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


ceeded TO ACTS of violence, for the want
OF food, might be pardoned, without any
great extension of clarl,y-but the viii
lam, from choice, ought to receive con
demnatioH without pity, and death with
out remorse." The learned attorney com
mented at length on this part OF the pub
ication. Tie admitted That, in the abstract.
some OF the general propositions were
true; but they became ibeilous when ap-
Piled 10 particular individuals, as was the
case here. But II was an artiiice practis-
ed by those who wished TO agitatc the
pnbic mind, 10 slate strongly, certain
propositions, with which, in the abstract.
meme could quarrel, for The purpose ap-
plying them TO the detriment of the char
acter of individuals. If they lad arrived
NJ that state of society, III which all this
was TO be allowed, with impuniy-if
peace OF mind were 10 be assaulted, with
ont fear-lt there were no safeguards for
the preservation of Characterization let
the III Y pronounce that this was no l,bei,
ana let the court and the country lament,
that no man was longer safe in the per
torrance of public duti"s. But he anti
cipated Il very different resSlt. The pib-
ilcation siiohld be read--and unless the
defendant conli explain il away, he vas
convinced that il must be pronounced u
most lihell0us production.
The libel was then read-aud a person,
OF the name of Denlamn Steed, proved
lliathe had received 1000 numbers cf il,
from the defendant for publication.
Mr. Groome deposed, that the Right
Hon. Robert Stewart, commonly called
NiScount CaStlcreagh, was u knight of The
garter, and that the Right Hon. George
canning, was privy Councillor. he
had seen the libel, and believed it related
10 his Malesty's ministers in the admins
ration OF government. The word " IPe'
at the commencement of the libel, he un-
derstood related to The people of England.
Wherever the word Minister'S occurred.
he believed it related to his hiajesly's mi
nsters. The expression, when such
men as Castlereagh bride such man as
Canning applied, III his opinion, to Lord
Castlereagh and Mr.. Canning.
CToss-eranincd by The Defendant.
why do sou suppose the passages in
question apply 10 his Majesty's ministers {?
because think there are NO other per-
sons towhom they eau apply.
Dcfendant-Do you think, then, there
are no persons inthe country who are base
and lreacherous, except his Majesty 5 mi
niSters Il TINS question created loud
!Q;:Sh an the Court
MIR. Justice Abbot desired the deftn-
dant 10 put his questions in a decorous
manner.
Defendaut-f merely want to know on
what ground the defendant has formed
his opinion. | shall, however, only ask
him another question. Pray, what is your
profession "A Conyeyancer.
HE case for the prosecution closed
here.
The Defendant then addressed the
Court at great length. He stated, that
II ne were conscious Of having deserved
the observations which the atom ,-,en-
neral had applied 10 him, bc: would moi
stand before the cn1fi with the indiAc-
renee w..iccii he then did. He only eyer
eifed the fair privilege OF 4 public writer,
IN using the arguments, which he had Iai;.
before the public, and he was by no
means ashamed Of them. The present
mode Of proceeding differed much from
that OF the good Old tunes 10 which the
encouragement had referred. At the pc
mods 10 which he alluded, he would have
Deen Obliged TO come forward and make
bis charge before grand Jury, to whom
ll'Mon!d have been compelled to s,eY
sufficient reason for dragging a defen-
dant from his connections, and shutting
HIN up III prison, prior 10 any other procea-
dinS--illstead of having recourse 10 the
present Illegal and unconstitutional mode
OF prosecution.
Me-. Justice Abbot interrupted the de-
PENDANT. lie could not allow him 10 call
IN proceeding by information illegaland
=; II was, in fact, as old as
any other part Of the law.
The defendant continued.-T pro-
CnrHs--r woe Il
would not be pursued BY any person who
was al x.ous only for the fair administra-
lion ofJust.Ce. ANY act, contrary 10 JTqraa
Chartd or the Bill of Rights, was not law.
and could not be made law, by any leris-
talare under heaven. Feeling this, he CON
ceWed that he was not proceeded against
according 10 law. lie did not stand there
to answer for his principles, but to avow
them. WhatgYer they were, they were
his own-aHd nothing, which he had
hearl rom the Attorn ey-General would
occasion him 10 alter them. The princj-
Pts he espoused, so far from being cal
10 create disorder and rebellion.
would, he conceived, prevent them. 1t
Was not because tie altorney-generai |
came and said, that this country had been
engaged III war for the benefit of man |
kind, that he was TO take it for granted. |
] liz opinion differed on this point from
that Of the learned gentleman, and until |
be had studied politics as much as he (the |
deiendant) had done, he would not take |
lie 'pse di1it of the learned gentleman,
whose enquiries were entirely of legal !
nature, OF this subject.-Itwas said if Inc |
had given bail, he would not have been
kept more than an hour or two from his
business. But, when he felt himself op-
pressed, he never would bow to his op-
prcssors il was because men had been
weak enough TO do so, that abuses had !
not been fully examined, and properly re-