Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-13
ss5isBaa:: EsesGGWENTS.
Mr. MADISON AND HIS WORKS.
OFFICIAL P.7PERS.


MIR. MADISON AND HIS WORKS.
Measure Of tic President Of the United Suites to Congress
tie subject.
To the Senate and Hatse u Representatives:
transmit herewith. copies Of my correspondence
with Mrs. Madison, Produced by The resolution ",'P'eu
o the last session by the Senate ana House u TPe
senlalyes on the drccase of her venslateu huso'N
he occasion seems 10 bc appropriate 10 present r'!er
from her on the subject Of work OF great policaS III
te1es, and ability carefully prepared BY Mr.. Madison
own hand under circumstances h:t give IL ca'ts % J."
considered as little less than othcial
Congress- has already. ct considerable expense pup
lsb.d IN variety OF forms, the naked Journals al the
revolutionary Congress, and OF the conventions 'hal
formed The Constitution OF the United Slales am
persuaded that the work Of MI Madison considering
The ,u,hor the subject matter Of it, and the circumstances
under which il was prrpared-long withheld iron: The
public as has been b. those motives OF personal ku
ness delicacy That gave tore 70 MS intercourse
hs fellow men, until he and all who had Dee!i PaTlicPa
tors with him in The scets he describes have passed
well deserves become The properly o Tue NJ
tom and cannot fail, II published ana Disseminated ut
the public charge, TO coer The NEST important VI OH
benefits on the present. and every succeeding gensalInn
accursie knowledge oi the principles OF their GoVci-
ment and their circumstances under which they were
recommended, and embodied in the Conslltuton Tor
adoption. ANOhE" '7SNH0''
December 6, 1886.
DrrAnruEXr OF STATE, July Q, 1876.
The Secretary OF Stale has l honor 70 report 10 e
H..
death of MIR Madison file in The Department oil STATE
By application the Offices oil tie Secretary q tle Sc
nate aud Clerk Of the House OF Representatives, the en-
closed certified copy Of Of resolutions has been pro.
cured These resolutions being joint, should have been
enrolled signed by the presiding officers OF the two
Houses, ana submitted for the Executive arprobaon---
By referring the edlngs on the Death ~ General
Washington, such appears TO have been though.
REQUISITE; but in this it has been deemed unnects-
sary or has been omitted accidentally. The value OF
the public expression Of sympathy would be so much
diminished b. poSlPonenl2nt to the next session, that The
Secretary has thought it hes, ~ present the papers, in
complete as they are The basis Of such letter the
President may think proper to drec: to Mrs Madison
JOHN FORSYTH,
Secretary IF A"te
WAsuIxGroS, July 8, 1886.
MADAM: 1t appearing to hare been the intention OF
Congress make their organ OF assuring you OF the
profound respect entertained by both lis branches oe
your person aud character and OF the sincere condo
lence in the late affecting dispensauon OF frovoence
which has at deprived you "t beloved companion
and your country of OF lis most valued clzens,
perform that duty by transmitting the documents mere
with enclosed.
No EXPRESSION Of my sensibility at the loss sus-
tanned by yourse. and the nation could add 10 the con-
ISOLATION to be derived from these high evidences OF the
public sympathy Be assured, Madam, that there is not
one of your conniryncn who feels pcignamtiy the
stroke Which has fallen upon you, or who Will cherish
with endearn consistency the memory OF The VIZ
tues the services aud the purity of the illuslIous man
whose glorious and patriotic lite has been just terminal
ed by tranquil death.
l have the honor to be, Madam, your most obedlent
servant, ANDREW JACKSON
Mrs. DOLLY P MADISON, Montpelier, Pirginis.
MoxrrrLIER, August 90, 1885
To The President Of The tinted States:
received sir, in due time, your letter conveying |"
the resolutions Congress were pleased to adept on
the occasion Of The death Of my beloved hus'and-a
communication made the more grateful by The kind eX'
preston of your sympathy which it contained
The HIGH and Just estimation OF my husband by my
counryen and friends, and their generous participation
in the sorrow occasuHed BY rrerierable loss Eek
pressed lhrcagh their supreme authorities and other.
wse1 are the only solace Of which my heart is suscep-
tibe on TIE departure OF him who had never lost sight
OF That consistency symmetry, AID beauty OF character
in all its parts which secured him tie love and ADM
ration of his country, and which must ever be the sab
jcct of peculiar and tender reverence to whose hap
pness was derived from their daily and Constant exer
else.
The hes, return csn nuke for the sympathy Of my
country to fulfil the sacred trust his confidence rcpUs-
ed in me-that Of placing before it and the world what
his pen prepared for their legacy, the importance
Of which, is deeply impressed on my mind. ..o,,
Wilii great respect, u. +. hADlsON.
MONTPELIER, Nov Is, 1896
To the President Of The Cnitcd States:
SIR: The will Of my late husband, James Madison,
contains the following provision:
"Consdering the popularity and magnitude OF the &C.
casion which produced the Convention at Philade!Ph
1857 the characters WHO composed H. The CONSTITUTION
which resulted fom their deliberations It's effects during
trial OF many years the prosperity OF the People
living under ill., and the interest il has inspired anng the
friends of Free Government, it is not unreasonable IN
ference that careful aud extended report Of the proceed
ings ano discussions of that body, which with closed
doors by member who constant in his attendance,
will be particularly gratifying TO the People Of the u $
and to all who take an interest in the progress Of poll-
cal science and the cause Of true liberty.
This provision bears evidence Of the value he set on
his Report OF the Debates in the Conventions; and he
has charged legacles on them alone, to the amount of
$l2OOO, for the benefit OF literary institutions and for
benevolent purposes, leaving the esduary nett ais
for the Of his widow.
In paper written by him. and which it is pronosei IN
annex as preface The Debates, he traces the form,
ton of Concderaces and of the Articles Of Con(edera
top its defects which cnuscd and the steps which led in
the manner in which he executed the task, md his OPT
Mon of the trainers of the Constitution. From this
extract his desert pon OF the manner in which they
sakcn as it guarantees their fuilness and accuracy
" In pursuance Of the task had assumed, chose
seat in front of the presiding member, win the other
members my right and lett hands. In this favorable
position for hearing all that passed. noted down in terms
egibe and in authorizations and marks inlegable to my
self what was read froa the Chair spoken BY the
members and losing not moment unnecessarily be.
tween the adjournment aud re assembling of the Con-
yentiou enabled to write out my daily notes dur.
ing the session, within few finishing days after its
close in the extent and form preserved in my hand
on my files
In the labor and correctness Of this not little
aided by Practice and by familiarity with the style and
the train of observation and reasoning which character
lied the principal speakers. Il happened aso that
WAS not absent single day, more than the casual
fraction Of hour in any day, so that could moi have
lost single speech unless very short one.
However prevailing the restraint which yelled, during
the life of Mr. Madison this record the creation Of