Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-17

lin the hearts of his friends. rhe mines
II MeNlco-thc wealth, the honors- hold
'ut to his followers by such a leader. conlJ
rot reconcile to Americans the odiops ar
oetlation OF traitors. The honest and inhe-
pendent citizens of your country, re,,,rncd
to their homes to cultivate that soil ON
which fortune has placed them, as soon &C
they discovered the real objects of the cx-
petition. Behold triumph honorable to
the American character, carving with i,
irresistible evidence of the firmness of onr
union, and OF the patriotism of the great bo.
dy of our people.
But VIC are told thata most daring yiolr-
ton OF human right has taken place-That
men nave been seized in Orleans and ship
ped here for trial. Far be it from me to
e%aggerate or soften these acts. Such as
they are am willing to trust them TO an
enlightened community. An officer has I'M
dertaSen at his own responsibility TO seiye
and send here three persons. Two of tber
charged Oh his oat!,, with treason. or mis-
prision oftrcason, and the third bv hin, i,o
iieved to I've guilty. The two first ON tbeir
arrival here were delivered over m ,bc -;
Vi! authority, and on solemn arcu-ncpt cow
mittcd on charge for treason. The otbe,.
was delivered over to the civil autbor;t,.
also and discharged. No man will saw thu,
the conduct of the officer who seized and
shipped these persons IS legal. He has done
an illeSel act at the risquc of his fortune in
damages. Let the law take its course-let
the individuals prosecutc-lct an honcvt
Jury put on one side the crime with which
they are charged, and on the other ;IlccaI
arrest and shipment-let them strike tho
balance. lfthcy assess damages and II sbo,I
hereafter appear that this was \ wsnton
and unnecessary exercise Of power. tho of.
nicer must suffer. If on the CONTRARY II sbaII
appear that the officer had no ohiect ~
view but the public good, that he did rcalir
Dcilevc Orleans about to be attacked Inv q
superior force, and that these Drisonere
could not he safely kept there; / for one.
shai' not hesitate to pay the damages as.
sessed against him. Freedom can never he
endangered by an act like this, where vou,.
laws are suffered to take their natural
gu u'se without suspension or Interruption.
=" mere the injured individual can brine he
lorc Jury his claim for damages. What
more Saic' more certain, or adequate re-
Iiieoy can you ask tor an injury done to per-
s'''"i ireeoon, tsan tie verdict of a Jury of
freemen What would be the FEELINGS of an
honest and Independent Jury called mon
10 decide a case like this where an limo
cent individual of character had been
seizcd and shipped The DAMAGES
would be such as to heal the wounded
feelings OF the oppressed individual and
to deter IN future the commission of sncb
an act. Ii on the contrary strong cir
c'1nstances or guilt should appear against
the individual the damages would be no.
thinG. Inc officer must depend on estab-
ilshlhS before the community the purity of
MS motives, and the probable guilt of those
on whom he has exercised power in viola
ton ofrght. If the individuals seized an,5
sent here shall be found to be innocont 7
should wish them TO recover heavy dana
yes Under my present impressions shoulf
certainly If on their jury not assess DANA
Ses II the charges made against them are
well founded would as soon give DAMAGES
against an individual who seized and Co
cured for trial high way robber. The
puoilc officer who knows of the existence of
treason who sees an individual embarked
II schemes dlshonorable to his Country. vino
neieyes HIM aiding an approaching encmv
would deserve to be broke if he did MOI
se'ze MN. On the present occasion the of
HCer mas gone further; he has seized and
sent thern toyou. He has violated the Der-
sonar right OF the citizen. If from honest
Ee"i LOT me public good, he will find sure
PIU'eClion ana shield before an independent
ana patriotic jury. If the persons are in
nocent, and have been seized bv him IN
Wreak private resentment, or on any motive
Tess pure than the public welfare, his
reputation as soldier is destroyed and his
fortune must be lost in damages. do NOT
oeheve however, that much sympathy will
be excited in the public mind, when tbe neo-
PIE snail understand about what, and about
Wnom, all these clamors have been raised
What is the naked fact? Gen. Wilkinson
mas seized and sent round to the seat Of no.
VeIhment, three persons, at a time when he
DeiicVed Orleans in danger ofbeing attack
ca by superior force. Of these persons
the one is bankrupt foreigner, charged ON
0atn win being an accomplice of Aaron
burr Inc second young American, char
ged also on the oath of your commander in
chief' with having diSgraced the American
character, by condcscending to be emplov-
eo as an agent for corrupting your army.
WIN having actually carried proposals of
Drloery 70 your commander in chief The
third, foreign lawyer, who owes to the Ii
berality of the people of this country bis
2read. Two OF these persons, in good fe-
deral times might have been transported IN
'er the alien law to Botany Bay. But men
arc now seen In your courts actively de-
lounCihS this measure, who voted for and
perhaps brought forward the alien law.
heHtlon not this to Justify the present pro-
'eeding, but to shcw to the people the sni-
1T IN which this resolution has or;oinotrJ
l Nr.rs -. - A.