Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-25
For the YIRGLVI.d ARGUS.
TO the 151NoRITY IN CONGRESS-.
NUMBER III.

surely to be without sin. So little is tin. inior-
nation, which possess OF any Of YOU, gem
tlcmen, in your public or private walks, that
my support OF him shall not be polluted BY
ranGom attacks on goip; which it IN any instance
successful, would disparagc the feelings, ua-
der which write. An attempt to recriminatc
with venom disgraces any cause adver-
sar, may BIZ humbled, and the friend may yet
not BE- saved. Nay. / 60 farther even anony-
nous charges, when reduced to shape a,ri Cir
cumstances, ought to be repealed by tue advo-
Gates OF candidate for the presidency.
For thirty years, Mr. Madison has stood o.
pen 60 public criticism, in various legislative
and executive departments, bis native state,
and of the union in general. In debate and
composition, lac has been IN active member,
ard every day brought an accession OF fame.
until by noted discovery in the year 1906
the luminarv, which had so long cherished our
country with its RAYS, was pronounced to be
only passing meteor. Amidst the tes,imo-
rics which the public archives contain of MS
abilities amidst the recollections, which the
citizens of the United States must preserve, of
his enlightened services, without the recessi-
sy OF a noisy caucus TO refresh their memory;
,ou, gentlemen. ought not to shrink from the
appeal, which is now made to YOU Deign to
specify in what instances his understanding has
sI,imbered or fsIltered: What chasrn has, for
tllnately for YOU, occurred in his intellect. T.
YOU succeed, YOU shall be esteemed as the &C.
nuine possessors Of every particle of intellcc-
tual worth, of which YOU can despoil him
Tut YOU dare not affront the poati sense of the
people, by attempting such task You dare
not hazard yourselves in labGrisg to shcw,
Gas some Of YOU said 70 have pretended,
thut his portion Of the work called the FEEDER
alist. expresses doctrines, unsafe 10 liberty
You dare not review except in general terms
Of obl0Quv, any political measure, Of which he
las becAthc author Can you have already
Transported yourselves 30 such degree OF
rage against him, rs LONGER 10 bite and poison
your own political character, bv swapping at his
talents The gauntlet is thrown 10 you You
are challenged. Indeed, am afraid, that you
are already more ihan half condernred by The
sovereign judge, the :sccplc. II bchoves yog
therefore 20 be quick in your movements, and
decisive in YOUR charges am aware, that
ali this bold language may he treated as gas
cnpadc. It ought TO be treated with igpomny,
If it cannot he supported It is for you to de
terinine, whether the people shall judge be-
tween MS.
Thus, gentlemen, you perceive. dlat per-
frct assent is yielded 60 your opinion, that
*ranscendant wisdom ought to be possessed by
him, who ncrnts the presidential chair I'm
dnubtediy you viii take care, when at the APP
pointed iirne, the present mysterious silence
as 20 the name of the candidates whom y5a
prefer, shall be brokers' that he shall appeas
in this respect inferior 10 but few, Is to any of
his felIow-ciiizens.
Nor can there be J,c least reluctance in sub
scribing to your next sttiibute in the character
of a president, tbs; hc shall have energy. Bat
men, less scrupunuSin their words, than ycnr
selves, and protesting a communion with the
republican Cause, world be bound TO define
this all grasping ,ci1n and, while they explain
cd it with sufficient scope for the public wei
a n
fines ofpublic danger. Thai part of the world,
which decides more easily by recurring so
examples, thar 90 theory, have probably asSed,
whether You refer 70 some of The energies Of
preceding administrations, snch rs the raising
81 an army, &c. Thotc, who reflect more ear
ress'y, viii perhaps eramcrate the greater ca
ses. IN which energy is necessary. aud Inet-
sure Mr.. Madisrmby th,ir standard.
These cases may occur N times of peace, rs
vel rs Of war. Some iewof tho former shall
be stated
a President NAV DC assa;ied bv m importu.
nate faction. which NAV arrogaie a right to
r'lic him, from their having contributed TO
his elcya,i,n
Iutrisuers NAV count npop 'hc supposed i'm
hcciGty cf old age, and subdue lin, by adj
dressing some mastcr-rassion or fraity. In
died. men, suspected Of imbecility iiom years,
wiV oltenpurchuse an exemption from TIC &C
~tfdtltNi, cy lliipNCiilJ submitting luelASctVGS
20 he minist y OF olhcrs.
<. preceding administration shallhave been
denounced by some tumultuous and interested
i1'ivduas, for course of conduct, which.
thn honest and accurate. may seem otherwise,
Ua'il the whole ground is distinctly under
stood the succeeding ore NAV more than Vi
tratc between an obstinate obedience 20 ;ls
0rn conscience, and the fear Of an apparent
dcse.ic;inn Of ancient pricciplcs,sGor which it
si,rds pledged.
"a may happen. that president, who is tru-
j. 'vclvc 30 military coercion. MAY be so much
grf-sd and irritatcd ~ artfuf representations of
scnc Illegal act. which NJ the mist - cnlv
documentary chution Of The liberty. whch we
O. - and by ahri, that his former military
nrown, VIII be taxed with having degcrcra-
30 Hto ccwsrd.rc as 10 stretch forth the
s1tinr arm Of government 60 suppress, what
8 lrnclamaton would easily silence.
t'pon no reasonable calculation. can il be
o~adct, that future President, may like
Wellington, &c tempted 90 drown his own
uaN'r iH some high sounding tile of excellence,
a'Dfo assent 60 spccad over tho Offices of his
c01iry, easel dirnify of superb nanIcs, as
n,~rrrt Introduction OF p wcrs 10 suit them
re BIC Immortal glorv, Washington resisted.
Ft' .inarv mover Of the project was, how
~ -. lis immediate successor
'fi~ vehicles Of intelligence arc Instruments.
f.''". able va tho extreme 20 President de-
81 '-rt on thcpublir viii, which often receives
IS rrleXion from The snlteiyof printer.
t'rsdca n scourg- 20 which no mind is SCI
fr", end may emrloyrrtifc, which no pre-