Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-03-09
Prom tAe National lnteihgeneer.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE U. STATES,
rELLow-cITIzENs,

FELLow-cITlzENs,
IN the course Of the events which have
marked the conduct and characters OF those
to whom you have, at different periods, IN
trusted by your suH'rages, the power OF max
ing laws for your government, few measures
have occurred, since the adoption OF the pre-
sent constitution, more extraordinary, THAI
the meeting lately held for the purpose o
nominating president and vice president O
the US.
Our alarm is equally excited, whether we
advert to the mode in which the meeting was
summoned, or to the proceedings alterlt was
convened. The senator who assumed the
power of calling together the members Of
congress, did it under the preteXt OF that
power being vested in him, BY former con,
yenion; this pretext, whether 1t be true or
not, implies an assertion OF right IN the
congress of 1904, to direct their successors
in the mode Of choosing the chief magistrate
--an assertion which no man has ever before
hadt hardihood to advance. he notices
were private not general to all the members
Of the two houses nor confined TO the re-
publican party; delegate from one Q. The
territories was invited and attended, man
who in elections has no suffrage, and IN iegls-
lation no vote. The persons, who metlnpa9.
suance Of this unprecedented summons, pro-
ceeded without discussion or debate, to deter
mine by ballot the candidates for the highest
Offices in the union. The characters OF dii-
ferent men, and their pretensions to the pub
T.. raI TO he
and all responsibility was avoided by the mode
Of selection, The determination of this coli.
claye has been published as the act OF the re-
publican party; and with as much exultation
as the result of solemn election by the IA
ton. Attempts are making 70 impress upon
the public mind, that these proceedings ought
to be binding upon all the republicans, and
those who refused to attend, CT clsapproyed
of the meeting, are denounced as enemies Of
liberty, and as apostates from the cause Of the
people. In this state Of things, VIC think It
our duty to address YOU, and we deem our
selves called upon to enter our most solemn
protest against these proceedings.
It's true ttat at former periods when the
election of a president and vice president ap-
preached, it was customary to hold meetings
of the members of congress, for the purpose
of recommending candidates TO the public
But these meetings, if not justified, were pal
lated by the necessity of nnion. The fede-
ralists presented formidable phalanx; and
either to succeed at all, or to prevent them
frora placing the candidate for the vice presi-
deney in the presidential Chair il was neces,
sary to exert the combined efforts OF the
whole republican party. Butiti is equally true
that In those instances, the nominations Tor the
presidency were mere matters OF course Ii,
the frst and second elections under the constl-
tuition, the eyes OF all were turned upon gen.
Washington, and since the expiration of the
two periods, during which he filed the su-
preme executive Office, there has not untiI
now been any difference of opinion among the
republicans, as to the candidate for the frs,
rnagistracy. The real object Of all former
meetings, was tuproduce such Incorporation
as would secure the election Of repalbic,n
vice president.
The circumstances, which might be urged
in extenuation of such a measure heretofore,
do not now exist. The federalis are eompa-
ratiyely few in number, and form but a feeble
party they cannot give to any one candidate
more than sixteen or seventeen votes out o1
one hundred and seventy six no federalis,
can therefore be elected blythe electors; and
should no person have majority Of all the G,
lectorai votes, the choice of the president vi
/ .dcyolve on the members Of The present house
Lsef representatives, IN which the fsderali.ts
u e