Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-12-02

that body either ratites 1t condemns II. Ii the BE
nate could power Of designating qchen new
missions should be instituted, it would, correspond
ing attribute be associated with the President in the
ception of ambassors and other public ministers. Blu
we find that is the fact. The constitution enoin
the President alone receive them. The Senate can
not consttutionally claim access the Executive
docuincnts the instructions given pub
lie ministers laid before them except the pleasure
the President All which circumstances 80 prove
that the Senate is viewed by the constitution
tribunal decide in the first Instance, with respect
the cpedency or inexpedency, the policy inpolicy
OF Executive measure. The passive, preventive mega
tive persons nominal ed, is the limit of the Senatorial
power in this respect. How that body can undertake
to determine ministerial nsttution in, xetlient
when has not and is not contemplated have, ful
view of the whole executive groand is to astoRsh
ing The attempt to penetrate the Presidential ntelec
in an unlawful form have already exposed; and
have no hesatonin saying, that the closer the Senate
IS confined to its strict constitutional authority the bet
ter for our liberties When reflect that it is in il
nature, e1etuai Senate, andthat it only the
BOLTON ct party spirit among its members and the in
PRODUCTION ot an eSri due corls 10 make IL absolute
there is every to trembe for the integrity of the
constitution. The President will scarcely ever fail
give proper information the Senate he will do that
IN general for his own SAKE in order TO justify hmsel
To the people. whom he is responsible. But let t
Senate, at the first blush, into all his opinicn take
counsel OF the Senator'S, in Senate, To tie propret
ot his in their iHcipent state, and be guideC
entirely by their votes, would be renqus his owl
peculiar function and for guidance to tribu
nal which the constitution does Indicate The Sc
nate rs designated as an QdUlser AFTER nominations
not BEFORE them. The only constitutional advisers
before nomination the heads of departments wos
opinions the President may require in writing, if he
disposed to do So
question appears to have been determined entirely il
favor of TIE Executive for Notwithstanding Messrs
Bayard and Adams were Commissioned before they
nominal led to the Senate, they approved by tina
body ard, it any further approval wanting may
be found in the voice of the people, who in grea
measure are about toglve verdict for the president
and against Mr. Giles If there had heen sufficient time
to lay the nominations before the Senate prior the
ssungof the commissions, shthave been well enough
TO have pursued that Course; because that case de
lay would have made no difference to the objec, in
view. here was nor, however, sufficient tifne al
things considered, to wait for tie meeting of body
know that those who think with MI. Giles, will al
once reply TO this observation, MIR. Giles has said
himself that the time which our cnvoYs left tic u.
previous to the meeting of the Senate. This answer
supposes that the Sena;e would, Immediately IT'S
ing have proceeded to act upon the nomination Of the
enVoys which, IN my opinion, could have been de-
pended on, as shal attempt 20 demonstrate.
The respect which every good citizen IS disposed to
pay the institutions of his country induces him, when
speaking of any branch of the government. treat 1t
if it proceeded to fair affects by the direct road of
pure reason, impelled by motives Of virtue alone Yet
At the very moment that this language is held Cor the
sake of decorum and in conseq seice of those o)ser
vanees which the world deems indispensable in form
there is not solitary Individual who has the least
knowledge OF political affairs, that docs not Know and
believe, that in most of the branches of governments and
particularly III those composed OF numbers private mo-
tves, OF ambition hatred, Friendships revenge, min
gle with considerations OF public utility national POI
ICY AS instance of this it IS notoriois the city
of WashngtoE least that the Senators of the United
States were, the last of that body split into
three fiorties to wit; A party friendly to the Execu
tive and his measures the federal party and party OF
disalected republicans, the head Of which was Mr.
Giles. With such Senate Containing two parties euua
in mum Der TO that which welt disposed II support
the policy Of the Executive, how could expedition be
looked for, especially in affair delicate that
the Russian mediation, where there much rom
for misrepresentation and many persons opposed tc
dscolor facts! The federal party, following its usua
and well known course, would materially seek embar
rass in hopes to profit by confusion and the part,
which directed by MIR Giles, disconnected and rest
less, would not fail if it could only act upon plausi
Die preence, 10 throw obstacles Ia the way Of harmon,
and prompness OF proceeding. u was also well under
stood that MIR. Giles was the impacablv cremy of Al
bert Gailatin and it confidently believed at tn,
time, that he would oppose the nomination Of the Score
tary OF the Treasury, by every continuance that HI
could imagine. Procrasnation, therefore, would have
been the unavoidable effect OF pospOnng the issuing
the commissions, until the aprobaon ofthe Senate hat
been obtained. Such procrastioaton would have bias
ted the benefit in relation to public opinion, which th
acceptance Of NE kussitu mediation, was calculated
secure. Il is kaown to Mr.. Ges, and to every man
experience who is acquainted with the nature of on
government that public opinion is every thing; tina
without it. description Of politicians manage th
national affairs, particularly period Of war, With
ny vigor whatever Il all important, therefore
FOR the Executive to cngrosss public opinion and tina
could only be done by mprcssing the people b. viii
conviction of tie real disposition Of the President will
regard to peace and BY the of accepting th
Russian mediation without the least hesitation the mos
increduous could doubt that the sincere de
sire OF MIR AladsOn to eze every fair occasion t. urO
cure peace and this conviction gave additional ener
gy To- citizens in prosecuting The war, which thel
thus taught most truly view just and neces
sary, and hot TO be continued day longer than It wa
possible to restore peace upon conditions with which The
public were well acquainted and which the best adj
IN the nation, Of the federal party, admte,
were the least We ought to exact, il very true a.