The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-08-31
From the Petersburg "a Republican.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.-MR. THO'S
RITCHIE'S "CIRCULARn

TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA-MR THO's
RlTCHIES "CIRCULAR."
Thank Heaven are not where some peopl
thought us, but here, at our post ready to catch h
ball at its first jump. Read this Circular" fellow
citizens, read every word OF il we shall common
upon it freely, but we hope with as much moderation
asso Out rageous proposition will allow.
"(ClRCULAR)
| "RIcnMoND, August "a, lS43.
'.Dear Sir AS member of the Republican part,
OF virginia. take the liberty of calling your atten
ton to Letter from "a Member of the (South Ca
rolina) Convention," repubshed in the last Tues
| days Enquirer. You will please also read my owl
remarks upon that Letter. After frankly consulting
with some Of your friends you will be so good as L
advise me on the following points,
L. Ought Virginia '',mcoo,promisingly TO insist
| upon voting in the National Convention, according
| to the mode which was recommended by las
State Convenon-that is that her District Delegates
instead of voting per capita should give the whole
| Electoral vote of the State masse.
2. Or, ought Virginia to submit the decision of tn,
question to ga nmjoriy Of the States"f each State
large or small New York or Delaware, for exam
pie is to have precisely the rote
3. Or ought we to submit it to the decision of the
National COnpsnton--and in what form would il be
desirable TO decide it by the action of that bO0y
"A. o. should we consent to decide it, by what
shall appear to be the wish Of the majority Of the Re
publican party in the United States, collecting that
wish either from the cton Of the Democratic party
IN the several States from the declared wishes OF
that party in other ways, taking care to distinguish
between the voice OF "a majority Of the States, y
and the sense OF ga majority Of the Republican par
typ throughout the Union
s. Or, is there any other way, by which you would
recommend the decision of the manner Of voting in
the National Republican Convention to be made'
g. Would it be proper for the Central Committee,
appointed by the last State Convention, to declare
the sense of the party in Virginia or what other
mode would yop recommend for that purpose?
ask the favor of you, sir, to express your views
as frankly and as early possible, that our sister
States may understand the wishes of Virginia at the
earliest moment.
Yours respectfully,
THOMAS RICHIE.
I5FWe address the above Circular to every Re-
publican in the State, who will give much time
and attention to the affairs Of the Repubc-he use
to be made of their replies to be subject to mu
tual discretion.
~ We wish TO hear, if possible, from every Sec
ton and county in the State. And we hope these
answers will be very numerous, may ask the letters
to be post paid They will fall lightly upon each
correspondent, but rather heavily upon person."
Felow-ctizens, after having read this Circular, is
for US to point out to you, in what consists had
almost said its atrocy! DO you not see that il is
direct proposition from Mr.. Thomas Ritciie, to take
from the People of Virginia, their power Of express
ing Virgnia's wishes and to place it in the hands of
the letter-wrters of the Enqurer!! Mr. Thomas
Richie to be the sefconstuted organ those persons
who choose TO write letters to Mr.. Thomas Ritche
10 be the sei-constituted opponents Of the public
will and they, at their discretion, without reference
70 the people, without responsibility, without even
Unless they wish, making their individual selves
Known to the people, are to express to our sister
States the "wishes Of Virginia''!! Have we mis-
stated Have we in any degree exaggerated Mr.
Thomas Ritchies scheme for gu understanding the
wishes of Virginia"a Look back to the "Circularn
fellow-ctzens, and sec if it will bear any other in
depreciation remember IT, get it BY heart if you
WILL and you will not forget into whose hands,
Mr.. Thomas Richie has sought to transfer your
rights 10 what he looks for the expression Of
your wishes. But let US examine a little farther ;
MIR. Thomas Richie proposes that these letters shall
be addressed to him. to HIM alone they will thus be
under his sole control and according to his propo-
son, " the use to be made of them, subject to the
mutual discretion" Of himself and the writer. In
what consists this mutual discretion between CORES
pondcnt and editor; II consists on the part Of the
correspondent IN right TO refuse that his letter sha
be published; or, that being published his name
shall be withheld on the part OF the Editor, in
right to reject, not TO publish his correspondents let
ter at ALL or to publish only such extracts he may
tliink proper, and to give, withhold at his (the
editors) will, the writer's name, unless otherwise
directed by the writer. As far our know ledge ex-
tends, this is the meaning Of mutual discretion be-
tween correspondents. Let us see then to what Mr..
Thomas Ritchios proposition would lead us-he, the
volunteer orgau receives from the volunteer letter
writers, their communcations-thesc communca-
tons known to hun only, controlled by him alone
with the discretion to withhold such as he chooses
from the public eye, and to publish, unless otherwise
directed by the writer, such may suit his purposes
MIR. Thomas Richie, them People of Virginia, not
only asks you to make his volunteer correspondents
the opponents Of your will, but moreover promises
that by his controlling power over them he, Mr..
Thomas Richie, shall concentrate in his own person
the right to speak the voice Of Virginia.!
Fellow-citizens, will you give him tins authority
An indignant NO is responded by every freeboru
heart an indignant NO bursts from the lips of every
Virginia Democrat.
We have witnessed, in our POLITICAL experience.
the tricks and maneuvres Of political managers but
they have always had the decency at least to endea
ror TO conceal them. We have seen attempts made
by political aspirants TO take TO themselves the right
Of speaking for the people OF Virginia, but it has al
ways been done under some spccious disguise We
have seen public assemblies whose votes were given
in a manner contrary to justice and against cstab-
lisbed usage, but it done under cloak of fair
ness. We have seen individuals in such assemblies
by such means, clothed with AN undue weight and
but it yelled under the excuse of ne
cessty We have seen all this, and more among DO.
ti ians of all creeds, of all parties but to Mr. Tho
mas Rltches circular is reserved the distinction Of
being the first openly TO ask the people Of Virginiat TO
yield their rights TO the will of unknown and irrcs-
ponsibe individuals, and TO ace these their preten-
led exponents, under the control of the person from
whom comes the proposition.
We have read and re-read Mr.. Thomas Ritchies
circular, and read il, hoped that we mig find
which TO found belief that we had ,
it. We have searched in vain it .
stands in all its glazing deiormity before us, naked
lidcous, yet unblushing. Let Mr. Thomas Richie |
withdraw it, apologize for it, and from us he shall '
never hear of it again; we would gladly see IN in !
he proper track we would be happy to find that the
Influences which hang heavy his soul were re-
moved we should rejoice to see him once more the |
Virginia, not the New York politician. II Mr. |
Thomas Richie wishes to know the will of Virginia; |
he wishes her to answer those questions which he !
,as propoupded, did thought Of an expression from
he whole body of her people cross his mind Has
not ever been our cherished privilege to assemble |
n our primary meetings, at our county court-houcs
md elsewhere; 10 discuss subjects connected with |
our general welfare, and there open day. with the
un above us, and in the face of man and God, TO |
express the will of tie people. II is thus, and thus
thatt he of fhc ~, L., 4