Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-12-01

do SO. He denied the existence Of a corrupt
in support of his positions, introduced the fol-
lowing well Remembered, political, and histori-
cal fact.
LET us recur TO a former period, in the his
tory of our government. In 1902, Mr.. Jetlar-
son and Mr.. Burr. had an equal number Of
votes, for President, and the election devolved
on the Ho sc Of Representatives, as il did at
the last election. After many ballotngs, by
the magnan;mious oonduct of u distinguished
member fiom Delaware, Mr.. Jefferson was
elected. Gov. ilaiborne, was then the only
member from Tennessee. He voted for MIR.
Jefferson, and by his vote Mr.. Jefferson was
made president OF tie United States. Shortly
Afterwards, Mr.. Jefferson appointed Mr.. C!di-
borne Governor of the MISSISSIPPI. Territory
The newspapers hostile to Nh. Jefferson, seized
on this, and charged him with bribery and cor
ruption. b.: | have no recolle ton, that any
one of the legislatures Of the States were at
that time called on. to make good the charge
without testimony. Mr. Jefferson did not act
upon the modern refnemcnts in b~ostowing of.
fees OH h. enemies instead of his friends. He
was an old fashioned republican. lie preferred
his friends to his enemies, and now, that lac
has lived and died in the hearts Of his country
J iHcn, arguments are tnhue 10 pTONci tHdt hc
was guilty of bribery and corruption. All this
proves the miserable shifts 10 which gentlemen
may be driven, when they arc fatally bent on
a purpose"
Further in support of his arguments, Mr..
Williams alluded to the abuse which was heap
ed upon Mr.. Chief Justice Marshall, because,
he instructed the jury, to find a verdict of &C
on;,,,I q, tIo nc a., Iy,itod C,o,ne 40
Aaron Burr.
Many Of you will remember, that Aaron
Burr, some years ago. was figuring through the
western country. That he vas in the states OF
Ohio, Kentucky, and Tenne ssee, fitting out an
armed expedition. That suspicion was alive
as 10 his ulterior objects. That he was at
length arrested by the order of the President,
Jefie-son, and arraigned hi Richmond, on a
charge Of treason! This charge was No soon
er made, than there was a general burst of in
d~igna'ion against hin, and his associates
The general cry vas, hang the traitors. 1t
was the duty ofchief Justice Marshall TO preside
on these trials He did SO, and Burr was ac-
quilted. This fac was no sooner known, than
the current of popular indignation turned
against the Judge, and he at once Lecane IN
object Of public odium. This torrent, perhaps,
beat with more fury because his politics were
not fashionable, And tho cry was, that tae
Judge ought to be hung in the traitors place.
l partook Of the general excitement, and fire.
quently spoke Of he Judge in terms Of re-
proach. Not long afterwards, when the storm
had in some degree subsidized ] procured a vol
ume entitled Burr's Trial. commenced read
ing it with the confident belief that ! should
find certain evidence Of his judicial depravity.
But the result was very different. If he had
convicted Burr on the testimony, he would
have mcrited the reproach, which was cast on
him for the acquit,al. l have never seen, or
thought Of that illustrious man since, but l felt
self convicted of having done him great inJus-
tice, by yielding to an honest, but misguided
e%xcitcment; and my consolation now is. that ]
have made all the atonement in my power,
and | have a fixed determination, never to
commit a like error. In reading that trial, and
recoliecting the state oftnings which then ex-
isted, ! I'M forced to admire :he moral courage
displayed in the performance of his duty more
than the legal research, which has only been
equalled by himself in other eases, among the
many men who have adorned the judicial tri-
bunals ofour country.
The graad jury, who found the bill Of ihdict-
ment vs.. Burr, were, many of thea, the first
lawyers in Virginia. They ough, not 10 have
found ths indictment, a true bill; if they did
not discover the defect in The evidence, this
! DTONco u tuWNcIsy 'uC' "Ci' ~ w 'fc
Judge, and if they did, this proves they had less
moral courage than he, and were wiling, AZ a
high price, to avoid responsibility themselves
by throwing it on the legal Hercules Of the
age. | state this incident, r. Speaker IN or
der TO show that we ought to be cautious IN fix
ing guilt on any one, without some proof
When gentlemen are driven ftom the position,
that evidence of guilt is to be found in the
statements of Buchanan. Eaton, &c. some of
them say, that the fact Of CIay's having voted
for Adams. and the Latter appointing The for
mcr to the Department Of state. is, of itself,
satisfactory evidence Of bribery and corruption.
I beg gentlemen 10 pause, before they come to
this conclusion. This argument viii involve
ourselves in guilt, and likewise some Of the
best patriots and ablcst statesmen. what rs
our daily practice . In bes!owing our little pa
trono &c almost daily do We not. where the
qualifications Of the candidates are equal, pre-
fer our friends to our enemies ! answer, we
do. And for doirg this. would VIC not indig-
nar,ly repcl u charge Of bribery or corrup-
toni"
The sentiments uttered by Mr.. Williams, are
honorable to his head and heart, ard are wor-
thy of all acceptation. We m them to
the especial consideration Of our friend, the
Honorable WHEELER MARTIN, and il, after
he shall have considered them, he will not adj
mire them, and cease 10 ''cry aloud and spare
no,,'' like his distinguished friend. George Kre-
mer, and confess that he has been wrong, IA
accusing his former friends. Adams and Clay,
Of corruption, we shall give him up, a, aoso-
lutely and determinably incorrisibIe. !
The debates on these famous resolutions,