Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-08-07

bat ID" Under these acspicio4s circum
stances, he said, he proceeded to the dis
cussion OF the important question before
ject 10 eror, and kaow,ng that if he did
errit was HE iysrrest 10 be corrected; con-
hdent also, Tint there was mess of intel
ligcuce and calm reie ZION at this moment
iii the people OF The United States, com
potent 20 dsteet The error, and apply the
corrective
After ether preliminary remarks. Mr.. !
Giles delivered Hmincns exposition Of ,
the constitutions, question.
! re was followed the nexs day by M. |
3ayard, VINO occupied the floor the whole /,
OF thUt, and until iAre= oclock OF the en-
suing day. He begae by expressing his
surprise at the course persued by Mr..
Giles, tom whora he had expected diff
fercnt line Of conduit. lie had cherished
this expectation from his professors Of a
desire to oonclliate SO repeatedly made
during the session. But the mask had
been suddenly thrown aside, and blazing
torch carried into the house.
MIR. Bayarl tilen replied in very DIFF
fuse manner, to each of toe preliminary
remarks of Mr.. Giles. He denied the
charge Of monarchio attachment, and as
tserted that the gentleman himself did not
. believe that there existed III the country
an anti-republican party.
After vindicatiRg the past administrali-
ons, ne said -
g | pray God Imay be mistaken in the
, opinion entertain as to the designs of
. gentlemen owhom am opposed. Those
!, designsl believe hostile to the powers Of
this government State pride c,;;inguish-
. es national sentiment, Whatever is ta-
= ken from this government is given TO the
states
= g The ruiasof tlais ssnvernnent aa,-ran-
die the states. hsre are states whici,
: are too proud 10 DC confronted. Who's
= sense OF greatness and resource renders
- them intiHerentto our protection, and in
- duces bel;eE that il no general govern
mcnt existed, their influence would be
II more extensive md their Importance more
a conspicuous. There are gentlemen who
= make no secret oF an extreme point OF de
y preston, to which the government is tc
= be sunk"
:, Mi. Bayard proceeded in a similar
= strain until he reached that part of Afr
y Giles ; speech which related 20 the ludicf
airy.
" He then observed -
: After, Mr.. Chairman, the honorabl,
member had exhausted one CULVER OF ar
- rows against the late executives. he open
ed another equally poisoned, against the
Judiciary. He told us, sir, that when the
/ powered the government was rapidly pas
e sing from federal hands, after we hac
I, heard the laundering voice os the peop,c
: which dismissed Us from their service, we
:, erected issaioiary, which we expected
q would afford Us she s,,1ltcF of an invio.a-
II bic sanctuary. The gentleman is decei.
5 we'd. We knew better, sir, the character:
c who were to succeed Us, and we knew that
. nothing was sacre'l in the eyes OF ir.iitlels
Is No, SIT, never had thought that any
thing belonging 70 the federal goyermnen,
. YEAS holy in TIE eyes ofthose gentlemen
e could never therefore imagine that .
sanctuary could be built up which would
not be violated. Ibelieve these gentlemen
regard public opinion because their pow.
CT depends upon it, but ] believe thew
respect no existing establishment of the
government, and i public opinion could
be brought % support them, / have no
doubt they would annihilate the WHOLE
: The Judges, SIR, have been eliminated
Tor their conduct ia relation to the sedi.ion
act, and have been charged with search
ing ior victims who were sacrificed under
1t. The charge is easily made, but has
+ the gentleman the means OF supporting it ?
: Il was the evident DESIGN OF the gentle
} man to attach the odium OF the sedition
: law to the iUsiiciary on this score the
Judges arc surely ihnoceht.-Theyd did not
, pass the act; the legislature made the
law, and they were obliged by thels oaths
: TO cxccute it, The Judges decided the
law to be constitutional, and am not now
going 70 agitate the question. I did hope
when the law passed, that its effect would
; be useful. Il did rot touch the freedom
Jot speech, and was designed only to re-
strain the enormous abuses of the press.
II went no further than to punish maliei.
Gus faisehoods published with the wicked
intention Of destroying the government.
: No innocent man ever did or could have
suffered under The law. No punishment
could be indicted til iury ,vas satisfied
that the publication was false, and that The
party charged knowing It 20 be false had
published It With an evil design"
Mr.. Bayard then indicated the a0 o.
The last session at great length, and urged
the uncoustitrtionaiity OF the present bill
when towards the close Of his speech he
remarked =,