Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-30


nations in their opinions. The charac-
ter Of Mr.. Jefferson, therefore, becomes
more and more dear to the people of A.
merica. He cannot now be considered
as the chief of dominant faction, Cut as
the legitimate representative of public
rights ard opinions. Our own character
as people, and the individual character
OF every American, participates in that
OF our chief magistrate, because he is the
man OF oar choice and has been fairly e.
lected. Let us then admit of reasonable
excuses for juvenile alterations, if there
were such. Let us take grand, liberal
and comprehensive view. Let US sum
|up the items of merit as well as of de.
merit, and strike an impartial balance.
Ii this shall b.: done, who will be hardy
enough to point his finger and shy to Mr..
Jefferson, you have been weighed and are
found wanting!
Do the enemies and defamers c. Mr..
Jefferson, who ascribe to liinh whole life
of vice and immortality, believe them
selves! Do they recolisct, when they en-
blazon the name of their chief magistrate
in the pages of criminal accusations, and
endeavor TO sacrifice it on the altar of in.
fanny, that at the same time they surren-
der the character of their own country,
and that they involve themselves and all
that belongs to them in the paricidal i'm
notation VIII the enlightened men of
Europe so to your Courihouoss, or coffee
houses, or caucugses, CT will they read all
the extravaganza paragraphs of opposing
In 6,.i,.e fcrlt
OF character which belongs TO an elective
chief magistrate ! Far from it. They
will look to TIE general character Of the
people. They will expire by whom and
under what circumstances the election
has been made. If they find that it has
been free, and that the people are indie.
pendent, patriotic and vir,uous, they will
conclude that the general conduct of the
Chief magistrate is no. less so.
But If these enquiries are not made, and
the opinions of distant nations shall be
iotmed from hostile publications, it will
be then natural 10 believe, that the Anne
r'cans are base, ignorant, and degene.
rate race. They will believe, that the A.
me'icans delight in vices and crimes, and
that the moe conspicuous any man is in
the calendar of iniquily, the more accep-
table he will be as public servant. Ye
calumniators and retailers Of scandal !
you are exhorted topay regard 10 this adj,
moniiion.
These observations open to the philo-
sopher, patriot and phiianthrepist, wide
and extended scope. They afford vast
and comprehensive view of the character
OF man. They invite US to open gene.
rous and general accounts of debit and
credit with every individual and when
we lind much for applause, for justifcati-
on, or Tor imitation, VIC ought not TO dis
tnrb ourselves with measuring every tri.
hing angle, which particular individual,
IN the course of long and active life,
may have made.
But il is time to discontinue these ge.
neral remarks, and 10 proceed to some.
thing which is more applicable to the case
before US; something which will be more
apt to occupy place in the readers me.
Inofy. For his purpose | shall par,icu.
larly draw the readers attention to that
part Of MIR. Jefferson's conduG when he
was governor of Virginia; because, up.
on that an illustration of his public cha.
racier will greatly depend, and concern.
ing which his constituents are, or ought
to be most anxious 10 know the truth.
he writer of this was an eyewitness
to some of those things winch have been
brought before the public, and now pro.
poses to give few details as they APP.
peared to him. These details may be
considered as replies TO oil which others
have said, or IS the evidences of facts,
upon which, as far as they go, opinions
may be formed.
MIR. Jefferson was the governor Of Vir.
GINA in the years 1880 and 1881. In
the winter of these years, and about
Christmas, gen. Arnold made a short,
unexpected, and predatory expedition to
Richmond. The surprise, alarm, and
CONSERVATION wss great beyond desrcip.
ton. The retreat was almost as preci-
ptate, and Mr.. Jefferson, no doubt with
others, felt the force of the unexpected
movement. Yet it has been well es,a.
bllshed, by the testimony of many wit.
nesses, and is confirmed by facls of pub
lie notoriety, tina, he afforded great end
timely aid in the most important public
rppcerr a. R,f he The a. q 10 ,,o,, IL. -.