The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-09

sSisure Oh virginia, to carry any point
whatever, without facing the expected op-
position ana answering the expected atgu-
ment, proceeded from the friends OF MIR. Ma
idison.
| Contrast this eondtict, my fellow citizens
with that here observed by the friends of
Mr.. Munrce. They called no Caucus until
after the invitation 10 the Bell. They were
willing to have united with their political
tbrethren in a general assembly; but desert
Cd by them, they held their meeting at the.
Capitol, they nominated Mr.. Munroc, and
cheerfuiiy submit to your consideration the
validity of his prctersions, as well as the,
tpropriety of their conduct
For these measures, to which they felt
thein selves compelled to resort. tie friends
| or NJ H:un:ce are denounced, and almost
threatened wnh prescription. They are re-
preached lor having dared to cali the eau
GUS ;isao' 70 that Caucus all were invited.
| and the call Itself WAS produced by the pre-
! vious summons to The Bell. They are re-
proached FOR the nomination of MIR. Munroe
when IN fact they were not permitted to
hear the reasons why another person should
be preferred They are rcproached for ex-
citing by their illiberal indulgence of local
and personal partialites, the jealousies of
the other states; whereas in truth the first
movement to secure the presidential Office
again to a citizen of Virginia, was made n
Richmond by the friends of Mr. Madison,
L hey arc rcproeated for introducing schisn
IN tue republican party, when in reality, they,
tho a minority were left i'll possession OF the
Capitol, AMI were. informed, both by words
and acts. OF no equivqeal import, that the
friends OF Mr.. Madison, wished for no COM
manicatlcn with them: and they are now re-
CURED to surrender at discretion. altho' in
the same breath, it is intimated, that the
modification, which they must experience.
at the defeat sd confidently anticipated for
them, will probably prevent a cordial recon
ciliaticn. 80
For my own part, my fellow citizens, 1 de-
clare toyou, that sec no reason why all
TINS excitcmentS hould be produced and why
all these reproaches should be cast,lpcn the
friends of Mr. Munroe. II Mr. Madison re-
ally occupies the high ground, on which he
is said to stand, IL reference to this election.
II his friends are sure that he viii be sup
ported by the great majority of the people,
OF what consequence can be the opposition OF
party, compounded, it is said cot the most
heterogeneous materials, or iabouiing under
a strange infatuations' IF this be reaIy a
correct representation OF the case, why is all
this solic;tude displayed? Does it not seem
to indicate an apprehension, that the event is
not so certain, as it is auedged to be- Or
does 1t proceed rom the influence Of that fra
ternal sentiment, which is yet felt by the
friends of MIR. Madison for their (. nfatuat-
ed" and schismatical opponentsa IF this last
SuppoSltion be correct, the friends of Mr.
Munroe, beg that all soiicitude on their acI
count may be dismissed, as they are perfect.
ly disposed to submit their fate to the decision
of the people.
My countrymen! 1t is idle for any man to
make professions about the purity of his mo-
tives, or the sincerity of his zeal for the pub
lie welfare. In the political world, acts are
the only evidence of motives, and by the
criterion which they constitute, nv friends.
and ARE willing to be judged. Though in
addressing you, have assumed the name of
a Roman lawyer, my real name is well un-
derstood by many. In truth l assumed my
signature, because its appropriation would
indicate the writer, the acts and course of
whose life are not absolutely unknown I
have presumed, in former times, on several
occasions TO address you, and lean conscien-
tiously affirm that have never written a
line, which "dying / could wish to blot
Ardent as my temper may be by nature, the
spirit of party has never led me into any ex-
cess before the great tribunal of the nation. I
shall pursue similar Course now. | stand
before God and my country, and hold it A.
sacred duty not to utter sentiment which is
not dictated by my heart, nor to deliver an
opinion which is not approved after the best
exertion OF my most sober and deliberate,
JuuSHicHt. ODuertne lnnilenCe OF TINS solemn
consideration, | shall steadily pursue the
course which / have marked out for myself
will not utter word which can, in my iudg-
ment, be converted into fuel to feed the flame
OF party spirit, nor will evcrnotice express
SONS from whatever quarter they may come,
which do not bear upon the merits of the
great question before you. All that the friends
OF Mr. Munroe ask is, that you will hear be-
fore you decide, that you will keep your
hearts and minds in the love of truth and
that you will permit them to come before you
not only in the way but at the time, which
they may deem most expedient for the pub
lie good. tits obvious that the friends of Mr.
Munroe can gain nothing by intenperance
in language or in conduct. The cause in
which they are engaged, they believe to be
the cause oftruth, Ct justice and of the peo-
pie, and surely you cannot he injured by hear
ing the facts and arguments On which they
rely.
On what principle the nomination of Mr.
Munrce, viewed in reference to this state,
or to the nation at large, Can be nationally
condemned, it is difficult to discern. If we
view the measure in relation to Virginia on
ly, no mischief can be perceived. You will
recollect, that the electors ofthis state, are
appointed by your general suffrage, and that
therefore the will Of the majority must inevi-
tab,y prevail The undivided vote Of the