Virginia Argus

PHILADELPHIA. February 15.

It has been rumored for some days that governor Clinton will be the candidate for the vice president's chair at the approaching election—it has been intimated that the decision has been some time made at the seat of the general government; but we presume nothing has as yet been done except to obtain his consent, which it is understood has been granted.

It is beyond a doubt that governor Clinton has declined a re-election as chief magistrate of the state of New-York; chancellor Lansing has been talked of as the republican candidate for successor; this gentleman is believed to be a consistent and sound republican, as a private man universally admired—it is almost unnecessary to suggest what must be the fate of the federal ticket, even with Mr. Burr at the head of it, against such a character.

Mr. Burr.—The vice-president, it is now well known, has not the smallest hope of a re-election; he has therefore turned all his attention to obtaining some other office; his friends are extremely desirous of persuading he was perfectly innocent of the accusation of negotiating for the presidential chair, although they know the public mind has been made up on the question. "Shall Mr. Burr be our next vice-president?" this solicitude must be considered as the effect of a plan to place him in the chair governor Clinton is about to vacate.

Heretofore Mr. Burr has affected to smile at the efforts of an independent press, now, however, he has discovered that they have been so successfully employed as to deprive him of the confidence of the republicans as candidate at the approaching presidential election; he has accordingly thought proper to have recourse to the law, lest the same press should, by continuing to expose his unworthiness, prevent any chance of an election to the governmental chair of New York.—On this subject we extract the notice of the editor of the N. Y. American Citizen, nor have we the smallest doubt but he will substantially prove the main charge, of a negotiation having been entered into to exclude Mr. Jefferson.

"On Saturday last the editor of this paper endorsed his appearance on the back of a writ issued according to the directions of the vice-president." It is presumed that Mr. Burr has taken this opportunity of proving the negotiation in "a court of justice." At present it would be improper for the editor to say more than that he begs his friends not to be alarmed for the event. He feels himself under obligations to Mr. Burr for commencing the suit. This remark is made on the supposition that Mr. Burr is serious and that the suit is not an electioneering trick!"