The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-01
Len. pap.

Never 10 clearlyaas in the prefent inftance
have I obferved that'iafeguard ofjuftice, which
providence has placed in the nature of man.
SUCH is the imperious dominion with which
truth and rcaion wave their Eceptre over the
human intellect, that no foiicitation, however
aittul, no talent, however commanding, can
reduce its allegiance. In proportion to the hu
nl!ity OF our frbmiflion TO its rule, do we rife
into iome faint emulation of that i1efFab!e and
preldinS divinity, whole charlderific attri-
butte IS 70 be ccerced and bound By the incxora-
Die laws ofits own nature, 70 rs TO be al-wift.
ana all Jutt from neceiiity rather than election.
You have teen it in the learned advocate who
has preceded me, mott peculiarly and ftrikingly
iluitrated. You have lten his great talents,
perhaps the firl in any country. languifhing M
dera caufe too weak TO carry him, and too hea-
Wy TO be carried by him. lie was forced to diff
mis- his natural candour and fnceritv, and ha
wing nc merits IN his caufe, to refuge in the dig
nity OF his own manner, the relourccs of his own
ingenuity, from the overwhelming difficulties
with which be vas turronIGed. The Learned
Council has told you that this unfortunate wo-
man is not to De eliminated at forty thoufaud
pounds-fatal and unqucnionabe is the truth
OF this afiertion. Alas Gentlemen, fhe is no
longer worth any thing; faded, fallen, degra-
usc and dligraced, ihe is worth lefs than no.
thing But IT is for the honor, the hope, the
expectation, the tenderness, and the comforts
that hsve been Slated By the Defendant, aud
have Fed forever, that you are to remnnerate
the plaintiff by the punirhment of the defen.
dant. 1t isnot her prelent value which YOU are
to weigh-but it is her value at the time when
The lat baking in huibaud's love, with the
oieihng OF Heaven on her head, and its purity
IN her heart when fhe fat amongft her family,
ana administered the morality of the parental
board, Ultimate that pat value-compare its
preient deplorablc diTinution-and it may lead
you TO form fome judgement of the feverity of
the injury, and the extent of the compensation.
The Learned Council has referred you TO other
cafes, and other countries, orinftances ofmo-
derate verdiSs.-I can refer you to- fome au
thentic initances Of jut ones. In the next
country, l5,OO0l. againG a fubaItern officer.
In Trayers and Mccarthy, 5OOOl. agana
iervdft. In Tighe aganh Jones, 100000. A.
CAN'T imam not worth ihilling. What then
ought to be the rule, where rank and power,
and wealth, and fation, have combined TO
render the example Of his crime more danger
ous---tO make his guilt more odious--to make
the injury to the plaintiff more gricvous, be-
canie more conipicuous affect no levelling
familiarity, when | ipeak of perfons in the
higher rank Of decentralization of orders
ate neceHary, and ] always feel dilpofed TO
treat them with rcfpeet--but when il is my
duty to ipeak Of The crimes nv which they are
degraded, am not 70 fai'idious as 10 ihrink
from their contact, VIXEN 70 touch them is
.iientlal to their dhsfcttion. However, there
fore, lhould feel on any other location, \
dripohtiou to fpeak Of the noble defendant
With reipeCt due to his itation and perhaps 20
his qualities, of which ne may have many TO re-
deem him from the odum of this trauiadion,
cannoti 70 indulge myfeif acre, cannot betray
my client. TO avoid the pain Of doing my duty
cannoi forget thai in THIS acton tire eo1my;oa,