Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-09-22

Mr.. RANDOLPH said. that ne did not rise
FOR the purpose of assuming the gauntlet which
had been so proudly thrown by the Coliah Of tAe
adverse party ;-not but that he believed even his
feeble powers, armed with the simple weapons of
trurn---a sling and ssone--capable of prostra;-
Ing on the floor thar gigantic boaster, armed cap
apple as he was |; but that nc was nnpslled by the
desire to rescue from misrepresentation the argu-
Inents of hi. colleague (Mr. Giics) who was ,,os,
absen. thro' indispcsition That absence. said
Mr.. X. is a subjc6t of peculiar regret 10 me, no,
only because cocd have wished lis vindicasion
90 have devolved on ADLER hands, out because ne
had to-day lost the triumph, which yesterday, he
could not have failed 10 eaioy that of seeing
his opponent reduced to the wretched expedent
of perverting and mutilating his arguments thro'
inability 20 meet and answer them Mr. r said
that this vas the strongest proof which could be
given of inaisquaey to !etute any position. He
therefore left 20 the gentleman the viaory which
ne had obtained over ais own arGune IT'S but
whilst be felt no disposition disturb him III this
enjoyuient, he hoped he should be permitted 10
correct some of the Measurements which had been
made of MS colleagues observations.
IL the view which nc had taken OF the conduit
OF our predecessors, in the chain or whose mea-
srres, the law now proposed 20 be repealed form
ed an important link, the funding Of the debt of
che United States and the assumption OF those of
tempt is made 10 construe this 6isapprobaton ineo
design of violating the public faith. Fir. r.
denied that one syllable had fallen from his COL
league, indicative of right or disposition on his
part to Withhold the payment Of any public en-
gogcnents. Against those destr,Sfive measures
his colleague h. Il raised his voice against the
Fatal and absurd maxim thai a public debt is 4
public Blessing he had indeed protested bus nor
Z word escaped his lips. because no such senti-
IN sc
ed into declaration that the presens legislature
possessed the same power over The engagements
CT FORMER Legislatures which they possessed over
ordinary laws that of modifying o! abrogating
them VITA the same freedom, which had been ex-
crciSed IN their establishment. Since the gentle
man had betrayed such peculiar selIsibiiiry On the
subject of tie debt Mr. 2 relied on his support
when measure should DC brought forward for
Its final and yapid extinguishr,ent by sponge
but by a fair reimbursement of LOO cents for every
daIlaT due.
On ether topics, the Algerine depredaeions In
dian war, Sc. 1t might As easAybe shewn that the
representation had been equally unfair. Hesliond
not dwell upon them, because they were less cal
clatedto make the unflyorable impression on the
pnolic nlind, which had been attempted on the
subjea Of rhS public debt. He would dismiss
them vita single remarkable usss 90 which
these incidents were applied, and not the eveuts
themselves, formed the 5gbjef OF his colleagues
aniraaGversiCns.
But to the long catalogue of unpopular aes
which have deprived their authors IF the public
confidence, the gentleman tells US he and his
friends were goadeP BY the Glamour Of their
opponents re soenlniy assures that in the
adoption of those measures they clearly foresaw
the downfall OF their power but impressed with
conviction thar rosy were essential 20 tue pub
lie good, and dlsdSipng all considerations of a
Persoio nature, they molly sacrificed their poiiti-
cal existence on the ALTAR Of the general welfare /;
zad we are called up'1 now 70 revere in them the
seif inundated vi5jmo at che slirne OF patriotism
These are indeed, lofty prefensions and altllo'
shall not pereuptorily deny. IN this age Of ride-
fty, may be permitted to doubt them foT l
call upon this eomrnittee to decide Whether, in
This days discussion, the gentleman has evinccd
that purity 81 heart, or that elevation of ssnii.
rnent, which could Justify nc i'll clothing him
with the attributes Of Cartins or Of The Decii
Ia the wide range which the gentisnAn mas
taken, the question how Ear the common law q
England z the law OF me United States, III their
confederate capacity, has been raised We are
told that the terms Of TIE common law shorrnd
On every page. and in almost every Iins OF TIA
constitution that without Il that insuumeSt Is
unin.eIiginle and inefficient that, therefore, i,
attaches 20 the constitution. Moreover, that il is
the law Of the states, BY the acknowledged prin.
eiple that colonists carry 20 their newly adopted
country, 50 much Of the law Of the parela STATE
as IS applicable to their new condition" Thai
the common law is 20 settlc the meaning Of com.
mon law phrases few viii feel disposed 70 deny
that WHEN the constitution uses the term court,
II doss not mean jury and tfst b. jury is not
lntended 10 express court, seems plain enoug., 70
any capacity. But Because the common law is Il
be resofted 10 for an explanation Of these and ST.
ilar terms, does it FOLLOW that that indefinite and
undehnaois body Of law Is the iye5e4i.i5h law OF
the land Che sense of a most important phrase
- direct tax as used in the constitution his beer
II is believed, settled ~ the acccptatOn Of Adam
Smiths an acceptaton, too, peculiar to himself
Does the Wealth Of Nations, therefore, form 4
part Of the constitution of the United stass .
Wil gentlemen please TO specify, also, whethei
that common law which they have adopted 70,
the Unitsd States, be the common ia~ as il ssooo
modified by statute in the reign vt Elizabes6 and
James the J. prior to the existeucc Of lie a6t Of
habeas corpus, Invested o. al she .aiatary psov
lions Afterwards introduced at the Rcyo itioa -
o. whether i BE- the comr3on lay OF the tine oil
(5ec~gc the II Whether wc arc to o. governed
BY rhe common law of Sir Waiter Raleigh sne
CsPtain Sali,h o. that v,h.-h v,as imported 3,
Governor Ogiethorpe or on which Of the irt-f
'n'si'a'c periods they have cnosen IS hxfg q,
common ia,v o. these states