Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-13

ing justice from It's due course, and be de-
grading 10 the legislature. Such pro-
cedure would likewise be dangerous to the.
principles of justice. Shall we permit
person under accusation to prefer charge
against the tribunal before whom he is
summoned to appear! Suppose we declare
the court, and not the criminal guilty,
shall we not thereby PROSTATE every
principle Of justice. and set a precedent
never known in any couptry, as dangerous
to the liberty Of the subject, as violaiivs
of the constitution? In my opinion The IL.
legislature ought no, in this stage ofthe bu-
siness TO interfere. Such interference will
be premature. II hereafter the prosecu.
ton appears to have been improperly con
ducted, It will be time enough to make
an enquiry into the conduct of the prose.
cutor AND the court; but before that such
an enquiry will be premature, and will be
a prejndging of the case. From the mo-
ment heard these petitions read, they
struck me as being OF most dangerous
tendency-if at all sanctioned by this
house, they will tend 10 incense, not only
the country against the administration, but
against the tribunals of justice. We find
II asserted in them, that the administra.
ton and particularly the secretary of state,
had full knowledge of all the transact.
ons connceted with the fitting out the Lee
ander. This charge has been already
made in the newspapers--it has gone
broad, and been coniradiaed; and do not
hesitate 10 declare in my place that the &C
! cnsat!on is false, that it is a calumny, that
there is,pot word in the petition charg-
ing the administration With This fa6t that
is founded in truth. think the proper
course is foc the petitioners TO have leave
TO withdraw their pe,itions-Not that am
for denial Of justice. If the petitioners
Tail in their application for justice to the
court, it will then be time enough far us
to Interfere. Indeed tits thing unheard
OF in this. natioh-vhile The accused are
under prosecution, that they should be suf.
Tered TO come forward 10 the house of re.
representatives. with charges against the
court and the government. Tile memo.
rialists not only charge the government,
but the magistrates with corrupt motives.
Shall we permit the government 10 be
thus treated, and the tribunals of Justice
to be thus calumniated; and give sane
tion TO the charges by printing paper
that contains them! hope we shall have
virtue and irmness enough to resist such
procedure. I think we have gone far
enough in patiently listening TO petitions
which have no legal Object in view, which
otSonly charge the departments of the
executive government with improper
views, but which contain accusations a.
gainstthe tribunals ofjustice- what scarce
ly merit to be called accusatiops--but
base calumnies. The manner too in
which these memorials have been pressn-
ted is most extraordinary. In point of
time, this being the last day of the sess-
on, 1t must have been known tha, il was
out OF our power to investigate their con-
tents. 1t is also very unfortunate, when
the citizens Of New-York are SO ably re.
presented on this floor that the petilion-
ers have been obliged to travel 10 Boston,
in order to obtain gentleman to present
their memorials. For these reasons, l
shall vote decidedly against the printing.
Mr.. QUINCY said that the observa,i-
ons which were made were such as might
have been expected to be offered, had it
been proposed TO go into an enquiry on
these memorials. do not say, said Mr.
Quincy, that the Information contained in
the petitions is trne--alI say is, that as a
high officer of the government is impli.
Gated, justice requires that an enquiry at
some time should take place. l do not
say that il ought now 10 take place. The
question at present is whether this infor-
nation shall rest on our tables. Gentle.
men say no--tRrow il off. But say en-
quire because ! believe when an examina.
ton shall be made part Of the statenient
at least will be found 10 turn out correct. II
is said that the memorialists are under &C
cusation but have they not, therefore, a
right to petition this House But SO far
as relates to the Judge, there is only an
Information by the grand jury a pro
secuiion. Whoever heard ola man accus
| ed before himself! Gentlemen may throw
these petitions under the table, but If they
do so, they will do. a great disrespect to
the House. My only objeci is that an
enquiry should be made at a convenient
season into the facts aIledged in these pc.
titions. The Information contained in
some of those statements is corroborated
by Information known 10 some gentlemen
on this foor-that the executive had been
advised Of the fitting out Of the Leander
4 -, Is.., n