The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-06-25

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y;,h The. maternal care and so'icituoe
ftbe stale governments this watering
ever all our interests, administering !"
III our wants, is subve'sive OF 'ne S'.''
ends which were designed By the Pa"l"-
| tic founders Of our ins,ituuons-'na' suo1
! scheme is,in fact dangerousto our peace
Ito or happiness--to our hoerues'--
The friends of plain and tragai"goVern'
mest which shall be "neiiher feit nor
seen," (yet not so plain and so irnga' az
10 strip US of one atom of the necessary
defence of the nation) reason from the
history os nations which have gone before
us. Convinced Of the tendency OF human
establishments to re,aiu all the power
which they have acquired, and to acquire
all that they can, they perceive the ne
cessity of rigidly adhering to the lane
marks of the constitution, and OF limiting
! the federal government TO the obvious
and enumerated duties which have been
conGded TO ils'jurisdic,ion.
Virginia has enlisted under the banner
of this republican party. She has fought
manfully in defence of the bat.lements of
he constitution and is not disposed 10
weld or TO vary the positions which she
has supported. She will select the can
didate Cor the chief mag s,rate of the ma
)stion who will come the nearest TO her
views; who viii administer the govern
ment according To the best principles of
republic, end most completely posses
ses the other high qualifications which
are demanded by so high an Office.
| 10 The election OF our chief magistrate.
we should discard as far as possible nero
! personal considerations, or mere private
| predileciions. We should disburthca
our minds, as far as may be, from all sell
6sh or. interested motives The question
before you is not how 10 compose an adj
| mInistrat:on, by the union Of many aspi-
rants after Office, for the tempting pur-
pose of aggrandizing themselves their
friends and retainers. But,in the selection
of the first magistrate, the only object
ought TO be TO promote the happiness Of
the people. We shonld act with sim
gle eye to the public welfare. We should
be guided only by the qualifications OF the
individual whom we shall select TO pre-.
side over the nation. We should fix our
eyes on the man, who is distinguished by
his virtues in private life and by those
strong Qualities which are calculated to
do honor 10 public station. He should
have that experience, and knowledge of
mankind, which will enable him to dis
crihinate, in the distribution of his off.
ciai patronage, between the real patriot,
and the mere time.server and office-huDS
ter He should, himself, be incapable of
being dazzled by vain glory or seduced
by political deusions. He should be. duly
Impressed with the conviction, that to at
tain the happiness Of The people, it is nee
Sessary for their representatives, end for
all their public Tuhctioparies 20 practise
economy, moderation and justice TO
preserve the peace, and husband The re-
sources OF our country; to keep clear OF
entangling alliances, to forbear involving
us in the vortex of foreign politics and
to permit the industry of our citizens, uu-
shackled in every department and walk OF
lie, to reap the fruits of its own free ex-
ertion. In fine, he should be a man whose
native talents have been improved BY a
long course Of political experience, whose
| strong common sense will enable him TO
catch the characters Of the men with
| whom he associates--who has frmness
enough to turn his back upon bad men
| and upon bad measures--a frankpess
which will utter what it thinks--a lem
per which will enable himto deliberate
deeply upon all his measures-an inteeri-
| ty which nothing can corrupt-a frmness
which nothing can shake.
This is brief outline of the character
which in our opinion, should belong TO
the chief magistrate ofthese states. We
do not hesitate to hold up to your sup
port the man, wb1m we think. whom
your representatives thought, most emf.
nently possessed OF these valuable Quail.
! LEGATIONS. We present YOU, in a word,
| WILLIAM IL, CRAWFORD. Notwitbstand-
! ing the efforts which are making to iniure
him in the opinion of his fellow citizens,
we do not hesitate to express our fullest
confidence in his integrity, bis talents and
his patriotism. Persecution has assailed
him in every variety Of mode. The un.
firing malignity Of bis enemies has arr
raigned him at the bar of the public,
| and before the great council of the nation.
Though he has kept aloof from all the
intrigues and struggles of the elections
though he has trusted his triumphant
| defence to the energy of his friends and
the purity of his own character, vet we
have seen him, in one instance, officially
called upon for his vindication,and passing
through the fiery furnace like the purest
I A