Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-05-06

1
| ohou!d the occurrence upon which an
appeal is made from the councils of the ma.
ton, to those of single state, be one upon
winch the representation of the sCate had
ibeen divided, and the memher who fouod
himself In the minority felt impelled bv q
sense CT duty 10 invoke the intcirpus. ton of
MS constituents, ii would seem that both ir,
Justice to them, and IN candor TO MS coj
league, some notice of suck in ent,or ,hopI3
be given TO him, hat he ZOO might be t,,e.
pared TO exhibit his views of the subject
upon winch his difference of opinion had
'aAen pace or II least that the resort
should De mad, at such period OF lime as
would leave il within the reach of ,;ossib;-
lity for his representations to be rereiyrd
icy he common constituents, before tbeI
would be compelled TO decide or the merits
| Of the case.
The fairness and proprety of this corrse
lW proceeding must ne so obvious that If is
~ ihcult to conceive OF the propr.etv of sn,-
p'her, tet 1t presents another inccr,rni.
fence winch must necessarily result from
his practice of appellate legislation WIZ
zone OF the senator's ii IN a state nrocl.;r,-
70 ms constituents that a particular me-
sure or;}s en- OF measures, which n. re-
l'eiNeu me vote and support of his colJeaeue.
re perhicioos and destructive 10 hose i'm.
'sleS'S winch ootn are bound with the most
sacred OF ties, with zeal and ideI;,y -
promote. The denunciotjon Of rhe 49,, w
lamcunts to little else than denunciat;o,s
l"t the man. The advocate Of n roIicv ,h,,s
lreprooated must feel himself challeuged hy
every motive OF self defence to yipdicate
ms conouct-and If his general sense rs
MS olGcial duties would bind him IN tbe Ia
ldostrious devotion OF his whole time to the
IPupic BUSINESS of the session, tho hos
which he might be forced TO employ for
ms own Justification, would or cru rse he de-
Iouc'ea from the discharge of his more re.
guar ana appropriate functions. Shon,d
.tese occasions frequently recur, they could
iot ian 70 interfere with the due perform
ance of the public business N!or con
forbear to remark the tendency of snch a.
gon-ing appeals to distract the councils of
me state IN It's own legislature, to DESTROY
Us ihnuence, and expose it to deris,on. in
the presence or Its sister states and to nro.
uuCe between the colleagues themselves
mutual asperities and rancors. p,,iJ ~
great concerns of the nation would decenc-
rate INTO the puny controversies of nerson-
al alteration. p ''"-
1t is therefore with extreme reluctance
that enter upon this discussion In 49,
ioping my own views and the pripcipIes
winch nave governed my conduct in reiati-
on TO our foreign affairs, and particularly in
relation 70 tue embargo, some very mate
ital u'ierehceS IN point of fact as well as
OF opinion, will be found in nv statements
and those of the letter, which alone can -,
polog'ze for this. They will not, thrust he
deemed in any degree disrespectiul TO the
writer. Far more pleasing would IL have
been to me, could that honest and ar1ious
pursuit OF the policy best ca culated to pro.
mote the honor and welfare of our counTrv.
which, trust is felt with equal ar,Ior Inv 3s
outh, have resulted in the same oninions-
and nave given them the viror Of nnited
exer:Ion- There is a candor and liheraIi-
ny OF Conduct and of sentiment due from as
sOclates IN The same public charge. towards
1dch other, necessary To their individual
reputation, 20 their common influence, ard
to their public use illness. In our rfDrIJ;-
can government, where the power OF the
nation consists alone in he sympatbies of
opnion' this reciprocal Difference, this o-
pen heaited imputation Of honest intenti-
ohsi IS the only adamant at once attractive
anu ImPehet'aDie, thpt can bear, unshat-
tered, all the thunder o, FOREIGN hos.;1,tv
Ever since have had the honor of . ee3t
IN the nation i councils, have extended IL
TO every department Of the eoyernrnnnt
however differing in my CONCLUSIONS, noon
questions or the highest moment, from anv
'''S' i"'n, vi Whatever party, | have never.
upon suspicion, imputed his conduct 10 cor.
lruption. Ii this confidence argues leDo-
rance OF public Affairs, to that Ignorance 7
must plead guilty. / know, indeed enough
OF human nature to be sensible that vjpilant
observation is at all times, and that snsni-
cion may occasionally become NECESSARY.
upon the conduct OF men in power Nut +
know - we'll that confidence is the only &C.
ment OF an elective government election
IS the very test of confidence and its ne
r'odical return is the constitutional check
upon It's abuse Of which the electors mus
OF course be the sole judges For the exercis
OF power, where man is free, coincidence is
indispensable and when It once totally fails
when the men to whom the people have
committed tie application of their force.
Tor their benefit, are 60 be presumed tbe
West OF mankind, he very founda ION of
the social compact must be dissolved. To
wards the gentleman whose official station
results from tie confidence o. tie ssma le 4
gIsIa'ure, by whose appointment h I've d! e
honor of holding similar tfus,, / bave
thought TINS confidence peculiarly due from
me, nor should now notice his letter. oct
wl'hstand,ng the disapprobaton IL 50 cbvi-
looSly implies at the cause which We
pursued IN relation TO the subjects Of which
10 treats dc % not appcarto me csiculat ed
90 produce nnpp tn,. s..1,fsr