The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-03-11

power" We think however that there is
ANOTHER part of our federal contribution,
infinitely more defective than the two alluded
to and in compariion of which they fink into
nothing. We mean that part which relates to
the contribution of the Executive Department.
On this fuhjeet we take the liberty to ore.
lent to our readers the following extract from
work which has deisrvcdIy attracted the at
tention or the world a work, which what
ever may be thought fits metaphysical or fpe
cuiative principles, is uDcommonly profound in
Its views of the different forms of government.
OF a PRESIDENT WITH REGAL POWERS.
Still monarchy 1t fren,s has one refuge left We
will not" FAY fome men, have an hereditary mo.
narchy, VIZ acknowledge that to BE- an enormous
injuitice. We are Got contented with an elective
monarchy, we are not contented with linaited one
We admit the Office however reduced If the tenure
he for life, to be an ntolerable grievance Blu, why
not have Kings, as we have magistrates and eg;flarv.
aieInble', renewable by frequen. el.ctiopss We
may then change the holder Of the Office as often as
| we plsafe"
Let US not be feduced by mere pIaufibili,y of
Phraie, nor employ words withou, having reaeS- ed
on their meaning What are we TO underaud bv the
appellation, king! If the Office have any meaning
tieens realonabie that the man who holds it. hould
Pois the privilege, either of appointing to certain
emPloyments his own d;fere.ori, or of rem,t;ng
the DEGREES of criminal juaite, of convaknp and
diniiimg popular aiIembiies, of affxing and ref
ing his ianttio TO the DEGREES of tholc ai.mhI;.s
Mott of thefe privileges may claim refpea,ble
authority in the powers delegated to their Prefden
by the United State, of America
Let us however bring thefe ideas IN the torrbGo,.
OF reaion. Nothing appear more adventurous than
the rspong, unlefs in cafes Of abfoute n-ceity the
deoion OF any affair OF importance to the public in
,ne pret ct one man. But this neceity will carce
y De aedged in any of the articles Jun enumerated
what advantage does one poirfs over a focie,y
or council ofmen in any of thefe reIpe6fs, The
diiadvarta.es under which he hbours are obv;o,,.
ne Is more caiiy corrupted, and more eaily .nlgd
ne cannotf P"eis 70 many advantages for obtail;.nr
accurate information He is abundan,ly more liable
to the attacks of PATTON and caprice of unfounded
antPathy to one man and Partially to another, of
| unehartable ceDfure or blind dolatry. He cannon
be always upon his guard; there will be the moments
IN which the mot exemplary vigilance is liable TO
iurrriie. Meanwhile we are placing the fubiea in
much TOO favorable light. We are fuppoiInp his
intentions to be upright and uR but the contrary of
this will be more frequently the truth Where pow
ers beyond the capacity of human nature are ntrned
wees the diigrate Of human nature will be eneender-
ea. Add to this, that the fame reafops which prove
that government, wherever it exits mould be dire g.
ed by the ienle OF the people large equally prove
that wherever public officers are neceIary the fenie
OF the whole, or of body of men mott nearly an /
preaching in fPrit the whole, ough, to decide on
their pretenions
Thee objections applicable to the moi innocent
of the privilege, above enumerated that of apnoir
tang to the exereiiieof certain enpoynents The cafe
VIII be Till wore if we confder the other priyiIedye,
We thal have location hereafter to examine the pto
pretty OF Pardoning offences, conlidered indepen.
IDENTITY OF the Perfons in whom that power is
velted but in the mean time can anv ,b;pa
De more intolerable than for Jingle indi
Vidual to be authorized, without afiignirp a rea-
Ion upon which no one is allowed to pronounce, to
luPercede the grave diclons of a court of iu(tre
founded upon careful and public examination of eyi.
denee Can any thing be more uniult than for = |
Jingle individaal to aume the function of informing
nation when they are to deliberate and when tbe,
are to ceafe from debsration
The remaining privilege is of too iuiqutous ma |
ture to be an obe9 of much terror IL is NOT in tbe
compass OF credibity to conceive, thar any people
would remain quiet fpeators, while the fenie of one
man was openly and undfguiedly fet aganfl the fenfe
oil t1e national representative in frequent ale.bly
and UTTERED 20 overpowerit Two or three dire in
itances OF the exerce of this negative could no, fail
TO annihiate 1t forever Accordingly, wherever il
slupPoed to exit, find it foftened and nourihed
ny the genial dew of pecunary corruption either
rendered unneceilary beforehand by nifter appliea
ton to the fralty of individual members or diiarm
ed and made palatable in the feauelbv cop;ous ef
fon of venal emoens. # it can in anv ea(. he an.
dured 1t mutt be in countries where the degenerate
representative no longer polees the fympahy of the
public, and the naughty PRECEDENT is made aered bv
the blood OF an exalted ancery which flows through
MS VEINS, or the holy oil which the Representatives of
the Moe High have poured on his Head. A COM
mon mortal periodically ieleaed by his fellow e,-
zens TO watch over their ineres, can never be iup
poied TO pofsfs this fupendons virtue
there be any truth in hefe realonings i, inc Vita
oy foi!o" that there are important functions of
general iuPerlntendence that uftly be delegated
to Jingle individual If the Office of prefident be
neeeilary, either in delibera,ive aGembly or an adj
!nin'ratve council, fuppofng fuch council to ex.
IT. ms employment will have relation to the order of
their proceedings and by means conflt in the arb-
,rary Preferrng and carrying into effect his private
deeifou. a king it unyarying ufage can have given
meaning to word, deiigns upon whole Jingle
deretion fome part of the public intere made to
depend. What ufe can there be for fuch man in an
unPerverted and well ordered tstel With refpea TO
Its internal affairs certainly none How far the Office
can be OF advantage in ranfafions with foreign
governments we fhal hereafter have location TO de.
eide.
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