Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-11-23

'uf .ioose ~. representatives, they will
merit the indignation OF the nation and be-
come worthy Of the censure OF every free
man, because by such unnecessary and I'm.
wsrrantsble desertion of duty, they inaict
tperhaps) an incurable injury ON the CON
slitution ct their country, now the only
asylum of human liberty /; and for who
will this ruinous and everlasting sacri6ce
OF duty be made, only for men, who have
their equals By thousands, and their gu,
periors by hundreds. Was the capitol the
centre Of q circle Of fifty miles circumfer-
ence, within il would be found many citi.
gems in every respect qualified to ~oficiate
IN all The superior departments OF govern
ment as any OF the present occupants. end
also as capable to administer the presiden-
,ial duties. Where is the necessity for
the tribunes OF the people TO refer TO con-
gress the election of the President :?
The ireemen OF the nation expect every
elector will do bis duty 10 the republic
regardless Of any station. whether north,
east, south or west-or of any man of a
section-or of the mandates of any state.
So long as they shall be thus Independent
and m~agnanimnus, this republic will De
The home of liberty, the asylum of the viz
tuous, and the happy residence OF the free
and brave. By authentic history, we are
informed, when the Roman republic was
IN difficulty, by the contentious rivalsblp
of many aspirant citizens of equal merit,
and who were not so dangerous, TO be
hurled from the Tarpean Rock, such CEN
t~entions were paci6ed by calling into SER
vice a citizen OF undisputed pre-eminence;
and often invited him from the plough -
BY the natural course of events, this coun
try begins TO experience the difficulty of
the pretensions OF citizens, not TO be dis
eliminated 10 consequence OF the near e.
quality of merit; and as none of them are
so perfectly just as TO endanger the liberty
of the republic, Punishment is not neces-
sary-tbe Athenian mode ofbeing relieved
from citizens who were thought TO be too
sspirsnt for public elevation. Ii the cleo
tors-ihe sacred tribunes of the people
because ofequality of merit, cannot by a
majority Of votes elect either OF The citi-
gems who seek the seat and rank of pre-
eminepce in this great commonwealth, they
should not hesitate to select some citizen
whose %undisputed superior transcendency
would silence The p%retensions of equals,
and whose election would be hailed by
general exclamation, expressive of a ma
TONS satisfaction. The electors-the tri.
Dunes Of the good people of this republi
can country, and 10 whose ELECTORAL au-
thority there is no veto-are bound to adj
nit Of no division OF their votes, as TO pre-
vent some one of the presidential candis
dates being chosen by a majority Of their
own votes. If this is not practicable, be-
cause of the equality of the citizens who
have been announced to be worthy of the
elevation; the electors will, 10 such a cri.
sis, gloriously discharge their sacred duty,
by calling from bis happy retirement
James Madison.-His health is good, his
heart virtuous, and bis mind vigorous. He
has been in domestic life eight years-an
absence from public occupa ton agreeing
with republican sentiment OF rotation from
private 10 public life.
Fond as be is Of his placid domestic COM
forts, and bis rural amusements, he is too
grateful to his country not to yield obedi-
ence to her call, and separate himself from
his home, endeared to him by its delights
and comforts. and again encounter the ar
duous and vexstious duties OF one presI-
dental term. The electors, by voting tor
the venerable and faithful Madison, will
not only keep out OF congress the bitter
apple of discord. but will inculcste an
instruction. and s%alutary warning, that the
chief magistracy of this distinguished re-
publican nation can never be won by soil
citations or obtained by intrigue: By a
discharge Of their duty So independent and
patriotic, the republic will be saved from
shame, confusion and degradation. and
they will have with the consolation OF their
w co~nsciences, the piaudits OF a great
people. DEClOo