Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-04
Irishman present, le, my last words cheer him

ne tCGs again Dfeffupte0. lOJ0 ISoFVuIy suD
he hid not ut there 10 hear treason.
have always understood it to be the duty
of Judge, when prisoner has been convict
ed, to pronounce the sentence Of the law;
have also understood that Judges sometimes
think it their duty to hear with patience, and 10
speak with humanity; to exhort the victim OF
the laws, and to offer with teader benignity his
opinions Of the motives by which he was aetu-
ated in the crime, Of which he had been ad.
Judged guilty: that judge has thought 1t his
duty SO 10 have done, have no doubt; bur
where is the boosted freedom Of your institu-
,ions? where is the vaun,ed impar,iality, Gle
mency and mildness of your courts Of justice?
if an unfortunate prisoner, whom your policy
not pure justice-is about TO deliver into the
hands of the exeeutioner, is not suffered to ex-
plain his motives sincerely and truly, and to
vindieate the principles by which he was actu-
a,ed.
My lords, it may be part oflhe system Of an
cry Justice 10 bow mans mind by humilia-
ton to the purposec ignominy Of the scaffold;
but worse 10 me than the purposed shame, or
the scaHold's terrors, would be the shame OF
such foul and uniounded imputations as have
been laid against me in this court. You, my
lord, are Judge, am the supposed culprit-l
am man, you are man also-by revolution
ofpower we might change places, though we
ne, err could change characters; i'll stand at the
bar of this court, and dare not vindicate my
character, what farce is your Justice! If
stand at this bar, and dare not vindicate my
char cler, how dare you calumninate it? Does
the sentence of death which, your unhallowed
policy inflicts on my body, also condemn my
tongue to silence, and my reputation to re-
proach! Your executioner may abrldge the
period Of my existence; but, while l exist,
shall not forbear to vindicate my character and
motives from your aspersOns; and, as q man to
whom fame is dearer than life, will make the
last use Of that life in doing Justice to- that rep
uistion which is to live after me, and which is
the only legacy can leave to those honour
and love, and for whom l am proud to perish.
As men, we must appear on the great day at
one common tribunal and it will then remain
for the Searcher Of all Hearts to show collec-
tive universe who was engaged in the most
virtuous actions, or actuated by the purest mo-
ti,es-my eountry's oppressors, or Here he
,Uas interrupted and told to listen to thesentenee
the lao
My Lord, shall dying man be denied the legal
privilege Of excupating himself, in the eyes of
the community, ofundeserved reproach thrown
upon him during his trial, by charging him
with ambition, and attempting to cast away for
paltry consideration the liberties Of his eoun-
try? Why did your lordship insul, me? or ra-
ther why insult justice, in demanding Of me why
sentence Of death should not BE- pronounced?
I know, my lord, that form 2rescribes 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 cere-
mony Of the trial, since sentence was already
pronounced at the Castle before your jury was
inpanrelled: your lordships are but the priests
Of the oracle, and submit 10 the sacrifice; bu,
insis, on the whole Of the forms
Here The Court desired him to proceed.
/ am charged with being an emissary of
France An emissary Of France And for
what end! 1t is alleged that wish to sell the
independence Of my country! And for what
end? Was this the object OF my ambition? and
is this the mode by which tribunal of Justice
reconciles contradictions? No, am no ennis
sary; my ambition was 10 hold place among
the delivererS Of my country; not in power, not
in profit, but in the glory Of the achievement!
Sell my country's independence to Franco
And for what! change Of masters? No! but
for ambition! O,.my country, was t personal
ambition that influenced me-had il been the
soul of my actons-could | not by my ecuca-
ton and fortune, by the rank and consideration
of my family, have placed myself among the
proudest ofyour oppressors! My country was
my idol: to it sacrificed every sel6sh, every
endearing sentiment; and for it now offer up
my life. . God No, my lord, | acted as an
1ii.hman, determined on delivering my country
from the yoke Of foreign and unrelen,ing ty-
ranny, and fromthe more CALLING yoke Of a do
mestc faction, its joint partner and perp, traitor
in patricide-whose reward is the ignominy Of
existing with an exterior of splendor and con-
seriousness Of depravity 1t was the wish Of
my heart 10 ex,ricate my country from this dou-
bly rivel,ed despotism. wished to place her
independence beyond the reach of any power on
earth; l wished to exal, her to that proud sta
ton in the world, which Providence had des-
tined her to fill.
Connect ton with France was indeed intended,
but only So far as mutual interest would sanc-
ton or require. Were they 10 assume any au-
thoriiy inconsistent, with the purest indeper-
dence, i, would be the signal for their destruc-
ton; we sought aid, and we sought it as we had
assurance. we should obtain it-as auxilaries in |
war, and allies in peace
Were the French to come as invaders or enc
mics, unlimited by the wishes Of the people. !
.Lo,Il orno,a sham IN he utmost If NV |