New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-15

seubly one of the delegates to represent the State
in the Congress Of the Confederation, in which
body be took his seat on the both of March, 15O,
few days after bis twenty ninth birthday.
TIE Continental Congress, when ne joined It,
was in an embarrassing position. The resource OF
paper money, which bad been the main support Of
its authority, had entirely failed. The i"ue bad
been stopped ard the depreciation already stood at
forty for one scheme for calling IN the old
i,ues. and supplying their placs By new emission
Of limited amount, failed TO operate So did
another, calling upon the States to furnish supplies
in kiDd for the army The States or some OF
them. still adhered to tie issue paper money OF
their own. thus seriously embarrassing the faances
of Congress, and delaying that return to specie
standard Of value which was the first step toward
their reconstruction. In bis correspondence, as
well "a in Congress, Mr.. Madison exerted himself
to put step to this EVIL.
Another subject in which be took great inter-
est was the claim of The United States to the Mis-
ss.ippi Is q welttrn boundary, and the free nsyi.
eation Of that river through the Spanish territory
at it's N 1uth As chairman Of Committee, he
drew up paper in the form of letter to the
American Ministers at Paris ard Madrid, in
which TIL. claim was very ably maintained. This
document appears to hsve impressed his fellow
members with high idea Of his ability,
and lie was subsequently placed on oil the
most important Committees to which tie sub
ect Of foreign relations was referred. On the ques
ton Of Western lands, though he zealou.ly sup
ported the title of Virgin. against the attacks
made upon it, he yet always favored tie policy OF
liberal cession of her territorial claims. During
tie invasion Of Virginia, be e1erted himself to the
utmost 10 obtain from Congress and the Com
msnder.in Chief all possible aid, and also to dss-
pste those feelings of dissatisfaction which were
beginning to arise in Virginia at the idea of being
abandoned.
After the surrender of CORVALLIS, the efforts OF
the States to meet the acquisitions of Congress stl
further relaxed, and propt sitOn was brought for
ward, which Mr. Madison supported, for amending
the Articles of Confederation so as TO authorize Con
eress to employ military force to compel the payment
Of requisitioDs But, apart from other objections
the hopeessuess of getting the States to consent to
it was an eectual stumbling block in the way OF this
project.
Mr. Madison zealously supported the proposition
to amend the Articles of Confederation, so as to
authorize Congress to levy an import duty OF five
per cent, and was greatly mortified and distressed
" hen Virginia withdrew the consent to it which
she Lad once given.
In all the proceedings relating to the treaty Of
peace he had an important share. In the debate
which arose in reference to the conduct of the
American ENJOYS in go far disregardng their
il stIucticns as to, conclude q treaty without
consulting the French Minister, he spologi,ed for
the original instructions, though he admitted that
charge Of circumstances had made them inaplica
bic, at the same time dscamiDg any belief that the
entertained Of the French Court by Jay
and Adams were well founded.
In the debates on the claims of the officers OF the
army for hslfpsy, Mr.. Madison jealousy supported
the validity of the original grant, and as method
Of compromise, the communication of that grant BY
the payment of a sum down.
The impost scheme having been revived in new
form-a procedure in which Mr.. Madison took
very active part-and acquisitions for an additional
.um TO meet the interest on the public debt having
be en- made on the States, Mr.. Madison, Is Chair
man Of Committee of which Ellsworth and Ham,
lton we're members, drew up an eloquent address
10 the States urging their instant attention to the
subject of such provision as essential toward pre-
ser,ng the republican experiment from falling into
Disgrace.
Having been continued in Congress one year
Ion ger than the regular term of three years, Mr..
Madison finally clo,ed bis service toward the close
of 1853, having left that body while Washington
was on his way to Annapolis to resign his commits
SION.
His biographer throws but little light on his pr-
yate life and personal relations while member OF
that body. Being bachelor, and having no es
tate of his own to look after he appears, contrary
10 The prevailing custom, to have been very sssd-
nous in his attendance, and hardly ever absent. 1t
only at long intervals that he INDUCED in short
visits to Virginia 1t was lucky that he had father
10 draw on, as the pay allowed BY the State Legs
AZURE to the Virginia Delegates was not very re-
liable resource. When first elected, the nominal
pay of the Delegates was their family ex-
pen,er, including three servants and four horses,
house rent, and fuel, with twenty dollars per day
While in actual attendance, and two dollars mile
travel; but these last sums were in paper money,
bot amounting to much, at depreciation of forty
'or one. As to household expenses, it was neces'
,ary to transmit to the Auditor quarterly account
If them as the basis of an order upon the State
Treasurer, who seldom, however, had any money
fixed allowance, to cover every
.bpg, ef eight dollars day, in specie, was subst-
'uied but it was very difficult to get the money.
10 one letter, Mr.. Madison describes himself as
!. pensioner ON the favor Of HAM Solomon. Jew