Rodney, Caesar A. (1772–1824)

views updated

RODNEY, CAESAR A. (1772–1824)

Elected to the house of representatives in 1802, Jeffersonian Congressman Caesar Augustus Rodney became one of the managers of the impeachment of Justice samuel chase. In that capacity he argued that any deviation from good behavior on the part of a judge constituted a misdemeanor in the constitutional sense and was, therefore, an impeachable offense even if not an indictable crime.

As attorney general of the United States (1807–1811), Rodney asserted President thomas jefferson's right to overrule a federal court decision on enforcement of the embargo acts and defended, in ex parte bollman and swartwout (1807), prosecutions for constructive treason.

Dennis J. Mahoney
(1986)