Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-08-01

persons who supposed that those WHO
stood IN the situation in which lie was p,a-
ced, being, as 1t was called, servants of
the crown, were also the servants of the
ministers Of the crown, and prosecuted
Just as they pleased 10 direci---tIat the
present prosecution was entirely his own
act. The idea to which he had alluded
was Most fallacious. The law officers of
the crown, before they were placed IN
their situations, called Cod to witness,
that they would, according to the best of
their Judgment, advise the crown as 10
any lcgal measures which it might be ne
cessarE 80 adopt---tliey swore that they
would honestly and conscientiously per-
form their duty, without favor on affcc-
uon and he begged TO state, that, if any
error belonged 10 The present information,
1t ought TO he visited on his head, for it.
was entirely his act, perfected without
any Information being given his males
tvs ministers. He found himself called
upon to act as he had done in the fair ex-
ercise of lis duty---and he felt that he
should have neglected that duty, if he
had not filed he Information. The infor-
nation charged the defendant with hay-
ing imputed corruption, and 4 determine
non tOdestroy the Liberties oftiIe country,
10 his maIesty's ministers. He should
nowproceed TO read thcpubication-- land,
II any man doubted that il imputed those
base motives TO the ministers. he should
feel great surprise indeed. Certain parts
OF the publication were selected, as Libel
lous---but, if the defendant, by referring
TO the context-by reading the whole of
hcarticle--could explain away that which
was charged as exciting hatred against
the government, in the name of Heaven
let him do it. 1.-THE defendant could skew
that lie Che attorney generaD had put
wrong construction on the publication,
he must of course, be acquitted but lie
would assert, HAT let the defendant take
what part he pleased of the article, il
would be found TO be direct confirma-
ton of the charge of wickedness and cor
ruption, which he had alleged against the
ministers, employed in conducting the af-
fairs of tue country. The learned attor-
ney here proceeded TO read the publca
ton. Itwas entitled, Tie Past, the Pre-
sent, and tile Future. 1t charged ministers
with infamous duplicity and treachery,
and with the most scandalous corruption.
Ministers Git set forth) had told the people
thai they were fighting the battles of The
country, wn.lle they were only fighting
their own. They lave been induced to
tighttle battles of legitim.,- governments
abroad, while ministers were destroy,.,
at ilome, that Constitution which they
oughtto have defended. That COnstitu-
tIoh which France could not assail, and
never wished 10 iniure, persisted ignobly,
ana without struggle, amidst the repre-
senlatlves of the people and the guardians
OF the public purse. Were ministers con-
tented with this-or must The people
bleed, 10 appease their hatred Of the cause
OF treedom and reform II we must bleed,
we have only to request of them, in the
words OF Ajax, " let us perish III the face
OF Heaven" breathing our appeal TO the
God OF freedom against the agents of ty-
ranny and degradation. We embarked
In The last war 10 conquer France, and we
have conquered ourselves. After attempt
ing TO overthrow freedom abroad, minis
tiers had turned their attention TO the de-
structon OF freedom at home The learn
ed attorney commented on these passa-
ges with much severity. He denied that
any attempt had been made against free
dom abroad. This country had been
forced into a war TO check the aggressionS
Oitherevolutlonary France.
They had been called on 10 defend tTeir
own liberty from a foreign yoke-and
they were Obliged TO support the nations
OF the Continent which had been singled
out as the objects of French ambition,
because, through their medium, tile French
government supposed the vital interests
OF England could be most successfully
assailed. Every act ofaggression, through
out the late Wharf.-The invasion of Spain,
the attack upon Russia, &c. could be ira
ced 10 this source. The libel went 10 OBJ
serve, That every man who pershed iii
consequence otthe existing state of things
was virtually muTdered-dnd though tile
law might not reach the author OF his
death, yet the all-seeing eve OF Heaven
was fixed upon them, and vengeance
would ultimately ovcriake them. Minis
ters had so deeply injured the people of
this country, that they felt they could not
be forgiven. Nothing operated so strong
ly OIL the feelings OF the murderer as the
spectre of him whom he had DESTROY ed
the wounds he had given were constantly
present TO his view--uo ewes we're turned
on him, that he did not consider glisten-
ing with vengeance-be heard no voice
that did not sound terrible to his ear. 1t
was thus with ministers and the Consti-
tuition. 1t lay mangled at their feet
they gave 1t the mortal biow--and now
they looked around, dreadiJg the hour Of
veDgeance."-I Constitution of Eng
| land, observed the learned attorney, was
dear TO every EDglishman-aud because
IT was dear TO him, he charged the pres
| ent defendant as libeller, who. by the
| publication lie had read, endeayOrcd lo
excite spirit OF disafeciiou amongst the
people, by which tile Constitution would
be evidently endangered The second
count OF the Information charged the de-
PENDANT with libel ON Lord Castlercagh
and the Right Hon. George Canning
This libel stated that the appetite OF the
ministers, for plumber, seemed to in
crease, as the finances Ufthe country di-
| minished. When such men rs Castle
| reach hriheh such mon as Canning in he