Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-25

fixed by the constitution, or supplied by
practice his Office nominaily tor years,
will in fact become for life: and history
shews how easily THAI legeDerAtes into an
inheritance.
=, Believing, that representative govern
mcnt, resp 1nsible at short periods OF cleo
tions, is that which produces the greatest
sum of happiness To mankind, feel 1t
duty to do no act which shall essentially
Impair that priu'Iple (; aud | should unwii-
inglv be the person, who, disregarding the
sound precedent set by an illGstrious pre-
decessor. should furnish the first example
of proongation hey ond the second term o!
Office
Truth also, requires me to add that
am sensible of that decline, which advan-
cling years bring on-and feeling their ply
steal, | ourht not 20 doubt their mental eff
feet; happy, If am the first To perceive
aud 70 obey this admonition ofnature, and
~ solici> IA retreat from cares too great,
for tho wearied faculties of age.
Tor the appreciation, which the general
assembly Of Pennsylvania has been pleased
TO express, OF the principles ami measures
pursued in the management of thcir atftirs,
] am sincerely thankful; and should be
So fortunate, a. to carry into retirement,
the equal appreciation and good will ofmy
fellow citizens, generally, 1t will be the
comfort OF my future days, am! will close
service offos'ty years, with the only reward
il ever wished.
TIL: JEFFERSON.
December 10, 1907.
Extract OF letter from one of the county
members TO the editor:
@LANcAsTER, Dec. 18th, 1907.
st'rhe die is cast. The president has
announced his determination not 10 stand
another pojl, In letter 10 the general as
ssnlbly Though l regret the determina-
ton, on account of our foreign relations,
and the peculiar circumstances -four cOun-
try, the principle upon which it is bottom-
ed, has the homage or my soul, and enti
ties the man to immortality. lie considers
tic principle of rotation in Office, as the
preservative, if not the essence of free
government, and yield ng to the dictates oE
n sound mind, and ali honest heart, he is
DESTROYS tn supply constitutional defect,
by voluntary example. If any thing
were wanting, to stamp Jefferson great and
good to place him highest on the list Of
the benefactorS of mankind, the voluntary
surrender of the first office in the gty OF d
free people. entities him to precedence.
lie viii retire against the wishes of Ame-
RIGA, not like Dioci;ian, or Charles the 5th,
because he IS satisfied and sick with pow
cessarv TO the happiness Of his country and
he will be followed in his retirement by the
benedictions and gratitude of Il people, to
whom his life has hrcn devoted, 10 render
free and happy. blessings attend thy re-
treat, thou venerable saGS, and NAV the
evening of thy hfe, he gildsd with the
bright beams of glory To thy country, and
Gnceasihg happiness TO the people, whose
fond parent thou hast been"
C.4arora.)
ON TIE PRESENT STATE or THINGS.
IN every situation o. 4 Iree society, no
man can be a good citi=eH, who does not
make the interests and rights of-his own
Eountry, the firsr and .c0nstauI guide Of ali
lis actions which relate 10 the society,"
This duty particularly incumbent on those
citizens u whom tne great body OF the
people lsoS for inIormAtion-the publish
ers of He " Spapcrs. lis IN a peculiar MAJ
ncr incumbent on the publishers OF Amer-
can newspapers, where liberty exists eX-
clusvely 30 the whole people, and where
the press is ~ once the monitor and the
interpreter o. the public opinion.
No man whn is capable of a JUST mode
of thinking and reasoning, can IVoa a de-
Hibernate. enquiry into the situation ct the
United States, IN violation To tue nations Of
Europe, doubt The Inevitable certainty Of
our being shortly placed in a state OF actu-
al or incidental war. And if such DC real
ly the casc--which we could without much
pains demonstrates the conduct which O.
very man ought to pursue, who IS an Ame-
rican citizen, and attached tn our prospe-
ritz and ljberty--cannot be mistaken.
We shall expect credit Gur thc declara-
tion--that we sincerely believe it not TO be
the wish of any nember Of the general 90
Vernment TO embark in war wien 1t can
he avoided. We expect credit for this
from all partes, because those who have
been the opposers OF the administrator,
will ADMIT II from one or other Of the f1i-
lowing reasons The violent and prejudic-
ed will adult it, because il will appear 10
accord with their repeated charges of the
TiuSiLanimify of the executive. a more
liberal portion will admit it, because, how
ever they are opposed to the popular na-
ture of the government-they will allow
that the government has been well adnI-
nislered by Mr.. Jcf;rSoH.
We sinai expect credit in like manner
for the declaration which we make our
selves, as the publishers OF free newspa-
per, that our confidence in the wisdom OF
the administration alone, would induce us
20 wish for peace; AID that even w1bolt
that authority, our best wishes and efforts