Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-03-15

preached the doctrine that there were in the
hmgdom peison a6oUe the law, not amens.
Ole to the Ceurts. This case was carried nv
appeal to the House of Lords, & what dad ;bey
DO! They tmpeached Lord Chancellor Som
mers and his three accompiicss, for pron.ul.
gazing this doctrine on which the Post Master
General relies, and in which he is SUMMARIZED
by two accredited officers of the Govern.
ment.
In fine, Mr.. Coke, upon foundation of
truth aud justice, has raised asuperstruc,ure
oil legal learning and sound argument, which
has made the law indeed appear what law
yers contend II is-the perfection OF reason
-tor says the Court-'tis monstrous in law
TO suppose an injury without a remedy.
MIR. Reverdy johnson, who followed on
the same, side, opened his argument with a
short statement OF The facts at the case-en.
listing The sympathies Of his auditors by the
simple narrative Of his clients wrongs, and
taxing captive the judgmeu, by the pewer
OF his resistless arguments
The Post Master General in his written
argument to the Court below saws. that il is
not IN the power of the Courts To- serve pro-
cess against IAN Executive officer. as il mus,
De placed IN the hands Of The Marshal of the
District, who holds his office at the will of
the Executive, and that therefore Il. e Presi>
Dent might by remoring him iron, office
SiTshe tne process DEAD an his hands.
MT. Johnson IN commenting upon this
part OF the Post Master Generals argument,
remarks, that the Post NJ aster General seems
10 perceive no line ofdistincton between IN.
Po'oer OF removal, and the right of exerci-
sing That power-that the pouar was one
thioS and the Tight another-that the wise
trainers OF our laws upon this subject seemed
70 nave Imagined-to have foreseen that
there might some day be an executive officer
so unmnndful TO his country, as TO contem.
plate resistance to his coun,ry's laws nv
striking process dead in the Marsbalis
nands-that these wise iramears of the law
nad IN anticipation, provided remedy for
inns perceTtion OF fowe., and made il the du>
VI 'he marshal TO go on and execute the
process epen ihoughAe be remoUed from office
Proceeding in ii strain of soul slirr,nG-of
thrilling eloquence, Mr.. johnson EXPOSED
me defence OF the Post Master General fear
ias and odious as il was, as a mere mask ~ bich
ueing torn aside, revealed Iawless uncon-
s."utionai asurpaiiOn Of power, ard the
c'enched teeth OF his auditors said il WAS
true.
a'r Johnson having finished, the Attorney
General began his The concluding speech and
opened by attacking the manner Of The coun-
sci on The othrr side, or what he was pleased
~ car Their ctuperatire eioguence He
blamed The counsel for charging the Post
Master General without due consideration
WIN ia"less, unconstitutional usurpation
o. power--for says he we should be
particularly so when the circumstances are
SUCH as to render such charges probable and
likely to he believed. That we should be
ssFuPuioas in making charges, which we
cannot substantiale, even against The author
oiaii evil himself; as bare suggestion of
crime OF his committing, would be graspe,i
at as the truth. Happy parallel! Fortunate
hit! The Attorney Generals argumen,
was elaborate, hut wanted that vital princi
p!eof true eipquence-the right 1t NAV
not be unimpertani to mention that Mr.. But
Ter admitted that Mr.. Key and himself an.
peared TO defend this act of the Post Master
GeDera'by The direction of The President.
hwould be impossible TO give even short
sketch OF the many topics touched upon by
tie counsel on beth sides, as il would far .x
coed the limits 10 which communications of
THIS Kind are necessarily restricted, nor is
any such sketch attempted. mere no.
tics OF the case is intended, together with the
general Impression made upon the writer by
9he arguments ON BOTH sides. III.