Union in religious sentiment begets a surprising confidence, and ecclesiastical establishments tend to great ignorance and corruption, all of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects." No form of tyranny is so revolting to human nature as that exercised over the mind; and no tyranny exercised over the mind of man is so abominable as that which seeks to enslave the conscience in matters of religion. That the persecution of other sects by the established church, under the sanction of law, roused the clear religious convictions of Mr. Madison, was in great part due to the principles he had developed in his college life-principles that stopped at nothing less than absolute freedom of mind, body, and estate When the legislature of Virginia met in May, 1774, and received news of the closing of the port of Boston and the removal of the custom house to Salem, in unison with the spirit pervading the entire country at the time, that body strongly condemned the retaliatory measures of the mother country, and passed resolutions setting apart the 1st of June as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. As soon as these facts came to the ear of the royal governor, Lord Dunmore, he dissolved the house of burgesses. This act did not have the effect to intimidate the members, who soon reassembled in the "Apollo," the long private room of the Raleigh tavern, and there formed themselves into a voluntary association to "deliberate on those general measures which the united interests of America may, from time to time require." At a subsequent meeting a resolution was passed inviting the other colonies to a congress to be holden for consideration of the grave subjects then at issue. At the same time a convention was called, to meet at Williamsburg on the 1st of August following, to appoint delegates to the general congress. On the 5th of September the congress met at Philadelphia, and took steps that eventually led to the declaration of independence. While the congress was yet in session the troops of Virginia, by a hard-fought battle at Point Pleasant, conquered the Indians who had for years been committing devastation on her borders. The campaign which had been so decisive in disposing of the lurking foe in the west, was concluded none too soon. The events that had already taken place had aroused in the people a demand for war, and the work of embodying and drilling additional troops was at once begun. In each county was raised one independent company of one hundred men, making the Virginia contingent to consist of six thousand troops, armed and equipped at their own expense. The burden of raising a company in the county of Orange fell on the elder Madison, as county lieutenant. There was no lack of enthusiasm, and difficulty was experienced in limiting the company to the prescribed number, men who had served as officers in previous Indian wars being eager to take place in the ranks. The committee of public safety in Orange was composed of such men as Madison, Taylor, Barbour Taliafero. James Madison, Jr., was associated with these older members, in the consideration of measures for defense. The 19th of April, 1775, will be ever memorable in the history of the country, in that on that day occurred at Lexington and Concord, the first conflict between the colonists and the soldiers of the king. This was the first overt act of hostility in a war that lasted nearly eight years, and assured the independence of the colonies. The day following the engagement at Concord and Lexington, April 20th, Lord Dunmore dispatched a small body of marines from the sloop-of war Magdalen, lying in the James river, to remove the powder from the store-house at Williamsburg. Under cover of night the object was accomplished without loss, and some fifteen or twenty barrels of powder were removed. This action of the royal governor roused the people, and kindled a flame of indignation that spread throughout the province. So soon as the news of this exploit was received at Fredericksburg, a meeting of the independent company was called, at which it was resolved that they hold themselves in readiness to march, as light-horse, to Williamsburg on the following Saturday, the 29th of April. At the same time the officers of the company drew up a letter addressed to independent companies in the neighborhood, and inviting their co-operation in the projected enterprise. Before the appointed day, fourteen companies, comprising upward of six hundred men, well mounted and equipped, assembled in Fredericksburg. As they were about to start on the expedition, a letter was received from the Hon. Peyton Randolph, late speaker of the house of burgesses, advising them to moderation, stating that the governor had given full assurance of satisfaction regarding the gunpowder. In deference to his wishes the expedition was temporarily abandoned; at the same time the assembled patriots were bold in the expression of their opinions as to the course to be pursued in the future; as they said: "Considering the just rights and liberty of America to be greatly endangered by the violent and hostile proceedings of an arbitrary ministry, and being firmly resolved to resist such attempts at the hazard of our lives and fortunes, we do now pledge ourselves to each other to be in readiness, at a moment's warning, to re-assemble, and by force of arms to defend the law, the liberty, and rights of this or any sister colony, from unjust and wicked invasion." Instead of the traditional formula used by the royal governor in concluding his proclamations-"God save the king"-they closed with the sounding words, "God save the liberties of America." A few days later, Patrick Henry, captain of the Hanover independent company, becoming satisfied Lord Dunmore had no intention of making restitution of the powder, assembled his men with the purpose of "making reprisals upon the king's property sufficient to replace the gunpowder taken out of the magazine." A detachment was sent to the residence of the receiver-general, in King William county, he having control of the fiscal affairs of the province, but not finding him at home it rejoined the company at Doncastle's ordinary, sixteen miles from Williamsburg. Here the party remained until the following morning, when the receiver-general sent Mr. Henry his bill of exchange for three hundred and thirty pounds sterling, the estimated value of the munitions removed from the magazine, for which the latter gave his receipt, and withdrew, with his command, to their homes. The bold achievement of Patrick Henry and his company, received the cordial approval of patriots everywhere, and in no county were the manifestations of delight more enthusiastic than in Orange. The committee of that county, in the handwriting of James Madison, expressed its approbation of the course pursued by the Hanover militia, and formulated an address to Captain Patrick Henry and the gentlemen independents of Hanover." The address was signed by James Madison, chairman; James Madison, Jr., James Taylor, Thomas Barbour, Lawrence Taliaferro, and sixty others. Not long after, the case of Rev. Mr. Wingate, charged with having in his possession various pamphlets calling in question the acts of Congress, which he refused to give to the committee upon their application, called for decided action. The papers were at length peremptorily demanded, and given up under protest. After examination they were . found to be so inimical to the cause of the colonies that they were ordered burnt, which order was carried out in presence of the militia and a large concourse of people. The resolution condemning them was prepared and written by the younger Madison. From the dissolution of the house of burgesses in May, 1774, the cause of the king had steadily declined in strength. The course pursued by the militia in regard to the seizure of the gunpowder, and other actions of the people condemnatory of his policy as governor, convinced Lord Dunmore that he was losing all hold in the colony. He thereupon issued a proclamation denouncing the rebellious practices of the king's subjects, and threatened them with the vengeance of offended majesty should they not immediately return to their former allegiance. On the occasion of some commotion in Williamsburg he proposed burning the town, and arming the slaves against their masters, should his will not be obeyed. The last session of the royal legislature was called to meet at Williamsburg, to consider the "conciliatory propositions" of Lord North. convened the governor took refuge on the ship of war Fowey, then riding at anchor in the York river, being fearful the people might cause injury to himself or family. The legislature remained in session until the 24th of June, when it adjourned, to meet again the 12th day of October. Before that day arrived, the war of the revolution had broken all ties between king and people. June 1, 1775, A convention of delegates, chosen by the people, assembled in Rich. mond, on July 17, 1775, and among other things passed resolutions for the enlistment and arming of two regiments of regular soldiers, and sixteen battalions of militia, besides six companies of independent militia for service on the border. Patrick Henry was appointed colonel of the first regiment, and commander in chief of the forces in Virginia. A committee of safety was appointed, to which, owing to the hostile attitude of the royal governor, was confided, for the time being, the government of the province. At the same time they declared their allegiance to King George the Third, as their lawful sovereign. Even at this late date there were not wanting those who believed the king would himself take steps to counteract the oppressive measures instituted by his advisers, and that peace would again be assured under the powerful protection of the government themselves and their fathers had served for so many generations. The second continental Congress had assembled at Philadelphia some months previous to this, and May 29, 1775, it passed resolutions for securing some effective mode of defense in the colonies; and at the same time, in obedience to the wishes of certain members, drew up a second petition to the king, which was presented to parliament, and by it denounced as a scheme to quiet the government until the provinces were fully prepared for the establishment of an independent empire in the west. On the 15th of June, Congress provided for the direction of the army by appointing George Washington commander in chief, with four major-generals, eight brigadiers, and an adjutant-general, as his subordinates; it also voted three millions of dollars for the arming and subsistence of the military forces of the colonies. Other action was taken, among the most important being a declaration setting forth the causes that led to the taking up of arms; that this had not been done with the design of separating from Great Britain and establishing independent states. This document was the joint production of Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Jefferson, and was read section by section and discussed by the full house previous to its adoption. TH CHAPTER II. CHOSEN DELEGATE IN VIRGINIA CONVENTION-ELECTED TO CONGRESS. HE condition of his health had prevented Mr. Madison entering the army, much as he desired so to do on the breaking out of hostilities. Many of his college associates had obtained commissions in the service, as had his younger brother, Ambrose. Broken down and debilitated by excessive study, he was unable to endure the hardships and privations of the camp and field, and perforce denied himself the service which he would have esteemed a privilege. Connected, as he was, with the committee of his county, he manifested zeal and energy in the prosecution of the duties that lay near him, and the exercise required in the performance of these duties was of benefit to his health. His association with the people of the county had shown them the material of which he was made, and with united voice he was called to represent them as a delegate in the convention, called to meet at Williamsburg the 6th of May, 1776. He was then twenty-five years of age, and with perhaps one or two exceptions, the youngest delegate in the convention. His associates were the most prominent persons in the province-such men as Richard Bland, the Lees, Patrick Henry, George Mason, Pendleton, Nicholas, Wythe, and Cary. Edmund Pendleton was chosen presiding officer. Business was expedited during the first few days of the session, and on the 15th the convention resolved itself into committee of the whole on the state of the country. Mr. Cary, chairman of the committee of the whole, presented resolutions that are historical, in that by them Virginia took the initiative in declaring for independence from Great Britain. The concluding paragraph of the resolutions instructed the delegates in Congress "to propose to that body to declare the united colonies free and independent states, absolved from all allegiance to or dependence on the crown or parliament of Great Britain, and that they give the assent of this colony to such declaration, and to whatever measures may be thought proper and necessary by the congress for forming foreign alliances, and a |