Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-09-30
RIG II NJ o N D.:
To THE MEMBERS OF THE MONROE
CoRREsPoNDING COMMITTEE.

toin VIC iapSe or time winch has taker
place since the date of your last address
anu more particularly from your hopeless
prospective, we were induced to believe
that your despair, had been in some mea.
sure tranquiiIzed by your reason. We did
not suppose that you would have started
forth at this late hour, with a new scheme
and without the least hope of cooperation.
LII 1t has been an ungenerous conclusion, il
certainly has not been unpopular, that you
mad formed some secret alliance with the
federalists. Be this as it may. You have
certainly evinced determined obstinacy
that almost amounts to martyrdom, in per
severing IN your oTvn course, unmindful of
rhat which has been adopted bv the people
You confess the conviction that the times
are critical and embarrassed, yes they are.
but we did not suppose, with this impressi
on onyour heats, that you would have fur-
nIshed materials to the combustion. Men
OF your talents, and men who are familiar
s ly coHverSant with the political state of this
Country, ought to have known, that the two
great parties which are now contending for
ascendancy, are exactly the same that ex.
listed in 'se.
Many of you profess, and many of you no
doubt, are iniinical to the success Of fede-
ralism. But what is the evident tendency
of your actions IF you expected the aid
OF tedcralists, you have lost it, they
have taken the game into their own hands
and If you wish to have friendly under
standing with them, you must bark in the
same cry. The only dissent ny meeting
which has occurred in Virginia to the re-
publican majority is the one lately held at
Staunton Out which scarcely deserves no.
tice1 at which they decided in favor of Mr.
Pfnckney and Mr. King. THIS is nothing
more than the re-echo of the same grating
sound from the south and tie east, with
some difference as to the Vice President.
thus you must follow on to join in the chase.
Many of the Clintonians have surrendered
their private prediction to public choice,
and have become jealous Madisnnians.
Thus YIN can expect no succor from that
quarter, and thus you perceive in what an
isolated situation you stand. If you will
not support the federalists, they cannot now
support you. and if you are determined not
to cspouse the cause of Mr.. Madison, the
choice of the republicans, you must to all
intents and purposes remain,
" Single, unproppd and nodding to your fall"
The two characters who are presented
to the American people are Mr. Madison s.
Mr. Pinckney but amidst this blaze of con-
tention. you are holding forth a taper, which
altho' it may escape general notice, may
serve at the same time. TO light the way
to disaffecton and commotion. Is it not
exceedingly strange, that after this subject
has been so universally discussed, and at"
ter so many meetings have been formed, in
ncne ofwhich your cand date has been men
toned, and almost too upon the very eve of
the election, that you should suddenly step
forward to nominate Mr.. Monroe. Wei
really gentle men, cannot look upon you,
without unutterable surprze. Yoa must be
convinced that no matter how strong the
claims Of MIR. Monroe may be to this
off &c, and no matter how deeply yon may
feel his worth and his virtues, but that now
he is emphaticaily our Of The question, and
by your conduct we fear you will render
him eternally so. We sincerely lament
that you should have absolutely sho-
we'd him into this slippery situation. But
now for your reasons.
In your address VIC recognize the inge-
nuity of partizan, more than the candor
OF an open hearted politician, and more the |
OF an attorney, than the reasoning
Of a patriot. We admit "that the recon |
mendation of the caucus az Washington, |
did not afford an unequiVocaL hroof of the |
real sentiments of the nation" But we dc
not admit " that time has evinced the |
accuracy of this opinions" nor do we admit
IS that it is now apparent to the world. that
he (Mr. Madison) is not the object of their ,
choice" 1t is perfectly unnecessary 20 20 |
into any examination "whether the mem
Ders of congress were conStitutioDaIly ex-
Guided from the right of electoral suffrage"
It is calculated more to confound, than to !
slucidate, and to lead astray than to direct !
10 the true point of enquiry. The questi- !
IN between federalism aud republicanism,
S fairly submitted TO the people in their
choice of Mr.. Madison or MIR. Pinck-
Iey. They have never referred to the |
caucus re commentator, but in fact seem
o have forgotten it, in their innumerable1
meetings. If the people had been opposed
% their nomination, no man can believe,
tut he that is determined to do so, but that
hey wou d have disregarded it The pee-
pic are insulted by the insinuation, that they
Gould be governed and directed 10 abide by
he mandate of any caucus whatsoever.
they have freely and decidedly avowed
heir preference of Mr. Madison. In none
If their meetings that we recollect, have I
hey been heard 10 utter the name of Mr.. T
Monroe, and yet we are told "that it is I
low apparent 60 the world, that he (Mr. i
is rot the object oftheir choice"
L is true, ard we admit il, with glow Of
that he is not tie object ofchoiee
with the fesieralists. This is the only con-
Itruction that can be given to this remark,
i thu { u is now apparent TO the world, that \