Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-23

.cid ~ tr MT C..u,un, h.cau$e IS Al!Ic Is
,sic..tiIi 10 Any thlNs liSe An c:icc.ive oppo-
Siiion To Nv Madison. To express ne mat
ter briefly, tr tederalisls have advocated
Mr. CLIFTON, because they Iouid not Success
iuily advocate man of their own party.
And he accepts their t;d, hecauaa he can
not command Il v0,e without it.
lnese observations are strengthened by
the great pains taken bv two or three nro-
minent characters of the federal plrty to
convince the public that Mr.. Clinton is still
republican,. We shall not dwell upon the
singular circumstance of fcderalisss certify
ing to the rcpubticanism Of their candidate
Tor office, because the oddly of the thing,
must have struck every body Bat il NAV
not be amiss 10 point to the reason OF it,
WINCH is this: AS the federasts could not
triumph by means of their own party, their
hopes rested on the project OF tIetachine
from the republicans force sufficient,
when connected with federalism, to over
.hrow the Aladisonans. Il became vitality
Important, therefore, to the prosperity of
tneir schemes, that Mr. Clinton, who was to
be the democratic oi-Eigeon, should not
lose his former reputation with his old par
" because, II it were once understood bv
the republicans that he had passed over to
ihe enemy, the federal scheme was blown
mp, and there could be no chance of suc-
ceedms. From these considerations the fc
deralsts have been extremely anxious to
preserve character friendly to democracy.
IN the person OF Mr.. Madison's opponent.
and to the same cause we may attribute the
appearance in print of Mr. Otis, MIR. Nor
ris, and, more recently, of Mr.. Harper, fur
nisning certificates, (like valetudinarians Ger.
Trying to the virtues Of IA quack mcdicine).
That the honorable De Witt Clinton is the
Grand Political Rcstorufive MIR. Otis and
Mr. Morris have, nevertheless, acted with
some discretion. Their publications were
snort, ard avoided entering into the sub
Jcct at large But Mr.. Harper, Inducing
IN his natural disposition TO pahor, has ex.
banded himself over several columns of the.
Georgetown Federal Republican. The pro-
auctlon OF this gentleman has, we presume
a TWO told object: the first is, to make an
impression on the democratic electors of pre-
sident IN favor OF Mr.. Clinton; the second
IN case Mr.. Madison succeeds Gas it is now
known and admitted he will, is to save the
federal party from the odium of having pros.
tituted itself from q iust Of bo7rrr fnboth
tnese oSJects we are sure Mr.. Harper muss
iaii. lie will fail if from no other cause.
rom the feebleness of his composition; for,
since the first days of popular scribbiing.,
tnefe asshrcdly never was a weaker per
Torrance protruded upon society. To give
an example; it is Mr.. Harper's intention
TO dlsclaim tor his political conductors any
hxed determination to support Mr.. Clinton,
ana we are enabled 70 prove the Contrary
rem ms own words; for, speaking of the
,eGeralists and Mr. c. he SAYS, they dit,
INDEED, Ertfer him to Mr. Madison" Now
IT they preferred Mr.. Clinton to Mr. Madi-
son, and nominated no fcdcral candidate. is
1t not plain that they were resolved tn adj
here to Mr.. Clinton? Again it is Mr.. Har.
per 5 intention To impress the public with an
lcea' that MIR Clinton had given the feder-
a'ists no assurance of pursuing any partcu--
lar line Of conduct in order to secure tbei,.
votes; and yet, just in SO many words. Mr..
Harper admits, that i'll private conversations
among some OF the members [ofthe federal
caucus ut New York mention was. from
tI,ne to time, made of opinions, Which Mr..
Linton was stated, or supposed to have ex-
pressed, relativedo the war, to a maritime
defence, and to the freedom and projections
or commerce." This, most palpably. and
ny confession of MIR. Harper, was an zsndsr.i
staining between Mr.. Clinton and the fed.
erai leaders at New-Yort. And so very
SHY and 50 very far from establishing what
he Intended To establish, is Mr.. Harper. that;
ne informs us in precise terms, in what light
TINS understanding of opinions uttered by
nr' y. was viewed by the members of the
caucus: They did not consider then as
cerfdn pledges, (says Mr.. II. but merely as
ahording reasona6ie ground of hohe."--
whence ", 1T appears, that for the hone that
VIZ. Clinton would pursue particular line.
ol Poiicy' consonant to federal doctrine, the
leaders OF that party agreed to forward his
views ON the presidency. We are only sor.
" mat Mr.. Harper had not gone into print,
sooner, aud his letter would have done more,
sood thanlt Will do at present. Our friends,
however, may rely on it that Mr.. Madison's
re- election is SAFE. The following votes are.
and may be conided in /:
Verm8nt, q
Pennsylvania, o.
MARYLAND, : g
Virginia, =: n. eS
Georgia, q
Tennessee, :: e
Kentucky, :: -
Ohio. q