Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-04-24

{ balwafk ofour common liberty, that il
eyes Of the iubnantial ard rejecting ci
tizens Of tie United States are now direct
I ed. From concurrence Of many un,ow
! ard circumstances, fuch have been tie IN
( happy deluiion OF the lower rarks Of thl
people of the leyeral STATES, that niffals.
ing their true intereRs, they have rai!ee
10 the general delegation Of the Union,
thoie, who incapable Of pro6ting by for
nrer experience, have determined 10 rils
The happineis Of their Aourilhing ard pea
ceable country, TO crafty their appetite
for revenge, at being heretofore diiarpoint-
ed in their favorite purluits ola lieentious
liberty and equality.
Was this likely &c be a temporary evil,
It would be mott prtadent to fubmit il f.
lencc, trulfing TO yine and experience for
a remedy. But when written eonailu-
ton, on which we have 70 greatly valued
ouTlelycs, ard truitedas our iurelf fupport,
is truck at IN one Of IFS mott eisntial prin-
ciples, little hope can be entertained of &C.
eurity and projection under any other
part of it.
5 The independence If The judiciary de-
fpartment, is the great fheer anchor by
which rye can expect TO outride the forms
that occaGoaalIy may flake the political
ark.
It is an unhappy circunRance, and has
had ferrous consequences in more inaances
than one, that the acts Of congress have
been conGdered as the fupFeme authority
of the nation This is dangerous mil.
take They are but the tecond in degree,
the contribution being the abfolute snd IN :
comfortable power that is TO govern all,
and to which every other mutt iubna,.
while 1t remains in force. Ifany citizen
of the United States, whatever lis rank.
and authority may be houid contrageneit it,
that inArument has provided INDEPENDENT
courts OF juttice to give adequate rediets,.
and if the two branches ihonlG unite in
over fepping its bounds, who is 10 Judge
between the contribution and the legiila-
ture Ihis fame ineruraent has wilely or.
dered that It's provi6on laall be the ia
preme law of the land, and the Eame courts
Of inlsice have been eitablifAed, to deter
mine which ihaIl prevail according 70 the
will of the people, teaided by that iolemn
at; and 70 render the tribunal equal to
the taak, has protected il againll she in.
tIuence of government ard people, fubjett,
as the only ooiiible check, 10 the con9itu-
tionai change OF the proyiiicns Of this IN.
portant charter.
It is in vain to raiie plaaii5le ard 60
phiitical arguments, to thew the impro-
priety of rifng the Judges IN sflls in.saliee,
above the legllaturs.
The people had a right TO make fuch
contribution as they pleafe,i. They have
efablilhed this inltrunent; and therein
have determined this queaion, ard 10
power, hort of the conitltational one, can
control it. It has imperiouay command
ed, thar the tenure by which the Judges
.hould hold their coslmiaions during good
behavior, for the greater fecarity Of the
whole community, and who dare 10 con-
rradia ii.
notwithstanding this awful authority,
fuch is the fate of all hualan things, a le-
giilature has been found hardly enoughto
makethe tremendous attempt This all
important proviGon, has been aHalled, by |
repeating the law appointing the preIent
circuit court agreeably 10 the contribution,
apparently for the purpote Of getting rid
Of the judges appointed under the confi-
tuition agreeably TO the forms Of il.
This is melancholy fact, that is no
longer problematical- TO you then gen
tlemen our eyes are turned, as our only
hope againa a more fevere and defgefate
remedy You mul now be called upon 10
hold the circuit courts as formerly -Ify you