The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-13
prFLfcrIoNs.

DC is improper in reipe9 cf hsae.
IL ,s Improper in rsipett ofbiose.
itsimproptrin reipeet ct principle.
And IT IS improper IN rclpca To- tie n,au.er
in which Il is clo:hed, TIE arguments which
1t urges, and Tie aa!tari.ies which il
quotes.
Why, inrefpee of ti,.s Becaure were fich
a reiolufion even proper in itleif,. there would
oe ample time toriits eXpref!ion during the next
ieihon OF the Legislature. 1t is a caucus of the
republican members of CongrefS, VINO have &C.
morally nominated the candidate for The Pref
dental chair. But this nomination is fcarcey
ever made, until at it's very adjournment; and
mott probably the next Congrtfs will not ad.
journ before April or May.---Iyere this refolu-
ton then tn he adopted twelve months hence,
there would have been fuiIicien, time to hare
,nftrueted the members Of Congrefs, as to the
ienfiments of the Legislature of Virginia there
would have been time enough to have convey
ca theie ientiments TO the rcmoteft extrentics
OF the union. There would have been bciides,
this important advantage, that the Legislature
wouldnot have pledged thenfelves to fupport a.
ny man, until it was aSfolu.ely neceiIary To give
this pledge that they would have another
twelvemonth's experiment upon the Gtuaton of
our country and the meafures of its adminiiirx-
lion; during which period the very advantages
prom'ted by this rcfoution from Mr.. Jefferfon's
reelection, might have been REALIZED or fu-
perceded by experiment. Our differences with
foreign nations might have been adjufted the
eoPpohtion of the republican minority might
nave been removed, and even the wiihed-for
amendments to the Contribution itfelf might
nave been placed in favorable train for adop-
ton.
The refolution is improper in rcfpea to
pfHeej becaufe Virginia !hould have been the
very laft fate i'm the Union to have adopted it..
a he. nf he Fed, cf he
North That Virginia was dipoied to do
mineer over the rett of the Union. That 70
unbouuded was her ambition tia. Che was un-
willing to lee any ether than her own citizens
placed in the preiidential chair. This is a
mott unfounded calumny. But fhould we
adopt any meafure, which is calculated TO
give colour to tho!e fufpicicnG To exaf-
perate the jealoufy Of our SITTER States? To
mfreprefent our acknowledged views Should
we do any thing TO perfuade our countrymen,
that we fhouId be dillatisfed with any
other than Virginian, when we are contented
with the henours which we have already en-
joyed; when we are willing to reign them
to any rate, whole fons as well qualified, AZ
the mott favoured OF orr ozvn citizens But
thefe are minor considerations, in refpe9 to
the great principle violated by this refoution
Let us ak the members of the Virginia Legif.
iature, whether the conaitutional powers of the
liberties of this republic:
Whether the only means of dimihfhipy
thcfc dangers are not to diminiih their dura.
ton
Whether the confti,atioo itfelf like our
fate conftitutionl (hould not have limited the
period of Executive fervice:
And fince it has not done 70, whether il is not
the duty of MIR. ]. to fet an example to hi,
fuccefrors, which will bind them with fcarceIy
lcfs energy, than even provifion of the confti.
tuition would have done.
From Mr.. J. we have no approximations. He
is the mott vrtuous officer whom the United
States has ever produced and his country can
expect nothing blu: the moa difintereftcd fer.
vices from his adminiftration.-But it is unue-
ceflary to recapitulate the remarks, which we
have 70 frequently urged upon this fubiee {:
we will diimts the fubjeet with few ftricfures
upon the form and argument nf this refoution.
Why" mea earneab reqsef" Mr.. J. to ferve
his country! Is this the language in which one
republican fhould addrefs another? No. Let
US fay to Mr.. Jefferfon owe fhall not addreG
you in the language Of Petitioners. You are a
good citizen {: and therefore will not expect or
require fuch folicitation. If you can ferve your
country, we flall be fatisfied with eonyineiue
you of the fact. Your own patriotifG will
prompt you 10 comply with our wiihes."
Let us caft one tranfitory glance over it's ar.
gument5 and it's autboritieJ
Our foreign relations are Eid TO demand il.
And why? becaufe our prefent differences may
! not be adjufed before the expiration of two
years. But is there not great probability that
they will be brought to criis? Let it be
granted that they will not is MIR. ]. the only
man who can negotiate with foreign nations /?
Is it not probable that his fuccefIor will be
intimately acquainted with the actual rate of
thofe relationss Are not the neceiIary docu-
| ments filed for his information?
But the "fchifm, which has recently taken
place among the republicans" demands his re-
election. Unlefs this fchifm i, healed, " our
political edfice" may be "entirely annihilated."
Is then the Legislature of Virginia prepared to
fay that the republican minority is really
70 very eonfderable, as to endanger our
political edifice" by the icIifms, which
they have produced Do their numbers in
Congrefs, in Virginia, and in the union, juRi-
fy this exaggerated picture But this fchifn
has arifen &c from a difference in opinion ref
peGing mere qurtons Of expediency or of DO
Icy" Let the fatt be even admitted. what i,
the coDcluGon /? That Mr.. J. is to ferve until
every difference of opinion on qpeftons OF ex
pediency is removed? IF 70, let Mr.. 7. be
" earneaIy requeGed" at once to fcrve during
life The time will never arrive when all differ
ence of opinion will diiappear?
If amendments be necciiary to the Executive
departments OF the federal contribution (,nd
heaven knows how financially they have been
neglected during the lat FIX years y is II not