Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-15

Ia letter 70 Ae Editor 9TH. PqIfimore
.dmeTicaa on thr PrrSiaientfci Election.
In perusing the different prints, called
Irepu5sicln, ~ the u. S. ON the subject o:
the Presidential election, | perceive that
.hc observations of no one OF them have led
rhen so far into the mazes OF inconsistency
and absurdity rs the editor OF the Amcri
can Citizen HiSeXtreme desire to place a
partic liar candidate into that elevated seat
has lo., aim TO an unqualified ccnsure of a
measure which four years ago did, if not
meet his warmest appreciation, at least re-
ceive his tacit acquiescence. hope, for
the character OF my country, my party,
and my principles, that the aspcrsions of
that editor. SO acrinoniously written, a.
gaiDst the character OF Mr. Madison, does
nor meet the appreciation of the character
whom he wishes to advance. Whatever
may have been the inducements of the eau
cus to have given MIR Madison the prefe-
renee is immaterial TO the present dispute.
1t is the measure adopted by the republican
party as well as the federal for concenter-
ing public opinion upon the Individual of a
partyn opposition to the individual of anoth-
er, before even that Mr. Cheetham had set
his foot on the American shores, that meets
my appreciation nor will j relinquish its
support, until see new one adopted
more congenial to the spirit of republican
ism fraught with less evil than the pre-
sent, and more likely To reconcile the lar
riug interests of local prejudices which are
suffered To disturb the harmony of the re-
publican party in the u. S. The idea that
Mr. Chec;ham advances in support of his
iavoritc candidate on the score of claims.
ought to be spurned at by every American.
L lie gratitude OF my country has amply re-
paid the hoary veteran, and were he to re-
tire to the enjoyment of domestic repose,
without another mark of the appreciation of
his countrymea for past services, think
the honors that have already thickcned a.
round his silver'd locks. and the immense
wealth he has been enabled to acquire, in
the vide field oflanded speculation through
the influence of his exalted situation, are
sufficient rccompences The office was not
made tor the man, and no man has now a
claim upon 1t. lis he only who receives
the suffrageS of his constitutional electors
prior to being sworn into Office, who can
have any claim; and this is not the pre-
sent case. In caucus or concidue, or bv
whatever name you may choose to call il,
was Washington, was Adams, was Jeffer-
son, was Burr, and was Clinton, nominated
and brought forward as candidates for the
two first offices of the American govern
ment; and Stehhen Rozve Bradlev was as
guilty four years ago of the charges brought
against him, for presiding in the caucus
that brought governor Clinton into the ge-
neral legislature of the union, as he is now
TOR presiding in that which upholds Mr. Ma
Olson.
! Wherein have the members of the late
caucus Rrrogated to themselves any power
and Influence attached to them otherwise
than in their individual capacity, and which
was exercised by every preceding caucus
both federal aud republican.
Mr. Chcetham fully displays an umparal-
ieicd inconsistency in the charge of fede-
fralism against Mr. Madison. The politics
ct Mar Madison have ever been Uniform. -
Gen. Washington, 1t is we'll known, was at
the helm OF government, when Timothy
Pickering. Oliver Wolcott, Alexander Ha-
milton, John Jay, and many others were
brought through his influence, into the ex-
eeuiive and Judiciary branches of the go-
vernment, and yet MIR z. calogizes him :;
while MIR Madison who did not turn out the
clerks thathe found in his Office, on account
OF their political principles, is branded with
Federalism and with protesting those very
principles for which the hero of America
has beea so highly eulogized. The charge
against Mr. Madison of excluding the vice
president from the cabinet, weighs equally
against Mr. Jefferson; and it is the first
time ever knew that any of the members
(ot the legislative branches of government
formed part of that BODY, not known bv
the constitution but recognized by practice,
called e" the Cabinet
The friends fMr Madison have forborne
from chat abominabe practice of personal
invective against Mr. CLIFTON, and were il
discovered that Mr. Clinton countenAnces
The asperities of the editors engaged in his
support, it would be a sufficient ACT 70 cas-,
a 9allid hue around the bright rays of glory
which have hitherto surrounded him
Adieu, SC c
Washington, March 4, 1903.
The objections made to Mr.. Madison a.
mount to this me is, what all the world