Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-20
rFolr DeHars Per Annuna- Paid in Advanced
.GongreSe
HOUSE or REPREsEA747IyKs.

rriday, May 26s
Debate on Mr.. Randolph's motion for
approving the late conduct of the
President Of the United States
r Conffsued. j
Mr. HOLLAND said he had no
doubt that the President had done his
duty in the case referred to In the pro-
position under consideration and as
he had entertained no doubt but the
President would on this and every o.
|ther occasion do his duty, he said he
felt no excessive Joy on the occasion.
1t was only an ordinary acs Of duty
well performed. and therefore he was
not willing to distinguish it fro m those
numerous acts which he trusted would
be as they had heretofore been per-
formed by the Executive. Were he
the author of the proposition, he should
have felt many scruples as to the pro-
|Priety of offering such a one. Were
the precedent to be set by the passage
|of this resolution, the House nigh,
hereafter witness struggle on this
lAoor to deyetmine who should be frs,
Ito come forward with proposition
Expressive of appropriations. The hu.
man mind might be so operated upon
that the executive might feel himself
under an obligation TO promote the
|person bringing forward such a motion.
II (sald Mr. fl. would be one of the
last to Introduce such a motion were
| friend to the President, and if I
were not a friend to tire President I
would not bring il forward lelst it
should be thought that was counting
favor in his eyes. But why, sir, should
this House give an expression of ap
probation ofthe President? Because,
we are told, 1t may be guide to him
hereafter Let this House be careful
how it acts, and attend to It's own du.
ties. The President does not stand
IN need of this kind of support. me
Yer viii step forward, as member OF
this House, TO excite him to his duty
by. a vote of this kind. 1 believe he
possesses an attachment to his duty
sufficient to induce him to perform il.
| believe that the voie. OF the people
OF the United States is such in relation
to the present and late Presid Mt. that
they believe th=y were well disposed
to do their duty, and thar they have
done their duty: but it does not follow
that we ought to express our approba-
ton as to aay particular act: The GEN.
tleman himself says that the Presidsut
has only done his duty. Is it not sur.
prisiug then, that we are called upon
to give him the appreciation of this
Houscs Why, that it is so seldom
our Presidents have done their duty,
that in the very FIRST instance IN which
they have done 1t, the House of Re-
representatives. had discovered and ap.
Plauded it. If the gentleman thinks so,
l wholly disagree with him. IF our Of
Users do their duty properly, they will
receive the thanks of the nation--and
wherei is the propriety of singing out
for appreciation or Misrepresentation this
particular act see none. 1t is as.
ked will youleave the president of the
United States TO grope in the dark and
not let him know whether he has re-
ceived ourlapprobatiou or not. Andis
the President tojudge from the thanks
OF the House thai he has DINE his duty /?
How is Ia. to know that they have
expressed their sense OF his conduct
from proper motives? Would he not
be right TO suspect those who vote for
and more especially those who bring
forward such a proposition, OF impro.
per motives ! He would be left still
worse 70 grope ia the dark. Ithas been
said that former Presidents have been
deceived in Consequence of votes OF
appreciation and the same would a.
gain occur. On every groGnd am
opposed to the passing such resolutions
on principle, aud shall therefore vote
Tor indefinite postpoaement.
MIR. j. g.. JAcKsor observed that
the resolution offered by tb- gentle man
from Virginia was, that the prompt
Jude and frankness with which the Pre-
sident of the United States has met
the overtures of the government OF
Great Britain, towards resto ration of
harmony and free commercial inter-
course between the two nations. re.
cafuf fbo e......xLa - -. a.