Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-08-31
ADDRESS

Committee Of Coresh ondente OF inc State 81
.Ne4u- York, in sniatort OF ire nomination q
f1ehsn. De WITT CLINTON, 20 the
PRESIDENCY Of The United States AZ me ensu-
ing election
10 THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
FELLOW CITIZENS,
The most important interests OF the
United States are interviewer with the acts OF
their chief magistrate. Every citizen has,
therefore, a deep concern in the choice Of that
h,yh officer, and an undeniable right to lay his
! re{|ections on that subject, respectfully, but
with freedom before the community, OF which
he IS q member. On that broad basis we might
perhaps Justify this address, and trust to the
| correctness of the principles VIC maintain, Tor
vindication with our eountrymen; but we are
induced to present ourselves before you by
another, and we think sufficient consldera-
| ton.
The state of New York has, by an open no.
mination Of a candidate for the presidency, en-
tered IT'S formal protest against the practice OF
congressional nominations. Convinced as we
are Of the superior worth and qualifications OF
| Mr.. Clinton, we are also impelled by the SIN
| cerest respect for the federal constitution; by
cur desire to preserve the sovereignty OF the
states. as Guaranteed and marked out by that
instrument by a regard 10 the rights OF the
| peeDIe and 10 the freedom OF election, to maln'
/ tain her in the stand she has taken.
The general committee Of correspondence
on the part of the state, have appointed US
| select committee to explain and vlndicAte the
grounds on which the nomination has Oeen
made, and to aid in carrying 1t INTO effect we
have accepted the trust, and shall perform 1t
at least with fidelity The fear OF Criticism
and censure shall not oyerawe the sense OF du-
ty, nor silence the strong convictions OF our
Underwent. Our interests and obligations whe-
Their as citizens of this state, or OF this COME
Iteration, have, We know, reciprocal relation;
and we cannot be true to the one, without d.
ligently discharglng the other.
| Nevertheless, we feel much conStralnt and
embarrassment in thus appearing before the
American nation I'VE are sensible OF the deli
cacy of the undertaking, and enter upon It with
diEidence and solicitude. While most anx-
ious 10 avoid blame, and to obtain consldera.
ton only through the purity OF our motives,
and the soundness of our opinions, we antlci-
pate harsh animal versions : We shall be held
I'D to the scrupulous as rash, and to the for
NAL as innovators our appeal to your trlbu-
| nal will be stigmatsed as presum2tuous our
sincere persuasions on subjects OF national
! concern, will be imputed to unworthy motives,
| will be treated with levity by some, and oPpos'
| cd with bitterness by many.
We are, however, convinced that those VIII
! be loudest in their invectives, whose interests
are engaged, or whose preJudlces have beer
| enlisted against the cause we espouse, and II
| favour Of the doctrines we conceive 1t our da'
| ty TO dispute. Does the musselman who We
| nerates the Koran, and bows before the ores
| cent, abide the scrutiny of the understanding
| or cigh the force of argument, when he re.
| viles the christian in6del that rejects the mo
| hamedan faith?
Free citizens Of America, be not deceived
by such as, wrapping themselves up In the
mantle of infallibiity, dlsdain to inquire ate
| truth by the sober light of reason, or to learr
! wisdom In the school of experience: dis
| trust those who shrink from investigation, be
cause it is their interest to maintain prevailing
tenets, and to continue existing practices: ex
anime national questions for yourselves: de
! eide upon them according 10 the counsel o
| your own unbiased judgments.
/ We have said that the state OF New-Yori
has entered its protest against congressional
nominations. In doing SO, is'fas acted wisely
The nomination Of a candidate for the fresi
dency Of the Unitea States, by an association
of members of congress, convened at me SEA
of govsrnment, is hostile to the sfirit Of the Je
deral constitution, dangerous TO The rights 9
| the PEOPLE, and to the freedom Of election.
| Whoever examines that constitution wit
attention, will perceive that the election OF tn
PRESIDENTS intended to be made. not by TIA
heotle of the United States, in the sense /
which they may be said to choose the mem
bers of the house Of representatives but b
the states comtosiag thc union, in thar sefao
rate severeign CAPACITIES, each state voting |
, the ratio of its population.
The unbiased exercise Of this inyaiuabI