The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-11

TrFSS as MS areHt, WIN ~ ~ o"'t"j "os
when the documents of his Office are mn.
lilated by his scapegoai, the irresponsible
Mr.. Dickens, ayows his utter ignoranec of
any such practice. While the said Mr.. Dick
ems swrars that sHeh has been the common
n,s,e,ire of the eihee-euch a man can pre-
sant hut weak pretensiUns TO " strength of
mind,n fr,nness of character or repub
liiean principles" aud his election premises
any thing else than an able, or even
/" honest administration"
Though your admission of a1scon's 81.
u rority To Crawford is stated bypotheii.
eally. yoa have nut attempted To disproye
the truth Of that superiority. | presume
thit no such attempt will br made. The
question, then, which Virginia ought 10
support, rests, unfortunately, MT on the
comparative merits of those gentlemen,
but on what we arr iO gun or lose by our
vote. Even on this narrow ground ] VIII
enter the lisls-and will endeasor To prove
that il will be NEST profitable as web rs
most honorable 10 The people, Though cer-
tainly mol 10 plaee huntrrs) TO prefer Ma.
ihaniel Macon. You urge several ohjec-
iions 10 this preference, which, with Others
/ have heard, shall be fairly stated.
Youohject that Mr. Macon has no chance
of succeeding, that 10 support him would
be to lose all The influence Of Virgieia IN
the presidential eIectiun--and perhaps in
sure the success ct some candidate still
more Objectionable than Crawford.
It's not absolutely certain that PR. Ma
con cannot possibly be- elected. know no
reason why III. people Of Virginia should
be more disposed in his favor than those
Of any other republican and agricultural
state and SO far As have been able Ia col
lect opinions from those who have thought
at all an The subject there are more than
ten to oae who prefer Macon to Crawford.
Bit the great mass of the people have as
yet formed no opinion on the subject, and
are still open To conviction. Except in
our towns The presidential election has ex-
cited but little attention, and neither in town
OF country, have yet heard any individual
contend that Mr.. Crawfar1's merit claimed
the presidency. You, Messrs. Editors,
have gained almost all the support which
he has in this state. You have eoniidrnt,
declared doubtless on what You deemed
good authority THAT large majority of the
people Of Virginia were IN Mir. C's favor,
and that assertion has gone far to make
ilselflrne, by prrsnadlng MS that opposition
would he of no avail. 1hat North Carolina
has not been foremost ia urge the election
Of hfr most yenerated citizen, in proof of
the Observation-Disclosures uf that state, but is
no proof that she would not warmly second
his nomination. Virginia pursued the
same eommendablr course in Mr.. Monroe's
first election, aud who ever supposed on
that ground THAT Virginia was opposed to
him
But suppose this objection tG he underi-
able, and lot rs count the loss ur gain to the
state and to republican principles. II Mr..
{. was worthy ofconiidence, though not
50 highly gifted as TIE Office requires, il
would be certainly correct to lend him our
support Ter the purpose of keeping Out
much worse men bat 40 good can be
derived hom balancing The respective de-
merits ol those who admit of no other and
more honorable mode of comparison. We
are always dispu2ed To view with partial
eyes the measures of one who owes his
election To our own support, and c9en when
we can no longer be blind 10 his errors, it
IS very difficult, If not impossible, for us To
oppose the administration of the president
of our own choice. Partizan zeal is inya-
riably strengthened by exertlon. The hu-
man mind makes idols for itself, aud then
forgetfa ofther origin, worahips It's own
creations. This universal feeling, though
most honorable 10 the heart, is frequently
productive of the worst Consequences
II Virginia choose Mr.. c. as the least OF
two evils land her support of him ean rest
on no better eround) and should her vote
secure his election, there is little doubt that
she will also support his administration,
until he shall have thrown away his mask
and then will submit in silence to what she
would otherwise openly denounce. r. on
the other hand, Crawford, or even Adams
or Calhoun, should be eiected in opposi
ton TO our vote, ne such film will be cast
over our eyes. i'he forte of Virginia is to
1oateh a president--and | should expect a
more honest administration from the worst
OF the prominent candidates. while Virgin
Ia strictly watched his conduct, than from
the best II strengthened by her support or
emholdened by her neutrality. On this
ground, If we can only choose between e.
-Ils, as an advocate for those pure republi
can principles which Virginia almost alone
sustained in 1871 earnestly hope that what
ever evil Is borne may not be her choice.
This result, Messrs Editors, you would
consider throwing away the weight, and
destroying theiniuence of Virginia. con-
sder It the only means by which it can be
retained. AS citizen of Virginia, | am
proud of the influence which the state has
obtained and exercised-for it was obtain
ed honoraby aud exercised most dsnter-
esledly for the general benefit. But that
influence was not, and could not have been
obtained by trucking to triumphant
candidate-by endeavoring TO prevent
" throwing away her yotc.' 1t was ob
tained by her defence of republican princi-
pies, when Kentucky was her only ally, and