Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-07

Ind goveremens 10 complain republication, !.
IS false, malicious, scandalous; as tending |,
% bring the actions of the COVE, nors and go !
sernmen, into contempt; to stir up sednIon
& excite commotions; and therefore for,ify
themselves and their abuses by crimi nal
We krow the natu al lea
lousy people have of tn ose in power
and we also know the natural avarice OF
dominion of those who enjoy IL: and ,ha,
whilst there exist such passions in The hu.
man breast, parIy-wrilers will not want
matter to aet on. Bur threat or exhor.
tation 10 murder is not itself the crime of
murder, neither is an exhort alton to Sc
dition itself crime of sedi,ion some
,hinsis necessary besides counsel and in
tsntion, an overt act is necessary: in the one
case as we'll as the other he who threatens
or he who advises resistance to the laws,
should be bound 10 keep the peace. Any
thing more than this, is unnecessary rigour
and consequently violation of his rights.
But if The oppression complained oil be
| of Confirmed nature, the mode of coun.
teraGling the influence of such writings is
TO redress the grievances complained OF.
Statesmen should remember, that rigour
is bad argumen, to the understanding
OF plain people, and that there is period
to evil opp essiod. beyond which resis
lance is ruin.
Il is true that in every case falsehood,
culumny and malice are detrimental TO
county, as they end 10 destroy individual
and national credit, upon which existence
Itself may very often be dependent but
prosecutions in the case of public men
should originate in the slanderou and
! NAL cnus Justification OF matters OF fact
solely; and not fran any deduction or ar.
gument drswn fro . acis oil known and &C
,,knowlcdged existence.
But when writer is prevented BY the
judicial sophis;ry of misapplying the ca
ses OF men in private life to the circum.
stances of persons in public station and
when by the consequent. denial of The righ,
OF addueiog matters of fact in evidence in
support of The deductions hs has already
published; a country will Notwithstanding
beast to us of the freedom OF Tie press
she exhibits 20 US nothing bat superior
deceit in binding the eyes of those she
governs, by holding out the shadow, not
the substance of freedom of publication,
| Where publication without printers
name, as in England, is criminal, where
1 tor deduction from known facts, an au-
thor may be arrested by secre,ary's war.
rant, lodged in a dungeon. deprived of the
inquest OF grand jury, where the crown
prosecutes and the Judge aud sheriff have
been appointed by it. ard where the
! latter rs seldom so unmlndful OF his inter-
est as TO fad an uncomplying jury, who
! will have the hardhood tn assert thai there
exists the freedom of The press
Did the laws make the innocence or Grim.
inaii,y of a publication depend on the
truth or falsehooj ofthe facts upon which il
is bottomcd, a wri cr who would speak truth
would have 10 room for apprehension
Fer his intentions he ought 10 be answer.
able only To God: and The certainty of
rsfua alton hpuld his d duct.ons be ether
ally or fsilacious, would expose the souod.
ness of his understanding or the depra-
witty ct his heart. La such circuIns ances.
by false aad disingenuous reasoning, he
would only expose himself to he scorn
and dctesta,ion OF the people, and 10 a
Tree counuy where the people are every
thing and their deceivers and ca,umnalors
a'e nothing, he would be sufficiently IN
hueDced by his interest TO speak The truth.
Neither should public men complain of tie
severity of these conditions, This is tag
they pay for the hoDors other station. The
character of a statesman, like the Gharael-r
oil soldier, should abhor deceit and court
Investigation like the truth 1t should be
represented naked. No man tberef re
whose life has been stained with dish n.
nor, SHOULD dare TO come forward as
candidate for popular favour; let him re-
main in the shades of retire ment, wh-re
the world viii forget the faults with the
his name = and give way to another and
better man.
(TO Be COnfinued.)
zsz=.
FOR The ARGITS