Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

RICHMOND, September 24.

To the Freeholders of the Counties of Gloucester,
Mathews, King and Queen, Essex, King William,
and Middlesex.

GENTLEMEN,

The time approaches when you must depute an
Elector to choose a President and Vice-President of
the United States. I offer myself to you for that
honour. My principles of politics have been in
favour of the wise plan of neutrality, adopted, and
pursued by our government. I am therefore attached
to those men in high official situations, who have
kept our country, during a most trying and perilous
crisis, in a state of peace; thereby advancing
its prosperity to the highest pitch, of which it is
at present susceptible; who have made the constitution
the rule of their actions, and have invigorated
it with such respectability, as to acquire to it the
confidence of the European world. Among the
worthies who have given to our government such
an exaltation of character in the eye of nations,
must be reckoned foremost in the list, "the President
of the United States." He would most assuredly
have my support were it to have an opportunity
of exercising an elective voice, unless he
were to notify his intention of retiring from the government.
In that event, it would be my part,
most diligently, to search out for his successor, a
character the most resembling his in political principles,
in sound judgment, in unexampled prudence.
and in unshaken firmness.

Not altogether ignorant of the public opinions
and sentiments on public affairs, of most men of
such consideration in the states as would aspire to
the Presidential chair; I persuade myself, gentlemen,
were you on this occasion to give me your
confidence as an Elector, I would not err in my
choice, nor give my voice for a man who would incur
your reprobation, as holding principles incompatible
with the interests of the United States.

With every consideration of esteem and respect,
I remain, gentlemen,
Your fellow-citizen, and
Most obedient humble servant,
RALPH WORMELEY.

Rosegill, September 6, 1796.