The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-04-10

CDou'a not only be Pnre 6Rt nninlpe17ed? ] warn
him TO have it Confantly i'm hs remembrance,
and TO beware how he inconIideratey brtrays
motives which may expofe him 10 further fcru-
tiny.
doubt not, this will be deemed very fin
gular publication. The fyle of it is, indeed,
little confonant to that which prevails too
generally throughout this fuperb and courtly
metropolis. But the fentiments, as well "a the
manner in which they are exprefT.d. are fuita-
Die to my own temper, s. antiioned BY nv own
Judgment and am not very anxious to OBJ
tam the appreciation of thofe, who approve
the conduct which have here condemned
STRANGE Err FROM THE COUNTRY.
Our laft paper contained an article from the
6oFon Gentinei, concerning the nomination of
capt. Clarke as " Lieutenant. Colonef' in the
army OF the U. S. on which we intended to
MAKE Jingle comment. 1t efcaped us howe
yer IN the hurry of competition; but as our
comment was intended to difplay one impor-
tant change in the military fyftem propof.d by
the Prehdent but rejected by the Senate, it
may not be unimportant to recall it to our rea-
ders.
ihe Prehdent nominated Captain or Lieute-
nant Clarke, the entcrpri6ng companion of
captain Lewis, as Lieutenant Colonel in the
army of the U. States.
The Senate did not approve, in other words
they rejected the nomination.
Inc federal papers chuckIe at this variation
OF lentment aud fneeringly ak, how it is
poho'e, rs deueeratJ can do no eyrons, for
democratic Preidert and democratic Senate
10 diiaeree But if this Disagreement proves
any thing at all, it operates in favour of the re.
publican party. 1t proves, that this demo-
cratic Senate are not 70 completely the fubfrr-
went uaves OF this democratic Prelident as the
federal papers have falfeIy afferted-.-Two
rePublicans may confcientiouily differ upon
iuoordinate points one may be attached to A
certain plan, and the other oppofed to it {:
And yet whoever was ridiculous enough to in
ter, that on all great qusftons they were not
Perfectly agreed and that there was not
!ne warmet attachment and concert between
them !-lt is precifely the fame cafe with ref
Pect to the Preident and the Senate.
The Federal prints, however, as ufual, op-
pole this meaiure of the PRECEDENT and are not
aihaned to range tbemfelyes under the banners
or Democratic Senate.-Let this however
pats; 1t is furely very little to the honour Ell
Their of the Prefident or the Senate to obtain
TIER concurrence.--Let us approach the
ground of this oppo6tion. 1t is to the appoint
ment tfelf that they Object.
But no one who knows Capt. Clarke, can poi.
hbly iupPofe 1t is to the man himfelf the oppsfi.
ton IS intended. With fpirit dauntleGs and
ilrm; OF an enterpriiing and experienced tenn
per; or mind that burns to dRinguif, itfelf
in the good of his country; no man can Object
TO capt. Clarke's appointment.--It fhould be
added too, that his late meritorious Journey to
the Pacihc Ocean gives him at leaft fome claim
to the gratitude of his country
III is not IN fact to the man but the principle
OF the appointment that the Federal prints apozv
their oppoiitIon. The principle is, thai Capt.
SiatSe mas been placed over the heads of Off
GERS, older than himfef. At this, the Federal
prints have RATED mott outrageous Glamour ::
and they fairly contend, that in no cafe ought
the principle of feniority ts be overeaped.
We fhall not enter into any Iorr 5iG.p(Iion
of this abfratt queftion. Certain il ia that
there are many cafes in which feniority is 4 TO-
lid recommendation TO preftrment, becaufe it
may IN thoie cafes contribute to fecure that ex
perience and diiop!ine which are indifpenible
to excellence. But there afo. exit many
other exceptions. Many man is fit for an en-
Ign who would difgrace captains commit
lion and many one, who could head
company with honor, would endanger the
iafety CT regiment. This fyffem would there
fore lead to this fatal confequence, that the
NOT important and refponfble Offices would
OS OSSuP'Su Wy UlS0 VINO mad no other recon-
mendation to boat of than tina, they had fnccer
iyely paiIed through all the subordinate grades
OF the army.
There is no nation that has not fometimes
deviated from this principle; but did tbgv
therefore deviate FROM the road to victory?
The revolution of France has completely
hown the abfurditY of preiiing this principle
to extremes. What would have been her itua
ton where would flIe have found military
talents fufiicient toreft her formidable enemies:
If the enthufafm of her feelings had been com.
pletely fwal!owed up by this brute and undiC.
tngui!hing principle ? Where would have been
her Moreaus. her Bonapartes, and Berthiers
Where would have been the military tsleut
which has given her fuch a decided aicendancy
over the other nations of Europe
Our own Rate furn(hes Mr. JeGerCoo with
inificient prectden in nomin1ting To inferior
military appointments, or country courts do
not implicitly rely upou the claims ri Seniority
nor IN eeeting to the higher military Offices
docs the Legih'ture conceive itlelf bound I'D
10y the fame renr6ton from liAeniug TO the claims
OF iuperIor merit or republican principle We
obssrved very FIR k ne example of this con.
dset during their very lat FELTON,. Nv iupply-
ing the vacant Office of brjgadier.general, they
overlooked the leDior claims of Col. Brecken.
ridge, fortified as they were by the exprefs re.
COMMUNICATIONS Of the officers Of the Brigade.
They beloved the appointment upon Andrew
Moore, one of The fenators of the US