Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-18
Reminiscence Of James Madison.

mcr OF, | think, June, lSjOl, L nappeneu 10
visit him, in company with his step-son, Payne
Todd, commonly called Col. Todd; .
Payne Todd, was man OF high culture, OF
urbanc and fascinating manners, and was the
only son of Mrs Madison, whose maiden name
was Dorathy Payne, OF Hanover co., Va hy Il
tnruler marriage with Mr. Todd, who was i M
five, or at least resident, of Philadelphia. -
Mr.. Madison became acquainted with her whist
\ member OF the Federal Convention held M
PHILADELPHIA in l7S7, and shortly attcr married
her. Mr., Madison had no children. and Payne
Todd was the heir apparent OF hls estate, wiilc',
was very large at the time OF his death: ana
but for Mr.. Todd's extravaganza would have
been greatly larger. .u
Todd was private secretary to Albert Gala
tin, at the treaty OF Gheut, aud announced the
Signature of the treaty between England and
America, at that Belgian town, under circum-
stances which gave him great ecat, to wit
over many bowls Of egg nogg-a Virginia drink,
Of which he was cXtravagantly iond; and IN the
compoundng of which, us will be remembered
bv many yet living in the county OF Orange
and elsewhere he was an adept. lie was
man OF infinite jest and humor and was not
only witty himself, but WAS the cause OF wit
in others Had he not been poor he would
have been Il man Of mark-would have taken,
high stand in the country, and have been able
to distinguish himself aud leave behind name
worthy of being long remembered.
But digresS in order to cast 4 passing trlb-
ute upon the tomb Of L friend who was not
we'll apprccated, and has passed away, leaving
NO child or relative who seems to have properly
understood or to have put their real value upon
his many virtues, his great worth, or his high
character for honesty, probity and intelligence.
In July, 1888, | visited Montpelier, the
abode Of an abundant, elegant, but unoStcna-
tious hospitality 1t WAS at time when the
tempest Of nuicatiou, raised by the State OF
South Carolina, and which had been so tho
roughly and timely laid by Andrew Jackson,
yet agitatcd the political ocean. 1t was well
known that Mr. Madison was opposed to nulll-
tcation, and that 50 was Jefferson, as was
;bund:ntly shown during the nullitication cx
citemcnt by his grandson and executor, Thos
jefferson Randolph, Of Albcmarle.
Thomas Rtchic, esq, Of the Richmond I'm
purcr, who was regarded as the 'fldlus An
chatis of State Rights, and who long after
wards welded the editorial knout of the En-
quircr and Of the Washington Union, had 1T
the time Of my visit: Just published long and
able editorial. in which he had taken the
ground that notification WAS not the rlghttul
remedy for infractions Of the Constitution, but
that secession was.
| had read the article before, but happening
to pick up tho No. containing it at Montpelier,
asked Mr. Madison what he thought OF it.
lie expressed himself, aswill be remembered
byall his friends with great caution as to persons
especially those on the public stagc-but as
to abstract principles Of Government with
which he was as thoroughly conversant as any
person who ever lived, he was as might Gc cx-
rcctcd, perfectly communicative. This arose
from his wish to preserve his dignity, and to
avoid being drawn into any controversy with
parties on the one side or the other; for he al
ways, after his Presidential term expired, avoid
cd the party topics of the day, regarding as he
died partisan strife with great aversion. lie
also deemed that it did not become him, the
principal framcr Of Constitutions and exp ound-
CT of its doctrines, one who had administered
the Government for eight years. the most q IL
iicult ofits history, without single intracton
Of the Constitution in ''onc jot or title, which
was his greatest glory and boast, should mingle
in such scenes as would expose him to crimina-
ton and rccrimnation
His was, altogether, the greatest intellect
that this country has produced, and his name
will stand with more truth than Burke said OF
Chatham, as 4
"Clarum ct venerable nomen gcAtihus
Multum 1T nostrH quod prodcrat urbi
Without further preface, which might, rs to
personal "reminiscences of this remarkable man.
be indefinitely extended, l will say that | ad
vcrtcd to the article alluded TO above III the
Richmond Enquirer, prciacng my rcmar ks
perhaps with rather too much fordwartncss by
the expression of the opinion that secession
was worse than notification, and asked MIR.
Madison what he thought of it, Mr.. Madison
replied, in substance: Admit the right ct
secession, what is it WORTH
The nadman exclaimed, II will shear the
wofI' \ friend demonstrates, and says -
Shear the wolf! Have you considered the
loly, the unprotitablencSs and the danger OF
the attempt p mo, says the madman, II
amnot in the habit considering anything otthc
sort. When [ wish to dc thing, my only IN
qury is Into the right to do it.
Now, can prove by the most hndoubtc ell
authority that have a right to shear the wolf
Man has natural right of dominion over al
the beast of the forest | am man the wolf
lsa beast. &c.; and have 4 right to exercise
my ownership over him in the way OF shcarlng
or in any other mode | choose ; and ii the
volt don't Submi. the consequences are on his
head, not on mine
So, said Mr. Madison, admit: to the fullest
extent, the right of secession. unless the other
States and the General Government admit the
exercise Of the right ofSeceSsion, warwll ensuc.
When war cnsueS, the question is not which
party has the right, but it is an appeal to arms
and the God of Battles must determine it,
The seeding States may not only lose the
L"astcd right of secession (the right to shear
the wolff, but many other rights besides
Having told this story frequently be-
lore secession, and since secession, and
knowing this reminiscencc to be founded
upon the great wisdom of the author
OF our Constitution, and perhaps Of the wlscst
statesman whom this or any other country has
ever produced, | am tempted to throw it be-
lore the winds of the popular breeze for what
II is worth, and in the confidence that, as, thc
opinion of such = man, it is worth great deal.
At any rate, the writer hereof has never
formed or thought since that conversation with
Mr.. Madison, it worth while to form any opinion
asto the right of secession. Ever since he has
considered the question as OF no consequence,
SO far as he or the country is concerned.
''FEDERALlST.