Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-05

which all our constitutions guarantees IN.
every m-mber OF society. We hay. s,.en
from the operation of The Few causes which
nave nSen enumerated, that an entire cor
respondence OF opinion in selec,iny IN.
most hi candidates. TOR Office caeno, b. ex.
Pec'ed' and that no one republican has .
r,Ent 70 distrust another on account of a
onerence OF opinion on this point. Let,
then. such honest differences Of opinion be
tolerated. Let every citizen be encou.
ragged openly and without fear to express
ms opinions. lie, il be Iecole Sled ihat two
eods sre cis-n 20 be answered, the extrusi-
on lad men from Office Is :. eli :. iie Sc
sectson &c good men for Office. Let II be
secoi:ectcd that the best, perhaps the only
means OF accomplishing these ends IS IN
limited freedom of enquiry; and that The
best chance of filing public places with !
xacn possessedofthe greaiestshare oipub |
lie confidence, is by charging the field
fion, ahicfa selection shall be ultimately !
lnadrs and BY vigorous competition.
Whiie, however, the exercise of this |
right ongh,, under all Gil cumstances, to
be Insisted upon, II ought likewise to be
subjected TO rigid regulation. The pulic |
good being tho only legitimate end in
view, all minor consider alions should in
yAnabiy give way TO il. lfit be the fsm
conviction of republicans if il be a
point in which they ali agree that how
ever great The condolences, they are iusti-
fed in reposing in each other, they can
not confide IN their political opponents, il
becomes duty ofinviolable obligation, To
prevent, if practicable, their differences
from virtually transferring powerinto the
hands OF their adversaries. The means
OF doing this are fortunately always in the
hands of a majority; means, The use CT
which necessity, and nothing short OF ne
cessty lltslities, These cunsist in the ar
rangcments preliminary to elections
whereby the majority, celebrating apart
fron the minority, designate by plurality
ofvstes their candidates. There is 10 O.
Their way by which power righlfuily ac-
qoired can be maioiaiaed. It's mantle
nance, therefore by such means is, not
only right, bat duly. The insiruSli-
on which this enquiry gives Us, then, is
this:
Republicans ought to have confidence
al The views OF each other.
There ends are the same.
Their means. as devised by individuals
or small collections Of republican citizens
dIfer.
Success can only be the result oftheir
union.
IL thence becomes necessary TO unite
in the means To be pursued.
For this purpose free and candid eneui-
ny is necessary among them, and a deci-
sion, by majority of sufsrsges, which are
the best meaos to be pursued.
This decision having been once made,
it becomes the duty of the minority, to
acquiesce in The will ofthe majority, from
which there can be no appeal, without
hazarding The public welfare, and il be-
comes the dutyo of the minority cheerfully
and efhcaciously TO support the means
thus DEVISED, and to support the canai-
dates thus agreed upon.
Letit not be said that this is sacrifice
OF independence. Ifnis sacrifice Of in
dependence, it is essential 10 the pressr-
walton OF free governments, whose eternal
law as well as that Of nature is that majo-
rites shall govern. The union of disho-
nest men 10 do evil creates an indispensi-
bic necessity of Union among honest men
10 avert ii.
no Be eoninued.]