Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-09-01

he deferred till that day" II was urged
IN vain by Lord Grey, that II was better
10 have delay before the proceedings con-
meDced than during their progress: and
therefore IF the Queen could be furnished
~ once with copy of the charges and 4
list OF the witnesses against her, she nigh,
employ the interval in preparing for her
defence, and need have no further DELAY
during the prosecution. This plan for
saving OF time. as well as doing her Jas
tice, was however secuted at by minis.
ters; and formal application OH her
part for the list of witnesses was rejected
by a majority of SO votes. The follow
ing is the argument on this point
HOUSE OF LORDS, JULY Ia.
The Qveen.-Lord Erskine said, he
should detdin their Lordships at no great
length. When he. mentioned the subject
before,sit didknot strike him that The no.
bic lord opposite, had come 10 any def
niiive opinion on the subject. He thought
the list OF Witnesses might be furnished
In order TO prepare the ilInstrious per-
sonage for her defence, without Which
she could not with Justice enter upon H.
He considered this bill in the nature
of a criminal charge aud if il was NOT.
1t was no charge at all, and if they did
not grant his proposition, they would
be acting contrary TO law and Justice.
The Queen was charged with an adulter-
Gus intercourse, by the bill. with per.
son, originally in a mental capacity.
which lasted Tor six years, and in coun-
aries CiOsi remote from each other, so that
10 definite place or point Of time was spe
cited 10 which she might direct her de-
fence. Their Lordships we're the sources
of all law ana justice; and were conse-
queutly hound 10 set an example of both
10 all inferior magistrates. and TO the
whole country. He commended that in
cases OF high treason, Isis of witnesses
were granted, because the whole of the
influence Of the Crown was employed a
gainst The prisoner. Such an indulgence
@as equally necessary here, where the
whole power aud influence of the crown
was to be Hseu against the accused per-
sou. The list of witnesses was not more
necessary in order that they might be
cuniraaicted; but than they might be
made 20 contradict themselves. Ii was
an vain TO tell him, after his long expert
enee ia Courts of law, that il was moi
absolutely necessary TO have lists of wit
nesses, in order that il might be fully
known who aud what they were, TO ex.
hibii their trae character for honesty,
integrIiy aId credibiliiy. A departure
from these s0.nd principles of lurispru-
dence IL Justice, had overthrow Princes,
overturned thrones and convulsed the
earth. No man could think That lie spoke
from any bias for he threw every Thing
out of this question (hough he had had
ihe honour of serving his Majesty but
regard for Justice. love for the consii,u-
aion, and true respect for the honour
and dignity OF the Crown. He had spent.
the greater part of his life in Two profess
sions, where honour were the only steps
40 preterment and he fell far more now
ahat nothing else should influence his
conduct. Ii the list of witnesses were
sent tor, her Majesty would, perhaps, not
merely take up her case where the evil
dence for the crown closed, but she might
take il up at the beginning or middle of
The proceedings against her, in order tn
compel them TO speak The truth iipossi.
bic. lie did not say thai this would be
the case; but they ought 10 give her an
opportunity of doing so if she conld. The
mode OF administering justice differed in
various countries but Tie principles of
justice were the satie III all. He ins,anc.
edtlie various protecting circumstances
III our course OF proceedings, as in cases
oil adultery. A specific Time and place
was ilxed upon ~ the charge but here The
1acts might be charged TO have been COM
United In Rome, Naples, Jerusalem, or
CoDsiantinopie III 1Si5,l6, IL, Is and 10.
ilow was IL possible for her 10 contradict
such charges, ii she had nota list of wit
hesses, and copies of The depositions
against her With all their dgniiies thew
were but men; and if there had been
persons tracing her from one coast 10 The
other, where she had no means of rebut-
lug the charges against her, what would
the people OF England say, if iliey did
not acl IN conformity Of The law! Where
would be the glory OF our law, if il was
not supported III that house? 1t was
impossible to assimlale parliament ea-
ilrely TO a court of justice, but they
we're therefore, The more bound, by cvery
ieeilng OF honour and justice, to set a
further example of both 10 all the courts
below them. II a list of witnesses were
furnished 10 the Queen, their lordships'
line would not be so much taken up
as 1t would be II she had 10 search Tor
witnesses IN various paris of The globe,
and to facts charged 10 have been com
'iDlited al so many and such distant peri.
DDS ei! time When they had done so,
they would have better view OF the case.
towards the futtbereDce of public Justice, than
they could under any Other circumstances.-
Set them look at the consequences of their.
refusal, they must be worse than death TO the
i'iustrious individual, born of long line of
honorable ancestry. lie, therefore, fell JUS
tined IN saying, that she was peculiarly AN
obJect OF their lordsbips' attention and coils-
deratioD. Let them remember to be Just
That we stood above all other counties, in
our character for Justice aud equity let them
take care that they did not forfeit that high
opinion IN the of the world His mnftnu
was that copies of the deposition, against her
shaJesty, aud lists OF the witnesses to be pro-
huced against her, should be furnished TO her
majesty and herlaw advisers, in order To ena-
uIe hei 10 prepare for her defence, aud that
copy OF these resolutions should be forthwith
-Drgseufed n her majestic