Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1800-08-08
From the Baltimore .Amsr;ca,,.

III oPouting held at Elk Ridge meet.
ing ground, or Saturday, was numerouox
atsended---Amoug the mott diainguiined
characters on the republican fide, were Col
j. +. Mercer, Judge Duyal and !. Tohnfou;
but the arittocrats mulirred all their fore,
there were 5. Chafe, !. T Chale, Hsrn.r
ana hey' About IL O'Clock Col. Mercer
opened the buGuefs of the meeting, in a
train of dignihed and manly eloquence. II.
commenced by clearing his character from
an lihberal imputatIon of once having aiTert.
ed that this continent was too large, add i'm
population toe numerous to be governed bv
Que government, and chat it ought TO be d.
vIded into two governments, making the ri.
yer Potomack the boundary of each.
Tins charge was low ele6fioneerinq trick.
straightforward by iomething named Weens
who calls himlelf a candidate, and who ia him.
ielf inc oaiy evideacc in iuppor, of,ne charge.
Col. Nj. denied the alIrrtions and proved so
the iatisfaction of every one, that no prin-.
ciPe of interelt or ambition, could poiTiblv
allow him to entertain any with 70 the efe&
ipeciGed.
Col. Nj, then noticed handful. which
hat been written and circulated by P, Kew.
eiq. sgaInit placing confidence, or - lilienirq
10 Virginia democrats" This handful was
replstc with that whine and cant about reii.
gion, and atheim, which generally character.
lie the productions of the " workers ofdark.
ne's.' His defence of the religious & mo-
raj opinions of Mr. JefIerlon, was conlplcu-.
Gus for every thing that cou2itutes brilliant.
tusiIme and nervous eloqrencs he ex plcded
all the bale allegations which had been bro't
before the public relative TO MIR Jefferfon's
religion. Col. IA. proceeded to az abe de-
fence OF the principles of the federal coniti-
tuition, which he aVerred to be Rretly de-.
mocratIc in the limited acceptation OF the
word. The handful, in whole author h.
recognized his worthy and able opponent.
(Mr Key to Whole eloquence he had fire.
quen'ly littened with admiration, and often
with up RATED hands, was about to ioin bia
fellow citizens in aPplau(e had rot the tranl-
action at the plains of Brandywine, Rarted
on his recollection, where the gal ant White
fell by his fide, by ball directed by theye-
ry enemy in Whole fervice Mr. Key wac then
an officer! Yes, he could have Welded tbat
homage, due 10 talents and eloquence, had
lhey not been di(played by one who was a
bri'lh officer while we were Rruggling for
liberty, agsinlf that nation, bent on our de-
HFuetiob, and from whom we had experieuc-
cd nothing bu. the mott mock ny oppreGion.
as man, his private gir,ues were an o,ns-
ment to iocietY +; but as politician, col. NJ.
could receive him only as the indulgent fa-
ther received the prodigal ION =" Faf5c, +
5ave hH7ed 0gaigR beaUen, and ia fjy Gg6t pr
This contrition mighC be fufTicient TO allow
him to enjoy The privileges Of citizenhip
out % to make him as one of the bi,Ed /fr-.
V0"f5' of the people, never could be lafe.
until ms old principles were fully eradicsted.
[ He,e 0oab great PatboS, Col M read iBe
PafH6E Of fbs PtOdiyaiJoa, o0d duly embb lieG
j1e' PsVGgef az a1piedfO Mr.. h.
There, faid col M. we faw the ,.b,sion, pro.
digsl received with every denomination Of iov-
the lated calf was killed the banquet fpread and
mniie and dancing called in 10 eneresle the dolav
oil leliivity. When the elder brother came home,
when he iaw the roptuIous admiration with Wish
nc rebellious brother was received, he remon0ra-
ted with the father he had oeen acady % pro.
mote the Parcnt'' iutereH his field. had beeo.n.
- N'',fSi Hi' t-hNhI J HE Nervous ann haG
welded the iifklc that prepared the rich har1ca
Tor the barn he lad never cauitd thes indolseus
mother pangi never diaurbsd he, pillow Ly
in ANXIETY Tor the effects Of his imprudencc, or a
'luih for his ingrstitude What rnesnstheir ex.
citations foid he, have not been f,ithiulto thy
aicreh yet 'hou never gaveR TO me KID, With
which might make merry with my friends.
'ouy rejoined the a,her all thst have Is thine
ia tne earthly honors in my power 10 bcltow, ihal
'e laid out on thee; thou male inherit my land,
nd my Rocks, YET psternal Affection dire6ts thst
ihouid receive Thy brother with hopiu6fy. al.
longh ne has attempted to iniure my reips sa5i-
ny aud brought diigra,e on my houfhold
Thus, though our hofpitable doors are thrown
pen 70 tloie who have WArred agnna our hber-
rs though we allow them the full csioytpsos
y all inc rights add advantages etizens zee
e Us below The HoR5 at command, on thoie Of
af ht"dy iritndg, who having embarked shctr
1000 and fortunes ia the defence Of our liberties.
? INC tmc. that irici mems fouls, will no, def.rr
hole Liberties sasbhhed By fueh gscaS sdorts