The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-06-04
For the .dler1n9ria Herald.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

United States, the people should never
lose sight of the pre.emineDce OF rePub-
iican principles. These only are quail.
fed to form the true groundwork OF the
elective franchise. This has been the
test since the year 1900; and whore is
the necessity OF disturbing the public
mind with the 'pretensioDs of any candi-
date who is not republican in sentiment.
II behooves the electoral college to take
care that they settle all claims to the chief
magistracy. 1t is their bounden duty TO
prevent these claims from going before
the house of representatives. An even,
which was calculated TO shake this union
to its very foundation has been witness.
cd. Rational enlightened and indepen,
dent men ough, TO be aware, that such a
circumstance should never be allowed
60 occur again. Intrigue, fnesse and
those various arts ofdeception, which are
usually practised on such occasions,
shouldtn be suffered again to contami.
nate the choice of president. Danger
turks beneath this anti-republican prac.
tice. The most dreadful passions are
permitted to enter, and regulate pro.
ceedings which should be calm and die.
nified. The preceden, alone affords the
fullest proofs Of its improperly and un.
fitness for SO important decision. Let
then the electors governed by the purest
1notIves, and inflamed only by the spirit
OF patriotism se!ec, that person who DOS.
sessss virtue in the highest degree, and
intelligence sufficient to control a on.
yernment already established. The
highest talents and highest virtue consti-
tute the greatest excellence of human
nature. These gifts were emphatically
combined in the character of Washipg>
ton. He exhibited the remarkable phe.
nomenon OF greatness and goodness uni.
tedin the same person. He has depart.
cd from the stage, rendering il illus
trious by the glory which he left behind
him. No equal now exists. Those he.
roes whose "souls were tried" by the
revolution have nearly disappeared /; and
IT will be found to be an almost impossi.
eliity to supply their places. Hence a.
rises the absolute necessity ofexercisisp
the greatest caution in the selection of
president, who is capable of comforting
the largest share of honor and felicity on
the nation. 1t has undergone the trials of
peace and war, and notwithstanding fac.
ton has reared its awful head, vet still
the nation has been triumphant. In those
times we had at the helm Of government
men who had breasted the storms of re.
Volu'ion, and to whom great mass of
The people were attached by the strong.
est gratitude. 1t is our duty now as
none of those tried patriots are in the
List OF candidates, TO select such as
possess those qualifications which NAV
resemble them. In making this selec.
ton, there can be no doubt that erea,
diversity of views will be presented for
the consideration ofthe electors.
The material point which at present
operates on my mind regards the candi.
date who has the strongest affinity to
those republican principles by which our
government has been swayed for the
three last presidencies. The Grst con.
s'ltutlonalchoice stands OF grounds which
4 consider perfectly tenable in every
spape IN which II may be brought to our
view; and desire not to disturb the
ashes OF him "who was first in war. first
N peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymeD May his beatiHed spirit
oeam with comPlacency upon the country
10 which he devoted himself, and dircc,
those whom he loved and saved, in the |
proper selection Of him who shall fiji the
august chair OF state. Governed by this
glo" OF affection for the memory of |
deceased friend and benefac,or. we are
boupd to discard every unholy passion |
which iDbabits the breast we are hound