Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-01

that his ill-advised zeal had led him INTO a
labyrinth, where his own political TRENDS
could not consent to follow him. From tue
first moment when the proposition was sub
mitted he had not entertained doubt, that
such must be the result he had too hlgh
an opinion of the honorable sentiment and
correct principles which he must presume
would ever govern large portion OF the
minority of that House, to suppose that
they would conduct otherwise. 1t was no"
clear that the mover of these resolutions
having been for some time past plpnglng on
from one degree Of extravaganza to ano-
|ther, had at last brought himself to a point
where he must either stop, or travel by
himself.
What is really the sum and substance OF
this mighty accusation which is brought up
as solemn ground ofimpeachment against
the Chief Magistrate Of our country, even
according to the gentleman's own showing
It is not even that he refused to receive the
resignation of public officer, because 1t is
not until within few days that it has been
specifically rendered; this is thing which
has always been within the power OF that
officer to do, and whatever might be the IN
clination of the President, he could not re-
fuse it. 1t is ONLY then that the President
had persuaded the Collector OF Boston to
delay the period Of his actual resignation,
and to continue iii the occupation OF his OF
fee for longer time than he was deslrous
of doing, in order that it might afterwards
be conferred upon another person, to whom
it was not then convenient to receive IT, OF
whose services were then needed in another
capacity. Well, sir, allow all these facts,
of which, however, as a public man can
know nothing, to be true III their fu.l ex-
tent, what is there reprehensible IN II /! and
who has been injured by the procedure =
Not Gen. Lincoln certainly, for he had it
in his power at any moment to retire by an
actual resignation. 1t is not alledged that
during the two years for which The Office Is
said to have been thus held, the public SER
vice has suffered, either by unfaithfui or
negligent performance OF the duties attach
ed to it, this is not even pretended. But
when pressed on this point, which the gen
tlcman appeared to feel fully the force OF,
he brings forward the circumstance OF the
present state Of inexecution in which our
laws are placedby General Lincoin's resig-
nation, and that of his deputy, to prove
that the public service has in this way SUI
fercd, and adds that this state of things
might have been prevented had Gen. Lin
coins place been earlier supplied. Now
the same gentleman had long since told the
House, that it was utterly out Of the power
OF the government to CARRY our laws into
execution by any human means whatever,
and to-day we are told that this incxecution
in the port Of Boston is attributable to the
want OF an earlier appointment of Collec-
tor; it is for the gentleman to get along
with these paradoxes, no one else can. But
there is something in the circumstances Of
these sudden designations, given in at cri-
teal moment, without previous, notice to
the government, which bespeak a pre-con-
certed and systematic design to defeat the
operation of our laws, embarraSs the go
vernment and PROSTATE the national honor
at the feet of faction and anarchy. Ano-
the, instance o., the same character has Just
been mentioned by a gentleman from South
Carolina, and is perhaps to be followed up
by all your revenue officers Of the same de
scription of politics with the late Collector
of Boston and thus in moment is the au-
thority of our laws trodden down, and their
obligations sported with, by men who have
long been standing enemies OF the tolera-
ton and moderation of the government,
and who have lived upon its particular
bounties !; to me, sir, conduct of this sort
speaks a language which it is impossible to
and excites emotions which il IS
perhaps better to repress.
Sir, the name of Gen. Lincoln would not !