Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-01-21
For the Wheeling lnelligencer 9
Madison The ,,Perilous Times of 'e7--The
Union ts
BY EDWARD TURNER.

that great cynosure whose steady light has, thus
far led the American Nation in the path Of pros
perity and fams-there are none. who, in the at
traction of ourregard, claim more particular no
tice than James Madison the fourth President of
the Republic. In early life,a attired as an UMPIRE
tending citizen, he presented himself before his
countrymen with cyclopoedia whose extensive
domain, from the centre to the circumference, he
explored and measured in every degree with an ex-
quisiteness, which, leaving nothing pretermitted,
fortified the powers of his mind when he and his
compatriots sought and discovered that long des-
red polity, which, philanthropists of the Eastern
Continent had deemed to exist only in the fanciful
regions of Ethiopia. ra
He for the first time in u long and dreary space
of many centuries, if we may except the halcyon
lays of Isreal, assisted in raising the curtain, and
exhibited the arcanum Of mans civil rights embod-
led in regularity, adorned with the graces of beauty
and strengthened with all the attributes of improv
cd intellect-when, lol the American Constitution
sprang into life, Minerva-lke, from the collected
wisdom Of the Western world!
In thus introducing the name Of Mr.. Madison,
are reminded of the darker days OF Republi
canism, when its opponents "practised in various
ways unwarrantable concealments and msrepre-
in order to beget against the plan of the conven-
ton, the disapprobation of the people. r,,.r.
These Were perilous times indeed! the United
States hung loosely together-the war of the Revo-
luton, which was the coherent principle and COM
mon bond of The Confederacy, had ceasedi trade
was in languishing condition; and, the voice of
treason heard coming up with the chilling
blasts of discomfort. In the graphic language of
Hamilton, whose noble heart was full of bright
hopes in the gloomest hour of that critical PERIOD
''the practices on the part of the State Govern
'ments had undermined the foundations OF proper
''ty and credit; had planted mutual distrust in the
''breastS of all classes of citizens; and had occa
"sioned an almost universal proStraton of morals;"
and, if to prove how high the rancorous spirit of
party, at times, raise opposition to the best eff
forts for the promotion of the national welfare he
same statesman has informed us, that, 'the charge
of conspiracy against the liberties OF the people
was indiscrimnately brought against the advocates
OF the PLAN" or, in other words OF that ConStitu
ton, which Washington remarked in the letter OF
the Convention to the President of Congress, "was
s'the result ola spirit of amiy, and of that mutual
difference and concession which the peculiarly of
''our political situation rendered Indispensable"
and under the egs OF which now live in the
lruition of liberty!
TWAS then, that Madison and his coajutors, Ham
ilon and Jay, faithfully adhered TO the only true
happiness and gl0ry OF their country i'll successful
ly defending "the plan of the Convention" against
tho attacks OF its overt and secret foes in those ad
nsirable papers, where in depth OF thought with an
almost intermediate learning which calls the pages
of history, ancient and modern, and presents, "like
apples fgod in pictures OF silver" the fifty cho-
sen parallel OF contested case, and happy eluci-
dation, which with mathematical certainty receives
the ready assent of the student, produced and
delivered with the ease and eloquence of the ora
tor, the deep investigation of the philosopher and
the sanctifed desire OF the patriot
Verify, we may learn profitable lesson, and re-
ceive encouragement from this history of the past
to preserve with unweared and patriotic zeal in
the continuance of this potent Union whose two
shores, receiving the salutation of the Allan
tic and Pacific wa:crs, invite oppressed nations to
the banquet Of freedom; in calming the SWOLLEN
waves OF political Strife which, ct times, threaten
with portentous aspect to submergc its foundation;
III erecting barrier 10 the destructive progress Of
RIGHTEOUSNESS, which shall signify to all men in
future "thus far shalt thou come and no farther"
and asking for it the perpetual benson CT Heav-
en-! ..-.- ... u.-
Let IFS initiate the virtues of those great men in
whose hearts there one feeling, which always
appeared paramount to all others-the love of the
Union. The polished pen of the virtuous and
talented Jay thus nscrbes the sentiment in one OF
his most touching appeals:-"This country and
this people seem TO have been made for each other,
and it appears if it was the design of Providence
that an inheritance so proper and convenient for
band of brethren, united to each other by the
strongest ties, should never be split into number
of unsocial, jealous and alien sovereigntes."
Madison-after having seen the great creation OF
American genius fairly applied and tested; the
beneficial results derived from it to the people in
the revival of all the industrial departments no
longer mere speculation, and confidence reposed
in government whose wisdom and stability could
not be doubted-became deeply absorbed in con-
teinplating the future glories Of his country; and
in later times, when part of the scroll of that
meditated future in its evolution passed before
him, the bright visions of his earlier days were
realized, and the grand and wondrous conceptions
of his truly American mind matured into perfect
birth. as star after star assembled above the horizon
from lis territorial sphere, to its destined place in
the more radiant one OF the constellation of the
Union.
In the circuit of few more years, he saw from
the Presidential chair, the hostile standard of an
arrogant and puissant nation with its numerous
and disciplined followers fall be fore the American
bayonet, the CLEAN OF which, in the smoke and
din of battle, guided his countrymen to victory
Then, as his enraptured view extended, he beheld
in the distance infant navy, that Lad gone forth
to meet 'tthe mistress OF the SEAS" returning with
the trophies Of successful conflicts. in which her
Wanted invinciblity was dispelled before the in
fuence ofits superior skill and prowess.
These are the recollections of the Nation-the
heir-looms of the American Fraternity may their
lustre never be lost in the gloom of disunion.
Wheeling, Va, January 20, 1853.