Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-19
To the Editor Qfthe raleigh Register.


ssent administration, is the dismissal of
some officers, and appointing others in
their room: That any complaint should
exist on this score is altogether unreasona-
BILE, for believe the namber OF government
tai officers in the u. States, vino are !ede-
ralis,s. bear a greater proportion TO the re-
publicans who may hold an Office, than
the federal representatives III congress do
Ia the republican piesen,ativcs.f 1t th.s
be the case, wkicn will venture To assert,
there certainly should be no complaint a
gainstIhe President on This score, for this
shews he is mider 10 them, and iayors
them more than the people themselves
would do, il those ofIicers were chosen oy
suffrage. And as To the principal officers
OF government, every man must see the
necessity tf their harmoaiz,ng with the
administration on that nothing need be
said. But even If all the federal officers
had been displaced, even those Of midnight
appointment, l DO not conceive why II
should be the cause or murmur with the
American people. 1--we are come 10 this,
that our government is become q govern
ment of toaVeS and fishes, then such thing
nigh, be, reasonable. But of what consc-
quence is it to me OF my neighbor, who
The postmaster general be, in case lie
does his duty faithfully Does it make a
law of difference with us whether his
name be HAbersham OF Granger, whether
it lie Joseph or Gideon, and the same with
every other officer. Ii is folly, absurd fol-
ly, TO suppose that those things can in The
smalies. degree affect the welfare OF the
ration, or The happiness of the people,
Our constitution rover would have confer
red Tie power ol filling those places on the
executive, il il had been thought by those
who framed 1t, that any dangers would
have rs~trited to liberty from the exercise
OF II. I'VE hear as much bitterness and
wranghng for Offices, asst there were pla-
ces OF eInoiument Cor US all. Good God,
TO what height VIII fciiy sometimes aspire I.
Our country affords very few places Of pro-
fl, and the fewer the better for us. Such
=! ces must always he supported by the
savings Of our industry. Much better is
it 10 enjoy the fruits % our labor in the
bosom oil our families, than give them TO
suppor; pronisate placemau who Will re-
ceiye them without even thanking US for
,hem. The present administration, act
ing up to the principles of freedom, has a.
b3Ishcd numerous train Of Offices which
were of no use to the nation, further than
$io Cypress and enslave il. The filing OF
thee places occupied the last moments Of
Adams political lie, until The clock strucl;
IL, when his honor, gloryand power pass.
ed aesy on the wings d! the moment, and
John would have received more of our
thanks, had he dsopt to sleep, than by bu.
sying himself at SO late an hour.
The system CT he present adminstra
Il is opposed 10 that dclusion and igno-
rance on the part of the people, and that
tyranny Oil the part of the rulers, by which
ths human race have been so long and SO
miserably oppressed. In these days of
freedom and illumination, when we look
baCk al he daik ages OF The world with
astpnishment, their ignorance and misery
are The principal things which strike our
minds. At lie former we are amazed,
at the latter APPALLED, and even il we take
glance over Tie Atlantic, and view the
civilized and polished nations of the age
running The rice OF madness. goaded on
by tyrGnuy to wars havock and Mutual de
suuciion, must we not be impressed with
the duty we owe 10 ourselves, To our coun-
ny and ppsterity, to stand boldly forward
=,
cples, which lead 10 such miseries and ca
laInties.
1t is somewhat singular that republi
can government being the plaincst and
most conforrnable to the laws of nature,
should be the last in being reduced to per-
fcciion. Man has been successfully tor.
turcd under various systems, and he has
at last 20 rest his limbs under this. Ooe
time he has acknowledged and worshpped
a sovereign PontiE, who held the KEYS of
Heaven aud He'll; ard who for toriuring
and expressing him in this life, promised
him better hereafter. Again he placed
himself at the foot OF his fellow creature,
on whom he impiously bestowed the alp.
peilaiion OF the MOST HIGH and at length
he joins bis fellow man, and lives on The
equality which nature and God ordained.
Against this beautiful system which is
alone calculated 70 preserve our happiness,
do the enemies OF the present administra
ton e,ernaljy war. Could the clouds of
superstition and the wrath Of monarchy,
hscOnna 10. frxtDr.e,.- -