Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-08-16

! My second proposition having thus branche,
Itself into two points OF enquiry. proceed tO ex
anime the first question which presents ITSELF
wiz. how far the conduct of the present admins
traton, and OF the Virginia Legislature, toward.
NIr. Giles has been Just and anticipate but lit
lie difficulty in demonstrating to every impartial
land independent mind the truth ofthe adverse pro-
Iposition.
! Until about the year 1909, | presume il will
be admitted by all. that Mr. Giles continued 20
be favorite with the Herubl.caiis, and although
about this time, there were To be heard some ~
n9'Ts of rans,,rs against him, vet it is certainly
true, that nothing Ike firm was given 20 any
complaints ag@nst him until tie year 1911,
when he delivered his speech against the BIZ pro
posing renewa! of the charter of the Z. 5. Bank.
and m this speech seems TO he found ell the jus
uhcation on the part OF those who have since
thought proper to denounce him. L admit that
has proposition to suspend the right OF H7Jsas
| corpus nn1eT cerfasn circumstances, FIR fRii,e,i
t'''e, had been seized upon For the purpose CIV
mS form To accusations against him butit seems
that tins ground was soon found untenable, and
was abandoned without much struggle
during the session Of the Virginia Ass emily of
| lSl0-ll, Mr.. GILES was reelected a SEN
atcr IN the Congress OF the United states without
opposition circumstance which think, not
Only siiews that nc was yet Eiyorite with the
1epubl cans, but of the Legislature of Virginia,
i-,'9 vs. MY ltb " HIS SlsO1tillg WRlD
MS political friends, the cause must be looked
! tor IN some othis acts, subsequent TO that time
/ wlil then date the beginning OF republican
complaints against him, at the period OF time
when he delivered his speech agains, the Dlllre
ported by Nj. Crawford, then = senator from
Georgia, by which bill, it was proposed to re-
new the charter of the U. S. Bank; and without
pretending to discuss the truth of The principle
which Mr. Giles then advocated IN relation TO IN
strnctions To senator's BY the state Legislature
think 1T viii be easy to shew that the course
which has been pursued towards him has been
both unjust and impolit:c.
Before notice the famous BOOK, adopted By
inc Virginia Assembly during the session 1872
Is, and which concluded with several resolu-
tons upon the subject Of Instructions, / cannot
IiofDear TO remark that there is no office, within
'he git or the government, as far rs am advised
and informed, which Mr.. Giles would accept Of
even lfltwerc offered TO hun and believe fur
.her, that this resolution on his part may have
Ioeeh Known To tile administration: having al
ways acted in the character of representa- We
dr u. had contracted tOndness for it, which
not only refused To yield 10 any other political
station, but which had determined him 10 &C
cept ONO other-I'RS determination, however
on the part of MIR. g. being known 20 the admin
iStrat!on, was by no means justification OF The
apparent neglect OF ms talents and histlong ser
wees, because the people were not in possession
! Ut younger men, for the most high and d.stin-
Su.shed stations, could not, and certainly did not
iali TO beSet enquiry, and Conversations as 70
me causes operating on the mind OF Mr.. Mad.
son, IN thus omittng to honor Fir. G.. with some
distinguished mark OF republican appreciation &
us iailing to DO so, was, in my opinion, the sub
stahtlal reason why Mr.. Giles political charac
ter was first assaiied by many well me!hing men
OF our country Il WAS very clearly seen tina;
Mr.. Madison entertained no particular friend
ship for INN, although no cause for dislike was
seen III any ofhis public acts and am sure,
need not inform Thereafter that there are many
men IN our country, who are 50 bl4ndly devoted
to tie President, whoever emay be, as that they
do not hesitate to adopt the English maxim, and
they do really BRING themselves at last 70 be
| NeVe, mat the President can do no wrong.
Seeing, therefore, that Mr.. Gllcs was no favor
tie with Mr. Madison, and believing that Mr.
Madison could dono wrong, these men whom
haveJust described, made the first bold attack up
ON thePolitical character of Mr.. G.-and this, do
lihonestly believe, was the ground work ofall the
persecution which this gentleman has experen-
ced.
For twelve months preceding the war, and du-
ring its continuance, the people very well know
that many important appointments were made
lDoth Tor foreign and home service, and in no one
instance, venture1 to affirm, mas there been a
selection OF more political integrity, of patriot
SIN and OF talents, IN any one man, than arc to
De ioand in Mr.. Giles, and being at least equal
~ these things, he had the advantage OF having
had much longer course OF practice rs a states
man, than any man who had been favored with
the appreciation of Mr.. Madison, with the ex-
lcePtion perhaps Of Mr.. Galatn Ii IS very true
as believe, that Mr. Giles wanted none orthese
GonorS but, as have before said, that is no rea
son why they should not have been offered t.
lhm it would have been reward not only due
70 merit, but whether accepted by him or not, IL
w9uldhave been at least gratifying TO the feel
ngs OF long tried and faithful public servant
and would have left an impression on the public
mind, very different from that which was pro-
laused by the course which Mr.. Mad son thought
It right TO pursue.
To have thus bonored Mr. Giles, would have
left no ground Of complaint by any Others, be-
lcause no man bad been longer laboring in the
lpublc service, and none was more prominent In
lour councils. The people every where would
lhaye thought it right, and no unsavorable senti-
lment would have been entertained by them to-
wards Others, who had been passed over, for al
Though they might have been equally deserving,
the public eye had not 50 long dwelt upon them
and here must be permittcdto say that we have
had ample proof of the means in the power of an
administration, TO wound or protect the political
standing Of men, however strong or however
weak may be their claims upon the country
Until the year 1911, lam entirely unapprized
Of any existing cause why Mr.. Giles should have
been entirely overlooked by Mr.. Mad son, nor do
| [ perceive that any cause has at any time exis
ted justification NJ such cottrse aItb,ufrf,