| Madison
was elected to his first public office, the Orange County
Committee of Safety, December 22, 1774. Madison, however,
believed that his entrance into public life came with his
election to the Virginia Constitutional Convention in April,
1776. (The Virginians were in revolt against their old
government: they needed a Constitutional Convention to construct
a new one.)
On May
15, the Virginia Convention unanimously instructed its delegates
to the Continental Congress to propose a declaration of
independence. Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia delegate,
offered the proposal to Congress on June 15, 1776. Less
than three weeks later, July 4, 1776, the Declaration of
Independence was proclaimed.
 |
The
same Virginia Convention adopted the famous Virginia
Declaration of Rights. George Mason was the
primary author, but the youthful, inexperienced Madison
succeeded in strengthening the section on religious
freedom. Mason's draft spoke of "the fullest
toleration in the exercise of religion," while
Madison's successful substitute provided that "all
men are equally entitled to the free exercise of
religion, according to the dictates of
conscience." Madison's advocacy of the
freedom of religion would be a constant theme of his
political career.
Left:
"George Mason" Altered from an original
painting by Dominic W. Boudet (ca.1811). |
Phrases
from the Virginia Declaration of Rights would show up very soon
in the Declaration of Independence and later in the Bill of
Rights.
In
October of 1776 Madison entered the Virginia House of Delegates
established by the new constitution. Thomas Jefferson,
also a delegate, led the effort to disestablish (withdraw state
aid from) religion. Madison supported these efforts but
was too young and diffident to play more than a minor
role. (Eight years later, Madison, a seasoned leader,
would secure passage of Jefferson's Virginia Statute of
Religious Freedom. See below.)
Madison
failed of reelection in April of 1777, a defeat he attributed to
his refusal to provide "spiritous liquors" to the
electorate. Despite his youth, frailty, and diffidence, he
had been marked as a leader and was elected by the House to
serve on the Virginia Council of State. He arrived in
Williamsburg January, 1778, to take up his duties.
| Patrick
Henry was governor when Madison was elected to the
Council, but Madison continued to serve after Thomas
Jefferson became governor in June of 1779. This is
when Jefferson and Madison became well acquainted and
was the start of their remarkable friendship. They
were to remain close friends until Jefferson's death,
July 4, 1826.
Right:
"Thomas Jefferson" Altered from an original
image by Charles Wilson Peale (ca.1791). Independence
National Historical Park Collection, Philadelphia, PA |
 |
|
