The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-10-16

From the Nesg-l York Saamrock.


al question, can ysu sheD cause .sAy sentence Of
death shO.la not be pronounced against youe
MY LORDS,
WHAT have TO say, why sentence CT
death should not be pronounced on me accor-
ding to law IL have nothing TO say that can
alter your predciormination, nor that it will
become me TO say with any view 10 the miti-
cation OF that sentence which you are here
10 pronounce, and l must abide by--But
have that TO say, which interests me more
than life, and which you have laboured (as
was necessarily your office in the present cir
cums.ances oI this oppressed country 10
destroy---l have much to say, why my repu-
tation should be rescued from the load of
false accusation and calumny which has been
heaped upon it.
do not imagine, that, seated where YOU
are, your minds can be so free from impuri,y
as TO receive the least impression from what
| am going TO u.ter---I have no hopes tina,
can cnchor my character in the breast of a
court constituted and iran,nelled as this s---
| only wish and it is the utmost I expect,
that your lordships may suffer it to float down
your memories, untainted by the foul breath
Of prejudice, until it finds some more hosp.
table harbour TO shelter it from the storms
by which it is at present butfeted. Where
only to suffer death, after being adiudb ca
guilty by yogr tribunal, should bow in SIS
lence, and meet the fate that awaits ne wi.h.
out murmur but the sentence OK the law,
which delivers my body TO the cXeoutioner,
will, through the ministry CT that lag, l2rour,
in its own vindica,ion, TO consign M charao-
ter to obloquy--!or there mus: he, guilt aonle
where whether in the sentence OF the coagt,
or in the catastrophe, posterity IUust deieg-
mine. a man in my situation iss not onIy,
my lords, to encounter the dfncui,ies OF snr-
tune, and tho force of power over minds
which it has corrupted or suUjugated bpt also
the difficulties of established prejudice. 4 be,
man dies, but his memory lives----ihas faiac
may not perish, that il may live il ;he res.
pect OF my countrymeD, l seize upon tbs
opportunity to .vindicate myself from some of
the charges aledged against me. w hen Wy
spiri, shall be waited 10 a more Friendly port
when my shade shall have joined the bands
OF those martyr'6 heroes, " ho hare shed their
blood on the scailod and in the Geld in de-
fence OF their cosntly and OF virtue, this is
my hope ! wish that my memory and name
may animate those who survive me while |
look down with complacency on the destruc.
ZION of that perfidious government, which up
holds its domination by blasphemy Of the
Most High which displays its power over
men as over the beasts of the forest which
sets man upon his brother, and lifts his hand,
in the name of God against the throat Of his
fellow who believes or doubts a little more,
or a little less than the government, standard
Ia government, which is steslcd to barbara
ty by the cries of the orphans, and the tears
of the widows which it has made
Here Lord .Norbwy interrupted Mr.. EMMEr,
saying, that the mean and wicked enthusiasts who
felt as he did, where not equal to the accomplish
ment Of their wild designs.
l appeal 10 the Immaculate God--I swear
by the Throne OK Heaven, before which I
must shortly appcar--by the blood Of tie
murdered patriots who have gone before ne
THAT my conduct has been, through all this
peril, and through all my purposes, governed
only by the convictions which have uttered,
and by no other view than that of their cu,c,
and the emancipation Of NY country from thc
super-inhuman oppression under which she
has so long and too patiently travelled and
tha. confidently and assuredly hope, thai,
wild and chimerical as i; may appear, there
is still unien and strength in Ireland su&icicnt
to accomplish this nobest enterprise. OF
this / speak with the confidence of intimate
knowledge, and with the consciation thar ap-
pertains to that confidence. Think not, my
lords, that say this for the petty eranica-
tion OF giving you ransiiory uneasiness A
man, who never yet raised bis voice 70 asser,
lie, will not hazard his character with poster
ity by asserting falsehood on subject so irl-
portant TO his country, and en- an occasion like.
this. Yes, my lords, man, who does not wish
to have his epitaph Uitten until his country
is liberated, will not leave weapon in The
power OF envy, nor pretence to impcach
the probity which he means 10 preserve even
in the grave to which tyranny consigns him
Here he was again interrupted by the Judge1
Again say, that what have spoken was
not intended for yonr lordship, whose s,ua-
ton commisscrate, rather than cnvy-my
expressions were for my countrymcn if
there is true lrishman present., Let my last
words cheer him i'm the hour IF r., ar,;-,;o,