The lesson of Madison's Presidency is the importance for the Chief Executive to build a reliable, competent staff, a lesson the present occupant of the Oval Office is, for all his storied although undemonstrated intellect, incapable of exercising. His predecessor, for all his storied although little proven insufficiencies, did quite a bit better, thank God. Jemmy Madison learned it the hard way.
I am not quite so severe as the author in criticizing the evolution of Madison's political thought - it was, after all, a perfect illustration of the contrast between political theory and practical politics. Very few people, including Jefferson, can dance with Madison in respect to the former in my opinion; the latter might be best (if at all) excused as an expression of the still nascent nature of American government. If one cringes at the vision of Jefferson receiving the British envoy in his bedroom attire, how much more can one ache in embarrassment at the antics of the present President bowing and scraping like a third-rate actor playing a fourth-rate butler? American government has grown up in the succeeding two centuries; it is a pity that its occupants have not.
A terrific piece, and many thanks to Neverdem for posting it. Lots to think about. Napoleon, for one - the fellow who sold us half of our country (at the time) was defeated and imprisoned by the time the British had decided they'd had enough of war for awhile and negotiated peace in 1814; by February of the next year he would once more explode into the world scene, and the same Wellington who had astutely recognized the futility of a war in America would step forward to once again become his nation's hero with troops that were much better spent on the field of Waterloo than in the forests of the New World. One cannot help but wonder what would have happened then had the British not declined to pursue their re-acquisition of their departed colonies. I'd love to hear the author's speculation on that alternate history.
I've noticed that you like the idea of putting yourself in those days. They were interesting times.
Somewhere I read of one Founder lightly complaining that his winter rations consisted of only oatmeal, as he ached for the new harvest. I digress.
We live in interesting times as well. I wonder what people will think of us two hundred years from now?
Ever see the Michael Mann version of Last of the Mohicans ? I loved it, maudlin as it was. One very striking scene had our gallant band creeping upon the scene of the battle at Fort William Henry. I thought their awe and fascination conveyed very well the novelty and significance of this nexus of European power in the American wilderness, when history still hung in the balance.