Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-06-08
DOMES JIG.

WAsHINGToN, June 8.
Those who know how to appreciate fine
Importance of the freedom OF election. and
the value of a rigid adherence to all the le-
gal forms attending it, must have viewed
with uneaslness, if not with dread. the in
novatlons with which it is frequently me-
naced, In the convulsive spaslns of party
conflicts. The Importance of exposing
and repelling such attempts is viewed in
strong light, when we reflect, that, were
the success OF one such attempt acuuies-
ced IN, stimulating others, the government
would soon dissolve into its original ele-
nents, and the lapse of dozen yea-s
would witness the prostration of that IA
brio, which ordinary circumspection and
vigilance would have sustained for at least
as many centuries. In this view, there -
no transaction which has, among all think
Ing men, been regarded with more horror.
than the recent attempt by the federal
party in Maryland, by buying up mass
OF population in one part of the country.
where it could be spared, and transporting
1t to another, to control the election i'm a
place where there was republican maio-
rIty the attempt, let US say, to march
over the prostrate rights of the people to
the goal of their ambition. The scheme
has not succeeded. In truth, il must have
| originated in an ignorance of human ma
ture. which nothing could be more calcu-
lated to rouse to deep and effective indig-
nation, than such plots against the Iiber-
ties of the people, always recoiling, like
this, on their projectors.
The beautiful city of Annapolis was
selected as the field for this manoeuvre !:
probably on account of the limited COM
pactness OF its population, andIthe facii-
OF reckoning its voters. Men were hired
to reside there from March or April, to
October next, for the term (six months)
necessary to constitute title to vote. The
election of a Senate the ensuing autumn,
(Which only recurs at intervals Of five
years. was The occasion which gave rise
to this desperate struggle to secure the
ascendancy in Annapolis, which it was
hoped would give the party majority of
the Electoral college which appoints the
Senate, and thus secure to them the con-
troll of the state for five years to come.
Returning good sense on their part, the
prevalence of honorable sentiments, the
defect of funds to support the hireIings, the
apprehension of the popular indignation,
or some other cause, has defeated this ex-
traordinary combination. Maryland is
still free it will be the fault of the Re-
pubIicans if She does not remain SO.
The whole of this affair is so extraordi.
nary, that il would be incredible, were it
not supported by irrefragabe testimony,
and publicly admitted and defended by its
abettors. II can only be accounted for
on the principle, which history has illus.
trated by so many examples, that men
conjunctively will openly do things which,
Individually, they would scorn and repeI
as dis honorable and mean.
1t is impossible that the detection of
this design should not unite the people of
Maryland in opposition to party which
would resort to means so desperate and
flagitiOus, that their use could only be Jus.
tilted on the execrable plea that the end
iustifes the means. To divert public az
tention from this bOrOugli--mOhgering ex-
plot, the old artifce of the robber is re-
sorted to, who cries Stop Thief = to ena.
bic himself to escape detection. 1t will
not do. The Republican party is invu-
nerablei Fortified by conscious rectitude.
It is ofcqGrse supported by public opinion.
The Federal papers may rave till they ex-
haust themselves the public reprObation
of their conduct can neither be ayerted
nor representative: Int.
Some idea may be obtained Of the vast
amount Of provisions CONSUMED in the city
Of New-Y0rk, by the following official
statement of the total amount of the ami
mails named, that were brought to the Sc
veral markets in that city, from the first
day ofJanuary to the first day of May, in
the present year beeyes, S0ts calves,