The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1822-11-06

any terms oiiequali,y. ! have no mind !
to be in aPassion upon so grave matter;
and if 1 could think myself capable, IL
should not suppose my cause would be
strengthened BY any studied re6nement
otabuse, or indecorum of language.
These may be potent weapons in skilful
hands, but IS have never learnt to WELD
them, il is fortunate that do not need
their aid.
In the second place. |. seems to have
excited furious resentment in this man,
that any one, whom he condemns, should
dare 10 assert his innocence; and, BY
some unaccountable mental obliquity, he
coniosnds accusations with proofs OF guilt.
But let me ask, by what authority has he
acted inshis case! Whence does he de-
rive the power to be the accuser and the
Judge, the Prosecutor and organ by which
his own sentence OF condemna,ion is pub.
lished to the worldl Does he derive it
from the laws of this free country-from
the laws OF nature7or from the equitable
privileges Of society No this power is
assumed. and its eserciseis equally an
enchroachment % the liberty Of the citi-
zen and the righs of human na,ure.-
Froln no privileges of the one--no prin.
ciples of the otlrr-is he authorised to
usurp tho authoiity which he has claim
ed. He has set Himself above law-thrust
aside the forms 81 every equitable pro
cess-rendered lnugatory the judicial in
situations of his countryside defiance 10
tn; majesty ofju,ticc--and then wonders
that the victims Of his usurpation should
doubt his infallibility -se demonstrate a.
gainst proceedings, which not only aim at
their ruin, but which, federated, would
blast with the pestilence of,yranny every
plant in the fair field Of liberty. For myself
| am not disposed to submit to such au.
thority nor do l believe the time will
soon come, when there will be so little
virtue, or so much blindness in the com.
munity, as to suffer any one to tolera,e
presumption like this, who looks upon it
with any other than an eye of ridicule or
contempt.
10 show that his authority is worth
something more than am willing to al
low, he ior,i6es himself with resolution
OF a COMMITTEES. And what ,.o,u..;..s.
A selection Of persons, most Of whom
were his particular friends. adhere,,ts q
dependents, some of whom were known
to be hostile TO the accused, and all OF
whom were in the exclusive interests of
the baiik, and acting as its agents That
Is,the committee who erected themselves
into this tribunal, were the virtual prose.
cutors OF the very men whom they tried
and judged! And how did this committee
proceed They received the charges of
the President, listened to his accusations,
examined such papers as he presented,
and this without even informing the mar.
~ accused, or hearing word in their de.
fence. And,to add to the enormitv of thi,
ou,rage-if indeed it admits of addition,
this farce vas acted over at the moment
when legalIinvestigation was nendino
This self-orgiDised court will find a true
prototype in the inquisi,ion. And vet,
strange as i may seem, Mr.. Cheves has
oeen Judge, and acted in this capacity
moi IN the holsters of Spain--but under
The laws oithese independent states of A.
merica. This is the court which he puts
forward as!he supporting pillar of his
authority. make no comments. a.
bnse not the good sense of any one, by
asking him toweigh the authority of this
committee. 1t is jus, as good in this
case Is thepresidept's, and no better.
And supposiDg this authority were as
ineontestible as Mr.. Chcyes would have
il; the resolution Of the committee has no
direct bearing on his case. Not a word
is there said about "fraud." We are
told Of the 'pasts present condition of the
bank ) Blu, we have no hint that even this
tribunal eanctinne RI the o,,tra-~.~... 4 -.