The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-08-28
LORD MANSFIELD.

orvbat perseverance, and application may
...amplish. He like many other dstIA-
tn,shed lawyers, whose lives and charac-
,ers form thu brightest page IN England's
A,,,orv. owed his elevation to his own ex-
ar,ionZto the force of his native genius
Tbough endowed with great and comnan-
5ne talents, be did not, like many young
man. who. at an academy or college, has
,conlred The reputation Of a genius, consI-
asr them alone sufficient to ensure him pro-
c,.s,,nal eminence and distinction. With
him the dates Of the student did no,
cose with his admission to the bar. He
,o;,,d on for years-and rank, and wealth,
and an innperishabe name was his reward.
Never perhaps, did lawyer read the opln-
IONS of this great Judge, but what he ex-
perenced a momeniary pride in the thot
that he had been educated TO the same pro-
fessiOn.
II is true, Lord Mansfield was never a
f,yorle with Americans. 1t has been said
he was too subseryient to the views of tn.
ministry, and wholly regardless of the
rights aud liberties of the subject, when OPP
nosed 10 the interests Of the crown. This
ali NAV have been true. But between
.ubiect and subject, no Judge ever admin
;s,rred Justice with more impartial hand.
He was always able, firm, and dgnlhcd.-
IT he sometimes supported the interests OF
the Kiog, at the sacri6ce of principle. he
was never inundated by the threats and
menaoes of popular fury. He has often
BEEN admired FIR his bold and fearless spi-
rit, and never, perhaps, was It more con-
spicu0us than in the case OF John Wilkes
This was a writ of error hroughtby Wilkes
20 IN. Court Of Kings Bench, to reverse
an out!awry had against him while on the
Coplinsnt, founded on a conviction for
publishing "A lihel. II was time OF great
political excitement in England, SO much
30, hatletters had been sent to the Judges
debating the Judgment TO be gwen, and
threatening them with popular vengeance
10 case of noncompliance. At an early
hour on the day assigned for the argument
Of the writ of error, Westminster Hall,
and all the avenues leading to it, were
crowded with an anxious and highly excl
ted populace. Lord Mansfield, in the
midst Of an able and elaborate argument,
broke off into the following aggression:
"But here let me pause 1T is fit TO
take some notice of the various terrors
hung out the numerous crowd which
have attended and now attend 10 and about
the Hall, out of all reach of hearing what
passes in court and the tumuits which, in
other places. have shamefully insulted all
order and government. Audaciors addres.
ses, in print, dictate to us, from those they
call the People, the judgment to be given.
Give me leave to take the opportunity of
this great and respectable audience, 10 let
the whole world know, all such attempts
are rGin.
Unless we have been able to find one
man which will hear US out, o reverse the
outlawry, it must be affirmed. The Con-
stitution does not allow reasons oil State to
influence our Judg ,nent God forbid that
1t should! We must not regard political
consequences, how formidable soeyer they
might be if rebellion was the certain con.
sequence, we are bound to say" Fiat Jus
tllia ruat c9ium'" The constitution trusts
The King with reasons of State and policy:
ne may stop prosecutions he may par
Don offences; it is his, to judge whether
The law or the criminal should yield. We
nave no election. pass over many anon
gmous letters have received.
Those in print are public, and some
OF them have been brought ludiciously be-
lore the Court. Whoever the writer's are
t'ry take the wrong way. | will do my
aaty undioed. What a,n to fear That
msnddr iyanid fr"m the press, which
ually CONS false facts aud false motives?
.he Hes OF calumny carry no terror to me
trust, that my temper of mind, and the
coler and conduct of my life, have given
,ne SUIT of armor sgalnst these arrows.
:" during this Kings reign, have ever
SuPpdite3 his Government, and assisted
us measures, have done it without any
u'ner reward, than d. ing what thought
right. III have ever opposed, have done
upon the points themselves; without
mixing III party or faction, and without "a
ny collateral views, honor the King, and
respect the People but, many things ac-
4ulred by the favor of either. are, in my
account, objects not worth ambition.
Vish popularity but, il is that popularity,
""n'ch JoHoits not that which IL run after.
~ Is that popularity which, sooner or la
Tr' never fails TO do justice To the pursuit
VI noote ends by noble means. will not
w That which my conscience tells me is
wrong upon this occasion, To gam the huz-
."S OIL thousands, or the daily praise of all
"' papers which come from the press |
"'' not avoid doing what think ia right,
enough IT should draw on me the whole
artillery Of hbeis : all that faIsehnod and
mahce can invent, or the credulty of de-
'uued populacc can swallow. The threats
~ 'or'her than abuse personal violence
- denounced. l do not believe it it is
wv Inc genius of the worst men of this
s"nh'ry IN the worst Of times. But have
se' my mind at rest. The last end that
."' happen TO any man, never comes too
I Ib"n, II he falls in support Of the law and
"'er'y Of bis country"
Tbe anthnr Of Rrdv God has recently
fuo'!'lie'i a !ae Eit yuuth. entitled 1.-THE
reformed Boy" The North American |