Jenks' Portland gazette. and Maine advertiser., 1803-09-26

laha 70 eit2bilih a moro perfect relpOnilbl-
/ lily Of the Preiidentto his conltituents. -
Such corrective is periodical elections
Tn. government Of the United States.
las of the individuai States, is a govern.
iment Of the People. and the executive.
Which Mr. Jet-riou has very properly
termed the ntonarcticai department of the
government, has.alWayS been reprelented
as peculiar for its fondncls Of power and
Iconiequently Of making Entertainments
upon the lights, not only Of the popular
but ALTO OF the people them
felveS. For the pur2ote Of counterb5Ian-
cling the influence, which by patronage
and otherwile the PRECEDENT may obtain,
the contribution has provided, that during
the four years for which he is elected, be
may be removed for nal decentralization.
At the termination of this period, it has
alto provided, that the people may either
elect orreje& him az they are plealed or
Duplicated either with his public or private
conduct, or both. When Congrels ex-
IerciCe tJeir rigbt gf Impeachment, every
enquiry is made, full invetigation is had
before the PRECEDENT is convicted, removed
or acquitted. And for the fame realon,
and by the fame rule, that the Senate.
whenjudging him on impeachment, lhould
have correct and full information of his
conduit, oughr the people, when they ex-
ierciie their right gfeleaiug or yejetFiag, to
have correct information, to have the
truth told them, that they may cxcrcile
that important right with propriety and
iaFety. They lhould know The whole con
duct Of their PreGdent, the whole truth
lhould be laid before tham, which never
can happen iftruth id-lf is libel, ac-
cording to the doctrine advanced IN the
cafe Of CroGweIl.
The Preddent's liability to imPaacl-
ment. therefore, 70 far from being fluff
cienr lecurity, 70 far from being Intended
to ihield his conduit from public inveGi-
gallon, is detigned to render him more
dependent upon the people. FirH, he Is
dependent on the people for an election
for four years. During that time, was
there no fuch thing as an impeachment,
he would be firmly leated in power and
independent Of his conitituents. But BY
means OF impeachmenr, he is every mo-
ment dependent upon them for during
that time, they, by their representatives,
may imPeach and remove him. And at
the expiration ofthat time, if the people
do not like his character or his meaiures,
they may refule to elect him. Thus he is
in every re(pea empLaticalIy the man Of
the people.
But, it is eaGly feen that by acceding
to the principle, that Impeachment is (lF-
cisnt to c0rrs9 every error Of every o5ficer
7050 Is impsacba5ic, the people yield the
right of invefigating the conduit, Of pub
lining, even the truth, Of their rulers
And it is eaGly to be feen that if this right
lis yielded, the people. can never exercife
their rigbt Of eief7i0n an4erRaltlingIy.--
And, furely, in fucha fate Of things, the
fright of fufragawoultEo Be worth pre-
(erving, One creek upon power, which
the contribution has provided, would thus
be undermined. lis .fubtance would Be
gone forever, and its form would exit
only to remind US of Cur folly.
But, Mr.. Holt, let me afk your corrcf
pondsnt, for what is the Pre!ident i'm
peachable For trealon, bribery, and
other high crimes and mifdemeanors.--
Suppofe, then, the Pretident ihould be
come drunkard fupPoie, he ihouId
give hinllelf up 70 tie qualification Of his
paiIions, and make the houfe, furni(hed
by the country, feraglio, the haunt of
rakes and libertineS ; fupPole, he ihould
refule all conversation with the grave men
.