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JAMES THOMPSON CALLENDER. 827

ferent political opinions, furnished with the same materials
of information, would form conclusions diametrically oppo-
site. Let them take for their guide the vindication of the
Constitution of the United States. Many were perfectly
satiafied that the President of the United States, instead of
approving the Federal Constitution, was of opinion, that a
government composed of an hereditary chief magistrate,
and Senate, and a House of Commons or representatives,
chosen by the people, was better calculated than any other
to seeure the liberties and promote the happiness of the
people. I will avow that I have no doubt that such
was the opinion of the President. But others might think,
and many had said, that the fair inference was, that he was
cordially attached to the principles on which the Constitu-
tion of the United States was constructed. What the Pres-
ident’s principles had been, therefore, was a question,
about which there would forever be a difference of opin-
ion; and if the assertion made by the traverser waa not capa-
bie of being proved or disproved, the privilege of giving
the truth in evidence was a nullity. A jury of one party
would not believe it when given; a jury of the other party
would not require it to be given.

Now, delay was of great consequence to the traverser. Not
only his little property, but his liberty was at stake. He
wished to have time to defend himself by counsel who felt
competent to the task which they were to perform. As to
the United States at large, an immediate trial could be of
no sort of consequence, nor can it be of any moment to the
party who, it is said, has been libelled. The reputation of
the President of the United States must for ever rest on the
opinion of a virtuous and intelligent people: and standing
on its mighty basis, it conld never be affected by the abuse
or declamation of an individual, and that individual an ob-
scure and friendless foreigner.

Mr. Nicholas. We conceive that the testimony of Mr.
Giles is extremely important; he will prove, as Mr. Callen-
der has stated in his affidavit, that Mr. Adams, the Presi-

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