Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-08-21
A VISIT TO MADISON'S GRAVE.
FRoS OUR sFEcIAL CORRESPONDENT.
Army OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, |

TRoS OUR sFEcIAL CoRRESPONDEST.I
ARMY or NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
August is lSG%.
At this time, when the two sections Of our
once common country have appealed to the
sword TO urbi.rate their differences and to de-
,crmine The great question of State sovereign
ty, I have felt it to be n duty, Us we'll III n
pleasure, to take advantage Of II favorable op-
portunity Of visiting
MONTPELIER,
the residence Of James Madison, fourth
President of the United States. and tie author
of the great principles which underiic this
great struggle, and the place where he died,
The homestead Of this illustriOus man is tC
be found in the county of Orange, about fou,
miles Southwest of the Court House, on the
road leading frcm that place to Liberty Mills
The farm contains about twelve hundIe ed acres
of finely improved land, on which there is now
growing n crop Of most luxuriant corn. | find
by reference 10 "Riyes' Life Of Madison that
"the father of President Madison resided, dur
inshis whole lie, upon the Montpelier estate,
which became afterwards the residence of his
son, "a il lIud been u. his own father, Mr.. Am
bruse Madison" Tie farm Is Ill u high state
of Improvement, and lies well tur cultivation,
THE MANSION y GROUNDS
Fully deserve ali tlIat pen or pencil can utter
or express IN order - convey adequate ideas
IF their great attractiv:ne>s and picturesque
beauty. The house is much about the centre
IF the furin and fronts nearly due north. Ii
is approached By a route leading irum tic
main or plank road through a skirt OF wouda
and an ojcn field. 1t Is Il tu!ce'story brick
building. with two wing, the outer walls
bciu. coated win whitcTl"siering and ruled
black so rs to llCscnt the appearance oi a
limestone front. The wiug- were added III
the building by MIR. Madison during his lie
time, bat the main building was bullt by hls
father, and bears evidence Of the great care
and mechanical skill bestowed upon its con-
siru,tion. The building las a front iorticU
extending the whole length UT the MAIN struc-
turc. supported hy ioGc finely finished and
veil rounded columns, which serve the dou'
bic purpose IF giyim. the house the air II
great elegance and beauty. IL well ~ con
;rihu;ing 20 til" substantial comfort Of Is
~occnuaats. There is also It reat and most ser
yicca&le Though rot as shCwyl po;;ic" in Tie
rear part Of the building.
TO tie permission Of the occupant. aud t.
tie pnliicncSl g. Mrs. ra!rr. u lady who il
COW b@mi.hed !roia Baltimore. ani n member
Vt the household. | was Indebted for an IN,
'~i,crtirn Of IN. second OF main lIrrr If the
huiliinC. The par'cr is III the centre Of tho
binding. around which Oh II! sides there j. a
most convenient hal! or recess. thu. %iso!ating
this roa!HNrom all connection with other room.
= rhr huiliing. The studying roem IF Mr.
Madison was also painted ut. ard is now
-iH.d Tor tn" purpose Of = school room. Tn
hbrarv rooIn W. there. bar The library va.
gore. having bccr drvi,ci By Mr.. Maii>On in
his vii, n tho University II Virginia. The
dining ;all-n mos: s~raciOu- room in the
~icnt wi:E &c tie huiiding-hnro testimony
By is SIC to ii" hospitality IF him who bull,
I. In response +" an inquiry | WAS told tina;
none "; III" furniture. or ary If the appurte,
uanc"S &c til" L"usehnid. were in the pnSscs.
ION Of he nrC~"nt rcrriD>r'. sirc the "Snr-
"an,,cr vE Cn-uwalii>." ana yic :. HattI. Of
5untcr Hill" ~rc.t!cr # Which. low.
yer. were shown T.. :nc. Of thc
rounds and the Srrnnry. / carlct ID
;~ustict ~ e;ra the %faintc-t description. In
ron; and rear d; I'll" mansion ~" beautiful
.raS Y !awn-. IT, the ricAt q! the house, and
csG.ng To the ic"-hoGsr. til" only cut build.
~ visible IL You approach ;ir front Of tn"
b lItdin-, Is an a"cnuc .! pines planted by
lr. Ma ii.on himself: and Just in rear Uf the
'u!lding IL u most han'iSom" grove Of walnut
trees. and here ard there. scattered about the en-.
'.0surc, arc different trees ri most pleasing 70.
ia"c. and afprling delightful! shades. ] haze
mentioned tina tie Ice-huuse was tiC Cnly Oh;
paildinI tQbe seen in m approach to the
mansion. The reason of THIS Is cXplaincd hy
lie fact that Mr.. Madison desired that the
nam ci.icc should not bc marred hy the
light % any seeming cxcrcScncr. but that The
lrcllIng house should claim the wnol" eye
f tn" visitor, aud receive his full criticisnl.-
And yet 50 admirably arranged bv nature arc
csc grounds that all the out buildings are
within convenient walking distance. cxcer;
he kitchen, which is located on the first four
# the main building.
Everything about the premises bears tcsti.
nnny to the high stated preservation in which
he mansion. AMI, indeed, the entire premises
IRE kept: and | c,uiG bu: be crat;:icd with
.uclI artiiirimllv laid Oh; and magnificcntlv or.
.anged grounds. in Il locality where nature bad
'aceH So lavish with her rich and gorgcou.
mountain scenery tn swell tie importance ui
ne spot and give il now interest in the eyes y!
he passing pilgrim II Is Itself, an the spur
# Il inou' tam. amd on either side are valleys
rhich wind gently around; and still beyond
are other smaller shots Of mountains.
THE TOME.
But the t~hingstlat are haze all already been
sufficiently mentioned. OGiin who waS, or
rather Of the rcmnirs cfh;m that makes thi,
alacc go Dear III the eyes ~ every true fricad
0! civil and religious .ib-rfY. let INC spcak.-
About Two hundred Yards or more to the
west Of the mansion. in = lot Of ground. #
about forty ~ sixty feet il size. and entered
through n ~mal! ;rnH gate, are thc mortal re-
mains Of lanes Madison, who served as a
member Of the fr.r Convention Of Virginia.
1 member OF The Ccu;cii # State of Virginia.
member Of Congress from Virginia under the
Articles If Conirieia alton, and fourth Presi-
lent % III" United Starcr, besides being the
author OF the immortal and never t. be for
GOTTEN resolutions Of 'JS-'99. the groundwork
of our present great struggle. The tomb
"rlain one-is in the north part Of the
ground, and bears this simple inscription,
"MADIsoH.
Born March Il. l15i.
Died Juuc -. 1856"
Thus ''un&n1g,' hut not "uamsrt or aahon-
o1cJ," this great patriot and statesman sleeps
he last s!cpp Of Garth. Directly adjoining
the grave Of Mr.. Madison, is that Of his wife,
~l'h an appropriate tomb, upon which is the
following inscription
"In memory Of Dolly PAYNE, wife Of Jas
Madison. Born 9th May, LOS; died July s,
>lSl9."
The grounds abont the grave do not evincc
the same care and attention that character
;zc o:hcr parts Of :hc premises. still tic grave
ward is not entirely neglected. Besides the
grares of Mr.. and Mrs. Madison there are
some dczon graves Of Other members Of the
Madison ipn;Iy.