Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-12-07

OF Mr.. Jay 20 be envoy extroofssnnty 70
London, is cited, and BY republicans too,
az precedent in favor of the late pro-
cesdinss. There are prscedents TO fol-
low. and preccdsnss to avoid. There
never va. 4 stronger enc oil the latter
character, than the nomination OF Mr.
Ja,,-Fhose who press it strongest, as
a precedent, di.approsed It most, and
will not now admit the conviction OF a.
former error in the disapproha'lsn--
: hcress, many Of th.,se who formerly
iustiiied II, are new disposed to admit
tbs conviction of an err-r, I'D their for
rer Justification. Wbat then is this
but presenting an acknowledged error
as precedeI :. to SANCTION the sdopt'on
Of another error ]! Sure y such pfscee
den, uch,,o he avoided not followed.
J knew of no persons in the U.
States. who di.approyed OF ih"t
proceeding mere. as J then under
stood. than The President. Mr.. Gal
Latin and msself; and have lately
been called uunn, 10 sancHon, ana
ncrhaps 10 transcend. the principle.
in the person Of the one. upon The
nomination ~ The other of these gen.
tie aen. Aud ,he refusal! 10 sacrifice
the convictions Of my nNn mind for
their accommodation. has soiJecte"
me 10 extreme censurc, slfI"uSh
these con vic,iona are not impaired,
bat streugrhene,Iby NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Besides. when the Republicans were
endcavoripg 10 oust the fedefal!s's
from power. and 10 substitute them
selves in iheir stead, did they Their
tell The people that. If through their
favor, they si,eatd become possessed
of power. they wonld then quote Tie
very federal errcrs. for which their
suihors were denounced before the
peooia b, them. TO iu>'if, their Own
conduct Did The Fepnblicars then
tell the people. thatibey Womb f,en
transcend federal prereiirhis ikaf
the, wouid reso,t Ia forced construr-
tieHs os tine constitution, ant the laws,
10 etSect fa,eri,e objects. thronyh the
agency of f.vori.e ,ndividua'e DE
the contrary, did they net most naan-
fully ,,ledee themselves 10 tire pee
pie. 10 administer tie geyernineut'a
the f,ne. unsnpaisea,sd spifi' OF the
constitution and Of tise laws ? hat
these pledges were given, az most
truc--and row 10 fespSt TO the nest
manifest und in,iispu!nhle OF the ie-
,lrrai crs~r. for Justification, is to
me. most strange, Such a precedent
surely can have TO charms Tor 80
publican orthodoxy. IL certainly
can have meme for me, vino lave been
both an agent, and a witness TO al
these scenes. To NE, il is a circnm,
sraHce Tr- h-ur1fr'1 ;. eapesiatina to
kn9ze, ,hs. ia a course % r.esa thaa
twenty wears aul';c service. MY cen
duet has inva.:sbl, horne evidcaee of
t:.e sincerity Of my professions.
That Ihave never ob any OCCASION.
yielded my political Prinvinles 30 the
force Ds circumstances. Her TO ti,e
dclirium Of party spirit. nor 10 par
,iaIities for men. This plea 81 the.
force OF circumstances is of,cu Vi
sionary--srld0m rea'--a never mGre
visionary. than on the present occu-
sion. But the case oil Mr.. JAY IS
net precisely ansloecus t" tie pre-.
sent ere. Ore great objection 10
that ease wss. lis tendency 50 suI,;eg,
the judicial department 10 an uEGue
Influence from, tie Executive. In
tia, respect. il was verse IN ny
Judgment. than the present ensr.
But the incompstsh'it, was noi SO
paipable in .ha', as in the pres-n,
case nor atteud~d with such serious
consequences. There we're other
indees ~h", 10 tI.e absence CT the
Chief Justice. might periorm all the
necessary Judicial functions. Be-
side. the courts Are in session Only d
small pot,ion OF. The year. an: fie
absence of the Chief Justice might
NOS he lo,tser, than the interyai be-
tween the courts. In that case. the
duties Of the two 0!iicers might be
performed b, the same person. !
mention these circumstances. merely
10 sheu, the differences is the two
cases: mol because approve Of the
proceedings in either for in the ease
of Mr.. jay, j do think, the duties Of
the two dHces, SO incompatible, as
TO render he appointment extremely
objectionable. But The dulie. Of the
Secretary IF the Treasury ard OF
envoy extraordinary TO foreign
power, ere palpabi! asd absolutely
incompatible. nor do believe. that
80