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

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thoriz-s the most minute inquisition of his
most unguarded and most imconsiderable
words and actions, throughout the whole
period. Ii cannot escape your honorsble
body, how formidable AN engine Of oD.
preston such an enquiry must be in the
hands Of persons disposed To abcsc it
Your nemorialist is Ear from insinuatinp
that such has been the cas- in the present
instance. This inSinua.ion he could not
make, or even suspect TO be we'll founded,
without deroR ating from the respect that
ought to- be inspired by 50 -levated a bo-
dy: but the soundness of principles is in
no manner so we'll tested as by the conse-
quences TO which they lead. And although
1t cannot be suspected that this honorable
BODY IS under the influence of party spi-
rit, party views, or individual malice, vet
It IS Melancholy truth that free govern
ments are liable to the influence Of party
spirit, and that when this fatal passion
takes full possession of the mind, it com.
pieteiy STILES every sentiment of Justice
and humanity, all regard for law and right.
Should the time ever arrive, which God
avert. whena foaloril Y of congress, in9am-
eh by parry spiut, and seeking the des.
tructOn of its opponents, shall desire to
eliminate a Judge, in order to heap odium
on the party with which ne is conneefed;
when president, a. the head Of this ma.
Jority and guiding its passions, shall de.
sire, from motives of private resentment,
the rom OF any Judge WI IN the schemes
"r the dominant party, or of its leaders,
may require the re moyal of all firm uD-
right neutrality-suspicious. judges, and thg. sub
slItution OF others more Complying or
more umid when the nee ssities of a
'aYorite parhzan may require the removal
81 Judge, III order To Crea'e vacancy in
ottlce (; should such disastrous period Z.
yer arrive, &C tIe hi tory ofo.het free ro-
Vernments Informs Us it nav, in what
manner will the DEVOTED viE(im, however
m"ocen', be ahle 10 Shield himself against
the thrlsts Of such weapon, as this spe-
cles OF enquiry, instituted in such man
ner and on such principles, cannot fail to
furnish: Your mSmorialist tren,5les for
the honor ofhs country, and for the slc-
cess OF republican government in this her
last and iarest experiment. much more
than for his own safety, when hr reflects
on the excuses that under such cloak
may be committed.
Does the manner in which this enouirv
has been conducted. present any consider
atoms. calculated to remove or diminish
the alarm excited by its commencement /?
ar otherwise 4 great mass Of testimo-
nv has been taken. which though calcu!at-
ed - AFFECT your memorialist in The most
material manner, h. has had no onportu-
MY OF confronting, cross examining or ex-
plnIning. This testimony, IN the TAKING.
OF whlch some individuals were allowed
10 indulge themselves in the most rancor.
ous inSectives against your memoir LIST,
and TO clOath with the rormali,ic. and
SANCTION OF an oath, the malicious effusi-
ons of their unprovolled and iinplacable re-
sentiment; this testimony, thus tarn;ghrd
with the deep stain of partially, hatred
and revenge, was printed piece meal. in
the progress of the enquiry, and though
not Immediately published, was placed in
a condition TO be extensively circulated.
and thus TO be employed as n mean oe
deeply wnunding the reputation of YOUR
memorlalist, Of exciting universal odiuro
against him, and OF preparing the way for
Certain condemnation, when clsmor
shall have been excited, strong enough
to drown the voice Of reason, truth and
justice.
Your memorialist by no means wishes
to be understood as insinuating that such
was the intention wherewith his step was
taken, his respect for the body by which
it was authorised, forbids him to harbor
SUCH a suspicion. But such may be the