commit to danger your fame itself, rather than hazard for a moment the true interest of your country."

With regard to other measures proper to perpetuate the gratitude of the country, it was resolved to cause to be erected a statue of Washington, of the finest marble and best workmanship, with the following inscription upon its pedestal, which is known to have been the composition of Mr. Madison:

"The General Assembly of Virginia have caused this statue to be erected as a monument of affection and gratitude to George Washington, who, uniting to the endowments of the hero the virtues of the patriot, and exerting both in establishing the liberties of his country, has rendered his name dear to his fellow-citizens, and given to the world an immortal example of true glory":

Words of sympathetic and virtuous eloquence, worthy to go down, with the spotless marble and the shining fame of its immortal subject, to the latest generations of mankind.'

1 It was proposed by Houdon, the artist, on his return to France from America, to change this noble inscription, which he was unable to appreciate, upon the idle plea that it was too long for the space it was to occupy; and the proposition was seriously enter tained by Mr. Jefferson, then American minister at Paris. (See his letter of the 8th of February, 1786, to Mr. Madison, in the first

volume of his Writings, p. 442.) The Latin inscription which was offered as a substitute was singularly jejune and pompous, if we may judge from the translation given by Mr. Jefferson; and was almost ludicrous by the bathos of its termination. The translation is as follows: "Behold, reader, the form of George Washington. For his worth, ask history; that will tell it, when this stone shall have

APPEAL ON BEHALF OF PAINE.

573

It was a striking manifestation of the nobleness of Washington's character, that, while himself the object of these high honors bestowed by the legislature of his native State, he sought to interest their feelings on behalf of one whose misfortunes, and the merit of whose early services in the cause of American independence, caused his moral obliquities to be overlooked for the time, but who, by his subsequent conduct, and in nothing more than his revilings of his benefactor, showed how unworthy he was of the benevolence he inspired. On the 12th of June, 1784, General Washington wrote to Mr. Madison:"Can nothing be done in our Assembly for poor Paine? Must the merit and services of 'Common Sense' continue to glide down the stream of time unrewarded by this country? His writings certainly have had a powerful effect upon the public mind. Ought they not, then, to meet an adequate return? He is poor, he is chagrined, and almost, if not altogether, in despair of relief. His views are moderate; a decent independency is, I believe, all he aims at. Ought he

yielded to the decays of time. His country erects this monument; Houdon makes it." It is difficult to conceive how Mr. Jefferson could have obtained the assent of his mind and taste to entertain or submit the proposition of such a change. The quiet and uncontending manner in which Mr. Madison disposes of the suggestion, in

his answer to Mr. Jefferson, is edifying and characteristic. "I am sensible," he says, "of the inferiority in every respect of the original inscription to the proposed substitute; but I am apprehensive that no change can now be effected." Manuscript letter to Mr. Jefferson of the 12th of May, 1786.

to be disappointed of this? If you think otherwise, I am sure you will not only move the matter, but give it your support. For me, it only remains to feel for his situation, and to assure you of the sincere esteem and regard with which I have the honor to be, dear sir, yours, "GEORGE WASHINGTON."

Mr. Madison entered warmly into the views of his illustrious correspondent, and promptly introduced a bill for granting a tract of land to Paine, the kind of provision he desired. The proposition, though sustained by powerful advocates, did not receive the sanction of the legislature. Mr. Madison appears to have been much chagrined at its failure; and in writing to General Washington, on the 2d of July, 1784, he says: "Should it finally appear that the merits of the man whose writings have so much contributed to infuse and foster the spirit of independence in the people of America are unable to inspire them with a just beneficence, the world, it is to be feared, will give us as little credit for our policy as for our gratitude in this particular."

The decision of the legislature, however, stands justified in the eyes of posterity by the exhibition which the unhappy subject of this exalted patronage afterwards made of his own unworthiness,1

1 In any period of the republic, the language which this infatuated

man, in his published letter of 1796, dared to apply to Washing

REJECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

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and may be classed with other instances to prove that the judgments of collective bodies of men are often truer tests of individual merit than the indulgent estimates of superior minds led away by their own benevolent impulses. With this generous but fruitless endeavour to give effect to a magnanimous intercession closed the present session of the General Assembly of Virginia; and Mr. Madison was allowed, though for a brief season, a respite from his legislative labors.

CHAPTER XIX.

Occupations of Mr. Madison during Recess of the LegislatureAble Letter to Mr. Jefferson on Right to Navigation of the Mississippi-Sets out on a Tour to the North-Meets with the Marquis Lafayette Accompanies him to an Indian Treaty in the Western Part of New York - Incidents at the Treaty Impressions of Lafayette's Character-Reassembling of the LegislatureMr. Madison made Chairman of Committee of Courts of JusticeReports Plan for establishing Courts of Assize Advocates successfully the Enactment of a Law by Virginia to repress and punish Enterprises of her Citizens against Nations with which the United States are at Peace - This Act the first Example of American Legislation to punish those Offences against the Law of Nations now known under the Name of Filibustering - Renewed Effort for the Execution of the Treaty of Peace respecting British Debts - Proposition made by Mr. Madison at the late Session again brought forward - Improved Sentiments of the Legislature with Regard to it— Finally lost by a singular Accident — General Assessment for Support of Teachers of the Christian Religion again proposed-Warmly sustained by Mr. Henry and other distinguished Members - Mr. Madison firmly, and almost singly in Debate, opposes it-Outline of his powerful Argument, as collected from a Fragment among his Papers - Progress of the Measure in the House - Bill for incorporating the Episcopal Church Question of Assessment, by the persevering Opposition of Mr. Madison and his Auxiliaries, postponed to the next Session of the Legislature, and in the mean Time referred to the People for an Expression of their Sense upon it.