Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-09-28

k"s1f'f""" sON"'S3 ~ t"t", ~ s"e lfeH
hte cf Yirginta.
Fellow CITIZENS:
as the impression which you general
ly entertained of the effects Of a caucus
nomination of "a President, on the choice
OF the nation. is now ascerlalned 10 have
been incorrect, we CONCEIVE no other
apology necessary for respectfully invit-
ing you to unite with us in the only de-
cislon we think calculated torestore bar
mony to the public mind Il Is, perhaps,
equally the misfortune of communities
and OF individuals, to be dazzled by an
uninterrupted enjoyment of prosperity,
and to forget in The exultalion OF triumph,
those sober maxims OF reciprocal justice,
by which they never could be misled.
How tar the happy lead which Virginia
has hitherto taken in the affairs OF our
republics, may have hurried US into san
guIne antIcipatIons OF the influence of
her exam lie, or 10 ask OF our country
mento colcede us too much, at the APP
preaching election of President, is a
question which merits our serious con-
slderalion. II is the character, We con-
ceive, 9th people of Virginia, 10 be
hru, but not obstinate--to be ardent in
their pariiali'ies, but not 10 suf1er their
preference OF a particular man ioaover-
come their attachment 10 principle, or TO
destroy their respect for The opinions of
their political friends in the other states.
They are aware that the great blessings
OF human lie are generally the result Of
compromise, and that il is the dury of
those who love their country, not TO pur-
sue that which is most pleasing IN the
visions ofiancy, but that which Is best IN
the particular conjunction oicircumstan-
ces in which nation IS placed. Ii IS
pnder deep conviction OF the impor-
lance OF this reflection To- the future well
fare OF our country, that we solicit your
attention 10 some observations on the
choice OF our next President. We con-
slider it in your power al this time 10 de-
eide this question, Tor we presume there
can be no doubt, tbattbe vote OF Virgil
MIA would secure the election of either
Mr.. Adams, or Gen. Jackson; aud thai
in all human probability, this is The OPP
ton which will ultimately be presented
TO us. From the present manifestations
OF puoic opinion throughout the Union,
it IS evident that ii Virginia persevere in
her resolution to support MIR. Crawford,
she will not only Carry the eectlonto the
House OF Representatives, but lose that
influence, which prompt decision be-
tween his two great rivals would give
her. Nor can we believe, when We re-
collect the long devotion OF our state to
constitutional principles, and her uniform
preference OF civil above military worth,
that she will hesitate in her elecuon on
this occasion. In order to explain the
grounds OF our own preference, and our
opinion OF the character OF the present
administration of the general government,
we would ask your attention to few re-
marks on the origin of the two parties
which have heretofore divided our coun-
try, and ofthe two which are now form
ing to divide j, in future.
Previous to our political experiment,
there had not been, III the annals of man
kind, any instance of a republican CON
stitutlon OF government which had been
able 10 maintaln Itself in its original pu-
fifty, after its extension over lar &c ter
ritory. The force of example is neces-
sarily strong in the minds oil experienced
and rejecting men; and hence the ablest
political spectators Of the last century
imagined that republican government
could not long prevail over popuious
or extensive country. The fate of the
Roman Commonwe in particular,
had created a belief, that whenever such
government extended itself beyond the
limits Of small state,. it naturally gravi-
tated to aristocracy and to monarchy.
When, therefore, our forcfathers had
successfully terminated the war OF indie
pendence, the wrecks ofthe republican
experiments Of former ages became bea-
cons Of alarm to them, and an excessive
Jealousy Of state rights Immediately char
ac,crized the most fervent admirers OF
free government. A very loose and dis
jointed confederation, in which the small
states voted equally with the large, Ga
confederation totally incompetent to the
ends OF self-preservation and self-im-
provement,) was consequently the form
Of government under which we lived,
untilits many imperfections led to the
adoption Of our present Federal Con-
} stitu,ion. Great were the apprehcnsions,
which many Of the more ardent friends