New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-15
While Mr.. Nadison's feelings were 90 much TO-


crisis. The meeting Of the ContinentL Congress OF
IVA vas followed a. in other colonies by the for
nation in all the counties Of Virginia # Visl,nc.
Committees, which were invested with = sort Of
dctatoral authority to look after the enforcement
! Of the non-importston aud incorporation agree
ment, and generally to provide the means of de-
Tending the colony, by arms if necessary, against
any encroacbments or it's liberties
Mr. Madison's father, though perhaps the largest
and wesltbiest planter in the county, hsd never
taken any active part in politics beyond the local
affairs of bis own county. At this crisis, however
be accepted the Chsirmsnsbip Of the County Com
mittee, OF which bis son ives aso member. The
first political document from the pen Of Mr. M.di-
,on was probably short address, in the name of
this Committee, aud signed By ts members, highly
approving the conduc. Of Patrick Henry AID his
Hanover volunteers in marching On Villa ns'urg
TO compel Gov. Dunmore TO account for the Colony
powder be h.d seized, to which was added the
expression Of an opinion that the blow struck IN
Massach lsetts-refe1ing IA the battle OF LeIing
ton-uas hostile attack upon all the colonies
alike and suffict mt warrant for res0rtng to yio
lent reprisas.
We are assured BY bis bographer that Mr.. Mad
ison had strong inclination himself to enter the
military service, but the continued feebleness of bis
health prevented him from doing go. His first
participation in any political acton beyond the limit
Of his own county, was as member Of the Con
ventiop which met at Williamsburg, on the 9Th Of
April, l776, and which assumed to itself all the
powers Of government. That body contained msoy
persons of experience and established reputation,
and being one Of the youngest he remained silent
bat not on that account a less interested mem
Der of it. After having instructed the Virginia
delegates in Congress to propose 10 that body to
declare the United Colonies free and independent
States, the Convention proceeded to appoint
Committee Of Twenty eight to dtaw up Declare
ton of Rights and plan of government; in other
words, State Constitution. Though not
one of the twenty eight originally appointed,
Mr Madison was added by special motion. The
Declaration Of Rights as reported by this Com
mittee, gave lin an opportunity Of publicly
expressing his opinions on the subject of re-
Egious freedom, and Of obtaining an important
modification of that document in relation to
it. The last article reported by tho Com
mttee provided for the fullest liberation in the
exercise of religion according to the dictates of
conscience UNPUBLISHED and unrsstrsined by the
magistrate, unless under color of religion any
man disturb the public happiness or safety Of
society" Mr. Madison did not ike the word to
Grafton. 1t seemed to grant as a privilege what
be claimed as right. Recollecting the recent
prose cutions in bis own county he apprehended
ALEC that religious persecution might still go on
under color Of protecting the peace. He therefore
proposed an amendment which avoided the use Of
the word liberation" and restricted the interior
ence Of the magistrate to cases in which, under
color Of religion, the existence Of the State or the
preservation of equal liberty might be m,nfestly
endangered Another clause Of this amendment,
by prohibiting peculiar privileges or emoluments
on account of religion, struck at the income and
the legal rights enjoyed by the Established
Church. This amendment did not prevail; but in |
consequence Of it, the original article WAS go mod
flied as TO declare AL men equally entitled to the
free exercise Of religion according to the dictates
of conscience"-the final clause authorizing the
interference of the magistrate in certain contin-
gencies being entirely suppressed.
The Convention, after completing the plan of
government, and choosing Patrick Henry as Gov
ernor adjourned 70 give time for the election of
Senate, itself reassembng to serve as House OF
Delegates, and in conjunction with that Senate to
form the General Assembly Of the Commonwealth
of Virginia The session recommended in October,
and Mr. Madison again attended. Mr.. Jefferson,
who bad resigned his seat in Congress, appeared
also az member, and he and Mr. Madison now
met for the frat time. AT this session an act was
passed, in partial conformity TO Mr. Madison's
views, repeating all laws which restrained, bypenal
enactments, the freedom Of religious worship or
opinion. The use and enjoyment Of the existing
chu,ches globes, and other endOwments of the
Established Church were secured TO the existing
ncumbents and their congregations, but the acts Of
Assembly providing salaries for ministers was sus-
pended-s procedure mairly due no doubt to the |
fact that almost all those incumbents were opposed
To the new order Of things The question of |
general assessment for the support of religious |
teachers was expressly reserved for future deter
mination.
In another reform which Mr Madison sought to |
introduce, not so much in the laws as IN the Gus
toms of the new State, be was less successful In |
the election to the Colonial Legislature the English
mode of canvsssing for votes had long been |
in established use The voters expected to be |
couIted and treated ard the,e prelimnares on the
part of the candidate essential to his election.
Mr.. Madison, under the idea that "the success of
repIese NATIVE government depended on the purity
of popular elections" declined this appeal to the