Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-15
MISCELLANEOUS
"REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN.

"REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN.
sY ARrHUk }. s-ANssraY.
JAMES MApr,oN-I Mr.. Madison, for the FIRST .lIns
assembled in 1929 for tbs of the Con
ati,uon of vrgins eH may imagine the intense curl
osity with Which gazsd individual 80 illhstrous-
Among crowd of gentlemen who entered the hall of the
louise of Delegates In the Capitol where the GonVen
non wa. about n de 1n e u
suit of black and now dusty from travel win
hat distinguished by the width Of It's bm and It's total es
arrangement from the fashionable block of the days In aspect
grave yet mild In air and carriage perfectly simple and un
assuming; of light elastic STEP and possessing altogether
approached by every one with an instructive respect
hough with that expression OF which was inspired
y Washnson0 and soon learned from every mouth that
vsn,on him. like myself, for the first time. He
looked to me like gentleman farmer emerging from retire
men give his important election, and then
He met his ends with courtesy. but with an unmoved
camness Of manner differing it seemed from that
warmth and cordially which usually mark the Intercourse
of Vrginuns, and OF Southern people generally Indeed
were asked point Mr. Madsons distinguished trail,
was this very qusly dignihsd caImnsss His of
mind seemed pleasant even cheerful bu, totally unds1uoed
ever self possessed sell balanced Wherever met him,
aftsrwa-d this original impression remained unaltsed He
was In all situations geDlemsnly, modest, retiring,
and, for so distinguished character more silent than
had expected He assumed the lead In conversation
and appeared always disposed 10 listen than speak
Nothing can be conceived moro remote from all assumption
and display During the whole duration of the Convention,
and weeks although of oil present. he
best entitled speak subjects such as those which
pied t thar BODY he spoke but twice; = n,, ,.,,r
merit obvious. While other members Of the
body the distinguished among the elite of Vr
GINA listened with respectful attention, but without
any special outward demonstration of interest. sooner
was Mr.. Madison upon his feet, than there was In
ordinary decorum of the body seemed forgotten; regardless
of all obstacles, made straight line to the spot
and he completely hemmed In by the crowd thai
pressed around TO hear tina, his small figure could be
There indeed for this movement be-
sides the homage which his character commanded.
Bile he was In his eighth year though his enunci
on perfectly distinct and the universal eagernees
10 lose syllable fell from him may have qrickened the
effort to DO him possible My professional
patton opened TO me- since it my duty take
down the speech but such was the interest felt in CON-
with all around me- hear the speech that with
difficulty could prevent MY attention from being drawn
from my task leaving listener merely have still MS
reetions it in his hand which keep with religious
feeling Of vensration. Connected with |. Is little anec
do characteristic In the highest degree Of the necklaces Of
wisdom which einsny distinguished the lus'rious
thor Of 1.-THE Fedsralist."
When had finished writing the Speech left It with
him for his revision Next day. great call IT,
and the report had been returned for pubcaon
my son with respectful NOTE requesting tho MS My son
lad of about sixteen (whom had taken with me 10
amanuensis) and delivering my he
oeived with the utmost potenes aud requested
into Dir Me- chamber and wait while he his eye
the paper; company had till that prevented his
attending to it He did so; and Mr. Madison pen hand
down the report The lad stod him.
in the speech M struck ou. Sord and SUBSTITUTED
another but hesated and feeling quite satisfied with the
Ny young ignorant Of the world and unconsc-
Of the soecismo which he about be guilty when
in all simplicity, he suggested Dora Yes he yen'pred
boy that he was suggest james Madison improve
men n his own speech Probably no other individual then
living would have taken such liberty. But the sage In
stead Of regarding the intrusion with own raised his
the boys face with pleased SURPRISE and said hank you
sirit is the very word !" and Immediately inserted 1t
him the next day. and he mentioned the circumstance,
with cOmplment the
fortibly struck while discha ging my daily duty
ths convention at The deportmen, OF Mr. Madison Pune
tua and unang in his attendance he always occupied the
seat, and do think that In that hall there
other individual who paid uniform and attention
the proceedings of the body Whoever occupied the floor
he of least attentive listener. John Mar
shall himself, did not listen with seadiness and condo
scenson the argument of Young member OF the bar,
land who that young member there, and did
feel with the deepest gratitude that admirable trait in the
character OF the great lurs than did Mr. Madison 10 the
speeches. Of grade from Of calibe the
subjects Of which complete himself
Perhaps the habit might have been formed when
himself reporter In the Convention cn formed the Con-
stituou reporter Is listener = ofesson he 10
tive par force and happily, 'H- in every other
involuntary and longconnuea iahc the back, by ucrci
full provision of Providence becomes fitted the BURDEN
He manifested very kind interest," and curiosity
to my mode OF reporting, often made inquiries on the sub
jec and referred with his accustomed nodesy to his
labors ia the department ~ observe said he
morning, "that often report the important
speeches 10 the FIRST persons that 10 what ventured
attempt gave narrative Of speeches. endesvoring
outline of tho arguments employed, but pro-
follow the speaker the find do
cndeavored explain 10 hG, the manner such wac
In which tried poorly and impertecty but with what
fidelity could TO give picture OF each speech as 1t was de-
hveed and he seemed much surprised 10 curn that
used had indeed ever learned stenograhc character
BUST OF vIRGlNIA.-A ROMAN MAlp-rhs
American Art Union has received from Florence very
beautiful piece of sculpture from the chScl Of Alexander
Gait Virginia son Of the pos,na. of Nor
folk 1t Is his first effort learn and has secured Tor him
great reputation among his brother artists We much
pleased with Its simplicity of design and beauty OF executions
and If the artist will pardon the uusiou. will mention
great satisfaction recognizing Its graceful nealcnts
countenance not entirely Roman. Lest should be mis-
artist Italian of any other country who has endeavorei
embody mpersonaion Of the object of his tender regard
The public will soon be g:ahed with an opportunity of
viewing the bust and will doubtless agree with in adm
ring 50 promising an effort In his line OF art
THE soLEMNlrY OF AN oATH-ons of those ra,h-
peculiar genuses known upon the paacicoa timber
getters down to the port of that with very val
liable raft of cedar and other timber that he desired
TO ship "for Cowes and Market" some other town Of
equal importance One Of the requisites 10 obtain clear
make certain oath before the Collector, for
which purpose he appeared before that dgnary who made
out the form which, among other things staedyou
do soenny that part Of this timber sought
DO shipped ny cut upon the public lands of the Uni
stop stranger What's tbs, you sayl mus, ,a1e my
solemn atfidasy to thu, ~
And that can't ship that raj, of milne i'll dcu'r 2"
And doss other tees wha, comes down her. with RATS
lake tina, oath ," "''' Wv"
Sometimes"
You may go ahead, stsangeI cam, loso that timber
It has got 10 &c shipped any way you can tx it,"
Uncle Sans land" said be- he walked Of after taking
the osh-how In thunder do know where his line. run
reckon that oath is nothing but form, how-Cncls SANS
land, indeed
CONFESSION OF McLAUGHLIN.-Wo learn from
tao Cumberland Civilian that Thomas Mclaughlin who wa,
hung that place for the murder of his wife few weeks
since has made confession the substance OF which appears
be follows: He that when residing at Brooklyn
he seduced Ellen Easan, and compelled 10 marry her
against his will he conceived great dislike 10 her. and de
serted her On arriving at Cumberland he fell In love with
another GIRL and wanted her. but prevented
account of his wife being still living OF whom had heard
unavorable He accordingly laid his plans rid
himself of her. He to her ard induced her
Cumberland He then proceeded to engage accomplish
in the intended murder He succeeded in this Every
thing being ready he started from Cumberland with his wife
on foot and abnu, ngh;fa reached the vicinity Of Section
No. 81 where the murder committed, as ne asserted by
his accomplish, he being some distance Oh at the tine
They then buried the body where afterwards scented
out BY tine dogs Who the accopce DO persisted IN
refusing 70 state.