Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-24
VIRGINIA. ARGUS.
Esbutes iamais, ct sonrent discutex.
Richmosd, February "a, 1916.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
The approaching election of the Individual
who is 10 occupy the presidential chair, after
Mr. Madison, is avowedly most important sub
lject--one that involves the highest interests, us
well as the character fthe country. Henceit is
that, from Georgia TO Maine, we find almost ev-
cry Editor busily employed either in expressing
his own ideas on this momentous topic-or in
Iembodying the opinions of the people around
him, respecting the same. Inviting as the theme
certainly is, we do not mean to enter at present,
into adiscussion OF the kind. Our sole object is
to congratulate our Fellow-citizens 1T large on
| the increasing harmony of sentiment among the
Republicans throughout the Unon in relation to
the candidate most worthy of the choice OF the
nation. 1t was 20 be expected that in proporti-
| on as those luminaries of the first magnitude
that SO splendidly and so benehcially illumed
the political horizon of America during the re-
volutionaryperiod should be either extngush.
| ed By death, or dimmed by age, the gaze of pc.
pular admiration being no longer engrossed by
their superior lustre, and popular affection and
lgrstitude no longer centeripg in few individ.
tlals of unparalleled worth, the public opinion
should become divided; ard that, of course, its
Ipower should manifest itself with less rapidly,
lifnot with less efficiency. The pre-emnent
splendor of the sun is readily established by the
Iconcurrcnt testimony of all mankind whereas
THE comparative lustre of three or more very
bright stars. 1t is only such man as Washing,
| ton that can FIX upon biInself the eyes, the res
ipect, the love, and the SURFACES of = whole ma
ttion, and enjoy The exalted, the glorious prive
llcse of being promoted TO the highest Office il
tfhe gift of free and grateful people, withou
lhearing the unwelcone sound of a SINGLE dissen
ltient voice.
Another circumstance has had strong tenden
Icy to destroy unaninity of feeling and opinion
i N respect to the choice of the next President
lSincc the organization of the federal govern
lment, four individuals have filed the PRESIDENT
al chair, and three of these have been Virgini
ans. Hence, the grim, but airy vision of Vir
ginian dynasty. The phantom has been artfull,
lconiured up by some, and its shape and dimens;
Ions swelled and distorted by others. To hav,
iproduced so many citizens of pre-eminent worth
was in reality the glory of the state, and it ha
Ibeen made its reproach. Pretended fears of al
uninterrupted succession Of Presidents from Vir
lginia, have been thrown out The object was t,
Icreatc local exctements--to feed, where it alrea
DIV existed, the unhallowed fame of state iealou
II sesto kindle it where it did not vet exist-anC
establish sectional distinctions and sectional in
Iterests, which the great constitutional rule ofth
lard does not recognize. No doubt other state
Ibesides Virginia, have acted avery distinguished
and very meritoTious part in the great drama o
the revolution, and in the trying scenes of thu
late war. New-York, for instance, is entitled t.
the respect and TO the gratitude of che Union 70
the energies which she has displayed against th
lcommon enemy, in the revolutionary, us well a
the last contest. But in the choice of Presi
Ident, the constitution adyerts not to the merit
of this or that state, but TO the worth of this O
THAT individual. Ii considers not where the me
lritoro Gus candidate dropped into his cradle
: lenquires not whether one, two. three, or NOR
Presidents have already been drawn from his ma
Tive state. His fitness for the first executive
office of the union, is The only point which
deems worthy of invesiigstion-au in this, the
CONSTITUTION particularly eyinces the wisdom Of
its trainers.
Suppose a contrary system to be pursued, wha
will be the consequences IA large, patriot,
state must be disffanchised-t must be deprived
2primary constitutional right; because, forsooth
it has been blessed with several citizens of supe
ror worth.-7for the same reason (Which is no rea
son at alb y statesman whose industry integri
lty, Knowledge and experience are acknowledged
~ the candid and the impartial, must be exclu
ded from the sufIrages OF free and enlightened
Ipeople,--We do not contend for the essentialit,
of this, or any other, statesman 10 the existence
safety, or even welfare of the American empire
4 but we ask land we ask it in calm and conside
rate spiri0 where would be the Justice, nay
where would be the policy of compelling public
officer whose zeal and usefulness have, at al
Times, Deen conspicuous ~ ASsAFS tIlb lHCalIS o
action, precisely vt the moment when it is pre-
sumsble that long, patient, aud close applica
ton 70 the executive business, has most eminent
ly fitted him for an abe and useful performance o
!, those duties i--when he has become possessed o
experience, the parent of wisdom, in the scienc
OF government as in every other science-and th
slIrest pledge of infallibity so far as the condi
ton of human nature can aspire ~ III II j
granted on all hands, we believe, that experience
is, in the first magistrate Of 4 nation, most de
sirable, and indeed, an essential qualification
What, then, are we to think Of a system tina
would put that qualification under its ban p
! Surely, such system cannot be just--it canno
be rationale cannot he exPedient!
The good sense of the people at large seems e
have triumphed over the soPhistry of the section
al system. From Georgia to Maine, t.erepubli
cans, with loud and almost unanimous acclaim
arc heard calling to the presidential chair Oh,
man whose important services sll acknowledge
the man who isnot, indeed, an iisprOufsators-
can not speciously talk OF any suoject-who boast,
not the iori,htous inspirations of INDECENT uncui