The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-19


The time is fat approaching when you will
be called on to elect fome prrfon to repreient
! you in the CongrefS ofthe United States. rake
the hbertyto adviie you that am ready TO ferve
the diltriet If it Is your plealure TO elect me.
! reiort to this public mode of announcing my
intention as 1t is next TO impofibe ihould be
able to fee the freeholde-s Individually nor in
deed do copider it neceii;lry, for it is indif-
penhbe TO the due exercife of the right of fuf-
irage, ifa freeholder is not acquainted with the
! candidate he commune with him who is, there
| by to capacitate himiclf to beitow his vote in
a way mott honorable to himfelf and mott adj
vantageous 10 his country. Amoft ever ince !
was eligible have expericn ced the Partially of
! my native county 10 far as to he honored with
its confidence in the character of its repreienta-
rive in the State Legislature. | was cleSted in
! the year 1898, crihs, memorable in politics,
and well calculated TO ter the fentiments of a
public fun6tionary. l fatter myielf it is not ne
cefiary within the fphere of my acquaintance to
fate that my fentiments from the moment of
my political eXiitence CATER the ftrGteft tell
have eenrepuhlican. A fix years itrvice in the
Legislature OF Virginia, releaves me from the
d;hgreeable neceiiity of commenting upon the
fhare have taken i'll politics the records of
the body OF which was member bear me f.
lent, but truh satisfactory evidence, that in
every iituaton and in every vicilfitude, my aid,
fuch as 1t was, invariably was rendered to bring
about that mild and happy administration which
AT preient marks the general government, to
give fupport 10 which will conftitute the polar
ltar OF my political conduct. Inmy private re-
iations am connected with your countrymen,
by every tie that binds and keeps together the
iocIety OF man | am placed in that middle
condition between poverty and wealth, which
eXempts me from the pride and ufolence of
/, IL.
dependent. And independence procured by
my own exertions and arfine from property i
dentically like that of which nineteen twentieths
otyou, are po1effed. Yes, counrymen, in the
event ofmy ele6tionI fhall cultivate the foil
only TOR tupport. | am father, | am a huff
band, theie arc the pledges Of citzenfhip ten
der---and lffo melancholy an occurrence ihould
happen that in any moment of my life fhou.d
forget what was due my confidence, nv cha
ratter or my country; thefe ties are guarantees
to your iafety; 70 long as conjugal affection, or
pious ientlment for parents, of an affe6tionate
regard for children or felfinteref itfelf have do
mnion over man, 10 long your intereit and mine
are lndiHolubly connected, and by promoting
yours, iha invariably promote my own
In the attempt am now making to repreitnt
you, am fully feniible of the difficulty have
TO encounterin being oppofed by citizen who
has hitherto reprelented the difrSt for ferries
or years. am well aware of the ufua argu-
ment, "ihaIl we turn out an old frrvant - blu.
this will be eaiily anfwered if the fnhiect re-
ceives that inveftigation which IFS importance
merits. On the Sd March the character of tina;
gentleman as representative ceafcd. The of
nee Is now vacant. What are his preteniions
in preference to mine? Has &c tifcharged his
duty! Has he acted in every reflect as YOU with
ed him if he ihoud have been 10 fortunate, he
has only done that which from the nature of his
undertaking he was bound 10 do. He has re-
ct,ved MS reward by the nature ofthe trult con-
ilded TO him by the confciouinefs of having done
his duty and the appreciation of his country.
If on the contrary, ne has not equalled your ex-
Pectation and has Purfued line of conduct of
which you difapprove, he has no claims uDon
your gratitude. My own opinion is that a man
who Hills that office ihould, occafionay revert
to the great MATS of the people Stripped of
the enigns and divefted of the feelings of office
reduced to the level of citizenfhip, he ihould
enter INTO their views, underfand their interef,
Know their wants, and thereby learn the real
connection between the contituent BODY and
thelr iervants. AS general principle, i: NAV be
LAID down, that if the Representatives ofthe Deo
pie are too long continued in one Office, they
are apt TO think their reelection AS A matter az
right. They loofe that tender fenlibility to-
wards their conftituents, and that devotion to
l"S" iClNlCe WhlCh they mould invariably poi
iets. 10 give however the argument of con-
tinuing to eject becaufe having been elected, the
utmoft weight 1t deferves, it will be like duff in
he balance juft calculated, all things elf, being
equal to turn the fcale. feel imprei1ed with a
conviction that considerations of an higher ma
ture will attract the attention and influence the
lecilion of the people.
There are four cardinal points well worthy
your regard in felecting representative to con-
grefs. Similarity of intereft, moral character,
extent of talents, political fentments delicacy
forblds the inviduous talk of drawing compa-
rion between my opponent and myfelf upon
theie various queftions. You, countrymen, are
the tribunal to decide between us. IF the deci
iion ihould be favorable to my wilhes, it will be-
Viewed as the mott fortunate incident of nv
life, twill beregarded as AN additional and high
| ly honorable proof of the friendlip ofmy coun-
try, it will infpire me with fentiments of indie
| lible gratitude, and will ftimulate me TO fInDlv
what iha be wanting in ability o. experience
by an induftry which AlalI not be fltigneC, and
| by zeal which ihall know no abatement. If
however, my opponent be deemed more wor
thy your confidence, the firh maxim of nv no.
Iitics directs me to acquiefce and bow with
cheerfulnefs to the will of the people. In anv
ituation mall be placed by my country. Ttruf
/ ihall he fatisfed, and continue TO make her
PROPERTY the firft object of my wifies.
Believe ne,
very respectfully, your
e.. i 4 Ia