The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-07-20

and was expressly provided for by the Con-
stitution the abolition of The slore trade
The government of Great Britain and the
other continental powers of Europe, tkat
had colonised the American continent. and
islands, from the time of their first settle.
ment by the whites, Ilnd all carried on or
encouraged traffic in that species of prop
erty to a great and alarming extent: so that
some of the more Southern Colonies were
almost over-run with people Of that de-.
scrip;ion, at the time Of the Revolution: to
put a final termination 10 the trade, which
supplied them with that sort of property.
suddenly and at once, was considered a
hazardous measure as regardcdt the Unions,
and must have been attended with disas~
trous and destructive consequences to indi
viduos; but those who framed that cons,-
tuition, aware of the greet moral evils of
such u traffic, the details of which, are
enough to shock and disgust every ingenu-
oas mind; aud aware also, of the dangers
to which it might subject free and repnb-
licon people, by being Increased upon them;
with the same consummate wisdom Try
which all their proceedings seem to have
been Inspired, determined upon the srndu-
al and complete suppression of that trade;
and the American Congress, or rather con-
seniion may justly, and rShlfully, claim the i.
merit, (and assurcdly it is no slight one,) of
having not only effected it in this country;
but of having by their example their influ-
encc, and their negotiations, contributed
honorably and successfully to its rcnquisll-
mcnt, and punishment by many of the Eu-
ropean States our own Government still
acting in advance of all others, and sub
jecting the advcnturers in that inhuman
traffic, if citizens Of the United States, upon
conviction, to the punishment Of Death
We cannot doubt that future ngcs viii re-
gard the stand taken by an infant govern
mont rs one Of the most honorable in tho
I ----r- - =. - 100
ry record.
Growing out of the constitution and
an Independent Judiciary, the only one,
probably, in the known world by being
Independent, it must not be understood
that it is independent of law; that its ndju-
dicaiions are not governed by fixed rules,
and established precedcnis far from it -
its independence consists in an entire ftce-
IL ;,,n. 4
from any direct or indirect interference will,
their powers, or duties, during good bel,a-
yior, other than such MS from time to time.
Congress shall provide by general laws,
operating alike, on all our citizens, in GER
tain specified cases An independence
both Of the chief magistrate and Of Con-
gress itself, in deciding upon the construc-
ton of the laws themselves, so far as their
conformity to, or violation of The Constitu-
.tion is concerned: an independence which
puts it in their power to interposc between
the hunblcst individual, and the most pow
crful conspiracy, shield more potent than
that of the tabled Egis, for his protection
4
drag to their bar, and to punish, every Of
fender against the laws they administer, be
he high or low, rich or poor no humblc-
ness oc birth, or station, or fortune, is too
low for their consideration and regard :--no
rank or fortune, or wealth, is too high to
be reached by their f,r-rcaching power.
JTpon an chment even of the Presi-
dent Of the United States the chief Magis-
tratc of the Nation, (shouId such n case ev-
or occur the Chief Justice of this Court,
would preside over the deliberations Of the
Senate Of the United States, and in case OF
n conviction, would pronounce upon tho
convict that sentence which the laws Of the
land had dccreed AN independence that
has been the means Of placing on its bench,
some Of the most gifted and soundest minds
Of the present day and has given to it a
character inferior to none either of ancient,
or of modern times.
i In this country freedom Of speech and %.
the press, is another and most important
right, which has resulted from the same
Revolution and has been secured by the
Constitution ;--here every person has right
to express his sentiments and opinions, on
any and upon all subjects, either by word
of mouth, or in print, at his own option
subiect only to a legal accountability, be-
, fore our courts, by indictment, or suit, for