Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1804-12-28

dent eitherby1 banishncnt, Wy. ostra-
cism, orb Confinement for life in the
national bastile. There are some in-
stances, however, on record, of that
people being so sensible Of their errorin
sacrificing some OF their best men to po-
-pular rage, that1hey have recalled them
from banishment. and invested them
with the highest authority; and soon
experienced the good effects of their JUS
'tice, by apatriotic exertion otthe talents
at those great men for the general good .
of the state. ~ III.
That the government Of a free people
should possess the power Of -impeach-
ments, is, think, highly proper but
at the same time, from the dignity that
should characterize the supreme coun-
sci Of the nation in which they are tried,
and the stigma thereby fixed on the cha
Iacter IF man, who is so unfortunate,
,whethfr justly or no, to be condemned
it shohld be seldom resorted to, and only
on great occasions, of notorious delin-
qaency. The trainers Of our excellent
constitution, very wisely vested the
power Of impeachments in the house Of
representatives; and although they were
well acquainted with the force Of human
passions, whsn directed, or stimulated
by party spirit, they had, perhaps, no
idea that, that honourable body would
resort to that awful expcdient for the
sole purpose Of DISPLAYING q man, no
otherwise obnoxious, than infexibly adj
herring to political opinpns different from
their own, and which, perhaps, were
more consistentMith genuine patriotism.
1t Is maxim, that the best things
when perverted, become the worst
Thus il is with impeachments. Mama
ged as they ought to be, with justice and
moderation, and on cases of palpable de-
lnquency, they would be a terror to evil
doets, and an adequate security 70 the
people for the just administration of their
affairs but when they are made subser-
Went to party views, they are powerful
engine Of tyranny and oppression, by
which the best men. by alternate domi-
nation, niay, and often have, failen sic-
Tins TO that malignant spirit. IL is a
fact, that the people in general, are more
dextrous inpullIng down and setdng up,
than in preserving what is fxed this
consideration should operate to cool the
zeal Ut a dominant party, in resorting to
violent measures, lest at some future
day the tables may be turned upon them,
and they be taught justice in the fruit of
their own wayS.,. 49, q" 49,. --v-.-- =.
The trainers Of the constitution have
Vested the power of trying eall impeach-
nents in the senate, land 4, think very
properly /; because the word senate, as
derived from the wisest commonweahhs
ever known, conveys to us the idea Of
every thing venerable in character, con-
summate in wisdom, and infexible I'M
justice and integrity. Nortcould it be !
supposed that such a body Of men, would
descend from their character so far, as
to countenance the spirit Of party, and
sanction the intemperanee of popular
body, by an awful exercise of their Con-
stitntionalauthority, punishinga man,
whose only crime may be a mere differ,
ence in political opinion, and which has
not the smallest tendency to disturb the
public happiness, but ratherato promote
Il. ,,--+.s j. -. =. RI, 1872
From these reflections on impeach-
mentsin general, shall proceed TO the
particular case Of Samuel Chase, Esq.-
tits observable that all the crimes Tex
cept one laid to his charge, were trans
acted before Mr.. Jefferson came into
ofdceI And when we reflect on the con-
duct of the. Legislative and executive
branches OF the government, since that
period, with respect TO the Judiciary,
the conclusion is irresistible, that the re-
movaiof Mr.. Chase, 20 make room, for
some fayorite to the ruling party, : Is the
sole motive of this impeachment. am
not intimately acquainted with Mr..
Chase, but from the character I have
beard Of him, l am convinced, that ne.
no more conceived himself 10 transe sad