Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-10-22
ROM THE SPIRIT OF 70.
TO THE
PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

roe. Corresponding Committee, race 90 1e~0e
once mare to address y0n
Iris well known to yout that we were APP
pointed by that portion of the legislative 90
dv which convened at the capitol on the
ODD dav of February last, to make the ar
ranpements proper and necessary to ensure
the ssnccess of the Monroe electoral tick
ct. go
Finding that there was a difference OF O.
n;n;on on the subject of the election, not
only in this state, but in the U. States gene
rally. we conceived, that when we were a
bout to announce our ticket, Wemlgnt take
the liberty of submitting to the public judy
ment. few arguments, which seemed to
us entitled to great consideration and lnfiu-
ence. We thought, that in free country,
on subject so interesting, and at perioa
so critical. honest men might publish their
real opinions to the world, without tear OF
insult or prescription. We did publish our
real, our honest, our independent opinions
and we expressed them IN terms TO whlch
we were well assured no exception ought TO
be taken. We did nothing more than ex-
ercise our indisputable right; right with
out which free government cannot exist:
and We think that the manner IN which 1t
was exercised, was perfectly compatible with
. the respect due to the public, to our oppo-
nents. and to the candidate IN whose behaif
th y are so much exrired. For tins conduct
on orr pa,f. fallow-citizens, for this exertion
Of an essential and indisputable right, Tor
this performance of an important duty, tor
this ayowal of our real opinions, IN support
OF. man. so long and so well known toyou
all, we have been. with that interaperance,
Gazette, charged sos olfyE an american ae
from the republican principles to which we
are most sincerely attached, but with enter
3 tanning views hostile to the honor and inter-
ests of the American people.
In reply to this last charge, we will not
enter into any explanation. we dlsdaln to
doso. We kaozp that our motives are pure:
and we affirm that our solicitude for the ho-
nor and welfare of the u. States is as ardent
ard sincere, though perhaps not so snligh-
tened. as that of the President himself, or
ether of the patriotic men VINO have been
named as his successors. On this subject
we are perfectly at ease.
But the foundation OF this charge, is the
wish which we avow to see MIR. Monroe
President of tie u. States. Weacknow-
ledre again, before the nation, that the cleo
ton Of James Monroe, to the presidential
Office, is IN our opinion, matter OF the
highest moment to the prosperity OF this
country. You all see and feel the Difficult.
IN n
at an end. and our people prohibited from
carrying the produce OF their land and Ia
Dor, 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 enquiry would be unavaillng now--we
confne our remarks to the actual condition
of our country. 1t is known to youall that
MIR. Madison stands fixed and committed
on every question involved in our foreign
relations, and we therefore ask you, whe-
Their you can think that his administration
holds out to US that hope of relief, which
NAV be anticipated from the known OPT
Mons, conduct and character Of MIR. Mon
roe?
1t is very possible, that on the subject Of
this election we may be in a minority; but
at this moment, no man can say with conf
dence, what the issue will be. A great
change has taken place in the public opinion
within short time past, and we have good
reason to believe that Mr.. Monroe's inter-
est is rapidly increasing in the other states as
well as IN Virginia. We therefore cali on his
friends to be FIRM and actiOe, and not to suf
fer themselves to be iatialidated By denuncla-
tions, fran any quarter sohate0er, from deli
gerins1 taeir opinions and exercising the an