The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-15

mo means fatterins to the long merited and
| high reputation of Virginia owe it to my
own feelings, and to the esteem Of those of
my friends. who are of opposite sides in the
dispute about the Presidential candidate
fairly toexplain my sentiments, and even my
wishes, on the subject and TO offer my OPT
Mons Oh the course of conduct, which deem
| it my duty topursue on this occasion.
NV sentiments on the questions involving
politics, are, that the will Of the majority
! should be respected by the minority /: That
| when the question is not on matter OF Prin--
ciple, but of mon. that then the only consi-
Iteration IS, how the principles may be best
supported; and that the question concern-
1 ing one man, or another man, if there be an
equal probability or certainty Of one acting as
well as the other, that then there should be no
Opposition to the will of the majority, unless
there should appear to be league between
men of hostile principles of policy; league
between the opposers of democratic policy,
| by which, ! mean, both the fundamental
principles OF the government. and the mea-
sures of the present administration. such a
coalition, | should deem incompatible with
the principles which / ever have and ever
Shall support.
So far concerning my sentiments-I will be
'fe9ually explicit as to my wishes If my indivi-
dual vote could have decided, or my judgment
Influenced the choice of the next candidate
for. President. it would have been unhesitat-
ingly for George CinIon; if seeing that it
was not practicable to obtain d majority for
that venerable and good man, should again
have choice, I should most certainly have
decided for James Monroe believe him
to be IS good and as truly noble man as
breathes beneath the armament. suspect
that HortenSius would Shew much more
he .hop 30
bly, he may say, that with such predilecti-
/ ons, ! ought to oppose Mr. Madison. It is
very obvious from these declarations, that
| am at least no fiatterer. / have at least the
! fair claim to sincerity; Ipresume even upon
little more than plain sincerity; am will
ling to abide by the will of the maiority-I
am willing to sink my personal prediiecti-
ons in the choice of the greater number;
because This is the vital PRINCIPLE q our go
Uernment, where men alone are in contcm-
| plation.
| l am under no obligations to Mr.. Clinton
nor to Mr.. Madison. owe Mr.. Monroe an
acknowledgment for a personal favor at
period when the Presidential question was
anticipated, and which was the more CRATE
full to ME, because it was an act of generosi-
ty to valued friend whom he favored be-
cause he was my friend.
But the question is not to be regulated in
my mind by personal feelings either of af-
fectien or dislike. My effort ever has been to
act as politician in that way which, to the
best Of my humble Judgment promised to con-
dpce most to the general good In the di-
visions and distractions stirred up on this oc-
easion, see many causes operating, at va
rance with every principle of political rule,
but in violation of decorum and even COM
mon sense: An observing man after travel
hing IN coach with a number of persons,
might on the journey discover, that ne was
IN the company of madmen or fools, and at
the next stage he would have discretion e.
fnoagh either to lie bye OF get ahead of his
fellow passengers, and travel TO his Journeys
end composedly and securely. cannot en-
ter into the mad contention, that disturbs
Virginia, the state of all others most apt
to censure other states for reputed turbu-
Hence but which on this question appears
to be the only state that wransles.
must confess that there are other motives
which doubly reinforce my determinations
on this occasion. The state Of our foreign
relations the necessity of a continued adj
hcrence to the same wise policy that has hi
thsrto conducted the United States through
SO many perils the great conUtlaon zvhich
I is az this moment IMPENDING and menaces a
revolution III ne afairs Of tie universe,
more e-c:raordina''a and eUenJnl, than has
even in these epentfuk fines net haf1hened-
feel it to he the first of the interests of this
nation, to be at this crisis, calm united, and
undistracted; men not governed by head
strong and wanton passions, would make
large sacrifices to promote such a dignifed
state of concord and tranquility; and I am
persuaded that thos: who have energy and
virtue to serve their country, will very soon
have ample opportunities, without seeking
to distract and to divide the people upon a
point which cannot produce any other effect
than i'll blood, and evil passions.
/ shall only add, that no man at any time,
nor in any form, directly or indirectly, ever
sought to influence me III favor Of Mr. Madi-
son--I owe him no obligation Of any kind, but
that respect which every man feels towards
a man of talents, who has rendered public
service. Ihave, however, had many appli
cations, and very pressing too, 10 oppose
him. never was, nor will ever be the
creature or the instrument of any man.
! The same judgment that has led me thro'
| the tempcstuous times past-is MY sole guide
now--I judge and act as my own observation
| alone directs.
| VIM DUANE.