The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1829-01-12
LYNCitBI1R., JAN. ~. 1929.
Proposed amendment 10 The Consolation fhe 0.

10 every other branch Of his proposed amend =
meni.
First, as to the term ofservice. Gen. Smyth
IS against extending it hey dnd lis present limta
fion-and his chief argument in support Of his
view of the subject is. that il never can be i'm.
partant TO require the service of any one man
for longer period than four years In gov
ernm.nrs ofa despotic character, (ihe General
admiis) longer continuance IN Office of Rulers
may he necessary TO the comp lion of great
plans which they may project. and the ,uccess
OF which depends upon their will but in gov
srnmen Of 'aws.hkr ours where plan recon.
nended AMI mainred ny one President, cannot
be checked or mpedcd ny his successor without
the concurrence ofthe National Legislature he
contends that no such necessity exists. lie H.
Illustrates this POSITION by referring TO the in
craase of the Navy, recommended by Mr.. Mad
ison.--a policy steadily pursued under the i'd
ininistrations Of his successors. and to Mr.
Manroe's plan of certifying the sea-po,ts, which
IS still adhered to, although Mr., Monroe is no,
a, the helm--Nye do not think thai the question
Is male 20 assume its proper aspect by this
mode Of rea ,oning The illustrations cited by
Gen. Smyth are certainly wholly urelavent.
The increase of the Navy. recommended by
Mr. Madison, was DOT checked under he admin.
istra,ion Of Mr.. Monroe, il is true. But why
was il not Was il not because MIR Monroe
was himself friendly TO the policy of enarging
the size aud increasing the nopnber ofeur ships.
which the war that had Just then heen concluded
our extensive maritime frontier for the protrc-
ton of our commerce and for offensive opera
tions against the enenv1 Snppose. on the o.
ther hand, that going into office, as he did
with an overwhelming popularity he had recon.
mendeh y discontinuan"e Of Mr. Madisons po-
licv. and had backed his recommendation bv
an appeal to the prejudicrs which existed
p,insi il during Mr. Jeflrrson's administration
by the dominant party,-is II mt almost certain
n at il III. hill for the gradual increase Of the
navy" had moi been repealed, il would have
rapiitv Of that increase, and the effectiveness
OF this right arm OF our defence So, with re
pard &c Mr. Mon,oe's plan nj terrifying the
gsa-poris His successor vas friendly to tho
policy, aud the nation, through their rep
reseniatIves. had expressed .helr do did
| appreciation of IT. Its absolute necessity
IL "a. tod III ~
event OF the late war, thai man who should
have recommended a diScon ,nndnce OF this IN
portant cham of sea-Dodrd defence, would have
been regarded as INSANE. Notwithstanding the
apsurdy of .uch course, however, we cannot
ioubi that fin bad been recommended by Mr..
Adams, on the score of the vast sums OF money
which it annually drew from the public treasury,
he would have found large body Of supper
ters in and ouI OF Congress; composed Of that We
~ numerous class vino had obtained Il who werh
trying to obtain office by preaching up to the peo-
pie -" economy in public expenditures,
as heir leading object, in seeking public lite.
But, let us present the case IN another point oi
view Suppose President should pro ect
some scheme or lay the foundation OF some poll
in respect to which the nation IL more
nearly divided in sent iment than 1t is on
either Of those which Gen. 5nyth has
brought forward to sustain his position,
The President is sanguine Of success, II he be
not thwarted. But his term OF four years ex-
pires and finds his experiment yet undecided.
Iii. cabinet officers may very naturally be sup
posed TO have supported TINS scheme, one ei
whom may be a candidate for the Presidency
In order to defeat him. bis personal and pollh
cal enemies assail him. through this measure
1t is denounced as partial, oppressive and rn-
nous in its operations, while il has not yet had
time 10 develope lis true character and 10 show
the consequences which will result from H.
The people in those parts Of the country which
are said to sustain great injury by the mea-
sure, reused so n high pitch OF excitement by
BY for the public repo,e, every Republic n.
bounds, become loud and clamorous in their
aud regard with determined spirit
Of hostility every man who may have had any
agency in projecting or supporting a measure
which they have been taught to believe is fraught
with inevitable ruin TO themselves and their
pos,erity They rally around some popular lead.
er, whose ambition sei1es hold Of this measure as
a ladder whereby he may ascend TO power, or
who may he honestly opposed 10 it as chimencal
or oppressive, and,by the aud of the great excite
ment which prevails, is carried into o &c. II is
seldom, indeed, that the President will not he
sustained in his views by majority Of both
Houses of Congress, more particularly when he
yoes into Office under such circumstances. The |
consequence would be that the policy ofthe pre-
ceiling administration would be checked in
nid.career. and the e1-President would be vi.i.
ed with all the odum which men generally bes-