Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-01-13

i .
What will &c the effect ofthis court Of pro
iceetilng! Are YOU ready to establish by mi
precedent that upon cv'ry occasion when an,
republican representative, impclled bv q
sense OF his duly, shall oppose the wish Of
the executive, or any measure of the govern.
ment, the General Assembly of Virginia
viii intcrpose with it's denunc: alfonso Ii
this be done on one occasion, il must on a
mother, or she President and the admins
tration viii be left under indirect censure
Tor gentlemen say we must adopt this re-
solution, or it will operate a reproacb up
! on the government DO you expect, sir,
when once this course of procedure is sane
! toned, there will not be found in all succee
ding time, men, counting executive favour,
| or with better motives, TO offer similar re-
so!utions--and thereby pat you under that
same sort of necessity, the authori-
I ty of which YOU now allow ? Or
IS 1t expected that this denunciation,
! this hroscrhtion of'the minority Of the last
congress wills ence all opposition in future,
ana that no republican representative will
hereafter dare to oppose the executive
will /! What, sir, if this UfH require i'm
proper things to be done, or if it become
vicious--sha it not be opposed But all
republican opposition to any measure, is
I hereby prescribed and as to the federal
lists, such has been their habit of opposing
every measure right or wrong, they will
not be believed. What then will be your
/ situation? What we'll informed republican
who dare think and bG0honest, do you ex-
poet will under these circumstances, remain
! IN Your representation Ifhe has capacity,
he will think; if he thinks, his Judgment
{ may lead him on some subjects, to oonclusi-
/ onS differing from the administration if he
I he honest, he will follow the dictates of his
! judgment. But if he dare do this, the le-
: g'slanre of Virginia dcuouncei him as n
traitor. ] his Will be his Situation on one
hand are placed hopes and prospects ofeX-
ecutive favor and patronage, If he advocate
measures pleasing to it but the honest die
tatcs of his judgment tell him those mea-
sures arH not good on the other hand, rest
an terror the dennciations of the state, if he
dare oppose What must nc do? Give up
his independence and become CORRUPT, or
abandon his post. This course so objecti-
onabc to my mind, will throw your govern
nlent back into the hands of the fcderaljsts,
or produce YOU a result still more terrible,
, II indeed there be any thing more 10 be de-
! prcca' ed. Are the means OF seducng re
! u"esentatjvc from the rcspec: he owes tn
the source Of his authority, the people, too
I weak in the government of the u. States,
| trOna &c, that we must throw our denun-
Citations to destroy his independence, or
| drive him from his post In what does the
! greatest security If representative govern
( mcnt consist Is it not in the independence
! OF the representative, as opposed to the
| executive influence, & in EUrr rcshons1-
| 5iHty to the people whom he immediately
! represents ? Why shall we intervene be-
: tween the people and their representatives I?
Wherefore this anxiety 10 take from the
people the right of having the account
/ H'a6r 70 them, BY their public servants !?
/ WIN YOU take from the people the rcspon-
! sibllity Of their representatives and trans
| Ter 1t 70 Richmond so the General Assem-
I hly Are you afraid to trust the people I?
/ IF the people be dissatisfied with their re-
! personalities, they will leave them athome
| and eleCt others. But YOU deem them mn
worthy of taking the accoUnt, and official
I W throw rCar weight into the scale Of exc
cntire inAncrce-an Influence heretofore
I deprecated By US. Has it by any means
( become weakened? Do not gentlemen say
we have an executive, the wisest, the firm
est the most yirtuous the world ever saw 4;
and IN administration so enlightened as to
be the wonder of nations, and 1he boast of
Americans! To my mind it appears but a
Door compliment 20 such a government TO
allow, that our ala becomes necessary to
protect it against the consequences of a
difference Of opinion, which has happened
between it and a few representatives Of the
people diiicrenceof opinion too, that re-
i1tcS only to one or tT0o measures of e.r-
fcdie1cV, and which does not bring into
question the right to exercise any power
or authority delegated by the constitution.
Gentlemen NAV call the opposers Of this
resolution by what political names they
please, and denOunce them as enemies Of
I the administration-but it will not change
( my c0urse-Have they not refused every at
tempt 10 modify the resolution, so that
while it should express an undir1inished
/ confidence in the government, it should not
be calculated TO give the evil effects of
which ! complain = I was willing 20 do
this, although / thought it unnecessary.
but ] I'm not willing to praise the govern
ment Tor measures which aDpreheud to
be Objectionable. Yet / may be mista-
ken. But ] act upon the convictions of my
mind, As they now are and ] viii not,
through fear Of being called a fcdcralist,
suffer Gentlemen 60 force into my mouth
whatever language they please in the form
of a Resolution. ! expect this day 70 be
found ina minoriy-but appeal with con-
/ fdcnce TO the people. When they are rcg-
dy to prescribe every Representative who
dare stand between their rights and the
approach Of executive power. When they