Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-05-16


Years, to render the present SO Precisely
" the moment favorable to the success OF
prosecution" against you.
Your next CO np!ant is against the man.
ner OF institutias the enquiry. "Ao en-
curry" you say has been instituted on
the mere sug seslion of member in his
place, unsupp ,fted by oath, or by any spe.
cihc stateme, 1t of facts, which, if support
ed by oath, would have justified an en-
curry" And 1t us ask, whether in charg-
ing jury, u her oath, diligently TO en-
q'HTe and true ares"n'mient make, you have
not often enjoined upon them, whenever
they n-.n re4sun to believe public offence
hai been committed, though not within
their personal knowledge, to send for wit
ne'se and not always wait till accusing
witnesses should voluntarily come? Yes,
we are not so Ssri',ish as not to understand,
and remember, the lessons you have Civ
en-. You call the Jury the Grand Inquest,
the Guardians ofthe public peace, to watch
tor the people. And the constitution tells
us, that in cases of impeachment, the
House OF Representatives is the Grand
inquest.
Your third objection is the manner of
conducting the enquiry. "A great mass
oil testimony is taken," you say" calculat-
ed to affect you in the most material man.
ner, which you have had no opportunity of
cross-cxamining OF explaining" Is it pos.
sible that u Judge, who thinks himself fit
to retain his Office, should make this COM
plant! When was the first, or the last
time that an accused party was admitted
before the Grand Jury TO cross-examine
and explain !-But you say that some wit.
nesses were "allowed to indulge them
selves in the most rahcorous inveGtives"
against you, and thai" this testimony thus
tarnlshed with the deep stain of partialitv,
hafed and revenge, was printed peace
mtal, In the progress of the enquiry
and though not Immediately published,
was placed in a condition TO be extensive
iy circulated, and thus be employed as,
means OF deeply wounding your chara6l-
err" The public has always allowed the
accused, and we allow you, TO make free
with the character of witnesses adduced
against you.-You may use them rudely,
II you please, before, at and after the tr-
Ial.-Call them malicious, implaca5le, and
false, if you will. The witnesses them.
selves will pass II by, aud the government
IS not commemorative until you, who e.
YER charged court with the malice or
falsehood OF witnesses We are sorry TO
see you degrade yourself so much as 10
whine about characters. No villain was
ever indicted that has not done the same.
Grand Juries, it is true, are under oath
OF secrecy but not the witnesses, and
the general subject matter OF no prosecu.
ton Is ever secret. What would have
been the language of you aud your party,
had Congress sat to enquire upon your
conduct, with closed doors! Can they
prevent the Auditors of the gallery from
remembering, or even writing down the
evidence: but the evidence was taken by
committee. Still it must be published
to Congress, or they cannot ACT upon it.
In all cases of impeachment the evidence
VIII be known; and Editors of Gazeltes
Will endeavor to crafty the curiosity of
their readers. We pronounce, that twice
as much about you and your trial Is print
ed III those papers, understood TO be the
orga OF your party, as in any others.
Your next complaint is the manner of
voting the impeachment. "It is in vain"
you say, that you have looked into this
vote, and the report of the Committee on
which it is founded, foc statement, or e
ven hint Of the offences with which YOU
stand charged."-" True" you say, the
testimony collected by the Committee does
state variety of facts, which may con-
sutute the grounds of accusations" But
you wished 10 see theIcharge reduced to
artcles IN form, that you might be prepar-
ed for your defence. Did you mean, that
you might have opportunity to bubble, and
take advantage of defect in form? For
you say the testimony collected tells you
what the facts must be, And the arti-
cles themselves, after your memorial had
been written, have been reported in form,
to the satisfaction Of your friend, who was
entrusted with your memorial so that he
did not think it proper, or that it would
be your wish, to have il presented, But,
the dear seditious temper, in which it was
written, made u SO true an offspring of
your heart, that you could not suffer the
brat to lie still, and be like other aborti-
ons.
Your protest against the manner OF vo.