Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-06-20

plete his title in this land; by buying
William Spiers' right, after he had no.
ticc that Mr.. J. had bought of
John the son OF the said William. On
this Iacl, viii very readily admit, depends
much, not only OF the equity, but the pro-
rr'ety Of the whole proceeding, as it re.
lates To Sleed: But let us see, from the
real history of this whole business, how
this leading fact stands.
BY the papers til-d in this suit OF chan
Gerry, Ca copy of which was hauled across
the bar on the trial Of The case in Char
loucsyille for the Inspection of ali we are
toIl) itappears, that Mr.. Jefferson bought
the right of John Spirrs, the son Of Viii
liam, and that too, strangely TO be told,
though it is positively proven, after he
had attempted TO employ this very same
john to go to the Southwark 10 buy him
his said father Williams right: under a
pretence in this same John, that he had
deed some years before from his father,
which was lost, but which, wonderful 10
account for, 1t does not appear, he ever
me n;ioned al the time of the propositions
to procure his fathers right. This lost.
de-d business, however, it is owned, is
Wv ri to by one wit,e.s, who says he sub.
s;ri5ei it; but disowned by others, 10
whom he refers as subscribing witnesses
also. All the circumstances are sworn to
by John Spiers and his wife, to whom, il
will not be pretended on my par, that
Mr.. Jefferson has nat fiaid he Purchase
money. Sneed, notwithstanding these cir
cumstances (if he knew them) purchased
William Spier's right, obtained a deed
and had 1t recorded in due form a.d time.
Thus stands the history of the fraud Oh
the part of Sneed.
/ will now ask what the law says on this
subject? Ihat every deed, to be valid a
gainst Subsequent purchases, shall be re
corded within eight months after its date
This is the legal notice required to such
purchasers. And in equity Mr.. Jefferson
purchasing with his eyes wide open 10 this
legal difficulty stands upon no better foot
ing than Sneed' himself; who, If he had
even heard Of this lost deed, had good rea-
son, from the circumstances already re-
lated, TO doubt that it had ever existed.
But even admitting, for argument sake,
hat Sneed was the fraudulent purchaser
spoken of, how is Johnson, who purchased
at second hand, implicated in that fraud
And, above all, how do all those circum-
stances (Which will certainly be rectified in
a court of chancery, and MIR. Jefferson OBJ
tain his right, whatever IL is) Justify The
President OF the United States in stand
ing forward as the public prosecutor of
two ofhis poor neighbors IN way that was
to ruin them forever? IL his right
is so clear and justas he b. S,andermakes
It, contend that 1T Is SO much the more un-
justIfa6ie i'll him, particularly IN the ex-
allied station he fills, 10 have taken such
method 10 maintain it.
would here willingly qui, this subject,
but cannot, properly, without saying some
thing to this most noble and glorious By
SANDER, on The enc0@itthis he has passed ON
the jury who tried the case in Charlottes-
vile. l had been led to believe, that the
trial by jury was held as the very highest
and purest source of justice by such fam
Ing patriots: But when those institutions
do not happen 10 subserve and answer
their particular ends, they are corrupt and
IorswOrn, for not rendering implicit ODE
dlence 70 the opinions Of the courts-at
least when these opinions ave more congo
NAL with those views. "They doubtless i"
says this infailib!e By-Stander, Gin oppo
sltlon to the admonitions of the Judge,
and to tie terms IF their o7on oath, which
were that they should decide according to
law and evidence, were persuaded to be-
leve that they might fad against law and
evidence, if they disapProved Of the iaw."
Taking, however, the opinions or aimo.
nltlons Of the courts, as the true standard
by which the consciences Of the different
luries ought to have been regular ed on this
occasion; what will the By.S,ander do
with tlIo.e opinions and admonitions on the
second trial, which, it is well remembered.
were decidedly in favor of the defendants
when TO retort anof her consideration,
the court consisted Of gentlemen who are
called republicans; one of whom has been
since singled out from that particular class
OF Judges, for still higher seat on the
bench, which | have no doubt he will I'LL
with equal ability and propriety of indie
pendence.
Whether an attempt in the President
OF the United States, To wrest from John
son and Sneed by /ienai &c ion, this land
which they hold under the rightful heir of
old oplsrs, be similar to King Ahab, who