American Revolution Round Table (ARRT) of DC
MADISON MEMORIAL PROJECT
ATTN: Dr. Thomas B. Worsley
6317 Golf Course Square
Alexandria, Virginia 22307
March 2009
The enclosure presents the case for a long overdue major Madison Memorial honoring Virginian James Madison, Father of our revered Constitution and Bill of Rights, in the national capital. We are developing a coalition of strong sponsors of that cause and would appreciate permission to list you as a valued member. The purpose of the coalition is to help activate Congress to promote and fund the Memorial.
It is said that, despite his great stature among academics as a political scientist, Madison does not occupy much space in the American heart or consciousness. It may require considerable educational effort and time to create adequate commitment and action in this important endeavor. During our economic crisis it may be harder to accomplish but remember that the Jefferson Memorial was dedicated in 1943, the middle of World War II.
As indicated in the enclosure, volunteers who will help contact the powers that be, or have suggestions, are welcome.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
1 Encl MEMO FROM THOMAS WORSLEY, AMERICAN REVOLUTION ROUND
TABLE OF D.C. DATE: February 2009 SUBJECT: PROPOSAL FOR AN ADEQUATE MADISON MEMORIAL
(CAPITAL ‘M’) IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. A "Style" article in the Washington Post of September 17, 2008, regarding
recent restoration of James Madison's Montpellier home, asks whether the father
of our almost sacred U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights is the Rodney
Dangerfield of the Founding Fathers. It then states, "First of all, there's no
Madison Memorial in Washington." Three days later in the Post's "Free For All" section, a representative of the
Library of Congress rebuts the earlier article, stating that according to its
archives, the Madison building "serves both as the Library's third major structure,
and as this nation's official memorial (sic, note the small `m') to James Madison."
But the vast American general public is unaware of this fact. The original Library of Congress building is named for Thomas
Jefferson, the Library's great benefactor, but the American general public is far
more aware of the great Jefferson Memorial (with a capital M) honoring the
"Author of the Declaration of Independence," with its prominent Mall location,
appropriately beautiful architecture, impressive statue and many apt Jefferson
quotations. Why not something comparable on the Mall honoring `the great
little Madison?' It was the studious and persuasive Madison who was the primary
farce in accomplishing the "Miracle at Philadelphia," the framing of our
founding document, signed September 1787. It was also he who shepherded
his creation through the hard-fought Virginia ratification convention of June
1788. In that Battle of the Titans at Richmond, Federalists Washington (in
absentia) and Madison as leader were opposed by Antifederalists Patrick
Henry and George Mason, the latter having declined to sign the
Philadelphia product without a Bill Of Rights limiting government powers.
In a close vote the Virginia convention finally approved the measure on
condition that a Bill of Rights would be added later. Next it was Madison
who, as a member of the first U.S. Congress meeting in New York, introduced twelve
Constitutional amendments, of which ten were approved in 1791, and
became known as the `Bill of Rights'; Madison drew heavily on
principles enunciated in 1776 by Mason in Virginia's Declaration of
Rights. There is a statue of Mason on the Mall. Madison's magnum opus brought to bear ideas and principles of
self-government that go back over two millenia to the Greek demokratia
(people's power) and the res publica (public affairs) of the Roman
Republic. Many later political philosophers also influenced Jefferson and
Madison, most notably those of the 17th and 18`hcentury Enlightenment,
who emphasized natural and equal rights and the consent of the governed.
Despite imperfections later ameliorated by amendments, Madison's
Constitution and Bill of Rights gave America a balance of individual
rights and community values unmatched and emulated elsewhere. Britain's Gladstone said the American Constitution "is the most
wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of
man" That work defines fundamental principles of representative democracy,
including the rule of law, limited power, division of powers among
legislative, executive and judicial branches; majority rule both in the
electorate and in Congress; protection of important rights of the minority
from the majority; and division of power between the national and state
governments under the principle of Federalism. Such provisions guarantee rights that are the foundation of our
national identity and cultural unity, symbolized by the Statue of Liberty and
motto E pluribus Unum. Especially important is the First Amendment, which
protects what Madison called "the great rights," which guarantee free
religious and civil expression, the foundation of a free society These rights
are freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. I am volunteering to promote creation of a prominent and welldesigned Madison Memorial (by that name with a capital M) in Washington.
In this endeavor it is essential to recruit a coalition of highly influential
supporters beginning with Virginia's Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner,
Hopefully they can recruit President Obama, an ex-professor of Constitutional Law, who swore on Lincoln's bible to
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. Also Chief Justice John
Roberts. Among recruits from the private sector should be columnist George
F. Will, a strong Madison admirer, and the presidents of numerous historical
and legal organizations. These persons can help in the effort to activate
Congress to promote and fund the Memorial. Volunteers who will share in this effort or have suggestions are
welcome. Thomas B. Worsley 6317 Golf Course Square Alexandria, Va. 22307 Telephone: 703-765-9362
703-765-9362