Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-11-08

nguished by inequalities Of subject, was iisn-
guislied by Inequalities Of execution; which, divided into
no portions OF exclusive and isolated enncnce. presents
one great, perhaps unequaed aggregate Of consistent
and not contrasted achievement. TO understand the
length and breadth OF his claim upon Judgment,
Should therefore, trace him, through any single por-
ton, however prominent but through every department
n his public labors: sEoald follow him through those
difficulties Of subject or position, with which it seemed
10 be his especial Drune always to be surroundc and
should Sec in lie details of means and Of ends. how
great must havt been the intellect and The virtues whGh
conducted him 10 constant triumph, and which Identifies
his and his hono?s with the parrst and most pre-
cious monuments Of his country. Gratifying this
task would be, il cannot now be attempted.
Mr.. Madison entered the public service in 49, VIXEN
lie blu, p years Of age and continued in il, without
nlermssiou, unl March, l5l7-,hus serving the public
in aclive employ ment, for AZ years, the tul, length Of
ordinary life During the whole of this period, many
the proofs Of his virtues aud mastery the eXhi
btions Of his ability, that the public confidence al
ways in his wake browning him with Office ateG oi@r,
the creates, in responsibility and expectations when
rally bestowed but collectively demanding contrarcly
o. qualification and Of gift, which bespoke experienced
and progressive conviction in his adequacy for all Wee
any given span in the heightened line of national
annals to be selected as that which is the most comprc-
hensive Of those great events and those subjects Of DIFF
tculty which put both the structure of government
and the fidelity OF its citizens to the seyrrest test, or
which complicated the management OF pGblc atlirs
with the most embariassneBls intrinsic advenlitoL
that which is cnmprelcndcd within Tile public life o:
Mr.. Madison would undoubtedly be chosen. No cqGat
period compare with il in the real interest and ma
ru!a of its political events, and trust that no other
ever viii cDlnare with it, in the depth and danger Of is
political dissras Within that period had the
Revolution. with all its cnrrelatres and consequences
had the Confederation TO form, TO administer, 10
yoke-he present Federal Constitution to establish
upon its ruins, the most difficult, because the
peculiar OF all works, in structure aud in purpose
without model in tie history u the world to gujc
in its construction, and now that it is framed, with
out an equal To share It's celebrity. We had all the
rrcat principles Of this novel and untried crganiZl
lion of government to define, to settle TO reduce into
practice We had the special controversies 10 Consider
and to reconcile far they can lie rGcnncet which
grew up Will, The Constitution Itself. and which related
t. The iuris!ictonal limits Of that Instrument both in
ference its several dcpai tnenls, and in reference
also, TO the ghlS and jurisdiction OF the States We
had all the great Objects or rather systens OF national
pnlcv systems Of commerce, systems ct :eYcaue, &c,
Nc. To mature. which government Required and that
n il manner and extent, as dstGc; territorial inter
cs,s subjected confederate relation, would an
orizr and demand We had, in addition. questions Of
foreign intercourse and aggresslon not merely intricate
and rmbrnng, hut the most vital TO our maritime aud
rrntrn uhis all of which seemed l:Nc To be engu phcd
IN The struggles of beliseTen Europe. And we had,
the fruit of these, the of 1872, which, howerer aus
pcious the country at lis close, was p"rtenous whist
lasted Of domestic cs!astror he from domestic disarc
ton Froithe beginning to the end this period OF our
history was distinguished not only by events immcasur
able in their influence and interest," but distinguished al
50 bv those fierce and turbulent contentious happlly
yet, of opinion only which every free government like
oars must feel and feel the soeSt ut lis outset before
maternal assimilation has wrought any sottening effect
unon the differing habits the differing temper of lis
paule Upon ali the leading subj ects and controversies
d, ibis time whether home foreign, It was the lot OF
Mr. Madison 10 principal na:t. Whilst most ether
men, his usrous associates in th!s wide field OF intel
lpe,uel anu political labor occupied portions OF 1t only
with unsurpassed reputation, his Is the rarrr homer G
having acquired an equal measure Of rcnown upon the
whole hn. this vi expresses nearly every thing
that eulogy could utter for there time whe:!
the public mind was wrought up to more throbbny
emnon, or put upon more convulslvc effort OF lis
ep,rocs: and never was public served by nobcr
ray If intellect, nteec-stmuIdted TO lntenser
excrti0n by more generous or commanding motives,
wlrt,rr OF ambition of country. To have acquired
rycn reputation at such uncge, and IN such compc-
nn as this was elevated praise; but have gone be-
yond it, Mr.. Madison did, is to have reached point Of
rrunwr which ought and which will associate him with
the immortal Of all countries, as permanent land mark
in the progress MD in the retrospect OF ages
l. OF the unblic labors of Mr. Madison those which
late 10 the Federal Constitution and which were rem.
dcrvd at different times are IN" most cVcnu for hi-
self and for the world II he had never had any other
share in the establishment OF this instrument, than The
very commanding which he took IN lis original tor
naiina-is all his Learning and all his investigation mt
the nature and ends and qualities OF government had
carried HIM farther than this, but all had Terminated
h.r. As in their natural and crow ming resuhr would
have d;nc enough in the Judgment OF philosophy, I"
have ranked him amongst the wIsrst reioners "f GO
vernmcnl and consequently, amongs, the greatest Prac
teal bcneactors Of man. Bat hts lhn"rs III Deha
or this instrument, did not terminate here nor did
thcy terminate even with his celebrated "EIposI'l-
on Of I7lD by which is controversial hypothesis
wns thought 10 be settled, and was settled as tar as
n,rc rans3u can ever accomplish il. These abors "n
,lr contrary were resumed on numerous Occasions.
the whole of his official career ana no" ltl
the nirs,s Of his retirement is unveiled to the eye,
seems that they never relinqnIshed, but were pro-
secuted in his secluded sudIes as amongst the cos'h
aud cherished occupations of his life. Indeed, 50 ldr''
| c.J -, Mr. nu
s,runcnt from its first germ TO It's organized ano est
bisrd action that he is entitled above every n'nee man.
r., hn called The "Fat&cr Of tie Fcaernl Coas'Auuon, -
H. j.; no more entitled to this honor richer TO himself
I J,,cr e, man than that OF giving name To dynaS.
lies and to knas, than he Is TO the almost tqnal noh"r "
hyo he s0andcs safest anil adrst Posttor o. as pTt"-
ciycs. Let but fact or TWO speak III 'S '"''''
detail is Impossible: - 8.
| As lnnp ~ the Revolution continued. although the i'm
,o,rncy OF the Confederation as Government, was
heavily and hazardously fe yet the soundHe's OF The
,onunr protis,H, and the pressure OF common na'.
r sunpjied in pat, the vigor which 1t wanted, ana
Eo,ryed by REFRESHING its incnrabe defects The gud'
inn and not the compulsory power OF government, was
died by people who held their faculties ~ trust "r
,j,., couu,rv and who gave themselves up, Win nv
ronchoLie spirit the sing le and the holy purpose ot
r;vng their enemies from their soil and OF freeing their
own Liberties by their own arms, from every sfeocS o'
tyraumca restraint As soon, however as tn's "as me-
cnmnish,d and the glow Of the contest was over, an
III nc;r was falling back into its woned and It's peace
r,i avocatons was It perceived through eVii4
c and evils threatened that the Confederation was Ut
f. rv i,stequate permanent system OF government
70 the wants and The condition Of the country, Ana
yet. the necessary Steps to amend or to abolish IT, %ef:
Slowly taken: the public paused, struggling w'.n us a.,
fcc,ions before il would strkct pansea 70 execute te
sentence of lis own udgmentt shrunf from The dea'
r ,rrcon of system which had gwen name ano
ter to the county which had borne it in lr'amPh hr%ng
the shock of Revolution and had rescued t.s l'gn's rom
G Ia"aI bankruptcy, like impending avalanche jus,
: '."ha. ;rn motion and threatening all with instant
rlmng any serious and practical movement
on ''S ,,s9n Selling upon the uryencies Of the mo