Rising Sun Times, Volume 3, Number 145, Rising Sun, Ohio County, 20 August 1836 — Page 1

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SO M 0 tlvj M. s I WISH NO OTHER IIERAI.D, NO OTHER SPEAKER. Or MV LIVIXU ACTIONS, TO KKi;i MIXK HONOR FROM COnRCI'TIOX.

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BIOGRAPHY. JAMi:s MAOISOX.

I The following Hotrrnphkal kotch of thi ! it Insurious ir.iiivk'.uai, -was v. rittr n byF.ii k n j I". C'RArn, r.sij., ami is co icd l'nm the idii- j cinnati) Western Literary Journal : Jamks Maimsox is no more! i ct this j CVOrp' in!i st'iMiis f.i!e if tint ii-nnious ' whrn w l-nnw fl,-f Lci;ll . vUUoln- I nous, pure, immortal Ilis spirit is no more to us; hut it is with us, though ascended. It will hover over his beloved country with the tender anicy of a parent; over happy America, the home of his affections, the object of his patriotism, the sphere of his illustrious actions. May we never forget this great and good man. Slay the spirit, almost divine, which he breathed around him never die: hut kindling higher and wider as his name grows more -venerable from the lapse of ages, animate every child of America to a life like his. Genius like his, fortune like his, fall to the lot of few; but all may imitate his uprightness, his devo tion to Ins country, his simplicity of heart, his piety, liis consistency. Though we have not named half the beautiful assemblage of virtues, public and piivate, which were his, we may surely seize upon a moment hke this, when the nation is freshly mourning his loss, and party feeling is forgotten, topress upon our countrymen, as we trust we feel ourselves, a resolution to imitate those virtues and graces which felled so bright a lustre upon his character. Venerable man! Were there io other trace of thee left upon our happy country than the inemoiy and examp'e of thy pure and spotless character had it been thy fate to live and die in obscurity, unsurrounded by the highest honors man is capable of bearing, unblest by the deepest gratitude a great nation is capable of feeling, we might still hae mourned the good man to w hom, more than perhaps to any other we owe that perfect charter, which has, under Providence, preserved inviolate the liberty of which our lathers suffered in peace and bled in b.tvlle; when w e remember thai ail thy high moral energies, all thy commanding talents and genius, were for more than half n century, devoted to our national happiness and glory; when we see thee descend to the grave invested w ith all the honors which public and private veneration can accord glowing, even in the dimness of age, like the setting sun, with the glories of a long and brilliant career; who can id.icc limits to the deep-felt respect and sorrow with which we bid thee our last fmvell'. Filial indeed, ;nd grateful, should be the nation's tribute to such a man. Nor let us forget to add that in Miuov was seen the hizt of the Fathers. The last of those great lights which shone upon us when we groped in darkness and tottered in feebleness, and it was expected that we should perish from internal disease after having conquered our external enemies. . Washington, Jefferson, Adams, La. Fayette, and a host of others iiu ludingCarroll, the last venerable signer of the great Declaration, had gone to their reward; a new race had assumed their places a. new and swelling population had spread over the face of the land too secure in their ycace too happv in their wrath and power, to think of dangers to America: but one great spirit lingered on earth-a solitary representative of the granduerof character which can be wrought out in times of disaster; who had lived and struggled through scenes which made the world's political wonder; who alone could look upon his country as his child, and upon himself as the surv iving link to connect 'the memory of her gallant past, with the poetry of her great herealtcr. l.ven in a", he was alive to pacing events. Ilis celebrated letter on the construction of the constitution, w ritten in I ".11, wh.cn he had reached the advanced age of eighty, recurring to, and enforcing sentiments advocated by him in the prime of his life, is a master piece of political wisdom; and shows how keenly sensible he was to the danger of certain doctrines of modern days, and how sacred he held the duty of speaking to his countrymen, from his (piict but watchful retirement, what he believed the truth to he, even at the risk of exposing, (as the event proved,) the holy pca e of hii declining years to the harsh intiusions of party anger. That Idler caused him to Wo accused of uiconsistciKy with

limit;

the doctrines supported by him in his ccichnueo irinnia reso ulior.s and report in 17PP. lint this charge was tnumpnan; ly refuted by his friend lauisoh s l;te is vet to be written: ; ",dwh v.'iioev.:- undertakes it will have tm:th to do; as will rppearfrom even the very slight sketch we are able ',r' lie was born on the 10th of .'i.iiiiu I..) i, i.i ii,c coum v 01 uninw State of Virginia. His parents were highly respectable, and his education was that of a gentleman, Ilis domestic training must have been remarkably sueccssfid, aided as it was by :i docile ami intuitive mind. After going through, as is said, a course of instruction in the common grammar school, he was entered in Princton College. .New Jci rsey, at the are of sixteen. Through this institutioiC w hich has sent from its walls a remarkable number of distinguished men. he passed w ith reputation ap.d profit, in presuming that he availed himself faithfully of the means of instruction here afforded, we are guided by inferences fiom the great attainments and admirable mental discipline he displayed as soon as he w ent into the world. An account of the early education and character of such a man would be most interesting. The. American public w ill lose much, if his biography is not minutely and faithfulwritten, by some man of accurate and lofty mind. In 1771, Madison, being then twenty years old, was graduated with honor, and returning to Virginia, entered the office of one of the most distinguished lawyers of the Stale, the celebrated chancellor Wvtiik, the preceptor of Jr.KKi.Rsox and Marsh u., a good and great man, fitted to form such spirits for such times. How much of the after c haracter of these and other distinguished men may be traced to the lessons and example of Cr.ouer. Wvthf, it is impossible at this time to estimate. How much they loved and venerated his memory, may be seen by the language cf warm admiration in which they always in after life alluded to him. Rut few years elapsed after the completion cf his legal studies, before the profession and the public felt ! the value of his talents, and the patriotic x.cal with which he espoused the cause of America in her controversy withGrcatRritain. In the fallof 177o, he was elected to the legislature of Virginia, being only twenty-four years of age. Mr. Jefferson says: 'Mr. Madison came into the House in 177C, a new member and young; which circumstances, concurring with his extreme modesty, prevented his venturing himself in debate before his removal to ihc Council of State in November, '77, From thence he went to Congress, then consicling cf few members. Trained in these succes sive schools, lie acquired a habit of self-possession which placed at ready command the rich resources of his lu minous and discriminating mind, and of his extensive information, and rendered him the rinsT of everv assembly wards, cf w hich he became a mcrnber Never wandering from his subject into vain declamation, hut pursuing it closely, in language pure, classical and copious ; soothing always the feelings ol hisadversarics by civilities and softness of expression, he rose to the eminent station which he held in the great national convention of 1 787 ; and in that of Virginia which followed, he sustained the new constitution in all its parts, bearing off the palm against the logic of George Mason, and the fervid declamation of Mr. Henry. With these consummate powers were united a pure and spotless virtue, which no calumny has ever attempted to sully. Of the powers and polish of his pen, and of the w isdom of his administration in the highest office of the nation, I need say nothing. They have spoken, and will forever speak for themselves.' Such is the testimony of Jefferson. To proceed with the sketch. From 17C.0 (o 173:1, inclusive, and again from I ?3 to 173o, Mr. Madison was a member of the old continental Con gress, w here he took a leading part, and distinguished himself as a profound statesman, and filled several stations of peculiar trust and delicacy for one example among many other?, that of chairman of the committee to propose a letter to our ministers at the court of Vcrsrilles and Madiid,that thev might be enabled lo satisfy those com Is of .the justice andequify of the inh ntn.ns of Concioss, i dating (o the hound.i lies of the Untied btatcs, the navigu

i.iha;va? sati'koay, Ai -

j tion of the Mississippi, fcc, points viI ta to the inn i-pcfs nf our ecvriiv am! disputed by foreign powers. It is impossible tc calculate; the cd vantages secured tc the western country hy :his negotiation. The trials and rerpicxilics which tasked the patience, t be energy, the intellect and moral ct "!''' ge oi the noble body of men com;"::ii.g the oiu t ongres:-,u is not wilinn our power nt this day, even with a inii.uP: attention to hictory, fully to realize. It was the greatest assembly of men that ever convened and it w as among such men, that Madison was great. Hut the confederation under which this Congress set. w as inadequate to the purposes of a firm national union, for reasons well known. No man felt this,' inadequacy more than Madison, because i;o one had more to do with national affairs, or better understood thq policy of our country. The nation c,imc at length to the resolution (o fonri a newconstitution. They appointed delegates to meet at Philadelphia, in general convention for this purpose, in 17G7. Mr. .Madison w as chosen a delegate from Viiginia, in company with George Washington, Patrick Henry . Fdward .Randolph, John Blair, George Mason and George Wvthe, on the 4th day of Decon-bei 1 7CG. Pet rick Henry declined the appointment. On the 25th of May, 1 ?37, the convention proceeded to business lie minutes of this celebrated convention will be found in 'Kiliot's Debafes' vol.'?: but it is a mere record cf votes without the interesting debetcs which must have preceded them. It is deeply to be regrcted that we have nothing left but verbal reports of the learning and eloquence of that great convention. Let us not complain, however, when we have what is better the grand result of that learning and eloquence the perfect and beautiful oxl,titctiox of ourcountry an ;nstrumcnt,a charter which it is to he feared we do not, as a people, sufficiently understand and love. Those men were far in advance of their age. They erected a government for intelligent, self-d -lined people, such as they supposed their countrymen to be. Such indeed was the I ace for w hom they legislated or they never could have formed for them, or induced them to adopt, such a constitution. We question whether so perfect an instrument would have been formed and adopted now or indeed at any period subsequent to that. Children have multiplied too fast to be assimilated to Americans. The spirit of emolument has absorbed too much of our spare enthusiasm, and our chiv airy instead of being roused by the trumpet call of patriotic eloquence, erects its jaded cars only at the sound of dollars and cents. The spirit of the Revolution has fled. That of commercial speculation has come. Fifty millions of dollars expended on education would not bring the country back to w hat it was in 1787. Then great men

after-l,aid,a their selfish views for the

good of the country now, the reverse is toe case. 1 hen, little men imbibed the spirit of great men now they do the same but alas a different spirit! Vet w e have some hesitation in using language sostrong, when w e look round us at cur own queen city of the West, with her fifteen temples of Kducation, and her annual processions of educated children, increasing by thousands, and giving promise that the third age of America will be brightened by knowledge and purified by religion. Many revolutions have yet lo come. Cod grant there may he as many Madisons -Wash-ingtons Adamses ! Mr. Madison has a large share of the honor of having created and recom mended the constitution. In that con vention, his inexhaustible learning, his admirable logic, his w inning eloquence, his until ing zeal, his perfect judgement, his generous patriotism, all found room for their noblest exercise. It is impos sible not to believe that Providence reared him fur th.i.tMtualion,aud placed him in it. He is said to have been, more than any other individual, the Father of the Constitution certainly, he was its ablest advocate, ifs most judicious expounder after reserving to others almost an equal share with him, and to Marshall in particular, the glory of having with gigantic mind mid stainless heart, built around its w alls, in after years, the fortifications of a settled course of correct adjudication. In the fall of 1787, we see Madison again in Congress. He remained thcie

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but a short time, as he was called away in 1 703, to attend the Virginia convention for considering the adoption bv that ftate cf the Constitution. Here he took the first rank as a def rd.-r. in all its pa its. of tl.? t 'ins!itutin.n:ainst the l.'gic and e!--';uence of sotiie f the greatest men of that Slate; Mnd t'leie were giant:- in tt. e. davs." A::aiii5t ar:v other man the cle-mcnce of Pal i n k qnenee .' Scnry wvlu liae been overwhelmed but Madison ecu riered. and Virginia ca-iiC inloMie Union, lit Milieu's debates w ill be found but an imperfect sketch of these proceedings and speeches enough how ever to show something of the genius and pcrseveraiic 3 ol these two champions. It was a s;icndid triumph f intellect over prejudice. On the 4th March, 1739, the new constitution went into operation, and Madison was returned by the people of his district to the first House of Representatives, where he served his State and country faithfully and ably till 17.'7. During (his lime, in conjunction with John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton, he wrote the 'Federalist,' the able st political volume ever penned; the object of w hich and its merits are too w ell known to require illuslralion--being used in most institutions of learning, as a ter.l book at the present day. Its. success in removing from the popular mind all remaining objections to the Constitution, is well known. Thirty numbers of this woik.and the letters of "llelviclius,' commonly published with it, were written by Mr. Madison. It has been called the political Bible of America. On the fih of March, 1301, Mr. Madison was .appointed by Jefferson, Secretary of State; and continued in that oflice till 180r, w hen he was elected by a large majority, President of the United States. At this time the country was threatened with a war with Great Rrilain, and Madison went into office under the disadvantage of being obliged to bear all the odium of the war. The war question raised a most Utter opposition to his administration in certain quarters. But we can not state particulars in this hasty sketch. The feelings of that day are buried, and justice is now beginning to hedone to the virturc and wisdom of his administration. No President has had severer trials to his fortitude, both from a haughty and powerful enemy abroad, and an incensed party at home. Suffice it to say, he performed his duly to his country, and there is none to accuse him of wrong or weakness. His administration was brilliant and popular. He was elected to a second term, by a large majority, and the close of his Presidency in 1317, left the country incalculably more strong and prosperous than he found if. lie then retired into private life, being sixty-six years old. For nineteen years he has resided on his estate in Virginia, beloved and venerated by all, for his goodness of heart, his active usefulness, his modest dignity, his sincere piety, and his lovely assemblage of all those social qualities which hallow the declining years of a great and good man. Yet even in the shades of Montpelier, his constant wakefulness to passing events proved that his country was uppermost in his mind, and that his was not a selfish, a proud or an indolent retirement. Often was his voice heard in councils of wisdomtohis countrymen. We havealludcd tohis explanction,in 1831, of his views of the constitution at the lime of the nullification movement, recurring to and explaining his celebrated Virginia resolutions cf ?S9, in such a manner as (o strip that movement of the authority of his great name. We may add lo 'that, his letters in 1323, on the constitution, printed in the 4th volume of F.lliotfs debates; and we finish this brief sketch, by stating that in 1 3'2'.) he consented fo leave his retirement at the advanced age of 78, as delegate to the Virginia conv ention for remodelling the Slate constitution: The proceedings of which are reported minutely in a large vol.ime. Mr Madison died on the "28th of June, leaving an amiable and accomplished widow, whom all concur in describing ris a most delight All women, devoted by attachment to her husband, and diffusing a charm through every relation of life, and through every circle in which she appeared. A large number of private friends end neighbors, mourn with her the loss of this great and good man departed lroin among them. Ave can not better clo.ie this fee ble tribute to

his memory, than in the language of

inscription wino'i appears on (lie . L i- . I II I ioia ) oi iiu; e.o.-r .Aiiains, toe extent untrv . and el w 'lose services to ifis re. I v, eiiMiitv o! wiiosc declining veais te:i s. ,1 efiei sen's , ;V.x. ik W;i. ii. so l esembled Madison" roia lues I .vm t , , i a rl IP v il 11 ! i( s lean: , iviii l.-u.cN duaiu- Id art i t wi Iik I in n ; ; t t'n.-ii.i-lii Ii. ailh t'u: fv'ul .ua-r; si'rc, like hem, t!i y country ami Anil A rAt'i.T. Nothing inure common, in every day remarks, than to hear a person speak of the errors and faults of another, willi an evident satisfaction that they exist, or that he has been aide lo Imd them out. Nor are Mich persons often disposed to take the trouble to inquire into the: true state of the affair; but a bare hint or insinuation that such things are among the: possibilities, is enough for him forthwith lo give currency to the report as a most important truth. And w hat is also true such reports receive new accessions as they ;ire spread abroad. On the other hand, (lie case is rarely known, w here a good deed is sought out, magnified and spread abroad as a pattern for imitation to others. Such instances may have hc-n: but, comparatively speaking, they are raie; and when they do exist, the good action is rather considered public property than a cause of individual honor and esteem. These filings are wrong decidedly so and unchristian too. People are to much addicted iO tin; habit, or, as the phrenologist would say? have '-too great a propensitity" to hunt out and magnify the evil, rather than the good deeds of others. Hence it is thnt so great an amount of the common conversation consists in murmuring and complaint, producing in the minds of all, and more especially (he young, a spirit of jealousy and distrust. Such a course is also incomparably mischievous in the community, inasmuch as it secretly destroys reputation, under mines virtue, gives preference to evil, and engenders a spirit of strife and contention. Let the Christian, then, labor assid uously to break down this evil habit, this mischievous practice, and give not countenance, not even a hearing, to these surmises, although they may seem well grounded; for, whether true or false, to hearken lo them will only fill the mind with ideas far from agreeable. He should also bear in mind, that the rel igion he professes si rictly forbids such conduct. It commands nil lo think no evil; but be of one ?uW, "forgiving one another in love. boston lrumpd. Friue or ocr Fork mothers. Brad ford, in his 'history of Massachusetts for 200 years,' relates that 'in 1753, on the anniversary of the society for promot ing industry, three hundred lemales of Boston assembled on the common with spinning wheels! They were neatly at tired m cloth ol their own manufacture: and a great crowd of spectators collect ed to witness the scene. There is not, probably, so many now in Boston, who could uss the spinning tihccf, if they had it; and as for the num ber there or here, clothed in their own manufacture, But wheels were then things to be -proud of; and such spinsters as these, it, was, w ho cradled the l-athcrs of the Revolution! The following is one of the many good things from that drollest of eastern papers, the New Ipswich Nevvsjraf herer: I heard of a chap once who was fonguc-tied in his childhood, and his mother or the doctor, it is immaterial which, cut it so far that it played at both ends he would of course gabble like a regiment of turkeys. There, w as another w hose tongue w as so thic k that he could not speak the truth; pretty much in the predicament of one Rennet, of Fngland, who relates the. story of a man having invented a shaving machine which will shave a do.eit at a time. The lather is shot from a musket as they stand in a line, and fastened on all their chins at the same time, and in (he twinkling of an icicle. The. razor is not described; but it is said lo be a sort of perpendicular locommolivc c iroumbeiidhhus handsaw, and will shave; ten men, a loy. and a pig quic kcr than you cm say Good moininr-sir'

the