The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-06

| MIR. Madison had been -. = a been ,iw.vs :.
i,ectors in the msnnes sud Which has ever been
1depted ava ,'ylikely TO accommodate the
considered ,me MX the strength OF the repabli.
w'snss s"a ,S" United StaH .ne people 9,
can pasS ,..., therefore ~ - S1pecs' una!
whatever Pe,e0s' Sr S6sse pre.ensions nigh,
rished, 90 .a Che generous partially 0
!, have ber, secomueI 6f beng persisted in. by vi
y friends thst ms ma Fhich we had justly deemed
\ olatirg every I@hly disturbing the tranquility
sacred, and n2the safety of the whole.party, the
CD bu,cndangs9 general choice, would have ei.
\opposers q substantial and satisfactory reasons,
kher asslte, or have afforded proof OF the f.
kor resa frank and Immediate compliance with
\e,itral will i'-
:, tssfinstead of tresding such an honorable and
- Nic path, course entirely opposite was pur.
."e H. Divisions were fomented 10 the latest mo
Ile INT which could encourage present the smsll-
C}st expectation of success. The standard paper
(which among us had necessarily Yilified the gen.
eral government, we again repeat the fact in the
same columns, continually espoused the election
OF an irregular and unchosen candidate.
Nor can it be said with justice, or even pIausi
blty, that those in whose behalf these unwarrant
able exertions were made, did not decisively sup.
port and encourage the whole transaction. The
protest. at Washington, declaring the un6tness of
Mr.. Madison for the presidential office, e,nsna.
ted from, and was subscribed by, only seventeen
me mbers OF Congress, who, having arrayed the m.
selves against the general party, were de,ermin.
ed to assail the government of the union, with
view to obtain and exercise its powers. And the
oppositior, which, if not openly supported, ap.
pears TO have been privately encouraged, was
suffered to proceed without hindrance, denial or
Interruption. -,
We consider i to, have been the duty Of indi
viduals in whose name and behalf an exertion so
improper was made, to have declared themselves
mp,no n oh bo;,
utation and the public Interests were equally con.
cerrcd. Whether they approved or disar proved
OF lie measures Of the general government
whether they considered their immediate friend
" to be or not to be" candidate for the Presi.
dency-whether they anticipated federal co .ope.
ration, or possessed the honor to Reject it and
thatthey were bound in an unequiyocal and can
did manner, ifthey conceived themselves to pos
sess claims superior to the choice of their coun.
try, to have stated those pretensions accom-
panied bya frank and open notice of their iuten.
tons
And on the other hand, if they sincerely dissst-
proved ofthe hostility to government and of the
opposition made to regular nomination, III their
behalf-f they did not encourage or countenance
that opposition, and in obedience to the public
choice, deeliRed q competition with Mr. Madi
son, or rather a resistance to the great majority
OF the party, it was in their power Immediately to
have dsclaimed these transactions, to have pre-
ventedthe disputes which have not only disturb
ed the repsse, but also injured the republican re-
putation ofthe State.
Such is the only path which patriotic and no.
norab!e men could have possibly pursued-it was
corsonant with every principle and maxim which
those gentlemen upon former occasions had adj
vocated, and in fine the republican people of the
United States, and of this state, were entitled to
expectit, ii they remained consistent with them
selves. But instead Of adopting course which
would ~ nafII ral and nj, 4
ed they had remained honest, the idea was suf
Tered to circulate nncontradicted, that their
Candidate was adverse to the measures of 90
vernment, and intended To adopt different sys
tenn This silent reserve on their part, can ONLY
be imputed TO an expectation of obtaining The
support OF those who were engaged in the oppo-
sition. The paper which in the one column sup
ported the election of the irregular candidate, in
the next without intermission, rifed the late
and new presidents, and while pursuing this in.
furious carcer,Ynstead of being discoun,enanced,
was supported and rev arded by official patron
age. The candidate himself, instead of openly
declining, as in justice TO the republican cause,
1t was his duty to have done by an evasiye an.
swer, protesting to place himself upon the will
of the people, afforded an express sanction 10
the efforts which were making TO elevate him to
the presidency. The struggle in this state was
continued to the latest moment, altho' it was well
ascertaned that the republicans of the union had
taken their determined stand upon the sole basis
OF virtuois principles, and that there was not the
shadow of prospect promising success, indie.
pendent Of the hopes of federal participation.
1t must, therefore, be apparent, that whatever
apologies may now be offered in extenuation of
such misconduct, that those apologies are entire
ly delusive and however it may now be attempt.
ed to disguise and cover the fact, these very per.
sous were the prominent parties to the trsasac.
ton. - tH ts et
1t is with great reluctance that we have at
length resolved tointroduce this subject When
the presidential election became closed, we were
satisfied with the triumph of principle and in.
duiged belIefihat those who had departed from
it would have become sensible of the firmness of
their country, and the impossibilty of accom-.
plishing their irregular objects Of pursuit. In
this moderate and liberal expectation we have
been totally disappointed, and we now distinctly
perceive, by its continued exertons, that this OPP
position still retains its every selfish views, its
every improper discrimination. ...t
The eye of the union is anxiously directed to.
wards this state. It's Importance and weight in
the general scale renders perseverance, in duty
an object of the highest solicitude. We have
toestablish fair, disinterested and dignified
character among sister states ; and to evinc,.
by the integrity of our conduct, that we are
faithful to the public interests. We have sub.
mitted these ideas to your consideration, not on.
)y knowing that you will decide with Justice, but
entertaining also full conviction, that we shall
| stand as party united in the pursuit of virtue.
| We are also conscious, felIow-citizens, that
| many secret attempts have been made to misre-
present the sentiments of the republicans of the
| city and county of New-York We have been
charged from tire to time with having INDUCED
| a restless disposition, and with entertaining q
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