Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-03-23
FROM +ah VIRGINIA. KxrsEss


10 the Freehpidrts of Caroline. Rsser.
King Iyin;ani. and xing aud Queen. 8
FELLow CirrzKNs, tr "a
Your present representative in Con-
gress having announced lis i.s,ent,on 10
retire from public service, several persons
IN the district have selected me 10 he
Come candidate at the approaching e.
lection, for seat in our National I.egis.
ia,ure. The number and respect ability
OF these applications have been such, that
might be justly ssspe eted of waning
that portion OF public spirit which every
one should possess, if ! hcsi,ated to ten
der my services. Be assored my fellow
citizens, that do not mention The fore
gong circumstances with any wish to ar.
rogate TO myself the praise of disint-rest-
etiness or the merit Of popularity--bur
simply in Justification of slep which UNI
solicited, should not have taken. For
Il mas ever been my opinion, that no man
should become candidate for any Office in
the powered the people 10 bcs,ow, without
having strong presump,ive evidence,
at least, that it might be the public wish.
We all certainly owe to society, the ut
most exertion of our talents for its bene-
ht-and whenever called upon. it i, the
duty, as II should be the practice ofe.e-
~ good citizer To obey with pronptiiude.
But unsought to obtrude ourselves on The
public can never proceed from correct
motive. I will not go so faras To- assert that
mans fitnessforoifice,i is precisely in pro-
portion 10 his backwardness & reluctance
to accept 1t altho' true merit will general
~ be found to avoid, rather than 10 court
promotions. But l can venture to pro-
nounce, that very Jealous, active, and
importunate canvass for public uust, par
ucniariy when no symptoms Of public pre-
Ference have been discovered is in eve
~ instance certain measure ei.her of the
vanity cupidity or ambition of tue candi-
date. The circumstance OF a mans soil
citing an Office, should never be consider.
ed as giving him any superior, and sill
less, any exclusive right to The possession
OF Il; unless the avowed candidates for DO
puiar favor, were alone the objects of
public selection, instead Of the whole boz
dyof Freehoiders. Singular as il may ap.
pear, that should advocate an op;nion.
the general adoption OF which, would in All
probability, defeat the professed design
OIL ihis address yet solemnIy protest,
that l would rather remain forever burr.
ed IN the obscurity of private life, unfit
IN the public estimation for any Office
whatever, than to succeed in becoming
) your representative, by an election CON,
Quoted upon any other than the purest
principles. Degraded indeed, and despi.
cable must be The man, who, for the tenn
porary qualification Of occupying an Ella
waited statloni would be content to acquire
IL oy prostitution Of private morals and
ne sacrifice of public happiness. Let il
not be thought that I ascribe such dis.
as'rous consequences TO causes made
quate to produce them. Soon or late
they must inevitably follow neglect of
the nayim, that the right of suffrage
should, IN every possible case, be exercis-
cd upon the purest and most conscienti.
Gus motives Upon the correctness of
our opinions and practice, upon this all
important subject, depend our virtue, our
government, our national prosperity.
Particular knowledge Of nv political
principles being essential TO enable YOU 60
Judge how far ! may be competent to re-
present you, shall proceed 10 commun;-
cate them as fully as the limitsof letter
VIII admit. The only opinion on the
subject OF governmen, which appears TO
be rational is, that the sole and exclusive
purposes OF its institution are, to protect
the liberty and properly, 10 promote the
virtue and to augment the happiness of
the people governed: and the only true
test otis excellence, is lis competency 10
ettece these beaeGcent ends. The capa.
b'l'ty OF the people for self government,
the equality OF their rights, the power re-
sniting from the right to bestow and
70 resume all authority, and the indispen-
slble obligations Of their agents to consult
the general interest, 10 the exclusion Of
every selfish pnrpose, are naxims which
appear TO me as evidently true, as they
are lust and rational T. 81.