Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-10-09

citizens, Tor consolation and ttlumph, TO q
OF the scene that now lies
before you, The example given b. Penn {
sylsania, IN the general election OF 1899, ,
soon spread throughout the union. The I
latent spirit of Retu6hcanisa kndIed into ,
action; and, with u sudden, but saluIary ,
explosion, swept from the political atmos-
phere, the clouds and yapo,rs, by which it
YVES injected and obscured. The voice OF
the people, iii a regular but decisive tone,
ttansierred the powers ofgovernment from
federal to republican hands: Ard aIrea-
dy have the public funcGonaris, faithlui 10
their trust, revived the principles of the re-
volution, cast off the trappings Of royalty,
restored q constitutional equality OF rights I
to the citizens, and established the impair I
tial administration OF justice. With AN
honorable zeal TO maintain the national IN I
dependence, 10 discharge the public debt,
K to protect the freedom of commerce, you
have seen them combine dispositions the
most conducive To peace, to order, and to
economy. With sacred regard forpub-
nc opinion, aud an honest sensibility to
TAME, they have manifested disda!n to ac-
cumulate Official patronage, as the means
to purchase popularity or to employ Sc
dition act, as the instrument to suppress
investigation. With steady adherence
to the republican cause, and an equitable
desire to communicate to all its friends,
fair proportion of public favor, you may
trace the association OF liberal and CON
cillatory policy, IN The long list OF federal
lists, who still occupy stations of conn
/ dence aud profit. Thus, under the ALL
/ spices Of republican administration, and
within the space of q few months, the reDu
totioH VI tae American government has
been elevated in the view of foreign natl
ons; the spectres Of war have been driven
from cur shores; the danger of stand,
ing army has been ayerted the right of
opinion, and the liberty OF the press, have
been untettered; useless Offices have been
abolished; and unnecessary taxes are dis.
continued. The streets OF our cities are
no longer cenesof tumult our habitationy
have become places Of safety; and our
persons are again under the protection of
the law. In such situation, the republi-
can can nave no wish to crafty, except for
the preservation OF the happiness, which
he has acquired I; and the federalists viii
have no evil to endure, except iron the re-
4 collection OF the power he has lost.
Nor, while we thus derive. from the ex-
tent and value Of your past achievements,
!! lsudabIe incentive to fu.ure exertior, can
yen DC indifferent, fellow citizens, to the
( dsIiy occurrences, which adnonish You al
subsisting danger. The rnenaces that
| reyerberate in the halls of Congress, the
ca,unlnies that issue from the press, the
suilen discomfort ofindividuais, and the nm
disguised hostility of numerous associates,
give assurance of wounded, but ASPIRING,
| spirit. No moderation IN the exercise OF
oi:!ciai power, no overture TO the restorati-
on otsociai harmony, no appeal to the e.
quail dispensations of the constitution, has
oeen effectual TO abate the rage of federal
luminosity, or 10 silence th,: arrogant prs.
tension, toa monopoly ofpublic honors and
emoiument. Still intoerant, active. and
Intelligent, your political opponents move
~ every direction, and transform them
selves into every shape; so that constant
vigilance can alone enable you to discover
and avoid their tolls. In the effort to es
cape from the obloquy of their own mis-
ccndact you have heard them, unbl1ss-
ingiy, aseilbe 10 the existing adrninistra.
49, ~%.SSiSiFC compromise OnuSf The
sixth article of the British treaty, for m.
liquidation Of private, antiquated debts;
the accomplishment of an indemnity for the
spoliations committed on our commerce by
the French the irritation of the barbar;.
ans, on the coasts of ibc Mediterranean
the imposition OF duties on salt, brown su-
gar coffee and other commodities, in oe.
neral consumption among The poor and
an augmentation Of the salaries of the prin.
cipal officers Of state. So, in the atternnt
to conceal from public observation, TIE
brilliant contrast between the present and |
the past transactions Of the government,
the motive OF every measure, Legislative !
or executive, has been stigmatized, its ma |
tire has been perverted, and its opera,i- |
ons inPeded. The repeal of the Jndici-
airy Act Of the 9Th Of February, 1901, has !
opened, above all, copious source focda |
clamalion and dclusion. The design Of
the system, which that act had introduced,
was 90 erect judicial fortress, within |
which the routed fcderaiists might safely
repose, and from which the triumphant re.
pubiicans might be successfully ANNOYED.
The organization of the system, too, was
marked with all that maleyolence could
dictate to provoke resentment, or folfvs
. n