Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-07-04


have heard, shall he fairly stated.
You object that Mr.. Macon has no chance
ofsucceeding, that to support him would be
to lose all the influence of Virginia in the
Presidential Eleclion--and perhaps insure the
success of some candidate still more Ohec-
tionable than Crawford.
II is not absolutely certain that Mr.. Macon
cannot possibly be elected.(q) l know no
reason why the people of Virginia should he
more disposed in his favor than those of any
other republican and agricultural State; and
so far as have been able to collect opinions
from those who have thought at all on the
subject, there are more than ten 10 one who
prefer Macon to Crawford.(r} But the great
mass of the people have as yet formed no o.
plnon ON the subject, and are still open to
cnnvictonls) Except in our towns the pre-
sidcntial election has excited hut little atten-
ton, and neither in town or country, have
yet heard any individual contend that Mr..
Crawford's merit claimed the presidency()
You, Messrs. Editors, have gained almost all
the support which he has in this state. You
have confidently declared doubtless on what
youdecmed good arthorityjth that a large major
ity ct the people of Virginia were in Mr.. C's
Favor, and that assertion has gone far to make
itself true, by persuadins MS that opposition
would be of no aval(u) That North Caro-
|
of her most venerated citizen, is n proof of the
dsinterestedness of that state, but is no proof
that she would not warmly second his nomi.
nation. Virginia pursued the same COM
mendahle course in Mr.. Monroe's first cleo
tlon, and who ever supposed on that ground
that Virginia was opposed to him ar)
But suppose this objection to be uudeniahle,
and let us count the loss or gain to the state
and to republican principles. If Mr.. G. was
worthy of confidence, though not SD highly
gifted as the Office requires, it would be Ger
tainly correct to lend him our support for
the purpose Excepting out much worse men
hut no good can be derived from balancing
the respective dement's of Those who admit of
no other and more honorable mode of com
Pnrison. We are always disposed to view
with partia! eyes the measures of one who
owes his election to our own support, and
even when we can M longer he blind tn his
errors, il is very difficult ifno, impossible, for
ms to oppose the administration OF the presi-
dent of our own choice. Pariizan zeal is in
tyarlahly strengthened by rxertion. The hu-
man mind makes idols for itself and then fnr-
Setlui ot their origin worships its own crea-
lions. This universal feeling though most
honorable to the heart is frequently produc-
tive "f the worst consequences. If Virginia
choose Mr.. C.. as the least of two evils, land
grn':od) and should her vote SECURE his cleo
ton, there is little doubt that she will also
support his administration, until he shall have
thrown away his mask and then will sub
init IN silence TO what she would otherwise o.
prnly denounce. If on the other hand Craw-
ford, ar even Adams o, Calhoun should be
elected in opposition to our vote, No snch
him viii he cast over our eyes. The forte Of
Virginia Is to tDGtch President and should
expect more honest administration from the
worst of the prominent candidates, while Vir.
S'nia strictly watched his conduct, than from
the best if strengt hencd Ivy her support or
embroidered by her neutrality. On this
ground, if we can only choose between evils,
as an advocate for those pure republican pin
/ cIples which Virginia almost alone sustained
IN 81, 1 earnestly hope that whatever evil is
borne may not he of her choice. This result,
| Messrs Editors, you would consider throwing
away the weight, and destroying the i1hu--
ence of VIrginia--I consider il the only means
by which IT can be retained. As citizen
OF Virginia am proud of The influence which
the state has obtained and rxercised-for it
was obtained honorably and exercised most
hisnterestedly for the general benefit. But
that influence was not, and could not have
been obtained by trucking 10 a Triumphant
candidate-by endeav n'iring to prevent
throwing away her vote" II was obtained
ny her defence Of republican principles, when
Kentucky was her only ally, and all the other
states either neutral or strongly opposed to
her resistance. If our influence is lost or
weakened, we cannot hope 10 recover or re-
tain II, ny pursuing course directly the re-
verse ofthat of'9S(,c)
! will mt believe that so few true republi
cans remain in The United States, that we must
surrender all hope of The future triumph Of
:he'r principles. By supporting men who have
deserted those principles, they will surrender
al hope, they will pronounce their former pro-
LESSONS false, and destroy the force of all fii-
iure opposition to such measures as protect
ing duties, the u. States Bank, and all Others
which may he founded on the liberal constr rue
tion of federal powers. tbs true that there is but
n remote possibility ofrleciing, Mt this time, A
man whose political course is rs unimprach-
able rs Mr.. AIacon's: hut by supporting him,
the republican standard will be kept unfurled,
Il point Of union will be presenied--and the
republican strength OF the nation win he 81
combined AS tn compel the successful candidate
to act honestly or to displacc him at the Sue
ceeding election(r)
4 But your strongest objection fn the course
! recommend, is that it will probably throw
the election OF tho President into Congress
where the vote of the smallest state will he
equal to thst Of the largest This result
would bring into operation, what is certainly
the most faulty part ofihe letter of our CON
stitntion. According to the true theory o
free government, the executive ought in M
case to he appointed, by tho legislative de
parfneut. But the hest chance for reforming
this evils to encounter il. THe only cxcr-
Csc Of this power by congress, produced tn,
only amendment of the constitution which
has hecH made since the government ha
been completely organized. That amend