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

eft is wife to eonverfe with paft hours,
And ak them, wha, report they bear!"
The old doctrine of cxcufion by rotation,
is again introduced upon the taps of difcuffion,
in reference to the next Presidential ele tfon.
1t has hitherto been conhdered a ferrous and a.
armng deEderafum of our federal compact,
that the time of Presidential eligibility has been
left underlined and the temper of the day,
fear, is but an ominous precurfor of the evils
that await the defects, and the odious doctrine
Of official perpetuity.
When fpeak of this doctrine as hateful and
calamitous, am confident of being in unifon
with a comfortable majority of the country
but If fpeak in the fame train of Pr, Gdential
continuance, am aware that they who fah-
on their politics TO "fuit the varying hour
will erroneoufly afiien me to a fmall minority.
To all thinking and impartial minds the dRinc-
ton mutt appear too fimfy and faitdious, to
leave-cven the fhadowed vefige of a doubt. In
the one innance, the opinion is inpoiiiic and
nntenable, becaufe it avowedy fantiions the
perpetuity of power; in the other, it becomes
popular aud wife, although the identical evil
exits, but works under the ambiguous form Of
continuance The Cc:a;. &c king :; =, tytt,tt
would excite horror and amaze, whilR the fame
mind would accede to the fame fyftem of mea-
fures under different title. How is this palpa-
bic inconfiitsncy TO be reconci'sdS You would
tdhC IIOul IT'S name. ctC lGUcr It's rOXi-
GUS qualities To circulate under another. You
will not permit the contribution to declare the
Prehdents term to be dnrante ,uifa, bur in the
lame breath decide that YOU will eIetf him term
after term fine dir. II laudabie motive, fei-
low citizens, 70 W ich l afcribe this paradox Of
mind; your Proficient is worthy of immortal
honors, and your gratitude, l am fure, is anxi-
QUE to heitow them, but let it not aifociate
with infatuated credu'ity, and thus launch at
hazard the patrmony Of our fathers, and the
unalienable inheritance of pofterity. If we re
cur to the bittory OF man, " hich prudeGcc and
reflection enjoin ns to adopt our compass
upon the porientous main Of politics, re fhal;
ind that human nature is treachcrous AID am
bilious : That man is eHtireiy the creature
OF circumstances, and that thofe which recon-
mend him 20 elevation, are waibtd away and
forgotten by a new and fuccef!ive wave, after
his Object is attained. live examine the fuhie6
by the hiitory of tyrants, we fhall find, that E.
ven the Attention OF Neroa was attended By nn-
wearIed acclamations ofjoy, and that his reign
was expected to be a calm unvared courfe OF
Ju,tice and humanity. And it is true, that the
initial years CT his reign, were unclouded and
benIgnant but the poHeffion of power foon in
tuied ITS taefui influence in his bofom, and
ms name even now, Is the object OF fchooI-boy
execratlon. This was not alone the cafe with
Nero, but with DomitiaD and Caiigula and ma
ny others, the hiRory of whole lives fully con-
hrm the recttude OF my text that human ma
ture is treacherous and ambitious. and will fell
dom furrender power to which it has been ac-
cuitomed. may be told by the advocates of
different belief, that there are as many hifto-
rioal inlances to the contrary, of men, who
have fpontsneoufiy laid down their power; to
which the names of DOclelian, Maximian,
CharlesV. and even Sylla may be adduced in
evidence I
may then he afked, If it is unnatural or I'M
sxampled that MIR. J. mould do this, and more
particularly when required by the voice OF the
union. This, it muft he confeGed, is a fnbieG
OF experiment in which our neftimabIe rights
are involved, and about which, we Glould be
timoronny cautious. In making this expert.
ment, we Mould fureIy attend TO the lehons Of
hfiitory ana reflection. But fra of all, where is
the necefity OF trial /?
The idea itfe1f ia A libel upon the intelIef1u-
al character of. america, that we D,ouId have
no Other psirio: capable Of fpplyine the vaca
ton. And If ttere be truth in The idea, it OK
horts US 10 beitow By open DECLARATION the Of
flee for life.
1t is true that the confidence and affection
OF the people is lrong and unaIieraby fixed
upon MIR. j., and If they wi1l to iignalife their
attachmeIt in any other mode Than Thanksgiving
and grateful encomiUm, LET them confer the
once tor life. But to TIL propoGtion enter
tam no doubt, they would be violently oppof-
co. and upon no other principle, taam the
treachery and ambition of nature, and from, fear
that he might be fuhied to the fame frsil,v and
perVerion: That lie might devife and prac.
tie fchfmes fubverlivc Of Our hapDy politv.
and infead of republican courle IF roiatjon
a monarchicaI courie Of lineal deicents might
be eRabil,ed
-"