Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-02
History OF the Life and Time. OF Jnme. n"di

History Of the Life and Times OF James uadi-
son, BY uiRid@ q Rires, w. l., S"'f'" LEHae' B'o''" d
90, 1879.
There are three periods in the development of liberal
political Institutions, whose history appears TO us OF pre-
dominant value in considering the progress of the human
race.
The first Is that period of nearly n hundred years,
which elapaed from the establishment of the constitution
Of Kleisthenes, at Athens, to the close of the ~Pelopones-
sian war. The second, the middle part OF the scvcn-
teenth century in England, from the beginning of the
parliamentary struggles with the King to the consnmma-
ton of those contests in l6ss. The third, refers TO the
difficulties which sprung up between England and the
American Colonies, and the new principles OF Govern
ment then applied, after the Declaration of l576, in the
new States, in the Act of Confederation between them,
aud subsequently in the Constitution ofthe United States.
The wonderful impulse which the Democratic Constitu-
ton OF Kleisthenes impaired TO the Athenian people
that sudden and magical development which-ike the
tabled birth of their titular genius-tboy Immediately
achieved in arms and the arts-did not surpass what we
have seen with our own eyes daring the last hall century.
Nor was that long and arduous contest for liberty, which
Macaulay has immOrtalized in his brilliant pages, or the
results flowing from it, of greater mark or significance
in the annals of human freedom, than that later war
wRged in these primeval woods by men whose faces even
yet, here and there, are lingering amongst US.
This, too, was a heroic age. "GiAnts" there were also
III Jus -
of Jefferson, of Madison, ofHenry, of Franklin, of Adams,
of Hamilton. of Jay, of Mason, of Witherspoon, OF Lau-
rens, Of Rutledge, adorn the spotless marble with those
OF Kleisthenes, Themistokles, Aristeides, Perikles, Hamp-
den, Cromwell, Elliot Pym, Yane, Hollis, Fletcher, Sid
ney, Russell. Indeed, the epoch o. the American Revo-
luton, with regard TO the number of extraordinary men
shich it produced, has, perhaps, the advantage over the
other periods to which We have referred.
Among that long list of ilustrious names shich were
- -.
whose influence has been pre-eminenty felt in the insu-
tutious Of our country. Those three we're Washington.
Jefferson and Madison. The frst accomplished the Rsr-
ol1tioa the second impressed it, Democratic genius up
on the politics Of the country the third was the author
and the architect Of 4Dsried8 Nationality.
We have made the foregoing remarks to signify the
importance We attach to a volume purportinE to give Us
"A History of the Life and Times Of James Madison"
In early life, intimately associated with Mr.. jefferson,
his own home almost within sight of Montpelier, engaged
an public affairs from his earliest years, peculiarly given
10 historical and political studies. well acquainted with
foreign governments, Withdrawn for some time from po-
litcal warfare, and withal a man of a clear, practical in
sight-standing, admittedly, in the public esteem, as one
of our very abest living statesmen-the Hon. W. c. Riyes
will, we think, be regarded as peculiarly fitted to present
20 the public such a work. The general tone ofhis mind
has some points of marked resemblance with that of Mr..
Madison, and each has the singular praise Of standing
among his contemporaries with a private character which
neither prejudice nor malice has ever assailed, and which,
at least in these DAYS, sheds a lusire upon a life spent in
politics, as conspicuous as the pages Of Addison amongst
the coarse and ribald literature at the beginning of the
eighte NH cent Iry.
The volume before US opens with a hasty review of the
family and collegiate career of Mr.. Madison, and of the
events Immediately preceding the Revolution, and closes
with the Virginia Legislature of 1888, and the mastery
paper presented at that session by Mr.. Madison, entitled
a Memorial and Remonstrances against the bill estaL-
fishing a legal provision for Teachers of the Christian
Religion"
In 1870, at the age OF rs Nr. Madison took his seat
n the third Virginia Convention. 1t was that Conven.
ton which instructed the Virginia delegates ir Congress
90 propose the Declaration of Independence, aud which
framed las our author remarks) 'the first written const.-
tuition for 4 free sovereign and independent State, which
the history Of the world had yet called rorthr-the Yir.
GINA Constitution of l77G.
In October of The same year, the first legislature of the
independent State ofYirginia was convened. Here for the
first time Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Madison met, and com
menosd that long aud close intimacy which subsisted be
tween them for half u century. Besides the measures
taken at this session Of the legislature for extending the
benefits Of religious Freedom, that body also passed the
acts Tor the abolition Of entails.
Atthe ensuing election for the Legislature, Mr.. Mad.
son was beaten in consequence Of entertaining conscien.
tious convictions against EsotiHg at elections. He vas
immediately choseD-26 years of age-by the legislature
a Councillor Of State, at that time an important and dis.
tinguisbed position. 10 1879 he vas chosen by the same
body one Of the delegates in the Federal Congress.
~bere he remained until the latter part Of l7s3-hav.nr
b. a special act Of the legislature, been continued on,
year beyond the legal term three yesrs.) He was forth.
With returned, by his native county, a member Of III,
General Assembly-was reelected ia 1854, and In 1877
aud here for the present the narrative Of our author
closes.
10 this brief notice Of the volume before us, We can.
not Of course, undertake 10 give even On outline Of H.,
various topics which, a. transporting 10 the movements d
the army, in the parliamentary bodies Of the State. or 90
the Continental Congress, are 80 luminously brought un
der review. The military transactions Of the DAY arc
only 90 fT touched 90 - they become interviewer viii
the public career Of the main subject Of the narrative
there is a chapter devoted to the Virginia Convention O
RIO, and very considerable space 10 the various Stat,
Legislatures Of which Mr.. Madison was a member ar,
We are furnished with a full and complete history Of al
che important proceedings Of Congress from l77s 20 th,
close Of iTs3-the most full and complete history. A. ",
cUuoeiye, Of the Arduous and eventul labOrs NJ that au
gust body, which has ever been written. Mr. Madison s
dslneated ~ the leading character in al those dincu.
and embarrassing questions which. during those four iry
'ng YEAR, pressed upon this assembly ~iA such Weigh
of responsibility. Combining executive. legislative. 10
even Judicial, functions, not only did Il have TO struggI
against the financial difficulties Of the var. the cmbaI
easements Of the army, aud bc public discomfort. br
Congrea5 superntonded. also, our forciga negotiation
and bad 70 dispose, also, Of M those irritating natter
difference which we're constantly nriaied between Oh
different States.
Evcn after the war had been closed. the adjustment
che terms Of peace With Great Bnmin-the delicate re.
tons which We occupied towards Fauce-thc coutr1v,
with Spain about The navigation Of the Mssirsipr ID
ct-tbc satisfaction oftbe creditors Of tho confederate
particularly the arrears due 10 ue army-rcquired st
h,nds unusual dcHbcraion, and ruvirogci j. with din.
ths nearly o. perpleKiug ne those which bad besu s
mounted.
To select and arrange the materials for a history
these transactions and 60 engage the attention of
reader mon such a class Of topics, without becoming
dtous, has been she main portion Of Mr. Rives task.
In dscharging w. a. veil as In the other parts NJ
wort. ue think be has been successful The narration
aurulahy lucid the materials veil selected and
yievs 81 the author comprehensive and just. In 90
parliamentary aud diplomatic discussions, We feel Il