Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-12-02
Speech Of Mr.. Phillips.
From Cork Paper, September q.
RoscoMMoN AssIzEs,
Conaaughton. vS. Dillon.

R0sc0MNoN AssIzEs,
Conaaughton, cs. Dillon.
Seduction The following is correc'
report of the admirable speech delivered
BY Mr.. Phillips, on this occasion
81 In this case I am one OF the counses
for the plaintiff. who has directed me 10
explain to you the wrongs for which, al
your. hands, he SELECTS reparatlon. II
appears to me case which merits mucb
consideration, as we'll from the novelty of
its appearance amongst US, as from the
circumstances b. which il is attended, -
Nor an / ashamed to say, that in my
mind, not the least interesting Of those
circumstances is the poverty Of the mar
who has made this appeal to me---few are
the consultations which soothe. hard must
be the heart which does not feel fsi him
He is, gentlemen. man of lowly birth
and humble station. with little wealth.,
but from the labor Of his hands, with no
rank but from the integrity OF his charac
fer, with no recreation but in the circle
of his home !; and With no ambition bat,
when hisllays are full, to leave that little
circle the inhe li.ance of an honest name,
and he treasure ola good memory.
Far inierior, indeed, is be in this respect
To his Fortunate antagonist. He, on the
contrary, is amply either blessed or ours
ed with these qualifications which ena-
bles man to adorn or disgrace the society
in which he lives. FIe is, understand,
The representative ofan honorable name !;
the relative of "a distinguished family, the
supposed heir to their virtues, the indis-
putable inaeritor Of their riches, lie has
been for many years resident of your
county. and has had the advantages of
collecting round him all those .recolIec-
tons. whch, springing from the scenes OF
school boy association, or from the more
,natured enjoyment of the man. crowd as
il were unconsciously 20 the heart, and
cling With a venial pariiaIity to the com
panion and the friend. So impressed in
truth, has he been with those advantages,
that, surprising the usual expenses OF a
trial, he has selected tribunal where he
vrinly hopes such considerations will have
weight, AID where he well knows my eli
ent's humble rank can have no claim. but
that to winch his miseries may entite him.
1 am sure, however, he has wretchedly
miscaiculated. know none OF YOU, per.
,onally. but l have no doubt am adj
dressing men who will not PROSTATE their
cohsclences before privilege or power
who will remember that there is a nobil
|ty above birth, and wealth beyond rich.
|es; who will feel that as in the eve of
that God to whose aid they have appealed
There ifnOt Inc minutest difference be-
tween the rag and the robe, so in The con.
temptation OF that law which constitutes
our boast, guilt can have no protection or
|llnOcence no tyrant, men who vii have
pride in proving that the noblest adags ct
our noble constitution is not an Elusive
shadow, and that the peasants cottage.
|footed by straw, and tenanted BY power
|ty, stands as inviolate from all Invasion
las the mansion of the monarch.
My clients name, gentlemen, is Con-
|naughton, and when | have gwen yeu bis
name. YOU have almost all his history -
10 cultivate the path OF honest industry
comprises, in one line, :. the short and
simple annals of the poor.'' This has
|Deen his humble but honorable occupation.
1t mate little with what artificial moth.
|iugs, chance may distinguish the name,
Ior decorate the person; the child of low
lily lite, with Virtue for his handmade
holds as proud title as the highest, as
|,ich Nh inheritance as the sealthiest.-
Web has the Poet of your own country.
lsaid it,
Princes and Lords may flourish or may
fade.
A breath can make them, as a breath has
made;
But brave peasantry, their country's
pride,
When once destroyed can never be sup.
Piled,
For all the virtues which adorn the pea.
sanity, which can render humble lite re
spsctad, or give the highest stations their
most permanent distinction, nv client
stands conspicuous. An hundred years
of sad yicissitude have relied away since
/ the little farm on which he lives received
! his tami5 and during all that time not
one accusation has disgraced, not one
crime has sulIied it, The same spot has
seen MS graudslre and his parent pass a
WY from this world, aud the village me
mcry records their worth, and the rustic
tear ha'lows their resting place. After
all, when lite's mockeries shall vanish
iirotn before US, and the heart that now
beats in the proudest bosom here, shall
imoulder unconscious beneath its Kindred