The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-12-25

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dread any inveaiga,ion, which, may be intitu
ted; nor viii any incere friend of the prefent
administration. And petmit me to fay, Sir,
that thoie who oppofe OF the pssfent refouti-
on pay but poor compliment indeed to the
principles ofthe Minority. It sreally to charge
them with having no FIRM fyaem OF policy to
regulate their conduet, but with being at any
moment ready be to biaf1ed and fwerved from
their courie by every incident which may &C.
cur.
| But, fir, in anfwer to thofe who dread the
production of fchifm, will boldly avow my
| opinion, that this fchifm cannot be widenei!.
he minority differs from the adminin ration not
| on h:te points, as fome have pretended to az.
iert, but on erea; leading principles of policy.
You might as well expect that the mot heie-
roeeneous bodies OF nature will unite together,
as that new coalition can be eifab,ihcd be-
tween thefe political parties. Their confidence
in each other is gone for ever. The majority
can never again repofe any truft in the men,
VINO have 10 completely reviled their iyftem
and as to the minority, they have rot hefitatrd
10 fhew, that they have none in the adminifra-
| ton.
Mr.. FoUsHEE (ofHenrico IL will tietain
the attention OF the Houfe, but for moment.--
Gentlemen have objected to this refolution, be-
cauie 1t cats cenfure upon the minority in
Congreis But for my part, cannot perceive
that IT is fufceptible of fnch contraction, but
by very indirect implication. We conceive
that the meaiures purified by our government
were wl'e The minority deemed them impro-
per. We cannot, therefore, beftow our appro-
baton upon thefe meafures, without indirectly
ceniuring the policy of thoie who oppofed them.
but this implication is not peculiarly confined
10 TINS reiolution. 1t equally extends to every
meature ofthis fort, where individuals may en-
| tertain difference of opinion.
Gentlemen have obies!ed % this refoJrt;o,
oecauic 1t may beftow confidence on thofe who
do not defcrve it. But, fir, " the government"
OF the w. States does not conflt of Polf- Maj
tiers, but in my conception, of the Legislative
and great Executive officers. BY beltowing our
appreciation upon the laft, we do not therefore,
necefiariiy extend 1t to every executive depart
ment.
| repeat the anertion, that an exprelion Of
confidence in our officers is the grand return for
public fervices. Defroy it, and you deRroy the
great principle of Repuohcanifm. If officers
are not to be approved, when they dfcharge
their duties, you detroy the greatet incentive
TO vrtnons conduct and upon virtue ;.GecIss Is
al! republican ACKNOWLEDGEMENT have no
with TO pronounce cenfure UPON the Minori-
/ ty. AS yefterday obferved, let us encourage
all proper vigilance in public agents, and let
| every a6 of the Administration be fully fcanned
and fcrntinized. The Minority have deferved
| ceniure, but can fee no neceffity for exprefs-
ing IT on this floor. But appreciation is the
true reward for public fervants, let US not hef-
| tate to exprefs it.
The qnefiOn fben taken on tie boRbone-
'nent Of tie rejolntiOn, and IeR-AyeJ 80, Noes
l26.
Tbe qnsqi0n then required upon tie original
r.ioinion.
Mr.. NELsoN-obferved that he would trou-
bic the houfe but a few moments, on the refo-
luton unlimited TO their confederation. Some
gentlemen have boldly pronounced it TO be their
intention to pafsa centure upon the minority
Bot IN the fupport which / mall give to this
reto!ntion by my vote. mutt previouly de-
clare that my intentions are dametrically op-
pohte- applaud, fir, the conduct of the Pre-
tident and OF the general government. No man
| can be more decided than myfelf in his appro.
baton of their meafures. But, fir, ihou!d the
world deigu to caf an eye upon the vote,
which HAL this day pronounce, / with them
completely 10 underitand, that do not mean
to cenfure thai fpirt Of vigilance and firmueis
which characterized the conduit of the minori
ty. Although condemn their manners and
their meaiures; although | admire the adminf
tra.ion and the policy, whic they have oppo-
! fed, thall never be the frft to denounce the
watchfulnefs which they have difpiaved. If
1t be once held out, that there is to be no op
pollton to the meafures of the administration
| It the Virginia Legislature is always to throw
thenieives into the ica]e, when an oppofition
is thus produced we ihall give fatal ftab
to the ipirit Of free invenigation. fhonld be
forty indeed, il addreffes to our chief magif
tra'e, and votes of confidence in his neafures.
ihon!d ever be abuttd to purpoIesI of this fort
| We are not the proper body, fir, for making
iuch criticiims. Ifthefe gentlemen have vo
laLed the decorum of good manners, Congrefs
itieifis the true fphere for an enquiry into their
conduct. And as to.t their meafurcs, however
much may difapprove of them, win never
content to put down that fpirit of indepcn.
dence, that vigilance of conduct. which diStat-
| ed their adoption.
Mr.. LINDsAY.-I cannot conceal NV aho
nifhment, that gentlemen on this floor ihoud
10 ftrongly diiapprove of the conduct of the
minority, and yet that they have not firmnefs
| enough to exprefs it. What does the Gentle
man from Albemarle (hir. Nelfon) mean by the
language which he has employed? Does he
mean TO aflert that the minority alone po(TeS
tirmneis and integrity? Humble as am, Sir,
l VIII not content to furrender my indepen-
dence to any man, nor to fupprefs my fenti-
ments, when necehary to avow them. And
what is that independence of which the gentle
man from hlbemarle darcs not fpeak that in
dependence, which has attacked the very
fountains of confidence? Does no one elfe
poiieis it, but thefe patriots; tbefe mulhroom
patriots thefe political giants, grown up in
night TO giants fize Are there no other
Patriots IN the country be{ides themfeIves