Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-03-18

rights to- the citizen, has been treated with
contempt, and auxiliary officer vauntingly
takes upon himself allthe responsibility OF
wiifuI dIsobedience TO the writ. For all
these violations we 10 be told that the
conspiracy which existed IN that country
will afford eaEeieDt Justification. Win
respect TO the conspiracy, whatever might
have been It's contemplated extent we have
reason to bsiisve that. is now as so end,
and without Determining whether the as.
pect which it had as New Orleans vas re-
ally alarming to .hs gensral, OF whether any
circumstances do exist which may palllstr
his conduet, this much we all knew, that his
power was employedin the arbitrary viola.
ton of the rights OF the citizen, and that
lac conspiracy, is to furnish she justlhcstion.
Such conduct, and even such lus,lhsasioal
look upon win abhoreHce znd dread; Tor
if upon every alarm ofconsplracy cur rights
OF personal liberty arc 10 be entrusted 10
the keeping OF a military commander, we
msy prepare 10 take our leave OF them
forever. For my ownpars visa tolise
under government. OF laws and nos Of
mea, fer however puss andupr'gas be The
intsn.ioa OF our military comnandsrs,
however virtuous aud even unsupported be
their eonduct, eau never agree that my
right TO personal liberty shall depend on
their forbearance and discretion. know
net whether these n.en that have been ar
reated are innoeest or gully of the treason
with which they are charged but wheshtr
innocens Or guilty they must DC arfssted
and tried according 70 law. However a.
trocious the crlmewa ich has bees commit
ted the punishment mast be according 20
law for la .raassress'nS she nnssss OF tnS
law 10 resenge upon cfin'aat the wrongs
OF society We are guilty CT injustice bosl
to society and the criminal. .k-he Gaaasr
and circumstances attending these afrss.s
have been of the most uncommon k;1G -,
/, is said thss all tassreonrse Between enc
ef The prisoners and his taGliy aud !risnds
was cus of, and that not soul exceP p.l.
luary men we've Suffered TO appr0ash hiGi.
That after being detained under close Mill
tsry. confinement for nearly two weeks he
was transported by the way OF Baltimore
tothis city, and t:lat apea his arrival mere
he was informed; that there. was 10 cyl.
dence to support any charge against sin
whatever. bu: whether ibis nsn CT the
ethers WAC have bern srresse5, are gully
or not, il can have no influence upan onr.
deliberations at this tine tor if even t!ac Sc
violations now affect caly the gaai,y, they
may, at the discretloa OF shs military cSh.
cer. .be extended 10 Tie inneceos.
It's enough for Us to know that rights
of personal Liberty guaranteed by the eoa-
sti,u;ion, have been openly violated ~ the
persna ot a ci.issn o. the United States,
and that no laws ex'sr :Qfsc.sn;lp efestusi
TO prevent or TO punish such Violations. Il
then becomes oar duly as faithful guardl-
ans Of ;hc public rigss, to in1eFPose oe,
authority, IN order 10 preserve them
But if we coatsHs ourselves with tamely
looking or, while or b=st rights are tramp
led upon, we bscome paftakeEs Of the
guilt BY the encouragS which we give
the offenders. For these violations WHAT
renaedy has the most, irnocent individual
against the officer who arrested aud trans.
ported him, as the laws OF tae US. have
provided none, his remedy il Fl common
law. he must sue,tar false Imprisonment,
and it depends ensirely On the ejpty to ssy
whether taey will give him any thing or
noshiag. Can q punishment SO lacefsain
prevent the offence, or will q remedy SO
precarious always rensanerate the Injured!
Buff to this we add exemplary penalties,
we have surely an additional security that
the laws viii be .obeyed. The laws are
not and IN my opinion will not be sufsei.
ent ualess they puaish 10 the most prompt
and exemplary manner all judges who re.
fuse to grant the writ Of hsbeas corpus and
all officers who refuse TO obey it. Eor
such Offences ruin ought 70 stare a.Gaan in
the face, and when he has Sc seriously