The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-16

oeen familiar not only with theological subtil-
ues' but with catholic respect for freedom Of
mind. Skeptica of tradition as the basis OF
iaith, he respected reason, rather than authority;
Iand, after momentary lapse into fatasm, es-
| Gaping from the mazes of fixed DEGREES and free
VIII, he gained, with increasing years, an in
creaslng trust in the overriding providence Of
God. Adhering 10 none ssof all the religious, "
IN the colonies, he yet devoutly, though without
form, adhered 10 religion. But though famous
las disputant, and having natural appetite for
metaphysics, he obeyed the tendency Of his age,
and sought by observation TO win an insight into
the mysteries of being. Loving truth, without
prejudice and without bias, he discerned ntui-
tively the identity of the laws of nature with
those OF which humanity is conscious; so that
his mind was like a mirror, in which the uni
verse, as it reflected itself, revealed her laws.
lie was free from Mysticism, even to a fault.
tils morality, repudiating ascetic seventies, and
the system which enjoins them, was indulgent
% appetites, of which he abhorred the sway; but
his affections were Of calm intensity; in all his
career, the love Of man gained the mastery over
personal interest He had not the Imagination
which inspires the bard or kindles the orator
but an exquisite propriety, parsimonious of or
nament, gave ease OF expression and graceful
simplicity even TO his most careless writings. In
VIC, also, his tastes were delicate. Indifferent TO
tthe Pleasures of the table, he relished the de-
| lights OF music and harmony, of which he en-
larged the instruments. His blandness of tenn
per and modesty, the benignity of his manners,
made him the delight Of intelligent society; and,
with healthful cheerfulness, he derived pleasure
from books, from philosophy, from conversation
now calmly administering consolation to the
sorower, now INDUCING in the expression oflight-
hearted gaiety. In his intercourse the univer-
salty OF his perceptions bore, perhaps, the cha
| racter OF humor; while he clearly discerned the
| contrast between the grandeur Of the universe
and the feebleness of man, a serene benevo-
lence saved him from contempt of his race, or
disgust at its tolls To superficial observers he
might have seemed as an alien from speculative
truth, limiting himself to the world Of the senses
and yet, In study, and among men, his mind al
ways sought, with unaffected simplicity, TO dis
cover and apply the general principles by which
nature and affairs are controlled--now reducing
from the theory of calorc Improvements in fire
places and lanterns, and now advancing human
freedom by firm inductons from the inalienable
rights of man. Never protesting enthusiasm,
never making parade Of sentiment, his pracli-
cal wisdom was sometimes mistaken for the
offspring of selfish prudence yet his hope was
steadlast, like like that hope which rests on the
Rock of Ages, and his conduct was as unerring
as though the light that led him was light from
heaven He never anticipated action by theo-
ries of self-sacrificing virtue; and yet, in the
moments Of intense activity, he, from the high
est abodes Of ideal truth, brought down and APP
Piled to the affairs of life the submest principles
Of goodness, as noiselessy and unosten,atously
as became the man who with kite and hemp
en- string, drew the lightning from the skies. He
separated himself so little from his age, that he
has been called the representative of material
ism; and yet, when he thought on religion, his
mind passed beyond reliance on sects to faith in
God when hR wrote on politics. he founded the
freedom of its country on principles that know
no change; when he turned an observing eye
on nature, he passed always from the effect to
the cause, from individual appearances to uni
versa laws; when he reflected on history, his
ph,losophic mind found gladness and repose in
the clear anticipation Of the progress Of hui
mainly.