The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-02-21
I'VE neLLARs A YE,
Editor Of me .fleranet,ia Herol[

Inc man they elect tor .heir chief
magistrate. They should be fully satis>
fed that he possesses all the qualifications
requisite in an officer of such high res.
possibility before they place him in au
thority. An the acts OF his public lite
should be fully and fairly canvassed-his
talents should appear copspicuous---his
integrity unsullied--his honor unblemish
vcd---his devotion TO the interests OF his
country should be uneguivocaiiy estab-
lished.
Is William II. Crawford such man
Is such Ills character What has he done
for the public I! Let his friends answer
honestly and promptly. They should mel
Their shrink from nor avoid discussion of
his merits, but prove to the W hole Anne.
rican people, that he possesse. in create
er degree, tnan any other citizen, the mo.
raj integrity, the political knowledge, the
experience IN public affairs, and the indie
psndence OF mind and OF action, that will
sustain his pretenslons and support his
claims upon the freemeh oil America, to
select him for their ruler.
have already called upon them for
s1trooS. Have they given one No. Can
they show what he has done at aay period
OF his long public lite, that distinguishes
him from mere Office hode? that he ever
proposed or effected a single measure,
that marks bin fer an intelligent and
eminent statesman? that he was equal in
the senate or superior in the cabinet.
that he has, at all times, been true 10 the
trust reposed in him, and faithful and im-
partial in the discharge of his public du
ties? that he has uniformly acted I'D.
rightly and independently, uninf]uenced
by ambition, by Partially or by fear? IF
his friends can prove he is such man.
let them do it. Cato" and "Jus,itia''
have failed in the attempt. They have
praised him, but have not shown that he
merits praise.
l am but an humble, yet an indcpen.
dent citizen; and feel the Indignation
that every indep@ ndent citizen should feel,
who believes an attempt is made 10 palm
upon his country man pable of sus-
tanning the dignity of an office his ambi-
tion aspires 10.
Mr.. Crawford is a candidate for the Of
fee Of president of the Uni ed States
his psrtissns are loudly insisting upon his
claims to the office. Many believe he
neither merits nor is qualified Tor il Ii
becomes, then, the duty of his partisans
TO shew he does merit and is qualified for
it. l ca' upon themior facts, and viii
consider nothing else proof will attend
to no general euIogy. The advocates of
MIR. Crawford must prove he actually is
what :hey pretend he is, or they must
give him up. The people will no, be
deceived--Intrigue in this instance, will
not succeed,
The position have taken is strong
one-Ibe cause of the people is the cause
am engaged in. The welfare of my
countryis the rock stand on, 81 will there
defend myself do believe il would in
terrupt the prosperity & detract from The
honor of the U. States, if Mr.. Crawford
der this conviction ! will oppose his cleo
ton, because consider II my duty 10 do
So
again repeat the demand made upon
the friends of Mr.. Crawford for Proofs OF
his capacity. As one of the people have
right TO make this demand they should
meetit without hesitation, and reply to il
without equiyocation. II is for them 10
prove him an eminent statesman by his
own acts--and by his own acts only: For,
is during the last twenty years Of his life,
he has, with all his opportunity, done no.
thing to distinguish him from ordinary
men, they will find it difficult to prove
that his is more than an ordinary mind.
If they are afraid TO refer 10 his own
acts for Development of his true char
actor, perhaps may do it. If go back
twenty two years, and track his crooked
path from that time TO the present. think
can shew, that during this period he ha.
exhibited as much meaDness as greatness
OF mind; as much intrigue as integrity
as much ambition as capacity; as much
narrow-minded selhshness as devotion to
the public good. FRANKLIN.
"Heractus ne'er could deny
Te tipple and cherish The heart,
And when he was msudlin he'd cry,