The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-09-04

vorite, sufficiently splendid to decorate any
station to which he Nigh. aspire. But un-
like the extravaganza productions Of the times
they have not altogether exhibited his OPP
Iponent as monster of iniquity and folly
serving by his Iefornlity to set OF the high
deserts of the other and Justify the in pre- fer
ence. Although upon the one hand. they
may have lavished more praise than was
due, they at least declined. upon the other.
in1icting unmerited censure.
| Nearly one half of the pamphlet consists
IN dcnunciation OF these members of Con-
gress, who duriug the last session, recon-
mended the reelection of Mr.. MaLison-lt
were needless s,ste of time to stop to vim
dicate this measure. 1t was no violation of
The constitution, as commended by the com
mttee, and they will scarcely deny that it
arose from IA wish to ensure unanimity and a
republican ascendancy. But admit the force
OF these objections. yield them upon this
point the victory Tor which they have con
tended at such an expcnce OF ink and pa :
per; be the influence OF the Washington
aucus as indcfens Ele, as uncons IL ,tio,.ai 8
they could desire it +; the ingenuity even ct
the Committee would be puzzled to extract
IRON TINS source ANY argument in their IA
Vor: to them only, its bearing, IL have any,
Can be known. Or shall it be Inferred that
Mr.. Madison is not the choice OF the people.
because he has been nominated by AN over
whelniny majority. of the republicans in
Congress that their belief of his canacity
demonstrates his unftness or in any way,
advances the pretensions of De Witt Clin-
ton = The Washington nomination, if it be
fair to resort to it at all to settle this ques-
ton, IS favorable to the re election of the
present Chief magistrate /; because lit ind,-
Gates conviction III the minds Of a resDec
table and intelligent body Of men. coming
from all sections OF the union, that he is the
choice OF the people. Lett then, tho with
out arrogance it may challenge; as much
respect, as the nomination of the New " rk
committee, be thrown out of the scale TO
say the truth, it was Understandable same
| result would have been produced without
It: the voice or the people must have pre-
vailed; and Clinton could not have succeed
| ed.
he truth ct this remark, lis fully justifi-
| ed BY the result ct the nomination made tn
| i'tdfcfdaut states: a mode of collecting the
public sentiment. whose adoptiou is warm
iy recommended by the. committee, and
which Is perhaps less liable than any other
to prove deceptive. Setting aside the nom
| nation OF their respective candidates, made
ny the states of Virginia and New York, &
tao one may be fairly supposed to balance
the other; how completely does this test,
resorted to by the committee, destroy the
weight OF their arguments In Pennsy lvania,
New-Jersey, Mary land and Massachusetts,
in every state in the union, where it has been
deemed at all necessary to pursue this mode
OF making known their wishes, particularly
III the great republican stases, Mr.. Madi
son receives decided support. Not one
mas delgned to notice his competitor--and
beyond the boundaries of his native state,
he will look in vain for assistance, unless in
deed hn .,f (,
IOtis, or the most rancorOus Of the federal
lpresses.
Onleaving this topic, which the committee
could not have more zealousiy handled, had
ut been OF real service to their views they
proceed to urge some preteXts, reasons they
are not, in support of their candidate the
sum and substance of all which is that this
gentleman was born in n. York, whilst on
the other hand, it is n truth, not to be
palliated nor denied. that Mr.. Madisoa is
| guilty OF the objectionable sin of having
drawn hi. first breath in Virginia. The a
iarm or Vhgbiia influence is artfulIy SCUM
ded. Clinton is to be prefcrrcd-not in res
pect to any alledgec superiority in any one
quality that constitutes a statesman, but
solely because Of local situation. Is this an
argument to occupy the foremost rank in a
rational discussion (! Is it an appeal TO the
| understanding, or is it AN address TO preiu-
dice? But it will fail of its aim. The in
teiligent electors of the u. States are not tn
be frightened from the sober exercise Of
their judgments, by presenting to their vie
the hideous demon of Virginia influence
--'fts the eye ofchikIhood
| y That jears a hainfed deoii-
1t was indeed q condescension beneath the
dignity of grave politicians, to play off a rid
Jealous imposture, too paltry to terrify chill
dren or Convince an ideot.
| . Why say the committee, Ca is Yir-
gina influence a bye word in the Eastern
states! And why, it may in turn be asked,
is the cry OF Virginia influence invidiously
echoed from other quarters 2. Because IL
series political demas1gUes TO accomhKsh
Gni6hioHs fnrhoses Where does this Vir-
giDla influence exist? 1t is the offspring o,
| designing policy engepdered upon disten,-
pered imagination. by what means is j,
| sxe'ted Is IT by the establishment OF, venal
| presses, or is her gold lavishly circulated in
the union : NenAl presses may exist and
gold may be circulatetl-but neither the one
nor the other is established or supplied by
| Virginia. Whether the committee them.
selves believe III tie. existence of this in.
fiuence,' does no. clearly appear. They af.
| feet rather to doubt it a faint res. stance is
made iii order that the suspicious of the
states may be more etfectuaily fomented
But the article recoils upon themselves. Ii
they really disbelieve. it, how uncandid is it
how dishonorabe to enlist falsehood for tn Q
promotion OF eiectoneering purposes ? i
they believe it, what a compliment do they
lpay to to- intelligence and integrity Of those
states where they SUPPOSE IL To exist pu,