Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-02

the militia Shall take the Held To repcl IL!
fla state government can decide that no
danger of invasion exists, and upon that
ground prevent the militia from turning out,
of what use as the power of ordering out the
militia vested i'm Congress, seeing that the
state governments may counterfeit IL!
1t a state government Can rcnde;~nugato-
ny the call Of the general government for.
the militia, is it not thereby enabled to be-
tray the country to the enemy by refusing to
act against him
| Ii, under The constitution, no power is given
to the general government to enforce pro
vision in itself clear and unoquivocal, III re-
!ation to the militia, as disposable militia
| ~ force; will not that circumstance compel
| the general government, in all cases Of war
to resort more and more to regular troops,
and to rely less and less upon the militia :
Can those men be called friends to liberty
who drive the general government to- that
necessity, and thus promote standing armies
Congress meet to-day, (the second inst.)
We understand there were, early last week
several senators and representatives at
Washington
All candidates who are out of Office, have
leleCtioneerng advantages, which those who
are in office have not for those who are our
not having any concern in public affairs, can
| have no Blame Tor mischanccs; whilst those
who are in must bear all. And the latter
are, moreover, unfortunate in this, that they
seldom get credit for the good they do, but
they are sure TO be condemned for the bad
that happens. De Witt Clinton Can have no
share of odium for miscarriage of measures
because he tales no share In public affairs.
He neither STEAKS nor. fights for his country
in froftrid fer,sona; but his gazetteering
myrmidons exaggerate the accidents that
befal the nation, and attribute all the evil
; ones to Mr.. Madison. They could not, it is
) true, find character that can bear their
accusations with less injury and, in fact we
are astonished at the weight of opposition
which the President sustans unhurt and
withou. staggering :-That is to say-the
federal opposition; war, which is never
) universally popular in any country Hull's
, defeat; De Witt Clinton's hostility and
the Apostacy of few, of considerable
talents, and formerly Mr. Madison's friends.
: His majority of friends, nevertheless, is as
, great as ever; and this circumstance still
5 more surprizes US. Against such man ii
is in vain to contend. He makes advocates
as fast as he does enemies; which is occa-
$ stoned by his INDEPENDENCE efmiud. Where
!. he loses one partizan by refusing an Office,
t he gains another from admiration OF his firm
ness and thus demonstrates that he adheres
tono person longer than the person adheres
' to principle.
The cavalier manner in which one or two
republican prints have treated the question
ofthe presIdentialeleCtion, is singular enough.
They acknowledge that the progress of the
war, and even the rights OF the nation, dc
e pend on it, and yet have made no effort to
o decide Improperly. This kind ofoH and 0i,,
e egar temper may suit those who have been
: soured, or have had the serenity of their Pc
( culiar politics disturbed by anomalous mix
e lures: But it has always struck us, that
the proper decision of the presidential ques-
ton was of vital Importance that every
: friend to the country was bound to exert
himself to decide it correctly. And that il
: was, also, of very great moment to procure
for Mr.. Madison, Cooking at him, not her-
. sonaly, but POLITICALLY not as Mr.. Madison
but as the president who had asserted by
arms as well as by reason, our indefeasible
s. rights j thatit was essential to procure foI
> him not only bare majority but an over
whelming one, or at least majority suffici-
s ent to convince the British ministry that the
: American people were resolved, at all ha-
: yards, and at any cost, to maintain then
IS rights. On this subject, as on all others, the
r Argus has been decided. If men are to be
+ by truth and as the laburs of Mr.. Clinton!
t. friends and the federalists have been unu
IL sual and unceasing, we have endeavored tC
keep pace with them OF all the points they
8 have touched. We look back upon the
, course we have pursued with pleasure, be.
cause we are conscious of having supper.
p ted the interests and dignity of the country
% by sustaining the character of a worthy anC
/ enlightened magstratein the person of Jane,
e Madison. We know not how it is, thai
e those who have assailed him, have consider.
: ed it venal TO vindicate him. Surely il is moi
% for the friends of Mr.. Madson's measures Il
J. see him beaten down by merciless antago
: nists because lie stands in the foremost ranks
1t is not for those who think well of him t
q iook OF tamely and see him beset by mer
u worse than robbers, who endeavor to pilfeI
! FROM him, not his cash, but n 8 reputation
! But, then, say his enemies, those who adyo
% cate him are minions of government, hire
rt lings, mere mercenary defenders. And how
u do they prove thisl BY showing that wlnal
70 is said in his favor is untrues Not at all
D. But simply, by alledging that all those who
Is stand up for him are in his pay, or, in other
e words, in the pay of the government Now
u even it this were true, it proves nothing foi
his adversaries; for, if you pay a man foi
= writing il certainly is not the less truth
Yet how is the fact Does the patronage
IT ofgovernmeut flow exclusively into thehand:
Vi of MIR. Madson's defendersS We say il
~ does not. We know that the Spirit Of '76 al
D Georgetown, in the District Of Columbia, the
u Columbian at New-YOrk, and several other
y editors hostile To the administration, are en-
Is ployed by the government in their way oil
q business. II we look still further, what dc
~ we see Government patronage exclusive
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