lles and Madrid, in support of
the claims of the confederacy to western territory and the free
navigation of the Mississippi, he drew an elaborate and able paper which
was unanimously adopted by congress. He zealously advocated in 1783 the
measure proposed to establish a system of general revenue to pay the
expenses of the war, and as chairman of the committee to which the
matter was referred, prepared an able address to the State in support of
the plan, which was adopted by congress and received the warm approval
of Washington.

The people of Virginia now began to realize the value of his services; a
striking proof of which is exhibited by the fact that the law rendering
him inelligible after three years' service in Congress was repealed, in
order that he might sit during the fourth. On his return to Virginia he
was elected to the Legislature, and took his seat during 1784. In this
body he inaugurated the measures relating to a thorough revision of the
old statutes, and supported the bills introduced by the revisors,
Jefferson, Wyth, and Pendleton, on the subject of entails, primogeniture
(exclusive heirship belonging to the first born) and religious freedom.

He aided in the separation of Kentucky from Virginia, and the formation
of the new State, opposed the further issue of paper money, and favored
the payment of debts due British creditors. His greatest service at this
time was his preparation, after the close of the assembly, of a
"Memorial and Remonstrance" against the project of a general assessment
for the support of religion, which caused the utter defeat of the
measure, against which it was directed. In January, 1786, he obtained
the passage of a bill by the General Assembly inviting the other States
to appoint commissioners to meet at Annapolis and devise a new system of
commercial regulations. He was chosen one of the commissioners, and
attended at Annapolis in September of the same year. Five States only
were represented, and the commissioners recommended a convention of
delegates from all the States to meet at Philadelphia, in May, 1787. The
recommendation was generally adopted and, of course, Madison was chosen
one of the delegates from Virginia.

The convention assembled and the result was the abrogation of the old
articles and the formation of the Constitution of the United States.
Madison was prominent in advocating the Constitution and took a leading
part in the debates, of which he kept private no