Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-03-30

lrr,ssmsclues, and IF al the people ct TIE
iIa;,1f States, AGAINST Samuel Chase, one
sfts, associate justices of The Supreme
i 2.rt Of the United States, in nsmaten-
erce and support either impeachment a
saiast him, fer high crimes and a'isde-
neaa9rs.
That. unmindful of the solemn duties OF
l. oRs., and contrary to the sacred obli-
rtion By which he stood bound to discharge
hem. g faithfully and impartially, and
n;hout respect TO persons, the said Sa-
mos Chase, on the trial of John Fries,
,nroed with treason, before the circuit
corl Of the United States, held for the
ET,rict of Pennsylvania, III the CITY of Phi
,debhia, during the months of April and
.NIay. one thousand eight hundred, where
sttie said Samuel Chase presided, did, in
his judicial capacity, conduct himself in
manner highly arbitrary, oppressive, and
unjust; viz
i. Ia delivering an opinion in writing,
Ion the question OF .aw, on the construction
ofvhich the defence of the accused materi-
| aHy depended, tending to prejudice the
minds of the jury againstthe case OF the said
Iohn Fries, the prisoner, before counsel
| had been heard in his defence.
Q In restricting the counsel for the said
Fries from recurring to such English au-
ihorities as they believed Apostle, or from
eidrg certain statutes of the United States,
which they deemed illustrative OF the posi-
t0as, upon which they intended to rest the
lcience Of their client.
s. In debarring the prisoner from his
Constitutional privilege of addressing the
|juy Through his counsel) on the law, as
q! velas on the fact, which was 10 determine
/ his guilt, or innocence, and at the same
time endeavouring to wrest from the jury
their ndisputabIe right to hear argument,
and determine upon the question of law, as
we'll as the question of fact, involved in
the verdict which they were required to
give.
ARTICLE II.
That, in consequence of this irregular
conduct OF the said Samuel Chase, as dan,
gerOus to our liberties, as it is novel to our
laws and usages, the said John Fries was
ttprlved of the right, secured to him by
the eigth article amendatory of the consti-
luton, and was condemned to death with
out having been heard, By counsel, in his
defence, to the disgrace ofthe character of
ne american Bench, in manifest violation
CLAW and justice, and in open contempt of
the rights of juries, on which ultimately
rest the liberty and safety Of the American
Psople.
ARTICLE III.
nat, prompted by a similar spirit of
Persecution and injustice, at a circuit court
ci'he United States, held at Richmond,
athe month of May, 1900; for the dis
"a OF Virginia, whereat the said Samuel
SaaSe presided, and before which a certain
James Thompson Calender was arraigned
~ !, a libel on John Adams, then President
" " 'ae United States, the said Samuel
SaaSe, win intent to Cypress, and procure
a9 conviction OF the said Calender, did
ossfrale tie objection of John Bassett, one
y ae jury, who wished 10 be excused from
s'ss'NS on the said trial, because he had
s y up his mind, as TO the publication
~ @un which the words, charged to be Ii
nous IN the indictment, were extract
and the said Basset was accordingly
''efn, and did serve on the said jury.
aRTICLEIV.
), nat, the evidence of John Taylor, a
rrS,sf'd witness on behalf of the aforesaid
81 S@leNaer, was not permitted By the said
' ssa'''el Chase to be given in, because the
!, ,ql witness could not prove the truth cfthe
~ ''O.e Of one Of the charges contained in
!. = Indictment, although the SAID charge
N''oraced mere than one fact.