The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-06-25

'cnnfrv." TIE very ration which he fills,
puts II nto his power To direct If not to cuniroui
the operations of the other departments. He
las no portion of lcriilative pnwer conceded 10
him by the contribution but precedent feeins
at this time TO have conhrmsJ the practice OF his
regularly addrefing the two honfts of afIemblv
NJ the opening of their ie;iiun, AID laying before
them such information as he may poiieis ON
DIIblic bufinefs and recommending fuch laws To
their confederation as he may deem neccl,ary
for the good of the Gate. AT hisownboardhe can
no. even pats vote on the appointment of
petty officer, or the difhurfenent of the final
ef portion of the public trcafcry but even
here an active and able governor may be re-
garsied as the centre of executive information,
ard the ad1,;/er of his council. 1t is perhaps
one of the grea:eft compliments that has ever
been paid to the political qualifications OF
Mr.. Monroe, that lie erected The negative func-
lions of governor. into the inftruments of
noft respectable influence. IF there was any
OF the public moneyto be difhuIfsd, Mr.. Mon
roe would enquire into the exigcncy and extent
OF the ecafon, & lay his refrarcles before the
executive Council. Ifthere was an officer to be
appointed, Mr.. Monroe would take care to
FIT out the official qualifications and the po'it-
cal opinions of the candidates, and preient them
under this light TO the view of the council. o.
cupying fuch dRinguiihed ltation, and this is
The Ration which governor of Virginia ought
truly TO occupy, he may in one ieRfe Le Gii TO
exerciie an influence beyond the dstigna,sd
verge of his constitutional powers.
The preient Rate of politics fntjons a new
argument for the dicreet felection of govern
nr. IT is not fubje6t, which can at the pre-
TENT time bear conCealrnent that the republican
party having no approximations of danger from
the ftrength of their opponents, have fuffcred
"A fe cpliiHnpc nf int r. n. 6
opinion to break them into fcbifms in fome of
the ftates; that fuch little divilions have even
orept into the political fyftem of Virginia but
that thefe variations are flight in their origin.
rs yet limited in their degree, and fufceptible
OF the eaieft remedy. If from that arge MATS
otrepublicans, who have already d!tinguiihed
themfelves by their fervices agant the common
enemy, and have not yet mixed and interfered
IN this internal diiientou, all the principal of.
ices ofthe government which will foon be va
cant could be filed, one great E,urce of heart
burning and animoii;y would be efettualIy dri-
ed up. Men who are anxious to obtain potts
OF honour, would then have no Inducements to
form for themte'ves an ifolated party to raife
them into power nor would one OF tbefe little
iects derive any triumph from its own fuccefs,
or any jealonfy from the triumph Of the other.
The administration of our affairs would be in
the mean time conf,!ed to men, whom both
lides could trulf mutual explanations would
give rife to mutual cancellations; thofc petty
repulhons would difappear with the occafions
which gave them birth, and the republicans of
Virginia would once more approach each other
and difplay compact and indivifble phalanx,
which would forever bid defiance to the open
force or the intriguing arts of their common e.
nemy.
1t is time that thefe and inlar CONFEDERATE
ODS fhOuId he dut,y auI rapli,Il,, III II.
is time that we fhould afcertan the extent of the
danger, which hangs over the union Of the re-
pcblicans, and the propriety Of adopting thefe
or any other expedients which may be nc ceiia-
ry 20 avert it. II is time at all events that the
people at large. and more Especially the repre-
tentatives of the diftant counties fhould begin
to analytic the preteniions of the different cam
didates, who may with to fill the gubernatorial
chair, and to fettle the principles on which fhey
will elect him. 1t is too often the fate of fnch
appointments that they are made by the legiC-
lature generally unacquainted with even the
names of the candidates before they afIemble
IN the Capitol, and fometimes determined in
their choice by momentary and ill-digefted con-
alterations. Under the guidance of this princi-,
pie, let Us bring this appointment at once fairly
before the public /; and call over the names of
the candidates, who have been hithertoheld forth
as the proper objects of Legislative favor.
George Wythe chancellor at Richmond, w.
b. Giles one of the federal fenators, w. c. Mich
olas late collector at Norfolk, John Taylor of
Caroline, John Harvie of Richmond, Alexander
Nc Rae and William Fouihee members of the
executive council and Richard Brent of Fairfax
have each Of them been mentioned in terms of
the mof diffineuiihed appreciation. With each
of thofe gentlemen it is my good fortune to en-
JOY the pieafure of a perfona acquaintance {;
ard can confcientiouny declare, that there Is
not one of them, for whole talents and integrity
do not entertain the very hgheft refpe6t. There
is not one ofthem, into whole hands, could not
fee with pleafure the reins of government ntruft-
ed. Still thereare degrees of 6tnefs, & correfpon-
dent degrees of preference. do not hefitate
to avow with that fncerity, which it is my du-
ty TO exercife and that freedom which it is my
privilege to enjoy, that the following is the re-
/ul Of nv impartial reflections on this fubjeGf
Mr.. Wythe fhouId not be the Object of my
choice; becaufe Whit age has tefted and fanc-
| tilted the heart and head Of this fecond Meteor,
1t has enfcebled the energy OF his powers.
would not give nv vote to Mr.. Giles, be-
caufe The fame understanding and experience
which fit him for the functions of governor,
qualify him in a more eminent degree for that
r ore eminent fation which he now occupies
The republican who was denominated by a
corrupt author the " Ajax lebanon ofl,is par
ty " & who was lately called with fone truth &,