The toast was given: “James Madison. He arrested the march of consolidation and gave construction to the written powers.”

“Upon the annunciation of this sentiment, Mr. M. arose, and after making his acknowledgments for the kind notice taken of him, which he was very sensible he owed more to their partiality, than to any just claim he had to it, Mr. M. said, he would propose for commemoration a Revolutionary worthy in whose favor too much could not be said. He had in view John Page, a former Governor of Virginia, one of the soundest Republicans and purest Patriots that this or any country had produced. Of his titles to these characters, he had given the best proofs, thro’ the whole career of his political life; and especially by the great and peculiar sacrifices he made, at the earliest day, in the cause of that Independence, the birth of which we are celebrating.”