The Enquirer

From the New-York Columbian,

"OLD VIRGINIA TRIUMPHANT.

Both houses of the Virginia legislature assembled in grand caucus on the 19th, 20th and 21st inst. and nominated Jas. Madison as the next President of the U. States.

It has long been a subject of discussion, whether there exists a northern or a southern influence; but the matter seems now to be decided beyond dispute. If it be considered an unalienable right of that section of the Union to dictate to her superiors, both in point of population & wealth, as to measures most conducive to the general welfare and interest, why so be it. Our opinion is, that the same right may be claimed, with the same degree of justice, by the village of Communipaw."

The Editor of the Columbian appears to be exceeding wroth that the Republicans in the Virginia Legislature have thought proper to express their opinion on the subject of the approaching Presidential Election. There is no one evil which we dread, as menacing the integrity of the Union & the happiness of the nation; more than we do the paltry jealousy which springs from thirst for office, from the most sordid cupidity, which we have sometimes known permitted to influence the actions of men in the greatest affairs of life. Shall we say that such a spirit has dictated the above paragraph?

Far be it from us to impeach the motives of any man; but if not from such a feeling, whence springs this petulant paragraph?*

It cannot be that the Republican Editor of that paper, the persecuted victim of a federal sedition law, would consent to aid the Federal Party in their project of disunion, or even to coalesce with them in a political struggle for a "Northern President;" it cannot be, we repeat; and tis pity that his columns should, in a moment of irritable feeling, have afforded such food for federal triumph.

But, political consistency out of the question, what foundation is there for the sneer in this paragraph against the respectable state of Virginia, so indecorously compared with the "village of Communipaw?" None: not even a shadow. A nomination of Electors has been made, as usual, by the Republican members of the Virginia Legislature, because they elect by a general ticket, which must be thus formed if any concert exist; and it has been made thus early because no similar opportunity will exist of collecting the Republican sentiment previous to the election of Electors. There is not the least doubt but New-York will, sooner or later, pursue the same plan; but, as she is the "superior" of Virginia, "both in point of population and wealth," she ought, we presume, to have led the way, and "dictated" to her inferiors.

But suppose she had led the way and "dictated" first; would she have "dictated" differently from Virginia? Is she so dissatisfied with the measures of the general government that she would change its administration? It is not so; whatever inference may be drawn from the language of popular prints, the public sentiment of the great state of New-York is not in opposition to the government. When she stood unmoved in the trying period of the embargo, is it to be believed New York will fly the way on the approach of war? We pledge ourselves for her stability; she will not throw her weight into the scale to make the Republican balance kick the beam, and bring in a Federal President.

It is a poor compliment to the patriotism and consistency of New-York which is paid in the paragraph we have quoted, & some others in opposition to the government which have appeared in the same paper, if they could be considered as speaking the sentiments of the People. But they do not; they are contradicted by the voice of her delegation in Congress; by her governor in his message; by both houses of the Legislature in their replies; and by the declarations of every intelligent Republican in the state who is not interested, personally or politically, in encouraging a different sentiment. And we have thought it but due to our numerous and respectable subscribers in that state to attempt to rescue her political character from the imputations to which the late publications in the Columbian, (in the absence of the Editor of that paper at Albany,) might otherwise render it liable.

Nat. Int.