Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-22

It. did not lnVaTlaDly span sNA.~
Of their constituents. But admit that we
NAV be in minority, we shall atleast have
the satisfaction of knowing that we have
acted with firmness and independence, and
that we have done our duty to our country
and to ourselves.
Indulge us for few moments longer
The friends of Mr.. Monroe are charged
with producing schisnn among the rePub-
licans. We deny the accusationfo be true.
We do not hesitate to say that the friends
of Mr.. Madison, are alone responsible, be-.
cause they adopted the measure from which
it sprung. They withdrew from their poll
tical friends at the Capitol. They announc-
ed their intention 70 hold, and did hold a
causus, from which the friends of Mr.
Monroe were excluded they refused to
engage in fair and public investigation OF
the merits of the candidates and they now
denounce their opponents as schismatics be-
cause they have not tamely acquiesced in
decision in which they were not permitted
to participate.
But this charge about schism is a mere.
III
election. The person. chosen president must
have majority Of the whole number of the
electoral votes. He who has them will be
elected, whether the remaining votes are
given to one, or divided among many. IT
the objection be urged to our conduct as
having tendency to promote the election
OF federal president, it is obviously falla-
cious; because the whole force of the re-.
publican interest is employed in support
of the republican cause, though not IN
behalf Of the snlne person. The only effect
OF the division, may be to throw the electl-
ON into the hands OF the states in Congress
assembled. But if the objection be urged
with a view to shew that our conduct in not
acGuiesclng In the nomination at the Bell
Tavern is improper, because it leads to
schisms and divisions among the republi-
cans, we must repeat that we disapproye
the caucus there held, for the. -airsa-
DIV given, and further urge that the oo]ectl-s
on goes to the subyersion Of the most rseci-
Gus OF our rights, Of that right without
which the freedom OF election IS but All
empty sound.
We have been charged also with forming
a coalition with the federaiists. We solemn
~ and upon our honor declare the accusatl-
s,l,4 make it cannot
is there now, any understanding, arrange
ment Or compact between the fcdeiaiiS,s and
the friends of Mr.. Monroe.
The federalists perhaps mean to vote iol.
him. They have a right to Go SO II they
please. They are free citizens OF the coun-
try and may exercise their rights as the.y
think proper. Are we to abandon Nir.
Monroe. because the federalists knowing
that they cannot have president CT their
own party prefer HIM? Would not such an
abandonment be equally cruel and absurd !:
and if we really and conscientlously believe
that Mr.. Monroe ought to be president, is
our regard for the welfare OF our country,
to give way to that illiberal jealousy, which
tells as not to vote for the man OF our choice
because lie has the sufrages OF our political
opponents
In the conduct which we have observed
in relation to the approaching election, we
have done what we conceive to be our duty,
and followed the dictates of our best Judg-
ment. We have done. no more than to ex-
ercise our unqnestionable rights, and we are
confident that the conduct which we re-
commend is calculated to promote the real
prosperity and happiness Of this nation
We expect however, from past experience,
that insult and abuse will be heaped upon US.
All this we must bear. Conscious OF the
rectitude of our motives, and solemnly I'M
pressed with belief, that the election of
James Monroe, will be more conducive to
the public welfare, than the election of any
other citizen in nomination, we shall hear
with narfect indifference the cla1nors which