MADISON COUNTY. 409 



suitable for him to be seen riding side by side with a coloured 

 man through the streets of Savannah ; to which Austin replied, 

 that he understood that matter very well. Accordingly, when 

 they advanced along the principal street, Austin checked his 

 horse and fell behind. They had not gone very far before 

 Col. Pope passed by Gen. James Jackson's house, who was 

 then Governor of the State. Upon looking back, he saw the 

 Governor run out of the house, seize Austin's hand, shake it 

 as if he had been his long-absent brother, draw him off his 

 horse, and carry him into his house, where he stayed whilst in 

 town, and was treated with marked kindness. Col. Pope used 

 to tell this anecdote with much glee, adding that he felt cha- 

 grined when he ascertained that whilst he passed his time at a 

 public house, unknown and uncared for, Austin was the hon- 

 oured guest of the Governor. 



Name. — This county receives its name from James Madi- 

 son. This illustrious man was born in Virginia, on the 5th 

 day of March, 1751. About the age of twelve, he was placed 

 under the care of able teachers, and after the usual prepara- 

 tory course, he became a member of Princeton College, where 

 he graduated. Upon his return home he pursued an extensive 

 course of reading, and thus laid the foundation for that emi- 

 nence to which he afterwards attained. At the commence- 

 ment of the difficulties between Great Britain and her colo- 

 nies, he warmly espoused the cause of the latter ; but, owing 

 to ill health, did not join the army. At 25 years of age, Vir- 

 ginia honoured him with a seat in the Legislature. He was 

 also a member of the Council of the State, until his election to 

 Congress in 1779. The journals of this body show that he dis- 

 tinguished himself as an active and leading member. Many 

 of the state papers of this period were composed by Mr. Ma- 

 dison, and are acknowledged to have been the product of a 

 mind well trained. 



In 1784, '5 and '6, he represented his State in the Legisla- 

 ture. During these periods questions of great importance 

 were discussed in the Virginia Legislature, and in all of these 

 he took a conspicuous part. In the Federal Convention at 

 Philadelphia for framing the Constitution, no member distin- 

 guished himself more than Mr. Madison. The debates of this 



