Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-04-03

The constitution the senate pass az OK post
facto law--the law OF the seaase 10 there.
fore an neonstitutional law. DID MOI. ex
prriisncs attest .hs truth, would il havebern
believed. that the senate OF the ", 5. Sc.
Iected for their virtue, wisdom and pau.
oilsn. could eyenfor amomsnf have dell.
bersted upon proposition 10 itseH illegal
ana UNCONVENTIONAL! What, SIR, had not
the cons,itusion, the laws, the privileges.
the rights, the liberties Of the country,
been sufficiently wouaded, infring.d aad
sacrificed 20 military domination! was X
necessary TO accumulate injuries and Insults
! unon ms? WAS it decent 70 pollute the sa.
cred fame of liberty, ny shshsring her VIC.
la.srs under it :, IL ia not, II cannot pc &c
uisd tia, the conduct Of the military has
been uneonssitaliooal!y oppressive and ~.
fannieal; svena worthy senator. T one who
uas entrusted with the honorable mission.
Of eonvsyiog 10 peao thssexeerabls act OF
.he eena,e 10 The house Of Representatives.,
has declared the eendset of the geaeEal ii.
legal and uneonstita,ioual snd yet for his
illegaluy and unsoDs.iiusionail,y of pro-
ceeding, he. deserved the thanks Of .ths
coun,ry.i And is it come TO this, ihAt
the appropriations of the nation kto BE la
ylshed upon the viola.ors Of ITS conssi,a-
ton !? What, sir. appreciate man who has
.rampled upon she civil powers OF ihs Land
ussrnsd the authority Of the laws,:and dar.
ingly infringsd the constitutional privHs gss
of his fellow citizens! And is the ceosfi.
tuition of soai,tle yalae that il is to be made
the sport Of every military despot1in tssr''
,gnd5 The cause Of the public was support
ed aud defended by aen whose ab'lf.ies>&
patriotism deserved'y rack them high, 10
the co imation Of the nation Is the learned
sloquenee of Mr.. Bayard was exerted la.
vain in ofposision to the act OF the senate
lit passed, and despotism. military des.
po,ism,. was viadieated and applauded iaz
land boasting of freedom.
Having shewn Gas / beHeve) so clssrsy
that s.he who runs may read" the uncon'
s.i,u,ionality of the act of The senate, let
us examine it upon the ground OF expects
eucy, Where was the public safety SO
endangered as to require this exercise of
the powers of congress-? Did invaston re-
sound upon our shores! Had rebellion
raised her brazeu front ia the land? Were
we SGT 10 q state Of peace and tranquility!
and did not the president congratulate con- /.
cress on the pleasant prospect, that al Ger,
d .ferences with, foreign nations wereIn
fair g train of amicable sdjustmeot: -;
Here let me ask that LEANED statesman
and republicaa patriot, Mr.. Giles, from
whence he drew his evidense aud lnforma {
ton, that the public safety required this
en-. when he introduced this serious pros.
position into the senate! Was the public
safety endangered when the personsiron
whom this dagger was appreheneed s7ere
a any of them already In confinement.
Were the Spanish forces on the Sabine
the evidence Of terrible invasion; or were
Mr.. Burr's ninety or an hundred school
boysIl the terrific phslanx OF REBELLION.
which was 10 crush the Liberties OF the.
country? Was it not enough that the salt:
tary sommaudane at New Orleans was
continued 10 power; was, and yet IS per-
mitted to hold his commission, and TiAh.
cut being called to answer for his conduct
still suEercd to wreak his vengeance on
the 9.unoffending, unarmed citizens OF the
couu,ry Was not all this, ask, enough |!
Was it proper further to asgrasste ouft
Injuries! WAS i. necessary TO pull dowG
the temple Of our social rights 70 screen
,heusurpa,ions, -despotism and tyranny OF.
the military, from the just vengeance or
v,o,a,ed laws The moment that this pro,.
posi,iou wa. decreed by the senate, the.
liberties of America srembled and tottereds
70 their base. Had this aet became a.saw
the freedom of the people would have
been placed a, the mercy of every petty
corporal in the land We might haveeaauns.
ed requiem TO liberty. She would have