Madison’s field trip
Last night I attended Madison and Jefferson’s Northeast Adventures in 1791 at The Saratoga Springs History Museum, starring James Madison portrayer Kyle Jenks.
It’s no secret that I’ve struggled to differentiate between Jameses Madison and Monroe (I think I’ve figured it out) or that I’m not a huge fan of Thomas Jefferson, but I’m not going to let that get in the way of this post.
Mr. Madison discussed the trip he and Jefferson took in the interest of “health, recreation, and curiosity” … definitely not politicking. I regret not asking any questions about Robert Livingston. Nevertheless, I jotted down a few things Mr. Madison mentioned that are in my sketchbooks.
Here they are, in no particular order…
Jemmy didn’t attend William & Mary
… even though it was right there in Virginia and even though his bestie Thomas Jefferson was a graduate.
He went to Princeton, for fresh air (due to his poor health) and also a more liberal/progressive education not so heavily influenced by Anglican professors.
These guys and their newspapers
Each side had their own newspapers. Pseudonyms were popular. The editor of Madison’s papers marveled that he “was in dialog with himself,” writing speeches, reactions to the speeches, then the thank yous for said reactions. If he were around today, he’d definitely like his own posts on social media. And probably have some dummy accounts he could use to covertly congratulate himself.
Federalists vs. Republicans
This handy chart comes in handy from time-to-time.
Neither of Madison’s VPs wanted to sign the Constitution
Both George Clinton and Elbridge Gerry (along with Edmund Randolph and George Mason) wanted a Bill of Rights, too.
(Also, Clinton said Madison had “too little practical knowledge.”)
Lord Dunmore was mentioned
… so here’s a little doodle of him in his fancy hat.
Everything was so delicate and precarious
It wasn’t easy to figure out how to remain neutral in foreign affairs. George Washington delegated it to Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson (who were “daily pitted in the cabinet like two cocks”) to figure out. Their combative relationship helped us catapult to the two party system.
Mr. Madison mentioned Edmond-Charles Genêt last night. I have a great doodle of Jefferson tiring of the Frenchman’s constant meddling in U.S. politics, telling Madison: I saw the necessity of quitting a wreck, which could not but sink all who would cling to it.” But I’m trying to wrap this post up very quickly, so you’ll have to settle for this doodle of Genêt instead.
It wasn’t easy for these guys to figure out how much foreign intercourse to have and with whom we should have it and at what cost.
NY was one of the last to ratify the Constitution
Last night Mr. Madison asked if anyone knew who the last two were and I tried to conjure this doodle in my brain. I was fairly certain of North Carolina, but not certain enough to raise my hand. I forgot about Rhode Island entirely. George Washington didn’t. He skipped right over Rhode Island on his tour, holding a grudge that they took so long to ratify the Constitution.
Robert Rogers was mentioned
…a fact that I’m only bringing up here to clarify — it was the French and Indian war vet, author of Robert Rogers’ 28 Rules of Ranging. Not the Robert Rogers I’m married to. In case there was any confusion. There wasn’t. But still.
Jefferson invented the swivel chair
… is a thing I learned on Downton Abbey. He invented loads of other stuff as well.
Democracy … [sigh]
Mr. Madison mentioned there hadn’t yet been a democracy that’s survived. I think of this John Quincy Adams quote often these days: “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There has never been a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”
The Madisons rank 4th for biggest POTUS/FLOTUS age gap
James has nothing on John Tyler, a 50-something brand-spanking new widower who picked up his 20-something new wife aboard a ship where her dad (and several others) was killed.
Dr. Benjamin Rush thought coffee grounds caused yellow fever
He also prescribed Lewis & Clark poison poop pills.
Doodles in this post were inspired by:
James Madison: The American Presidents Series: The 4th President, 1809-1817, by Garry Wills
Becoming Queen Victoria: The Unexpected Rise of Britain’s Greatest Monarch, by Kate Williams
Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy, by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation’s Call to Greatness, by Harlow Giles Unger
The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington, by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch
The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution, by Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, by Joseph J. Ellis
The Humanity Archive: Recovering the Soul of Black History from a Whitewashed American Myth, by Jermaine Fowler
Gallop Toward the Sun: Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison's Struggle for the Destiny of a Nation, by Peter Stark
For more posts that mention James Madison and/or Saratoga, check these out:
Health, recreation, and curiosity