The recorder. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1802-1803, 1803-04-30

IaTE attempts II i}i.1e irce inquiry,
81 70 lelroy the l6er;y 81 n, prels,
ha2a excited 1roug and general ineG~-
nation throughout rhe couatry.
- ghe);- attempts we haze iten MA
@jasc lesiaaJors, ard private citizens,
en- gc with zeal approaching 70 mad
otis, and IN the pur'uir OF victims for
their malice, We have ieen enc nriaci-
pies Of law ana deccncy violacll, and
Jae freeft iccpc given 60 che moa re-
ve12ehH paIlions. The ht,t maginrase
OLA grtae and important ita1e, die
garding the principles and pra 9cc of
his parrizans, and the means by ahich
his own elevation was procured, has
publicly advocated proceedings which,
in cheir operation, viii pre(cnt all free
and iull diicuilion Of public meaures.
and condemn as common libelers, the
whole cials OF republican editors. \
tliI,ingui'hed bawlcr for liberty and
equality, an open advocate for che fee
dom OF ipeech and OF the preis, has had
the irnpudence 10 demand, ana has o.
rained ina court Of juttice, iecurity from
1he editor q a pubic paper to prevent
fu-ure .afra6ions oflaw by the Pu5.ca-
ton oflibels. Men whole elevated ia
lions have procured for them the op-
penalion, e bon9ya5Ls geutlemsa," nav
not only reiujcd 90 hear, bur vilely ira
duccd, inc defence of a late pualice
o6lcsr OF high relpeStability, after hav-
ing made and publithed allegations
againIt him, derogatory to Official cha
ra6ter and 10 priYare reputation.
The Sedi.ion law, the nature and
principles of which were mott gr6!sly
and wickedIy mi(reprcfenced, excited
much public Indignation. But this law
did not prohibit free dilcunion Of
public meaiures, nor full examina-
nation Of public characters. It allowed
the n5rnoit latitude of inquiry rha5 IN
h@ref man could de(ife. Ii operated
4 moderation Of the itriEt principles Of
the conmon lavs in regard to !idellous
publications, and, While IL produced ie
c.ry 10 the government, it clearly
POI -el anr rho nature Of the offence,
gave 80 rhc citizen who was proiecurrd,
: Iui. acquitted, uniefs f9llGbG9d and ma
~ WIZ rroyed inf him. fhc in
qu!rfss .: jurors were confined 70 the
tsHt2 OF t5c u 5c4tIoD and the fuIsHti0p
@ Ics author, and ,le power of judges
vas llml-ed 70 dc IingoGayn Of a itraH
the and ihcrc imp ioGment. he leniay
OF The punishment eviEcea tile hlaan1
detg0 of the Legislature, and the ;1.iic1
Of = "a" which iadulgcd Inc jrecG puol;
cation Of r.u-h fhothd noc have been
quciuoneJ, Again} this law, however.
= long and powerful Glamour was excir-
cd, Il was proclaimed to be an a65 If
iyuttce and opPreaion, oppolcd by the
co1'aHci9n oi chs country, and in d.
fcct hoitiiicy c The fundamental princi
pies ot rhe governments, The men who
thus oppoled the conualancc OF CHS law.
icon rolc to the direction ST she public
aiairs. he NV was ijjffcIed 70 cxfira
ana ciln.c who had oppofrd II as oDDrnf.
I've ard tyrannical, have fince unbjalb
lrG'y fought fecurily for themfllves in
the more rigid principles 81 the common
law. Truth IS no longer llfcred 70 b,
given il evidence on a trial Ola EEel
the ofs-nce itGslf is 70 vaguely define
that the conviction Of the pro{-cafcd IS
dependent rather upon the feelings and
prJei.ceS of jurors, than upon aay
i:aown and eGab,iided principles of law
ant chs Ialncnr 80 3: inflicted is re-
II el ~ 40 prefcrioed sule, buc is
"aoay dependent upon sae judgement Of
rhc ceufr, The pc~f"ns cCeYi led of
lll.l.t ll4.- q libel Jrav rh. litC~.a,;..,