Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-04-25
From the GAzrrrE OF rHs U. STATES

and TO Jeffrey the liberty of the prefs,
have excited trong and general indisna.
zion throughout the county.
In thefe attempts we have ieen mag'i I
srates, Legislators, and private citizsnsen-
gagged with zeal approaching to mad
nels, and in the purfuit of victims for
their malice, we have iecn the principles
oflaw and decency violated, and the tree
eft fcope given TO the mott revengeful pat
Gons. The frt magifrate of great
and important fate, diiregarding the prin,
ciples and practice of his par1izans, and
she means by which his own elevation
was procured, has publicly advocated
proceedings which, in their operation,
will prevent all free and full dlicutilon OF
public meafnres, and condemn as common
libellers, the whole clais OF republican
editors. A diRinguilhed bawler for Ii
bersy and equality, an open advocate tor
she freedom of fpeech and of the pfeis,
has had the impudence to demand, and
has obtained, in Court of Juitice, iecu-
rity from the Editor of public paper TO
prevent future infraetions of law by the
publication of libels. Men whole eleyat-
ed ltations have procured for them the ap-
pellation of {" honorable Gentlemen" have
not only refuled to hear, but Wiley ira
duced, the defence of a late public officer
of high refpettability, after having made
and publiined allegations againa him de-
rogatofy to official charaeter and TO pri-
vate reputation.
The Sedition Law, the nature and Prln-
ciples of which were mott grcay and
wickedly mifreprefented, excited much
public Indignation. But this law did not
prohibit a free dilcufion of public mea-
iures, nor full examination of public
characters. Ii allowed the utmoR lati-
,ude of enquiry that an honea man could
deiire. !; operated as Moderation OF
the Gritf principles of the common law In
regard 10 libellous publications, and,
while it produced lecurity TO the govern
ment. ii clearly pointed out the nature OF
the offence, and gave TO the citizen who
was profecuted, juf acqnittal unleis
faljsbsoa and malice were proved agalnH
him. The inquiries of Jurors were CON
fined to the natb of the publication and
the ixrextisx OF It's author, and the power
of Judges was limited TO the imPohsion
OF a imall fine and (hort imprifonment.
The lenity of the pnnifhment evinced the
humane dcGgn of the Legislature, ard the
iuRice of law which INDUCED The ffeelt
publication of truth fhould not have been
oueRioned. Againf this law, however.
a loud and powerful Glamour was excited.
Ii was proclaimed to be an act of injuitiee
and oppreillon, oppofed by the conhisusi-
on of the country, and in direct hoitllity
60 the Fundamental principles OF the 60.
ycrnment. The men who thus oppoied
the continuance of this law, foon rofe TO
the direction OF the public affairs. The
law was differed to expire, and thoie who
oppofed it as opprciiive and syrannical,
have fpce unblulhingly fought iecurl,y
for themlelves in the more rigid princi-
pies of the common law. Truth is no
longer fufered 10 be given in evidence on
a trial fora libel the offence itfelf is 70
vaguely defined, that the conviction of the
prolecu,ed is dependent rather upon the
ieelings and prejudices Of jurors, than up.
On any known and e&abIiihed principles
of law; and the pun.ihment TO be inalet-
ed IS reariaed by no ptelcribed rule, but
is wholly dependent upon the Judgment OF
the court. The perlou convicted OF pub
iiihing libel may, at the diicretion of
Judge, be fined in fun beyond his adj
litg 10 pay, and fentenced TO imPrlfon-
ment for time adequate TO an expiration
Of the mott enormous offence.
Whence, II is ieriouay siked, proceeds
this unequal dilribuion Of jufice !! Why
are attempts 70 Unprecedented, and 70 d.
al. ~,-,,fa1 bx, fba ,,yOfefI,one 0f fhofa