Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-04-21

has been inaituted, of the mott ferions impor. to
the party aecufed, on the mere (uggeRiou Of mem
Der in his place unnpported by oath, or by any
lpeti6c Ra.cmen, of faets, which if iupporssd BY
oath would have jaRi6ed an inquiry. This IN.
qoirt, thus natuled in a manner unprecedented
and alarming, far from being confined to any ipe.
cite charge or "a g. is extended to the whole hica
conduta of Judge who has been above eight years
in office, and authorizes the moi minute nquiGtou
Of his mot unguarded and mot uncomfortable
words and actions throughout the whole period
II cannot eftape your honorable body, how formi
dabl- an engine of oppreiion fich an inquiry mutt
Be. in the hands Of peIfons difpofed to abuie it.
Your memorable is far from n6nuating that fnch
has been the cafe in the prefent infance. This in
fipnat;on he could not make, or even fufpea TO be
yell founded, withoa. derogating from the refpea
that ought to be infpred by 70 elevarad body /.
but the foundnsf of principles is in no manner 70
.weli relied a. By the consequences to which they
lead. And although it cannot be fufpeaed that
this honorable body is under the influence Of par.
y fprit. party views individual malice, yet it
Is = melancholy truth that free Cover nments, are
liable to the influence Of party fpiris and that
when this fatal patton takes full poGeion Of the
mind it completely aiaes every entimens Of juaiee
and humanity. all regard for law and right.
Should the time ever arrive, which God avert,
when majority Of Congrefs, inAamed by party
fprit, and feciing the dearueiop Of It's opponents
ihal defire to crininate Judge, in order to heap
odum on the party with which he is connected
~h-n PreGdent at the head of this majority, and
guidng its padions, fhall defre from motives of
private refentment. the ruin Of any judge when
The Themes Of the dominant party, or its leaders,
may require the removal of all firm, uprigh. and
independent judges, and the fubaitution of others
more complying or more .imid; when me necefli
ties OF favorise partizan may require the removal
OF judge IN order TO create vacancy in office /;
ihould fuch diaaerous period ever arrive, as The
hiaory Of other free governnents Inform. Us j. ma,
in what manner viii The devoted victim, however
'nnoeeot be ablero fheild himfelf asan .hruias of
ioch weapon, asthis peeies Of esquiry inituted in
tueh manner. and on fnch principles. cannot fail
to furaifh Your memoriala srembles for the hon
or Of his country, and for the acccs of republican
eossEsmsuf in this her lar and faisea experiment.
much more than for his own fafe.y, when ne Re.
feas on the e1eeGss that under iach = CLOAK NAV
be committed.
Does the manner in which thi. inquiry has been
conducted. prefens any conderations calculated RI
remove or diminifh the alarm excited by its com
msncement Far otherwife. A great MATS of ten
limony has been taken, which though calculated TO
af-a your DemorisliR in the noR material man
nsr, he has had no opportunity of eonfl on,ing,
erots examining or explaining. This tettimony,
in the taking of which fome individuals were al
lowed to indulge themfeIves in the moi rancorous
inveefives againR yo\F memorable, and to clo,be
with the formaiil:es Md hnetioa Of an Oath. the
malicious esuions Of Aelr unprovoked and impla
cable refentment this tsflimony, thus tarnifbed
with the deep lain Of Partially, hatred and revenge
was pf'oted peace meal, in the proerefs Of the
inquiry. and though not Immediately publilhed
was Pacedin contition to be extenfvely circula,.
cd and thus to be enjoyed a. mean of deeply
wou"ding the reputation Of your memorialila. Of
exciting univerial odium az ainR him, aud Of pre
pairing the way for certain condemnation. when
Glamour hall have been excited, ltrone enough
70 drown the voice Of reafon, truth and Juice.
Your memoriaia BY no means wines 20 be IN
defRood as iotiouating that iach was the intention
shs'e~'h this fep was taken, his refpea for the
pdy by which it vas authorized, forbids him to
| frrbour iaeh a fnfpiciou. But faeh may be III.
| efsa' and fuch it mua be. in his apprehension.
m'eis y"ur favourable body, by preferring fpeci6c
dnarges againf him Immediately, fhall enable him
DPrePare ipeedily and eficaciouly for juaifyinp
| rs eonouet and defending his character apainR
tte un1ntt and wautOn afper6ons ~;,h ,,h:.L ~
te'imony abounds.
The recent publication Of this ,eaimonv in 4,
1fette' UNDERWOOD 10 be the official organ Of the
gdefn"ens, and thence communicating an Official
enraesr and fantfon to whatever of this nature
aPfars in it, is cireumaasce calculated to in
I've IN very great degree, the mifchievous
euOs OF Inc tett'mony iuelf, and renders Gill moe
'"P..a"s the meaidre which your znsmorialiG 70
ea'e"'y toe'ts' From this Gazette, the publ.
noCs int, III