James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Liberty & Learning - Index

liberty & learning
Representative James Madison enthusiastically supported Washington’s proposal
by sponsoring legislation in the House of Representatives for the “establishment
of a university within the District of Columbia.” 36 Unfortunately, with
the advent of the new Adams administration, growing political divisions, foreign
policy concerns, and Madison’s own retirement from Congress, his legislation
languished and disappeared without becoming law.
It would take another fourteen years before the idea of a national university
would again be resurrected. In 1810, President James Madison urged Congress
to enact legislation to create a College of the United States despite the ominous
and steady approach of war. His arguments for such an institution were eloquent
and persuasive.
Whilst it is universally admitted that a well-instructed people alone can be
permanently a free people, and whilst it is evident that the means of diffusing
and improving useful knowledge from so small a proportion of the expenditures
for national purposes, I cannot presume it to be unseasonable to invite your attention
to the advantages of superadding to the means of education provided by the
several States, a seminary of learning, instituted by the national legislature …
[it] would be universal in its beneficial effects. By enlightening the opinions, by
expanding the patriotism, and by assimilating the principles, the sentiments and
the manners of those who might resort to this temple of science, to be redistributed
in due time through every part of the community; sources of jealousy and
prejudice would be diminished, the features of national character would be multiplied,
and greater extent given to social harmony. But above all, a well-constituted
seminary . . . would contribute not less to strengthen the foundations, than
to adorn the structure of our free and happy system of government. 37
More pressing international events again derailed Madison’s efforts on behalf
of public education. The onset of the War of 1812, coupled with the burning of
the nation’s capital by the British, prevented the measure from becoming law.
This failure, however, did nothing to lessen Madison’s fundamental belief in the
importance of education and the advancement of knowledge, both necessary for
the health and well-being of the nation. He astutely observed, “A popular Government
without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue
to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.” 38
In 1817, Madison retired from the presidency and formal political life. He
returned gladly to Montpelier with his wife, Dolley, openly anticipating the joys
22