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

He has delayed This tlep until 70 late period
of the ellion, tecaufs he aiil indulged the hope,
that your honorable body would not ajorn, with
'ut reducing discharge, az eioa him to i"me fl<
ci6c form 70 that be might be enabled to know
of what lie IS accuf. J, and 10 direa his attention
Immediately to the means neceha'y for proving
his innocence and indicating his character. But
finding, at lar, that an adjournment is about to
take place, without any thing OF this kind tsae
done tha, vote. Of impeachment, reitIne on no
preci!e or ipeci6c charges or has. and iurfor'ed
only by exparSe teimony, is abont TO be LETT hang
ing, for whole year, over his head and that the
publication of this teftimony is permitted, in fuch
way as render it mo Injurious to his reputation,
without leaving to him HE poGhlhy OF combat
irg II by erproof bis duty to that character,
which he has Imported unimpracheG during
pc iod Ct forty years, through all the troubles,
difficulties. and dangers Of the American revo!u-
tion to his fsmily,<hofe happinefs. reipeaabf
ty, and saabliihm.nt in life, are materially inn
plica'ed in whatever concerns his good name |;
to his country, which has honored him with many
high and important fruits 10 his Office, which
requires reputation not only nnfpotted hut un
tuipeaed; and to himfelf--forbids him to remain
longer in Glence.
He therefore respectfully folicits and in,reat.,
that gour honorable body will not fffer an aiouin
ment TO take place, until articles Of Impeachment
thal have been preseted againa him. Thu, al
though an immediate trial, which his feelings
would lead him to prefer, may rot be polibls at
this potraeed period Of ihe FELTON,, Gil! he will be
enabaed moving the prsciie charges sgainA him
TO make vigorous, fpeedy and efeetual prcpara-
tions fer his defenee to repsl the malignant cal.
umnies by which be is induarouly and unc eaf
ingly afailed. and fully to vindicte that innocence
for which he folemnly appeals to the Almighty
Seareher Of hearts, to the,eitmony Of hi. own con
fSence, to his country, and an impartial pofier;,y.
He is far from arroga,ing to himfef an exemption
from the ufual portion of human frailty. Bo,
for the purity Of bis intentions, for the uprieh,
NETS Ct bis conduA. and for the faithful and conf;
ensous dcharge Of his official dntirs. on all occ a.
iions. according to the bsa lights of bis underaand
ing, he confidently appeals 10 that dread Tribunal
whsre he and bis sceufers NUT one day appear,
where the inmo2 receGes of all hearts fhal be
laidopen the mot hidden morives Of eordaa
fhall be revealed. and calumny, malice, and party
rage, ihall for eve, be put g i,ence.
He is the more arongy induced to urge this re
qnea, and to exprefs his earnea hope that il will
not be refufsd, by thoie reflections which Ia. no,
been in his.powcr to avoid making, en- the eou,fs
hitherto Puriaed in this profecu,on.
That charges 70 weighty as to render ajudge of
the iuprime court fit objstt IF impeach ment for
high crimes and mifdemeanors, hould have been
inferred to req in oblivion for four years-al,housh
they arc founded on facts perfectly notorious in their
nature, and perfectly we'll known to the perfon,
who, after 70 great lapie of time. have at length
mace them the ground Of aprofecution the molt 70
Tenn known to ou,laws; that this proecution r,
long delayed, fhould be commences precifsly at the
moment whsa political change fuppoieG by MANY
though he hopes unjufly. to be favourable TO is
taccefs, had taken place-as circumaance, bur Il,
tie calculated to impart confidence to the hear, of
innocence or to quiet thofe alarms which fhe NAV
feel when oppofed to uncontrolled p,wer
Nor is the manner of commencing this profec,.
ton more confoling than the time. A formal in
qury into the official eondua Of judge, muit al
| ways be to him matter Of very ferrous moment
It mutt always expofe him to very great uneaGncfs
| and may render him obnoxious TO the moH uujuia
and injurious fulpieions. II is wholly inconfifen,
with The humane and jun principles of our laws, to
iubed citizen TO evils of this kind. without fom.
fPee'hc accufation, reing facts precifsly ftsted
and Imported BY faeh proof on oath, as renders
their eaiitence at leaa probable. No man, howev
er mean his condition, or however infamous hi.
character, can be bound over to undergone inquiry
OF grand jury. without idch an accufation, and
foeh proof. grand jury cannot liaen to any &C
eufat;on againft man, nor inquire into his con.
dua, much leis put him upon his trial by finding a
prefent ment aganR him, unles fach an sncuf.,ies
10 l"pported Be 6ra adduced; and the perGon
maieioufy mitigating theinqury Is liable, in cafe
it fhould be rejected, to it for repara,ion by the
aeeufed party. All ,hete jua and humane prov-
lions are eaabfhed by our laws, for the protection