The Speeches at Full Length of Mr. Van Ness, Mr. Caines; The Attorney-General [Ambrose Spencer] Mr. Harrison, and General Hamilton, in the Great Cause

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1804. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... yw of Lord Mansfield, and how far he can be tupposed to be ignorant of their charges to Juries, is left to be decided by those who hear the facts. In the same case Lord Mansfield says, a general verdict of 'guilty, la equivalent to a special verdict in other cases; and this he says is peculiar to the form of a prosecution for a libel. How this becomes peculiar to the case of a libel is however not shewn; nor is it true. The same law governs in all criminal cases; and this is, but the cunning device of a despotic judge, to rob the Jury of their power to find a general verdict. The Court never had a right to make that verdict special, which the Jury declared to be general. And the rule attempted to be established by Lord Mansfield, is directly contrary to the uniform practice in all other cases; it is an artful mode of stealing from a jury a special verdict, for improper purposes, unknown in the law, and repugnant to the genius of our jurisprudence.--It wight never to be viewed, but with indignation and abhorrence. It is the intent, which makes any act criminal or innocent; the mere /