The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-04-16

me next day entered on the duties If his Office
~. Seyrarier, the French Minister, has retur.
ned TO this city.
To TIE EDIroR
Mr. GALES,
The remarks made in several respectable re-
publican prints ON the recent change in the ad.
ministration, and on the changes alleged to be
in contemplation. may have tendency to excite
alarm on 1.-THE future prospects Of the country.
IN the minds OF those who inconsideratelv iden-
tiy men and measures. 1t may be imagined
that differences fatal to the dominion of repub.
iican principles arc about 20 germinate, and that
those principles are about to be inundated on
the shrine of personal interest.-But what
substantial reason is there for these aonrehen-
sions.
is there room for the suspicion, either that
the President has apostatised from the pr;nc;.
pies which have so steadily directed his whole
Pon,.cai course, or that the great body ofthe re-
publican party have become alienated from them |,
n ohere does not exist the slightest reason for
such apprehension, it may with confidence be af
hrmed, that, however for moment there NAV
De diherences on personal or subordinate points
among our friends, they will in future unite. as
they have invariably heretofore united. in all
measures required by the solid interests of the
nauon tbs exclusively in the maintenance of
.nese interests that the people are Interested
ed, it's, comparatively unimportant by whom
inns deep trust is discharged. No MAN, under
arepubiic, whatever may be his talents or vir
tues, has right to office. The public welfare
may call upon him to serve his country. and Il
Will then be his Guty to aceuiesce in the general
sentiment, II he consider it we'll founded !, but,
irepeat It, he has reason to compIaip at not
oeing Called to power.
The fact, probably, is, that, under all royern.
ments, the most solid and spotless talents are to
be found IN the ratirement of private life Ia.
tents that confer too much happiness and dignity
on Their Possessor, TO render him eager for popu-
lar favor or the fancied charms of power. And
however mem elevated to Office, may consider
themselves as the exclusive guardians of the ma
ton, the sheet anchor of liberty and of thu. state
Will be found in those whose ambition is
| satisfied by the general prosperity thar s,,r.
rounds them. For, after all it is thew >rho
form the most disinterested and correct est.
| mates OF men and measures, and who con.e.
] quently, through the medMmsof public opinion.
s.a:nP lnat reputation Oh the one and appro-
patton on the other, that raise the former tn
power, and crown the latter with general sun.
port CUP
While this class of men exists, while il ia ev
cry day increased by the expanding interest nj
the nation, /, for one, have no serious fears far
the public interests. they are misunderstood. or
cupaSly dsregarded, these men will soon 80.
~~'N.J Ai'itS PfONcS t0ht IN this
country public opinion Is omnpoteut. And wtv
IS this the case /? Because it is enlightened -
And whence this illumination From the siropo
ana pure light necessarily diffused, through
private and unobserved means, by this class of
citizens, and by the sincerity and accuracy of
Acknowledgements. -
lttoliows, from this reasoning. that. under
republic, public opinion is the great regulator.
and that the whole machine of state denends
upon Its correctness Confiding in its correct.
ness at this time, have no alarms
FIRST, because its invariable maxim is, "mea
sures and not men,"
Secondly, because it too enlightened and vir
tuous TO be the dupe of intrigue
Thirdly, because those who give II it's tona ar.
too much scattered to be the victims of local ar
narrow views.
whoever, then, may happen to be the admin
lstrators OF the government, the conclusive iudp-
ment pronounced upon them will he decided -,
their measures, and if B pursues the same mea-
sures that have characterised A, each will re-
ceive a like award.
This brings me back to the ground frst taken
is there any reason to apprehend that the
PRESIDENT will abandon the republican ground
on which he has heretofore stood, or that n
change in the cabinet will produce material
change. IN measures Not believing that there
is any such reason, and perceving that those
who must deprecate the late change have no
such apPrehensions, it seems to me that there
mas been given to the occurrence an importance
and solemnity, mot altogether foreign to it. At
least premature. If there be ground for alarm
1t must be at an apprehended change ofme
sures, for it cannot be too often repeated that
personal considerations are entitled to ne weight
Is 1t not then most fair to wait for events Hay.
ing strong assurance, in the unmpeached pro
bity OF the President, that he will continue to be
solely guided by the good Of his country, does it
not become those, who are disposed to censure,
to refrain from censuring him beforehand to
reserve their Judgment for the course of mea-
sures That may be pursued I II is in them only
that we can unerringiy discern motives and prin-
cipes.
ALPHA.