The two trials of John Fries, on an indictment for treason; together with a brief report of the trials of several other persons, for treason and insurrection, in the counties of Bucks, Northampton and Montgomery, in the Circuit Court of the United States, begun at the city of Philadelphia, April 11, 1799; continued at Norristown, October 11, 1799;--and concluded at Philadelphia, April 11, 1800; before the Hon. Judges, Iredell, Peters, Washington and Chase. : To which is added, a copious appendix, containing the evidences and arguments of the counsel on both sides, on the motion for a new trial; the arguments on the motion for removing the case to the county where the crime was committed, and the arguments against holding the jurisdiction at Norristown. / Taken in short hand by Thomas Carpenter. ; (Copy-right secured.)

Title: The two trials of John Fries, on an indictment for treason; together with a brief report of the trials of several other persons, for treason and insurrection, in the counties of Bucks, Northampton and Montgomery, in the Circuit Court of the United States, begun at the city of Philadelphia, April 11, 1799; continued at Norristown, October 11, 1799;--and concluded at Philadelphia, April 11, 1800; before the Hon. Judges, Iredell, Peters, Washington and Chase. : To which is added, a copious appendix, containing the evidences and arguments of the counsel on both sides, on the motion for a new trial; the arguments on the motion for removing the case to the county where the crime was committed, and the arguments against holding the jurisdiction at Norristown. / Taken in short hand by Thomas Carpenter. ; (Copy-right secured.)

Author: Fries, John, ca. 1750-1818.

Collection: Evans Early American Imprint Collection

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A CHARGEDelivered to the GRAND JURY of the UNITED STATES, for the District of Pennsylvania, in the Circuit court of the United States for said dis∣trict, held in the city of Philadelphia, April 11th, 1799, by JAMES IREDELL, one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the UNITED STATES.GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY,THE important duties you are now called upon to fulfil, naturally in∣crease with the increasing difficulties of our country. But however great those difficulties may be, I am persuaded you will meet them with a firm and intrepid step, resolved, so far as you are concerned, that no dishonour or calamity (if any should await us) shall be ascribable to a weak or im∣partial administration of justice.If ever any people had reason to be thankful for a long and happy enjoy∣ment of peace, liberty and safety, the people of these states surely have. While every other country almost has been convulsed with foreign or domestic war, and some of the finest countries on the globe have been the scene of every species of vice and disorder, where no life was safe, no property was secure, no innocence had protection, and nothing but the basest crimes gave any chance for momentary preservation; no citizen of the United States could truly say that in his own country any oppression had been permitted with impunity, or that he had any grievance to complain of, but that he was required to obey those laws which his own representatives had made, and under a government which the people themselves had chosen. But in the midst of this envied situation, we have heard the government as grossly abused as if it had been guilty of the vilest tyranny, as if common sense or common virtue had fled from our country, and those pure principles of re∣publicanism, which have so strongly characterized its councils, could only be found in the happy soil of France, where the sacred fire is preserved by five Directors on ordinary occasions, and three on extraordinary ones—who, with the aid of a republican army, secure its purity from violation by the Legislative representatives of the people.—The external conduct of that government is upon a par with its internal.—Liberty, like the religion of Mahomet, is propagated by the sword. Nations are not only compelled to be free, but to be free on the French model, and placed under French guardianship. French arsenals are the repository of their arms, French treasuries of their money, the city of Paris of their curiosities; and they are honoured with the constant support of French enterprizes in any other part of the world. Such is the progress of a power which began by de∣clarations that it abhorred all conquests for itself, and sought no other fe∣licity but to emancipate the world from tyrants, and leave each nation free to chase a government of its own. Those who take no warning by such an awful example, may have deeply to lament the consequences of neglecting it.The situation in which we now stand with that country is peculiarly citical. Conscious of giving no real cause of offence, but irritated with injuries, and full of resentment for insults; desirous of peace, if it can be preserved with honour and safety, but disdaining a security equally fallaci∣ous and ignominious at the expence of either; still holding the rejected 0