The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-12

must lCiioWs tnat hSf ISspcCtoniiky anu li-
tluence will be in the inverse ratio Of the a.
bility of her citizens.
That such plan of :tofe rotation would
be utterly incompatible With the honor and
of the nation, will not be denied
by the directors themselves, who are sagac-
Gus and patriotic enough To treat the notion
with contempt, when urged from abroad
Virginia influence is with them an ossensi6ie
BIT not a reel cause of complaint. II Penn
syivania, the rich and p2pulcus Pennsutva-
MIA, should whisper in our ears " II IS nosc lny
(" turn. You have had two vice-presitlerts,
"a secretary of the treasury, four or Ave
/" Ambassadors TO foreign powers, and other
+" long et ceteygs of honors and dignitics,
+" while have hitherto been coatcnt with
+" Secretsry Of the Treasury, and an attor-
+" ney general ;" arguments drawn from con-
siderations of patriotism, integrity Of party,
the binding sense OF the majority, would
flow readily and copiously from the liiss of
these gentlemen, who, to do them Justice, can
weld a two-edged weapon with sv2ndrou5
derferity. $50
ifnone of the afcregoirg objections should
prevail with the understanding. the authors
think that they have still chance of success
through the feelings of the people, which
they endcavor to caasperate by hints and in
situations, that the venerable Clinton has
been treated with disrespect and ingratitude.
Though we much question, and strongly in
cline to doubt, whether the safety of the
whole republican party could honestly be
hazarded in the vindication of private feel
ings, however dignified and amiable their
possessor, yet if this charge were true, the
makers might furnish some slight apology
tor the error OF their heads, in tile warmth
OF their hearts. BY none we trust, more than
by ourselves, would such ingratitude and dis
respect be censured and resented. Most sin
Serely do we wish, that this hithertoestimablc
man may tread the path of duty and honor
to the end, and that no ill-omened cloud may
tor a moment obscure the brightness of his
setting. But we confess that it is not appa-
rent to US, In what this "disrespect and in
gratitude" consist. IT it be in fiassing by
the fancied CLAIM Of the vice-hresident to
the PRESIDENCY, we answer that in our OPT
mon, no such claim, exists. The principle of
rotation in Office is equally inapplicable to in
GfUiduals and states. Our constitution does
not acknowledge it; it has not been estab-
iished by precedent; and it may at all times
be altogether iueXpedent. That the consti-
tuition does not acknowledge it, needs no proof
but the inspection of that instrument Its
inexpediency will be manifest, wheny you re-
fleet that it might tend to exclude him whose
pre-emincnt qualifications would otherwise
make him the unanimous choice of the peo-
pie IT a solitary instance wnnld he snffici-
ent to establish precedent, (Which in cor
rect reasoning cannot be ADMITTEDLY that of
Mr.. Adams is in itself too equivocal for the
purpose, as in popularity with the federal
party, he was second only to Washington
MIR. Jefferson was the candidate of an adj
verse party.
The feohlc Of the United States entertain
TOR the pice-f lresident an ESTEEM and venc-
ration, the, merited tribute of long list OF
patriotic services but to the citizens of his
nattUe state he is peculiarly endeared. be-
cause that esteem and yeneraton are in them
mingled with a tenderness of attachment 10
ms person, sucn as is Teir towards fond and
anxious parent by the children of his pecu-
liar care. 1t is common and natural for the
heart TO deceive itself with the persuasion
that its feelings for respected object are
by ALL who approach it, Reflec-
tlon and experience shew us. that to expect
this, would be irrational; and that it is the
very vice OF dotage to suppose, that in the
objects of our regard aioae, are Conferred
ALL excellence and worth. We hope and
believe. that in the extensive territory of the
y. States, there are many men with whom
Mr.. Clinton would not deem himself thsho-
nored by a comparison. A generous shirt
would scarcely complain when a selection
was TO be made from SUCH MEN to fill the
first Office in his country, that the lot had
been cast on one whom he would not have
preferred. To call the honest exercise of
the right of preference, INGRI7,I7UDE, ''is
a solecism in language betraying we fear
confusion of ideas.
Had Mr.. Clinton been nominated for the
presidency, and had a fezV hdrtiai friends of
Mr.. Madison, with overweaning zeal, urged
this objection-had they displayed in earnest
and glowing terms his anscendant informa-
ton and ability-had they told us, thatnert 10
Mr.. jefferson, he had long been considered
the most eminent man in the republican par
ty-had they affirmed with how much truth
let your recollection decide) that he had been
long pointed out by great majority of that
party as the successor to the presidency--that
but for the hiace IF his residence, HE would
nave been the e-ftresident--and that it
is therefore treating him with "ingratitude
and dissespect" to prefer another, however
worthy, you, fellow-citizens, ourselves. and
the ofhoneHts IF the fre8ent nomination.
would have heartily concurred in reprobat-
ing such remarks, condcnnins them per
haps as fictitious ciamor and WE should
have recommended tothe PEOPLE, as we do
now to you, to support the nomination, and
to sacrifice private prejudices and personal
attachments at the altar of the public veal.
how the opponents of the nomination can
reconcile their present opposition with their
former practice and opinions, is, we confess.
besCnd one i,epsion IL 10, L,,yo,.,,.