Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-08-25
From Randall's Life of Jefferson.
JEFFERSON AND MADISON COMPARED.

A correspondence Of free and closely con-
fdential character in regard to measures of
government continued to be maintained be-
tween the late and acting president-the only
example of the kind, it is believed, in our
history. The relations which existed between
jefferson and Madison were not those merely
of kindred politicians. who had acted long
and harmoniously together. or of every day
social friends. The were the strongest ties
which can knit those of the sex togeth
er-similar principles. similar intellectual Ca
pacities, similar degrees Of knowledge, simI-
lar tastes and views, and finally similar per-
sonal interests-for with so general concur
renee on political questions, the public for
tunes of the men had become necessarily en-
barked in the same bottom. They were Just
far enough removed from each other by the
difference of age aud experience for one to
naturally lead and the other to gracefully fol-
! low: and yet they were not sufficiently apart
| to bring the dissimilar feelings of widely sep
arated epocLs of life into inharmonious con-
tact Madison was still in the full meridian
| of manhood, (590 Jefferson had not passed
the mellow autumn of old age, (66.)
There were enough minor contrasts in their
mind and manners to give an agreeable pi-
| quancy to their intercourse Madison was
| purely reasoncr; he was an unrlvaled logl
! clan Jefferson could reason if the occasion
demanded; but it was rather his taste and
habit to reflect silently, and only announce
naked and scntentious conclusions. lie wa!
averse to personal augmentation, and he alb
horred it when it approached the precincts o
controversy 1t has often been said that Mad
ison was shade the most conservative Ht
was naturally, probably, several shades more
conservative, and he had far more caution
He struck not out on so bold a wing int
theory-conformed not practice to theory s.
fearlessly and had not the same daring decis
ion to defy the world on the strength of al
He had less nerve, less of that force of viii
which sweeps along everything in It's course
less marked and salient points of every de
scription. He also had less genius Blu
< Mr. Madison had equal talent, sufficienc
of passive firmness, more circumspection, an
t if he did not naturally and resistlessly contrc
the portion of society inclined towards hi
views, he did not rouse war, adtaternectc
nem with the other portion by his ooldne:
t and vehemency of his antagoulsm.
Jefferson was one of the kindcst-hearte
S and most philanthropic men of his time, br
he stands carcatured in the minds of man
e candid persons into personifcation of into
v erance, nay, ferocious bigotry, because he a
S ways spoke out and wrote out all he though
o at the moment. His language never he
g from view fiery tinge of the feeling that d
: tated it; he never smothered either the spar
e or the flame. There was special excuse fl
e him He was engaged in contest with
party who had without pl ovocation TRANSFER
- ded all the decencies of civilized life in the
IL assaults on him, and to whose false, coars
t, malignant. insulting and persistent aceus
IS tions his own replies were only the milk
o retaliation John Adams was well abus
1T man, but the depraved ingenuity of his to
d mentors never invaded the domestic circle,
" strike at him through the feelings of his ch
dren-to charge him with practices with
q that circle, and under the knowledge OF
II daughters, which of all others, would ha
IF been most revolving to the pride of woma
i'll hood the most lacerating to the respect a
tenderness of 6iial love.
N The persecution and calumny which dog
x Jefferson to the grave, and did not even til
d cease fell lightly on Madison There we
lie perhaps, t1o or three reasons for this. T.
t. haps MIR. Jefferson's adversaries had at lens