Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-06-22

i the genslemen ought 10 have talked 50
much about the impression which was
sough. 10 be made upon the public mind BY
this paper. Was it therefore consistent
with fairness for the gentleman 70 sound
so loud an alarm abon.a point SO highly
interesting in the decisions Of the court.
Time after time, said Mr.. Wickhana, he
had attended at trials. and never before did
he hear such 40 objection raised, as 10 the
present case. Public prejudices, the gen
itleman had said, were excited BY this
Public prejudices,if public prejudices were
Iexcited against his client, he mightas well
dispense with the form Of trial, and sit
down assured Of eoovietior. Mr. Wick.
ham remarked, as to the case Of The Wit
ness who lodged at St. Omer, and 70 the
Roman Catholic who was asked what pro-
fession he was of. The gentleman had said
that this argument amounted TO confessl-
on of guilt on the part of col Burr, but ne
denied it did any .ueh a thing. That the
prosecutions against col. Burr, the lawful
proce edinss against him 10 the Western
country were we'll known. Thar he there
fore was authorised in taking every legal
precausion against improper testimony,
which he had good reason to believe worli
be offered Conscious therefore OF his own
innocence il was prudent, highly prudent
for him 10 use every measure, and every
precsu,ion which the law gave to him.
Mr.. Wiekham mex, adverted TO the case
Of Cooseley and informed the courl that
,hcrepor. Of Mr.. Marshal and Of Mr.. Ran
dolph who was counsel Ia that case pre-
cisely corrcsponded with his. That s!tho'
Goessly was acquitted by the petit jury,
and consequently proved an innocent man.
yet lha, still 90 account of the con.
lneetion between him and Reynolds he was
excused from giving testimony. Instead
tpf an accusation of this sort, suppose SAID
| NJ. W. person was accused Of murder
! Ind hat witness was asked where he was
90 certain evening, if this wines, was
connected with the murder, such question
nigh, necessarily criminate him, and he
ought 70 be excused from answering. Mr..
Wickham next cited .seye rsl authorities
from M'NalIy in support Of his argument
The principle Of law, said Mr.. Wick.
ham was certainly correct one, that 10
accomplice ought to be admitted as wls.
ness unless he came forward voluntarily.
It appeared to him the only reason why
witness on ltuse oceasions ought to be
sworn was to divulge what might be locked
up ia his breast, but the moment he sc.
knewledged the question would crimluste
him il he answered, he ought. then most
certainly to be excused.
The Curt wished if agreeable to the
counsel on both sides to decline giving
their opinion till morrow, aud wished
to know if there were any other questions
at present which might be discussed.
Cal Eur rose and informed the court
tia, he had to lay before them certain CD.
jections against the mode in which many
Of the Witnesses had been brought for.
ward, which had been contrary to every
law AID custom.
Mr.. Bots rose anl stated that he wish
e likewise to Investigate II e charge WI h
he sad .hoie associated with him had made
against the post Offices. He wished par.
ticuiaily tia. this affair should be gone 10.
to, and a, present he wished the tact first
TO be Investigated, aud next the law on the
subject.
The Court. were Of opinioo, un'ess the
on stion bore upon the case, that they could
DOT SO into the Investigation.
COL Burr stated that there was much
testimony in the possession Of the prosecu.
tor which were thus procured, and Of
course the court ought to regard such ,es-
timony as contaminated and.uoworthy Of
regard. He mentioned that there were
three persons against whom he could sub.
stantiate this charge OF improperly obtain.