ˇ制搜查和扣押的要求
A Demand to Limit Search and Seizure

一个人的住宅就是他的城堡ˇ只要他安分守己ˇ他在城堡里就应当受到ˇ王子一样的保护。

詹姆斯ˇ奥蒂斯(1725ˇ1783)于1750年在波士顿开始他的律师生涯。十年后ˇ他成爲国王在附属海事法庭上的总辩护律师ˇ那时英国政府授权海关官员可以在任何人的屋里搜查走私物品。奥蒂斯不ˇ监督执行这些命令ˇ他辞掉职务ˇ并于1761年2月在法庭辩论反对这些“搜查令状”。由于那时没有反对这些法令的法律依据ˇ奥蒂斯雄辩地坚持说这些法令粗暴地践踏了人民的自由。当时年仅二十五岁的约翰ˇ亚当斯参加了这个诉讼程 序ˇ他后来写道ˇ奥蒂斯是“一团火焰ˇ……美国独立就是在那个地方ˇ那个时候诞生的ˇ爱国者和英雄的种子就是在那个地方ˇ那个时候播下的。反对大不列颠蛮横无理的要求的第一个行动就是在那个地方ˇ那个时候发生的”。虽然奥蒂斯败诉了ˇ但英国政府撤回了“搜查令状”。

这些事件之后ˇ奥蒂斯成了一个主要的政治活动家。奥蒂斯于1761年5月被选入马萨诸塞州议会ˇ并于1776年被选作议长。然而该州皇家总督却阻挠选择他为议长。在许多年里ˇ他的演讲和文章在殖民地广为流传。他的话经常被引用。在英国议会ˇ他也经常遭到谴责。“征税而不准选举代表是暴政。”这句话通常认为是他讲的。1769年ˇ一个英国军官在奥蒂斯头部猛击一拳ˇ使他患了精神病ˇ奥蒂斯的职业生涯就这样突然中止了。

阁下ˇ本法庭一位法官要求我审阅这些卷宗ˇ并考虑ˇ在摆在他们面前的关于“搜查令状”的问题。我已根据他的要求考虑了这个问题ˇˇ在出庭不仅是服从你们的命令ˇ而且也代表本城居民ˇ他们考虑到了这个问题所允许的权ˇˇ又提出一份申诉。我ˇ借此机会宣布ˇ不论是收费还是不收费ˇ(因为在这样一桩诉讼案中ˇ我是不屑收费的。)我至死也要以上帝赋予我的一切力量和才能ˇ一方面反对一切这样的制造奴役的文件ˇ另一方面反对ˇ这个“搜查令状”这样的卑劣行为。

在我看来ˇ这是在一本英国法律档案里所能找到的表明专制权力的最坏的文件。这是对英国自由和法律根本原则的最严重的破坏。因此ˇ我得请求阁下不仅要耐心注意听完全部的辩论ˇ也许这个辩论会在许多事情上出ˇ与众不同的看法ˇ同时也要注意那些更细微更不同寻常的学术观点。这样ˇ我的意图的整个倾ˇ就可以更容易被理解ˇ结论就能更好地得出ˇ而且其力量也会被更好地感觉到。在这桩诉讼案中我并不在
乎我个人所受的痛苦ˇ因爲我是爲原则而参与这桩案子的。我是被恳请作爲总辩护律师来爲本案辩护的ˇ由于我不ˇ这麽做ˇ我已被指控犯了擅离职守罪。对于这ˇ指控ˇ我可以作一个非常充分的答复。我断然拒绝那个职务。出于同样的原则ˇ我来爲此案辩护。我是以极大的乐趣来爲此案辩护的ˇ因爲这是在支援英国的自由。我曾听到世上最伟大的君主宣布说ˇ他爲不列颠人感到光荣ˇ对他来说他的臣民的基本民权比他自己最宝贵的君主持权更珍贵。而且还因爲这是在反对一种权力ˇ在过去的历史里ˇ行使这种权力曾使一个国王丢了脑袋ˇ另一个丢了王位……

阁下将在关于治安法官职责的古老卷宗里找到搜查涉嫌房屋的一般许可证的先例。但在更ˇ代的卷宗里ˇ你只能找到搜查某间房子的特别许可状。这许可状是特别指名的ˇ而且由原告事先宣誓怀疑他的东西被藏在这间屋里。阁下将发ˇ法律判定只有特别许可状才是合法的。同样地ˇ我完全ˇ信在这份申诉状中所强烈请求取ˇ的 令状ˇ由于是一般的令状ˇ也是不合法的。这是一份将每个人的自由都交给一个小官吏的授权证书。我承认搜查特指的地方时ˇ“搜查令状”可以经宣誓授予某些人。但是ˇ我决不认爲ˇ在请求取ˇ的这个令状可以授予某些人。在我转而辩论议会其它法案之前ˇ我请求允许我就这令状本身谈几点看法。首先ˇ这个令状是适用于任何情况的ˇ因爲这是发给“每一个法官、司法官、巡警和所有其它警官和百姓”的ˇ因此ˇ简单地说ˇ这是发给王土之中每一个臣民的。有了这个令状ˇ每一个人都可能成爲暴君。如果这个授权状成爲合法ˇ那麽一个暴君也可以用合法的方式ˇ在他管辖的区域内控制、监禁或杀害任何人。其次ˇ这个令状是永久的ˇ不必送还法院。一个人不必爲他做的事对任何人负责。每个人都可能独霸一方ˇ成爲小小暴君ˇ在他周围制造恐怖和荒凉ˇ直至天使长的喇叭在他的灵魂里激起不同的感情爲止。第三ˇ有了这个令状ˇ一个人便可在光天化日之下随意进入任何商店、房屋等ˇ并命令所有的人来协助他。第四ˇ根据这个令状ˇ不仅副警长等人ˇ甚至他们的奴才都可以爬到我们头上作威作福。除了让我们确定无疑地遭到伽南的诅咒ˇ成爲仆人的仆人ˇ成爲上帝造物中最卑下的东西之外ˇ这又算什麽呢?英国自由的最重要的一部分便是一个人的房屋的自由。一个人的房屋就是他的城堡ˇ只要他安分守己ˇ他在自己的城堡里就应当受到ˇ王子一样的保护。这个令状如被宣布爲合法ˇ将完全破坏这种特权ˇ海关官员只要他们高兴ˇ就可进入我们的房子。我们被命令要允许他们进入。他们的奴才也可以进入ˇ也可以打掉锁、栅栏ˇ打掉一切妨碍他们的东西。不管他们是蓄意破坏或是报复ˇ没有人ˇ也没有任何法庭可对此进行调查。没有宣誓仅有怀疑就够了。这种不负责任地行使这个权力的行爲不是我头脑发热凭空捏造出来的。我将举一些实例ˇ皮尤先生有这样一个令状ˇ韦尔先生接他职务时ˇ他就将这令状批转给韦尔先生。因此ˇ这个令状是可转让的ˇ可以从一个官员手里转到另一个官员手里。这样ˇ阁下就没有机会断定哪些是被授予这麽大权力的人。还有一个例子是ˇ沃利法官曾令一巡警把这同一个韦尔先生带到他面前来回答关于违反《安息日法案》的问题ˇ或者 污言咒骂的问题。结束时ˇ韦尔先生就问他是否完了。他回答ˇ“是的。”韦尔先生说ˇ“好了ˇ那麽我来ˇ你ˇ示我的一点权力。我令你让我搜查你的房子ˇ寻找未报关的物品。”而且接着就从阁楼搜到地下室。然后以同样的方式对那个巡警进行搜查ˇ但是ˇ为了指出这个令状的另一荒唐之处ˇ我坚持认为ˇ如果这个令状被确立ˇ根据查理二世第十四条令ˇ每个人都应当与海关官员有同样的权力。令状上的文字应当是这样ˇ“这对于授权的任何人或人们都是合法的。”等等。这将造成一个什麽景况ˇ每个人只要出于报 复ˇ心情不佳ˇ或蛮横任性ˇ去邻居屋里查看ˇ都可以得到“搜查令状”。其它人出于自卫ˇ也会要求得到“搜查令状”ˇ一个人一意孤行将刺激另一个人也一意孤行ˇ直至社会ˇ入骚乱和流血之中……

A Demand to Limit Search and Seizure

May it please your honors, I was desired by one of the court to look into the books, and consider the question now before them concerning writs of assistance. I have, accordingly, considered it, and now appear not only in obedience to your order, but likewise in behalf of the inhabitants of this town, who have presented another petition, and out of regard to the liberties of the subject. And I take this opportunity to declare that, whether under a fee or not (for in such a cause as this I despise a fee), I will to my dying day oppose with all the powers and faculties God has given me all such instruments of slavery, on the one hand, and villainy, on the other, as this writ of assistance is.

   It appears to me the worst instrument of arbitrary power, the most destructive of English liberty and the fundamental principles of law, that ever was found in an English lawbook. I must, therefore, beg your honors' patience and attention to the whole range of an argument, that may, perhaps, appear uncommon in many things, as well as to points of learning that are more remote and unusual: that the whole tendency of my design may the more easily be perceived, the conclusions better descend, and the force of them be better felt. I shall not think much of my pains in this cause, as I engaged in it from principle. I was solicited to argue this cause as Advocate General; and because I would not, I have been charged with desertion from my office. To this charge I can give a very sufficient answer. I renounced that office, and I argue this cause from the same principle; and I argue it with the greater pleasure, as it is in favor of British liberty, at a time when we hear the greatest monarch upon earth declaring from his throne that he glories in the name of Briton, and that the privileges of his people are dearer to him than the most valuable prerogatives of his crown; and as it is in opposition to a kind of power the exercise of which, in former periods of history, cost one king of England his head and another his throne. . . .

    Your honors will find in the old books concerning the office of a justice of the peace precedents of general warrants to search suspected houses. But in more modern books you will find only special warrants to search such and such houses, specially named, in which the complainant has before sworn that he suspects his goods are concealed; and will find it adjudged that special warrants only are legal. In the same manner I rely on it that the writ prayed for in this petition, being general, is illegal. It is a power that places the liberty of every man in the hands of every petty officer. I say I admit -- that special writs of assistance, to search special places, may be granted to certain persons on oath; but I deny that the writ now prayed for can be granted, for I beg leave to make some observations on the writ itself, before I proceed to other acts of Parliament. In the first place, the writ is universal, being directed "to all and singular justices, sheriffs, constables, and all other officers and subjects"; so that, in short, it is directed to every subject in the king's dominions. Everyone with this writ may be a tyrant; if this commission be legal, a tyrant in a legal manner, also, may control, imprison, or murder anyone within the realm. In the next place, it is perpetual; there is no return. A man is accountable to no person for his doings. Every man may reign secure in his petty tyranny, and spread terror and desolation around him, until the trump of the archangel shall excite different emotions in his soul. In the third place, a person with this writ, in the daytime, may enter all houses, shops, etc., at will, and command all to assist him. Fourthly, by this writ, not only deputies, etc., but even their menial servants, are allowed to lord it over us. What is this but to have the curse of Canaan with a witness on us; to be the servant of servants, the most despicable of God's creation? Mow, one of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one's house. A man's house is his castle; and whilst he is quiet, he is as well guarded as a prince in his castle. This writ, if it should be declared legal, would totally annihilate this privilege. Customhouse officers may enter our houses when they please; we are commanded to permit their entry. Their menial servants may enter, may break locks, bars, and everything in their way; and whether they break through malice or revenge, no man, no court, can inquire. Bare suspicion without oath is sufficient. This wanton exercise of this power is not a chimerical suggestion of a heated brain. I will mention some facts. Mr. Pew had one of these writs, and when Mr. Ware succeeded him, he indorsed this writ over to Mr. Ware; so that these writs are negotiable from one officer to another; and so your honors have no opportunity of judging the persons to whom this vast power is delegated. Another instance is this: Mr. Justice Walley had called this same Mr Ware before him, by a constable, to answer for a breach of the Sabbath Day Acts, or that of profane swearing. As soon as he had finished, Mr. Ware asked him if he had done. He replied: "Yes." "Well, then," said Mr. Ware, "I will show you a little of my power. I command you to permit me to search your house for uncustomed goods"; and went on to search the house from the garret to the cellar, and then served the constable in the same manner! But to show another absurdity in this writ, if it should be established, I insist upon it that every person, by the 14th of Charles II, has this power as well as the customhouse officers. The words are: "It shall be lawful for any person or persons authorized," etc. What a scene does this open! Every man prompted by revenge, ill humor, or wantonness to inspect the inside of his neighbor's house may get a writ of assistance. Others will ask it from self-defense; one arbitrary exertion will provoke another, until society be involved in tumult and in blood....