Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-02-23

lgether an absurd one for the constitution
never intended that a president should eli.
Ither head i'm person the armies of the natl
on, or command feet 1t is a question,
However, not unworthy of examination
Those who have tortured it to their own
partial purposes, either did not understand
liz; or fairly begged it.
! What is meant in any country by the
first magistrate being the commander in
chief of the army, is nothing more than shat
he shall have the direction of the public
force and the necessity for this arises out
of the nature of his Office, which is e.reeH-
tire. A}military despot commands in per-
SON, because the duration of his power de-
pends on his popularity with his army, and
| he cannot maintain his throne with vgor
but by its agency In a free government
| (ike that of the United States,) this is nor
the case. The first cfficer of the al nj
nistration in the latteri is only the eff.c-
tive representative of the people, who q e
essentially the sovereign. All he has to do,
as commander in chief, is to apply the force
of the country for the general benefit.
Surprising that the president could, consis-
tently with his other duries, head the ar
mics of the nation, what good patriot is there
who would wish to see him there, and a ia
vorite with the soldiery? Wond there, in
| such case, be no danger to the liberties
of the people Remember, that all usur-
pers have been bread in the field of battle,
or have been supported in the exercise of
lllesitimate authority by Cannon and the
bayonet
But it never was intended that Dresi-
dent of the United States should be partI
cularly either solder or sailor. If he
understands both naval and military tactics
theoretically it is all that is necessary.
| Whoever will read over carefully the 2nd
and Sd section Of the 2nd article of the con-
stitution, will find that the performance OF
the various duties prescribed 10 the presi-
dent is quite as much as any man is equal
20 without undertaking the personal com
mand of the army. He has to consult with
the officers of the principal departments
- make treaties, In concurrence with the
senate; to appoint ambass idors,, cOnsuis
Judges, and other officers TO communicate
with congress when III session, which will
generally be the case in time of war; 20
receive ambassadors and other public mi
nisters. VIII any reasonable man pretend
20 say, that all this can be done in Camp, ut
! remote point OF the Union ? Or would gen
t;egnen wish to see president of the u
States receiving and appointing ambassa-
doris, converting congress and recommend
ing measures tn them, at the head of q large
body of troops? Do they not fear that, like
Cromwell, he might march into the Capitol,
and order the delegates of the people 60
g Seek The Lord Ekse7vhere ?" How in
consistent arc those who ire blinded by pre-
judice, or are the victims of selfish po-
Icy They declare they are friends Of
freedom and in the same breath they tell
you that the principal merit of repubIi-
can ruler is his knowledge of war
No! may wenever have great military
parsonage at the head of the government
We shall not always find a Washington, in
the exhilirating hour OF victory If we have
men of abilities in the departments of war
and the navy, and capable general at
the head of the army, that Will be enough
| Recolleot that all our officers are commits
stoned BY rte PreSideut; and reflect on ,hc
danger Of having him personally present
with the men of his own appointment, and
a disciplined soldiery, ripe for ruin, at his
control Woe to the constitution, in such
an awful hour.
| While am on this topic, will correct
an error into which the editor Of a New
York papers has very needlessly run. He
declares that the republican mem
tbers of the legislature OF Virginia q, now
{" in session at Richmond, are in state of
l:'poltical distraction Aud adds, " when
I"informaticn arrived at Richmond of the
4 IL
| g the friends of this gentleman in the VIr.
l"gina legislature called meeting by adj
vertisemeDt to ccho the nomination." &c
Gin which advertisement the Friends Of
/" Mr.. Monroe were in terms excluded
4" from the meeting" Had the writer Of
these assertions been petty party scrib-
Ibler, should have taken no notice ofthem
But wnen know the gentleman to be in
ltelligcnt and rejecting, must believe il is
somefhiog more than accident which ir.fu-
iced him 10 term that " distractions" which
gives to Mr. Madison 100 votes, and to Mr.
Monroe only 81 ] had aiways undc rstood
in " abstraction" to mean a state ofthings
completcly unsettled, where every one il an
uprOar And ! will submit the question to
any man of sense, whether nearly three
votes to one donot exhibit tolerable tram
luul and determined state Of mind be-
lieve the point is pretty well settled in Vir-
Iginia. The alledged {" echo" is still more
unfortunate for the meetingat Richmond
took place on the 21st of January, and the
convention Washington not until the 25d
IL the former could be an -" echo" Of the lat
ter, old father Time would have been in a
very Inward predicament. The charge Of
, excluding tine friends Of Mr.. Monroe, is nj.
together futile. The friends OF Mr. Madisor
were alone invited to the meeting, in order
; to prevent distraction :" for the purpnst