Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-07
IaHN C. HUNTER, Sec'ry.
From the Norfolk Ledger.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.


PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
The character Of this paper, to express
ourselves in the language Of prty, is most
decidedly federal. We do not therefore no.
tice the proceedings of the federalists at Sfaua.
ton, which are inserted in this paper, wlth
indifference. They have claimed our most
serious attention, and should have received
our most Jealous corporation, 1t the reasons
which We shall presently state did not induce
us to hesitate upon the proprie,y OF such CO.
operation.
The law of this state, for choosing electors
tas it was intended excludes the minority
from any Of the advantages of suffrage. They
have, however, Alright to express their Cpl
MONS, and before We saw the Staunton pro
ceedings, we did hope that every tederahs'
in the state would vote at the approaching e
scs the va aa * aastu res Of E MS oplor
nistration 1t was however, evident that with
out some concerted plan, such an opinion
could not be expressed for want of proper cha.
racte.s being previously designated as candi
dates. 1t is well kpown that during the las,
winter two tickets were formed in this state,
favor of Mr.. Monroe. 1t being a mater well
understood, that in all the great and leading
measures that MIR. Madison, if elected, would
pursue the course marked cut By his prede'
cessor. no person, who dsaDproved Of the
measures of the present administration, could
vote for Mr. Mat!ison's ticket, without com
mitting all act Of the greatest inconsistency III
politics. We may say, that III general, the
federalists Of this state have disapproved 81
the measures Of the present administration
We believe that without having any concerted
plan with the friends of Mr.. Monroe that the
federalists would have voted for Mr.. Mon.
roe's ticket In this way they would have
expressed theil Misrepresentation Of the mea
sGres OF which thsx hayps ast general opion
has prevailed, that the friends of Mr.. Monroe
had declined the proposed contest ltappears
however, from the address Of the committee
OF Mr.. Monroe's friends, published in this
pgper, that they have determined to perse-
we're. What course then are the tedcIalists
to pursue The address from Mr. Monroe s
friends is plain, and may be considered as
pledging Mr. Monroe upon some leading
points, particularly the cruel measure OF the
embargo, and upon our future Intercourse
with foreign nations. War or Perpetual En-
barge Peace and Commerce are the cues
tions 10 avoid the two former, and to Sc
cure the two latter, our excrtions must be di.
rected. If there was hope, that a federal
ticket could prevail i'll this state, it cannot be
supposed that the editor OF this paper, would
Pcrslit iosal stste partiality or personal re-
spect, to govern him iii declining his co-ope-
ration with his federal brethren. Believing
as we most sincerely do beive, that if the pre-
sent course OF measures are not rested, that
even the UNION, that rock Of our. political
satety,Wlii cease to exist twelve months long
GIVE must be allowed topursuc a course
for ourselves. as every calamity which could
befal us as Ration, is included in the separa-
ton OF the states, we Shall enumcrate no o.,
theirs. The iIDpossiDility of succeeding with
federal ticket is to Us so evident, that we
think any calculation upon the subject would
be thrown away. In conclusion, we hope that
the fsleralists Of this state, will reflect seri-
ousiy upon the present crisis and that the
result of their reflections will produce de-
termination to give their unanimous suffraecs
for the ticket of Mr.. Monroe.
We know that a number of federalists have
serious objections in voting FOR a person whose
political sentiments are not in accordance with
their own. But the true question is, do they
prefer a person with whom they differ on
some points, to one, with whom they differ
in every point Would the fcdcrslists vote
for Mr.. Madison's ticket They surely weuId
not. There is then no difference between
voting in favor of that ticket, and so voting
as to give it the best, perhaps the OILY Ger.
tain chance of success.
Without considering many other circurn.
stances, tie manner in which Mr.. Madison
has been brought forward is 50 reprehensible
thatit is the duty of every citizen, who de-