Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-01-05
L irallta Nrall9.
RIc II NJ q N D,
FRIDAY JANUARY S, 1919.
PRESIDENT OF TN. uNrrED STATES.

The constitution of THIS officer is very pc
cuiar. He s the Ececu,ive Department,
without the appcndages which are usually
attached to the chief magistrate in other
species of government. He has no coArol
of the national purse he cannot declare
war, nor can he make treaty, with "
the concurrence OF o,her branches OF the
government. The patronage ct appoint
ing TO Office is qualified by the provisioa ef
the constitution which readers the advice
and consent Of the Senate necessary tn the
Perfection Of that paircnage. in tact, a
president of the United States, standing a.
lone, is powerless officer, whose infil.
ence IS not SO great as that OF congress-
man in his district: But, acting in con-
cert with every branch of the government,
he becomes the Nan of the Peohie, in the
constitutional sense of che phrase, anil more
nationally great than the most despotic and
| magnificent sovereigns of Europe or Asia.
! A President OF the United States. there.
| fore, ought never to attempt to eff ct any
thing by intrigue or in hriUdfe nay, be-
cause that betrays want of confidence in
the other d pattments which are associa.
ted with him in the Administered on of pubs
lie affairs, and never fails to introduce a
spirit of jealousy which thwarts the pro-
gress of measures at every turn Conceal
1 ment of opinion on the part Of public func.
tionary is also trina fdeia evidence of Ia
nudity, the bare suspicion of which is suf.
| fcient TO destroy all reliance upon the TN
derstauding OF the most enlightened states
man. To be influential, to be truly respec.
ted, and to be popular, a President must
boldly speak out the legislative body he
must recommend, as the constitution en-
Joins, such measures rs the times require,
| by which means the minds OF the leglsia.
tors will be directed To the necessary oh.
jects, and the business of the nation will
| be carried on jsdiciously, with facility,
and with pleasantness. In relation TO TO-.
reign Affairs, this doctrine is irrefMable.
The President, through his secretary OF
state, corresponds with American ministers
abroad; he naturally will receive much IN
formation whereupon TO found opinions.
which neither the form of that informa.
ton nor the confidential nature of ir, will
suffer the President to commun Cate 70 Con.
gress. His opinion, therefore, must, from
his opportunities of receiving the most cor.
rect intelligence, be the best opinion, gene.
rally speaking, in all cases of great natl.
onal importance. Who so fit, therefore, 10
| rec pinmehd measures, or to advise Con
gress what to do IN an emergency or on a
! critical occasion?
| 1t is believed that Mr.. Madison recog.
nizes and acts upon the principle advanced
in this article. There is nor man of more
sage deliberation in the Union than the
Presided E=nor one who, when he has once
made up his opinion, acts with more deci-
sion and promptness. Honest and disinter.
| Gated himself, he his meyer evinced the
least disposition 20 shun a constitutional
| responsibility. In this he manifests a gen.
ero,s confidence in the understanding of a
free and enlightened people. We have
seen his decisive conduct in the dismissal
tof MIR. Jackson, we have seen his open /.
vowal OF the dgnifed motive fron which
ae acted in relation to that envoy-and the
republican part of the community in par.
ticular are delighted that the man Of TIE
choice has fulfilled their hopes, and falsi.
fed the predictions of his enemies. This
session OF Congress will not pass away
without further proofs of wisdom and tenn :.
perate hrmhess or the part OF the chief ma :
gistrate. We predict that he win do ius
tice to the station he occupies, he will in
spire the legislative body, and the public at
large, with unlimited confidence in his in :
tegrity and candor like a commander
who leads on his armies in person, he w II
animate every heart--1nd honest citizens
Il every description raIlying nnder the
sentiments of their beloved onIef, will pre
Gent an intrepid aspect to both Great Bri.
ain and France.
FOR THE ARCTTG