The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-05-20
"71be danger is not vet ozer.n

SUCH was the language of the venerable Ed.
mund Pendleton, when Mr.. Jeiferfon was frf
elected Prelideut. This is a maxim which no
republican ought for a Jingle moment to for
get; but at what previous period has il ever
deierved his profound attention, 70 much as
at the prefent crifs When the venerable
Pendieton dictated that fentence, he Eaw man
elevated to the head of our administration, in
whom he had placed uneoualled confidence !.
man from whole heat or whole head he be-
lieves that no danger ought to be apprehended :.
n man who was to avert the Sc daneerous''
meaiures of the two laft administrations. for
tour, for eight, perhaps for tweIves wears TO
come. Why then did Mr.. Pendeton even ot
1oaf time, come forward to warn the nation
OF its danger? 1t was not becauGe he feared
any from the prefent administration, but be-
cauie he fSarsd them from fuccelior 1t was
nor oecanie he feared them nozv, but becaufe
ne knew that nozV was the time for preventing
their recurrence: 1t was not becaufc he feared
that Thos. Jefferfon would play the character of
an Adams, but becaufe he knew that flch men
as Thomas Jefferion would not always be found
or always ielected to prefide over our govern.
ment.
Five years have now pa1ed over fnce the
monitory voice of MIR. PendIeton, told us
that " the danger is not yet over =" Within that
time, much has been done; but more remains
for the republicans TO do. VAT improvements
have been introduced into the administration
of the constitutional powers; but many" dan
gers" yet Turk in that contribution. we have
feen the odieus excite abofhed we have feen
the public debt discharged, accompanied by
a dImipution of the public burden: but
the constitutional provi6on ftll remains,
which gave birth to fedition aGt a Pref
dent fill exits under the contribution. armed
with REGAL POWERS. Nay, in fpite, of
the many antiquities, with which that nftru.
ment was formerly reproached in fpite
of the many flent but odious oppreGions.
which once flowed from the constitutional pow.
ers OF regal preiident; we have feen but one
iucceistul effort made to amend that confitu
ton. We allude to the manner of voting far the
preident. Not even Jingle effort has been tried
to amend its greatef defect. MaT. has exrciC.
ed the privilege of propoing an amendment
that would have operated in favor of the Fac
tern ftates alone Kentucky recommended an A.
mendment, principally advantageous to herfef
| an amendment has been offered, to reach South
Carolina alone but fcarce Jingle propoftion
has been made, that would embrace the inte-
relts of the union.
And what nozv is our fituation The re-.
| publican Preiident, from whom there was NOT
The leaf reafon Comprehend any danger ',;s a..
bout to retire from the head of our councils.
He has poiltively announced his determination.
to decline the high office with which his
county has twice honoured him. We admire
the noble diinterenednefs which has aetuated
his conduct we trult that no necefity 4vU a.
rife to compel him to deviae from his refolu.
ton. The in-eligiby of a Prefident for a
third term, is among thofe features that oueh,
to have been irG engrafted upon our conRitu.
ton but as that has not been prefcribed, we
hope that the patriotfm of Mr.. Jefferfon ma,
be permitted to erect it into precedent.
Who is to bs his fucceTor, we know not.
There is yet time enough before us to decide
upon this queftion, & at prefent that inveRiea.
ton ihoud be confined to the private circles of
iociety. But it is we'll known, that two names
of high celebrity have been already brosght
forward and IN iuch a manner as almof to ex.
clude the idea of any other competitor. On
own choice is already made. We cannot
but think, that one Of thefe is eminently anal.
fed for this high office we could not But fear
from the administration of the other, few
OF thoie very dangers, which the prefent ad.
miniitration was called upon to avert. But
this IS not the time to commence this delicate
inyeftigation. 1t is enough 70 FAY, chat neither