Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-06-22
GENERAL, COURT.

i
| GENERAL COURT.
On Saturday last. the General ~Surt came
to the following decision in the case of The
commonwealth vs. Joho Dandridge, which was
argsed at the last term Of the Court. Judges
IDade and White delivered long and serialim
'p'n'ons. A II the Judges (ten presently were
unanimous 10 accediDg 10 the following OPT
| Dinn:
q The Commonwealth ~. Lb,, DcnJ.;y,.a
on an n6jour, ed case from The Superior Court
81 Lao for james Guy County
The Court is unanimously Of opinion and
doth decide, that the attack made on thu judge
of the Superior Court Of Law for the coanty
of james City and city of Williamsburg as set
forth In the transcript OF the record of the pro-
ceedings in this case, does amount To a con.
tempt of Court, for which the defendant was
liable To he fined orirnprisoned or both. That
IN the present state OF the proceedings in the
case as the case Is stated in the record, no rule
for an attachment nor the attachment itself
need be awarded-That The defendant has
not, by his answer to- the interrogat0res filed
and propOunded to him. purged himself of the
said contempt and that it is unnecessary
and improper that the Court should decide
upon the Judgment which should b9passed on
the defendant in this case, as after The answer
which the Court has given to the first ques-
ton, there is no point Of law involved in the
question:
1t will be seen by two communications in
this paper, that the subject has already excit-
ed some interest among u.s. We had already
anticipated the wishes Of our correspondents,
by an application to Judges Dade and White
for copies of their opinions, which they were
so obiging as to furnish. Their great length
compels us 10 lay them over till Friday.
81
To Me Editors of tAe Enquirer.
GENTLEMEN: The General Court OF this Common
wealth. on Saturday last decided the important ques
on' as to the principles involved IT, in my humble opn
ion which has been udca,ed IN this country since our
independence as nation. aiIuie the case of an al
lodged contempt Judge Semple in his judicial
adjourned by him TO the General novelty tho nor
ordiaicuity as told he said think it 10y no means so
clear that there difficulty in the particular
adjourned, Notwithstanding the unanimy Of the Judges
understand the opinion delivered by Judges The
principles upon which they decided include all cases
Of words or writings of Judge, relating TO any Judi
cal decision, whereby the Judiciary the
might he brought into contnpt ts adopting the utmost
latitude OF The decisions ofe royal Judges Britain
without duly considering the difference the po;i,i
cn' institutions OF the two countries, overlooking the
very obvious truths, that IL Judiciary became con-
temptibe or odous by own acts and doinrs
and 'hatthe power to punish for contempt compn
bile with public liberty only while con6ned to that exercise
oil it, which Is absolutely necessary the Of
its independent existence
IPurposeiy waive many other obvious considerations as
not my Intention al present. TO question the proprieiy
ofthe dectsoD for Two reasons, firstly lest might unn-
ten,tonaiy misrepresent the reasoning and
secondly because am in doubt how mny al liberty
in the public papers, question the infaby motives
OF some ofy feowcitizens sitting Judges without sub
jecting myself sio the pene forte an, by no
means disposed TO heceme martyr liberty in
conflict There Is conne ment for life
in common jail sit might be- sympathy of the
public were enlisted on the side of the prisoner.
As ills matter of great every person In the
community To know how far he may subject himself 10
punishment ,chih has knorn limits and which NAV he
inflicted by the mandate of Judge shou the inferpen-
don 81 njry you WOULD gentlemen, doing very ac-
cepiable service to the public, you would procure and
publish statement OF the case the reasoning of IN.
two Judges White and Dae who delivered their opinions
seriatm presume they would have rctoss TO fur
nh copies ofher opinions, applied for proper man
ner, and know persons fl yourselves stand
ing IN the relation do 10 the public make The re-
quest IL might he considered presumption in
CITIZEN.