859 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

JAMES THOMPSON CALLENDER. 819

& fine of two hundred dollars, and required to find sure-
ties for good behavior for a period of two years.

Five years later Chase was impeached before the Senate
of the United States for oppressive and vexatious conduct
during the trial, and indecent solicitude for the conviction
of the acensed.©

THE TRIAL*

In the United States Circuit Court, District of Virginia,
Richmond. June, 1800.

Hon. Samven Crasx,?
Hon. Craus Gerrm? Tudges.
May 28.

James Thompson Callender had been indicted under the
sedition law by a grand jury for a seditious libel upon John
Adama, President of the United States.

The matter set out in the indictment as libellous was aa
follows:

“The reign of Mr. Adama has been one continued tempest of
malignant passions. As President, he has never opened his lips,
or lifted bis pen ‘without threatening and scolding; the grand ob-
ject of his administration has been to exasperate the rage of con-
tending parties, to caluminate and destroy every man who differa
from his opinions. Mr. Adams has labored, and with melancholy
success, to break up tha bonds of social affection, and under the
ruins of confidenea and friendship, to extinguish the only gleam
of happiness that glimmers throngh the dark and despicable farce
of life.

“The contriver of this peace has been suddenly converted, as he
said, to the presidential system, that is to a French war, an Ameri-
can navy, a large standing army, an sdditional load of taxes, and
all the other symptoms and consequences of debt and despotism.

teh narrative ia taken from Mr. Hill's Decisive Battles of the
FW.

1 Bibliography. Wharton's State Trials. See ante, p. 778.

2 See ante, p. 778.

* Garmin, Eras. (1749-1810.) Born in Virginia and educated
in England; Member of Legislature; Member of Congress, 1778,
1781, 1787; President of Congress, 1788; President Federal Court
of Admiralty Appeals from its creation until its abolition; Com-
missioner to Creek Nation, 1789; United States District "Judge,
1789-1910, Died Yorktown, Va.