“The belief in a God All Powerful wise and good, is so essential to the moral order of the world and to the happiness of man, that arguments which enforce it cannot be drawn from too many sources nor adapted with too much solicitude to the different characters and capacities impressed with it.”
~ James Madison (letter to Frederick Beasley, Nov. 20, 1825)
Our fourth president, James Madison, was born on this date in 1751. Frequently cited at the Father of the Constitution, he had a tremendous impact on the drafting of that document ~
(Madison) spoke 161 times at the Constitutional Convention. He was a contributing author of 29 of the 85 Federalist Papers along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.
Source: “Character for Life; An American Heritage” ~ Don Hawkinson
A leading advocate of freedom of conscience, Madison helped to create the Bill of Rights and convince Congress to adopt it. He was highly esteemed by his peers, Jefferson in particular ~
“The chief cause of his success… were his general soundness and moderation of his views in all public questions. He was candid, conscientious, just …and high-minded. I can say conscientiously that I do not know in the world a man of purer integrity, more dispassionate, (selfless) and devoted to genuine ‘Republicanism,’ nor in the whole scope of America and Europe [am I able to] point out an abler head. He is the greatest man in the world!” ~ Thomas Jefferson
[Wow, eh?]
As with a majority of the founding fathers, Madison’s Christian faith informed his positions on governments of men and how they should be established. And considering how much time he devoted to the country’s formation, earthly matters were not his first priority ~
“A watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest while we are building ideal monuments of Renown and Bliss here we neglect to have our names enrolled in the Annals of Heaven.”
“If there is no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation, no form of government, can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people is a chimerical idea.”
If only we had in Washington D.C. today, even a handful of brilliant, principled, selfless men like Madison and so many of the other founders, our Constitutional Republic would not be on the verge of collapse. Even so, I am ever grateful for the legacy they bequeathed to us.
