The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-08

their ends by the low working of eyents--in
their greedincfs for authority they feizsd upon
all referved power strengthened the Executive
arm by means of implication and contribution,
and openly grafped at the mot facred rights of
the people. and to give fecurity to their fchemes,
boldly declared by law that the people fhculd
not utter their fcntimcnts upon the affairs of
government--unlefs Indeed, it fhould be in IA
YOUR of its meafures. What was the COME
quence: The people, thus directly attacked,
were roufed--the manly eloquence of their faith
full representatives was heard throughout the
union and the hopes of the Federalifts were
banhhed. The courfe now propofed by gen.
tiernen, 10 indeed more ingenious-but it is
therefore to my mind more terrible. You will
not fay that the people fhall not utter their fen
timents, but you declare, in effect, that their
Representatives, fhould not unlefs it be to ap-
prove the rneafures of the government. What
is the fchcmc you would now prcfent to the
view of the firft administration that f1all be
efficiently corrupt and ambitious to ufe it :?
This" Offend not the people direetly-enlift
them by nuniberefs unimportaRt forms on your
6de--if one or more of ther Representatives.
be found fuperior to the lures of executive IA.
your, and dare rate their voice againf Execu-
tive will, caufe them to be fuipeeed give out
the WORT Interpretations to all their mott indif-
ferent actions, procure then, to be denounced
by the fate Legislatures; thus fhall good and
virtuous. men be intmidatcd, or profcribed---
their Read fhail be fupplied by men obedient
to our wilI---through tbeje fhall our meafures
fucceed spitboat ofpeffion, and we arrive at
all power. No man, to whom the name &C
Republican gives credit, fiall renlain to oppofe
our fchernes fcdera!iits have already deceived
the people and they will not be believed"
Sir, Twill not in compliment to the integrity
OF any administration do that which I think
wrong upon principle, although fhould be
affured that no evil would immediately refut
from it. Are gentlemen 6eiroas to protect the
acts of the administration from all inquiry and
to hlence all fcrutiny ? ihould fuppoic that
an administration coudueecd with great wifdom
and much virtue would irather court inveitiga-
on, that their a6tS being feen and knowa fliould
be the better approved. Ineyer expect to have
any Representative Whole every aet fhall accord
with my Judgment uor do expect to fee any
Prehdent ofthc u States whefe adminiftration
fhsll in every refpe6t meet with my applaufe
and yet / expect 20 beas we'll fatishcd, in re-
latisn to either, as mott men. look to the
general courfe if that be good, it 10 rifficient
Where ihnd much to approve, the Etti- that
does not command my appiaufe ihall not re-
eeive my ceniure. If among, uia;,y things well
done, and tcsO of inferior .workuanflp, I
fhali conhder either that donot sunderland
fecfs of aweil conceived, but badly executed
debgn. Imete the fame neafare to my Re-
preventative and the Preiidep.. Ihavc, conf
dence in both. The fame virtues aud talents
which at hrtt gained my confidence to the
Prciident, in degree TO which never expect
70 have the fame reafons for bcftowing it ON
another, fill retain il. have the fame conf
dence in the government of the u. States that
ever had.
But will not adopt this RefoIution be.
eaute fee no good whichit can produce be.
csnie doubt whether the particular mcaflres
alluded to were the bef beeaufe it is an un-
juti6able attack upon the independence of
the Representatives of the people-and be-
csufe under the influence of vitious and
ambitious naturalization it might be ufed as
precedent TO bring into operation the noit wick
cd ichemes.,
Hthe Pr.fdent ofthe U.States was here, he
would be compelled 10 vote with me or to a.
bandon many of thofe fentinlents which COM
mand to him my confidence. Look to all bis
public declarations examine his meiages to
Congrefs. Does he not feduiouly recommend
you TO guard againit executive influence, to
leave nothing to its difcretion which can be
withheld, to limit il as much as pofitle in all
ito operations! Well knowing that the exccu-
tive of the United States is 70 contributed as to
oe capable OF tneddiDg the moi banetui inFu-
ence over the whole union. Do not gentlemen
perceive that this ardent DEERE Of hunting down
the minority is the effect of executive influence,
of a confidence that docs not frfficentIy guard
agaiDf confequences Are we not told that
the naturalization can icarcely han3 up under
the weight and talents of this oppoing mno.
rity; and that It'll high time for every friend
TO republcannm TO rally around the executive
But who can believe the truth oftbis luminous
That an administration wife, firm and virtuous,
hrong the Affections of the people, and rich
IN the patronage OF a numberlels train of Offices,
can be ihakened by the talents of any one, two
or three men ! men acting too in the plain, O.
pen, retpOnEbie character of representatives
Our compliments muft be falfe--the adminif-
tra;isn muf cesfs to be wife, firm and virtuous,
o. iheie fears mutt be difniR.
There is one rcafon upconnecfed with the
merits Of the quetion, why lament that this
fubjs6 has been unnecefariIy obtruded upon
as; which is, that it is calculated to excite an
unpeaiant feufibility between thofe VINO baye
heretofore acted upon the fame principle. The
introduction Of this fubject feems TO have
thrown cold and fufPicions afpeet upon that
inteTcourie of civity which was heretofore o.
pen, candid and affeaicnate. / with to aba.e
the canies Of thia uanecefary irritation which
hope viii IN fome mcclure be done by adopt
ing the iubititute to the reioluton which ftib.
htufe throws gesture on none. But, Gr,
there 10 mother reafon why am oppofed to the