The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-30

Hsw or national policy NV object in mentf-
oNing the fact is toshew, that whatever influ.
ence this admonition might have been intend
ed to prothice on the friends OF Mr.. Munroe,
1t has had none on the friends Of Mr. Mad-
s son One course was recommended in con
ve,saGon, before the meeting of the legiS-
lature, but very diifersnt Course has been
since pursued in fact. The very 6rst move
ment in the Uuited States towards this sub
ject, before our sister states had expressed
a wish either individually or by general
caucus, was made in thiscity by the friends
of Mr.. Madison ] allude to the card of the
10Th inst. published in the Enquirer of that
date This, it seems universally agreed,
came from them. But tothis procedure,
no exception could be taken b. the supporters
of Mr. Munrce The meeting being gener-
al, they could make their nomination. 1t
was in truth distinctly understood that Mr.
Munroe would not only be nominated, but
zealously and ably supported. Wheth,r the
advocates OF this nomination would have &C
quiesced in it's rejection, if such had been its
q fate, cannot now be decided Their conduct
no doubt would have been, 1t ought tn
have been, governed by circumstances If
they acted from pure motives and believed
that by fair and honorable exertions, his e.
lection could be secured, they would have
been guilty of treachery to their country, to
themselves and to him, if they had deserted
the cause in which they were engaged
But the right of deciding and celebrating
on this point was suddenly taken from them
They were most RnrTfectcdty placed in a ST
tuation where they had no alternative. Be
fore the day indicated by the card ofthe 10Th
had arrived, another card was circulated in
the Hall OF the legislature, inviting the friends
CT Mr.. Madison, and them only to repair to
the I!ell-tavern or that evening. The friends
Of Mr. Madison, generally, and some of the
fiiends OF MIR. Munroe, who probably from
letter sent from Washington had taken up
the idea that the former would be supported
by a great majority out OF the state, attended
the meeting and made the requisite arrange
ment for the next election. l say the friends
of Mr. III 9dison generally attended: for all
did rot go--Some Of them attended at the
Capitol and one Of them, after expressing
his app, citation of the Just and liberal prn-
cnieS which the meeting was there con-
ycnetl, voted in G,vor Of Mir Madison.
In this state of things, l appeal to that
sentiment OF delicacv ard honor, which he
longs to the character eff aNirginian gentle
ma2s whether the fiends of Mr. Mlnroe
wouid mot have brought disgrace on him and
on thcmsetves, If, because they were in a
cauCus-minority in one If IL states-they had
tamclv silently and passively abandoned the
man OF their choiCe-thc man, who but a
few tavs before had been received on his re-
turn his native state, with every mark OF
SicStlS' ana respect, ana VINO mad SO recent
" BE- en- hNnNr"d by the addresses. unanimous
addresses believe, and of the council, and
OF ooth houses Of the gsl9ture--exprcssin
theif confidence N his integrity aid talents,
and hcir gratitude for his services. IF rhev
had done So Ill err conduct would have been
dcspiceb,- in the eyes of tile world, and
what IS infinitely worse, deSpicablc in their
own.
They were willing to have met men per
" th4ir
question Ct such hirh import to the charac-
L ter and best in cre.t Vt their nation. Thcp
would have noIniuatcd Nr. Munr0e, and il.
making that 10 ninat on, rhey would have
done justice to tlIe va'rr of his youth, record
ed IN the blood OF his own body-spilt in one
OF those battles which gave us the right OF
voting wii;ch VIC arc now 10 excrCise-and
&c the constant abe and faithful services
OF + maturcr age. They would have given
his character in The plain language Of since
rity and ruth; he would have spoken OF
HI modesty, iist nj erance tried hisintegrity
his approved abby. It's patriotism, his I'M
worried lahor, his undertaking and unquesti-
oned firmncss: ard they @1uid have claim
ed for him, what . lm.t him to deserve,
the gratitude and confidence of his countrv
jn-doing this they would not have said, per
haps, one word which he supporters of Mr..
Madison do not CnccrtU!ly concede. The
mcst yea Gus among thea, may be counted
among the personal fi,iea Ga Of Mr.. Munroe
and are tue constant advocates of his real
worth.
But It was feared, it IS said, that tho
friends of TAX MUIR c might not only advo-
cate his pre ensions to tic residential chair
but they might object to ti,ose of Mir Madi-
son. This 'hey certainly v ocId have done
AVID this they certainly ought to have done
fthey believed shat the elections on which
they re'ied, rlaced Nj. .fadson on lower
ground tilnn that which hey conceived Mr.
Munroe might iUsly occupy In truth, there
are objections to Mr.. Madisons election, but
leais tn be presumed, that they would have
been st9ted, il terms 20 which no exception
could have be n taken, even BY that 8ensi-
nifty which lis friends have so palpably dis.
pi3yed ana III f'ct, 50 openly acknowle dyed
It's believed thst nothing would have beer
sai5, wing even tendency TO derogate
iron ms cho"acter, for purity of heart, ex
csiience Of understanding, extent Of infor-
nation, or fidelity in supporting the great
principles 81 our constitution, and the great
interests OF our country. That this woult
have been the completion Of the debate ir
favor Of Mr.. Munroe, at least that nothing
would have been said injurious to the feel.
ings # Mr.. Madison or his friends, ought tc
have been presumed. But the contrary, il
Vfcac a,-~, =, i. a -,