Virginia Argus

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Halifax County, to his friend in this city.

"The late election has been more warm and animated than any that has occurred in the county since my knowledge of it. Three lawyers—five parsons—one doctor—the whole tribe of federalists—monarchists—and British adherents—(a curious coalition)—appeared on the field of action early in the day: They were armed with all sorts of weapons offensive and defensive, some of them of the chevaux de frise kind, pointing every way—But that which on account of its novelty and peculiar mode of use seemed most relied upon, was the correspondence between Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Monroe of last winter, furbished up and distributed by the latter gentleman, through the medium of the public post offices, under cover of newspapers, to his troops, on the eve of the day preceding that of action. They made a most furious onset upon the republican phalanx, & persevered in it with great obstinacy for a long time. Our columns sustained it with like resolution; they not only maintained their ground, but advanced upon their enemy; who then laid ambuscades, sprung mines, and used every possible mode of annoying us—Yazooism—ships and tobacco rotting—embargo—money advanced by Mr. Madison to Bonaparte—French decrees—the bleeding of the patriot Monroe in the revolutionary war, while Madison was staining his fingers with ink—the treaty of Mr. Monroe which was the best that could be obtained and such as ought to have been accepted, and must still be accepted—and all the thousand falsities that have been as often exposed and refuted, were heard and seen operating in every direction. In such a heterogeneous mass, you may suppose the ferment was great, but you cannot conceive the extent of it: inflammation ran high indeed; it at length affected every member of the body; officer to officer, and man to man were every where engaged. Ministers of the gospel, those meek messengers of peace and good will towards men, were seen almost transformed into furies—while acting in the character of humble instruments, in the hands of hefty lawyers and merchants, in distributing electoral tickets for Monroe, and using the influence of their clerical character!! The thunder of artillery and small arms of declamation and invective was incessant. Nearly all the day and during the voting, was occupied in public speaking by the Monroeites, opposed only by Mr. I. H. C. in that way, but by many in smaller circles. But alas! All their efforts were in vain—the firm and compact ranks, inspired with the spirit of '76, were impenetrable, and stood firm as the rocks of the everlasting hills. They could not be made to comprehend how principle may be made to degenerate, or change, from independence to dependence advantageously, and still preserve its essence. It was impossible to beat into their hard heads the understanding necessary to a belief that, they must and ought (as mistress of the ocean) to pay tribute to Great Britain—submit to her direction the disposal of their crops—or dispose of them under her licence (after she has satisfied herself) as to the surplus—that she has the right of impressing our seamen—or, that in fact, we must accept of whatever she may graciously grant us, and nothing more being to be had, we are to be content; as the best that can be obtained—because she is fighting for her existence, to the support of which all that she asks and takes is necessary, &c. &c. !!! This was a kind of logic they had been unused to, it set very ill on their stomachs, and produced many eructations very offensive to the orators: They were contradicted from various parts of the crowd at times, and much insulted in some instances, by the audience, in expressions of disgust and contempt: Indeed I am convinced that those who were active on that side are forever set down on the left hand of popularity here.—When the action was over, the ranks standing were accurately counted off, and found to be as follows—On the side of Madison, three hundred and eighty-two, effective, rosy-gilled men, fronted by seventy-six, crippled fellows, with long and ghastly visages—all monroe-men, and no more. In this latter corps were combined, all the little factions which have at various times deserted the republican standard, minority men, quids, federalists and tories."