever hal the mean, OF uu-
dsrstsndng written instrument, MIR. Madison hiss the
means OF understanding the constitution. III be pos
sble to know what designed by it, he tell us.
II was in this City, that in conjunction with Mr.. Ham
l,on aid MIR. Jay, he wroto The numbers of the Fed
eras and it was in this City that he CONNIE ed his
brilliant career, under tie new Constitution having
been elected into ,hs House OF II representatives. of ,hs
fret Congrese. The recorded votes and debates OF
those times, show his active and Eff lent agency in
every important MEASURE Of that Congress. The re-
cessary orgauza of the Government, the arrange
ment OF the Departments, AMI especially the para
mount subject o. rsvenue engaged his al en,ou, and
shared bis Iabors. The legislative history OF the frs,
two three years OF the Government is lu Of inslruc
ton. il presents, in striking light, tbs evils ints,ded
to bs semeded by the Constitution, end the provisions
which were deemed essential to the remedy of those
evils. IL exhibits the Ccuniy, in the moment of il.
change, from weak and lid fined couisderscy of
States into general efficient, but still res raned s. lin
tied government shows the first working Of our peuc
liarsy stem, moved, as il then was. by master hands
Gentlemen, Tor one confess like t. dwell on TIL.
part Of our history. 1t s good Tor to be here. L.
good Tor us TO study the situation of the country at
this period 10 survey lis difficulty, look a, the con
duct Of It's public men, to how they struggle with
obstacles real aud formidable and how giorously hev
brought the Country out OF IFS state OF depression and
distress Truly, Gentlemen, these founders and fathers
OF the Constitution great men, and thoroug hiy
furnished for every good work. An that reaJng and
learning could do, all that talent and int ie could
do, and What perbap'i is still moresli that long *
peHence IN difficult aud troubled times, and deep and
intimate practical Knowledge OF the condition Of The
country could do conspired 10 fl them for the gr.s,
BURNERS Of forming general, but limited government
embracing common objects, extending over all the
S'a'es, and yet touching the power Of the Slaes ms
farther than iho'e rommon objects require. 1 con-
fess, love 20 iiager around these original fodniaios
and 10 drink deep OF their walers. love mhilr In
as full may, the spirit of ihose who laid
the foundations OF the government aud wisely and
fuiIy balanced and jusied its bearings and proper
tons.
Having b,en afterwards, Tor eisa, years, sacro
tsry OF STATE, aud as long President, Mr. Madison
has had an experience in the affairs OF the Cousi-
'uiion, certainly second TO More than anv
other man living, and perhaps mole than any oiber
who has lived lis whole public life hes been incor-
Porattd, az Il were into the Cons luton; in the sg;-
nal conception and project Of attempting TO lo,m IT,
IN lite actual iramiDg III explaining and recomoe nd.
ing IT, by speaking ard writing in sssising the first
organization e t,s Government und,f it, aud in Icing
administrations offs executive powers III those vasi
Gus ways he has lived the CoDstituiioD and with
tbs power Of im ibiug us true epiit, aud nhang he
very bTea'h, from its hrs, pulsaoD Of lite Again,
therefore, ask IL be cannot tell what IN Conii..
ton Is, aud what IL mean', who rani He had retired
with lie rsspec ,apd Tegad Of the community and
might naturally be supposfd not willing iutentre
again in matters o. poll ical He ba never
hslsss, moi hieu his opiaon on the vial oues-
on discussed ihai aston, which has caused hi
meeting. III, has stated with an scsir4cy almost
pe Guitar TO hms ", aud stated az my opinion to
pace almost beyond fu thes controversy The true doc
nines 0i the Constitution tio has stated not no ions
on loose aud irreguiafy 10 he called even theory
idsas struck oft by the ieeps OF present iDconee
niences or suPpcseb ua afuiais'ra'ion--ng sugses-
uons OF eNprdieney, eva ions Of lar aud sht
forward c0n,iructi0u, but elementary prn es, ceat
dfd tound distinctions. and indispensable ira hs am
III ..aIlI