The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-30
, TIE EgsrSJCIR ER.
RICHMOND, JANUARY SO, 1908. 4
FOR THE ENQUIRER
TO srAE PEOPLE or vIRGzNxa.

~ 'S hOSity Oh addressing YOU, my
fellow citizens, on the 18th inst through tr.
medium of this paper, for the purpose of Pa
peihny some Suggestions, which had, as con-
ceWed' been very fundamentally levelled a.
gainSt Mr.. Munroe. But the defence was
mace .Ho late torthe caucus, SO unexpected.
~ held cnthe 21st day of the present month
at the Bell Tavern that is to saw. ON d,y
one WeHh carrier than that indicated by the
caro- OF the 10th, and at a place, where no
o"'ous' OH lhe SUBJECT OF an election, or on a.
ny subject, was ever held before. The fr;erd.
OF Mr.. Madison in Washington had aIre,d,
effected their object 1t was intin,ated tha,
IN terms somewhat indefinite. that Mr. NJ.
roe had resigned in favor of Mr.. M,a;,on
ana IN the same communication uneou;yocal
| ly affirmed, that MIR Madison wou,d ,,nonas
tionably be supported by the great mas of
the republican interest, throughout the u. s
as well as the State of Virginia. This is tho
opinion yet avowed in conversation, and
maintained i'll the public papers-and l. ;s@;
the impression under which many Il is he
ecVed, attended the Bell-Tave,n. who b,,t
Tor the iOfi renee Of that impression would S
have oted for MIR Munrce. This is n w.
clp'e OF action which it is difficult To nn,1er.
stan'i, and still more difficult TO iustifv.
have no doubt that the members who nursu-
ca that course, meant to do what was r;ots.
put IN my Judgment, they greatly erred.
que" c2haucr amounts TO dereliction of in
jdePendcnce, and NAV obviously lead tho
community to an act. which in realitv ,h.
majority do not approve. A majority on ans.
SIDE IS ailedSed to exist and before the nues-
| ti"il vi fact can be decided by a fai, arre.I
majority IS created by the alleratiot, II,
sen: Row long, du:iDg the administrator
| ~ Mr. Adams, did the fsderalists count an
1 actuai majority of numbers, While the public
opmHn W as really against the
1 Ia &c -.
utter rcprobltion. Nv course. shall be very-
different. Whether am in a r,inor;ry, ~.
not, cannot decide, Tive evidence tr,rded
/ oy tie caucus at Washington on Saturday.
sneWs that Mr.. Madison, has not a nl9ioritv
tof the whole number Of electors the ev;-
dence afforded BY the canclis hsre5is M,
conclusive, as to the extent of his ;nterest.
| even III TINS state: ncr c.n it be deemed any
th,ng but presuinp,iva evidence and Of the
il5lteSt sort, until the huubar of those who
| voted for him, under the influence OF tho I'M
preston aforementioned. IS d;stiocflg sc
| certaned This remark, is in M -estirnati
on entified to great force. BIT few wears
! ago, 1t seems agreed that there wonld have
been a majority for Mr. NTuarne. am in
chned to believe that the great brtlv Of the
people nave not lost any portion of theii.re-
spect Tor him: but if obey have, entertain
no ooont mat 1t may, by q short and candid
! narrative OF Indisputable facts, be easily re-
gained.
repeat to yor, my ccuntlvmen. that nv
| course shall very different. Let every
nan among the people homes " ani Grmly
declares his real opinion, and we shall then
ana then only Obtain, fair expression oftbe
VIII OF the nation. Perhaps l NAV he in A
minority. When the point is settled, ac-
quiescehce will be my duty. But the appre-
,le,ysIon will not deter me from saving to you
ana 70 the word Whit | conscientionssy be-
ileve to be right. ] have been in a ninor;tv
| before this dav. From Ma-cli 1874 until tf,;.
e'ection OF our present President; ] was in
| minority, and sometimes in :; small minori-
| ~ During that period took M station.
ana dld my duty, according TO the best Of nv
ability. Since that election, have been will,
,he majority and have been silent The time
mas again arrived at which every man. who
considers the welfare Of his country as es-
sehuaiIy conhecrcd with the Presidential
character, ought after he best exe,.tiou of HE
Judgment to present himself epenlv topublic
%iew, and toact that part which his congci-
ence prescrlbes, and which his talents. such
as they may be, able him tc perform. But
let ms part Ne acted with moderation. with
caAdor, with liberality, as well as with firm
ness
with these impressions, therefore. 7 can.
hot out regret sincerely regret, that steps
49, DcCh taken III refere1Ce to the en-
preaching election, leading to conseouences
neither contemplated bY the constitution nor.
compatible with the licht OF the people.
10y hat CONSTITUTION Which we are all bourd
oy the most 50 em1 b gati0n, Is well as by
our boss interests to slpport-the chief ma
giStrate OF the union, is to be elected by the
peopie.-Ihe president of the United States
IS tobe placed in his Highland honorable sta
ton, By the suiiragcs Of an independent ma
ton, which from numbers, as well as situa-
ton, is without the reach Of faction or in
trlgue Such is the plan OF the presidential
c,echon, drawn by the constitution itseif--.
what 90 we no7o find the practice to be ;
nomination is made in Virgin 2 by maio-
rity Of the Legislature, who 7viH heir no ar
g"menf, and sHferno of,ji9siGor. and eau
Gus rs held in Washington under the eyes of
the person thus nominated, filing a hi5h ard
influential department, and tho he receives
the great, st number Of votes, he has not a
majority ofthe whole number Of the electo
raj assemblies In this state Of things. tie
citizen who cieves that he is actuated by
no motive but regard for the public wei
fare, and who has never written to or re
celved from any human being a letter ON
the subject of his election, will not, it is ex-
pecjed, incur much CeBsnre, by a serious an
peal to the people themselves, to dccide for
themselves, the very interesting question
now before them. If that censurc is incur-
rerl ttalI III atA L q ---s