Madison was much interested in the Colonization Society. Of the National Society, founded in 1817, Bushrod Washington was president. Afterward there was a State Colonization Society of Virginia organized, and of it John Marshall was president, and its vice-presidents were James Madison, James Monroe, James Pleasants, John Tyler, Hugh Nelson and others. These men all recognized the fact that "slavery proved the spring of woes innumerable," and hindered progress in the south. Of Dolly, Harriet Martineau said: "She is a strong-minded woman, fully capable of entering into her husband's occupations and cares, and there is little doubt that he owed much to her intellectual companionship, as well as to her ability in sustaining the outward dignity of his office. When I was her guest she was in excellent health and lively spirits, and I trust that, though she has lost the one great object of her life, she may yet find interests enough to occupy and cheer many years of honored age." James Madison had died shortly after this visit on June 28, 1836. "Madison," said Paul Jennings, "was the best man who ever lived." Madison was greatly indebted to his wife for the popularity of himself and his administration. This was brought about partly out of her wish to see him successful, but mainly by her kind and loving thoughtfulness of others, and ready tact in smoothing over the rough places that were ofttimes apparent in the early days of the new government because of the friction caused by those, so widely differing in opinions, who must yet work together for the common good. James G. Blaine said that "Mrs. Madison saved the administration of her husband, held him back from the extremes of Jeffersonism, and enabled him to escape from the terrible dilemma of the War of 1812. But for her, DeWitt Clinton would have been chosen President in 1812." Payne Todd grew up to be a handsome young man, "the courtliest of all the cavaliers," during the early years of Madison's administration. His position put many advantages in his way, and opened the door to less profitable things. He was fêted and petted abroad, and received in the royal families of Europe. At St. Petersburg, he danced with the Czar's daughter; in France, the Count D'Orsay was his friend, and afterwards visited him at Montpellier. [Illustration: Madison House, Washington, D. C., North View. Photographed by Samuel M. Brosius.] He came home to be only a grief to his mother. For a time he was Monroe's secretary, but he did little serious work. His debts ate up all his property and hers as well. He never married. He outlived his mother, whom he dearly loved, but two years, died full of grief and unmourned, and was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington. "His was a wasted life." [Illustration: Madison House, Washington, D. C., West View. Photographed by Samuel M. Brosius.]