Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-05-11
s. 4 MyEL CT ASE.
1Ur. EaS1ey's Speech C2acluded.3


ed In the resolution had done their duty
their characters would be INDICATED by the
enquiry and public confidence in their in
tegrity restored; ifthey were guilty and
not Untitled to confidence they ought to be
removed from Office, and neither the one
nor the other could be done unless the en-
curry proposed was authorised.
He said that an enquiry was necessary
to secure the purity, honor and usefulness
of the judiciary department.. IF that House
refused or neglected to exert the powers
vested therein for securing public conf
dence in the Judiciary unprincipled men
would find means of recommending them
selves to appointments and would vitiate
the streams where justice is expected to
flow, and the citizens would be oppressed
without the means or hopes of redress. and
would feel the Effects of tyrannical power
in the administration OF a government
which in It's other departments was the
greatest and best of any in the world. Let
proper enquiries be made where they are
necessarp-let the characterof judges I'M
Justly charged be vindicated, and the vicious
and unworthy be removed, and improper
characters will cease to intrude themselves,
their friends will not dare to recommend
them, and Congress will have conf
dence that the laws which they pass will be
applied agreeably to their genuine prlnei-
pies, to the protection and ease of the citi-
zens if we do not provide for this, We had
better cease to make laws y
Ifvlrtuous men are appointed and the
vicious discouraged, Congress may from
particular circumstances be called on to
make enquiries, bat very rarely indeed to
be employed in impeachments, no men of
realvlrt and talents would refuse a seat
on the bench for fear OF enquiry. He said
that the Judges of the supreme court in the
state he had the honor Of representing
though they differed in political opinions,
administered justice with such purity and
diligence, that though some Of them had
been long ill Office they enjoyed the conh-
dence of the citizens, were IN no danger OF
Impeachment. or removal by vote, and he
believed would not shrink from an enquiry
If necessary. The more extensive the con-
hdence Oft the citizens that was reposed in
the judiciary the easieris would be to sup
ply the vacancies with men of character
and talents. He said that among several
other observations which occurred to his
mind, with offering which he would not
now cietain the House, he had once thought
of STATING ether charges against the official
conduct Of these judges of which he had
been well informed, but on reflection he de-
clined mentioning them and thought it
most for the public good to insist OH the
appointment demanded by member on
the responsibility of his own official cha
racter, and as q matter of right, and would
do nothing that might impair the weight Of
the precedent that he hoped would be
set BY agreeing to the resolution as it
stood.
Mr.. F. said that having SO long engaged
the attention of the House ne would con-
cllde by observing, that as the case now
stood it is proper Tor all the members to
vote for the resolution, those that believed
as he did, that there was awant Of neces-
sary confidence in those Judges and that
this want of confidence was occasloned by
their unauthorized and oppressive conduct
were Obliged in conscience to vote for the
enquiry, and every member who believed
the Judges to have done their duty, and
that the public confidence is Withdrawn
from them without cause, are bound IN
duty to vote for the resolution in order
that the judges may have an opportunity
to vindicate heir character, that confidence
in them being restored they may become
useful to the public, therefore in every