Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-11-11
JUDGE wAsHINGTON's CHARGr


JUDGE WASHINGTON'S CHARGE.
Tie charge ct Judge Washington to the
Grand 9ury Of Philadelphia, has been gene
rally read throughout te United States-
Some of the presses; (Which are lukewarm or
hostile IN the cause OF south American indie
pend nee, j have passed upon il their unquhlifi.
ed eutoSiun.-But th0HSh we nave all due res
pect tor ike judges OF orr land, yet we do ROT
hold t:iem 10 he iniable. The ermne some
times covers the same iniifmities of Judgment
and propensitieS TO prejudice, which are found
In other r;en We cannot always receive their
dtctd as the OracieS Of truih. We shOu!a bring
them 10 the test OF reason. We shcuid do SO
especially, when they travel ont of the re-
cord ;" and leave the exposiiions of the lar 10
pass upon the 0loticeS OF men.
DO no fPresgne 10 blame Judge W aShingtoM
for charging The Grand Jury with what are the
laws o! the and. IL was his vocation and we
freely confess, that ii was Rot only his duty, out
that he has discharged It with fidelity and abil-
ty. Whatever be the Constitutional law OF
the land. Judge is bound 60 see it put i'm
force. Whatever were the feelings OF 1Rdge
Washington towards the struggles of the Span
ISL Patriots; however arieatiy his own heart
yearned towards them, lie was bound 10 think
only OF the law, and 10 do what il commanded
him. As it Is the duty of Judge thus to give
ap ms own wishes 10 the laws of the land, so il
rs the duty Of every citizen ntlIe opinion which
he forms of the conduct OF the Judge TO Judge
him not by his own wishes, but the laws which
he is 10 execute. We would net indeed sus.
pect Judge Washington OF any extraordinary
attachments to the cause OF South American
Independence; but il he had the strongest
wishes towards them, certainly he was not
bound to show them OF the bench The only
question before hn there, was what is the
law:-Ihe only dnty, 10 carry itinto effect.
Far he the idea, then, of throwing any cen
sure upon The Judge for this pnrt OF hIs charge
lie has but done his duty, aud we commend
him torit But what shall we think of anot!er
passage?
,(r.,-. III i.
siblc preleXts are not wanting 10 pallate these
lawless acts, and even to render them popular
with those who regard rather tic avOwed
ttau the real motive OF the perpetrators of
them.
" The emancipation of an oppressed DeonIg
is urged as excuse for these military expediti.
ons. Butas IL mast be admitted that obedience
TO tic laws of our country IS the first duty Ola
good citizen, 1t follows that wifui violation
OF those laws can never find an excuse in the
motive which induced it, however we might
approve the motive, were the laws sileu; on
Tie subject. must, nevertheless be permit
ted to suspect the sincerity of the motive which
j. protested IN these cases Search TO the bof .
TIM aud triH be fond TO originate in scinierest
| In cRpidltg tof that icedifh which IS torn by
po'reT from the hands Of its defeRceless oicaers"
self Interest 4 cHpidIty for wealth.
! why this attack upon the B,Oticts of those WHO
| join the Spanish PatriOtsl Ii was not neces
sary in the discharge OF his duties; for. he had
but minute before said, that let their ,notipes
| he what they may, they were bound to obey
| the laws OF their country. Why, then this i'm.
| putation upon il,er motives?
! But Il is still more Objectionable. because IL
| cOBveysso unqualified and confident q ccnsufe mp
! on AL concerned. The Judge speaks as ifhe had
] their hearts inS hand q as II all of them with
| out exception. were aCtuated by the meaneSt
motives. Is there no doubt Ofii2 Are they all
| WHO have fitted ont pr.vateefs" in our ports
| or accepted OF" commissions" TO be charge I'd
| NtH thC meduest mJivcS which CAR inlucl a
! human belng2
And why does he make this allegation Is
! Il because lac suspects every one. who draws
! bis sword la favor ~ an oppressed nation
| Then. what becomes OF those Who aided fhe
revclutiOuiSis' in Ibis couMry WHAT stall We
think Of Ia Fayeue, 81 Pulaski, aud oil
| koSciuskos VIII Judge Washington ddte Cd
dcnoncce hfss men for their sttaehncci e
" self Interest,"
But, if he Should urec tiist these men ars
quite Of different cast iI0n tnoss vino BAY.
joined the patriots. IL he should point cot 81
greedy piisatcCrsnca WHO have been t,c,
ont 80 our ports to pfey npo1 toe Spanish con
mercC; then mas % be asscd wacfher il +
tdir 10 Judge ofiN by ihrsc nien Say, that th
most OF tlNse are irpeiled Dy inc love DC gold
IL 80 therefore right fp cNieui tie same impu
iati0n 10 flloss, igao ire nos Engaged 300 prvl
/ tccrIug; those, UHolate enlisted 30 The land
svfyiccf 40 pat tic wscic uing into a mt
she'll; were 40 $40 have been to- Amela Isl
| AND, ti.e rierceuafy wfC'cal5 tciain 1r DIES
cTihcs Hand overail WHO le ncw Upon
20 his tcuscancr sos. lioi ile caifrptisa
now icd % by tlc sliest piIacy. yes wiil n
"ndeftasr Co Say thf inie us nii $40 accon
Pavied Mtiifeor VIA Pesrs- GAS mieA