Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-14
The Last Great Speech.

Two men, somewhere in the West,
were indicted a short time agofor larceny.
Money was scarce, and they experienced
considerable difficulty in obtaining enough
to secure the services Of counsel. They
finally managed to obtain the aid of
lawyer who had recently made his ap-
pearance 10 that regions and whose powers
were altogether untired. Nevertheless he
looked odd enough TO, be able to accom-.
pIish something rather above ordinary
achievements. His face was ofthat order
which defes description, for sits likeness
is neither in the heavens above, nor in the
earth beneath, nor in the waters under the
earth" The names of his clients were
McLae.en. and Hagan. McLaeren had
made raise eff fifteen dollars, and Ha..
gan only FIVE. The advocate was an hon.
orable man, and felt himself constrained
by all proper considerations, to use his
great powers principally for the benefit
Of the one who had paid the largest fee;
allowing his other client share of his abb
lities precisely proportioned to the amount
Of the fee he had paid.
I a, The trial cana on-the court room
was crowded to overlooking. The testi-
| mony was given in, and the audience
awaited the grand contest between the
lawyers, with breathless anxiety. The
prosecuting officer stated the grounds of
his attack as briefly and succinctly as pos.
sible. Then. arose the counsel for the de7
fendants--the silence of death reigned
among the auditors, The advocate stood
for a moment, grave and solemn and i'm
pressive, AMI gazed around upon the jury.
| and spectators as though he was iaboring
to- fathom their. Thoughts, in order so to
shape his address as TO produce the great
est possible effect, Al last, in slow and
solemn accents, he pronounced the follow.
ing words.
"Gentlemau Of the Jury:-Might it be-
permitted mortal man. like myself to stand
with one foot Upon the earth and the other
upon Georgium Sidus--a star which rolls,
its course liz the regions of everlasting
space, more than ten thousand miles from
this Court House, would catch the
winged Iighthings in my two hands and
bring them down at your Feet, to enlighten
yopr benighled understandings. Then;
indeed, would you rise up as one mar, and
exclaim in voice of thunder, Nc Laurezs
is innocent, McLGMren is innocent, NcLGus
rem is Innocent, and so Is Hdgans',
Gentlemen of the 5urY:-Might il be
permitted to mortal man ike myself roll
back the crystal food gates of Heaven.
and invoke spirits of departed men made
perfect, then would call upon tbs souls
of Grattan, a Curfsn, an Emmett, and
and the long line of Irish worthless whe
have gone to come down to earth and en-
Tighten your benightcd understandings
And from out the crystal Hoodgates d
heaven would Issue sound as sweet anc
enchanting as the songs Of angels ant
arch angels singing the praises of tn,
Lamb for ever and eyer, and the burthel
of that sound would be. gentlemen of TIN
Jury, McLdwren is innocent, Nc Lauren /,
iDrocenL MeLGuren Is mpocent, and so !
Hdgang"
Down sat the distinguished advOcdts
Z amid thunders Of applause, and the Jur.
! acquitted the prisoners without leaving CHI
hnw, VV&a ravnr f1,n kr;,,z,s :