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

u
offspring Of their deliberations lie tested by he
experience of the future. added 10 that Of nearly half
century which has passed.
= i3n' ~haever may be the judgment pronounced on
the competency Of the architects Of the Constitution.
whatever be the destiny OF the edi6ce prepared
BY 'heni, ieei duty 10 express my profound and
SOLEMN conviction, derived from my intimate olpor,npi-
~ OF approaching The views OF the Constitution, col
rciiyely and individually. that there never as
semby o men, charged with great and arduous trust,
who were more pure IN their moiives or more eAein-
sisey or snxiou,y devoted to the vject committed TO
ihein Than were the members OF the Federal Consen-
iion Of 1887 TO the object IL dessng and proposing
constitutional system which would best supply 'he
defects Of that which il replace, aud best secure
the permanent liberty aud happiness oi their country
That resolution of the Convention which closed
It's doors TO the public gave much umorage Of the
lime, and exposed the body TO great ahimadversion
Yet how wise and judicious was the provision
Their labor was not Tor their contemporaries. They
worked for the far-of future. They spoke TO an
audience that no legislative assembly yet has ad.
dressed And as posterify was 10 test the value oil
their labors so po>teriy will now have an opporiu-
nifty of Judging reveTently and candidly OF their
motives their reasons, their intentions, their fears
and their hopes. The Injunction OF secrecy has
been removed, and the people OF the United States
NAV now and henceforward learn and Judge for
themselves.
enc extract only are we tempted 10 make. 1t is
the last sentence of the work thus sealed up for iory
two wears And We give il, not merely for the
striking and deeply Interesting anecdote which y
contains. but to share with the thousands who will
now see Il for the first tine The exultation that must
come home 10 every bosom, In the feeling that the
prophetic emblem OF Franklin has been so complete
ly verified In an amount OF national greatness, pros
periiy happiness, and honor without stain, never
reached, even approached, by any human comninni-
" In the same space Of time. May the sun that rose
on that day never go down!
Whilst the last members were signing, Doctof
Franklin looking towards the Presidents chair, al the
back Of which rising sun happened TO be paintea
observed to few members near him that painters bad
found difficult distinguish in their art rising sun
from setting sun. G
..I have said he, often and often. in The conrse OF
the session. and the vcsstndes Of my hopes and Tears
as TO its ISSUE looked behind the President, wAnou.
being able to tell whether il rising or setting but
now. at length have the happiness 10 KNOW 'ha' -
4 rising aud not setting SUM-
The same article concludes with sketch OF Mr..
Madison's character, from which we make the iol-
lowing exiracts'
Mr. Madison, studied probably just law enough,
but his breeding altogether that OF Statesman
an American statesman, for he never Was Out OF his
own couniry-and, though il has often truly been
said thai be would make great Chief Justice Of the
United States YET his studies and requirements we're
Tree from all technical or professional Restraint and
hi, seldom, If ever, equaed powers Of reasoning
were alw;y Us exercised ON ai &c scale and with
From nature, from habit, il may be even from the
Imperfect Stale Of health TO which he was reduced at
the outset OF his career. his pissonless pro-
gress 10 elevation. He never addressed ssion or
propiiated prejudice; but, ying reason alone
tor nvcliup, he effected his puspose without any
appeal IL excitement. Taking nothing Tor granted
by intuition or sympathy, he worked out every result
like a problem 10 be proved. No one was ever more
infexby al ached 10 The principles OF hi, adoption
bat then he always adopted them on earnest con.
sidernlion and sufficient authority, before he gave
them his affections. They wete not his natural Off
spring His pre,eptor, jefferson, man Of high
genius surpassed him IN enthusiasm and briliiancy
OF ilnaginativn aud was better veised In malhemali-
cal science, and that OF languages But Madison
was good linguisi, chasie, eegant and altlaclye
writer; as reaso,er, superior Jefferson, and per-
hdPs Of sounder lud2mthl-ceriaInly more cHcum-
spect. His conversational talents we're uncommon,
and his power Of debate in public bodies, when he
al length overcame the extreme dithdcace by which
he was al is much restrained Of the first order.
No man ever was more averse 10 controversy de-
traction or nvectve; he never gave offence BY per-
sonaliiy.
Hlvlny received very early and strong imares-
sions in favor o liberty, both civil and religious, he
embarked with the prevalent zeal in the American
cause, al the beginning Of The dispute with Great
BIiiaIn; bu his devotion 10 study and his impaired
health probably prevented his performing any mill
tary service. Devoted 10 freedom OF conscience.
he was particularly active in opposing the peIsecn-
lion OF the Bapisls, then new sect 10 Virginia,
who were cohsgned IN some instances, TO Jaii, Tor
violating the law prohibiting preaching by dsseneIs
from The established church. Throughout lie he
was remarkable Tor strict adherence the American
doctrine u absoluleseparaion between civii and re.
ligiaus authority; and one Ut his veoes, while Pre-
sident attesled that advanced station and age the
principles early imbibed this subject were dear
TO him as al first, when he was but young and gra-
luouS +, former
Mr. Jefferson being chosen President of the Uni
ted States in loOi, appointed MIR. Madison his Sc
NJ In oh h..r uftp mad
the eight years Of Jefersons pr sidency, illustrating
The whole period by his mastery writings ard judi
cious participation. This is not the occasion Tor
full view OF his performances in the Department OF
State but il may be Sail, i'll word, that oil all the
great disputes on International and municipal law
evolved py an epoch THAI at last after great difficult
lies and efforts 10 aver hosiililes closed with the
war which il was Mr.. Madison'S destiny 10 conduct
as Chief Magstrale-tbe complicated questions OF
the conflicting rights OF war and peace, colonial
commerce, conlraband trade, imprisonment Of sea-
men, search and seizure OF shp and cargoes block
AIDES, embarSoes, non-importation, and non-nler-
course--there was not one which Mr.. Madison did
not present 10 his county, and before The world, with
apJwer ol research and argument unsurpassed in
The annals Of diplomatic wiring. In 1903 he visited
Philadelphia for more convenient access TO the best
treatses on the subject Of pamphlet he published
in 1906 on the British doctrine against the trade OF
neulrals with enenIies colonies. Throughout every
succeeding year the country was enlightened by his
elaborate productions, which every session OF Con-
gress brought forth. On the question Of impress
ment, The most trying and perpexing Of the grevan-
ces to which the Unued Sale. were then subjected,
his letters 10 the American ministers in England,
and the British ministers in this country com
posed with power equal to all we could desire, and
10 temper which il impossible ior them take
offence at. II has been said Of him, ,hal give Mr..
Madison The right side OF good cause and no man
could surpass him in its vndication The Depart
ment OF ate at that lime was the main stay OF the
country. Doubling the ability OF the United States
to contend in war with the great belligerents who
were devastating the universe by land and sea; at
all events, deeply interested in adherng 10 that men,
tralily which Washington established, and TO which
no one was more thoroughly attached than Mr..
Madson; his exettions to substitute the moral aIt-
ery vi International law for brute force were inces
SAM and intense. Although the war he endeavored
so .rnestiy To prevent Came al last in spite oil his
exerlluuS and Mr JttrrSnnS lnInu bic Inina-