The Portland daily press., 1863-05-29
"reminiscences of MIR. Madison.

The Portsmouth Chronicle recently pub
lished some personal recollections of Presi-
dent Madison, by Paul Jennings, his body SER
want, now living. In one of his sketches
Jennings says:
Mr.. Madison, think, was one of the best
men that ever lived. l never saw him in a
passion, and never knew him to strike slave.
although he had over one hundred: neither
would he allow the overseer to do it. When
ever any slaves were reported to him as steal
ing or cutting up" badly, he would send for
them and admonish them privately, and never
mortify them by doing it before the others.
They generally served him very faithfully.
He was temperate in his habits. l don't think
he drank quart of brandy in his whole life.
he ate light breakfasts and no suppers. but
rather hearty dinner, with which he took in
variably but one glass of wine. When he had
hard drinkers at his table, who would put away
his choice Madeira pretty freely, in response
to their humorous toasts, he would Just touch
the glass to his lips, or dilute it with water.
as they pushed about the decanters. For the
last fifteen years OF his life he drank no wine
at all.
After the news of peace, and of General
Jackson's victory at New Orleans, whic h
reached here about the same time, there wer e
great Examinations. We moved into the sSey
EN- Buildings corner of 10Th street and Penn
sylvania Avenue, and while there, General
Jackson came On with his wife, occasionally
many dinner parties and levees, every We'd
nesday evening, at which wine, punch, coffee,
ice cream, &C., were literally served, unlike
the present custom. te
While Mr.. Jefferson was President he and
MIR. Madison then his Secretary of STATED
were extremely intimate; in fact, two brothers
could not have been more so. Mr. J. always
stopped over night at Mr.. Madson's, in going
to and returning from Washington.
have heard Mr.. Madison say, that when he
went to school, he cat his own wood for exer-
else. He often did it also when at his farm in
Virginia. He was very neat, but never extrav-
agant in his clothes. He always dressed wholly
In black-coat, breeches, and silk stockings.
with buckles in his shoes and breeches. He
never had more than one suit at time. He
had some poor relatives that he had to help,
and wished TO set them an example of economy
in the matter of dress. He was very fond of
horses, and an excellent Judge of them. and
no jockey ever cheated him. He never had
less than seven horses in his Washington sta
bles while President.
After Mr.. Madison retired from the Pres
idency, in 1917, he invariably made visit
twice year to Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING
stopping two or three weeks till Mr.. Jeffer-
sons death, in 1926.
was always with Mr.. Madison till he died.
and shaved him every other day for sixteen
years. For six months before his death, he
was unable to walk, and spent most of his
time reclined on couch; but his mind was
bright and with his numerous visitors he
talked with as much animation and strength
ofvoice as ever heard him in his best days.
l was present when he died. That morning
Sukey brought him his breakfast, as usual.
He could notswallow. His niece, Mrs. Willis,
said, what is the matter, Uncle James p"
Nothing more than change of mind, nv
dear" His head instantly dropped. and he
ceased breathing as quietly as the snuffof can
die goes out. He was about eighty -four years
old, and was followed to the grave by an i'm
mense procession of white and colored peo-
pie. The pail bearers were Gov Barbour.
Philip 7. Barbour, Charles p Howard. and
Reuben Conway; the two last were neighbor-
ing farmers.