The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-11-27
Ole enquirer.
RICHMOND, NoyrMBxx 81.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT.


IN his lat meffage TO Congrefs, yet it feems to
be pretty well eftabifhed that fnch is his nten-
tion, and II is highly probable that he will avail
| himteIf of fome fubfequent communication du-
ring the preient fefiion of Congress to make it
known To his Country. In the eltimation of his
beR friends, this great man owes it to his coun-
try, whole Republican Institutions he has 70 uni.
formiy promoted, to retire from the helm of
State and he owes IL too TO his own unrvalled
glory, which aef of his life has ever tarniihed
IN the flightef degree, and which only requires
this one difiBtereRed facriice to make it immor-
tai.
Bnf fhall he not obey the voice Of his coun-
try, which has 70 repeatedly called him again to
the chair, through 70 many public meetings Of
the people, and 70 many addrenes of the legif-
latures of the union The anfwer is, no. It is
not certain, that the republicans Of this country
are in favour OF any mans continuing to fill the
chair, though that man be Mr.. Jefferion him
ielf becaufe their voice has never been dftintt-
| ly collected, by public reglters, fuch as were
opened by Bonaparte in France, nor have thofe
who are attached to the principle of rotation,
ever publicly exprefied their fentiments. II is
befides the duty as it is the privilege of great
men to arrelt the progreis of the public mind,
when it is engaged in the purfuit of erroneous
principles, at whatever facrifce oftheir own in
| dividual nteref and at whatever riik of incur
L
be hoped too, that we ihal never fee the time in
this country, when any man fball think himfelf
.authorited 10 plead the invitations of a part of
the public voice as a rcaion for his continuing
T; IN this high office. Would it be difficult for an
T, intriguing man, like Burr, if fuch man fhould
unfortunately be made Preiident, to raife an ar
tihcial voice in fome lection of the u. S., pre-
tend that his fervices were required by his coun-
| try and labour to keep himfelf perpetualy in
]
cafe with refpe6 TO the addrenes prefented to
Mr.. Jefferion: but every man ano knows how
eay it is for the bet of actions to be quoted as
precedents for the WORT.
| Asst the next quettlon which occurs who
| is to be the fuccenor of this luxurious man it
! is perhaps fortunate that 10 little dicufIion has
taken place; for diicuflion might produce con-
trariety of opinion, and this again wouId be
productive of fchiims and dvilions in the re-
publican party. 1t is perhaps the only advan.
! tage which has reiulted from the attack on the
f! Cheiapeake and Aaron Burr's trial, that thefe
have furnlhed lome other employment to the
Ipublc curioiity, and diverted the public mind
from this peculiarly delicate and intereitine
fubjeel.
| Yet whatever be the caufe, the confeouence
is certain, that little difcuiiion of the merits of
different candidates bias taken place in the pub
lie prints. few iquihs have appeared in the
federal papers but the republican papers have
| hitherto preierved a marked and dienified f.
lence; except one fhort eliay which appeared
in the Charleiton City Gazette; and two othsr
elaborate efiays. one in the Baltimore Evening
Pof, and the other within a few DAYS paft in
the Warrington Expoiitor. In the laft, the
names OF James Monroe and James Madifon are
mentioned as the candidates Tor the Pref dcncy:
but the preference is given to George Clinton.
henry Oearborne, John Langdon, Levi Lin
coin, Samuel Smith (of Baimore) Nathaniel
Macon and governor Riilledge of Georgia, are
quoted as the candidates for the Vice Prefiden.
Icy
| But it is perhaps impof1ibIe to avoid fome
coihon and ichiin on this ntereiting fubieef !;
q all that is TO he expected from the different
candidates is, that they ihouid abftain from all
| intrigue, tampering, bargaining and itipu!atin,
FOR votes now, to give offices hereafter and all
| that is to be expected from their Importers is.
that they fhouid minge as much potiibIe toera-
ton & torbearance with their oppolition towards
each other. Let IT be their firtt great with to
do nothing but what promotes the general
good aud their great object, to keep the re.
Publicans firm and undivided, 70 as continual.
| ly to preient 4 Macedonian Phalanx sgainft
their common political enemies. With all
Interpretations, however, 1t is 10 be apprehen-
ded, that much of the warmth and much of
the contrariety OF opinion, which arifes from o.
Their great concerns, ihould mingle their inllu-
ence IN this peculiarly important appointment.
| Is 1t not wonderful however, that much
more interefting quetion than this, has not &C.
| cupied more of the public attention and that
inltead of attending 70 much to the man him.
felt, the contribution of the Office itfef fhouId
! efcape all obieryation Does not the impor-
lance of the hrh completely depend upon the
Iait and yet while we are quarrelling about
the next PRECEDENT, while we are perhaps break
ing forth into animolites and dvihoBs (yhofc
dangers no man can aDticipate) is it not won
derful that the erroneous frueture of the Pre-
hdentlai department., its exorbitant and anti
republican powers, ihould be completely for
gotten? Why not lay the axe to the root of
the tree at once and by boldly Graduating the
caufe itielf, TO arreG thofe evils which in foIce
lcis fortunate crihs, may prove emnenty fatal
to our union Or to our H6eTfieJ?
Why are the States 10 likely to be Jealous OF
each other in all that relates to the appointment
OF Preiident 1t becauie the Preiident ia
10 high All officer it is becau(e he poGehes 70
much power aud may poflefs it for 70 long a
time. Retrench this authority; preYeRt the
poitibity of its continuing 70 long in any one
individuals hands aud you deprive each Aate
OF the principal lource of their deIire to fee it
in the hands of its own citizens ofthe priu.
cipal iource Of their jeaoufy and iufpicion
| Why IS the fame remark applicable to the diff
terent parties Of men, who Gupoort their own
favorie candidate II is prec,fely fer the fame
Ireafon 4 fear of fseiuV ftlch high Office in a