Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-11-17
EDWARD C. DAVIS, Regis er.

that of the United States As ~ the ex-
psdiencY ut those laws, that had been de.
nonstrated 20 ,hs country, aud To the
world, by events which bal occurred 10
or Foreign relations Besides, it was not
question for the considcra ion nf the
Court OF !ayy She business Of the Ju.
dietary vas to decide what the laws are,
no. what they ought or ought not to be.
The business ofiegis!aioa being entrus.
ted 10 ano,iier department i, would be eg
lrajudicisl for the Court TO determine, and
therefore, impairment for the council 10
discuss the question whether these laws
were wise and necessary or not. In an.
swer 10 he The approbrious terms used
respecting those laws, it was observed
thar such Language by whatever exam
pies il might have osen saactioned, was
inconsistent with due respect for the
constiin.edanthorities calculated I'd excite
popular dtsconSent, To- prOmole sentiments
aud ha5its of INSTRUMENTATION that it was
in short, seditious, dlsofganizing and in.
surre6t'onal the same, IN spirit aed ten.
dencyi as that which was used by Shays
aud his associates, in 1885 IN conse-
aucnce OF which, the government OF Mas.
sachusstts vas for a time brought mo
popular odium and contempt, the execu-
ton of h. laws aud the administration of
justice impe1sd, and Large portion of
inconsidsCate people excited to actual in.
surreciIon--that such language was i'm.
proper in any place and especially in
curt OF justi=s--'rhe arts and practices
of the smuggl7rs were defeated and ex.
posed. In Scudder and Cages case, it
was proved that it was the manifest and
even protested intention TO break The en-.
barge laws, so that il was the duty
OF The collector to detain their vessel
And in Crowell's case, it was proved
that there was a similar intention, and that,
alter the seizure, The vessel and cargo
were rescued out of the custody of the
Off sefs of the revenue, by an armed bao-
ditti in disguise, by the Procurement Of the
owners. one OF whom, black=ned like ne.
gro, was a principal ACTOR in the scene.
The Judge summed up the evidence, ex.
planned the law, and told the Jures there
was no constitutions doubt or difficulty.
The JuJles IN boh cases, found verdi6ts
IN favor Of the defendants. The rescue
OF the seizsd vessel and cargo excited
very pointed indignation. Mr.yBlake con.
tended, and the Atoney,G neral sup.
ported him in the opinion, that l. amount.
ed not merely 10 4 riot, but to robbery, or
at least larceny. The idea a, first ap.
pears strange, that the owners should be
guilty OF stealing their own property, bu;
l understand 1t is a settled pgiRcipale of
Law, that where goods are in Gus o1y, by
seizure or ba,lmenl, in such a manner
that the baiIee is responsible for them,
The owner takes ,ksm away, IL is larcency
and It done by violence add pa log IN fear,
1t IS robbery. As he eYideacc OF the ia6l
IS already strong, aud almost, every day,
by disclosing some new circumstance,
strengthens the proof, it is thought that
some OF these rescners will eyentuaiy bs
convicted and sent 10 the : ate Prl,1n
Ons or two examples of this kind mar be
salutary.
From the .5ur9rn
HOME QUE9rlONs
FOR THE AMERICAN MERCHANT,
VIVA; trade are you engaged IN!
Whattrade do you expect 10 engage in I