Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-01-21

ineapscity or corruption is punishable by
peachment; and thus while the constr
tuition enables them to do right, It oeterS
them from doing wrong. 1t was, pro0a
bly,, Mr.. QuincY's wild srraignInent OF MIR.
Jefferson. which has rendered this veteran
statesman SO contsmpiuous at Inpeaca
ment, as TO say ''tbst it is not even
scare crow" But philosophy ought 10
bsve withheld him from erecting theory
on one or few isolated examples, and pru.
dence might have warned him that, should
this jacubn logic be adopted, bis reputation
might be tested by his letter 10 MI. Barry.
On The new suggestion, every mischief
which was spprebended and avered must
arrive; for the judges cannot be indepen-
dent, if the government acquire the right OF
removing them after every briet interval OF
four or SIX years Ii is difficult TO imagine
why this experiment is proposed, un,e's
because the British judges hold their offices
during life. Yet MIR. Jefferson is some
times ready to derive authority from En-.
gland, the general object OF his bitter and
blind animosity. He recommends that in
imitation Of the British law, our judges
should be removed on the application OF
both houses The difficulty in this i,nita-
ton is the want of an original; for the sta
tutes of Is w 8 and Geo 3, only make
the removal OF the judges iaSgfM, mot ne
csssar1') on the application OF parliament.
This provision, in fact, is nothing more
than our own law of impeachment, with
the difference, that IN England the ques-
ton OF removal i. decided by the King,
-, the rn,,ntrv bxy no Sonofp
The attack on the Supreme Court, how
ever gratuitous, is quite natural. tie who
could by implication recommend the i'm
parchment Of Chief Justice Marshall, may
be permitted to denounce, in gross, The
decisions in which that wise and viruous
man has borne so conspicuous part
However judicious 1t 10, in general not to
attempt any thing like proof of doctrine
whose only strength lies in the assertion,
we expect some appearance OF argument
when we are told that the last dstermina>
ton Of our rights is entrusted 10 corrupt
and despotck tribunal. 10 exposing as
absurd, the notion that there should be
public tunctionaries in free stale inde-
pendent OF the people, MIR. Jefferson
makes remaIk both true and unneCessa-
J.
that the American Judges ought 10 be- in-
dependent Of the people, but the true re-.
publican doctrine is that the Judges should
be independent of the Executive and the
Legislature. The people is the bright and
ruling SUD, around which these delegated
authorities are revolving planets. They
move in distinct orbits their reciprocal
attraction is limited by fixed laws, & one is
never powerful enough to absorb the rest
1t is Sir, with the emotion Which the err
rors OF an illustrious man naturally eXcites
that have adverted to this letter. IL Its
suthcr designed it as an appeal to old or
as the source Oi new aninositIes, and teit
alive 10 the vanity Of reviy ing the unilate.
raj principles which he had originated, be
disregards The decorums of his retirement,
and his duties as a citizen. There are eml
men, men IN ibls country, whose conduct al
lords bad example, but it can be no au-
ihority to any imitator, far less TO Dir.
Jeffefsna .--let doc. ~ora1;ns tho ols
men,s OF faction Jet one Adams Gil
me newspapers with the dwellings Of a
pe,ulant dotage let another Adams
! write bloated orations, in The spirit OF a
demagogue. and Letters on Etiquette, 10
the spirit OF daacing master but let
no effort untriendly to public tranquility
and morals tarnish the declining age vt
Mr.. Jefferson. The appeIlauon OF "sage'
has been bestowed on him. LIE; him give
the public no reason to doubt whether i,
is the tribute OF eulogy or satire.
CLARENDON.
WASHINGTON Jan. l8.-In the Senate,