Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-03-01
EonsrB Of tbt dintttu States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Wednesday, February y.
Debate on tie Jill Yeeefved from the Sesafe
entitled !" As ia to rspsal certain 9fs
rybeaisx the argasizatios IF the courts
eftbs U. Stafet.''

Let US then enquire, MIR. Chairman,
by what tenure the judges hold their Of
fices-lss The judges both Of the tuPrene
and inferior court, thall hold their Of
fees during good behavioa1." CONT
Arr. q, Sec. /. The gentleman from
North Carolina enquiries, if they have
been guilty of any mifaelneanor. How
then are we to break down this ceniti-
e,u,ional rampant, with which they are
en,renched How, TO ute the GENTLE
mans own exprefion) are the judges TO
TO be burlsd from their Offices! There IS
no gentleman, Mr.. Chairman, within
theie walls, who would more iincerely
with the judiciary to poaefs due and
prsper Independence than myielf; but
although do not admit the right Of the
leeiilature to hurl theie judges from
their Offices, yet / mutt contend and
fhall ever contend for the righE which
conereis poaeis TO aboiiih an office, or
in other words to repeal law creating
an Office, whenever it fhall be plainly
proved to them thar fuch an Office is un-
neceaary and oppretiise. They may
hold their offices during good behaviour,
if their Offices exit; but mott certainly
the moment the office is legally defroyed,
that is, the moment the law efablhhing
the Office is repealed, there mutt be an end
of the tenure. Ihole iages, who formed
tie contribution, MIR, Chairman, never
contemplated privileged order Of men
in that focisty for Whole happineis they
formed that initrument. The expedition,
which is now given to it, is very differ
ent indeed from that which was intended
ly them. / have read and have heard,
fir, that this is government Of expert
Inent. That in the annals Of nations ii
has no likeoeis--No prototyPe-The eff
feets of this particular department OF the
government were not better underfeod
than the efetf. of the other departments
of the governmental was to be teaed
by experience, the touchitcne Of truth;
if ore fyfsem in its operation did not an
fwer the expectation Of the Legislature,
ample room was allowed for the intro.
duStion of fome other, and fer the aboli-
ton of the former; hence come the ex-
preflions g from, zine to time ordain and
eftabliih"-What fays the contribution !
!" The judicial power Of the United States
fhall be vef}ed in one fapreme court, ard
fuch inferior courts, as congrefs ihall from
time to time ordain and eitablifh." Con-
ereis may then or congrefs may not from
time to time ordain and efablifh courts.
But if they eRabiilh courts, 70 hkewife
may they abolih courts. Into what a
variety of aoiurdities ihall we be plung.
ed, if we rejetf this reaionable interpre-
tation The right to modify the law be-
ing conceded, but not the right to deprive
the Judges Of their Offices, our country
would exhibit lpeescle which it never
has yet and hope never will exhibit
officers without ofices-judges without
courrs-A privileged order out Of the
reach of the contribution, flor being de-
prived Of their offices they can not be Inn
peached) drawing money from the treafu-
~, and rendering no feryices for their
ialaries. Is this the meaning Of that con-
iti,ution which declares that " the judges
during their continuance in office fhall re.
ccivc compensation for their ferviees; a
eamsextahas ?" But iarpole, Mr.. Chair
-rnaa, they perform no tervice:, Supp0fs
there be no iervice for them to perform,
wha. then is to be their compensation !
Will the Judge fay to the Legislature, en-
cresfe my dulies, make them proportion
ate o'my falary, and will perform
thsms Not 60 Mr.. Chairman; an increait
of fslary is never objsaed to; a dininu-
tion Of duty is never Objected to; bu, il
duties are encreaiei, ialaries mutt alo br
encreaietf. If underaand the word COM
penfasion, is Eighties a iomething given
for a fosae,hing performed. But if there
be no duty periotmed land it there be no
Office there can be 90 datyl then there
oash, 60 be no Compensation. In the
Engsifh language there is foeh word as