Next, James Madison of Virginia. The Madison whose words and ideals I wish to call to your attention is not the thin, little, stocky figure, inordinately solemn, insignificant in bearing, the commonplace in character, the "little Jemmy," whom some writers have chosen to depict. The true Madison was the man of whom Henry Clay wrote that he was, "after Washington, our greatest statesman, and first political writer"-the man of whom Fisher Ames wrote that he is "a thorough master of almost every public question that can arise, or he will spare no pains to become so. He is well versed in public life, was bred to it, and has no other profession. It is rather a science than a business with him." A striking phrase-versed in the "science" rather than the "business" of public life! But it was essentially accurate. Though Madison studied theology for four years after leaving Princeton College (being the only President of the United States

who ever prepared himself for that profession), he devoted his time for the next eleven years exclusively to the deep and comprehensive study of the theory, history and practice of governments.

Hence, when the Federal Convention met in Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to attempt the difficult experiment of framing a new National Constitution, it was natural that Madison should have been the man to prepare the first draft of suggestions to be submitted to the delegates at their opening session. This draft contained a plan for an entirely new kind of Government-a Federal Republic-a combination of States and Nation in one working whole, in which the central Government should be supreme as to national and foreign affairs, but in which (and of equal importance) the States should retain full control of their local affairs and of their local problems and should regulate them, each for itself, according to the particular habits, views

and conditions of its own citizens. This dual system of Government was a fundamentally new American invention. Never before in the world's history had there existed a Republic so constituted. It was, as Madison himself expressed it, "a system without an example, ancient or modern."

What are the five pillars of this system?

First. That all power comes from the people. They are the masters; the National Government and its officers, merely their servants.

Second. That the National Government shall deal only with national affairs, and the States with all other subjects.

Third. That the National Government can exercise no powers except those granted to it by the Constitution, and the States can exercise no powers prohibited to them by the Constitution.

Fourth. That every individual citizen possesses certain rights of personal liberty

closely watched to prevent encroachments, might restore us to that degree of respectability and consequence to which we had a fair claim and the brightest prospect of attaining."

And it was in this same spirit, and with an insistence that their work should be performed with complete sincerity and stern sense of duty, that he addressed to the delegates at the opening of the Convention over which he was chosen to preside, the following memorable words:

"It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If, to please the people, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God."

When you think of the Constitution, remember that without the ardent advocacy of George Washington and the confidence inspired in the people by his support of it, the Constitution would never have been adopted.

Next, James Madison of Virginia. The Madison whose words and ideals I wish to call to your attention is not the thin, little, stocky figure, inordinately solemn, insignificant in bearing, the commonplace in character, the "little Jem

my, ," whom some writers have chosen to depict. The true Madison was the man of whom Henry Clay wrote that he was, "after Washington, our greatest statesman, and first political writer"-the man of whom Fisher Ames wrote that he is "a thorough master of almost every public question that can arise, or he will spare no pains to become so. He is well versed in public life, was bred to it, and has no other profession. It is rather a science than a business with him." A striking phrase-versed in the "science" rather than the "business" of public life! But it was essentially accurate. Though Madison studied theology for four years after leaving Princeton College (being the only President of the United States