Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-31
THE ENQUIRER.
Monday Morning, March 80, 1896.
MADISON PAPERS.
pICANONI Va

Virginia, who revere The memory OF Madison
as The wise and profound exponent Of he Con-
stiIulon, and as having given immortal fame 10
her own great Republican doctrines.
The bill reported appropriated $4,000 dollars
10 the purchase Of these valuable papers. We
hope that no false economy will rrc"eat Con
gress from Obtaining possession Of docunen
which shed SO much light upon The history OF he
country.
Mr. Dromgools, from he Select COMMITTEE,
made lie following
REPORT:
TIE CpmmiHee GppointtG 70 enquire into Ike ere
dicney n p,ordtsg dy lo'c Tar re pu,ttnsc ami
ynLi.caiion RI t8r IT,,hacs n James l!cTish,
ia,e Presiicnt efhc Janed .StQhS, net Aerttoic5c
gabiiSseG, Geg ieaue 10 rcro,t ia part
Tina, they have made inquiry respecting tic
manuscript! papers referred 10 in The resolution Of
| the House. Tley fEd that these papers are IL
possession Of his venerable widow, 10 whom hey
we're bequeahed, and who THIS possessing pro
perry in them has alone Tie right 10 dispose OF
| lhe:n. II is her wish 10 dispose Of them
| Tor fair consideration; aud she expresses
/, the desire that The Congress of The United Sia:cs
shouid become the purchaser. The Commi''cc
cannot to,tear 10 say that, in their opinion, i IS
q natural ami commendabie desire Considering
the agency which Mr.. MADISON had in tic for
NATION o. the Consiitulivn which bind, together
ihes, States in one great and poTertai Coni,dc-
Tacv, and considering also the pubic relalion
which, for 50 long time, be sustained 10 he
6 oveinment OF TINS Union. This heqrest can
alone become advantageous and thereby fn.6l
the afiecionalc purpose OF Inc Iesialor, by sale
OF these papers.
Locking atihc spoless character and emincat
abilities Of The anthor-vewing his disinieresed
patriotism and constant devotion 10 the welfare of
his COMMUNICATING his usefa! public lahafs
and The favorable opportunities enjoyed BY him
10 acquire and impart information, by reason q.
The conspicuous and important stations which nc
occupied, itwouldS eem unavoidable thalihe high
est interest should be excited in reference uail his
productions, and that there should lie strong desire
on The part OF the general community for then
publication. Believing. therefore, ,hatil.e people
of the United States would be gfaufed, and that
such publication would be extensively useiui,
your committee DO not hesitate 10 recommend
lhe purchase in The most decided terms, aGd FOR
that purpose, have herewith reported a bill
Ii is deemed useless 10 raise and discuss The
Question Of The power Of Congress 10 rlsae such
purchase Congress has established library
and has procured on It's account works boil print
ed and in manuscript. The question is al rest.
our fOI1UihtC viii dIPtHu 10 iIiN X Iit.t q
memorandum furnished them, exhibiting Ike
character and arrange merit CT these writings, re-
marking that, should Congress make the purchase
and direct the publication, The order II arrange:
rnent may he changed ii deemed advisable, and
such publication nav embrace The whole OF s..
lections. I he entire writings, however, will be
Included in The purchase, delivered 10 Congress
or 10 such agent as NAV be directed 10 receive
and preserve them until The further order OF Con-
md an shsDiuic md unconditional rfcI
thereto conveyed. Shoulo The purchase hc rleG:,
which the committee earnestly recommend, II Is
their intention hereafter 10 report on The subject OF
their publication.
Your committee will he pardcncd for MAXIM
in this place, an aliusion 10 a suggestion which
has reached them: that Inc purchase OF the "Ma-
olson Papers" 50 called, was intended 10 embrace
all The unpublished writings OF Mr.. Madison. To
show the utter tallacy OF such notion-io make
manifest so entire nislake-ihe committee re-
spectlully refer the House 10 the correspondence
and other matter prefxed 10 tie madison Pa
persn and they will be excused for inserting in
this report an extract from letter OF Mrs. Mad-
son herself to The President OF The United States,
dated Nov. Is, 1886;
"Bowever prevailing the restraint which vei-
ed during The life Of Mr. Madison, this record OF
The creation OF our Constitution, the grave, which
has closed over all those who participated ~ is
formation, has separated their acts from all that
is rersonal 10 him or them. His anxiety for l5eir
eariy publicity after this was removed, may be
inferred from his having them transcribed and
revised hv himself and. il may he added, The
known wishes OF his iilusrious 'Eiend Ihos. jet
iefson and other distinguished patriots; 10. in
porlani light they would shed Tor pfesen, rs well
as future usefulness, brs;6es my desire 10 fulfil
the prouniary obligations imposed by his viii,
urged their appearance without awaiting Inc pre-
para,ion of his works
Congress, hy The purchase and publication,
Will secure for The pubic library, and thereby Ior
the information and benefit OF The whole Union
The valuable writings of ore Of lis most useful
yirluous and distinguished statesmen; and IN
performing this act OF acceptable service 10 the
country, will have the consoing satisfaction OF
knowing that consequent thereon he legacy be-
Qnealhed TO one OF The mos. excellent, iDGst e.
leemed, and most deserving OF American ladies'
has become available and profitable 10 her, and
will he thus made 10 contribute greatly 10 the
comfort of her declining years
Nor reed any apprehension be entertained that,
BY this purchase and publication there will be ie
corded a pIecedcn! Tor dangerous examples
What o,her departed statesman ever vindicale,.
principles with such signal abiliiy-cver admin
is.erea the government with 50 mach purify and
success amidst The most trying scencs?-conduc-
ing his country safely ami glo'iously through the
perils Of war wa9ed IL ieieGcc OF nallona!
lieh'. and for The maintenance Of national hoDol;
and vet throughout maniies.:ag IN inyiGcib'e
firmness blended with rl'.dress Of character ami
remarkable exemption from the bitter aspcn.
ties tmerc party feeling.
MIR Madison was member Of Ike celebrated
convection in Inc cooay Of Virginia, winch com
msnced lis session in he city cc Williamsburg
on the 9Th DAY Of May, ITO. On The 18Th ofihe
same month he united in The adoption OF that
slfung patriotic preamble and resolution which
formed The basis for The motion in me continental
Congress Tor tic general declaration q. indepen.
dence. On The same day he united il lhc reso-
luton for The appointment OF cumm!i.ee 10 pre-
pare declaration otrighls and Plan cl govern
rnenl Tor the colony.
On June l2h, l716 he united in The adoption Ct
the declaration oil rights, winch, il aci, =
Declai alton O. Independence by The col ny OF Yir-
GINA; and on The 29h following Of the So ne
month, gave his support 10 The plan 81 Govern
nent whereby the colony Of Viigii:ia became a
separate, Tree, and independent Stale. So that
Mr.. Madison, al very early age, participated in
The formation oil The first TreG, systematic
Constitution, voluntarily adopted by a free people,
ever exhibited 10 the world. Lie participated aisn
and more largely, TOO, than any other member in
the formation Of the Constitution which created
this Coniederacy, which assemblies together The
representatives Ci dli i!e SldeS ant all lne eupa
of This vast Unicn; ard confers On Congress all
the powers and authority IL possesses. &. ad-
minisered this Governments, under The Consti:r.
ton, wisely, purely, and successfully. Twas his
happiness, during his Administration, 10 behold
our victorious banners, and 10 contemplate The
triumph Of our arms. 1t was his satisfaction 70
know ,ha, our rights aud orr honor had become
object. OF respect, as before they had been If in
suit, Ii was his enviable lotto live 10 IN old age
universally admired and respected By The wise,
The good, and The patriotic. Al lne period OF his
decease, he was The last OF the trainers OF The
Constitution Of tie United S.ales. II IS FOL Tie
intention Of The Coa:millee 10 recount HE long
and arduous public services OF Mr.. Maiison bal
i; was deemed mol inappropriate 10 aiiucc 70 a:cw
aooaymen 1 @ay have he good fortune to "o
upon bis like again" then, indeed, the purchase
bv Congress, of the works of Mr.. Madison, may
mol only be quoted as precedent, pu'' as sucA'
mar &c safely and profiablg followed
r. fr ARRANGED Ia