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

to receive new taskmasters, but to expel
old tyrants; these were my views, and
these only became lrishmen. 1t was
for these ends sought aid from France,
becaus France, even as an enemy,
could not be more implacable than the
enemy already in the bosom Of my
country.
Here he Dds interrupted by the COURT
have been charged with that inn
portance in the efforts to emancipate
my country, as to be considered the
keystone Of the combination of Irish
men; or, as your lordship expressed it,
"the life and blood of conspiracy"
You do me honour over-much. You
have given to the subaltern all the cred
it of a superior. There are men en-
gagged in this conspiracy, who are not
only superior to me, but even to your
own conceptions Of yourself, my lord;
men, before the splendor ofwhose gen.
uis and virtues, ! should bow with res
pectful Difference, and who would think
themselves dishonoured to be called
your friend-who would not disgrace
themselves by shaking your blood
stained hand. ~ 800
ga Here he trGs interrupted.
What, my lord, shall you tell me, on
the passage to that scaffold, which that
tyranny, Of which you are only the in
termediary executioner, has erected
for my murder, that am accountable
for all the blood that has, and will be
shed in this struggle of the oppressed
against the oppressor?-shall you tell
me this-and must ! be SO very slave
as not to repelit?
do not fear to approach the omni-
potent Judge, to answer for the con-
duct ofmy whole life; and am / to be
appalled, and falsifed by mere rem
nant Of mortality here? By you too,
who, lift were possible to collect all
the innocent blood that you have shed
in your unhallowed ministry, in one
great reservoir, your lordship might
swim in it.
Here the JSdgh intsrfered.]
Let no man dare, when / am dead,
to charge me with dishonour; let no
man attaint my memory by believing
that could have engaged in any cause
but that of my country's liberty and in
dependence; or that ] could have be-
come the plant minion of power in the
oppression or the miseries of my coun-
trymen. Theproclamation of the pro-
yisional government speaks for our
views: no inference can be tortured
from it to countenance barbarity or de-
basement at home, or subsection, hui
initiation, or treachery from abroad; /
would not have submitted to foreign
oppressor, for the same reason that ]
would resist the foreign and domestic
oppressor; in the dignity of freedom /
would have fought upon the thresh-
hold of my country, and its enemy
should enter only By passing over mig
ifeless corpse. Am |, who lived but
for my country, and who have subjec-
ted myself to the dangers of the jealous
and watchful oppressor, and the bond
age of the grave, only to give my coun-
trymen their rights, and my country
her independence, and am to be load
ed with callumny, and not suffered to
resent or repel it-No, God forbid!
1.-THE spirits of the illustrious dead
participate in the concerns and cares
Of those who are dear to them in this
transitory life-O ever dear and ven-
cradle shade Of my departed Father,
look down with scrutiny upon the con-
duct Of our suffering Son; and see if /
have, even for moment deviated from
those principles Of morality and patri-
otism, which it was your care to instil
into my youthful mind, and for which
am now to offer up my life.
My Lords, you are imptient for the
sacrihce-the blood which you seek is
not CONCEALED by the artificial terrors
that surround your victim; it circulates
warmly and unruffied through the chan
nels which God created for nobler pur-
poses, but which you are bent to des-
troy, for purposes SO grevious, that theyt
cry to Heaven? Be ye patient! ! have
but few more words to sag; ] am go
ing to my cold and silent grave: my
lamp Of life is nearly extinguished: my
race is run: the grave opens to receive
me, and ! sink into its bosom! / have
but one request to ask at my departure
from this world. 1t is the charity of
its silence? Let no man write my cpl
taph; for as no man who knows my mo-
tives, dares non vindicate them, let not
prejudice or ignorance asperse them.