Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-12-28
JAMES MADISON

we nave dDTluBSu ln6 lOlIOWlnB SK6lCu
OF the life Of Mr.. Madison from the Me-
mOir Of him contained in the "Porlrait
Gallery"
James Madison was born March the 5th
1851, 20. S.) on the Rappahannock river,
near Port Royal, in Virginia. He was the
son of James Madison and Nelly Conway
his wife, whose residence las we'll as his)
was in Orange county. Montpelier, Mr..
Madison's residence, is distant about
twenty Eve miles from Charlottesville and
Is surrounded by the most charming noun
tain scenery.
Mr.. Madison at the age of i2 was al
school under Donald Robertson, a dis
tiDguished teacher Of the neighborhood,
and afterwards under the Rev. Thomus
Martin, the Parish minister OF the estab
lished church, who was a private tutor in
his fathers family. MIR. Madison was
next sent to the college Of New Jersey,
at Princeton, of which the celebrated DR..
Wtherspoon was the President. There
he completed his college education, and
received the degree of bachelor of arts in
the autumn Of fl77l, He impaired his
health at college by over ardent study
Still on his return he assiduously pursu-
ed the systematic course of reading
He became member Of the Legislature
of Virginia in May l77G. II was this
Legislature that unanimously introduced
the deputies Of Virginia in Congress to
propose the Declaration of Independence.
Mr.. Msdison did not enter into public
debate during the session. At the next
election, owing to his refusal 10 treat,
and to his difAdsnce, he was supreceded
by another. He was, however, at the
next session Of the Assembly, appointed
member Of the council of State. This
place he held till l779,when he was cleo
ted 10 Congress. While he was of the
council, Patrick Henry and Thomas JEFF
ferson were Governors. Mr.. Madison's
knowledge Of French (ofwhich Governor
Henry was ignoran) rendered him partic.
ularly serviceable in the frequent cores.
pondence held at that period with French
officers. He wrote so much for Cover.
nor Henry, that Mr. Jefferson said he was
called "the Governors Secretary" He
took his seat in Congress in March 1850.
He remainad leading member of that
body until the Fall of 1888. He after
wards Represented the county of Orange
in the State Legislature, in the years
1884, IS and %.
In 1855, Mr.. Madison was deputed to
the meeting held at Annapolis, in August
of that year, and which resulted in a
recommendation of the convention with
fuller powers at Philadelphia, in May,
1851.
From 1854 to 1857 inclusive, among
other important topics agitated, were pa.
per money, British debts, and the rel.
gious establishment proposed by Mr..
Henry. Mr.. Maeison was against paper
money, in favor Of paying the British
debts, and strenuously opposed to the
scheme Of a religious establishme ent. lie
composed tho memorial and remon-
STRANGE which were signed by persOns of
all denominations, and which crushed Mr.
Henry's scheme
Mr.. Madison had as large hand in
the framing Of the Constitution iE
l7s7 as any other member Of the conven.
lion.
The debates Of that convention, care.
fully noted down by him, have of late
years been. presented 10 the world in the
"MadisOn Papers" The celebrated work
called the "Federalist, appeared between
The close Of the Philadelphia Convention
that framed the Constitution, and the
meeting Of the State Conventions held TO
sanction it. Mr.. Madison, it is we'll
known, was associated with Mr.. jaw, and
Mr. Hamilton, in the production of that
commentary. In l7s9, Mr.. Madison was
elected delegate from his county (Or. |
ange,) to the convention called to deter. |
mine on the adoption Of the constitution.
The elabrate and powerful arguments used |
BY him in support Of the constitution are
universally known.
On the adoption Of the constitution he
was elected from his district a representa-.
tive in Congress, in February, 1889. He
remained in that capacity till March,
15S7. Here he was the leader in all
important measures Parties were form.
'ea-the Federal and Democratic. The
Federal led BY Mr.. Hamilton-the Dem.