Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-23

reason. The Executive duties would at times and
in the recess Of Congress touch our foreign as
well as our domestic relations, and these duties
would at such times 6rd rule OF action in the
laws Of nations as we'll as in the laws of Congress
The President Is clothed with the whole Execu-
tive powerful is expressly required that o he
shall take care that the lars be faithfully execu-
ed" and in the oath OF office he solemnly swears,
that ne will faithfully" execute the Office of Pre-
sident of the United States; and that he will guard
protect, and defend the Constitution of the Uni.
ted States. In this analysis Of authority and du-
ty, he wields the whole Executive power Of the
confederscy. He is the soul and centre Of the
Executive System, created such by the Consttu-
ton; responsible to God and Country for the fulfil
ment OF the whole Executive trust bound 70 il
by mis- oath, and charged specially TO " take care
4" that the laws be faithfully executed" Execut-
ed by whom? by every subordinate executive off,
Ger from the head of Department 10 the hum
blest in employment. Would It not bea solccism in
terms. an insult to common sense and justice, and
converting his solemn oath OF office into unmeaning
ceremony, il this severe and heavy responsibility,
did not carry along with il adequate and COM
mensurate means!-The first Congress thought
that power and responsibility, should be locked
together, that (n the words Of MIR. Madison's re-
solution,) the Executive officers were created for
the purpose of aiding the Chief gis,rale i'm ex-
ecuting the duties of his station, aud that these
power his high duties and his oath Of office, would
be Knocked by faction, insuited by
gance, and made the sport Of wickedness and folly
Treason itself might invade the temple of public
Liberty, and riot in national calames, before the
slow and tardy process Of impeachmen could over
take the delinquent.
have this moment read Mr.. Clay's Speech in
the National Inteiligencer. I read it with pain
and regret. History presents TO many exam
pies Of men, who have temporarily seized power,
and, in the moment of losing it, have shewn a
remarkable sensibility to misfortune In the tenn
pest and whirwind Of affairs, such men are want
ing in that moral courage and strength of princi-
Pile, which enable them to hold calamity in con-
tempt. Mr. C's speech is but the echo of those
denrncia,ions, which have passed over the Conti-
nent from Boston to New Orleans Prescription,
despotism over opinion, removal from office!-
There is one thing that generous bosom would
have omitted: | mean the allusion to the severe
dispensation OF Providence, which visited Gen
Jackson in December last Did he suppose that
painful, public duties would be neglected by the
President. because of his domestic ailliciions: But
this was touching Achilles on The heel
Mr.. c. denounces, in unmeasured terms, the
late removals, ami substantially asserts that men
have a life estate in office When nc invoked the
authority of Mr.. Jefferson to sustain him, he
might have recollected that Mr.. Jefferson was
the author Of the Virginia Bill Of Rights; and he
might find in that paper this language, that public
officers, legislative and executive, " should be
strained from oppression. by feeling and parci.
pating the burthens of the people, and that the y
should at fixed periods return to private station'
" Once in Office always in Office" is irreconcilea-
BILE with the saving principles Of republicansm.
have somewhere read Of one Of the fables OF
Arstophanes, who tells of man who sat so long
in one place, that he grew to his seatn-and, when
Hercules tore him away from II, all the sitting
parts of the man were left behind. The stains OF
long incumbency have certainly been left behind
by some Of the individuals recently displaced
from ofce.-But to return from this DEPRESSION
The President swears that he will " take care to
have the laws faithfully executed" Can he ac-
quit himself Of this sacred obligation, when he
retains around him worthless, incompetent, or
faithless agents! Can he sleep in peace upon his
pillow, with the recollection OF the tie that binds
him to this duty,-if men are in office, for whose
acts he assumes this heavy responsibility, and in
whose fidelity, abilities, or integrity, he has not
full and perfect confidence' Nay moroccan
those men who have actively exerted themselves
against his election, disseminated the foilest
cusatons, denounced him, and prophecied against
the wisdom, the virtue, or the success OF his ad-
mnistration of the national affars--can such men
give him cordial support He undertakes that
these men will be faithful TO their trust; men
who have so acted and are so circumstanced, give
their fidelity to Chief Magistrate of whom they
have so thought and so spoken' The severe and
exact responsibility Of the President should be
met, by the employment of those, in ,ohose talents
and uirtues he kio,os that he may confde.
Mr.. Clay says, Sc that Mr.. Jefferson, upon the
solemn occasion of his installation into office, laid
down his rule for appointment TO Officer" Z" Is he
honest, is he capable, is he faithful to the Const-
tution" Mr.. Clay has here sacrificed fact to fam
cy. Mr.. Jefferson laid down no such rule upon
entering office. Some length of time after he be-
came President of the United States, in replying
to a remonstrance from some OF the citizens Of
Connecticut, he employed this language; mol a
rule Of action to guide him, but as for some
distant and future period of time. Mr.. Jefferson
gives his reasons for preferrng his own friends in
that paper; but expresses the hope, that the time
may hereafter come, in which the only inquiry
will he, Is he honest, is he capable, is he faith
full to the Constitution" Mr.. Jefferson then knew,
as believe that Gen jackson now knows, that he
ought not to make his enemies the keepers of
his conscience. THAT human nature is mper-
feet, and that he who cherishes bitter hostility,
both personal and political, TO the Chief Mags-
trate, cannot, without touch from Heaven, give
cordial and cheerful cooperation in executing
the laws-and yet the President swears that this
shall be faithfully done--FdittfilIly done By hat
ing and refractory subaHeTas!
The late election was not a scuff1e between
men. Gen. Jackson does not owe his success las
Mr. c. asserts0 to brilliant military expoit-It
was contest for principles; for the vital principle
of free government. Those who drew the sword
in the conflict, should abide the fate OF the battle
The American people did not engage in sham
fight between Jackson s. Adams, Clay s. Co..
They intended serious work of it. Their will
was expressed in the election. Their representa-.
lives reiterated this will in the choice Of Printer
to Congress. They hope, in the words of Curtius,
that government will look for its great object,
to- the happiness of the peopIe-that its means will
be economy, liberty and peace--its guide the Con-
stitution. The popular voice demands reform,
and TO the President it declares, macte uirtute,
mdcte uirtute csto."
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
Tirginia, June 18Th, 1929.
COMMUNICATED.
RETROSPECTS.
COMPLIMENTARY s--and Reflections.
No. L.
The late war with Great Britain. with many i'm