The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-04-20


nisir.iion Of The Federal Government. Even before
Mr. Madison's demise there appeared TO ne wei,
nigh one universal senliment of cordial respect ann
difference towards him pairiot OF the puresl m
Ienions and wises condncf Undertaking the pre-
sdency at crisis OF the utmost difficulty, he M
tinued 10 Il BY re-election during the established
period 81 eight years and when be retired, len The
country In the highest degree glorious prosperous,
anc Content. Future ages must look bick 10 bis
administration time Of great trial and great re-
nown. The Cons tuition which had succeeded 10
peace, under bis governance iriunphed in var
While bostililrs were checkered with The reyerses
which seldom TAIL 10 occur, under all circumstances,
| MIR. Madison was The same. Victory never elaied,
nor could disasters depress him, beyond the happy
mean of his temperate life always calm consistent,
\ and CONSCIENTIOUS determined 10 do right, come
what might. Exposed 10 that delnge OF abuse which
The leading Of free countries, with licenlious
press avoid, he was perfectly serene and I'M
/ moved by any yindicive emoIiopj true 10 friends
patient with adyeisaries, aud iobearing even with
/ public enemies. All the emergencies OF war never
betrayed him into infrngemepts OF the Consti-
tuition Ii has been stated. high authority, that
/ while candidate tor the Presidency, no one. how
ever intimate, ever heard him mention the subject
lCopsliluionally simple and transformations In his
habits, ste, and intercourse, he nevertheless main
tanned The dignity OF his station with decorum and
uIbani'y that lent new grace 10 the duties Of his
Office.
! Al abouI sixiy-six years OF age he retired from
public le and ever after resided on his estate in
i Virginia, except about two months while al Rich
mond a member OF the Convention in 1929, 10 re-
/ mould ihe consi tuition Of that Stale. His farm, bis
books his friends and his correspondence were the
| sources Of his enjoyment and occupation during the
twenty years OF his retirement During most OF that
time his health, never robust was as good as usual
and he pariook with alacry of The exercise and The
/ conviviaIily in which he had always enjoyed him
self. good farmer, on large scale, he acted for
| some time president Of an agricultural society,"
and, for much longer lime, FIRST as yisiier, and,
after Mr.. Jefferscn's death, rector OF the Unver-
| siiy of Virginia, nj Charlottesville, In his near
neighborhood, among the founders and friends OF
which he bore conspicuous part Prevailed upon,
wheE inst convalescent from Illness 10 be
men, Der OF the Virginia Convention Of 1922 the in
/ firm condition Of his health being then near eighty
years old prevented his taking very active part in
It's deliberations. Ills main purpose, indeed, APP
pears 10 have been 10 promote compromise between
parties sfly divided local and personal inte-
| rests to threaten the tranquility of the State. On
some Of the principal topics discussed, he is under
stood to have yielded his opinions that
>ideraon, well the urgent instances Of his
| stiinents.
| AT eighty five years of age though much reduced
BY debility, his mind was bright his memory rrien
| tive, and his conversation highly instructive and
delightful Serene, socable, and animated, he loved
| 10 discuss the Constitution, 10 inculcate the public
| good, strictly abstanng from plny top cs, and 10
charge his friends with blessings for his country
! He was long one o. The most interesting shrnes 10
which It's voareS repaired: relic of republican
| virtue, which none could contemplate without reve-
| renee and ed licalion.
! One of his most s;rik"g characteristics was ten
derness for the feelings and Difference for the opinion
| of hers; always anxious 10 avoid giving offence,
though frequently 81 uated as 10 be blged to ad-
here To his own convictions, and differ sometimes
| with his b.>t friends. Towards his numerous de-
pendentS and domes.ics on extensive plantations, he
was uniformly kind and, like most intelligent
| SonlherR gentlemen, deplored the evils inherited
! from colonial dependence. He was actively alive
10 every feasible proj,c for mitigating or removing
these evils. The respectable gentleman who was his
physician towards the latter part of his life, bears
cordial testimony 10 the compassionate interest
which every member of his family, in common with
their amiable and illustrions head never failed 10
| manifest for those who were BY law his much
;,relied properly Al periods towards the terminal
ion Of his career when conflicting sentiments
| important questions agtaied the country and when
urged b. Jealous and mporiunate friends Ia let his
views be known, he was always disposed difhdeDty
To decline interference bnt every vsiier Of his hos
pitabe mansion must have been struck with his
patriotic devotion III his country and with his vene-
ration for that Union of which he was one Of the
| original founders, and ever remained the enhu-
sia>tic and honest advocate. His attachment 10 the
| Constitution amounted almost TO a passion and,
whenever the subject was at all relevant, he never
failed 10 incnlcale his views OF lis importance The
future development and grandeur Of A erica. One
Of his last acis shortly befo he died reduce
| 10 writing The following patriotic aspiration, as it
was communicated BY his excellent widow:
ApvicE TO NY CoUNrRY-As this advice, if il
ever see the light, will not do il till more il
| NAV be considered issuing from the tomb, where
truth alone he respected and tile happiness Of man
consulted IL will be entitled, therefore, TO whatever
weight he derived from good intentions, and from
the experience Of one who has served his country in
various stations through period Of forty years, who
esponsed in his youth, and adhered through his life TO
the cause OF its liberty, aud who has borne part in
mos. OF the great transactions which will constitute
| epochs Of its destiny.
1.-The advice nearest TO my heart and deepest in my
convictions is that the Onion Of the States be cherished
| aud perpetuated Let the avowed enemy TO il be
garded as Pandora with her box opened aud the dis.
guised one the serpent creeping with deadly wics
| iuto Paradise"
| AS a leading member Of the Convention which
| framed The Government, Of the Congresses which
organized il, of The administration of Jefferson
which conducted II for long time in the path il has
since for The most part followed and finally the
head Of his own administration in the most trying
time, when the exisencies of were superadded
the occasions of peace, few individuals have i'm
pressed more of their mind, either theoretically or
practically, on American institutions, than James
| Madison.
Until within short period Of his decease, Mr..
Madison coniinu d 10 keep pace with The passing
literature Of the day. Most American writers were
proud 10 lay their productions before him; and he
was subscriber TO the best periodicals. He was
consequently acquainted with every thing literary
that was OF interest, aud devoted small attention
TO science; most attached perhaps, TO the practical
pursuit Of natural history, having accumulated nu-
Inerous interesting facts from his observation
| A member of his family, Of whom we venlured TO
request information oil his religious sentmens-on
which subject, though excellent biblical scholar,
and Otherwise well informed he was always re-
maIkabfy silent-answered BY the significant
ance that he was good and perfect in religion and
domestic lie, and that nothing short OF the
ligion can make man So
On The 2Slh June, 1896, he died--as serene, phi
losophica and calm in the last moments of exist
ence as he had been in all the trying occasions of
life President Jackson announced the event TO
| Congress in communication calling on that body
for such measures as were proper 10 testify their
sense OF the respect due To the memory OF one whose