A
COLORED MAN'S REMINISCENCES
OF
JAMES MADISON.
A
COLORED MAN'S REMINISCENCES
OF
JAMES MADISON.
By PAUL JENNINGS.
BROOKLYN:
GEORGE C. BEADLE.
1865.
PREFACE.
Among the laborers at the Department of the Interior is an intelligentcolored man, Paul Jennings, who was born a slave on President Madison'sestate, in Montpelier, Va., in 1799. His reputed father was Benj.Jennings, an English trader there; his mother, a slave of Mr. Madison,and the granddaughter of an Indian. Paul was a "body servant" of Mr.Madison, till his death, and afterwards of Daniel Webster, havingpurchased his freedom of Mrs. Madison. His character for sobriety,truth, and fidelity, is unquestioned; and as he was a daily witness ofinteresting events, I have thought some of his recollections were worthwriting down in almost his own language.
On the 10th of January, 1865, at a curious sale of books, coins andautographs belonging to Edward M. Thomas, a colored man, for many yearsMessenger to the House of Representatives, was sold, among other curiouslots, an autograph of Daniel Webster, containing these words: "I havepaid $120 for the freedom of Paul Jennings; he agrees to work out thesame at $8 per month, to be furnished with board, clothes, washing," &c.
J. B. R.
REMINISCENCES OF MADISON.
About ten years before Mr. Madison was President, he and Colonel Monroewere rival candidates for the Legislature. Mr. Madison was anxious to beelected, and sent his chariot to bring up a Scotchman to the polls, wholived in the neighborhood. But when brought up, he cried out: "Put medown for Colonel Monroe, for he was the first man that took me by thehand in this country." Colonel Monroe was elected, and his friends jokedMr. Madison pretty hard about his Scotch friend, and I have heard Mr.Madison and Colonel Monroe have many a hearty laugh over the subject,for years after.
When Mr. Madison was chosen President, we came on and moved into the[Pg 6]White House; the east room was not finished, and Pennsylvania Avenuewas not paved, but was always in an awful condition from either mud ordust. The city was a dreary place.
Mr. Robert Smith was then Secretary of State, but as he and Mr. Madisoncould not agree, he was removed, and Colonel Monroe appointed to hisplace. Dr. Eustis was Secretary of War—rather a rough, blustering man;Mr. Gallatin, a tip-top man, was Secretary of the Treasury; and Mr.Hamilton, of South Carolina, a pleasant gentleman, who thought Mr.Mad