Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-23
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION.

In our last, we hastily congratulated cur Rea-
ders ON the suspicious harmony which now prc.
walls among the Republicans, respecting H. e fit
est candidates for the important offices of Presi.
lent and Vice-President. We have a few more
remarks to offer on the Same subject. Long
before the result alluded to, we ventured Ia
announce it Our confidence in the good sense
he justice, and the discernment of the Republi
cans at large, was too strong and too ~sanguine t
alIow us To admit for a moment aDprehensions
~ ultimate dlscord on a question with which the
nest interests OF the people are essentially con
nected.. We could easily account for the exist.
ing d discrepancy of sentiment in an early stage OF
ne investigation upon which the choice OF our
next chef mag 'stFate was 10 depend. The mos,
prominent sages and heroes of the revolution are
either dead, or sink ing beneath the weight of ace
Men only remain on the theatre of action
"hese clam to the national gratitude and re d.
pect ae less commanding, less intui lively Der.
ceih'be~-A great State having already fur.
niSfed Three out nffour Presidents-and present-
ing another candidate for the highest Execut, We
station Of the general government must necessa
= ~ have excited local ellousies-Persona views
and private objects might, TOO, be ~ the rear of
oStensihic motives, ard Ike the mysteries of he
bona Ded elude the ken of vulgar eves-a; ali
events, the contemplated choice was. by the very
nature OF things problematical-To obtain all the
data requisite for he desired solution to ana
T. L w NNA
I'VE me qualities of the various Cand dates, and
determine Their respective merits, demanded
some time and much Consideration, and mig I he
productive ofPerplexity, in ahgh degree. We
were aware Of all this-but We feit confident that
after a few oscillations, all the acting forces IN
the POLITICAL machine would resolve themselves
SO as to give one uniform impulse, so as TO pro-
duce one single regular movement. we emitted
That opinion with candrr and freedom, vet with
delicacyi because, a. the same time, that we were
TN" ling to see one Of the most valuable rights of
virginia complimented away by an niud,cious
courtesy, we respected the alledged claims of
other States & other Candidates, and we were Ger.
iectly willing to trust the question to its own in
trinsic merits, and to the decision of us pf.per
Judges, the people at large, or their legitimate
organs.
In thus congratulating our Fellow.citizens nm
on the result Of the late republican meeting a,
washington, we speaknot only as Virginians. bu,
as americans. The subject is not local it IS pe
neral : 1t concerns all the members of our great
iederatlye body. This affords another proof that
our political institutions are fully ADEQUATE tc
their objects. The principal objection to an e
ueG''se form OF government, is the probability o.
csoals and Intrigues upon the frequent recurrenc,
Oh important elections, out of which fatal agita
tons and couvulsions will, it is urged, necessa
fliy arise. Thank Heaven the American Re
public has hitherto steered clear of such rock,
and evils! The deadly enemies of liberty. thos,
WHO have proclaimed to the world that a nation
can repose only in the arms of monarchy. will
be furnished With additional evidence of the calm
aud dignity with which a rational and virfuous
people can manage their affairs. They will see
IN what manner the irresistible power of opinion
IS e~xerted-how truth forces its way into the pub.
lac mind-and how easily individual IDEAS can
yle'd to the ideas of the majority, where a deep
convection exists that the general good is the
the primary object Of every party. Our