Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-07-07


ile o. Ut, s,s If the highest dignity and splcndor
rree III L., country could bcs,ow, succeeded
ss eo"" sarx of retirement and private life,
wen. !, the estimation of the vniuous and
pl in'e'o' ,l. bonors of the highest station hat
R va. Ian can ever attain.
irbt'on Hi life of James Madison What could
VI u. = no, deepl, impressed upon the memory
lay '"'' 10 hear, of every one within tho sound
I'D upo" OF his private life, what but must
my '' o,bo;ny shout of applause from every
aee' ." hin this Hall Is it not ina prc-emihcnt
ece "'", carnations from his mind that We are
fsree ~, borc rs the Representatives OF the peo-
'tn'''.S ,.,os of this Union Is it not lranscen-
pc anu -. lis exertions that we all address each
enUE y. Ly the cndcarng appcllation of country
ol'e' ~ csllow citizens OF tina, Band Of Bene-
men "'' g, tho Human Race, the founders of the
aoo, ,;,,,on of the United States, James Madison
ohs ~, who has gone TO his reward. Their
''e ", ,.orl has survived them all. They have
O''o '';,,.d the precious bond of union TO u.s. now
f'"' T. succeeding generation 10 them. MAY it
emu. ..oase 10 be voice of atmonltion Ia us, of
@'' law ia transmit the inheritance unlmpancd to
=, children of The rising aye.
O', nr III, personal relations with this great man,
ii, gave rise To the long career OF pubic ser
IN which twenty years ot my own life has
,an oucaped, it becomes me not to speak. The
tt p's. ., rho heart must be silent, even to the
'l"" ",osson of the ovcrnowngs of gratitude and
Affection.
Al. pIVES addressed the Senate rs follows:
A.. President: feel that it would be an act of
'''.oous ,emerv were | 10 attempt to add to
:.,r;nsic pathos of the melancholy intelligence
Il" .n,ounccd TO us by the President of the |.
s,,os nv any thing in the way OF cnlogy on the
,,.,c,er Of the great man whose dccease he has
,,;,ated 10 us The cuogy of Mr. Madison
,,r;,,.n in every page OF the history OF his coun-
:. IN whose service his whole lie was devoted,
Nth every great event III whose annals his
.amo stands conspicuously n endulnely identified.
rIcd however, as his life was, from It's dawn to
:, close. with labors Of patriotism and superior
n.dom, there is one great work OF his winch must
.yr, recur prominently TO the grateful memory OF
h. country. lie was, in an especial manner, tie
hnnder and author of that glorious Constitution
,uch is the bond of our Union and the charter OF
o,r liberties and it was gracously vonchsatcd to
HIM in the order of Providence, to witness, for
onger period than any OF his ustrlous colleagues,
I,e rich blessings which have resulted from itses-
ablishmcnt He was the last surviving slgner OF that
sacred instrument. Amid the general grief which
oeryadcs the nation, may we not indulge one con-
collation. at least, in the hope that his death, whilst
adding the last seal to his own fame and glory, will,
in some sort, canonize the work of his hands. and
surround, with new yeneratlon, that precious
relic Of the wisdom of our departed patriots and
sages.
But, sir, will not speak of the public life OF
Mr.. Madison; il is known to us all II is appre-
Gated by us all. 1t was my privilege to see and To
Know him in the scenes of that classic retirement in
uhci, he passed the evening of his days. 1t was
there .hat the mild lusre of his private virtues,
which formed the GROWING grace of his charac-
ter, and is the indispensable complement of true
public glory, was seen and felt. But who can pain,
linn there Who can adequately describe that ias
clnang Suavity of temper and manners, that spirit
and grace OF conversation SO happily blended with
the oracl,s of philosophy aud experience, that
amiable and cultivated bencvolencc ever watcliul
othc feelings and comfort of others, even in the
minutest trfes, which together formed, around the
hearth OF Montpelier, group OF social virtues and
attractions, which, however incompetent the pow
ers of language TO portray, none, who have tclt
their influence, can ever forget. In speaking of
shesc things, Mr.. President, am but too iorcibly
reminded of my own personal loss in the general
md national calamity which we all bewail. ! was
the neighbor of Mr.. Madison, sir. an enjoyed his
kindness and friendship; and if, an speaking OF
great national bereavement, my mind reCurs too
i1ndly 10 the chasm his death has left in the i'm
mediate circle of his friends, something, trust,
will be pardoned to the feelings of the heart
1t is my melancholy satisfaction to have rcceiv-
ed, in all probability, the last letter ever signed
by his hand 1t bears date only six days before
his death, and furnishes, in its contents, a striking
illustration Of that amiabe benevolcnce, and SEN
sbIity to the kindness Of others, which formed so
prominent a trait in his character In that letter,
which is now before me, he spoke of his cniecbled
health, and his trembling and unsteady signature,
so much in contrast with the usual lirmness and
regularity of his writing, bore a graphic and me-
lancholy intimaion OF his approaching end. Still
trusted that his light might hold out to the 4tl of
July, that he might be restored on that glorious
anniversary TO an immortal companionship with
those great men and patriots with whom he had
been intimately connected in life, and whose CO.
incident deaths, on the birthday of the nations
freedom, had impaired to tina, day, if possible, an
additional and mysterious illustration. But ii has
been ordered otherwise. His career has been
closed at an epoch, which, forty-nine years ago,
his most efficient labors in the illustri
Gus assembly which laid the foundations of our
present system of government, and will thus, by
The remembrance Of his death, well as by the
services of his life, more closely associate him
"'h that great work, which is at once the source
= the guaranty of his country's happiness and
What houors. Mr. President, are there, by
winch We can do Justice to a character wl'ichh
~ w''lholdup to future ages as model ofpubllc n
private virtue, not surpassed by the brightest
examples in ancient or modern times Sir, there
are none. Still it is proper that, as Representa-