Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

From the Virginia Gazette.

We believe there are in Virginia a few characters who have long been determined to sway the union. The principles of federalism were opposed to them. Every unjust measure was taken to destroy these principles, by enlisting against the federal administration all the office seekers in the union, who used all unwarrantable arguments, and dishonourable and dishonest means, to destroy it. They succeeded. One monument of federal wisdom was knocked away after another. They began to quarrel with one another for the loaves and fishes. The honest among them began to see, that not the publick good was the leading object of leading characters. The leading Virginia demagogues found the most important provisions of the constitution opposed to their views; and the honest among the democrats began to discover what those views were. Some of the northern democrats principally, nearly two years since, commenced a gradual opposition to those views. During the last session of congress, the violent leaders were several times opposed by the moderate constitutional republicans. At the close of the session, the violent ones came out in full; and we shall see the next session, what will be their success? The conduct of these violent men is seen and duly noticed by very many of the democrats in this state. Some of the members of congress are warmly opposed to it. The democrats in this state are most cordially disunited; and the best of them, united with the federalists, will probably ere long be a majority of the state. It is not of consequence whether or not the mere name of federalism be preserved: new distinctions of names are continually arising every few hours, in a government like ours. Nor is it of consequence whether or not men, who are now called federal, be ever again in office, if others of equal talents are found among those who call themselves republicans. Indeed if there had not been a single federalist in congress these two years past, we are not certain but that the interests of federal republicanism would have been benefitted. It is true that there is now but one federal member of congress from this state; yet it is not because the principles of federalism are only in the proportion of 1 to 22. No exertions of consequence were made by the federalists except in one district. However, there is certainly in the state a vast proportion of her best and ablest citizens who are and have ever been federal. And we have very little doubt but that in a short time the evil of democracy will be destroyed in the state. Its rage is past in a great degree in the southern states: men begin to think. The rage of democracy in Massachusetts is in truth nothing but the love of office; politicks is only a pretence; a tool with which to work: and hence we said, what we really believe, that if federal principles continue predominant in Massachusetts, Virginia will soon be with them: and this opinion is entertained by many here who have been democratical.