Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-05

| iasehood on subject so important to his
country and on an occasion like this. Yes
my lords, man who does not wish TO have
his epitapih written, until his country is
liberated will not leave q weapon in the
power OF envy TO impeach the probity
which he means to preserve even in the
grave to which tyranny cons;gns him.
Hsre he IcaS again interrutiteh by tie
COURT
Again | saw, that what have spoken,
was not intended for your lortship, whose
situation / commiserate rather than envy !;
my expressions were for my county men :;
II there is a true iris!,mau present, let nv
last wood cheer him in the hour OF his af-
flicGon--
he gvas again int-rrutted, lord Nor
bury said he aid not sit thcre 10 hear trea.
son.
/ have always understood it to be the
duty OF Judge, when prisoner has been
convicted to pronounce the sentence of
the law; have al o understood that iudp,
es sometimes think 1t their duty to hear
with patience. and 10 speak with huma-
niiy; TO eXhort the victim Of the laws,
and TO offer with tender benignity his o.
pinions OF the motives by which he was &C
tuated in the crime of which he had been
found guilty; that Judge has thought
II his duty SO 10 have done have NJ doubt
but where is The boosted freedom Of
your institutions, where is the Wanted i'm.
Partially, ciemency, and mitlnrss OF
your courts OF justice; if an unfortunate
prisoner, whom your policy and no. jus
tice, ~ about to deliver into the hands Of
the executioner. is not suffered 20 explain
his motives sincerely and truly, and to win
tlicae the principles by which he was &C.
tuated.
My lords, it may be part of the sys.
tenn OF angry justice, to bow mans mind
by humiliation to the purposed ignominy
OF the scalfold; but worse To me than the
purposed shame or the scaftold's terrors
would be the same Endurance, charges and
impntations laid againt ME in this court
you my lord are Judge, am the sup.
posed cuiprit; am ran !; you are a
man also; by res oie,ion of power, we
might change plaCes--tho' we never could
cilin2e cha arters If stand at the b of
this court, and dare rot vindicate my cha
racter, what farce is your Justice If
! stand at this bar and dare not vindicate
any character how dare you communicate
1t! Does the sentence of death which
your policy lnilicts on my body, also con
denim my tongue 10 silence and my repu-
iat'on to reproach; your executioner may
abridge the period Of my existence Blu,
while exist, | shall not cease TO vind
cate my character and motives fiom your
aspersions, and as a man TO whom anne
is dearer than life will make the las, use
OF That lie in doing justice to that reputa
ton which Is 10 live aF!er me, and which is
the only legacy can leave 10 those ho
nor and love and for whom / am proud
to perish. As men, my lord we must ap
pear on the great day at one common rri
bunal, and it will then reinoin for the
5earcher Of ali hearts to shew collective
universe who was engaged in the most
virluous actions, or attached by the pur-
est motives.
| Here he 1caa iHter,uttted AMI toH TO listen
20 tie sentence II ne LQw.l
My lord, will diving man be denied
the legal privilege of excuIpa'ing himself
IN the eyes of the community of an IN
1891 ~ ItDoIb NiiiOWn uPiin MN gu
ring his trial, by charging him with an.
bition, and attempting to cast away for
paltry consideration the liberties of his
country Why did your lordship insult
mef or rather why insult justice, in de.
manding OF me why sentence Of death
should not be pronounced! ! know my
lord that form prescfibes that you should
ask the question, the form also presumes
right OF answering This no doubt may
be dispensed with--and so might the
whole ceremony Of the trial, since sen.
tence was already pronounced al the castle
before your jury was impanpelled your
lordships are but She priests Of The oracle,
and ! subInit but insist OH the whole
Of the forms.
lHcre Me coUrf desired him 10 Hrsceed.l
am charged with being an emissary
OF France? An emmissary of France T!
and for what end II is allcdzed that I
wished to sell the independence Of my
country And for what end Was this
the oble6t of my ambilon' And is this
the mode by which tribunal of Justice
recorcles contradictions No, | am no
emlssary--and NY ambition was TO hold
o place auout.o The Jsiiverers oc RS, -c,,,-