Reading Time: 3 minutes [367 words]

THE TRIAL OF THOMAS COOPER FOR
SEDITIOUS LIBEL, PHILADELPHIA,
PENNSYLVANIA, 1800.

THE NARRATIVE.

‘Thomas Cooper* was an Englishman, who had inherited
& good fortune, had been bred to the bar, but had spent
more time experimenting with acids and gases than in per-
using law books or preparing briefs. From chemistry he

* Cooper, Trowas. (1759-1840,) Born in London, England;
edneated at Oxford; studied law and then turned to the natural
sciences, particularly chemistry, over which he soon obtained a
mastery. But he went into polities and got into disfavor with the
Goverament, which mado him abandon public life for his ehemical
experimentz, which, however, turned out disastrously, so he emi-
grated to America, Of his life after he had served his term in
prison Dr, Wharton (State Trials, p. 680), says: “On coming out
of prison, Mr. Cooper found the minority rapidly turning into 8
majority, and in a short time, the administration which had prose-
ented him was overthrown. His untiring industry, his almost uni-
versal philosophical attainments, and his courageous temper, but
More particularly the sufferings he had undergone in the main-
tenanee of the freedom of the press, placed him high in the esteem
of the dominant party. After having been appointed a commissii
to negotiate a settlement of the Luzerne difficulties in Pennsylvania
—a duty he discharged with remarkable skill and snecess—he was
nominated by Governor MeKean to the president judgeship of
judicial district,

‘Mr. Cooper’s proceedings after he became the wielder of jodicial
power, form an odd sequel to his experience when he was its sub-
ject. Scarcely five years had passed after he waa out of prisou,
before he was on the bench; and searcely five years more had passed
before he was impeached before the Senate of Pennsylvania, upon
charges, which, were it not that they were gravely preferred and
amply sapported, might be eonsidered burlesques of those upon
which he was instrumental in iopeaching Jndge Chase, in the Sen
ate of the United States. (See post, 11 Am. St. Tr.) He was
charged with pouncing upon delinquent jnrora on the first day of
the court, with fines and bench warrants, in violation of the ven-
erable Pennsylvania practice, of giving them the guarto die post;
‘with imprisoning a Quaker for not pulling off his hat; with eom-
mitting three parties for ‘whispering,’ an offense for which he de-
elared he would hear no apology; with issuing warrants without

. TA

Related Posts