Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-08-21

arrest ~ tHlS gentleman, u DIotieI VI vi Shiovhi
fresh from the Emerald Isle. and gent for all tho
way across the hig waters. made bis appearance
here in the good county Of Orange, to Take charge
q: the homestead OF the great son III Virginia Ind
the au,hor OF that system of State polity which
DISTINGUISHED her in the great constellation Of
which size MIS- so long tie polar star-no less
than in the new COni.deracy Of which she is now
40 prominen, a member. This brother vi Mr.
Carson i. fortified with British protection. and is
merely here 10 take care Of the property Of his
brother. He is a quiet and unobtrusive nan; at
leaat hc 50 appears.
Thus ii will be se-n'hst Montpelier. dixie Non
t:relio, and a. Mount Vernon was. belongs no! to
a scion OF the proud stock in whose possession 1t
remained for more than y century, but has passed
int. the hands Of another, aud that other one. IN
the second great struggle FOR liberty and inde,
pendence, not even l. citizen Of our own gallant
young Contedcracy. nor yet Of the proud OLD
Commonwealth. whose sons deeds and fame
| make the place hallowed and consccrated.-
Ought these things 80 10 be- Ought
not the State which claims the fame
Of Washington. Jefferson and Madison rs the
brightest pages in her history be disposed to
rescue their altar from the reaping Of stranger
hands. and whilst b"a>sing their deeds and their
greatness be willing 10 become at once the
guardian of their memories and The protector Of
their chosen homestead The names OF these
men were not born 20 die, and if the a"hirve-
, nents f our armies in this wAr hal establish
tn, independence of these Confederate States, rs
by the blessing of God and the valor OF our arms
we believe will happen. then SO much greater
the obligation upuu Virginia and her Sister
States of the South to take into their keeping the
homes nf these men who taught Us not only how
To value liberty aud achieve ind peuJr;cc. but
also how to preserve these precious bonns when
nnce obtainrd. IN the great unwriticn future
the homes Of our Davis. DIR Jackson, "ur LIE
and orr Ieaurcgard will he rs the light Of the
STAYS to the great brilliancy and cffulgcncr of
noon>day snrs. when compared with nuI Wash.
ingion. our JEFFERSON QUE Madison AMI our Mon
rne. The children are but realizing the teach
ings of the fl hers. and, r. we vs!ra Heaven =
blessings. let us not be unmin':fnl If these great
ones who have made Us nil that va nre and
ripenrd Us into that state of preparation for all
that VIC hope TO become.
CoSCLUDISG REFLECTIONS.
In closing this. brief sketch, let me Say that I
suppose no mnn ever stood higher in the esteem
of his nrichbnrs and friends than Ills great actor
Ia the drama Of the Revolution. and the Govern
m"rt which it evolved. than James Madison
The Yirginians Of the olden days, OF whom there
are still 4 few remaining III this patriotic old
county Of Orange, always. speak of him with
feelings well nigh akin to reverence. II. WIS
CtlIlt'l'J, NUdDIt 'tIlu ki'lI, lHlt4lptII beyond
the many, yet always willing to be- instructed by
any who could give him anght that was valuable.
In hospitality. Astounding. In devotion TO his
country. faithful even 10 srtf.ahucgntiou. az was
evincei by his refusal in early life. 10 run 10.
office, which. ut that day, rs in III" present, too
often implied n resort tu many of tho lowest and
| most di>graceiui e1p"ii"nts 10 ensure succcsS-
Df,ncia! qualities. with fr~ ii any superiors; mn If
irct;oratc husband ard n ccn>idc1a'c neighbour.
h. was The i'rI of bis coun'ymcn. who sill de-
light 70 rccUun; sUch incidents in his life as
passed unLcr their immediate observance.
Sir. Madison was probably one ut III; closes,
ami most convincing Pensioners that ever lived
in America. IL is related Of him that jus; inter
the close Of tho session Of the cunrcItion which
framed The Federal Constitution and y mist that
ins,rument was yet nending before The people
for ratification, an appointments Was m"i- be
tween Mr. Madison, and Rev. John Leland, a
most Influential Baptist minister Of that day. to
discuss the question Of the adoption Of the con
s;it!'ion-tcv Mr.. Leland being opposed u the
raiiiication. Al tie time appointed an immcn>c
audience assembled, and Sir Madison, though the
younger nlTn. led ~ IN discussion, hEi rpvke
ior some time. with trOrc than his install force
and ahii'Y. hi;he conclusion of Il! Mliisrus
speech. the Itev. Nr l.. land M,s". and 81! eyes
we've turned towards hinl. Great. hCw-var. ~:s
,ir astonishmrut utihc crowd when the Reverend
gentleman announced ;ha. lie had M Syscri to
m0hs, and that whilst lie came there ! upIIc'l
Ia discuss the proniic'y OF adopting the I. ierH!
Constitution. vet -;nre h. had listened to Mr..
Madison. he was satisfied that # not th" best
That coui. have h"rn framed, it was certainly tie
brs, that could hive hrrn obtained under the
circumstances,
Though Mr.. Madison did not die until $50.
v"' he never risif"i Orange Curt House nitcr
Il,D ,l., L., . tio,, D., ,.i. - =. c,,,ttr
election. His lns, public appearance vas in l-:6.
on tie 0-cnsiun % the celebration OF the Fourth
nf Jnlv Of tsr..: wear. In -. Lafayette visited
Mr. Madison Il! Montpelier. 1t 10 represented 10
i,Rvc been r great occasion. The OrGrre cavalry
me, the distinguished visitor III the lower end If
the county and escorted him TO Montpelier, ~ here
a large crowd were in waiting to see him. La
fayctie. after arriving at Montpelier came forward.
and, though tho rain Wa falling ~ torrents, stood
uncovered ani made n most eloquent Speech
Sir. Madison. it is said by those who knew him.
never was known ~ miss Attendance on chtIIch
or a dining day, when in sufficient hral;h 70 be
present.
! have alluded TO Mrs. Madison incidentally.
i word ~ 20 her. and | have done. She is said
10 have been one "f the most elegant ladies OF
her day, and wGs so happily constituted that she
could ADAPT herself to the court Of the King or
The hut VI the Peasant She dirG in Washing
ton, where sle went 10 reside after the demise OF
Mr.. Madison, beloved by nj! who knew her.
Mrs Madison was the widow Todd when Ircsi-
lent Madison married her. She had one son. John
Paine Todd. by her first husband. She bore, how.
ever. no fruit to Mr.. Madison and he died cfidless
Between Mr.. Madison and Mr.. Jefferson; there be
ran in early life II friendship which never abatcd,
and which WIS severed by death only. And ID
Mr.. Madison's will il is d directed that the staff
presented to him by Mr.. J,~lTrrson should be
given TO Thomas Jefferson Randolph, of Abe
marie. rs wc!l.fnr his own estimate of Mr.. Rams
dolph rs for the high plnc" he (Mr. K held n
the affections Of his grandfather, Mr. Jefferson.
I could 20 on almost indeGaite!y and write
about this great aud good man: hut the space
I have already consumed warns me- TO desi>t
Ny excuse Tor wiring 1T nil must be that ] felt
.Ira; the public, like m scIfdesirnd to know some
rhirg Of the home mud grave OF that man, who.
above all others. shone so eonspicuois.y in the
formation of our system Of government and III
the developments OF our early history. y.