State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-01-19

OIuS vi lllc ceHutc, ana III II IOrHl unknO VII
in our country, with the high crime of vio-
lating the laws and constitution of my
country. No notice of the charge was given
to the accused, and no opportunity afford
cd him to respond to the accusa,ion-to
meet his accusers face to iace--to cross
examine the witnesses--to procure coun-
teracting testimony, or to be heard in his
defence.'
Had you, sir, done to others, as it thus
seems you would that others should do to
you, no occasion would have been given for
this protest. You most truly assert in re-
lation to the conduct of the Senate, Ii is
the policy of our benign system of jurispru-
dence, to secure in all criminal proceed
ings, and even in the most trivial litigations,
a fair, unparalleled and impartial trial.
And by what authority, sir, do you except
such of your fellow citizens as are known
us aboitionists, from the benefit of this be-
nign system? When has fair unprejudi-
ced and impartial trial been accorded to
those who dare TO maintain that all men
are equally entitled to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness? What was the trial
sir, which preceded the judgment you have
rendered against them
Founhly, We protest against the Udgue-
ness of your charges.
We cannot more forcibly describe the
injustice you have done us, than by adopt
ing your own Indignant remonstrance a.
gainst what you deemed similar injustice
on the part of the Senate Some of the
first principles of natural right and cnlight-
ened jurisprudence have been violated in
the very form of the resolution. Ii careful
ly absains from averring in which of the
late proceedings the President has assumed
upon himself authority and power not con-
ferred by the Constitution and laws. Why
was not the certainty of the offence, the na-
ture and cause of the accusation, set out
in the manner required in the Constitution,
before even the hurnblest individual, for the
smallest crime, can be exposed TO condcm-
nation? Such specification was due to
| the accused, that he might direct his de-
fence to the real point ofattack A more
striking illustration of the soundncss and
necessity of the rules which forbid vdgut
and indefinite generdlitieS, and require rea-
sonable certainty in all judicial allegations
and a more glaring instance Of the violation
of these rules has seldom been exhibited
1t has been reser\ cd to you, sir, TO eXhib
it still more striking illustration of thu
importance of these rules, and still NOR,
glaring instance OF their violation. Nol
have accused an indefinite number of YOU
felow-citizens, without designation ofnamc
or residence, of making demonstrations
and wicked efforts, and of hhrboring intcn
tons which could be entertained only b,
the most depraved and abandoned of man
kind and yet you carefully abstain from
averring ,Chich article of the constitution
they have transgressed you omit Stain!
when, where, and by whom these wicke'
attempts were made; you give no spe
cificatlon of the inilammatory appeals
) which you assert have been addressed Il
the passions of the slaves. You well know
that the moral influence of your charge
will affect thousands and tens Of thousand
of your countrymen, many Of them you
political friends -some Of them heretofor
honored with your confidence-most, if nc
all of them of irrcproachable character,
and yet by the very vagueness of you
) charges, you incapicitate each one of hi
multitude from proving his innocence.
: Filthy. We protest against your charge
: because they are untrue. Surely, sir, III
burden of proof rests upon you. If 70
possess evidence against us we are, b
Y your own showing, entitled 'to an opportr
l nifty to cross examine witnesses, to procuI
= countcracting testimony, ard to be heard
e four defence You complained that yo
e had been denied such IN opportunity.
e was not to have been expected, tien, TIN
= you would make the conduct OF the SenH
= the model of your own. Conscious Of Il
C wrong done to you, and protesting again
:, it, you found yourself compelled to emit
y on your defence. Hou have placed us
Il similar circumstances and we proceed
a follow your example:
J. The substance of your various allegation
Is may he embodied i'll the charge, that |
haze ATTEMPTED to circulate through the mas
y appeals addressed to the passions Qtthe slaU'
calculated to stimulate them TO inslUrectiC
Re and tcih the intention Of producing Seru
10 tcdr.
l. 1t is deserving of notice, that the dtten
IF to circulate our papers is alone charg
le upon us. Ii is not pretended that we ha
Of put our appeals into the hands ola sins
j. slave, or that in any instance our endenyC
le TO excite n servie war has been crown
~ with success. And in what way were o
,d most eXecrGble attempts made by sec
II, agents, traversing the slave country in d
he guise, stealing by night into the hut OF I
IN slave, and there reading to him our infla
s. matory appeals? You, sir, answer 4
IL question 10y declaring, that we attempt
u. the mighty mischief by circulating {
al appeals through The mails And are
G. southern slaves, sir, accustomed to rcce
IL periodicals by mail ? Of thousands
IS publications mailed from the Auti-Slay,
nd Office for the South, did you ever hear,
" ofone solitary paper being addressed I
ry slave? Would you know to whom Il
Oh were directed, consult the southern neN