Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-06-24
TRIAL OF MITCHELL TnrrrIsH pArRror.

that is, the convicted rcpublican-of the
United Irishmen, we rise up confirmed, and
saddened in our first impression, tha, his
case affords an example of governmental
| tyranny and cruelty--nay, of monarchical
notwithstanding to every sense of right
and justice, an insult to the age, a dishonor
and humiliation to the British name. British
freedom, indeed British freedom ofspeech
British freedom of the press! We can now
understand what this sort of freedom means
in Ireland, at least We have only to follow
Mitchell TO the prison-hulks of Bermunda, -
10 see him balled and chained among felons.
in the dress, and enduring the treatment, of
ielon--a cy-slave-condemne TO four
teen years of this horrible punishment for
words, spoken in speech and printed in a
newspaper, to understand wha, that ''incsti-
mable privilehe or British freedom really
means
There is no doubt that Mitchell was one OF
the most ultra, daring and hot-headed of all
the leaders of Irish reform. He was even
republican,, an open and out-and-out republic
can end there was the gist of his offence.
He delivered fierce republican speech, and
he reported it in his JOURNAL the United Irish
man and ii was the delivery and the pub
lication which, technically, formed the body
of the felony,-only made so by recent act
of Parliament. framed almost avowedly for
the purpose of silencing Mitchel's press, or
furnishing him for his audaciy in expressing
republican sentiments.
There were circumstances attending the
sentence of Mitchell-thcre were words spo-
ken by him in Court which cannot but strike
into the hearts of lrishmen, and strike like
red hot iron. When the Clerk of the Crown
asked Mr.. Mitchell if he had any thing to
say why sentence should not be passed upon
him, he answered:
II have to say that ] have been found gull
ty by packed jury-by a jury of partizan
sheriiT-by jury not empanelled even ac-
corlng to the law of England. have been
found guilty by a packed jury obtained by n
inr"le--a jury not empanellcl by a sheriff,
,ioa of the Court: and Baron Leiroy-a Kind
Of mild aud amiahle modern Jetireys,-mlid
and amiable in department, but resalu'e IN
thn performance of all his functions rs the
iulicial tool Of tyranuy-admouished the prl-
s5npr. aud aliectionately attempted to per-
si1le him OF the fairness of the trial and
his own awful wickcdmess; and after squab-
hlinr with the aged and venerable, but most
manly and intrepid Holmes, his counsel, pro-
ceeded to pass upon him the inhnnan sen
tence of fourteen years transportation. The
| following scene then occurred:
DNlr. Mitchell then spoke as llows;-The
law has now done its part, and the Queen o
England. her Crown and Government III Ire
land are now secure, pursuant TO Aci OF far
Lament. have done my part also. lhre
months ago promised Lord Clarendon, am
his Government in this country, that woul
provoke him into his courts OF jus,cei 4
places of this kind are called, and that
would force him publicly and VIGOROUSLY
pack jury against me TO convic, me, or els
that would walk a free man out ot I'll
court, and provoke him to a contest III AM
ther field My Lord, knew was set,m
nv life on that cast but knew that IN
ther event the victory would be with m
and it is with me, Neither the jury, nor II
Judges nor any other man in this court, pr
sumes TO imagine that it is criminal WI
stands in this dock-(Al OF applaus
: which the police endeavored 10 repress)
have shown what the law is made OF in Ii
land. have shown that her Nlajesiy's Gu
) emment slstains itself by packed iurles, p
:, tizan Judges, and prejured sherltis'
" Baron Lefroy-The Court cannot sit he
> 10 hear YOU arraign the jurors of the count
the sherifIs of the country, the administrail
: of Justice; the tenure by which the Crown
England holds this county. We cannot
here and suffer you 10 proceed titus, beca'
the trial is over. Everything you had to 5
nj previous to the judgement, the Court
in ready to hear, and did hear. We cannot ;
fer YOU to stand at that bar TO repeat, m
OF saw, very nearly a repetition OF the Offer
n for which YOU have been sentenced.
or MIR. Mitchell will not say any more
that kind but say this
Baron Lefroy-Anything you wish to
4 4 we will heaV; but trust you will keep y'
So self within the limits which your own lu
n. ment will suggest TO you.
=, MIR. Mitchell have acted all through
~ business, from the first, under strong, Sc
>, of duty. do not repent anything l
~. done; and believe that the course wh''
~ have opened is only commenced Ihe
w man uho sa,c his hand burning before tn
hin rant, promised that 300 shOnld tollo@ out
a, enterprise Can not promise looking
T ,i, his friends who surrounded the dock) for
md for tuo, for three, ay for hundreds
= A loud shout of exultation here rang
rri. the Court, accompanied by immense CT
+ ing, clapping of hands, and great manii'
tions of excitement.
eef, Baron Lefroy-Oficer! officer ! rer
laws Mr. Mitchell.
md