Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-29
[Four Dollars Per Ann,.nl-- Paid in Ad,ance.l

yellow CITIZENS,
WE, whose names arc suhjoincd,
are the members who compose the Stand.
ing CorrcsfoTding COMMITTEES, appointed
by the caucus held at the Capitol, on the
2ist day of January last, by those members
ofthe Legislature Of Virginia. who advocate
the election ofJAMEs MONROE, to the Pre-
sidcntid Office
hitherto, we have been, apparently, SUI
pine (; but our silence and inactivity did not
result from a want of zeal in the cause, 20
which our friends in the General Assembly
believed us to be attached. We were then,
and indeed had been long before of opinion,
that IN :iie competition for the chief 'nagis-
tracy VI the union, which was anticipated
and now exists between Mr.. Madison and
Mr. Monroe, the latter ought 70 be prefer
red. The considerations which lef! 10 that
preference have lost no portion of their in
huehcc. IL is not our business 70 lay them
before the public; but we have no doubt
that this task will be in due time perform
ed, md thN other arguments in favor Of
MIR. Monroe's election, equally cosent and
CONCLUSIVE, will be deduceG from a view of
ne critical situation of the United States at
TINS moment, the causes which produced it,
and the distress and calamity to which we
snail be exposed, by contest, now almost
inevitable, 0ith the only power IN Europe
which has not bowed, or been made to bow
ITS neck TO the yoke os conqucrer, whose
ambition Is without bounds, as his success
ses are without example Nor did the in
difference which We seemed to manifest, re-
suit from an ~ prehension that the number
and confidence of 3tr Madison's friends,
would render unavaling the efforts OF those
who support Mr.. Monroe. Our real mo-
tive was tais-we saw that by means ofthe
memorable caucus, 1T the Bell, by means
at the equally memorable caucus at WASH
lngton, and by means of incessant commu-
nlc"tionS made from that place to members
II tie Legislature here, n sentmen. was
eXci.ed in the public mud highly favorable
to the pretensions of Mr.. Madison, and in
en- equal degree injurious to those Of Mr..
Monroe. 1t was confidently aft rmed and
very generally believed, that the election
of MIR. Madison WAS rendered indisnutabIv
certain by the almost i,;5Bin,ous veto Of the
republicans throughout the United States
The republican interest, it was said, ought
not at this time be divided, and upon this
ground, and on this only, numbers who re-
ally preferred MIR. Monroe. Joined the
friends OF MIR. Madison. This h,lncihic,
has ben unequivocally avowed by many,
and 1t we are not mistaken, by the editors
OF the two Elo2t conspicuous papers in Penn
syivania ana Virginia. In the notes to the
editor OF this Gazette, sent by those who
declined serving as committee men for Mr..
Monroe, 1t is manifest, that tho great ma :
jollty, IL not all of them, were Influenced
principally By that consideration.
We knew that it would be IMPOSSIBLE for
us to counterfeit this sentiment, hy any con-
ieotural statements, which we minE. be dis
posed 20 submit toyou Therc are moments
of popular excitement and deusion, when
tie voice OF reason is rs little heard, and
the precepts of sound discretion as little re-
earded by n community. as by an acitatcd
or angry individual. The correctness Of
this rcmerk, unbappiy for thiS country,
n az be proved. without Tcsorting to the &C
crrrcrces resulting FROM the present cor
test. Pat believing, tina. excitement, from
i;s nature, cannot last long. and that the
dcIUsion which prevailed, must Weld to evil
dCncc, whenever it appeared. we deterrni-
ned to- wait, with paticrce, until they both
had passed sway. W. trust, that they both
have pissed away. We determined, also,
90 waitunUl some facts could he Ia id before
"ou, which would evipcc tire fallacY of that
doctrire, 81 reccnt; ,dvanced, but already
50 widely diff'iSed. which teacheS us in a
question ri sucl real moment 10 Join a pay
Nv merely 'ecau=r tllat 0artv is supposed to
he majority. Time has, ~ length, disclo-
scd facts Of this dissertation.
It nov anoears that MIR Madison is not
" supported by the almost unanimous vote OF
the republicans" thror> OFT tie u. States.
we learn from the papers devoted to his in
terest. on this question. tbas the two great
republican 'tates OF PENNSYLVANIA and New
York, are decidedly hostile 70 his pretensi-
ons. (0) Upon this poins there seems 70
he no difference Of opinion. Bu, the calcu-
.tion winch has been made, that their tx
ample WILDE followed By all the states ru-th
and easr OF Delaware. may be incorrect.
We speas nj u, only, as matter Of calcu-
latian, '.ut ifit DC true, Nv Madison cannot
be elected, even, If all the other states in
the In;cn sbonld unite their whole strength
ia has s'ID;JGit IAN event, which certainly
Is not 20 bc expected.
II ough, not 70 be forgotten, that the ma
iOrity of the Pennsylvania delegation, in
Congress, voted az the Caucus, IN Washing
tor, IN favor os Mr.. Madison. n J This
IS au important fact, and ought 10 be regar d.
ded as a valuable lesson 70 the followers e
-maiori:iCs. The Penn,y ivahia de.
legation did not, in the caucus, sneak the
sentiments Of their state, IL We may credit
the proceedings of The late assemble AZ Ian
caster, composed Of indivicua.s selected for
the special purpose OF forming IN clccsora!
ticket. This iact ~; only shows that eau
- g. are not much 30 be regarded Is Ter.
ding evidence Of Tho real sentiments of the