The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-31

| 10 THE ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND
VIcE-PREsIDENr.
YOU are about to dicharge one of the mott
important duties which can deyc.ve upon the
citizens CT a free and independent nation. THE
election of the frit magiftrate of our country is
rapidly approaching. The fifth of December il
defined to decide on tue appointment OF the
man, who is to become the Preiident of the
American Republic and you are defined 10
iPeak the voice of the Republic.
! Whit the United States holds 70 ,re-eminen.
a rank a!ncngft the nations of the earth from the
plentiful accommodation of It's inhabitants, from
the a!rnof unbounded freedom of fpeech, the
Preis and religion, md from the unexampIed
equality OF Its political initi.utions, the Gcred
iPreiervat;vc ofthefe b!efings, the elective fran
| chlfe OF the people, cannot be too rigoroulIy
! protected, or too fcrupulouily employed. There
is not man, who hould afpire to the poGeri-
onofthe humbeit Office in theirgift, whoisn rot re-
commended by the Cleareit knowledge and the
mott uriuliied integrity. When that Office.
however, initead OF being the loweft is really the
mott elevated IN our country; when ii confers
an influence 70 eXtenhve as that which is afIign-
ed to the PRECEDENT of the United States, il be-
comes peculiarly the duty of the people to vote
Tor the mott competent perions to make this {e
!ccuon; and 1t becomes more particularly your
u"'!, W WHOhi thS peOOIe nave delegated this
honorable truf, TO raife that citizen to the Of
ice, whole virtue is equal to his wifdo,n, and
whole wIfdom IS co-cxtenliye with the i,nDor-
tant functions ofhis appointment.--In the other
departments OF our government, the conHitu-
ton has attributed their powers into Ceyeral
hands. The Judiciary dcciion Ia pronounced
by ieverdl organs: the law is promulgated by a
numerous body of legislators. But the Execu-
tive Department ie O,.c and indiviiibe IT'S
functions may appear indeed TO be divided into
four subordinate departments but theft. are re-
ally iubordinate and fubieG to the immediate or
remote con;rOui of the refponGbe head. The
powers Of the other departments too, are excr-
cited only 1T certain periods, while they expert
ence comfortable intervals IF intermiffios. The
Judiciary are not always prefding on their
bench nor is Consrels always debating in its
hall. But the powers of the PRECEDENT are con-
tInually active or continually tending TO a6fivi-
~. There is icarcely moment in which he
may not have iome Office 10 vaca:e or to filI,
Tome foreign relations to adult or neoociate,
lone details in the fubordinstc departments TO
uperintend, or to prepare for legislative infpec-
ton. His functions belides, as they are deTcrib-
ed IN the contribution, are aiTnof paramount i'm
their influence, and pdrtaSe Of almof all the
powers of republican government. He is To
be The " commander in chief Of the army and
navy OF the United States and Of the militia os
the ieyerai hatcs, when called into actual fer
VICE" II IS his duty, "by and with the advice
aud content OF the fenatc, TO make treaties"
with the concurrence Of two-tbirds Of the feDa-
'0's preient. lie nominates all smba6ado,s AID
other tsreign niui0ers, ali the judges Of the fl-