The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-09-30
the spirit Of psrty more violent, nor was A.


rity, hrnnness and moderation, which he u
niiorm'y displayed, that his administration
was honored with universal APPRECIATION, and
The vote CT thanks which he received from
the legislature on his retirement. was enter
cd unanimously" at the particular request
OF his political opponents. We have merely
adverted to this circumstance bv way of shcw-
ing, such To have been the happiness of his
administration, that whilst he inspired the
republicans with the most imp icit confidence
IN the solidiiy othis republican principe s *
the rcctitude Of his conduct. lie at the same
Tune SO iarrccprc!led his political oDDone nts
as to oh5ain their entire appreciation of his
administration. during the tenn for which
ne was elected Is Chief magistrate Of the
commonwealth. Such Il character we con-
cciVe the best interests of the nation and the
present pcrious crisis Of Cur as:,irs, pecuh-
airy demand In tru,h, IN every situation in
winch he has been p!ace.t whether in the I'D
Congress, the senate of the United States
unuer the present constitution. the executive
o' Virginia, or IN a diplomatic character Il
broad he mas acted with degree of fidelity,
zeal and ability, which If not duly apDreci-
ated now, will at some future day no, very
lar distant, be universally acknowledged
There Is another consideration entitled 70
serious attention. The pubic papers tel
you that, the republicans are daily loo
sing ground III the eastern states. Even in
rennsy iVaria they ale not supposed to have
a great ascendancy. The people are afraid
that inc present state ct things will not fad
remedy under the administration Of Mr..
Madison. This apprehension has aireadv
prdduced the most serious and alarlnii " eff
tects throughout the eastern states How far
TINS sentiment may spread, it is imnnssiDie 70
tel: but It Mr.. Monroe should be elected,
an ParuicS wpuIu unite III tile DeIiet, that e.
very measure compatible with the honor and
best interests OF the nation would be adopt
ed TO relieve us from our present embarrass-
mems and distress
Let 1t net be supposed, however. that we
mean to derogate from the real merits of
Mr.. Madison We know them well. We
acknowledge his abilities, integrity, and
services. But there are solid objections to
his election. We do net deem it necessary
to state them all. The enumeration would
certainly afford us no pleasure. We shall
content ourselves with one only The Others
have been occasionally noticed in the pa
pers, and are probably known TO YOU all
In doing this, we presume that we Shall not
give offence to MIR. Madison or to his friends
Under government like ours, freedom of
discussion, Is our most essential right. 4
manly and liberal exercise OF that right, will
be applauttet rather than condemned. by
every one who I'm dcrstands the principles Of
our government, or values that freedom
which it was intended to secure.
principal objection to the election Of Mr.
Madison, and one which we deem uswer-
able, is derived from the present state ofo our
national affairs. Our foreign commerce is
totally suspended, our ships are rottinr. our
seamen dispersed and gone, and our produce
Oh
venue is cut OF, and the deficiency result
Ing from tn At cause, must be supp ed by
/ recourse to the expensive system of in
ternal taxation. We know VERY well that
these nischiefs have originated in the un-
just DEGREES OF France, and the arbitrary
regulations of the British Council But we
are speaking OF the present state Of things
only, and not OF the causes which have led
to it. The evils exist we feel that they
are great and Our best interests REQUIRE that
they should be speedily removed We ask
You, whether it is as probable Chat the. viii
be removed under the administration OF Mr.
Madison, vino stands committed by his w!i-
tnss and ac's Oh every question between Us
and foreign nations, as under the admins
tration OF a man who is perfectly free from
, that bias, which regard for Consistency Of
character cannot fail to produce on men, C.
liehteGed understanding. We may be mis-
taken, and we shall rejoice if time shall
convince cur error but if Mr. Madison is
elected, we see at present, no alternative
Tor the United States, but WAR, or an EN-
BARGO of indefinite duration /: on the
other hand, MIR. Monroe shou d be elected
we think for the reasons just stated, that he
will at east stand IL better Chance to extvi-
cate u5 from the critica. dilemma in which
we are involved and Notwithstanding the
groundiess ccnsure that has been cast upon
him, for a supposed abandonment, Oh The
subject of the seizure of Brush seaircu
we confidently appeal TO your knowledge Of
his Conduct, through iite of thirty wears
devoted 20 your service, whether he will ever
Consent to any arrangement inc0npatjbe
with the honor ana real interests OF his coun-
try
Thus, fellow citizens, we have presented
toyou rough sketch OF the view winch we
EdVc taken OF the next presidential election
in eXiiIb ting this view, we have oniV per-
formed dIty which devolved upon us as
membeis Of the corresponding cu;nmittee:
audi the performance OF dis dusy, we trust
that we nave not departed from tnat canlor
aud moderation, which we took leave to re
commend iii the commencement OF our adj
dress.
Under the influence, therefore of belief.
which the events }. every week seem more
completely to justify, that IN advocating tha
election OF MIR. Monroe. we are promoting
the real welfare and union OF this country
we slyIt trncpeI with tho I.os+ ,,,,e:j,Io I,,