Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-10

croachment onperscnal liberty and securi-
ty How long since they have ceased to con-
slider 1T necessary to guard the people IL
Sainst themselves as their greatest, their
worst enemies There was a time, Mr..
speaker, when, as has been stated, sedi-
ton law passed with the full appreciation
OF those gentlemen or their predecessors in
politics, when an alien law passed i'm like
manner. The general sense of the nation
declared those acts fragrant violations of
the constitution and of the rights of the
people, yetno scnsib;lity was then excited
IN the minds of those gentlemen, for the
violated rights of the citizen. or the daring
attractions of the const tution-all those
tender feelings are reserved for this preci-
Gus moment. When the peace Of the union
appears to be In SOME decree threatened,
ny treason and conspiracy-when the trail
tors are apprehendcd and brought to Justice
when the vigilance of the government is
hkeiy to crush the reasonable conspiracy
IN ITS infancy, and restore peace and tran
guilty to the nation, then this extra
ordinary sens Fifty is excited and publicly
expressed And fer whom, sr? For those
who had combined to stab the very yitals
OF your constitution-toscv sever the union, and
To overturn your government--ar these OBJ
Jects OF more than ordinary compassion,
that call for the extraordinary exertions of
the legislature to preserve untaintcd and
usutied, their precious persons and cha
racters presume not, sir and appre-
bend the nation will frown indignant on an
attempt to palliate their crimes bv endea-
vorinS to excite the public senSibility in
their favor. l am always unwilling, Mr..
speaker, to attribute the conduct of gentle
IN ilN,tn
otherwise accounted for. But how can we
account for the apparent change in the pro-
LESSONS & declarations ofgcntlemen. Those
who imposed and endeavCred to continue
on the people burthensome internal taxes
vino wished to raise and support navies
and armies in time of peace to awe the CT
tizehs INTO submission-who passed sediti-
on and alien laws to aid their general Dian
OF strengthening the hands of government
at the expense and destruction of individual
rights These very gentlemen, MIR Speak
cr, appear now DESTROYS of announcing
aloud, to the people, that they are the only
advocates or their rights and liberties
that they are alive to he least violation of
them-and that to them they ought to look
tor protection. But the people Of America
are too well informed to be deceived by
such fimsy prcicrces. They II see and
duly appreciate the causes of this sensible
iIty, so feeilngly expressed--and the extra
ordinary eXertions to alarm tho public mind
on this occasion. They will see, sir, that
Whatever the motives Of gentlemen NAV
&c, the evident consequence of the propos-
ell measure, If carried into effect as con-
tended for by its friends, would be, to make
an impression on the public mind favora-
Die TO traitors and conspirators, who had
Combined hn Ia
your government-and to cast an odium on
the conduct of those who exerted them
selves TO arrest their progress. am un-
willing, sir, to do this-I consider it our du-
ty to let the law operate on this subject,
without receiving any bias from the decisi-
on OF THIS house. From the manner in
winch this subject has been diseased. n
would appear To an observer, that, at one
timc, we were trying gen. Wilkinson for
the crimes with which he is charged, and
mat at another, we were examining the
Charges against the prisoners, whose case
is now under legal adjudication before the
supreme court. The gentleman from YER
mont (Mr Eliiott) has told us he has not
discovered title of evidence to shcw that
the persons have committed treason--and
that their crime, at most, can Only he mis-
PRISON OF treason. Although we are piven
10 undcrst>'.i that, that gentleman is a pro-
tessional character, ] must beg leave 70 diff
Ter with him on this subjcct-lf treason has
ocen committed by the authoy of this con-
splracy, those persons, if guilty. of any
crime, must be guilty of treason, and not
OF mIsprislon Of treason onlv They aided
and abetted III Carrying into effect the pro-
yect. lhey Carried and delivered lci,er.
knowing its contents, from the princir.}
conSpir"tor togen. Wilkinson, for the bur-
pose OF engaging him to Join in this under
tak!nS-they used their influence to cor
rupt him. These must he considered o7,ert
dcfs, giving aid and comfort to the enen,ies.
OF tile nation, and will make them princ;-
pals IN the treason, If such n crime has
been committed, for in this crime tbcre
can be no accessories, all who ere concern
ed are principals Misprision of treason
is distinct and separate oGFence-It is
merely the neglect or omission TO make
known to the proper authority the treason
that mas come tothc knowledge CT the par
~. ii supposes that no act has been done
by the party charged-that he has given
no AID or assistance whatever to the enc
mes OF the country-but has merely acted
wrong, or mistaken his duty, (Which is the
meaning OF the term) in not discovering in
due time the acts of treason that have con. g
to his knowledge, and is on that ACCENT
considered guilty of n high misdemeanor.
1t was not, however, my wish or intention to
give any opinion On the merits of this case
II am wiilfugto leave il TO the decision of
the constitutional ribunalS-but gentlemen
A Il.