Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1804-09-13

aetuated.
My lords, it may be a part of the
fyfem of angry juaice to bow mans
mind by humiliation to the purpofsd
ignominy of the Gcaffold; but worfe
to me I'an the purpoied fhame, or the
fcafold's terrors would be the fame in
durance, charges and imputations laid
againit me in this court; you, my
lord, are a Judge; am the fuppofed
culprit; | am man, you are a man
alioj by revolution of power, we
might change place though we new
er could change characters; If ltand
atthis court, and dare not vindicate
my character, what farceis your iuf-
iice. If | ltand at this bar and dare
not vindicate my character, how dare
you cahmniate it? Does the fentence
of death which your policy inAias on
my body, alto condemn my tongue to
filence, and my reputation to reproach!
your executioner may abridge the pc
riod of my exiltence, but while | ex-
lit, l ihall not ceale to vindicate my
charaetss and motives from your az,
peiEons, and as man TO whom fame
is dearer than life, Twill make the laf
ufe of that life in doing jultice to that
reputation which is to live after me,
and which is the only legacy ] can
leave to ,hole l honor and love, and
for whom / am proud to periih> AS
men, my lord, we muif appear on the
great day at one common tribunal,
and it will then remain for the fearch-
er of all hearts to fhew collective
univerle who was engaged in the mott
virtuous actions, or attached by the
purelt motives.
{ Here be aOas interrupted and toM to
Gfen to THE /sntenee Of the las0.
My lord, will a dying man be de-
MED the privileges of exculpating him
felf, in the eyes of the community, of
an undeferved reproach thrown upon
him during his trial, by charging him
with ambition, and attempting to calt
away for paltry confederation, the
liberties of his country! Why did
your lordhip infult ME /? or, rather,
why iniult jutfice, in demanding of me
why fentence of death fhould not be
pronounced? know, my lord, that
form preicribes that you !hould ak the
queIfion, but form ALTO prelumes the
right of anfweringl This, no doubt,
may be diipcnfed with /; and 70 might
the whole ceremony of rhe trial, fince
lentence was already pronounced at
the cattle before your jury was en-
pannelled; your lordihips are but the
priefs of the oracle, and fubmit;
but l Unfit on the whole of the forms.
There tbe eourf dsGred bin to proceed. ]
am charged with being an EN-
inary of France! An emiffary of
France! And for what end 1t is al
ledged that wilhed to fell the inde-
pendence of my country And for
what end! Was this the Object of my
ambition? And is this the mode by
which tribunal of julfice reconciles
contradictions No, ! am no emmif-
fairy !; and my ambition was to hold
place among the deliverers Of my
country, not in power, nor in profit,
nor in the glory OF the achievement!
Sell my country's independence TO
France! And for what? Was it for
a change of mafersi No! But for
ambition! ., my country, was II per-
fonal ambition that could inAuencemel
Had il been the foul of my actions,
could 4 not by my education an for.
tune, by the rank and confederation of
my family, have placed myfelf smonglf
the proudel Of my oppfcdors' My