The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-10-21

periDhum1n oppression uHuer WHICH sne mas SO ohg
and too patiently travaled and that l confidently
hope, that, wild and chimerical it may appear,
there is still union and strength in Ireland sufficient
to accomplish this nobest enterprise. Or this
speak with the confidence Of intimate knowledge,
and with the consolation that appertains TO that con-
fdence Think not my lord, | say this for the pet
ty qualification of giving you transtoy unensiness.
man who yet raised his voice to assert
lie, will hazard his character with posterty, by
serting falsehood on subject so important TO his
country, and on occasion like his. Yes my
lord, man who does not wish his epltaph written
until his country is liberated, will not leave
pom IN the power OF envy, nor pretence TO impeach
the probty which he means to preserve, even in the
grave to which tyranny consigns him.
Here he was again interrupted BY the Judge.]
Again say, that what l have spoken was not
intended for your lordship, whose situation COM
miserate, rather than envy my expressions were
for my countrymen if there is Irishman
present. let my last words cheer him in the hour of
his affliction
/ have always understood it to be the duty Of
Judge, when a prisoner has been convicted, to pro-
nounce the sentence of the law; have also under
stood that judges sometimes think it their duty to
hear with patience, and to speak with humanity to
exhort the victim of the laws and to offer, with ten
der bengnity, his opinions of the motives by which
he was actuated in the crime of which he had been
adiudged guilty. That Judge has thought it his
duty SO to have done, have doubt but where
is the boased freedom of your institutons-where
is the vaunted impartiality and clemency of your
courts of JUSTICE if unfortunate prisoner, whom
your policy not pure justice, is about to deliver ln-
to the hands of the cxecutoner, is not suffered to
explain his motives sincerely and truly, to vlndcate
the principles 10y which he was actuaed!
My lord it may be part of the system of angry
Justice, to bow a mans mind by humiliation to the
purposed ignomny of the scatfold but worse to me
than the purposcd shame, the scaffold's terrors,
would be the shame Of such foul and unfounded inn
putations have been laid against me in this court
You, my lord, judge am the supposed cul-
prit; am n man-you are q man also by a rev.
olution of power mi ght change places, though
we never could change characters; what farce is
YOUR Justice If stand at this bar and dare not vim
dcate my character, how dare you caumniate it (!
Does the sentence of death, which your unhallowed
policy inhicts on my body, also condemn my tongue
to silence, and my reputation to reproach ?-Y our
execuoner may abrdge the period of my existence !;
but while exist, shall not forbear to vindicate my
character and motives from your aspersons and,
rs q man to whom fame is dearer than life, L will
make the last use Of that life in doing justice to that
reputation which is TO live after me, and which is
the only legacy can leave those honor and love,
and for whom am proud to perish. As men, we
must appear on the great day at one common ui-
bunal and it will then remain for the Searcher of
/
ragged in the most yirtuous actions actuateG by
the purcst motives my countrys oppressors, or -
IHere he was interrupted and told to listen the
of the law.
My lord, shall dying man be denied the legal
privilege of exculpating himself, in the eyes of the
community, of an undeserved reproach thrown upon
him during his trial, by charg ring him with ambition,
and attempting to cast away, for patry consdera-
ton the Liberties of his country! Why did your
ordship insult me or, rather why insult justice,
in demanding of me- why sentence of death should
not be pronounced l know, my lord, that form
prescribes that you should ask the question the
form also presumes right OF answering Th sno
doubt, may be dispensed with and mi ght the
whole ceremony of the trial, since sentence al
ready pronounced at the Castle, before your jury
was cmpannellcd Your lordships are but the priests
of the oracle-and | submit to the sacrfce but
insist on the whole of the forms.
Here the Court desired him TO proceed)
l am charged with being emmissary of France.
An emissary of France And for what end 1t
is alleged that wished to sell the independence OF
my country! And for what end : Was this the
object of my ambitionl And is this the mode by
which tribunal of Justice reconcies contradictions
No; | am no emissary. My ambition was, to hold
place among the deliverers of my country-not in
power, in profit but in the glory of the achieve
ment Sell my country's independence to France
And for what "a change of masters Z No 1; but
| for ambition
Oh, my country Was it personal ambition that
influenced mc-had it been the soul Of my actions
could not, by my education and fortune, by the
rank and consideration of my family, have placed
my self amongst the proudest of your oppressors
NY country was my idol; to it sacrificed every
selfish every endearing sentiment; and for it now
offer up my life. o God No, my lord, acted as
an Irishmdn, determined on delivering my country
from the yoke of foreign and unrelcnting tyranny
and from the more CALLING yoke of domestic fac.
ton, its joint partner and perpetrator in patricide
whose rewards the ignominy of existing with al
exterior of splendor and consciousness of fdepravty
1t the wish of my heart to extricate my coun
try from this doubly riyetted despotism; | wished
to place her independence beyond the reach of an,