The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-31

either stop, or travelby himself.
Nhat Is really the sum and substance of
this mighty accusation which is brought up
rs a solemn ground of Impeachment against
the Chief Magistrate OF our country. even
according tothe gentleman's own showing ,
ill hoteven that he refused corrective the
reSiSnation OF a pubic officer, because it is
not until within a few days chat il has been
spectncglly rendered; this is "a thing winch
has always within the powcr-of that Office. TO
90 aud whateveramig'it be tic A1uliuation of
t'S PRESIDENT, ne could not refuse 4. IL is on
~ then that the President had pursuaded the
70 rector or Boston to delay the period of ais
acsuul resignation, and to Continue in the oc.
cupation OF his office for a longer time tb,,
he was DESTROYS of doing, in order tLat ;r
NhiSht afterwards be conferred upon anotb..,
person, 10 wnom IL was not thea Convenient
10 receive 1T, or whose services wsi,. rhe,
reeued III another Capacity. Well, sir. al
low all these facts, of WHICH. boweyer n. ,
Puoiic man Can know nothing. 10 be true in
iUli eNtent, what Is there reprehensible IN (, ;
ana VINO mas been injured by the pruceedurcs
Not gen. Lincoln ccitaIlny, for he had il in
MS Po"era any moment to'rSire by ;i ac-
,uai resignation. 1t is nor alleged that dr.
oing me TWO years tor which the o.,lse is "a III
20 nave been ,hus held, the pubic service
haS suffered, either by unftithful or nc.rli-
.. OlelC NtISl(S attached 10 ar no
'hlsiS not even pretended. Bui when pra-S.
ed OH tins point, which the gentleman ap-
pcared 10 feel fully the force of, lie brinrs
forward the circumstances of the Dr.,snr
STATE OF ineAecution in which our laws arr.
placed by gen. Lincoln resignation. and ,hat
oi ms deputy. to. prove that the public service,
nasin THIS way sniiCred d, and adds that this
STATE oil things might have, ueen prevented.
haa %peneraiL inco;n's place been earlier san
n,lp0 Nav tho .r,a -
since tot the House, that it was utterly o5t
OF the power of the government to carry ou,.
laws Into execution by any human means
Whatever, and to day we are told that this
execution III the port at Boston is attributabir
70 the want OF an carrier appointment OF a
Collector ; it is for the gentleman 10 ret alon.
with these paradoXes. no one else can. Bnt
'herc Is somc.hing IN the circumstances of
'hese sudden resi- snations. givenin at n r,;ti-
Cal moneut, without previous notice To tie
-H,erifneht, winch be.peak a preconcertel
ana systematic design to defeat the o.
perauon OF our la" c:nbarrass the roveru-
nicnt anC prostIate the National honor ut tha
rect OF faction and anarchy. Another IN
stance OF tie same character hts lust been
htch.iohed by a gentleman from ). Carolir.
aud is perhaps 10 be followed up by all yo,r,
revenue officers % the same descriptions of
politics with the late collector OF Boston : ard
'hat IN a moment is the authority of ourlaws
'rodden down, and their obligations sported
"itn' by men who have long been standing
evidences ofthc tolera ion end moderation cf
tie government, and who have lived undn is
particular bnunties to me, sir, conduct os
tn's sort speaks a language which tits inpos-
9Ioie to mistake, and excitcs emotions which
II IS perhaps better to repress.
|, on, the name OF gen. Lincoln would not
oy me have been wantonly dragged into
TINS debate, nor should | have presumed
TO sport with any aniinadversions UPON thc
conduct ct a man venerable for his years,
and respectable for his revolutionary scy,
vices and achievements, had he NOT 10
safiered himself as is manifest, from his
conhiNance at least, tohave been usheIrdirio
ms House through the indiScrect zeal of
ms own unlGcky friends as the weapou bv
"htch they would annoy the Chief Mapjs-
.trate OF our coGntry-far be it from ma. IN
indulge III regard to such d character a{v
reproachtnl epithetS, or any language which
the Disparity Ut cur age and standing wcnid
rcAdef lhGccorous and improper but there
are some circumstances growing out Of the
disclosure which has to day been laid h.-
tore the House by my colleague, which II is
impossible to overlook, Or to contemDh,e
with entire apathy.
What are the facts as stated Bv che oe,
t'ehan himSeif--that gen. Lincoln thG,,rb
weh known 20 have been utterly opposed 10
me present Chief Magistrate in his political
sentiments and condict, has through tho G.
oeraity o! The G~orcrnment perhaps no more
.than ats justice, been permitted fol. eieGt
years past TO Continue in the possession Of >
most honorable and responsible Office. and
IN the reception Of its great enolnn.ents ,o
the ture OF 5 5000 Il year, and that in obno-
sItioh 70 the wishes Of the political friends
~ the Executive ; and what accordine IN
the Sentleman's statement is a s;iil eee3ter
stretch OF indulgence, that for nearly Two
years he has.even been suffered to retain il
as a Slnecure, without the performance of
ITS ordinary duties and for ali this liberal
Ky and all this indulgence, what is the re-
guitar "llcii that Officer and his friends re-
turn to the government? Ihc one furnishes
TO the other that sort Of evidence by which
1t is vainly hoped that this very indulgence
may be turned az a weapon against las ben
eiactor, and be made the ground of a uubl;c
accusation. As to this fact ii i is not possible
i Should DC mistaken for though il is NOT
stated by my colleague that tile evidence
winch lie has adduced has been put into his
hahds by gen. Lincoln, vet it must be eyi-
dent that thc letters which have passed o.,
this subject Between himself and the gxc-
%cutiVe, and which the gentleman states a,e
IN ms hands. could only have been furnish-
ed either directly or indirectly By gen. Lin
coin himself. What uictu-s doaU ti,;s.