Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-09-24
WILLIAM JOHNSTON.


Yours affectionu;ely,
WILLIAM JOHNSTON
Rice Creek Sept H. 1880
Ny DEAR JUDGE--l was not at the meeting which
selected the invited guests. Tho other gentlemen o
the committee and whose names are the invita-
ton and unasssted from any other quarter rs they
Direct to assure you, made this selection and fur
ther that the names Of yourself of Judge Lee
Judge Richardson and of many others known anc
supposed TO be anti conventienists. were selected
In the spirt of fairness and with view Of eicitine
full, free and candid discussion of the great uues
ton now before the public
II had been present shosld have excluded yours
and Judge Lees, not on account of any persona
disrespect; but because deem utterly inccmpatble
with my notions of propriety, fer the members o.
the federal judiciary TO come down and mix in the
common fight, in the discussion ofsubec,s which NAV
and in all probability will, come before them 70,
adjudication; and the especially as in the very
subject now to be discussed some of the great noli
sicians refer us to the Supreme Court for redress
against the usurpations of the general government,
But if you will come 1, one of the members of tb.
"conspiracy you undertake to prove has existed for
six years, ,ohether the secret OF, NOT do nro
mise in their behalf to give you full hearing on your
eight points, and If not patiently as Judges usa
hear the peadngs against their culprits at least more
patiently than federal Judge heard the defence OF
poor Fries the defences of the victims under the
seditien law-and as we have ''nuch at stake" we
shall bestow breathless attention in a case where
judge becomes the accuser, witness and advocate
against US Your compliment to me. that am not
who you would think to frghten assures you that
shall not run away from your philippines, and l car
promise the same for my compeers
l am left no alternative but 70 do as YOU reoues
ted, publish your letter: for in making the neces
sary inquiries of the committee, became proper te
shew it to them, and we all judge that il would be ar
evidence of guilt and act of coward,ce to suppress
your eight ponts;-we hold you bound for the PROC,
aye. the proof most learned Judge We shall moi
be satisfied, nor will the public, that you should leave
your eight points With clues not yet unwouud of the
denunciators of the south in John Adams reign q
terror. Why did you not come out with your eiob
points at the late election for In endant in YOUR CT
I have seen the address of the friends of the sue
cessui candidate Tor intendant-there is nothing
serious and weighty your eight points in that adj
dress-i say so serious and weighty. if YOU can ca
tabllsh them, but light chaf if resting only on as
sertion.
am out of public life and never wish to be in it
again-but sincerely wish my country NAV 90 on in
the pursuit of that great desiderstum tribunal 10Th
or than that which you sit which shall have pow
er and weight enough to prove osta principals
me usurpat,ons Of the general gouernme't an de.pite
g the constitutions and despite of the rights of To.
States. And in Mr Jefersons words saw IT would
separate from our companions when the sole alter
natives left are the dissolution Of the with them
power; between these too evils, when we must make
a choice, there can be no hesitation -
IF this is conspiracy, make the nest of it.
l am yours,
1 X.
P. s. You have my permission, nav request TO
publish this.
Vhe seventh proposition of ] cdge Johnston, will
strike the reader with force, but not we imagine
With ssrprIze That there rs deliberate purpose to
divide the Onion and that the finger of Great Britain
Is in the affair, We have long been persuaded. We
find it now confidently affirmed as to the existence
OF settled purpose to sever the Union by man of
high character and intelligence, living on the spot
We will not anticipate what is to folloe~the letter
Of Judge Johnston He has boldly and confidently
affirmed the proposition, and we hope he will not
shrink from the consequences. LIE, the spies and
traitors be unmassed, and the people of S. Carolina
know what guides they have been following
Va We have had conversation With Nr. Leigh
and are able to give precise to the question
propounded in WIS Gard printed in our Yesterdays
paper. to the 'ideas to which w alludes es hav.
ing been expressed by MIR. Leigh sin one of his adj
dresses to portion of the people of Henrico, con-
corning reform in the Court Of Appeals.
Mr. L. did not say that ono suit ought to be sui.
fared to GO TO the Court Of Appeals for less sum
than $1,000" He said no such thing, and he thinks
such thing In the speech referred to, after hay
ing advered to the accumulated and perpetuaIly ac
cumulatiDg of business in that court, and to
the delays and mischiefs resulting from that accumu-
laton, he said in substance, that it had occurred
his mind, as remedy of the evil that the right of
arbitrary appeal es it is called in pracice should
be limited to in which the sum in controversy
was $1,000 or more, giving power TO the court, in all
cases where the in controversy was less than that
amount to grant wrH Of error or swpersedeas at
tue instance of the party uggrieved, upon assign
mont of error-That he thought this would be iu-
dcious cxpcdent prevent the docket of the Court
Of Appeals, from being loaded as it is now, with a
great number of causes depending single, simple
ana OFTEN frivolous points of law and sometimes on
mere points OF practice, which any lawyer judge
just well able to decide On the hare stating