The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-10-31
LETTER FROM Mr.. MARYE
lie Writes Of Madison and Jefferson.
Washington, OF. p, 100.

" ttt't'tffrr ff'ff
To The Free Lance:
Theirs was the giant laor before tho
flood. Milton.
I'm 1879. Henry Clay. AT that tim" the
most distinguished American. IN "A com
parison oi Jefferson and Madison. pre-
ierred Madisonand pronounced him utter
Washington our greatest statesman and
first political writer lie thought Jeti"i-
son had mor genius, Madison mon
Judgment aud common sen-e; jefferson
a visionary and theorlst, often betrayed
hv his enthusiasm into rash aud lmpru-
dent and impracticable measures, Madi-
son cool, d>passionate. practical, sale.
In this critical age. when the estimate
Oi so many historical characters are be-
ing recast and readjustcd, Madison +
name is writ large.
I'm the Virginia convention OF lao,
Madison anticipated Jefferson 10y ten
years. when De- moved a. an amendment
10 Sec. Is of George Musons Bill OF
Rights. that no man or class of men
ought, on account of religion, To bc IN
vested with peculiar cmoluments or
privileges.
A. lar back as 1881. iu the Continental
Congress. Madison was the soul oi the
argument that cnated our tariff system.
Madison was iu active sympathy with
Jefferson. Mason and Edmund Randolph
upon the dcsirability of emancipation
from slavery.
He was also the originator of the An-
nauOli. convention. which bed tD tllr Con
-titutional convention ot lISt. of which
he was "the father.
Oi this body "a member wrote.
lin the management of every great
question Boz evidently took the lead IN
the convention Every person seemed Ia
ncbuowIedge his greatness. lle blended
tine great politician withthe scholar II,
always came forward the best informed
man of any point 100 debate.
Of Madison gnat speech. in answer
to Edmund Randolph. iu thr \irglnm
convention of '~1-~. John Marshall Wlu
listened toit. said. "ll convincing i~ elo.
gnruce boz WAS thr most eloquent man
ever heard
lu thr discussion OF Hamilton bank
hul 300 1851 t2d Gong E.huder 'iHN
described Madison a- the original stock
from which an other arguments We're
gratis. aud. hy-tue-Way. an extract
from speech oi Madison against the
bin will afford taste of his quality. lle
thought the bill was condemned 10y the
silence OF the constitution. was condemn-
el hy the rule oi Interpretation arising
out of the constitution. was condemned
by its tendency tOdr~troy the main char
actefisiic~ of the constitution. was con
demued by the eNpu-itions oi the friends
of the constitution. whilst depending be-
fore the public. was condemned 10y the
apparent intention OF the parties which
ratified thecOn-tiiution, was condemned
by the explanatory amendments pro-
posed hy Congress themselves % the con
-ututiou. and hc hoped n would receive
its final condemnation 10y the vote
oi this House
II doubt ii there i- passage of equal
length in Demosthemes Oi more pith and
momentL
When John Taylor, Of Caroline, intro
duced in the Legislature The Virginia
Resolutions OF 7gs. written 10y Madi-
son. the latter had not seen Mr.. Jefier'
son draft OF "The Kentucky ResOlu-
tions. These Went beyond the scope OF
the Virginia Resolutions. and proved
somewhat embarrassing bye aud bye.
Upon Madison's long and celebrated due
with Patrick Henry the latters own
commentary was his own entire conyer-
sion to and championship OF Madison :
view.
Perhaps the highest tribute ever paid
to Madison. or at least the tribute most
priced by him. was Jefierson's avowaI
that Madison ought to be the successor
of Washington in the Presidency.
A. :. Marye.