Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-10-21

highest moment to the prosperity of
this country. You all see and feel the
difficulties in which we are involved.
Our trade is at an end, and our peo-
pie prohibited from carrying the pro-
duce of their land and labor, on the
great highway of the nations Of the
earth. We say nothing of the causes
which led to the present state of
things. We enquire not whether it
might have been prevented nor will
we undertake to say what course ought
to have been pursued. This inquiry
would be unavailing now---We con6ne
our remarks to the actual condition of
our country. 1t is known to you all,
that Mr.. Madison stands fixed and
committed on every question involved
in our foreign relations, and we there
fore ask you, whether you can think
that his administration holds up to us
that hope ofrelief, which may be anti
cipated from the known opinions, con-
duct and character of Mr.. Monroe?
1t is very possible, that on the sub
ject of this election we may be in
minority but at this moment, no man
can say, with confidence, what the is
sue VIII be. a great change has ta-
ken place in the public OPT ion, with
III short time past, and we have good
reason TO believe that Mr.. Monroe's
interest is rapidly increasing in the o.
Their states as well as in Virginia. We
therefore call on his friends to be firm
& active, and not to suffer themselves
10. De inundated by denunciations,
from any quarter whatever, from deli
vering their opinions and exercising
the unquestionable rights of free and
independent citizens. The delusion
produced by the caucus at Washing
ton is now nearly at an end, & every
man, who will open his eyes, may see.
that the. members composing it did not
invariably speak the sentiments of their
constituents. But admit that we may
be in minority, we shall at least have
the satisfaction Of knowing that we
have acted with fcmness and indepen-
dence, and that we have done our du-
ty to our country and to ourselves.
Indulge us for few moments Ion
ger.--The friends of Mr.. Monroe are
charged with producing schism a
mong the republicans. We denv the
accusation e. be true. We do not he
state to say that the friends of Mr..
Madison, are alone responsible, be-
cause they adopted the measures from
which it sprung. They withdrew
from their political friends at the Ca
pitol. They announced their intenti-
on to hold, and did hold a caucus,
from which the friends of Mr.. Mon
roe were excluded, they refused 70 en-
gage in fair and public investigation
OF the merits OF the candidates and
they now denounce their opponents as
schismatics, because they have not
tamely acquiesced in decision in
which they were not permitted to
participate.
But this charge about schism is a
mere delusion, as it relates to the pre-
sidential election. The person cho-
sen president must have majority OF
VIZ NhOiS huhibCI Oh lEc elSCcSral
votes. He who has them Will be G.
lected, whether the remaining votes
are given 20 one, or divided among
many. If the objection be urged to
our conduct as having tendency to
promote the election Of federal pre-
sident, it is obviously fallacious be-
cause the whole force of the republican
interest is employed in support of the
republican cause, tho not in behalf of
the same person. The only effect of
the division, may be to throw the e.
lection into the hands of the states in
congress assembled. But if the OBJ
lection be urged with view to shew
that our conduct in not acquiescing in
the nomination at the Bell Tavern is
improper, because it leads to schisms
and divisions among the republicans,
we must repeat that we disapprove the
caucus there held, for the reason al
ready given, and further urge that the
objection goes to the subversion of the
most precious of our rights, of that
right without which the freedom of e.
lection is but an empty sound.
We have been charged also with
forming coalition with the federal