Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-01-06
FROM tbs conSoNwnALr1.
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON,
President offhe U. States.

As you are about voluntarily to re.
.ien The important helm of,he union, and
from your elevated, though critical situa-
lion, descend with honor to the dignity of
a private citizen, ~e thought it du,y in
cnmbent on Us to express the high no,ni-
on we en- ertain IT The valuable services YOU
have renderedto your country.
We were tcid by your enemies, on the
commencement fyour presidential career,
hat your principles were such as lo,aily
TO discounleEance revealed religion that
We might born our bibles,- for the food.
gate oil iaGdelay would be opened on the
followers Of Enanueh and religion you'd
be bsni.hrd froIu he staies Of the Umon
but We are happy and tbankful ,ha, i, is
in our poEer 10 say, that SO far fr m this
having aSea the case, we have sat under
cur vine, and our fig tree, wor.hippipe
God agreeabiy 20 the dictates of our own
cansciences, none making US afraid; and
furthsr, our sncissirs 10 general, Trough.
out the Union. Asse experienced an aston
fshiDg Increase, and thousands have turn
ed from the error Of their WAYS T. seek
happiness in the God OF their saI,aaon.
Agreeab!Y to The pr=cep,s of cur i.oiy
religion, we Try as nueh as Ieih In H., 10
live Peacefully with all men, AID that We
may secure an homes. livelihood for our
tanilies respectively without coyeiing the
property or infringing the rights Of our
fellow citizens, we conceive it To be our
duty TO attend with constant indus ~ 10
our respective vacations; Notwithstanding
this, we are convinced that the impor; ant
N rpac ut1c II
-ost cause, therefore we read, teacci, AMI
examine tor ourselves, in most cases
which involve the happiness aad peace
OF our selves, our families, and coun.
try; 1t is from hence, we are enabled
TO state, that when our ma ional funds
were exhaus,iDg, our debts and our taxes
rapidly INCREASING by The mistaken policy
OF l0rmsr administration when oDr sea.
men were murdered and our national a4g
insultsd .iihiD the precincts Of our own
jurisdiction vixen restless, ambitious and
iniusia.ed mea, TO accomplish their own
views, raised n fermentation in The wes,.
so as to aecoy our 'hoi;ghtless youth and
some oi our sage c,uzens from the lioe
OF prudence and the path OF duty when
he horrors OF bloody war had inuDda
ted Europe, and the vide spreading storm
threatened our ccunry, we saw with pain
iul solic,iude, tn important task imposed
on you. We admired The wisdom, GOODNESS
AID prudence of your conduct, aud are
July pufsuadsd that the measures recon
menhed BY you and adopted by the lec,s
iature, have aslonished and COMPOUNDED
ne restless governors Of Europe, and sa
we'd your county.
No: having had the advantage ola Ii.
beral education, and being stationed in
the more lowly spheres of lite, we have
nothing to recommend US to your notice
but the uprghtness Of our intentions; this
being the case, we are fully Convinced tina
you will not desplse the day Of small
things, but accept this our humble tribute
OF gratitude IN the way it is intended, and
as u is not our wish TO intrude upon your
valuable time, because weightier matters
at this eventiul crisis must necessarily en-.
gross your attention, we therefore con.
clude, by observing with an apostle, "Sil
yer and gold we have none bur such a.
] we have we give unto you" May the
4 Cod OF all grace assist and support Won II
your last public efforts by your wisdom
AID prudence to dispel the clouds that still
seem to be collecting in our political hori,
zon-- may he descend with you TO peace
able and happy retirement, where you ma,
aid by your councils your successors in of
t1ce, and when you have finished YOU,
course IN this lluctuatiop life mav con n,