Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-22
DIcolaia Mr9rs8.
Il l c II III . n ID :
TUESDAY,, MARCH %, 1908.


We are happy TO state, that upon the request
of a lAr,-e numbcr, of the ireeholders OF the
City Of Richmond, WILLIAM WRIT, Esq.
has consented to become a candidate at the en-
sui's ie iiOn, torepresent tho city il the state
Legislature : pn!i will therefore be held for
him on uI;,t occasion.
", the las, Enquirer, two pieces addressed
10 JANEs MADISON appeared, one of which
is .gncd &c FaIldnG," and the other &c Conon "
They breathe the same spirit, and display such
arsncorons hostility to that gentleman and so
total a disregard of candour, as completely
to disgrace the cause they espouse We viii
not pretend to say 7pho are their authors, nor
even to suggest our opinion concerning that
point but will take The liberty of assuring them
that the cause Disqualification to which they
both profess so jealous an attachment, is not to
he supportcdby such means. 1t was by illiberal
and cruel denunciations on the part Of brethren
OF tie same principles against each other by
vie wing with horrible suspicious and hatred,
the conduct and characters of all those who
stood in the wayof their promotion, or differ
ed with them IN opinion that the French yevo-
htionistS murdered liberty, and disappointed
the fair hopes Of the human RICE. With ex-
trcUc sorrow indeed TO we perceive. that, in
Our Own country, in the happy land pf America,
not less renowned for its freedom than for the
temperate. wise, and iudicious means, BY
which that freedom has hitherto been secured
violent spirit OF party arising, which, if not
Timely checked, would forever destroy our
eNcoi'cnt institutions. When the federalists
ard republicans heretofore disputed, the acri-
mony manifested on bath sides might have
bccn expected II was a controversy l,ct wccn
opposing hsincibies in which. thank heaven,
those who commended for the rights of the poo
pie, were ultimately victorious. But, in the
present contest. concerning the Presidential
efcctlon. Tin which no question Of trircitles
ought TO be involved since the three candi-
dates are oil true republicans and good men,
such violence is surely inexcusable. Yet, with
shame BE- 1t said,) it appears likely TO be con-
ducted, by the opponents OF Mr. Madison
not with that sedate and rational zeal
which sincere regard for the public good in
spires, but with the venemo,Is animositv of self
Interested partizans struggling for the honors
ana em1inmenis OF office or with the infiiri-
sted vehemence Of cracl; Drained political BIZ
gotry, from the evil effects of which discord
ant passions, in he bosoms Of few, nothing
can save us but the good sense and moderation
% tie great majority Of The teo6le
tyicentiy under the dominion and insDiration
OF such passions, the compositions of Falkland
and LonoH were written. They both seem to
De nin'd 10 the many mcritGriOus services
which Mr.. Madison has rendered to his com.
.
rcpub'can cause, yet. as no man, in this world
can ne absolutely perfect, they even turn into
cause OF accusation, his nor haoirP done epeyy
thing lie IS reDroached with the merits OK
John Idyfor and others his fellow laborers in
the vineyard as If they might not a, rationnilp
be censurcd FOR moi having composed his ceIe
Grated rrporf in defence &c the memorable re-
solutions relative to the alien and sedition laws.
as ne Tor h5ving failed 60 prepare and propose
those resolutions originally. The truth is that
IN popular government, one MAJ. is not. nor
ohght 10 be the prime mover of az the mea
sures adopted every GOOD citizen serves his
country, rs well rs he is able. when the opnor
tnn'ty presents. itself, or is suggested by his
own mind. With respect to the resolutions.
Col. Taylor justly has the glory of being the
hrst to bring them forward but shall we, for
that reason. depreciate all the other good re-
pnohcans IN the state, who did not indeed
propose them, but, when they had been proposed.
ably advocated and demon strated their propr.
ETY.! Among these, Mr. dfatlison was certainly
the most conspicuous and useful for we do
not hesitate to say chat his admirable report. !
by inc force of cool, deliberate, and closely
ioSicM argument, gained over more converts
to the opinion that the alien. and scCiiton laws
were Unconstitutional, than all the eloquent
harangucs Of the many excellent sneakers in
support OF the resolutions.
II IS not true, as Fdikkanf pretends, that
ne political atmosphere had ''Jrig tened a liz |
Ne, when that report was prepared ON the
con;rary, 1t is notorious that the legislatures of
large majority o. the states had expressed !
IN s,'1rg terms their disapprobation of The con
Inct OF The assembly of Virginia Kcrfactyl
alone having spoken in her favor Their cowi |
ier-rss7iatio1s were referred 60 the very com
nittec OF which lfadisoH was the chairman |
It was then, at that dark and disastrous peri |
"a, when, notwithstanding the truly great A. |
Diiities OF Col Taylor aud the energy of rea- |
son contained M his resolutions. they had to- |
ally failed in producing the effect intended, |
mat the superior powers Of the miad of MqAi- |
ron were displayed. Undaunteds by the peri
Gus and almost universal opposition, he bro'f !
his pen TO the defence Of failing cause, and |
rescLcd Il from destruction.
The light cf reason dffused bv him soon
produced almost universal conviction and. !
from that moment, the friends of freedom
began to increase, until at length they ure. |
vailed over all her foes. Yet we are told |
by Faikldpd that he was trembline1y alive
10 the boldness Of the truths contained in |
MS OVID report" and so very timid as to be |
afraid "to avow in the face of dav the
principles which had emanated from his
pen 10 the closet! - A very probable sto-
y indeed! but, strange aud ridiculous as
i IS, not siugle charge exhibited either
~ Falkland or his coadjutor Coao,, win.
when examined, appear at all more ration
al or better founded
In cur next paper we shall give those
A. Fqpn