The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-28 00:00:00

acting either very roguishly or very insanely ;
and, therefore, I say openly and advisedly
that neither a roguish Government nor an insane Go-
vernment ought to exist. lam ready here to assert
that there is something rotten in the political state of
England; that from the crown of the head to the sole of
the foot there is nothing but wounds and putrefying
sores; that monarchs, aristocrats, lords, free• traders,
special constables, and blue devils have all done that
which they ought not to have done, anti have left un-
done that which they ought to do. One in seven has
has no voice in this country, and while that is so we aro
virtually slaves. I advise you to read the Black Book
of England, and you will find that Lord John Rus-
sell was very foolish, and told lies too, when he
stated that the people of England wanted no reform.
There are too many bishops; there is too much aris-
tocracy; there are too many drones to live upon the
bees. I wish to God they would emigrate. I say
that a system of emigration is a very good thing,
and the sooner those fellows emigrate the
better. I always like to say what I mean and
mean what I say, notwithstanding the consequences that
may ensue. The truth ought to be spoken, I reiterate
the sentiment that Ireland is justified in rising up in
arms against those who have oppressed her ; and God
grant she mae win ; and I say in the language of the
poet :
" Downwith aristocratic slavery,
" ' Up with Republican bravery.'
The speech was received by the audience with much ap-
plause, and there was a deal of excitement. Having ad.
verted to the effect and tendency of that speech, taking
into account the excitable state of the audience addressed,
the Attorney-General stated that the prisoner was a
person of a very dangerous character and it was neces-
sary that his career ought to be stopped.
Mr. James White, short-hand writer, proved attend-
ing
question, the chair was taken by
j
The witness then read the speech of the
oh
nt the h
aw. meeting in
chairman, and also that of the prisoner which is given
above. _ _

At the conclusion of this witness's evidence a copy of
the Times was put in evidence, and the additional com-
ments upon the extracts from the New York Herald
walleged by the Attorney-General
thatere read,those commentsitbeing had been altogether omitted, by
the prisoner when he read the quotation from the Ame-
rican paper.
This closed the case on the part of the Crown.
The prisoner addressed the Jury in a quiet, inoffensive,
arid fluent speech, which was listened to by the Court
with considerable attention. He avowed himself a con-
sientious Chartist, and stated that whether the speech he
delivere was seditious or not it contained his honest
and deliberate opinions. Every man had a right to
express his opinions openly, freely, and fairly, and he
contended he had done nothing more. If he were guilty
of sedition in quoting a passage from the Times, in the
hearing of about 800 people, the newspaper was still more
so by publishing it to the world. The prisoner then
asked the jury if the miserable condition of the labour-
ing classes, to whom he belonged, and the injustice and
the oppression they had to submit to, was not a sufficient
reason for the expressions he had made use of, and the
course he had pursued. In the course of his speech he
complained of not being allowed to consult Goldsmith's
" History of England" and the Times, for the purpose of
preparing his defence.
Mr. BARON PLATT said the prisoner ought to have
informed him of that when he was arraigned. He should,
however, make enquiries into the matter, that the public
might not be induced to think that any obstruction had
'been placed in the way of the prisoner's defence.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then replied in a very
eloquent and impressive speech.
The Learned Jupcx charged the Jury,
The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned a
verdict of Guilty.
By the direction of the Learned Judge, James Max-
well Bryson, George Shell, and Robert Crowe, the other
Chartist prisoners, were placed in the dock, together
with the prisoner Beezer.
Mr. BARON PLATT having severally addressed
the prisoners, proceeded to say that they
had been found guilty of uttering seditious
speeches for the purpose of dis•urbing the peace
of the country, and inciting the people to insurrection.
They bad been fortunately stopped in their career, for
it the Government had allowed them to pursue their
guilty course, and they bad arrayed themselves and
their party in arms, they would assuredly have been
found guilty of high treason, and undergone the extreme
penalty of the law. It was a mercy, therefore, that
their evil course had been stopped. Ilhey called them-
selves the people, and said they advocated the rights
of the people, but they must know full well that the
people were opposed to the objects which they and the
persons who joined them had in view. They might
have been actuated by motives of vanity in the course
they had taken—they might have expected to have
been dealt with as martyrs, or to be kept in
comfort out of the purse of those confederated to-
gether—but whatever might have been their objects,
it was the duty of the Government to put down such
practices as those of which they were respectively guilty,
in order to preserve the public peace. It is now, said
his Lordship, my duty in wielding the sword of justice
to make an example of you, as frr as the law gives me
power to do so. Men were indicted in this place on a
former occasion, but it does not appear that the
sentences which were passed upon them are
euffieient to deter other wicked and vain people
from following their example. It is, therefore, clear teas
the sentences upon you should be sufficient to restrain
others from pursuing a similar course hereafter. The
sentente upon each of you respectively is, that you be
imprisoned in the House of Correction for the space of
two years ; and you George Shell, Robert Crowe, and
John James Beezer are to pay a fine to her Majesty the
Queen of lot. each ; and you James Maxwell Bryson, a
fine of 201., and to find securities respectively to keep the
peace for the space of five years, and until the fines are
paid, and the securities are given, you will be confined in
prisons. The amount of your recognizance% must be,
yourselves in 100/., and two sureties of 501. each.
Berger wished to know in what prison he was to be
confined?
Mr. Baron PLATT said he would be confined in some
prison in the district where the offence was committed.
Bryson
otoootkheangrtoibajleidctitchnattohothoeughfotrmto of pipassing
n
Mr. Baron PLATT—That is not necessary in a case of
askedns
passed
eerd u,s
misdemeanour.
The prisoners then left the dock, one of them crying
pon him."
out, " Come along brother Chartists."