Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-10-03
lie Il Cents Sing5e.l


position 70 array his own indiNiJtia! oPni-
on in hostility TO that OF ihe cation, as con-
veyed through their peculiar organs ollie
& Station. lie viii habiiuaily distfust the
suggestions OF his. own mind when oppos-
cd to their win. While, there fore. he Will
not hesitate TO exert The high prcrosative,
with which he is invested, Gil great oecasi.
ons, IN which the voice Of day Is loud aud
commanding, and IN which ,he PUBLIC good
unequiFocaiiy requires it, he viii, with
cautious wisdom, LoreSo us exSIciAc on all
other occasions. ....
lis Legislative responsibility will there
iore,be IN = narrow compass; it wiii depend
upon The single confederation whether, un-
der all the Circumstances attending the.
propositions OF laws submitted to him, the
public welfare viii be promoted by his
sanction. ....t
II MS view mas been taken for the pur-
pose oil separating the Legislative from the
eeecHfVe esponsibility oil The government.
II IS 10 less incorrect, than il is common,
to consider The executive responsible for
all the acts ot the government. However
TINS opinion may prevail ano; & The friends
OF monarchical system, it is not th,. less
a heresy under ours. AS Reither The L.
g,siauVe or judicial departments arc re-
sponsible Ion tke acts oil lhe executive de-
partmert, so nci,hcr is the executive ar
swerable or'heiis. The constitution for
bids the president except in The presc:ib-
ed orbit We have deIineated, or by advice
given 10 congress, To Interfere with the
powers OF the legislature. No less il all
such int rterence forbidden by the Jealous
Independence with which every pubic a.
gem, equally with every private citizen, is
la ms country accustomed To- assent his
iights. NO doubt can be cnterylned. q at
undor the joint Influence oil these consider
ations, the chief magistrate, who should
attempt to usurP the legislative power ci-
her by direc( o. indirect means YOU'D
soon learn that the high power ofinapeach-
'ieht was uot iTuitcssly rcpuavd II tie L.
3 stature. Is notihen true. tia; The pre-
s'drn' IS absolutely responsible for al The
legislative acts passed during hiss aGTaii,;-
stfaiion. The probability is ina, many os
these acts ate such as he, in the ciaracler
oil legislator or Il Citizen, would never
have assrnted to.
Among these acts are TWO Of the 6rse
Importance the judiciary aGl, and tie a.
mendmeDt 10 the Constitution neither
OF which were Recommended, or even
suggested by the President. Ii viii be-
most regular 10 consider these measures.
IN this place as they do not properly falR
under either OF The great provisions we
nave proposed; and as they have ltties
IL any necessary connection with excessive,
duties.
On no occasions, prebaps, has there
oeen more daring spirit Of laischood
than ON these. Both these measures
have, without the least reason, been as.
cfibcd to the President. Whereas, the
truth IS, thai in his Official capac:tv. he,
has not, and could not even no,jcs. The,
cue; and has not otherwise noticed the
other than by giving his assent to a bill
previously passed. by The two Houses.
Nor has any proof of his private opinions,
on either vi these points; ,ranspired to-
TINS day. ven that order OF mid so apt
10 Tie estimation oI his enenies TO betrav
MN mo all imprudeDt exposure OF his o.
pnons, has not furnished occasion for q
SOLITARY charge. BY bold assurnption.
that 'nasmuch as BIS general politics co.
lncided with those of the lcpisla.ntc who
devised these measures, he must thcre-
- - SCti9tNiNi Ga dS ltENGiH 10 Them.
and being friendly to them must be con.
sIdeIed Is their author, an attemp, has
been made to make him Pre- eminen,lv
responsible for all TIER oneEs. Thus
does party fury, as blind as heads,rour.
without discrimination seek its victim, and
having once marked him, hunt HIM
10 destruction, Rot for sius actually corn.
nit'ed By ldm, but Tor all tic SINS COM
United by others,
IT IS true tha, the general subie9 Of The
judiciary was recommended, Ia lie first
message, TO tho attention al Congress.
8utln what terms not IN those Of hos
ulity to the new system but in tie fol.
loving dispassionae language:
" The Judiciary system Of tie United
States, says tie President, and especially
that portion Of itrccently vested, VII Of
coHrse present itself to tie cont.m,,,stion
OF Congress {; and that u.y msy lie able
toJudge OF tie proportion h,caths ins,itu-
ton bears to the busmcssitn ss toperlorm.
have caused to BE procured from nc se-