The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-05-30
CHE Gnqutrer.
RICHMOND, sotb MAY.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
FEDERALISTS IN OFFICE.
No. j.

There are particular CRIES, at which it be-
comes nece1ary to review the political principles
which we have adopted, to tef them by the
lights OF experience or compare them with the
circumstances of the times. Such amoment feems
to have arrived, with regard to the important
doctrine of appointment to Office. What is the
proportion of official influence, treafure, and
trut, which it is the intereft Of our country to
commit to federal hands. The prefent tate
OF parties in New-York and in Pennsylvania,
with the approaching election of new Pref
dent, inpofes upon us the necefIity of retouch-
ing this great, and fundamental principle.
This preliminary ,uetion meets us at the
threfhold. Have the prefent admirable admi-
niitration departed in this inftance, from the
jult expectations of their Importers? This
queftion naturally divides itfef into two others
Have they continued more federalifts in office,
than was compatible with the intere(ts of the
republican caufe? How Rands the account
with regard to thofe federalifts, whom they may
have put into power? The queftion of CONT
nuing in and appointing to Office, are obviouny
diitinct but perhaps not 70 much in principle,
as has been generally fuppofed.
1t is well known that few federal abpoiutuenfs
bnve been made by the prefent administration
I'hefe too were recommended by circumstances
which at leat executed & indicated the adminiftra-
ton, from the charge of abandoning its princ-
piles. The Republican minority of the laft Con-
grefs have however fattened upon two late ab-
pointmentJ, which they regard with a lefs favora-
Bile eye. Thefe are the appointments of Mr..
Pinckney and Mr.. Cranch.
If tbee do not betray compleat abandonment
OF their principles, they are faid to indicate
at leat greater coolnefs in the fup-
port of them. Although do not pledge my
felf to coincide altogether with the adminiftra-
ton in refped the policy obferved towards
the federaifts continued in Office, I think that
| thete examples of appointment do not iufify
the utes to which they have been applied. 1t is
| at beft but a mite converted into mountain
| OF what do the minority complain
They complain that Mr.. Cranch, federalift,
has been appointed Chief Judge in the Ditrict
of Columbia. But they know not, or they Gre
| member to forget" that this was an appoint.
ment made in conformity with fpecial rule,
adopted with regard to the Judiciary. Diet
the vacancies in that department be filled up in
regular rotation. Were eDery Judge to believe,
that the road of prefermeut and honour was a.
like open to them all, the bench, which fhoud
be the afylum of dilinterefednefs and all the vir-
| tues, would be turned into difgraceful ex-
change-houfe ofavarice, intrigue & corruption.''
Such is fubftantiay the advice and the rea-
ions, which MIR. Jefferfon is Eaid to have recon-
mcnded to Gen. Warrington. We will not now
CONTEXT the correctness of this principle, though
we houd certainly enter ouriproteft againft it, i'm
the whoelatitude which it claims. For, what in.
diligence is due to rule that would place
man at the head of that department, however
notorious for imbecility, knavery or contracted
ness of political principles, becaufe he happened
TO be the next oidef Judge on the beach a
rule that would, for initance, make Judge Chafe
the Chief Juitice of the United States, But
really admitting the fact, that it quas the
! recommended rule of Mr.. Jefferfon when fe-
cretary OF State, what becomes of the prefer
ence faid to be manifeted towards the federal
party by the appointment of Mr.. Cranch |?
The practice of Mr.. Jcffrrfon in 1906 only coll
forms to his theoryin 1894. 1t was not de-
parture from the general principles of his party,
but in obedience to a fpecia principle, which
had no regard to the politics of the Judge.
Let not the fact too be concealed, that though
Mr.. Cranch was elected in obedience to this
fpecial rule, yet that Mr.. Jefferfon never fails
to prefer republicans, when there is no fpecial
rule to refrain him. Mr.. Cranch was nomi-
mated the chief juftce, but is it not repub-
lcan who fills his vacant feat
| They complain too, of the appointment of
Mr.. Pinckney, as Mnter Extraordinary to
London. But here they beg the quetion. Is
it absolutely certain that Mr.. Pinckney is a
| federalif True it is that he was the pupil
of Judge Chafe. He had ftudied at the very
feet of GamalieI hmfelf; he had acquired all
tbe reputation of a federalit, before he went to
London. But at what time did he leave his
country? II was Whit the federal policy
was yet in its bud before it had bloffomed
| forth into all the luxurant follies and extrava-
gancies of the Atlantic administration, into
navies, Handing armies, public debt, alien and
| fedtion laws. He remained in London for
feveral years. Had be no leifure in all this time
to profit by the experience of his party, to re-
view his early opinions, and rub off the pre-
JUDGES which he might haze contracted in the
Office of Judge Chafe ?
| On his return TO the United States, it is well
known he rejected the prcf1ing Fluctuations of
that Judge, to undertake his defence, aud upon
a ground which furely does not enlift him a.
he federalifs. Hehad beenabfent, he faid,
fr omhis country rfevera years; he might not be
altogether acquainted with the principles of
| its parties he wiihed not, therefore, to engage
in cauGe which was 70 deeply mingled with
politics. But 70 far as he bad examined, he was
pleated with the preient administration of the
country-But we may till farther enquire,
would the republican legislature of MARYLAND
have conferred upon him the Office of Attorney
General, on his return TO his native country,
had he been 70 decided Federalift as fome
have Represented
The reafons Of Mr.. Pinckney's appointment
as minRer to London, are generally known.
Maryland complained, that the prefent adj
miniftration had not allowed her that pro-