CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Connection of History and Biography-Birth and Family of

Madison - Pioneers of Virginia - Education - Princeton Col-

lege-Excitements produced by early Disputes between the

Colonies and Mother Country-Dr. Witherspoon Distin-

guished College Associates.

1-26

CHAPTER II.

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Madison leaves Princeton and returns to his Father's Residence

in Virginia-His Studies and Pursuits at Home Corres-

pondence with his College Friend, Bradford of Philadelphia

-Religious Sentiments Traits of Personal Character

Progress of Controversy with the Mother Country - Persecu-

tion of Baptists in Virginia excites Indignation of Madison

Early Champion of Religious Freedom-Established Church

in Virginia Conduct and Influence of its Members in the

Contest for Independence .

27-55

CHAPTER III.

Proceedings in Virginia on receiving Intelligence of the Boston

Port Bill-House of Burgesses dissolved by the Governor

War with the Indians - First Convention in Virginia - Con-

tinental Congress meets at Philadelphia - Mr. Madison's Ac-

count of the Military Preparations commenced in Virginia, in

view of a possible Conflict with the Mother Country - How

far Patrick Henry's Resolution for arming and disciplining

the Militia influenced these Preparations - Patriotism and In-

fluence of the ancient Landed Interest in Virginia - County

Committees - Mr. Madison Member of the one for his County-

Nature and Extent of the Cavalier Element in the Population

of Virginia — Character of the People of Virginia at the Era

of the Revolution

56-88

CHAPTER IV.

Battle of Lexington
Lord Dunmore's Removal of the Gunpow-

der from Williamsburg - Assembling of the Independent Com-

panies at Fredericksburg - Patrick Henry's Expedition to

reclaim the Gunpowder - Address of Thanks to him from the

County Committee of Orange drawn by Mr. Madison Spir-

ited Proceedings of the Committee in the Case of the Rev. Mr.

Wingate Lord Dunmore again convokes the Assembly - His

Altercation with the House of Burgesses - The Governor quits

the Palace and takes up his Residence on board a Ship of War

Protest and Closing Scene of the last House of Burgesses

in Virginia - Another Convention meets at Richmond — Its

Proceedings-Meeting of the Second Continental Congress —

Army raised for the Defence of American Liberty - Intention

of National Independence disclaimed - Sincerity of these Pro-

fessions called in question by European Writers - Mr. Madi-

son's Testimony on the Subject - Subsequent Measures of the

King and Parliament bring on the Issue of Independence-

Public Mind in Virginia ripened for the Event by the iniqui-

tous Conduct of the Royal Governor - New Convention elected

in Virginia - Mr. Madison chosen a Member
. 89-119

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CHAPTER V.

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-

Proceedings of the Virginia Convention of 1776- - Instructions to

their Delegates in Congress to propose Declaration of Inde-

pendence Authorship of the Instructions Select Committee

to prepare a Declaration of Rights and Plan of Government-

Mr. Madison a Member of the Committee George Mason

Author of original Draught of Declaration of Rights- Amended

in its last Article on Motion of Mr. Madison - Difference be-

tween Religious Toleration and Religious Freedom - Deliber-

ations of Select Committee on Plan of Government Mr. John

Adams suggests one- - Another proposed by Mr. Braxton, Del-

-

-

CONTENTS.

egate in Congress from Virginia - Letter of Patrick Henry on

the Subject Plan presented by a Member of the Select

Committee - Resemblance between it and Constitution finally

adopted- Principal Features of the Virginia Constitution of

1776 Republican Government as understood by the wise and

patriotic Men who framed that Constitution-Distinction be-

tween a Republic and a Democracy Question as to the

Authorship of the original Plan submitted to the Select Com-

mittee Letter and Memorandum of Mr. Madison on the

Subject Distinguished Lead of George Mason - Patrick

Henry elected first Republican Governor - His Testimony in

favor of the Constitution of 1776- Adjournment of the Con-

vention

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-

xi

120-167

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-

CHAPTER VI.

Military Reverses of the second Campaign of the Revolutionary

War- First Session of the new Republican Legislature of

Virginia-Measures for extending the Benefits of Religious

Freedom Abolition of Entails - Provision for the General

Revision of the Laws - First Acquaintance of Jefferson and

Madison Energetic Resolutions of the Virginia Legislature

for the Conduct of the War-The Tide of Disaster turned

by the Daring and Heroism of Washington at Trenton and

Princeton - Election of a new Legislature in Virginia - Mr.

Madison loses his Election by his Respect for the Purity of

the Elective Franchise Chosen by the General Assembly to

be a Member of the Council of State Correspondence be-

tween him and the Rev. Samuel Stanhope Smith - Relations

with Governor Henry-Important Agency of the Governor

and Council in expediting the Levies of Troops for the Gen-

eral Defence - Liberal Spirit manifested by Virginia for the

Assistance of her sister States - Expedition and brilliant Suc-

cess of George Rogers Clarke under the Auspices of Virginia-

British Ministry induced by the Capture of Burgoyne's Army

to seek Reconciliation with the American States - Proceed-

ings of the Royal Commissioners in America - Evacuation of

Philadelphia, and Battle of Monmouth-Treaty of Alliance

with France -Efforts to detach America from it- Opera-

tions against the Southern States - Reduction of Georgia —

Invasion of Virginia - Mr. Jefferson Successor to Governor

-

-

Henry - Virginia ratifies Treaty of Alliance with France by

her own independent Act Negotiations with Spain - De-

mands made by that Power as Conditions of her Coöperation in

the War — Resolutions of the Legislature of Virginia with Re-

gard to the Navigation of the Mississippi - Her Remonstrance

to Congress on the subject of the Western Territory - Mr.

Madison chosen one of her Delegates in the Congress of the

Confederation

168-208

CHAPTER VII.

-

Confederate Government the first and natural Want of the So-

cial State in America Successive Stages of its Development

- Extent and Detail of the Powers of Congress under the

Articles of Confederation Number and Character of its

Members - Earnest Appeal of Washington on Behalf of the

National Service Colleagues of Madison in Congress

Gloomy Condition of Public Affairs at the Period of his En-

trance on the National Theatre - Causes of the Public Dis-

tress-Financial Embarrassments Striking Letter of Mr.

Madison on the Subject Committee appointed by Congress

to confer with the Commander-in-chief- Military Preparations

and Events-French Land and Naval Forces arrive in the

United States Reduced to Inactivity by the Naval Superi

ority of the Enemy-Disasters of the Campaign - The Ne-

cessity of increased Vigor and Foresight - Views of Mr.

Madison with regard to both Financial and Political Reform

His Constitutional Creed - Measures adopted by Congress -

Representation addressed to the King of France - Special

Mission of Colonel John Laurens
209-234

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CHAPTER VIII.

Negotiations with Spain-Mr. Madison Chairman of a Commit-

tee to prepare Instructions to Dr. Franklin and Mr. Jay in

support of the Claims of the United States to Western Terri-

tory, and the free Navigation of the Mississippi River - In-

structions drawn by him unanimously adopted Outline of

the Arguments and Topics presented - Congress afterwards

induced to change temporarily their Instructions with regard

to the free Navigation of the Mississippi - Pressure of Georgia

-