The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-10-21


There is one very important consideration,
which oughtto address itself powerfully to the
people of N. York.
Is 1.-THE electoral votes of that statebe given 20 Mr.
Clinton tor president, they must be given to some
one else for vice president.
AS the republicans in the other states will 81.
Their universally, or for the most part vote for Mr.
-Chn.on as vice-president, 1T may follow, owing
to Ncw-York not SO. voting for him, that he vii
lose the Vice Presidency, and it may like wise
happen thatthat important station NAV be filed
by ederalist.
If it shonld happen from this mode sc vot;nr
that Mr. Clinton should be president. and Mr.
King Vice-President, the U. States will EXHIBIT
the extraordinary spectacle of having its two
highest officers from the same state, which the
constitution appears to have vie wed with so much
Jealousy, as to have made the special provision.
that the electors of the respective states should
vote for two persons of whom one at least sb.Il
not be an inhabitant ofthe same state with them
selves. :,
/. This, however, will lie very unimportartt re.
suit, compared with another that VIII inevitably
ensue.
Saying nothing of the weight of the Vice. Pre-.
sdent in the Senate, which ought not to be LIGHT
ly estimated, on him will devolve the functions
OF the President In the event of his removal
from Office ofhis death, resignation, or inability
to discharge the powers and duties cfthe said Of
hce"- These are the precise terms of the con.
stitution. Now let us briefly notice these seye-
raj events
/, "Removal from office.' This NAV be bv
impeachment. Suppose the federalists should
have sufficient strength in Congress successful.
ly to conduct an impeachment against a republ;
can Chief Magistrate, would they hesitate about
doing it Can we ever have Chief Magistrate.
who will more faithfully discharge his duty than
Mr.. Jefferson has done And vet is not ne
threatened with an impeachment by the federal
lists, even in the impotency of their power, Can
there then be doubt of their actually doing that
in its plenitude which they now menace,
For this there will be an additional and most
powerful stimulus. In case the President be
convicted on an impeachment, ON his consequent
renewal from office, the federal Vice President
viii assume the reins of government.
The House OF Representatives may impeach
by bare majority. Suppose they have this ma
jority, but cannot command twothirds ofthe
votes ofthe Senate, which are requisite for a con-
vlction. Suppose they impeach the President
Will not this, pending the trial, produce an in.
ability to discharge the powers and duties. of
his office II it does, they will deyolve on the
ce-President. Should this construction NOT
be considered aa thing of course, then the
Congress may, according to the constitutions.
g provide for the case of removal, death, resip,
nation or inability" do not say that this would
be the legitimate construction of the CONSTITUTE
on, but ] do think it extremely probable that il
would beput upon 1T by the federalists, had thew
a bare majority OF the two branches Of the leris.
lature.
3. death" IN case of Mr. Clinton's death.
Mr. King would become President. Now. by
consulting the best tables of the chances of life.
it will pc found that the probability is, that of
three individuals of the age of seventy, one will
die within the period of four years SURPRISING
then, Mr.. Clinton to be seventy years of are'
there is one chance out of three that he will die
during the: Presidency. Are the republicans of
the United States willing to incur this great
risque This circumstance very satisfactorily
accounts TOR the impression that is understood to
exist, that the federalists if they cannot carry
man of their own, will prefer Mr.. Clinton to Ell
Their of the other candidates, because they are
much younger men.
s. I" Resignation Just in proportion to
mans age, is the chance ofhs resigning a station
full of care and trouble, which, it is acknowled
ged, in times like these requires the most active
powers. Here then, the chances of the federal
lists are double first, by Mr.. Clinton's advanced
years, and secondly, by having Vice President,
on whom, on his resignation, the duties of Presi
dent willdevolve.
d. 4" Inability to discharge the powers and du-
ties" of President. We mean no reproacb nm
Goo. Clinton, when we say that generally lust in
proportion to mans years, after certain period
VI ne, BECOMES MS inability 10 discharge great
and important duties. That the chances of such
inability in of his being President arc great
ly multiplied, there can be no doubt This there
fore, presents strong nducement, on the par,
fthe federalists to prefer him to any other rep.b
lican candidate, and more especially in case by
making him President they-gain the Vice-P Pre-
sident. But this is not all Although there NAV
be no inability in Mr. Clinton, during the term
for which he is elected, TO discharge the duties
OF his office, may not the federaists allege that
there is Will there not be the strongest motive
to allege it, when by substantiating The alteea
ton, they will be able to get rid ofhIm, and there
by make way for their Vice President Should
they possess majority in the two houses of Con.
gre5s, is there not great probability of their do
ing so For, although the constitution does not
IN express terms vest this power in Congress
yet, IN declaring that in the case of the inability
OF the President to discharge the powers and
duties al his office, the same shall deyove on
lhe Vice-President, 3 necessary implication is
involved of some body or individual being the
Judge of such event aud who can be this Judge
besides the Vice President, or Congress ifbo5h
be federal, IT IS evident, that with federal Vice
President, the cards will be entirely in their own
hands ; aud that they would under such circim
STANCES play them most dexterousy, cannot adj
init Ga doubt.
Such are some of the considerations which Il
behOyes the republicans OF New-York solemn1y
to weigh and we are greatly mistaken if they
do not involve principles and effects infinitely
more momentous than personal gratitude ard
respect or local partialities Nat lat.
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