Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-02-08
TIE GRAVE OF MADISON

Mnrch ), l7jl, 10. S. died 2S,!l June 1886 Vrjuio
marks with sincere affection The grave of her ,,u.
tho author Of the Federal Constitution, the uar;,
aud statesman
The following communication presents n number
of interesting facts and valuable consideration. m f..
vur of n measure which should no; longer b.. ,!IavcJ
Virginia has erected no memorial in Lonor of Madi
son. She cannot refuse the simple tribute to his me.
mory, which is now before tie Legislature:
F1r he Eaguircr.
MONTPELIER AND THE GRAVE OF MADI-
son.
Mnssrs. Editors-The reference of Mr.. AmbIer's
resolution. TO committee of the Senate, nrdcrinr nh
enquiry into the exIediency Of apprupriang a small
sum of money to bu expended in the purchase Of II
stoae to be placed over the grave "f JAMES MApl.
son, induces me tn commit to writing Il few iacis aud
suggestions which may serve Il u.ciu! purpose at
this period
Three years ego, while visiting friend in Orange
county, We rode To Montpelier chiefly to view the
premises, and the grave of the departed Statesman
aud patriot. The grave yard was then rsolatc over
with weeds, and exhibited every sign OF neglect
II was not I" bc wondered at, ms the estate belonged
tu two brothers, one uT whom resided in England,
aud the other upon the estate, as superintendent -
Ny companion could not Identity h, grave, and rs
there Was stone 10 designate il, came away with.
out having my wishes gratiied La letter IL Il Rich
mond paper, these facts We're communicated! aud
they attracted the notice of John K. ThuInpsui Eeu
editor Of the Southern Literary Messenger who co.
pied them into his journal aud lniIna'cd that some.
thing ought to be done to preserve the grnvcu Mind
isnu from entire oblivion. Acting upon This hint.
after conference with sundry gentlemen oi this city,
u letter addressed 10 the Mrssrs Thoruton ask-
in. Il we might be allowed 10 place Il Smpl. stone
over the grave. In reply, We were assured that the
application came too late, as the brothers Thornton
had anticipated our plans, had ordered the stone. and
tha: Il would be placed over the grave within Il
|
tn. time.
us matters stood until the last year, when a cor
responder; "f II Fredericksburg paper writing from
Montpelier, called attention 10 the facA that the grave
o; Madison si. witlru; stone, tie Mrs,rs. Thorn.
ton having deceived us by the representations made
The parties then applied to Col. \. '. Scott for
the permission they had previously sought aud had
from him letter III thr-r words, written ir"in Mont
gonery, Alabama: Your letter of the 18th December
followed me from Virginia I" , place, AID WAS re-
ccivr two days since. |. vii, give grcn: pleasure
10 comply with Your request III relation 10 putting
stone the grave of Mr. Madison, If yom will allow
inc unite with you paying that tribute "rcsprci I"
! his memory. .nvc my assent {" n similar pr"p"-
/ iiun MlA!r 10 last sprn. by Mr.. NJ, with The
same condition. have hSn made th- same pTcp"si-
tinn the relatives "i Mr. Madison, between whom
aud myself there have been some Indirect r"nmun
cnoiIs on the subject and It is proper 10 say, that
can src no ilnpcdncnt in The way ni your undrrin-
kiii., except sicu might be mIripusrd by nhl"c-
tuliS from ;hru. wEjch might be constrained 10 re-
,prc;. shall be- ia Virginia, however. hy the first
81 January and VII! confer with 'h"m 'r"" IN" sub
i"c unI have but little dnUb; Of obuim;u. their
sent 10 Your wishes. In ANY .vrGt wi! .ai"rm y"w
ul their views {" the matter, aud confer w!ih You rs I"
I subsequent proceedings.
IL Is but >ihr act oi justice 1" 10" ocnt l" n'h'e
that 50 far rr"m n"-.ctlng iMr c-nel"ry, since Mont
cer came inn hiN p''s'>>"ii, r hHd II pax III "Fd!
last summer and contemplated IL thorough reHn"va
i"n I" 1I' rariy d!' rue inc 9"'" % III" ""r'S"rt
WAS "''i'''- "''' ''' ,'+"'r"r'' '"'', ' ''"t''.
"i"'+' III" /" WI, '''"''''' :" 80 i'' :" u ~"
one Mh'" ",' o"'h$ mao" "''' '"c '''''' "'S,''
L!i- III" '''"""'"' 81 az. -" '".c M"H pm" ~
!trr can pe Nv "I"' w" '',' W,; '" 80,
haiiS 'o"' ",i '''c "''.''I p'o " @ ,, ,,,,,,cr
Willie VIII oe p,%pery p rrtv TN, .iicr writer alluded to
WINS probably ignorant o the facts stated here and
whatever injustice his remarks did 10 Col Scott, WIS
! doubtless purely unuIeEtinnni.
III. shameful luct still rcnaius, however that Ma.
dlsun's grave l. without st"mc and that the
terry neglected, previous :he I.r"prieor-lp Of
Col Scott. cannot DE- i"uLl a, t" H." future. IT !.
very That Will" the present owner lives. u"
VII" wits the grave {" the phtriot nnd sage "i
Montpelier, VIII have chu-c - complain maj The bUrhi
piac: ia neglected. ad !; : equally -uF, ifi si"h"
wi! not long he wnntInc' I" mark In" sleeping !ar:
nj the inan WI" wNs IN 'i"h"r l" his S'h'r, ana me
! hunnrrd ui IA. nation. The iluh- must ana VIII he
done; huI, whether the money needed 70 accomplish
this desirable end, rlia be voted from the State fo'-
snry, OF be- raised by the voluntary hnd Tree offerings
| Of those who revere the urn.Ury and admire The
clnracr "f james Nadisun II IS wiih ;e present lc-
gi,ature Ia determine.
! That the money can be hal at n moments wnrn
Ing, from private sources. Tie present wT!ieE Knows
full well. hut that It w"a'd be III ei;er taste |" vote
ii from the pubic treasury does 10; seem To- ah't "i
dispute" II Is mnit"r III Ett!c moment "ne'IcF an
Appropriation tor TIL; rr"p"-" De made hy me Lrs'
! ih:are oT hoi ana nA''S u '"p ." 'I" ng'" """"-
nous ro!' ~ bot" hr3H6"'$ 81 Mc .l"fm"."' IL were
! better tn !"nv" It ani"n". That 10 appro?F'a'
! ilun could lie made. which would be more hearth
y approved hy all the people "i tho State, WI. moi
! BE- doubted by .ry man. WI" knows the l"v" n:'d
y.nernun with which james iis"m il regarded by
III" patriotic people "i The Commonwealth. There
cannot be- found, we honestly believe, one citizen "i
Virginia. in any section "t the State. who w"ni nor
vote with both hands, for un appropriation ior 'ir
! purpose Indicated
| Bu, W.. would not press The matter upon the mem
bers Of the Legislature, further than tu plead for spec
dy and unanimous action, that they vii! let II alone
altogether. Ii would. perhaps, be more grateful I"
the surviving relatives of Mr.. Madison, to have 10"
! matter consrnlmn:cd bv the State, but beyond all
doubt the parties who have taken this subject III
hand will never relax their efforts until his grave IL
so distinguished that it cannot be mistaken Tor G!"-
ther Its not believed that there any difficulties
in the way of the individuals VIII" "re enlisted IN ths
behalf which may not, sooner or iater DC overcome
hut certninly no persons Whatsoever would be enti-
lied 10 make any objection on any account whatever
| should the Legislature deem il proper to order Il
stonc IA ho nlaccd over MuGsons grave at the pub.
! he c.pensc No sentiment of delicacy pride could
rise i'm opposition, il the State he loved and served du,
ring his life chose To render tribute Of respect a,
honor iu the name and memory Of Madison now tlnt
he ;s d.aJ. TIN. fame of Madison belongs to no
or se Of men in Virginia. but is vested in each and
every citizen, and each or all may claim, Us Of right,
h, ,,r; viIers ,f kcepinr il green and immortal. Pc
rJ,. !, = tho nrovincn of tEn State which gave
',t ,,;or tn nrrs.rvc the record of The spirit
rh;cb cutn,nbs lis lfrless ashes
i .revant whether il shall be tho pleasure of
,h ." I.:;.n,mrc To order n stone 10 be placed
Wo,;i.nn'. crnve, or to leave the pleasant perform
'i''''. -. ,,,.r;nt;.u, {, i. LrhIv drsraie thn,
nocv sbnII rnyrrn thc selection OF the memorial
and The irscriplinn to be carved thereon. a simple,
soIiL durnbe stone, with few marks of the chisel
mI uuprofaucd by The tools Of the pnshcr, with no
| ;,r;,,;nn nil,ar than the namc-.IanIrs Madison
'. i ,,, =, Io ,,nst f,,in,s and apDrnpriaie 4
cn.tIv monument, elaboratey carved. would not be