The native American., 1839-07-20
JAMES MADISON.

OF the amented patriot and statesman. JAMES
MADISON, It was once remarked TO the first Pre-
sident ofthe United States How does it happen,
r, that We do not observe the name OF Mr.. Aladi-
son among the appointments foreign ambassadors,
or selected TO fill important situation under the
home government? This seeming omission ap-
pears the more strange from the friendship and at
tachment that is so we'll known to subsist between
Mr.. Madison and yourself
Washington replied: "As TO a foreign embassy,
the best in the. gift Of the Executive Vhey were,
in those days, England, France, and Spain,) have
been rendered to Mr. Madison over and over again,
while his extreme repugnancc to sea voyage
renders his going abroad out of the questions and,
is to the home appointments there Is not one that
would be deemed worthy of Mr.. Madison's ac-
ceptance that he does not vel! know is, and from
the commencement of the Government always has
been, entirely at his service.
1t was during time OF considerable political
excitement that Mr.. Madison had large dinner
party of members Of Congress and others. The
conversation took a rather free turn, and public
men and public measures were discussed without
reserve Mr.. Madison held up his hand and re-
markcd 9 Pause, gentlemen, if you please While
admit that, in republican country like ours, the
acts of public men, from the highest to the lowest,
are alike. open to fair and liberal investigation,
permit me to say that the personal character OF
General w ashington, his eminent virtues. and
machless services to his country, must, under my
roof always be treated with tie most profound
respect
During the latter days of the venerable sage OF
Montpelier, he was wont to delight his numerous
guests with relations of bygone men and things.
Speaking Of our happy Constitution to a distin-
gulshed parsonage, he remarked: after the peace
OF 1888, we were in great confusion In political
prospects. 1t was agreed on all hands that our old
system would do no longer, and many of the best
and wSest Of the land became the advocates of a
more national system of policy: the States OF the
| old Confederation to cede certain powers to a
General Government SO as to form Legislative,
Executive, and Judiciary for the Union. But
how to organize convention to form Constu-
ton for the new Government when SO many con-
cting interests, sectional and otherwise, were in
the way was a matter of no ordinary difficulty.
All eyes were turned towards HIM, who retired
from the great events of the Revolution, was en-
joyng a wcll,earned repose amid the shades Of
Mount Vernon Could we but enroll the name
of Washington among the delegates to conven-
ton, under such favored auspices our success in
the formation of new Government was certain.
And yet it seemed ungencrous, nay almost un-
kind, SO soon to call this illustrlous citizen from
his beloved retirement, after his mighty labors in
the war of Independence. An application was
made to him through highly confidential me-
dun: it was respectfully received, but at once
declined. Nothing daunted, we returned to the
charge, and, as every one knows, finally succeed
ed. The patriot could not resist the united caof
his countrvmen. He repaired to Philadelphia and
presided in the convention. The Constitution
was formed, and afterwards adopted by the States
and thus did the great name and character of
Washington in peace as in war, shed the most
happy and benign influences upon the desnes of
his coun From "the Gusts Rccohections and
Priroie .Hemoirs Of the Life and Character Of
Hnsdington'