Piney Woods planter and Amite union literary reflector. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1838-1838, 1838-04-28

has been, through all this peril and
through all my purposes, governed OILY
lby the convictions which have utRr-
led, and by no other view than Of 4 .ir
cure, and the emancipation ofmy \. y
TRY from TIE snperiuhuman ~ K u
,1.1ls. s'5s l y'a Id A 1st.
patiently travelled, and that confidenl
lily and assuredly hope that, wild and
chimerical as it may appear, there is
still union and strength in Ireland to
accomplish this noblest enterprise.
| Of this speak with The confidence
Of immense knowledge, and with the
consolation that appertains to that con-
l6dence. Think not, my Lords, say
this for the petty qualification of giving
you transitory urneasiness, q man who
never yet raised his voice to assert a
lie, will not hazard his character with
posterity by asserting falsehood on a
subject so important to his country, and
on an occasion like this. Yes, my
Lords, man who does not wish to
have his epitaph written until his coun-
try is liberated, will not leave a wea-
pom in the power of envy; nor a pre-.
tence to impeach the probity which he
means to preserve even in the grave to
which tyranny consigns him.
Here he was again interrupted BY the
, Cou-t.)
/ Again Isay what have spoken was
not intended for your Lordships, whose
situation l commisserate rather than
envy-my expressions were for my
countrymen; if there is an Irishman
present, let my last words cheer him in
the hour Of affliction.
Here he pas again interrupted; Lord
Norbury said, he did not SIT there to hear
treason.
Ihave always understood it to be the
duty ola Judge, when a prisner has
been convicted, to pronounce the SEN
tence Of the law; | have also under
stood the judges sometimes think it
their duty to hear with patience, and TO
speak with humanity, to exhort the vic
tim of the laws, and to offer with ten
der benignity his opinions Of the mo-
tives by which, he was actuated in crime,
of which he was adjudged guilty.
That Judge has thought it his duty so
to have done, have no doubt; but
where is the boosted freedom of your
institutions-where is the Wanted inn
Partially, clemency and mildness Of
your courts of Justice, if an unfortunate
prisoner, whom your policy, and not
your justice, is about TO deliver into the
hands Of the executioner, is not suffer-
ed to explain his motives sincerely and
truly, and to vindicate the the princi-
pies by which he was actuated?
My Lords, it may be a part Of the
system of angry justice to bow mans
mind by humiliation to the proposed
ignominy of the scafold-but worse to
me than the purposed shame, or the
scafold's terrors, would be the shame
ofsuch foul and unfounded imputations
as have been laid against me in this
court. You, my Lord, are a Judge, |
am the supposed culprit; am a man,
you are man also: by revolution of
pomer we might change places, though
we never could characters; if stand
at the bar of this court, and dare not
vindicate my character, what a farce is
your justice! If stand at this bar,
and dare not vindicate my character,
how dare you calumniate it? Does thel
sentence Of death, which your unhal-
lowed policy inficts on my body, also
condemn my tongue to silence, and my
reputation to reproach? Your execu- ]
tioner may abridge the period of my ;
existence, but whilst ] exist shall not ;
forbear to vindicate my character and |
motives from your aspersions; and as a |
nan to whom fame is dearer than life,
will make the last use of that life in
loihg justice to that reputation which
s to live after me, and which is the on {
y legacy can leave to those ! honour
md love, and for whom am proud to
perish.
AS men, my Lords, me must appear ;
IN the great day at one common tribu-
nal, and twill then remain for,the
of allhearts to show collec-
i've universe, who was engaged in the
most yirtuous actions or attached byI
he purest motiyes-m my country's OPP
Dressogs, Or =
Here he ,pas again interrapied, and told
10 listen 10 he &nteacs oftte Latr.)
MY lords, 1ill O dying man be de-
lied the legal privilege of exculpatingtl
linhself IN the eyes Of the community, \
If undeserved reproach thrown upon