Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-03-13

A. B.
Sketch IF tse, Stesch Of the honorable Sanl:a
Denter, insthe trial IF 1r. SeBiddge.
Ma. DEXTER rose 10 close The defence
of the prlseaer al the bar. ne was. under
peculiar embarsastment. While he felt
bound for the in,eres, Of his clieBt 10 eau.
ton the Jurors against opinions pgecoace:v-
ed, he was sRprehensiYe lest ne might ma.
terially injare his cause by, exciting their
fears or arousing their jealousy. Gentle.
men, said he, while ! caution you against
yielding 10 your prejudices, sou will not
suspect Sissrust your fidelity. But you
must BE sensible that extraordinary eSer-
tions have been made to affec. the public
mind on the subject befpre-yon. While
The democratic presses ,hrougs 5aithe eonn-
try, ever since the hour of the fatal catas-
trophe. have been laboring day at;sr'cayto
prejudice this cause anu create az Influence
adverse 20 tae defendant, only one pubica-
ton, and that regret, has appeared IN his
favor. From the walls Of his prison he ne
YER uttered complain, bot simply re-
qsested that the pubic would suspend al
opinion, ill the day OF his rial He feli
himself bound to submit in silence I'll he
should be permitted by law 10 make full
defence to his country. That country you
are. call Oh youito try hits BY the law &
the evidence. know not of what party
you may Be. Arsyo Repuh!ican Fede-
ralists? copjure you soi lay aside your
prejadices; to forget party distinction to
dives, your nlinda OF the leas. favorable BIZ.
as fteM coincidence of opinion 10 .consl-
der ,ais cause ougy ossi,s merits. Areyou
Democratic Republicans Have | not
right to ask the same thic};? Let not DIFF
ference,of opinion prejudice the defendant.
You are not to try the corrsctness OF his
principles, but in particular instance, the
nature Of his conduct. Cur courts should
BE- sacred. Lite, liberty and property de-
pend on the impartial administration oijus-
tee. Affairs of STATE concesn but few.
The political revolutions OF the world IN.
tesess only two CT three great charasters.
But the body of the people, every indivl
dual 10 the community, are all equally ~
terested 10 the fair and unbiased execution
of the laws, as they all equally depend tor
he preservation OF all their rights % the
purity Of the judiciary. Leave then at the
door your prejudices. Be OF what senu-
men, YOU anay, once listen as jurors 70 the
voice of patty, you violate aPrinctp!s, ana
tie consequence may be run.
Gentlemen, lam the more spprehensivc
from these unknown enemies, because they
are secret, secret even 10 yourselves. They
ecme upon you, you know not how they
govern you, you know not when. From
kno7rn prejudice have no fear. Prelude.
es, ones kno10n, are 90, longer prejndices.
They are baser principle. They become
corruption. Yield averdics to known pse..
judices, and you surrender to faction the
seat of Judgment You send from the tri.
bunals Of justice forth among the people a
spectre, that scatters misery, desolatlon s
crime. Butt gentlemen, prejrdicss an
known, may be cherished as principles. II
is against these would put you on your
guard. Under their Influence you may in.
pocen,y do wrong. With the best inlen-
tons in the world. ycn may be wiling TO
do justice aud these may prevent. To call
on a prejudiced man TO perceive, is like
calling on blind man to see. Both may
be willing, but something impedes.