The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-11-18
The slisia Patriots.

McSsrs Smith O'Brier., McMauus, O'Donag-
hue, and Thomas Francis NIcaghcr, leaders Of
the Irish rebellion have all been found guilty Of
tered. cabinet council of the whole Of the
Ministers Of the Crown has been held in London
which came to the decision tia, the lives Of the
prisoners should be spa red. aul sentence CON-
muted to anspor'ation-probably for life.
Each Of the prisoners addressed the court
when asked II they had anything 10 say why
sentence of death should not be passed upon
them. As sample OF IRISH eloqrence we give
below the speech Of Mr. Meag.,er, which was
delivered with remarkable frmncss and luency
'slt is my intention 10 say few woris;I
desire that the last ac, of a proceeding which
has occupied so much Of the public time
should be of shor, duration, nor have the
indelca'e wish 10 close the dreary ceremp-
ny ola State prosecution with a display of
wo;d>. Did fear, .hat hereafter, wtlen |
shall he no more, the country | have tried
TO serve would think i'll of me, | might III
deed avail myself OF this solemn moment
10 v,ndlcate my sentiments and my con-
duct. Blu, have no such fear. The conn
try will Judge OF these sentiments and that
conduct, in light, | think, far different
from that in which the jury Ivy which |
have been convicted have viewed them;
aud perhaps the sentence, you my lords,
are about opgonounce, will be remember
ed only as the severe and solemn atesla-
ton Of reclitude and lrulil-Wh aeyer may
be The language in which that sentence
will be spoken, know That my fate will
meet with sympathy, and tllat my memory
will be honorel. In speaking thus, accuse
me not, my lords, ofan indecoTous presump
ton. To the efforts have made for what
| conceived 70 lie a Just and noble cause
ascrlbe no vain importance, nor do | claim
for them any high reward. But ii so hap
pens, and it will ever so happen, that they
who have tried 10 serve their country, no
matter how weak their efforts may have
been are sure 10 receive the thahks and bles
sings Of its people. With the country, then
| leave my memory, my sentiments, my
acts, proudly feeling hat they squire no
vindicalion from me this day.
"A jury of my conn,rymen, i, is true,
have fou.d II, guilty of the crime Of which
! Was indicted. For this entertain Ao,
the slightest tce!in. of resentment against
them, influenced as obey must have been by
The charge of the Lord Chief Justice, they
perhaps could have returned no other ver-
dict. What of that charge Any strong oh
serva'ions upon it l sincerely feel would
i'll belit the soemni'y Of lhi, scene, bnt
would earnestly beseech ofyou, my Lord
you who preside upon that bench when
the prejudices and the passions Of this hour
have passed away. to appeal TO your own
conscience and ask of twas your charge
as it ought 10 have been, impartial and
indifferent between the subject and the
crown? My lords, you may deem iis Ian
gnage unbecoming IN me. and perchance it
may seal my fate: but am here to speak
the truth, whatever it may cost. | am here
TO regret nothing that have ever done
10 re,ract nothing that Lave ever said, | am
not here 10 crave with lying lip, the life
consecrae 10 the liberty of my country. Ear
from ii. Even here here where the hlef,
The ibertne, the murderer, have left their
footprints in the dust-here in this spot
where The shadow OF death surrounds me,
and from which see an early grave in an
unanointed soil open to receive me-even
here, encircled by these terrors, that hope
which beckoned ME TO The perilous sea on
who h have been wrecked, still consoles,
anima'es, and enraptures me. ..l
No. | do not despair OF my old country