Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-04-11
DOCUMENTS,

DOCUMENTS,
.4eeon'fianyins RE Rrytort Of the compriste.
ahf'o'Hfed 10 enquire into the official CON.
atsci u SAMUEL CHASE and RICH
HRD PETERS.
Continued
lnterrogatories exhibited on behalf Of The
House Of representative. of the United
Nta'es,to Hiliam S. BiddIe, touching the
official conduct of Samuel Chase and
Richard Peters, Esquires, or either of
them.
J. Were you present at the second trial
oi John Fries for treason before the circu;t
court OF Pennsylvania, at the spring term
OF the year 1909?
y Have you correct copy of the
opinion of the court delivered in writ.
ing to the counse! for the prisoner at that
trial
3. How came it in your po.session2
<:hreyou confident hatthc CODY, which
you now produce, is exactly correspon-
dent with the original?
JOHN RANDOLPH.
Thomas Leiher,
l}fahion Dickersou.
The answers Of lillian S. BiddZe, to the
annexed Undergraduates, in the case
OF Samuel Chase and Richard Peters,
Esqures.
/. In answer to the first interrogatory
this deponent saws that he was present
at the second trial OF John Fries for
treason before the circuit court of the
United States for the district of Penn
syiYanla, in the spring term of the year
1900.
q In answer to the second interroga-
tory he says that he has nat q correct CO.
ny oil the whole opinion delivered bv the
court in Friting 10 The counsel for the
prisoner At that trial. That The paper now
produced to the commissioners and here
unto annexed, was written by This depo-
nent during the trial aforesaid, and was
preserved by him among other papers,
Containing important law opinions and
cases. That the following extract from
said PAPER, IS 20 the bSs, ofihis deponent's
knowledge and belief correct copy of so
much OF the opinion expressed bv the court
before the trial Of Fties, aud delivered in
writing, IS I've unTc sstacd. t. the. Counsel
tor the prisoner, viz. /" II il the opinion
ot the court trata any insurreCaion or rising
OF any body OF people within the United
States, to attain or effect, by force or vio-
'erce any objeA of a great public nature,
or OF public and gsneraI or national con-
Germ, is ieyying of war again.t the Uait-
cd States, within the contemplation and
~ e IL
nited States. On this general position
the court was Of opinion that any ins 1rrec-
ton or risiag 70 resist, or prevent by force
or Vi2i@''ceDhe execution Of any statute of
The United seales, for levying or collecting
taxes, duties, imposts O. excuses, or for
calling Firth the militia to execute the
laws ct the Union, or for any other pur
pose (under any pretence whatever, az
that the statute was unequal, hur,hensotne
oppressive or unConstitutional) Is a levy,
ing Of war against The United States with
~ the constitutions" That the remainder
Of That page o.! the annexed paper. and the
following pere he words " constitute
the crime OF ievYing war;" Certain the
substance If he principal points Of law
stated ny the court on hat occasion. and
that the residue of The contents Of said
p'psr annexed, are no part of the opinion
OF the court, bu: are authorities an 1 cases
added by his deponent for his own use and
Information.
3. n answer 10 the third intrrrop atorv
he says, 'ha, he ives M the time Of said
trial studying law under William RawIe.
ESQ then attorney OF tie United States
or he districj Of Pennsylvania. Tina, he
attended the circuit court during almost
all TIE trials Tor treason in that court, in
the years 1879 esd lsOO-lrd occasion.
ally assisted M. R4wle in writing down
the testimony Delivered on those trials.
= h9t the annexed PAPER Except as to the
latte part Of il jus, mentiored) was &C.
cor'lng TO the best Of this deponenrs re.
collection and belief, copied by him in
court before the commencement Of said
'rial' from paner which was then circu.
lsting around 'he bar, as the opinion IN