Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-01-07

public lands 10 tle CITY 20 DC lsasea OUT
which was referred TO seIscs commit
tee.
Mr.. Boyle presented the petition Of
Elijah Blsdjor, which was referred g the
committee of claims.
On motion of Mr.. Darby the petition OF
BENJAMIN SMITH. heretofore present.
ed, was referred 10 the commil,es Of
claims.
Mr.. chi,senden presented petition
from number Of inhabitants OF Vermont
praying for the establishments OF some
new pos. Offices. which was reierred 70 the
pos, Office committee.
Mr.. Dawson from the committee TO
whom was recommir,ed the bill providing
for the puni shmens Of certain crimes a
lgainstihe United States, reported the bill
with an amendment, striking out the Bird
Sect. which was referredso acommiiEee
of the whole on Monday.
Mr.. Dana observed that prosecutions
he understood were depending IN the
courts of the UaBec States, nos arising
sndsr any exIstiag statute or tfea'y OF ne
United States I; bot prosecutions sustained
az common law. Ia four cases warrants
had been saued at the order at The eoar!,
the parties arrested and hridto trial. ! NO
Of these prosecutions were against piil-
tiers Tor publications which had sPpearsd
IN their papess two clerical geaIemsn
Tor words uttered by ,hvm. Inc charges
extended 10 various questions respecting
political conduct, morality and religion
[, was . subject OF vast impo .anes, wne-
ther this x ensive range should be alloy.
ed to public accuser holding his place AZ
the will of shs executive OF lae United
States.
At comman law libslier may DC sub.
jec,ed to fms and imprisonment according
to the discretion OF the court, TO which
might BE- added he mat!asloa Of the cars,
according 70 The doctrine OF Coke, IN the
Star Chamber. Security may also be re.
qunsd for god beaas sr ior his aAolallfr.
10 the amount ii fine shefe was 40 lfmlta.
lion.
There was also in tbsse prosecutions Ia.
volved an interesting question as to evi.
dense. Shall the fruits Of the charges,
oncs established. be considered as epscla.
sive esidence, however pure he insentions
OF me ACCUSED Gay be proved'to have bseo
wa hih'a QUESTION was copnscted The pro-
Visions OF celebrated dec'ara.oyy stasute
carried through hs British parliament by
dis ingulshsd man, as duplicating the
pniet now TAR this statue affected the com
mou Law 10 he u. S. There was likewise
another quessien, viz whether me person
charged with haviag altered s'saderou.
words ahall have liberty to prove the truth
OF what nc uttered. This liberty was dc
nleo By the Courts of Star Chambrrln Eng
land. Snch had bean tho sscs 10 the esss
OF Xen2n III America, aud in ease which
had recently occurred 10 one Of these states
in the second circuit Of tbs y. S on the
trial of CrosweIi
mr.. D. concluded by observing iha, he
had suggested 5hese ideas as an apology
for asking .ha, ehe subject might be exasai.
ned land then offered the following reso
luton: ~
Resolvea, Ths, committee be appoint.
ed TO enqnlre witches prosecutions at COM
mon law can be sustained 10 the courts oi
the y. States, for iibel!ous publications
or detaalasory words, touching psrssn.
holding ofaesS or places Of ,rust ueder the
govetnmrn. OF the u. States, end ,he,he
II would, not5be proper, If such prosecu
ton. eau be sustained, to allow the party
prosecuted to give ihe truth in evidence
and tia, they report by bill or otherwise
Mr.. Dana movedso refer this resolution
TO committee of tie whole.
Mr.. Bidwell said The object of the rsso.
luton appeared TO be merely she appolot-