Class 
 
 _,E3!ia 
 
 Book _^ 
 
EXPOSITION 
 
 it 
 
 OP 
 
 M T I V E S i 
 
 FOR 
 
 I, 
 
 OPPOSING THE NOMINATION 
 
 OP 
 
 M^ IVIQNROE 
 
 FOPv i HE OFFICE OF 
 
 FllESIDENT OF THl^ UNITED BTATE.S. 
 
 T^' i-iit=:s=:=r=rs.-3c:*:- 
 
 PRINTED IN TII5^ CITY OF WASHINGTON 
 
 1816. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
e:?^ 
 
EXPOSITION 
 
 OF 
 
 MOTIVES FOR OPPOSING the NOMINATION 
 OF MR. MONROE 
 
 FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE. 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 Circumstances have arisen whicli make it proper to 
 e^ijplain to the nation, and to the republican party iu par- 
 ticular, some of the leading motives which induced the 
 representatives of the people, in the late caucus at 
 Washington, to opi)ose the nomination of Mr. Monroa 
 for the office of president of the United States. The ex- 
 position will be brief; it is hoped it Avill be clear: and 
 to every impartial mind it mast be satisfactory. 
 
 The o])jection to Col. Monroe as a candidate for the 
 presidency was twofold: First, As it regarded the 
 folicy which presented him for adoption to that high 
 station : econdly. As it respected his particular quali 
 fictvtions for the chief magistracy. 
 
 Oil the first point, the following considerations, 
 founded upon facts uni. ersally known, seemed irresis 
 tibly to prescribe his exclusion. The present constitu- 
 tion has been in operation about twenty-seven years, dur» 
 inin; the whole of which term (excepting four years) the 
 pre si dent has been from the state of Virginia. This 
 moiiopoly of the first post in the government, so far from 
 beiug considered by the Virginians as an encroachment 
 on the tair claims of the other sections of the Union, has, 
 by dexterous sophistry, been converted, into an argu- 
 ment to prove^ that those who question the propriety of 
 contiiKung power for so long a time in the same hands^ 
 are only guided by ambition, or impelled by faqtlous m«-i 
 
tivcs; as if the leuaeity wiHi wliich a lew men, in that 
 state, clini^ to the presidentinl successum. were n(ft in 
 itseir an admonitory indication in tliem of the most ar- 
 dent and niKjnenrliable thirst for power. But this fea- 
 ture of local policy, odious as it is, would not have 
 awakened a spirit of indignant resistance, liad it not been 
 apparent that, in order to ensure its success, the whole 
 weight of the republican party, for fifteen years past, 
 had been artfully wielded to cut off from popular re- 
 spect and estimation, the most distinguished characters 
 in other parts of the United States. To support this 
 assertion, it is ^oidy necessary to recur to a few facts 
 witliin the rec(dlection and observation of every politi- 
 cian who has been on the public stage. 
 
 First, \Mth tbc view of securing the presidency t ' a 
 Virginian, a vice president for Mr. Jefferson'^ second t( [m 
 of office was selected from New York, of an age too ad- 
 vanced to render it probable that he would be chosen to 
 the chief magistracy; but by rendering him the most pro- 
 minent character, it formed an insuperable barrier to the 
 pretensions of other distinguished men in that state. 
 The claims of tlie elder Clinton were accordingly super- 
 seded by those of Mr. Madison. Care was taken that 
 this circumstance should not be overlooked at the critical 
 moment, and Mr. Jeifergon» aljout to retire from ofSce, in 
 answer to an address from the legislature of Maryland^ 
 alliuled to it in terms too glaring to l)e mistaken. The 
 same policy was again adopted^ in the selection of Mr, 
 Gerrv from Massachusetts, 
 
 Tlic vice president of the United States should be 
 possessed of every (jualiflcation to discharge the import- 
 ant duties which would devolve on him, in the event of 
 the death of the president; and when it is taken nito con- 
 sideration, that merely to secure the Virginia succession^ 
 the best interests of the country are jeopardized, by call- 
 ing meji to that office who are superannuated, and past the 
 discharges of important fiuK lions, it cannot ])ut be viewed 
 by the people with disgust, if not witii iiidignation. 
 
 Secondly, About the same period tlie state of New 
 York brought General Armstrong into public notice. He 
 
5 
 
 J&ad been a senator in congress from that commonvvealtb. 
 
 His genius wn f'eareil. Hi' wis taken off by a foreign 
 embassy. His diplomatic career in h ranee was marked 
 by spirit and ability; and at his return he became popu- 
 lar in the United States. He accepted a seat in thtt 
 cabinet, at a time of great difficulty and responsibility. 
 Hespecting his administration of the department of war, 
 there have been various opinions. He alledges that he 
 experienced perpetual embarrassment in the concerns of 
 his department, by the unusual interference of ^* a great 
 civil officer of state/' viz. Col. Monroe. The capture of 
 the metropolis was adroitly seized upon as a pretext for 
 denouncing him The particular and personal friends 
 of Col. Monroe, uniting with the federalists, insulted 
 him in the streets of Washington, and Mr. Madison dis-, 
 carding him from office, gave the fatal blow to his repu- 
 tation. Whatever might have been the conduct of Ciren.. 
 Armstrong, it is evident that i\\Q president, when lie took 
 the jieldy. as commander in chief, was at least '^^•qually 
 responsible for the safety of the capital. Col. Monroe 
 also took the field, and formed a part of the troops at 
 Bladensburgh. 
 
 A.fter having thus volunteered his services, in a mili- 
 ary capacity, it remains for him to accosmt to the naticm, 
 why he Avas not among the troops, rallying and enc )ur- 
 aging them, instead of precipitating himself to the rear, 
 and being among the foremost in that disastrous, dis- 
 graceful retreat. Why did he not take measures for the 
 secarity of the public buildings, which could h'lve been 
 defended by four hundred men properly posted in theui? 
 But General Armstrong was made the scapegoat of die 
 transaction. 
 
 Thirdly, The severity of Virginia policy has no 
 tenderness even f;:r citizens of her own state, shraid 
 they be sufficiently disinterested and independent to op- 
 p((se this monopolizing spirit. Mr. Giles was a repub- 
 lican of the first grade of talents, and no one has rendered 
 more services to the nat'on in the legislative body. He 
 was known to be opposed to the elevation of C >1. ^Jon- 
 roc to the preside ticy^ from a diminutive oplnio?i ef ki* 
 
6 
 
 al)ilitics. He was gradually disclaimed, and finally 
 compelled to retire. 
 
 Fourtidy, Tlie man in Massachusetts who appeared 
 most likely to disturb the Virginia succession was John 
 Quincy Adams. He was removed hy an embassy td 
 Russia. Mr. Madison proffered him a judgeship, 
 which he had the sagacity to refuse. By behig constant- 
 ly abroad, he will be kept from the view of the people, 
 and his claims, which are every way superior to Mr. 
 Monroe's, will, in this way, be prevented from interfer- 
 ing witli the regular succession. 
 
 Fifthly, A prominent trait in tlie policy of Virginia, 
 in regard to the presidency, and one which has made a 
 deep impression, is the open countenance shown to the 
 particular personal friends of Aaron Burr, on account of 
 iheir long continued and persevering hostility to Mr. 
 Clinton. The patronage vshowered upon the persons 
 Xnost in the confidence of tliat man, is indeed extraordi- 
 n\Hry : because not one of them had been conspicuous for 
 serviCfiS rendered to tlie nation, or sacrifices to promote 
 the welfare of the republican party. Some idea may b« 
 foriced of the governmental profusion, in this particular, 
 from the following appointments, which have all taken 
 Dlace, within the coi;?oass oi Mr, Madison's administra- 
 tion: VIZ. 
 
 William P. Van Ness, the second to Burr in his 
 duel with General Hamilton, district judge of New 
 York. 
 
 His brothers, John P. Van Ness, superintendent oi 
 the public buildings at the City ol' Washington, with a 
 salary ef i ,(U)0 dollars, and contracts. 
 
 And Cornelius P. Van Ness, in the first instance, 
 XJ. S. district attorney at Vermont ; then collector of the 
 cuslcuns for tiie same dictrict ; and, lately, appointed 9, 
 coiumissioner for running the boundary line, with a sala- 
 ry- of 5.()()() dollars per annum. 
 
 Jonathan Fisk, U. S. attorney for the district ef 
 New York. 
 
Besides several others, wTiom it is not necessary to 
 tiesignate. These all belong to that class of politicians, 
 called Burrites, known to be the most welcome guests at 
 the President's House, and in all the public offices of 
 the government. The object of this patronage is per- 
 fectly well understood. They form a small but active 
 band of politicians in New York, and have always had 
 a press at their command, whose attacks have been di- 
 rected against De Witt Clinton, as the man most likely, 
 from his talents and high standing with the republican 
 party, to interfere with the " regular succession." This 
 band is in constant correspondence, through its associates 
 at Washington, with the administration; and all its pro- 
 ceedings at New York have been subservient to the Vir- 
 ginia policy. It was in this way tliat Mr. Clinton was 
 for a long time cut off from the conii^lence of the republi- 
 can party. He, however, has now regained his stand- 
 ing with the republicans of New York. 
 
 It is true that Mr. Clinton, in compliance with the 
 solicitations of the N. York legislature, committed an 
 error in permitting his name to be set up against Mr. 
 Madison, at an unfortunate period ; tlie same, however, 
 is equally true as it regards Col. Monroe; with this dif- 
 ference, thai the latter was discountenanced by the Vir- 
 ginia legislature, and still persevered in his opposition 
 to Mr. Madison. The one was pardoned, and taken 
 into favor, and the otlier has laboured under the weight 
 of court proscription and denunciation. xlnd yet it is 
 acknowledged, by the most intelligent of Col. Monroe's 
 friends, that as to all the endowments which should be- 
 long to the chief magistrate of this country, strength of 
 mind, knowledge of cliaracter, decision, literary, legal, 
 and philosophical attainments, and enlarged views of na- 
 tional policy, there is no comparison between him and 
 Mr, Clinton. 
 
 This peiseverance and bitterness of prescription 
 was less pardonable, as Mv. VAinivn was the most 
 active and efficient character in re\olutioni'zing New 
 York to repu]}lican principles ; and from the year ll79^^ 
 
 f 
 
 when this revolution fv^hich sernred the f^fction of Mr. 
 
 / 
 
Jeffersoii)*was'"lirst eff'ectetl. until 1812, the era of his de» 
 nimci .lion. \vas the pride, the stay, and support, the life 
 and soul of the republican party, in th.at important state. 
 That gentleman is. in all his principles of government^ 
 strictly and sternly a republican : as the elder Clinton 
 was wont to say of him, he was born a republicari. His 
 great error was interfering with the regular succession^ 
 at an unfortunate period : even the Burrites cannot 
 accuse him of opposing the war. But it never will be a 
 reason wliy Virginia persecution should slacken, that 
 the object of it is, in all respects, a suitable character for 
 chief magistrate of the country ; on the contrai'y, the fur- 
 nace will glow v/ith a heat more intense : the aiTow will 
 be dipped in a more fatal venom 
 
 Sixtlily, Every distinguished republican in other 
 states, who might justly aspire to the presidential office, 
 having, in Ihls maimer, been thrown in the back ground, 
 nothing remained but to popularize Coi, Monroe: and 
 that was eflfected, as if it were, by enchantment. His for- 
 mer hostility to Mr. Madison was forgiven : a concilia- 
 tory dinner was provifled in the neighbourhood of Mr. 
 Jefferson's residence, at whicli were present Mr. Jeffer- 
 son, Mr. Madison, and Col.Monioe; and there the 
 plan was laid. Col. M.> as a preliminary step, was- 
 elected governoj- of Virginia, was hurried thence into 
 the office of secretary of state : and from that mo- 
 ment every measure in peace and in war, i>n the part of 
 the executive, has pointed towards his elevation to the 
 chief magistracy. The press w^hicli, alas ! is venal, was 
 put at his disposal, by the patronage bestowed in print- 
 ing the U. S. laws. The newspapers under his control 
 have been constantly teeming witli the grossest panegy- 
 lies ; and the people, who knoAV not the man, take their 
 impressions only from the public prints. Even the Na- 
 tional Intelligencer, which is well known to be a sub- 
 servient organ of the executive, has been filled with 
 adulation, ai \vh5rh a mind of the least delicacy must 
 sirken with disgust. Tiie hired applauders at the 
 theatre afford not an instance of n^ore disgusting venality. 
 
 It is thus tliat, in the name of repiMicanism, a few 
 
9 
 
 leading men in Virginia, have outrageously violated re-' 
 publican principles. They have, with extraordinary 
 art, made use of the zeal, the honest prejudices, and de- 
 votion of the republican party to further the purposes of a 
 selfish ambition, and accomplisli the degradation of every 
 other state in the Union. Having thus, by various arti- 
 fices, cut off from the good will of the people the emi- 
 nent characters of other states, they tauntingly exclaim, 
 Who is so 'popular as our candidate ! This is worse 
 tlian scorn ; it is cruel mockery! 
 
 Seventlily, It is not necessciry to dwell upon the cir- 
 cumstance of Mr. JeiFerson's having, in the ilood tide of 
 republicanism, enforced an alteration in the constitution. 
 It was unfortunate that the republicans were precipitated 
 into that measure. They now find the evil of it. In- 
 stead of the question's being left at large between two of 
 our best citizens, by the mode of designation now in 
 practice an individual is enabled to intrigue directly for 
 the office, 
 
 . Eiglithly, To these various causes of legitimate oppo- 
 sition to the Virginian policy ^ there is a point to be add- 
 ed, that, in some sort, touches the honor of the republi- 
 can party. In the gloomy times of the late contest, whea 
 the city of Washington had been burnt, and the war 
 wore a menacing aspect on different points of the fron- 
 tier; when 'V)r. Dallas had officially proclaimed the na- 
 tion a bankrupt, and Virginia fouud herself unable t* 
 sustain the incumbent weight of domestic odium, and fo- 
 reign hostility. Col. Monroe commissioned two of his 
 friends to declare to the republicans of congress, that \\% 
 abdicated his pretensions to the presidency, and would 
 lend his influence in the support of a « andidate from 
 some other state. But no sooner did the horizon begin 
 to clear up, and victory at New Orleans 2;ive an earnest 
 of the speedy return of peace, than he recalled his al)di- 
 cation; and the same friends, honorably indignant, as it 
 is understood, at this proceeding, were instructed to c^- 
 plaiii, and state that t'ol.Moiu'oe's intentions did not cor- 
 respond witli his words, /» Fer the trutii of tliis state- 
 ment, the curious enquirer may appeal to Gen. J. (r. 
 Jackson, or to Gen. Desfepr. 
 
10 
 
 Ninthly .But it is not the no th and east alone,over whick 
 Ac policy of Virginia has predominated. Tlie minor uifices 
 lba\ e indeed been bestowed in that quarter, whilst Penu- 
 fiVlvania iias been studiously neglected, and only escap- 
 ed the abasement intended her, by the ener-^y of the lata 
 John Smilie. The third census placed New York, in 
 point of population, at the head of the Union. It was 
 with grief Virginia saw herself removed, by natural 
 causes, from that high eminence, and she resolved at least 
 to lill the second niche. Accordingly the late John Daw- 
 son, a relative of Col. Monroe, and intimately in th© 
 confidence of the administration, before the bearing of 
 tlie census was fairly understood, proposed in congress 
 37,000 as the ratio for each representative. This would 
 have tlirown Pennsylvania, by one member of' congress, 
 behind Virginia. Mr. Smilie penetrated the design, and 
 »nited the Pennsylvania delegation in favor of a ratio of 
 35,000, whicli prevaikd. This raised that state to an 
 «qual rank with Virginia. The files of the Intelligencer 
 will amply verify these particulars 11; is remarkable 
 too, that the ^;o//c// of Virginia has led her to shower the 
 patronage and offices of government oiiTefractorij states. 
 Her most faithful friends she most neglects. Secure in the 
 obedience of the south, they experience but little of the 
 blushing honors and rich patronage of office, l^he great 
 and important state of North Carolina is an example of 
 most marked and persevering neglect. Not an import- 
 ant officer of administration, a foreign minister,* or any 
 other officer of importance, has been selected from that 
 state since the adoption of the constitution. The reason 
 isol)vious. She can l)e of// p?'2mp governed ; and why 
 waste honors and emoluments on a state, sufficiently ac- 
 quiescent in the views of the sucstHsioiuwlmn disconten- 
 ted and restless states call, with a turbulent voice, ^'/or 
 §ffice and patronage.^' 
 
 So many eflbrls, all tendii]!?; to the same result, can- 
 not have been the eil'ect of accident. They incontesti- 
 bly establish, on the part of a few leading men in Vir- 
 ginia, a systematic design of perpetually governing the 
 
 * Hfii. Davie was, indeed, on ;i sp.ecial mission, for a short time. 
 
11 
 
 country, not upon the sound anil general 'principles of 
 irepublicanism, but by taking advantage of the generons 
 bias, and unsuspecting passions, of the republican party, 
 by official management, the venality of the press, and 
 governmental patronage. 
 
 On the second point of the objection, namely, the 
 particular qualifications of Col. Monroe for the presi- 
 dency, the considerations against him were not less co- 
 gent and weighty. His best friends allow him to be but 
 of moderate capacity, and slow of comprehension. 
 This, it is notorious, gives to those around him an un- 
 due influence over his intellectual determinations, and 
 leads him, in a throng of business, to commit the most 
 important affairs of state to incompetent hands. Ur- 
 banity is not denied him; but that, by rendering him 
 more accessible, lays him still more open to the arti- 
 fices of imposture." A man of this cast will always 
 keep talent ifit a distance, and surround himself by cotii- 
 pliant mediocrity, and hypocritical dulluess. 
 
 This slowness of comprehension, and want of 
 penetration and decision in Col. Monroe, have been coh- 
 spicuous throughout iiis political life. In France, he 
 inistook his instructions and committed great blunders, 
 or wilful errors; and was recalled by Gen. Wasliing-ton. 
 In England, also, lie misconstrued his instructions, or 
 rather perversely acted contrary to them, and signed a 
 treaty with such mortifying conditions annexed, that Mr. 
 Jefferson indignantly sent it back, without consulting the 
 senate. He was recalled in disgrace. TIius disclaimed 
 in his diplomatic career, on all sides, by federal and 
 irepublican administrations, candor must allow that he 
 has no title to rank with the first characters in America. 
 But thus ordinarily gifted, Cot. Monroe has furnished 
 unequivocal evidence that his lust for power is insati- 
 able. 
 
 Retuniing from England at a time when he knew he 
 was not the choice of the republican party for the presi- 
 dency, lie coalesced with the federalists of Virginia, in 
 opposition to Mr. Madison. Why should that s;en!;le- 
 Xnan escape censure on this score ? I'hc executive man- 
 
IS 
 
 tie is too tliin to conceal the deformity. To promote hiil 
 
 ambitious v lews he i'oiced iu'.o public notice iiis pr^vatp 
 correspondence with ^Ir. J etlerson, and never ceased his 
 hostility to Mr. Vladison, until he was assured of being 
 brought into the department of state. If the executivie 
 has the power to nominate as his successor a man who, 
 notoriously incompetent, has committed the i^reatest poli- 
 tical errors, and outrasjed the will of the vepiihlica» 
 party it is evident thai election io a farce, and the voice 
 ' of the people, an unmeaning sound ! 
 
 Besides these weighty objections to Col. Mouroe, on 
 these main points, there are otijers of a yery serious 
 nature. Power lias continued so long in the same hands 
 that, in many instances, the "ncumbents of office appear 
 to be losing sight oi'tiie fundamental principles of repub- 
 lican government. A system of o^cial management, 
 and speculation on the disbursements of office, appears 
 to be gaining ground, that threatens to subvert the plaia 
 and wiioles;),ne provisions of the constitution. Ideas 
 of economy are no longer in fashion at Washington ; 
 banking and funding systems, which give rise to iniqui- 
 tous stockjobbing, the art of governing by presidential 
 patronage, and entangling intercommunications with 
 Europe, are alone in vogue. Huch a state of things 
 seem loudly to demand a change in the executive office ; 
 and this change never can be effected, so long as th« 
 office is transmitted f"om one hand to another in regular 
 succession. Large balances of unsettled accounts re- 
 main unadjusted on the books of the treasury: Col. 
 Monroe himself, it is understood, is still a delinquent 
 on tliese books, to a \ery considerable amount. One 
 fact, in this respect, will speak more than a volume. 
 The late consul of the U. S. at Algiers returning home> 
 and still having an unsettled account of some thousands 
 of dollars, was nevertheless appointed accountant of the 
 war depivtmeui. The debt wliicli he owes to the nation, 
 is a guarantee of his obedience to the government in the 
 settlement of any account, in any mode that may induce 
 an accession of inlluence to a favorite candidate. 
 
 The«c are florae of the reasons whicli induced fifty- 
 
13 
 
 lour republican representatives of the people to oppose 
 the nomination of ^'oi. Monroe in caucus. They sup- 
 ported Mr. Crawford because they knew him to be in- 
 dependent, virtuous and able. Had it not been for tha 
 discouragina; delicacy of that respectable gentleman, and 
 his more immediate frieruls, he would, beyond all cjues- 
 tion, have lioen nominated for the presidency. It is with 
 regret that we announce (5ur belief that this gentleman 
 will not consent to he looked to as the candidate of what 
 we conceive to be a majority of the republicans. 
 
 This candid exposition of motives is coniidently snh- 
 jBiitted to the people. Supreme arbiters, i' (hey cl^.ose, 
 it is for them to decide whether tlie conduct of those 
 opposed to Col. Monroe has been instigated by unw.jr- 
 thy motives, or guided by sound, honorable, and consti- 
 tutional principles : it is for them to detejmine whetJiei* 
 they will elect, as their chief magistrate, a person re- 
 •ommended to them only by the casting vote of the, 
 Virginia delegation, after having in that state enjoy- 
 ed that high office twenty-four out of twenty-eight years, 
 against whom tifty-four republican delegates, represent- 
 ing two millions of people, after deliberate investigation 
 and personal observation on the spot, had such great 
 and insurmountable objections. A man recommended 
 by the casting votes of eleven Virginians, who refused 
 to go into caucus until made certain of success, and then 
 only with the exjn-ess declaration that tliey would SUP- 
 PORT THEIR FAVORITE CANLHDATE IN 
 OPPOSITION, IF '^ MERE SHOULD EE A 
 MAJORITY AGAINST HIM. A man to whose 
 nomination were opposed, not only several representa- 
 tives of high respectability, who, from principle, did not 
 go into caucus, but the elevated and high-minded 
 MACON, whose virtue and talents are ;ai ornament to 
 his country, and who with [)ropriety is ranked through- 
 en t the nation as one of the fathers of the republican 
 party. It rests with the people to decide, whether a sys- 
 tem of executive favoritism and p.itronar^e, subversive of 
 the fundamental and wholesome princi] les of rrp Mi- 
 Can liberty? shall be prolonged; or whether by inOucting 
 
14 
 
 a ucw man to office, not trammelled and shackled by the 
 retainers of the court, abuses shall be reformed, prodi^ 
 gality abolished, the constitution brought back to its 
 oi'iginal principles of purity, disaifection quieted, anrf 
 Die existence of tlie great republican party perpetuated.