Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-18
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER Is, 1852
JAMES MADISON


three years, Mr.. Madison reached his father
home at the close Of the year 1883. lie was
then in his thirty third year, and, III this
respite from pablic labor betook himself tt
the formal study of law, in which. without
ever entering upon its practice IN the
courts, he attained to a remarkable degree
Of accuracy and subtlety--a fact in iilustra
ton of which Mr. Rves recites the following
anccdote, as told of Mr.. Madison by Mr..
Jefferson:
Both Of them were members Of the Board
Of Commissioners appointed by the Legis
la,ure of Virginia in ISIS, to fix upon pro
per location for the University. The board
consisted of twenty-one members, including
some of the most distinguished judges and
lawyers Of the State. OF the former it is
sufficient to mention Judges Roane and Ca
bell, Of the Court of Appeals. and Judges
Brockenbrough, Stuart, Holmes, and Dade
Of the General Court, together with Chan
cellor Taylor; and of the latter, Mr. Phillip
c. Pendleton, Gen. Breckenridge, and Gen
John G.. jackson, as we'll as Mr.. Jefferson,
himself, who, it is known was u most pro.
found lawyer, and especially ,crsed in all
the law Of real property. Among the con
siderations presented TO influence the choice
If the commissioners, was the ctfer Of avery
valuable body of lands in the neighburhood
Of Lexington, for which deed was tender
H. The deed passed through the hands OF
the Judges AMI lawyers without criticism.
When Mr.. Madison came u examine 1t he
moacsty suggested qa"re. founded upon
some rather reconcile doctrine with regard
L. the Limitations Of real estate, whether the
deed was good in law. The defect pointed
Out was finally recognized by the board
10 be fatal 10 the validity OF the deed. and it
was 50 represented to be i'll their report to
the Legislature
In a letter written to Mr.. Edmund Ran
DELPHI, in l1s5, referring to these legal
studies. and to the improbability of his
ever max tns professional use Of them, he
said:
Ny wish is. if possible, 70 provide a de-
cent AMI independent subsistence without
enroun,ering the difficulties tnresec in that
lac. Another ofmy wishes Is I" depend as
little rs possible, on the labor Of slaves. The
difficulty Of reconciling these views has
brought into my mind several projects.
lie was not, however, left to linger long
in this state Of inacton, as the people ot
Orange called him in lisa 10 represent them
in the Virginia House of Delegates, where
he distinguished himself by the leading part
he took in the effort 10 build up commercial
centres in the State by restricting the Tor
cign trade To u few designated ports; and 1t
was in pursuance Of this policy that h was led
IL propose conference on the subject with
the State Of Maryland, which conference, II
i known, formed one Ut the steps preliml-
nary Il the meeting Of the Convention which
framed the present Constitution of the Uni
tel States. But he won his browning glory
in this body by his no less successful than
consistent labors in the cause of religious
freedom. A plan had been introduced for
the purpose OF levying a general assess
rent in order to raise fund for 1.-THE sup
port II teachers of the Christian religion. =
The bill after passing through several stages
Of lis parliamentary progress. was ordered "a
Lc cngrossed, but Its thild reading was final,
IL postponed mainly at his urgent Instance,
mnti the next meeting Of the legislature
la the mean time the sense Of the people was
taken on the proposed measure, III the shape
Of a solemn memorial and remopStrancc, =
which. having been drawn up by Mr.. Madi,
son, was distributed through the several coun-
ties, where it was rapidly covered with the
signatures ofthe voters, insomuch that, on
the re-assembling of the Legislature, the
bill was abandoned without struggle. II
is at this interesting point OF Mr.. Madison 5
life that Mr.. Rives concludes his present
volume which we cannot dismiss without
commencing TO the perusal of every reader.
HAPPINESS EVENLY DISTEIErTED.-l in
cline to think that were our minds capable OF
apprchending the essential facts Of the lite
we see, we should be convinced that happiness
j. one of the most evenly distributed Of all
human possessions. The laborer loves his
wife and children as well as the lord, and
takes into his soul all the tender and precious
influences that flow to him through their love
rs well as his. Food tastes as sweet to the
pownan as the p,aceman. Ii the later have
the danter dish the former has the keener
appetite. Into all ears the brock pours the
same stream of music, and tho birds never
vary their programme with reference To their
audience. The spring scatters vlolets broad.
cast; and grass grows by the roadside as wei
as in the park. The breeze that tosses the
curls Of your little ones and mine is not softer
in its careSses than those who bound over the
velvet u meet it, The sun shines, the rain
falls, the trees dress themselves IN green,
the thunder rolls, and the stars flash Tor all
alike. Health knows nothing OF human dis,
rinc,on. and abides with him who treats II
best. Sleep, the gentle angel, does not come
al the call of power, and never proffers ITS
ministry for gold The senses take no brides
Of luxury: but deal as honestly and generous
" by the poor as by the rich; and the Presi
dent of the United States would whistle him.
self blind before he could call our dog from
Timcthy Ttcomb.
FILL FALL SUPPLIES