The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-11
JUDGE CHASE's SPEECH


exhibited againt me, by the Honorable, the Houe of
Representatives. OF the United States.
10 theie articles, copy OF which delivered to
me with the luminous, fay, that have committed
no crime or miidemcanor wkatioever, for which an,
iubec TO impeachment according the oonitution of
the United States u deny, with few exceptions the
acts with which am cfarged | ihal contend. that
all acts admitted to have been done by me, were JgaI
and deny, in every initance the treetr intentions
with which the acts charged aedged to have been
done, and IN which their tupPoied crmnaty altoge-
ther coniGs.
But in charges of 70 heinous nature urced by 70
high an authority, mpe denial is not fuficient IL
behoves me, for the legal publication of my conduct,
and Tor the vindcation of my character to meet each
| charge with full and particular anfwer; 70 explain
and r-iute at length, every principle urged again me-
to hate the evidence by which am dfprove every
tact relied on i'll upPort of the accua ion and to de-
tail all the facts and arguments on which my defence
is to ref. The neceliity of all xnfwer embracing all
theie obects,n cafes of impeachment is obvious and
the right to make it, is ecured by law and anGioned
by uniform praaioe.
Such an aniwer it is nv intention TO make. !,
my PuTpofe to ubmit the zvboe ground of my defence
to the view Of this honorable court of my country of
the world, and OF thoe who to conduct the pro-
iecutlop. So viii my judges come to the trial with
that full knowledge of the whole matter in dilpute
which is centia for enabling them TO underitand and
apply the teRimony and the arguments and the
honorable managers will be better prepared TO refte
uch parts OF my defence, they may think untena-
bic.
But IN cafe of this kind, where the accufation en-
$50 great variety of charges of principles and
OF iacts, it'll manel, that preparing ich an aRwer
as have right 70 make and as ny duty 10
M family my friends and nay country requires at INV
hands, comfortable time muR be neccfary
Many Of the principles involved in this impeach
re Iulna to,,l,,
Liberties OF every American CITIZEN and to the cauie
OF free government in general. Thefe principles
ought to be maturely conEdered, and clearly explain
ed They Preien wide field OF galinvsltiqation
many of them require laborous and extenye reiearch
ana although Tome OF them have accompanied the pro-
ecution from its commencement and have thus been
for coniderabr ime {ubjeaed to my confederation
lone on the other hand, have been very recently intro
ducsd.
oi this description is the principle whereon the 9Th
ana 9th articles refs relative to the extea, in which
's courts OF the United States, to be governed
not ory in their SeOaf but in their pyseeedyg, bv
the fate laws. A principle which was no, broueht
'nto view until lew weeks ago. and the explanation
OF which will require careful confederation Of the
conduct and proceedings Of the fupreme and crcuit
courts OF the United States from the fri elfsbliG
ment Of our federal fyitem
The fame articles involve the contraction Of two
tate laws Of Virginia which am charged with Ia vno
intringed IN the trial of Calender which were not
mentioned or the trial, during any of the introduce
tory proceedings, & OF which heard until thefe
articles were rspnrted few weeks acc
tet that in order fix the true contribution of tbefe
laws, about which profelonal men have differed in
oPlnion recourc mutt be had to the deciions of the
courts OF that itae explained by their records; or
in cafe tho!e records houd be lent to the recolIec
ton and opinion of Profeloual men ,accuion,ed to
prede o. attend il the courts where thofe laws are
enforced. 1t is manfeit that fuch an inveRigatsn
cannon be accomplished in fliort time.
The facts on which this p-orccu;ion refs erce,.
the lar article, aeiged to have taken place more
than four years ago; fome Of them at PHILADELPHIA.
lone at Wilmington, i'll the itate of Delaware and
Tome at Richmond, in Virginia. Thele facts are
very numerous and the greater part of them are of
uch nature, as to depend for their crimnaIity or
innocence, on minute circumstances. fight fiade of
tetmony and often the different manner in which
the fame circumstance may saeG different fpeaators
al! equally dPoied to reprefent truly what they ob
erved The mot material iatts alledged to have
happened in Richmond ard Phiadelpha-In the
former Of heie places am utter nranger having
never been there but once aud in the latter know
peiionaly but very few individuals Ihefe circur,
ances render very diitult for me to alcertan the
Percns VINO w'tneiled the various traniaSons in uuef-
'io ana are able, after tbs apie OF time, to give ac-
eurate temony concerning them; and this difficulty
IS very much cncrealed by the diRance Of thofe places
rom that OF my reiidenee. allure this Honorable
C5urt fha from the moment when this urolecpton
ad0med ferrous appearance and defltiye form at
the lat ieion If congres, have turned my atteKtion
TO the iubJsd Of my defence, and my anlwer and
have o1eTted ryief in finding out and procuring the
reIaii;e teitimony; but tie difficulties which Ihaye
ita'ed, adaed to my Ill fate Of health during great
part Of inc iat year, have prevented me from me- sno
'ich Progreis g 20 afford the hope of being alba
to obtain the obieCt in a very mort time have
done ruen nut mach, very much remains to be done
even n ihoie parts Of the proiecuion where had
Tome notice by the proceedings Of lat felton,. In
tIIoie very mate.a. parts which have originated du
ring the preien felton, every thing is tiil TO be done
II may PeFhaps5e thought; that although hele pre-
Para;cn, might be neceary for tn, trial! they are not
70 for the anlver. Dut fueh an opinion trua world
on examination be found erroneous.
The anlwer in cafes Of impeachment, r,ra difclofe
the whole defence. and the defeace nua be confined
To tie matters Rated in the aufYer--Otherv,r che
protectors night be furpred st the trial nv oaiec
tons which WITH previous notice it would be in their
power 20 retuts o. explain. The acculed therefore
before ne puts IL his anlwer ought to have time f3f
n-ient for making himief thoroughly mater of his
defence, Of the grounds on which Il rens and Of the
iacSs and evidence by which it is to be fuupor,ed
lie ought to be completely prepared for the trial re-
tween which and the snfHsr no delay need to take
Piaes except iuch may be neceary for convening
she w,snehies.
10 70 material part Of his preparation for defence.
Is the drawing NJ Of his anl,ger, Il will rot rre-