The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-11-11

the next election his administration has been
fuch as to excite the warmef admiration, and
the deepsf attachment, infomuch, that he
hnds the people of his country, anxious TO
fupprefs the vital principle of their republic,
in order to re-cled him at it's head. When the
public mind is thus weaned and corrupted
from its inflexible love to frft principles and
credulity is fubittuted in lieu of vigilance, the
moment is iSviting and aufpicious to the work
OF ambition. In anfwer to this, it may be
fa'd that MIR. ]. is too pure and immaculate to
be influenced by PATTON of this kind, not
withdrawing all men, and he amongft them
confeis, that it is the Unborn aud distinguishing
trajt of human nature.
"A political twriter of comfortable merit and
fagacity has affirmed "that all the free Ra.es
OF antiquity, in their free times, made point
of giving no longer than annual authority to
their magifrates." And it is the opinion of
Ariitote "that the chief caufe of the fubver-
non of free ftates was their deviation from the
principles,on which they were originally con.
ftrutted. He tells us " Sthat the Thurians had
Pituitary law, by which the fame perfon
could not be twice a Pretor, without an in
term'fiion of five years. They fuffered this
law to he evaded and forgotten. Their fate
from. that fatal time declined to its ruin"
This is the warning voice of a preceptor, that
has ftudied nature through all her generations
from the eareit to the lateR hour. Ought
we not therefore to adhere to reafon and ex-
perience, and to adopt the fame principle in
regard to our PRECEDENT, as every intelligent
itateiman ihould do in the formation of CO.
Vernnent that they who conduct them, are
viewed IN the eye of liberty as knaves. 1t is
inreIy better to do this, than rely upon the
political virtue of man, which we know at beft
to be precarious. Let us not forget then one
OF the mott important laws of our political ia
b'e,th the officers of republican government
ihould,
like bubbles, a Tea of matter borne,
rife, break, and to that fea return"
1t is unneceifary for me 70 engage in the
boundiets variety of probability, as to this or
that mode, by which ambition could faneu its
hold.
! There are few men 70 LOFT in infatuation as
| to deny the impofiibIity of unlinking the fe
deral cham that binds the union and there are
fewer men trutt, of fuch ftoical Indifference
a'to be fearefs of the confequences.I do not
lPtcify TINS however, as the mott eaiy and ef-
feetual quay, but merely as one amoup MANY
others for no human ingenuity can devife a
icheme or PoIity exempt from the evil, as it is
lncort GRATED in the life of every government.
II then there is an avenue through which our
PROPERTY is aiidilable, it furelv behoyes Us 70
act with becoming vigilance and fuipicion and
rather than expofe ourlevcs to an evil, to elect
lone more judicious mode of ihewing our gri.
ti,udc.
The abfence of fufpicion may be virtue,
an ehx'r, IN the moral world, but it is a
curie, and bane, in the political, to which
| There is no antidote. ThoCe who are hirotted
u tGe!r c;'. and iatr NAV contend, that
they canuot be boodwinked out of their hber-
ties, Tor that the lear entertainment would he
repeiied with indignation and efec. But /
win 'hat the creduous believers of that faith
may not Ind 1t " miieGan fable and fairy
lae. Me- ]. is one or the aa men from whom
! mould aPprehend danger of this kind, but
. man nc ore OF the Taft to abandon my boRsiea
iPr"fLpia III order to indulge particular pre-
objection. When an individual has been re-
| moved eight years from the people, it is time
mar Ne mould return amongf them, TO b. f. n
hnic OF their ienations and to feel their feelings.
II Is me republican 4gHnJ Ca5fnS under the
I!i"ue OF wh'cn, the iuXurics of power, and the
lsVer or ambition is chaltenrd and refreihed.
and purity reored to its native fate. 1t is the
| great ooIcct OF official rotation and fhouid ne
yer re abandoned. For when power remains
100 ioi IN the lame hands, it becomes inyete-
rate, and Livy july remarks the prrater II
49, inc greater reluctance there is to furrender
II. ii is upon no other principle that freouen-
CT OF e!ettonsis deemed 70 vitality important to
arepubHc&n Rate. 1t is upon this principle
| that tue patriots OF England have boldly and G.
loquehtiy commended for annual parliaments, and
90 the want OF which, they afcribe the ccrrup.
ton of their court and minitry.
Ii is fource OF happy reflection that fimi.
lar temper OF irjudcious crcduty, did not ex-
iit at the cloie OF the preceding administration,
ellie perhaps practice might have explai, cd the
DIRE ccniequence of official continuance or per.
Petuity. But in anfwer to every thing that can
be urged upon this fubied, we are arbitrary
told, that the critical fate of home and foreie n
AFFAIRS is iuch, as to require the reelection OF
MIR. Jefferfon. This is cabalificaI arguucn,
that cannot De explained, for the political Gate
OF our country is not more perous NV than
at any preceding date, lince the birth of our
contribution. The agitation of partyifrn that
lowered over the public mind, has fublidei in
TO calmneis, confidence, and appreciation, and
the Federalias hang their heads in confufed fol-
W and remorfe at their hottie violence of ran
lcour.
There are many ofthem who oonfefs with frank
NETS, that the PreGdeDt, againit whom they have
exhauRed their culver of wit and maleyolence.
IS no more TO be compared TO the one, for whom
they lung peans of appaufe, than an oriental
diamond TO peirihed pebble. Whence then
arlles this peculiar and hazardous innGure OF
affairs For fiIrely tbereis required as much 20
htIca' ikiil to AIuage the turbid wave of faction
at home ; to harmonic the inveteracy of con-
bcting parties; AS 10 watch our exiting reIati.
ons abroaS, ADD g expel from the cabinet 2
Tntcreant niaIfci ; De Yruio.-I know there
are men who Mir: kP the leo y,,;,rc, or