Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-18

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OF virtue, viii lash you into repentance 70,
a misplaced confidence Such as human
nature always displayed itself when cleva-
ted above accountability-
1t Is argued that removal by Impeachment
Tor misdemeanor is a sufficient check on the
bench. What is mistlemeanor Who has
ever seen it defined Is there found in this
indefinite provision of the constitution re-
medy against the therapeutics resulting
from age, inhrmty, or the torpor of excess!
a battle lost by incapacitv uf the chief to di-
rect II, is the same in effect to the country
as II lost by cowart;ce. Does the provisi-
on in the constitution secure us against en-
ror in Judgment No, Sir whether the en-
ror arises from a misconstruction of the
laws or from criminal bias, there exists
no remedy against its effects in the supreme
federal courts. But error may work as
much injury as corruption. The man who
is unJns:iy condemned has no consolation in
the apology that the judge is old; or imbc-
Gle or, 1t currupt, too good manager 10
be convicted of a misdenleanor.
Who can read the traei.oomedy in the
trial OF Fries, or the farce in the trial of
Burr and Blennerhasset, and not yield an
involuntary assent tu the necessity of this
amendment? Or shall we through dread of
Change, perSevere in wrong, and content
ourselves IN seeing Judges, shielded by the
breast plate OF responsibility, lounge Sc
curely ON their bench, Ike sultan or a ba-
shaw on his throne, and put death into COM
mission by nod, or eXcuipate treason nv n
hiss. Fries may have merited death by
the laws-But this gave the JUDGE no ao.
thority to deny him any of the rights of de.
tence nor can it Justify him in the unbIssh-
ing political Partially he suffered to nflu-
ence his den1eGnor towards the criminal.
Nefr,fs .,,ff al N IL
an aonest man within these u. 5. possessed
of common inform tion and ordinary under
standing, who has not for the last twelve
months been pretty thoroughly convinced
OF the reasonable intentions of the ambiti-
Gus Burr! Had any man better informati-
on on the subject than the chief Justice of
the U. States am Suspicious that no nan
better understood the subject. Yet have
seen this eminent magistrates, supreme in
rank, and in talents to none, presiding on a
tr'ai, the most important that ever interes-
ted his country, with composure on his
GROW, and acquiescence in his heart, waste
day aher DAY until weeks, and indeed
months, are consumed, listening to a drunk
en-, obscure, depraved LAWYER, in billings
gate abuse of the executive of the u
when tie only question before him was this
guilt or innocence of an apostate iudicter
for treason
was Mr. Jefferson arTaigned at the BARI
no, sir, he was not. Had he IN any thinr
exceeded the duties of high trust in his
endeavors 10 suppress treason? His coun-
try will not accuse lim thus. But, he haa,s
been Implicated with the traitor, what IA ~
I the court to do even with reorganization Z
How much more degrading then to invite
irrelevant abuse?
! / shall not comment on the LEGAL onin;.
ief n
to The task.-II viewer those opinions, Civ
en- on the same points at different periods.
may have seemed 10 clash, he always shut.
he'd them together until he ttrned nh Iaz,
! Ior then. But the bias OF personal hatred
(against the President and the influence
OF a political party spirit, appeared SO OBJ.
viously throughout this long investigation.
that concealment became impossible. even
to the people lnsomuch that do not think
1t unCharitab!e to declare nay belief that
the countenance which the restless, unprin-
cipled spirit OF Burr did receive, where he
ought TO have met chasiisemcnt, will en-
courage him to perseve,e in his plans oe
wickedness' Indeed it would not surpris.
me TO hear that he has revived the treason
IN tue southwest with bolder feature and
more threatening aspect than it bore when
hrst foiled Most of his choice shirts arc
about him; and desperation must impeI
them to desperate deeds. From exrcri-
ence they have not much to apprshend
, from prosecution; and this experience en-
abes their leader with some reason, 20 re-
peat the persuasive argument at first used,
that the project is supported by the 6ess
6looG of america &! 1 would not excite I'M
reasonable alarms these are natural con-
illusions from the present state Of things.
The boundless ambition, the lnvlncihIe spi.
rit, and the indefatigable perseverance Of
Burr, have long been known. These now
combined with resentment, which is his
predominant passion, will carry him to all
lengths of extravaganza He considers the
United States as his enemy and though he
makes them, he never forgives his enc
mics. I me great and daring talents which
are embarked with him are much of the
same temper Who can say that he will
not find pecuniary supplies it will be no
difficult task to create a force of idle for.
eigner5, vagrant Indsns, fugitive slaves,
and dissOlute Americans, as desperate in
fortune, and as hardy in enterprise as him
self.
With such prospects before us, ought we
to remain unmoved ! /! is time to be npand
ON the alert The most we can do is to
discounJenanoe those who have given coun-
tenance to the tTaitor.-This IS the least
We ought to do. The resolutions embrace
! this object, and If / bad no other reason. I
should feel it duty owe my Country IN