The Wilmington Gazette

              i w i , i v v — /, v /^ am a j-v t hu r s da y marc h 25 1802 p v b li s h e 0 \» i r k i v by a i l m \ n i i ' i i tlirt'e dollars per annum ! \ ol vi no 272 s e n ate of th ', u nl tf.d st fes friday jan 15 ju di c i a r y b i l l mr coir.ov n of sou:l:-c«rolina — much lime mr i'itiuiciw iu bren fpeni in the 1 ni portant debate on he r loluiiou before you ; jjre.i ingenuity gre*t abili'iea and u.uch el i ij'irtire have been dilp:ayed on the occadun by jeti lemen on both fides of the queflion bnd 1 he fubject prefented in almufl every polliblc point ot view fw me thrreforr ai this j:c 1 age of he debate to rif for ihe tirfl iims in ihis houfe on a fubjeci ol fuch magnitude and in ricacy atieady fu ably difculfed a i rxpect to throw much light on iho fi.bjec or liinl much new ground 10 ticii on wou d be prbfiini iou jitit thinning as i do that ih prefcttt j<.ol)i n u in principle and in i < conlcouence i oj tie highcfl impur an;e 10 the union nnder liii imprellion under this conviction i ihou'd be unfaithful to iay own ftcl'n % , "•■"■ 1 l g ve * liletn i'o e on this pciafiou it i can hetefore throw but ihs v.o : i of a fcalv 1 r in ' he i i)<r ilu i ;!•. nk (>■ ■ ... i preponderate 1 llu'l iliink myfeif j li i , ! in . ing !'". but fir the f.ibji i ji s ;.. . r :; io n ich t xhaullcd as • v r ! 1 as hi l 1 . ijtmk c of e hou'i ih h 1 hall endeavor lo be as poncife ai polfible arid draw in o a na'iowj cittli a 1 , fo f x enfive a fubjvfl will j.-i'ii , ihf leading fea'ures ol the cb!s v\!in!i i appichend ho'jld have moll weight in d.ci c : ;; re .] sellinn l c i ii then i ilu',1 cnd;a v.r in fiiew iat die ji efent rsfoluiion in ii cii ■ i !■■ lepugnant to iie i*xp'v let er and i p u nf he coiiltnutitiii — mil iccondlv i lwli tonirall the obvious ami na it'll coni>'q<jrncri ibai will arife fioin agreeing :<> ili rclol it ton wi h hole ih<i would loll •■.-.•, h h d we difa gtcc ui he i ii poim the moq itnportatil a woil as ihe mnft proper qucflinn is ha we power-under ike federal roniliiutiu i to repeal lit a e art f cungrefs i far a it refpects the office ai.'j an ) of i he judges up ri-n,tid under lha act ? ii by ilic le cr ami cxpr'f wurdi of ihe c nlli uiion we have j o | : i power ii fanhr tealumrig on th fubjeci would be unnecellary and igmnenii i-.i n i mn expcdicnc r ni.xpt'iiif ncv woiiid be ulelcfs ami inovelant o die tjuef lion i a^ri pa tir ii ,■( j to advora'e ill !. ie judiciary fyflcm in at i i.8 modifications as i think i imoerfet vd no adtouste to l.r purpofe hi fended rf hat i is imi inch an ana 1 grmetn of he judicia y i .. ought lo have 1 i ailupied hi ji > ; l;<is ini'iexillence and is in operation and ifie judges a ppoiri rj under the sift r ounn ilioned agieeab!e o ilit coudiin ion dining good behaviour ; ilic ground i noj chai ged : aiu il oi)gh pro vintlj 0 ik adapt i i/i he „•:!, cj polition o ihe ircx • h;™nt of ihe m>'alu e i^ld av.7 in ngv u'(l have l.'"cn p ojiei ; yci i iiv imrlei c-x 0 ngcirciunllini.es a ije law ! i j 1 ni il ihe co itiiui attached u lite i(7uc o ilu j'uigci appointed undei it d'l a j bill \ d i hice co.ex pi ir \: li good c\.x vioi r o amend w«uld he proper l)u io rt ptal h ah 4i leall fofaras i etfvielt ihe i.i r v would be unconftituf.ona ; foi 1 n,i of opinion ihat foun ti ir ir ap^r.inttn.rnts wi e cottpieied and theii commifli ■: •, d ..; ; . g . i behaviour reci-wed t then i heir offi r 1 jtylges vwr coinpletr y bryond ih teach of irgifla ive power ; und hat iher hire :, :■ prelen iclolution in i s opeia i<>u 3 io fai as it lefpecli ii:l ollice of he jud^c , i un conlliiunonil and < u i noi io be agiei i to r r : t : i : iii he c in ii line i he i m rule i ! : x;j uiin a deed a ; j.v i conituu ional i ■■(, an.l ihen to apply ' e j^i of ihe co.-i - liitu'ion m queflion o hit rule the rule of law is to make fuch an rxpolitinn nl ihe !••. lion or claufe undei confidcra'.ion js will com port with ihe pl.im mcaintig when ih woids ms taken in heir comiti m j id i:fual accrp u ion agreeable io ht knglifli laiigua . :!' the cun(ii is cumpofid of dubiou and u .-.. ii i *;• elficns iliai will n\in of i rtircnt meaning oi if feveral iar s ot c iiifuu merit ie m io co ::•!; to be rejuigi-jni i jcli oilier then : • rut i m make i'uch a conftrudiion il fible s will be conluierii witli rra r i i ! . igrerable to he imemion and perview of the viuile inflrument i k.-n togs her i think 1 ■■ u corr^tt on fhe r'i:c of s ; among 11 ihe rlr .,,; d powers oj ihe le gilld t.rc unj.er ih dih l i ( | .(,(. , t br ,,( ihecorrftitu ion we i.i be following to wii " to conlliiute tribuna.1 iiife.mr io ihe jju p eirc i out t lfiliii wa the only claufe givino ■' r io crtiblilh lha infetiur cou ;•. [ v . v r;^j g in ihil the leg:u i;u •• o ; the law ind 11 pleafure repeal it ai<l that the j j'ljf »* 10 the mi i lint office under the i . !, w.),i i s a ihe will n u le^ifli urc tbeexil hs liw <! : eruv.n ;'.; i he of llct a • i '•, orecilely in til : lain man . birr and on .■ ■ ■ u • i .> i - : ;, of ihe i'ecre tarj of in ih-j i*ocre.\iry of he tieifu-v arul lie fecrelari ' inc n«f ' bit li lu'j je£l u m c i iilv elf 1 jttd . plained u d-r i'i proper heaj • > ihe i t ire uf the jd a.'t of tiiv coi r tiiu ii i . ivhcie it ay " fiio ■ idicu powei of the united v ta a hill b veiled in one fup'e rte coun a m l\i li infe rior co iris i congftfj may fi •:■! to t uu o . dain a;-,j eftablifti i'he j i !.: bo'h of thi fu j cm : and i.nferi n cour fha'il i ju their offi ce d-iiing good b havi mr ; s id hull ai flaitfd ii !■!.-. s icceive foi their i ivice • ompenfa rion arhich hmu no be d.minifbed luring their cu i hu'lct in office {[:■<• tie in cntioa of ihe connitntirtn is exp'ici < and cannot be doiib i'd ; p ainer w.>ds and a more rli.ir co.ii'lructi.jiu'd l:n tones cannot bf pointed " tli judges both oc ii:c f'l'jrom j i inferior courts ihiil hold ihew • tiers during good behaviour wj a fully tind u o : .: iiiijcrft.ind what i meant by good behaviour in a j dtj , i!ie oath iie t,.k?-j d the very nature uf his o rcb h^w it ; 10 act with ji.il:cc ii teg iiy ability and ho nor and to jcim mb r jiii.ia 1 1 leedily and rn iar i.iily i fi birhsviour j il hi ids cob i vary t would be it ib'haviouri jiu he con flimtion in li t cil has given .» remedy by impoachmeti it the claute ilierefore adinus a ui-itain clear j:.i ronf;(l nt conflrujtion ii.l ro o her par ol ihe conflituiian con'aitis any article contradi lory to it v h i fi i contend is i!it cafe he cotilli i n iven by ilujrin ilenieii on ihp ■>■.') r itdc b^ina ;>>' mm ihca tipn on'y and :'.-..\ .< i 1 h plain and cx prefs wordi of li ul.iife will r be v raned by the piiiuiolcs 1 law for if the coi itjtintion i u i!:..n > in ( i in a t of the lc ii(ljiur hen ••. l.i '■] in tuttfi 1 1 i iim it uid i'e havt'iur 4".d ci . iiij i te |>! • ic ■■! ; ■ icffif ! lafure arc fyiiiiriynjhi u iij it in,:l i ( o or h in would l>s i iii ■ a:i io the cor it i;.i ■ lion the ciinlli uiion i hr fire of it ;?;) peari o have :.■.-, ! a : with pipcifi ■-. ttid eorre/inef-f no:l»ii ; i .: ..■ ! •■ > , no i:i iii he ul r li.ul :■,.• .■".%.• :,- ■; initiul i ihe conll iu;;o;i vi infill ! toi by ihe tavorcri of the i'cfoiuiinn imm . i'.i.it i!v judges ol he inferior c '■! ■•!■■' ! ■ r olhi s noi during good behaviour b if - he will of the u'^-iiij nrej an rxplenjioiy claiife afer the woid 1 " good bchavi c ir would have been iin,)t iv and lln'uld have k c*n inivr cd o ihi eset : ' provided always hai :!.■ judges <;! i.i.ii infe ior <■»■]• ; s lull hold iheir offices inlj during the exillcuce oi liie law under h>chthey may be appointed 15 y i(k i!'i:i f wi-l w : i very pun ofihe confli tiiuori has btcn penred ii is righ , i is fjii by analogy ol rcai'oniiig io lay that as no fuch piovifton is i;i!c led no lurli fuppofed couqnifti jn ivai mended and iliat iherefore ihr pi in it icr and fpirit of the conhiturion mull prti-ail jim f potfible ro make ihe tnanei mi ■ irii and concludve 1 b»g indul petice wh ill i ll.i <• ihn collateral arguments whirh j»ica ■. ilrcr.g.hen and inforce the con!irii'-tu»n ivhich 1 advocate of that pan of the conilnut on the ii ; i is li.n all enhght , ened fla i ■:, v a le^ii fince the american tc v lut n w iih . om urrent c ilimony i^rec that liu judiciary . u t io be kepi feparate from and indepei.den of ihe legifiati.e & execu ive pu vc.-s ; iba -. : bout this check and comrol there coi id be no rue and rational . hbei y secondly ihai the framers of the conhituiion who were miemfelvei among the ! bell informed and mod dift.nguifhcd ii izeni ul h union intended io kci p them didincl and fcpaniie.ai the three g eat divifioni and i i porting pillars of ihccwtum ion ; ihii up |) srs f om he diflinifl pofnion il.t-y alfighed each o i.e face of thai inllrumen . and ih roly by th latter art of ihe il fee of ihe id ,... nt leg flature hrve no power to elfon a udgi s falsry even to the amount uf one cent li rellriclion mufl refer o he 1 gifliiure as they alone have control over the lunch ot ihe gttvcrnm nt fpr the rule of law is >< thai ii certain wh.ch can be tendered certain it iheiefr e l i daufe reflraii s in 1-r nature frome n d mi lilhing the lala v ol the judge a fortsoi . p events tht temoval . ornihs office iilelf.aithe words empui ii >■ whole claufe :- e _ inlly plain and ex preflive tim hen t . , .,', ■■ j | e3 (| o me by the plain ... d ob . coi.fl uflion u t ihe words otibe to •■ m n •■„ firmej and explained by t .■ nukiri oj it tha r the , j ' ' ' ■ -'■' io : d il ir officei duiins . lf ojd ' ; - '■'■ ■ ii»a he egifl^ure a , crea^rr of hit conlktu'.iot cannot iy any leg'fli ive jit leinove thsrn the gentlemen who advocate ill rcfoliiiion in fupport if ihrt raeafure fay ihat virginia maryland nh he lull congrefs dif'ord examples o a le giftature aboliflting courts am removing from oifite j ixl q , who under a co118w.1 ion hold lien appoin inn.'i in the rc!>ni cafe fli ring j»cv>d b haviour l?i us examine ihc t and fee if li y apjily virginia iuii h g«ne ral court with the common law jurifdicliot which rx ended ilir ughjut h-i ii j t , a c mi of i - . inter ■; witheq itabic jurifd clion • 11 1 1 '! ex enlive and a coun ot admiralty ; the jnd ges of tnefe thr;e cuurri coollitii'ed i!il cou of appea'j about he year 1787 thj lejjil lauueof thai ii jo found it necelfary o elhl lifh circuit c h and in the law enatlec . in • he judge of the cours of appeal ihoulj bathe ciruui court judgss tim law il j:idg«s refuted lo execute m unconlliiuii na ami iaih ' ihey eonli le-ed ihenife'vej is forir ing one of 1 he three pilla s on which the g;ea f.ili ic t govern en was eretted atiti liia when this pillar v.<s endangered a refij^natiot would fu j i iiimii in he reproach ol dden ing ui-ir rtj ioo 1 , and boir.iy ing the l.ic ej ii tere.fts of fo:icty in rudcfl wi ii them ; that tli proprioiy an 1 the ncccitiiy of die indepen dence r the jadges \* rvideni in reafon am the na qc if ii i orttce and ihat this ap p ■.(.•! mo e forcibly 10 cxolir<lc a dependene on rhe legillaturc n branch of whom in ( . i of impeachment i it ft fa party t wai in opinion itirirud n he law by h ine:i judges who were f 1 • . i ihe ameli livv v am *-, ,» ell ii a . : . ■ . 11 .::■■ ui ion h ■• eve ihe even wa ('; y ;■, . r ij i ..,.,,„( 1 i • i 1 v .: . n -:. d'll.iu.i .■!. .:, r ' jred their ui f i had lie ..■ ■ jnati ni ■• 1 rmii •], j ,•,, , us i iv e ■• a !. 111 l'ci ct r 1 ii jujir j , if ill i j ltik'j i i i i'ii w ich i r»r • tue in i b rance.ifis ; i,ui 11 b fa i if ilia it a(i".i,,f ■, t ".■'■■ n " w«ti d iufiiry <.■. in ihe fmajie dsgrec fupporj ihe principle of die re'foliniosi 1 "' l '■'" uf m in ].:■.!, 1 have not |, , ; f u | in ! 11 m i'i hi iliei f i e < an not d icidc in the calc .'. i t;u . l ,■ 1 w k.'.-ntii v.r 1i10 dillri : court vhc ub iliilie i ; ihe j i.i xvcr j nol removi i f urn office ; but by law coniir.^ed as cir mi co 11 • j ijgf . witli acldiii mal duties and ' additional fj aiy of 500 dullan each ttu-y ne:thei vacated heir oftne nor had to lake a new o*ih or new conimiftion : therefore in the cafe ihc;e was no viola ion ol lie confli lu on but o i mi i in bufinef up the cafe ui v'irg in ii againll them the cafe of ken 11 key and tenneftee pot in poinr and maj r land buuld ii afford an example is ihe on ly and foil ary one but let uj now fujipofe for orgnment fake though the fa a is o herwif ihat ha'f of the laics in theunion palled luch laws 5 iftbof.1 laws arc founded on wrong and uncortlliiuiional ground ihouid they be a u te ce lent for us t sure'y not if they were foun ded in error we ought to correel anj no continue the nor i unu . gentlemen have fa!j although we cannon remove the judges iroin the oltic r yet we can remove the office from the judges to me this is a patadox in legiflation do we man in act indirecliy wha we would not profefi to do openly and direclly ? arc the gentlemen prepared 10 meci tnii quellion in all its confeque.nces ? let we fuppofe they a e and fk.rch a law founded on the tonfeq'iericcs of their repealing ac and exhibit ihp cafe in is rr a at:rl true light l n framing a jaw ihe preamble hould flae facli and explain i.e reafoti for palling ihe gfl suppoi'e then we hould introduce inflead of their pi efe nt repealing law the following via w hereaj a li c c the lixtecn lede 4 judges appointed under the late at o , o - grefs ; although hey have been commiflioned during good behaviour and have difcharged the is of he office wi h integrity b biii(y and ' , yet we ihe legulamre in congrefs af led finding their number te be m°orc than udge neccilary for ihe adminiftration of -• 10 the good people of the ur.ited states deeming the law under which they act he belt poffible fynem ilia could be a i'd and thinking alfo ihat tic public wood res ibat ihejudge of he inferior court id not hold their offices during good he ""•, bui fljould hold them at ihe will of egillawre be ii ikrofnre enaclcd r he uid hxteen fedi-ral judges hall be and they hereby are removed and diftharged tue repea ir:g a a in its efl :. .: tent "\ ■, j will naturally pj'od 11 - are we prepared to vote foi i law in || • orm w.r.h all ihe uvz reafon ciicd on - face nf he ac and 10 wilh that pt»^>*i*->'y inould be given to it among our con it i ucnis j an a^t compleclv deliruy ihe indepen dence of ilieir judges ? for he removal of ill judges i mav vent tire io alfert is he great object of he repeal : and in this confiil ; the ii'jury f.d;n he legifliiu-e a fuming a pow er v i ii . r.n giving any reafon in ills ac as in theprefen ra'c • o x-peal at plfafnre any law eftablifhing an inferior cour ,' and by that means difrailting the j idge from olh^e par ly fpirii caprice or pnfonal dillike would j ■-• liiih.iciii caui'e of removal from o'fice : i lit judges would know this 3ra perhaps feme of ili in foon tl-.-i it let us fuppoie and it :: even uppofeable hat a cjufe came on before ons o lie dependent udge beiween nn influ en \»\ mtmber of congrels and'a poor and ob ciive rjiizen ; would aiiy p i f->n fay ba the pa i ic . hood on eqja g ound anj hat hi fcales ofjtillice hung eq jal l>e wean them t it won j be almoll beyond human nature far ibis depeiiden judge to be impartial efpecial ir if ins falary wa the on'y mrani of lublil lonce and nu-ti of g eat abilities and well fk ted for h oflice might be in that uuvion fora wife man tells us ihat " i he race i nm alvfrap 10 ur fwif nor richcsto mm or undetflanding so fully i convinced thai hfl judges ough to b independent of in legiflature a well a of ihe executive ilia i rheie could be a doubt hat they arc no fully uncl comp!e e : y u ihe tonltitution nughi to b imendcd for ihat fxpffs puipole hither to he jusf.'jes have fuppoftd themfe'vej imle jj.-ii,i n , u j ihe jie^p.l 1 luve acquiefced un >'( i hat l-cl:e and ough ut'd do wifli ihci i 1 '-- ti be independent oi:e or nvo ob ferv.itioni wil 1 jm.iv !;,,-, r opinion on ilm poiut ah iho hales in i he union have ia ihcii several cor iti uiiudd made ihcir jinlfcj independent the people at l»''f!c in every fla r having e mtmbe s 10 ilieir rcljuc ive ciinvcntiuiu thofe convcni ions having i>:.:c mic condiiio lal duubiliiy of oifice in heii ju.lg », and the people uniformly acquiefcinj undci her fyflcmt ijffd d fuflicieni evidrnce f ihe public fen imeni bflides in the cafe of m chief i illice jiy when jpp'o nic-d n voy exrraoidinary to ihe cour of great brl tain ; was not oj pofninn o liu appomimenc echoed f ■ ii one end of in - continjni io the itthe r ? hai tie rx mple was dangerous it i>ui the judges undei ihe influence of the exe cutive : lim a i hough ihe profpect nf n hono rary appointment wiihin the gift ofilic ftp fident was rcmoic yet it nu j t influence and lellen their independence ifihen the peopb were fo alive and quick in feeling when the cdufc-s c;tali in were d remote and con ingent what will what mull be their opinion when ihey find ou thai the judges from being inde penden , by holding heir office during good behaviour arc leduced o ihe urvile fuuaii n oj holding the ohice at he wi i a the caprice of leg.flature ? is the public mird prcpa red for i fl ; ock of this kird ? shall ih e le gifla ure witli a ftrong arm and by an alfu in-d p iwer defl oy heir mdepenjence an4 the cby liieir exiftence as one of ihe pillars of the confliiu ion ! in this fuuation of your judiciary will he flreams ol juflice low c qu*llv o he habita ion of the rich and the j iage of the poor ? no man who know human nature will anfwer in the aft illji ivff l-jt u now f,,r a ivomcnt exam ; ne iheconfe quences of giving a negative to the prcl'ent re lolution if the rs!o!u ion is not agreed to wl.it are the dreadful and fatal conl<-quence thai wou d follow ? ] anfwer ihe wont ihat can podibly ia pen is iht annual payment of about ihniy thoufand dol ar ihe fau.i.«s or all our circuit court judgej w f,o do the whole bufinef of ihefi circuin ihroughoul ill parts ofiheunion their number will neiihei im pede julliee no injuie the principle or cxe cuiion of ic it is not in controveifey the righl of he irgilla ure io a range ar.d modify all he couni of juflice fo as o nake ihcrn bed anfwer the diftribu ion f juftice with con venience io ihe citizens ; the whole judiciary can be fyflimatifed and put on the bed anc m»n refpidal'le footing without viola'it.g your conflitution if the circuit c.un jud g-i are loo numerous y in your revifing inw when vacanrie happen that fuch vacancies hall n be tilled up until he wbole are ie rn,-v ( d or as many of then as ii may be neccf fa-y to remove tbu ibe evil would be con tmually remidyinffi.fi-if and ai no very re motepeiiod would be total y rcmovid and ihat without ai.y in:eifjrsncc wuh the conflii lution on he o her hand fhould he rc-ioluiion be carried ; what un ihc evil ihm woulj refuii t '■ our judges m hat ca(o would jjold their of