Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-11

Dmglnla Nrgu8.
X / G Fl NJ . N D.,
FRIDAY, MARCH IL, 1903.
To the Editor Of the argus.
PHILADELPHIA, FEB. IS.


feels respect for the community, and
who is not indifferent to the esteem of
men of worth, will never hesitate when
the occasion appears to demand it, to
vindicate himself, however exalted or
despicable the assailant may be. L
have seen In two Richmond papers
two kinds Of imputation upon my con-
duct, which uttered here, or in such q
way as to be entitled to general public
notice, | should not have troubisd YOU
with this article: One of the writer's
signs his essays HortenSius, and has
taken offence, or undertakes to censure
me, on two different grounds. He
says the great public dvenue, has been
shut up; meaning to infer or to insi-
nuate that the AURORA was closed a.
gainst any sentiments such as the vii
ter thinks proper to publish, or Others
OF Similar opinions. The second ex-
ception is to the manner in which |
have intimated my opinion Of the best
policy to be pursued in relation to the
choice OF 4 President. It is not very
important whether guess right CT am
mistaken as TO the author if / am
right, am sorry he;should condemn
me tor exercising my right OF opinion
on such an occasion because might
with as much propriety censure him !;
and the question of right or wrong
correct or mistaken Judgment in the
case, would be to be determined bv o.
Their Judges, and by events, with this
intclicity attendant on the issue, that,
only one kind of event, or one result,
can come forth in evidence. That is,
the result of the measures and policy
OF whoever may be chosen President.
may surely claim the right to Judge
for myself on an occasion like this
and at time like this, without being
fairly liable to the charge of an undue
bias or impure motives. On the other
point, that Of shutting up the avenuc,
the writer was certainly uncandid, be-
cause, not having ever tried to obtain
admission to the avenue, he had no
right to make the assertion before a
trial: He was therefore at least uncan-
did III that particular. Perhaps how
ever he concluded that, as l had given
an opinion of the impolicy of 6ickerine
about men atthis time when greater in
terests are at stake, | should not act
contrary to my usual practise Of con-
Quoting the AURORA.
The other writer, forget his sigma.
ture, or if he had any, and should not
have noticed him at all had not the
writer OF Hortensius attracted nv at
tention. he asserts, if l do not mis-
take, pretty roundly, that am con.
cerned in some intrigue, or some
scheme as nefarious as the Yazoo.
which | have SO often branded with
merited infamy. The writer who
could assert such things without foun-
dation, will never do any credit to any
cause, nor harm to any adversary. /
shall never enter into contest, with 2
writer who on the threshold, comes
forth with such assertions-when he
wrote ne must have been conscious (if
ne has any conscience), that he was
making bold stroke NTH a strap
and if he could not shew some shadow
or color for his allegation in such a
case, that he must for ever after stand
on record as---a man Of Stra1U.
AS am neither anxious to avert
such accusations as those of the latter
writer, nor'eagcr to encourage a con
troversy which is by no means flatter-
ing to the long merited and high repu-
tation of Virginia, l 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 to explain my senti-
ments, and even my wishes, on the
subject; and to offer my opinions ON
the course of conduct, which deem
1t my duty to pursue on this occasion.
My sentiments on the questions IN
volving politics, arc that the will of
the majority should be respected by
Che minority. That when the aues-
ton is not on a matter of principle, but
OF men, that then the only considera-
ton IS how the principles may be best
supported; and that the question con.
corning one man, or another man, ri
there be an equal probability or GER
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