The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-12-27

NOT oeen frequently seen that men one day
IN small minority, could the next day,
when raised to office, WELD majority of
The same men as had before opposed them !.
What did this arise from! Was it not from
the influence Of the Treasury, not only on
the borough part OF the House of Commons,
out on that part elected by the people
themselves, the government in the latter
case acting not only en- the Representative
6ls on the people whom he represen,ed.-
lhS example Showed 1ne Importance of
guarding at as early day against similar
corruption here.
There was but single objec on in the
opinion OF Mr.. L. TO the adoption of he
resoiution-tnat gentlemen who were mem
beers Of the House, whose talents & persona
department might be known to the txecu-
1--WE, might advantagcousiy he selected TO
office. but Gould the Executive have a
fhorouSh knowledge OF such pe,s sons. Were
mere not reasons TO induce them To hide
their real motives and character, and d.
string Office, TO regulate every thing t.ey
SAID or did by their views TO that obiec, p
Mr. Burweil said, he had himself supposed
that talents were dispersed in every part of
the Union, and that nothing was more alb
surd than to suppose that only one indivicu
al In the nation was competent to fill any
, Office. Characters for Office might he
found in every part of tive nation equally as
hi and we'll Qualified as those who came
mere. Nnother consideration had great
weight villa him. However the CONSTITUTE
on might have guarded against the iufu
| encc OF members of Congress. it was ne yer
theiess fact that members. from their ST.
tuation and knowledge of the nation at large
had more influence than any individuals
scattered through the country. There
were few men of 50 much celebrity, so great
Talents, whose transcendant worth were so
generally acknowledged that they were cx
| tensiVe!y known through the Community -
inere was scarcely an individual that had
not been in Congress. that was known out
OF the state in which he resided VIVA, was
more important. he asked. in the selection
OF person to fill the Chief Magistracy.
| than 10 make the members OF Congress- as
| impartial as possible. and to induce them
To enquire accurately INFO the character of
| the person proposed for that high Office
his was time, in his opinion when they
shouiu forlify themselves against the dan
ger apprehended, and Justly apprehended
oY the gentleman from N Carolina Mr..
| Is. said he hoped there was virtue enoupI,
IN TINS House TO sanction this principle, al
| though the gentleman from Tennessee sun
posed 1t would ahridge the privileges of the
citizen. 1t was principle which might Sc
cure The purity of this House Tor many wears
d.
| ment would not succeed
Mr.. Rhed said he felt himself under con-
siderable obligations to the gentleman from
! Nor'h carolina or excmpting him from
the charge OF Office hunting He did mn,
| know that he should ever ask for or hold
an ofhce under the government: but that
world not prevent HIM from saying what
he thought on this subject. a material OBJ
Jectlon against this proposition was one
which had not yet been noticed. Ii il be-
came part OF the constitution, it would
| constantly create powerful league among
| influential CT izens against the President OF
| The United Sta'es. combined to get him out
as soon as possible. The trainers of the
constitution had completed this matter, as
| Tar as necessary, by declaring that no mem.
Der of congress should be eligible to any
Office created, or the emolumeuts whereof
had been raised during the time for which
he was elec;ed: He mad no objections to
that part of the resolution which went OH
that ground but he believed it should be
with serious deliberation that any thing like
the remainder of the proposition was ADOPT
ed.
lie was willing, without sacrificing his i
IDEAS OF propriety and eXpediencv, TO leave
to the world 10 judge OF the proprety of his
motives. Ihe vote on this proposition would
be but bad criterion. His conduct should
DC JndSeu Dy MS votes In general, and not
OH this proposition. 1t such a vote as this
was to purify all bad qualities, the Legisla
ture which had taken the head of Charles
the 1st, alluded to by the gentleman from
N. L. might have passed this vote, and
thus absOlvcd themselves of the wrong thew
had done. If they went on in his way ali
terin5 the constitution. its form would in
time be SO much changed that the people
would not recognize it. Instead of strengthen
ing the principles of freedom, they might be
trittered aw.y Till they were lost in chaos.
Amendments ought to be made with a spa.
ring hand. In the opinion Of Mr.. Rhea the
| present mode OF election secured the purity
ot the House as far as the gentleman could
desire. There were but TWO states in the
Union, in which Representatives were not
elected long before their term of service
commenced; during the whole of which.
lme OF probation they were excluded from
office.
Mr. Smile made some observations fa-
vorabie to the motion OF MIR. Macon He
thought the purity of the representative DO
dy was essential 10 the existence of the gov
srnment that the exclusion from Office es
abllshed by the constitution was not suffi
Gent, the abuses now being nearly as great
as 1t no such exclusion existed-for there was
bnt little difference in principle between a
mans accepting al office, while a me mber &
his expecting 10 receive it at the end of the
years he had to serve.
The motion-of Mr.. Rhea was negativcd.
AYES u.
Mr.. bacon suggested some amendment in
The phraseology OF he resolution and doubts
existing on the subject
IL