Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-02
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crime or miStlemeanor is a thing techni-
cal and we'll delined-and he would say.
chat it was not the addition of one or
more misdemeanors to another, which
changed ihe character of both and gave
them one character. This would be "A
new and alarming proposition in crimn-
al Jurisprudence. Every crime or INSIDE
ncauof is q thing nf itself, taking it at
The time OF Is commission, and depend
ant upon nothing to happen afterwards.
they aNA tried and adjudged, each upon
its own circumstances. And man be-
ing tried and acquitted or condemned,
cannot afterwards be questioned about it.
The proposition, however, coutended, fot,
reyerses these established principles Of
law. and maintains. that, Though acquit-
ted or condemned Of charge. if anoth-
er is charged Of similar import, the accu-
sud is 10 answer FOR the former again.
and what is worse, TO have it brought uD
against him To magnify the LAST, and give
it higher grade. This view, lie thought.
would be conclusive, and need not be
further enlarged upon. Mr.. 7. said, if
the mere breaches Of the peace charged
IN the memorial were committed. thev
we're in the cogAaaorce of the proper tri-
bunals Of the country, and had been tri-
ed; or. if not noticed, it was thereby STA
ficiently manifest that they were unwor-
Thy TO be further investigated. He could
not consent that the House Of Delegates of
Virginia. shouId'be performing the esice
e! Il petit jury in trying breach of the
peace. lie hoped the House would dis
charge the Committee on this subject.
and let the raport on the grave charges
be brought forward and acted upon BE
fore the close Of theesessinn.
Mr. Williams cnnteaded. that Judge
is a consefvator of the Eeace--sworu 10
keep the peare-and, in violating it, he
violates his duty, and is Justly obnoxious
; to impeachment. The Constitution ex-
pressy provides. that jude shall be
impeached for the neglect Of duty-anl
there is no more direct neglect ofdutY,
thar in committing breach of the peace.
Judge Scott (he said) had challenged a
t fuil investigation into every charge; wig
then this resolution? Is it not designed
10 escape from this charge? 1850
! AIR. Taliafe.ro did not wish to escape
any charge, and he believe Judge Srott
! did not. -,
! Mr.. Lefwich-(one of the Committee
This question hasbeen one of great doubt
and difficulty. The Committee, aitho'
formerly of the opinion that ibis third
charge was of an impeachabie character.
had alter a laborious and thorough inves-
! tigaton, changed their views, and are
nov Of opinion, that it is not an impeach-
able offence. Therefore. the Committee
think they have nothing to do with it. and
ask TO be discharged from its consuIera-
Zion MIR. L. did not deny that Judge
was Improbable for neg lect of his duty:
that is Of his official tiuties-but he was
clearly Of opinion, that a Judge was not
impeachabie for every petty breach Of the
peace. If the enquiry is to be: shade. let
it be done by jnint committee Of the
House and Senate, as required by lie
Constitution. .F -
,Mr.Cowan. 4 committee Of the mnst
Intelligent men Of this House (Lawtfrs7
DC. had been appointed, and after six
weeks investigation. they come in here
to let US know that these charges are n,ir
! TO be examined. He was surprised at
the strange course pursaeGs by this able
cemmtteP. This is most important
question. which he intended to scrutiniz.e
to the very core. He did not know
Judge Scott, buthr (Mr C.l would nnt
shrink from his duty. Mr.. Q. instanced
the iron TYRANNY 0f a7Judge in his coun-
~, who had Imprisoned and broken up Il
nen, merely because he had expressed
his opIAion as to suit in his Court. The
Legislature had at once, upon 4 niemora!.
refunded the eIiHe.
Mr.. tGnodson said that. although he
did not approve Of the course Of the Judge
(Judge JOhnson) in the cnunty. he would
state that this man had sent to the. Judge
on the bench most insulting letter
Mr.. Cowan replied that the Judges
lyrannieal conduct was universally con-
demned by the whole country.
Mr., Stovall wished to know il the coe,-
mittee had not already been discharged
from the consideration of the charge,
which were not imppachable. -
"r N0od catleu~the previous; quna-
ton, which was sustained, aud called :ne
ayes and noes.
The Committee on Rcteachment.pre
sented a report and three bills, which
were onleresi.to be printed.
The resolution was carried hy the fol-
lowing vote :-ayes 66. noes ST.
By Mr.. Edsington. instructne the
Committee Of Courts of Justice 10 en-
qulre into the cxpedieael Of extending
the prison rules in the several counties IF
tbs Commonwealth so as To embrsce.
the limits OF each county, instead of tile
area ct zen acres as now required by law.
By Mr.. Garnett, that the Committee
OF Finance enquire into the eSpedieney
Of repnring q bill nrnyiilinasshat f.