Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-05-18

the other where the parties are NEARLY canal
IL power, : lnsnres inpuni'y 10 the agent be.
cause, II he should side with The minority who
may hold the ruling power, as in the nresep,
case the majority Of tue people would be MA.
fed IN worse situation than they are now
Furthermore, lis election VIII place him 1i
reclly in That state of liability which he has ,le
serlbed as so extremity dangerous. | would
ASK then, IN what principle does the Justice
aud property OF this case inhere, which justi.
iies Judge Ia exclude the tesumony of a wit.
ness who may hold an interest with one of the
parties the cause of action from being given
10 the jury in court of law aud equity and
yet, under the same disqualifying c,rcumstan.
ces, as ii respects self interest, to place himself
IN the same situation before the public Is il
possible thai the people can place so much
conhdepce IN any man. under these circu,n.
stances. as 10 risk their freedom unon il in on
position 10 the law OF nature, in their own
breasts, and the principle adopted BY the laws
of their country ] presume thai his honor
W i'll readil, admit that neither himself nor any
other Judge would be trusted upon their cath
TO give testimony IN a court of iudicature
when II was evident, that neither judge nor
ary other person ought 20 be trusted on such
important occasions, "-withont the utmost CON
fderce in his integrity aud patriotism. as we'll
az IN his ability" But, what has confidence 10
do in this business THIS is case where the
law objects 10 the credibiliiy of the person
who claims it, and sets him aside as unworthy
10 be trusted and this is common TO all men
IL is a case in which confidence is utterly out
lawed. No court in America will grant il tue
least pr election and where is tho proprie,y
or how can you justify yourselves, ia trusting
Judge. ON his bare verba Sdy-so, to settle the
most important question that has ever come
before Won, when the laws, which that Judge
is sworn TO execute, would not, under the same
circumstances, trust To his oath ON thu mos,
trivial occasions So vi 'lauiy and cautious
" does the law guard against self interest. be-
cause " he who seeks for PERFECTION in Judge
aud expect IL find him free from, the casualties
and accidents incident to other men, will seek
in vain" Lei one grain Of common sense then
direct your attention 10 men Who ar not u
der this ba1ciul influence Such men are
plenty Il would be moderate estimate 10
suppose there are at least 5000 in the Old Do
minion, who understand every principle con.
tanned in our Bill OF Rights, g. who are capable TO
apply, aud would apply them with as msch prac
ticcai feet for the promotion of the public
good as any officer connected with the pre-.
sent judiciary system, or any other person
whose interest may in the least attach him 30
single limb ofthe present aristocralical Upas !;
but more especially those whose sceptred inter.
ests lin despite Of all their virtue and integrity
can force their Judgment into hostlllIes again Il
il. MI motive, therefore, should be remov-
ed
With respect TO the present state of things
his honor says &c our present constitution, with
the system of government, which il prcscribes,
has been instituted Tor more than halt centu.
ry. II is evidently the work Of much wisdom
and patriotism oil patriotism we admit, but
ths,occasion was TOO hurried for the more
tar1y operations o. wisdom TO proceed with
due deliberation. And il the long standing of
O government is to ne taken as the Q, violence oil
a wise constitution and system OF laws, and IL
Inscriptions of wisdom are due TO It agreeaby
10 its age, his honor might have produced a
much stronger case from he government OF
the Chinese. But just compsrson wuh that
governmrnt agreeable to p ain ioG'' would
make oai s appear TO be the work Of Bnch Jolly.
=" ! have habitnally regarded il with great rev.
ereico," continues the Judge. so did the
Judges of Athens regerd Minerals Owl but
the ireaholders Of this district do not think their
reverence an evidence of the Owls wisdom.
. should depart (he says) from any Of its pre-
cents ith much reluctance and cautious cir
d universal consequence. "Few men have
virtue so infexble and integrity SO inviucible
as upou all occasions to be willing 10 part with
objects OF long habitual reverence, especially
when the ADHESION is strengthened by the
still small voice of a pecuniary deity. Yet
(says the Judge) II is but the work of man, ne.
yer ia all things perfect" This 4" moves our
wonder that n man Exercising the functions
of high judicial office" should 10 reverence
at the shrine of acknowledged imperfoction /
Oh temp0rd Is there any ambiguity IN the
manner IN which the Judge has expressed his
opinions on the present constitution aud sys
tenn of government which 1t prescrlbes Ger
tainy not His dyowa is candid and undS.
gnised. Il should depart from any of It's
precepiS with much reluctance and cautious
circumspection" Now. ask in what part of
his communication has he contradIcted this
ayOwed specification. by showing Willingness
To depart from single preccp' of the present
system of government, only upon condition
that new constitution shall include such pro-
visions as shall secure to all classes their ad.
yantages, rights and privileges, equal 10 what
they now are Aud If constitution should
be made, which does not include these Prov
sions, and il he should DO compelled 10 depart
from any of the precePts included IN the pres
eHt, u WDulu We WIN MUCH EcIuCldutt az" ~
suppose that he had declared willingness TO
10 so, in amy part oil his communication, would
be to call in question his yeraciiy, which
have never doubted. At the same time be-
eved him, like other men, SUBJ ect 10 error IN
opinion, and TO be miSed undeI the influence
ofseIi interest Even to say that any part OF
his communication implied Willingness TO
depart from any OF the precep,s of The present
government would be 10 charge him with by
pocrisy, which does not appear to me to have
any connection with his communication.
5Ial now endeayor 10 show some Of the
principles contained in this monument Of laws,
10 which, the inscription of so muoh wisdom aud
patriotism has been given. The LIST evidence
appears TO be its long siandiag-2l, 4" the right
of suffrage. as regulated by the preSen, consti-
tlton, has been source Of unceasing com
plant for many years, I'D, landed estates are
exempt from the payment of debts, while the
man who is not limb OF the present arstoc-
racy. ia liable to have every cent taken TO 6ll
the booklets oil him whose land is exemnted-