The recorder, or, Lady's and gentleman's miscellany. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1801-1802, 1802-03-20

dICNCfiLdi AOiiFCIlIltItt ~ liAllC IltSJ stS
have reafon TO think, created belief,
that / have courtcd popularity at the cx
penfe of fincefity.
Allwho know me know the courfe Of
my political thoughts and actions during
the late administration thar I was uni
formly and warmly hottie to it in all its
great leading principles. That / was ac-
lively in oppotition to it, is well known
TO the circle to which now address my
ieif. ] rejoiced in a charge ofrhe admi-
niltration no man felt more ardently
anxious for the elevation Of Jeferfon to
the presidential chair than did myfelf;
the emulation of 40 man could exceed
mine at the idea that our recent cleo
tons had produced a decided majority
of republicans. | undertake to fay that
there is not a gentleman in the city OF
Richmond who would vote for me IN
der the imprehion that an, federa-
Lift. | dilavowed the declaration of
Mr.. Jeferfon, in HIS Inauguration
tpccch, thar, &c zoe evess ~ Reb3bGcaus,
&C g0S gcere all FsdsrAl5es," taking the
common accePtation Of the terms; yet
could have withcd to have feen it, as
near as ponible reduced to pyaaiee.
] equally difaYow the principle in that
fpeech contained, that we are to weld
&c an a5yaf1fc ac7atsfsaee 10 ne decifsns of
z zs4jorily," if even ''lquinr' at the
doctrine of Gan a5ialutc Aeqmsltenes" Of
opinions, or the right TO utter them, ra-
tionaiiy and deliberately formed.
Il is true indeed that have learnt
thar fome gentlemen, Belonging TO the
federal llde Of the queftion in Richmond,
had faid ehar they meant TO vote for me;
bur | always underitood along with il,
thar their determination reftcd on the
direct reverie of my being fcderaiifr:
IT Was, as | have been taught 10 believe,
the uniform candor with which have
ever Been accuftomed to oliver my po-
litical fentiments. do Gncereiy believe
that there is not man in the City Of
Richmond, however warm his federal
opinions, who, i'll were 10 tell him ( was
a federalift, would believe me; and |
hall certainly never make the deciara-
ton to any EnanWhilfr rhink as now
do. But, does it follow, thar, becaulc
am attached TO particular political
party in its great outline, / am, OF ne
cefity, TO go ali lengths with it in de-
tail ? FORBID it, INDEPENDENCE
What has been the party to which,
i1nce have been . man, have been
uniformly and violently oPpoled That
which has lately gone 0nt Of p079sr, and
againit which my feeble oppolition was
always to the ucmof exerted Whit in
poZ0er. I could then, have had no iniler,
ielfiih Or inrerefed views; | was not
hunting for place, penGon, or ettablifh-
meat, or, # / was, mutt at leaf have
been taking the courfe which hunters
would call the 6aek trek: what is the
party 70 which in certain points am
now oPPofed, and my oppoition to
which has created the necelIity of this
egotic a7owal ofmy political principles?
The party, now in Poq0er: tbct, which,
Whit in the minority, Ialways adler
ed to- from Conviction Of the correcf-
nels Of their principles ; ye5! with this
party it is known ! have always fded.
but | viii iide with this no farther than /
think IT RIGHT : If every man III
lociery viii 1actedly chcriGl bis mental
independence, if all men viii gi9s them
feIyes the trouble TO think FER sbSajSIves,
and dliPahionatelY5 upon the political
iobje6ts fhat may be Brought III review
before them; q0btre this mental indepen-
is nonrhhed, q2brys this faculty Of think
ing Is exerciied, THERE, viii always
be traS h6srty.