Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-18

the reasury out OF the country and To sub
sutute in their stead, creatures devoted to
the selfish purposes OF an ambitious President
To eSempify the case more particularly.
Suppose Aaron Burr your President, with
q power To send all the friGeihli officers of
the Treasury Department out of the country.
and TO Substitute in their stead, without ,le
cdvice and consent Of fke Seaafe, some
Of his choice spirits, who are tired Of
OF the dull pursuits of civil life, &c would
you have much confidence, dat your public
| monies would be honestly diSbursed in pur-
saance of appropriations made by, law And
do yDu believe, that there is but one man in
the u. States possessing Burr's propensities
Tor personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Recoliect,
too. that the enterprisiag and ambitious, al
ways cover heir selfish projects, with pre-
cedents afforded by the amiable and unsus-
picious. or course, such presidents can
not be too scrupulousiy, and diligently guard
ed against in times of security and conf
dence. This consideration is entitled to
double force at this moment, whea the only
justification of the very case before US is
founded upon precedent, and that precea-
ent itself, founded upon an acknowledged
error. From these, and other enumerated
considerations, gave my most hearty con-
currence to the following resolution adopted
| - wv CNHSNO VA NiiC AJlil NhN w ShftC ioNN-
| | sincerely hope, that after the efervescence
of the present moment shall be dissipated,
the principle it emb, aces will receive con-
spiouous place in every republican text
book regardless OF the names, WHICH may
be found on either side of the question.
ResoiOed, That in the opinion o. he Sem
4 ate, the powers and duties OF the Secretary OF
! the Department OF the Treasury, and those of
! AN envoy ex raordtnary TO 4 foreign power, are
so Incompatible, ilat they ought not to be AMI
| remain united ~ The same person"
| What is the PRINCIPLES asScr,edby the ne
satives of this resolutions. That the powers
and duties of the Secretary of the Depart
| men; OF the Treasury, and those Of an en-
voy 70 foreign power, are not SO iHc2mfati>
ole, 6nt haf they ought 10 oe, and remain IL
nited in the same hers0n. What is thiS, but
ASSERTING the sine cure principle in is worst
form. In The most operative, beneficial off,
ces. and not merely in the nominal, lucre-
| ave ones! What Is this, but change of
principle. with change of nens How en-
tIrely the opposite or the just and Lofty pre-
! tension of repuDlicansms O5etlIcnce TO
principles, not men-ai;cr all, for what Oh.
Ject, and upon what ground, have All these
delicate principles been hazarded:
IHe object was surely iauda5.e. II was
To restore peace to the country. Amiabie
soiicitude for peace, certainly impelled The
conduct is motives entities the author to
every indulgence. Yet, although the motive
for the conduct, be pure and laudable, the
principles asserted by it in their practical
effects, partake nothing of the motive, which
dictated them. The ground of the proceed
Ing, IN my Judgment was most delusre,
and unfortunate. Ii must have been, that
Nile Gallatin was better qua fled to dis
charge the duties OF both these nigh iDcom
patibic offices, than was any other gentle
man III the United States to perform the
duties of either OF Them N0hing less
than this, could be pleaded, ~ jusdhca
ton al the attempt, Ia unite in tire same
person two Incompatible offices, under Cir
cumSances, so inauspieious 70 the o1jeCt.-
II is Certainly very complimentary To tine in
dividGal, who has been nonoi ed with this
Presidential Distraction, and may perhaps
ten1 10 advance his personal aggranGll<
ment. But considering that this IndiVidusN
was born without the limits of the Unite,A
States, and that accident alone cast hn up-
on our shores, ain unwilling 10 state what.
| conceive, ought 10 DE the Just aud proper
effects OF this Compliment, upon the feelings
OF every man, woman, and ciiid. whose
happy destiny gave them birth within the
iInits of the United Stdtes-who upon SUCH
nirta inhaled the true amor Edt'T0e, ana
have cherishedthe holy passion up TO the
present month
For what Is this passion, but AN affection
ate preference OF ones own country, Il own
countrynen, To foreign Countries and for
eian countrymenl Yet even this ex
alted, aud honorable affection of tn
human mmd.-Ehe fruitful parent of 80
many virtues, and virtuous deeGs, which,
IN all ages, has stimulated individuals.
To heroic actions, and splendid exports,
winch has often exalted nations to the highs
est pitch OF grandeur aud prosperity, mus,
now hide its diminished head, beneath that
visionary expanded philanthropy, when,
in its excess, gives the preference To- fOrci6n~
ers, over ones own country men. Yet this
ideal philosophy of the mind, never yet had
warmth, nor energy enough, u stimulate
the human bosom to one herioc deed, nor IN
any way, to Contribute TO the ex itaton ot
any one nation. But the principle OF the
union Of incompatible Offices, has AN uuhav
D, bearing upon tic very basis of our .ln
mental institutions. lucy are al iound,d
upon the principle, that the people Of the
United States possess a capacity 10 govern
themselves They presume, that one man
at least, may be found Competent to tile
discharge ot Tue duties of each Office, howe,
yer important they may be. Se,ectlng cnc
man for the discharge Ut the duties OF two
offices, whether an .AmcrIcan
or foreigner, initiates directly against
THIS principle, aud tends 20 question It's
political orthodoxy. From these consi
dcrations, although others might justly be re- |
,ortc.I to- felt INV self reluctantly COpstraiu |