The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-11
GENERAL DROMGOoLE'S REPORT ON
MR.. MADISON,S PAPERS.

MR.. MADISON'S PAPERS.
The following report was yesterday presented
by Mr.. DromgoOe, from the select committee, to the
House of Representatives 1t does full justice to the
high eharacer ofMr. Madison. Few men have ever
passed through the fiery furnace of public life so
completely unscathed by all its trials this remark
able man. Amiable in all the relations of private life,
accomplished, he was astatesman, it is difficult
TO say whether he was most distinguished by his
ability or by his virtues. He was able a speaker.
He was still ADLER as q writer. His report in
1899 and 1900 is a monument Of his talents and
his principles, which will endure long the
stuton ITSELF which he assisted create in the fede
raj convention, and to interpret IN the legislature Of
Virginia He the friend of liberation in rel-
gion, as his celebrated memorial demonstrates He
the friend OF limited construction of the
slitution, as his report eVnces. lie was devoted to
the Union, the rights and the honor of his country,
as his administration tes,ifes We are not dealing,
however, much with his life or his public acts,
ns with his writings. Who had clearer views than
Mr. Madison Who had a clearer, chaster, and
more beautiful style in which to express his
thoughts The casket worthy Of the jewels which
il preserved; and these jewels were as solid they
were brilliant. lie had an extensive correspondence
with almost all the distinguished men Of his age;
and that portion Of his manuscripts alone, not to
speak Of their other diversified contents, is worthy
Of being preserved and Of being dfused through the
whole community. These are the claims which
the Madison manuscripts have to the patronage of
Congress. We dare not trust ourselves with the
character Of the lady who presents them to the con-
sideration Of Congress.
REPORT.
''The committee appointed to inquire into the ex-
pedency of providing by law for the purchase and
publication of the writings Of James Madison late
President Of the United States not heretofore pub
shed, beg leave to report, in part, that they have
made inquiry respecting the manuscript papers re-
ferred to in the resolution Of the House They
find that these papers in possession of his venera-
BILE widow, TO whom they were bequeathed and
who, thus possessing the property in them, has
alone the right to dispose Of them. II is her wish
10 dispose of them for fair consideration and she
expresses the desire that the Congress Of the United
States should become the. purchaser. The commit
tee cannot forbear to say that in their opinion il is
natural and commendabe desire, considering the
agency which Mr.. Madison had in the formation of
the constitution which binds together these States
into one great and powerful confederacy, and con-
sideriDg Also the public relation which for so long
time he sustained to the government of this Union
This bequest can alone become advantageous, and
thereby fulfil the aectionate purpose of the tesla
tor, by a sale of these papers
Looking at the spotess character and eminent
abilities of the author--viewng- his dsintercsted
patriotism and constant devotion to the welfare of
his country-regarding his useful public labors and
the favorable opportunities enjoyed by him TO ac-
quire and mpart information, by reason of the cor,-
splcuous and important stations which he occupied
II would seem unavoidable that the highest interest
should be excited in reference to all his productions
nd hp str Loci. ~
of the general community for their publication
Believing, therefore, that the people of the United
States would be gratfed, and that such publication
would be extensively useful, your committee do not
hesitate to recommend the purchase in the most de-
cided terms and for that purpose have herewith re-
ported bill.
alt is deemed useless to raise and discuss the
question Of the power of Congress to make such
purchase. Congress has established library, and
has procured on its account works both printed and
in manuscript. The question is at rest.
"Your committee append to this report memo
randum furnished them, exhibiting the character
and arrangement of these writings remarkipg that
should Congress make the purchase and direct the
publication, the order of arrangement NAV be
changed if deemed advisable, and such publication
may embrace the whole or selections The entire
writings, however, will be included in the purchase
delivered to Congress, or TO such agent as may be
directed TO receive and preserve them until the
further order Of Congress- and an absolute and I'M
conditional right thereto conveyed Should the
purchase be made, which the committee earnestly
recommend, is their intention hereafter to report
on the subject of their publication.
"Your committee will be pardoned for making,
in this place, an ausion to a suggestion which has
reached them, that the purchase of the Madison
Papers, so called, was intended to embrace all the
unpublished writings of Mr.. Madison. To show
the utter fallacy of such notion, to make manifest
entire mistake, the committee respectfully refer
| the House to the correspondence and other matter
prefxed to the Madison Papers, and they will be
ex cused for inserting in this report an extract from
letter of Mrs. Madison herself to the President of
the United States, dated Nov. Is, 1886:
"'However prevailing the restraint which yelled
during the life of Mr. Madison, this record of the
creation of our constitution, the grave which has
closed over all those who participated in its forma-
ton has separated their acts from all that is personal
to him them His anxiety for their early pub
licty after this was removed may be inferred from his
having them transcribed and revised by HIMSELF
and it may be added, the known wishes of his illus
| trous friend, Thomas Jefferson, and other disn.
| guished patriots, the important light they would
shed for present rs well as future usefulness be
! sides my desire to fulfil the pecuniary obligations
imposed by his will, urged their appearance with
out awaiting the preparation of his other writngs
"Congress, by the purchase and publication, will
for the public library and thereby for the in
formation and benefit Of the whole Union the val
liable writings of one of its most useful virtuous
anu, IN performing thlS
act Of acceptable service to the country, will have
the consong satisfaction Of knowing that, conse-
quent thereon, the legacy bequeathed one Of the
most excellent, most esteemed, and most deserving
Of American ladies' has become available and prof
table to her, and will be thus made to contribute
greatly to the comfort Of her declining years Nor
need any apprehension be entertained that, by the
purchase and publication there will be recorded
precedent for dangerous example What other de-
parted statesman ever vndicated principles with such
signal abllity-ever administered the government
with so much purity and amidst the most
trying scenes-conductng his country safely and
goriously through the perils of war waged in de-
fence of national rights and for the maintenance of
national henor, and yet throughout manifesting an
| lnyincible frmness, blended with mdness of char.
acter, and remarkable exemption from the bitter
| asperities Of mere party feelings
| "Mr. Madison was member Of the celebrated
convention in the colony of Virginia, which COM
menced its session in the city of Williamsburg on
the 9th day Of May, l776. On the 18th of the
same month, he united in the adoption Of that strong
riatriotic preamble and resolution which f,rrood IT,