The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-12

j ceive more minnie history of the schisn,
OF one party, and the rise and progress oil
others, than the one to be collected from the
various essays which have appeared in your
paper
From this review, we gradually trace the
| process Of the mind, from state of calm
ness and union, to that of gentle and reluc
tant opposition, thence to sophistry and keen
insinuation, and lastly to factious viruIence
and mutual prescription. In this light of
the subject, l am almost inclined to think,
that the consequences of this election, are of
more serious Importance, than the election
itself, for Men have such propensity TO
divide into personal factions, that the small
lest appearance of real difference will pro
duce them: When reflect upon the cause
which has created these parties. and when
l can ind no serious difference of sentiment.
q no important principle at hazard ] am for
chilly reminded of the instance which Hume
gives OF a personal faction between the Pra-
SIM and Veneti, who quarreed about the
colour OF livery at a race, which produced
SUCH Perdurable enmity, that it caused the
destruction OF their country.--But whilst
am wide awake to the appearance of facti-
on and It's brood of evils, and whilst l look
with horror upon its approach, cannot suf-
Ter myself to be Shorn of republican cha
ractcr, merely because advocate the cleo
ton OF James Monroe. What new process
mas been discovered, to investigate the po,i-
teal properties OF men? How is it, that e.
ven consistency of long life, cannot identi-
ty their politics! How is it, that war-tried
patriots and men who have grown grey in
the cause of the people, " shall have these
pure and ambrosial weeds, soiled, as it
were" by boys Of yesterday2 And why is it
more CRIMINAL now to cspouse the cause of
Monroe, than it was few months since,
! with these Questions abandon the odious
charge OF federalism, which has been sue-
gested by malice, more than by fact, and
maintained by Jesuitism, more than by ho-
nesty and candor.
If the circumstance of not knowing and
beng unknown to any of the candidates, be-
speaks sincerity of motive and sentiment, l
cannot be accused of personal prejudice or
selflsh calculations. l. can only Judge of Mon
ms works, and from them alone J am his
| decided advocate.
In my decision upon this subject, Ihad ful
~ resolved to wave my private predictions
and to be guided by the great principle of
our government-the will of the majority
but that viii has been announced through
such corrupt. and perverted medium, that
shall continue to indulge my own prefer
ence, until l am convinced that it is repug-
nant to the majority of my countrymen. I
do not claim any merit in adopting this 'patri-
otto mode OF forming my opinion, because /
consider. 1t the duty of every citizen-and
moreover, twas one Which both parties pro-
fessed to pursue. How consistently they have
acted with these professions, may be seen
by comparison of their theory and practice.
They pretended at first, that they support
ed Madison entirely under a belief that he
was the choice of the United States. but so
soon as doubts thickened upon the prospect,
one candidate was thrown aside as being or
OF me question, ana the other has been
ridlculed tor the infirmities of age. We
mad every reason to hope, that this threa-
tening crisis would have been. prevent
ed by an honest and manly caucus at Wash
lngton {: That members would have been ac-
tive and impartial in procuring and report
ing the sense OF their states. Ifthey had done
this, schism would have been still. and fac
ton fast asleep. They would either have
preferred Monroe, Madison, or Clinton, or
! they would have chosen one of the two first
to run IN opposition to the last If they had
done this, we should have felt none Of the
pangS OF separation, and our enemies mipf.,
SUI. nave exclaimed with the Heathen bro
verb, BehoLd hozo these Christians Loye one
= aHotHer. But when men are acting in this
high and responsible Office, where h01ao,. u1td
good filth are as much required as in their
more immediate capacities of Representa-
yves, shall presume to shuttle intrigue in the
place OF patriotism, and private calculation
IN the place of public sentiment, such con
duct thould excite the liveliest execration of
the people. confess, that at one time re-
hed great deal on the result of Bradiev's
caucus, mad done so on former occasions
as had always conceived a congressional
caucus as a grand reservoir of national sen
tment, and should have done so on this, blu,
that subsequent facts proved to me, II was not
SO much caucus as cabal, not so much a
patriotic body as an "inflamed organ burst
ing forth with impetuous arrogance. and
snort-slghted stratagem." No mind can DOS
sioly resist this powerful contradiction. The
caucus at Washington was almost unanimous
IN favor OF Madison, from hence we were to
infer that the sense of the other states had
been ascertained, and that Madison was the
undlsputed choice of the w. States.-NVe
nave since heard from many other states
who SO far from being fairly represented by
the caucus, are inflexiby opposed to Madi-
son. thus 1t is evident to the conviction nj
the most obdurate mind, that they knew no.
thInS OF the sentiments of the people, or il
they did, they would not respect them, and
| thus they would wish to impose upon the peo-
pie, the election OF pragmatic and corrupt
Junto, as the choice of the u. States. lis
Ill vain that we look for information to this
source. But is it not surprising that the friends
OF Madison should continue to strive and bear
down all ODDoSitinn will tIa e,,,>,,,..,, i -