James Madison fought the government from placing chaplains in political office and in the military service?

Question

Was he a "conservative"

Answer 1

If he was, he sure wasn't a right-wing conservative.

Answer 2

The modern American definitions of 'liberal' and 'conservative' don't really aply much in historical context. In the broader sense, though, conservatives tend to resist change, and liberals to champion it. So, if, at the time, chaplains had long been placed in such service, that would have been a more 'liberal' position to take. If he was opposing a new practice, it could be characterized as conservative.