Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-11-17
Mr. WIiteSide'S Great Speech in De-
fence of Smith 0'Bricn.

We copy from the report of the Freeman's
Journal, the magnificent peroration to the de-
fence of Mr.. Whitcside, counsel Cor Smith
O'Brien. 1t will rank among the most splen-
did specimens of forensic eloquence.
The boast of British law is, that it abhors
the shedding Of human blood. Yield to its
benign principles, to the generous impulses
of your nature, and stand between the priso-
ner and his grave. Ahorrible death-a grave
lie must not have-awaits him. Save him
by a human verdict from a fate so dismal
Review his life. From his mothers breast
he drank in love Of county from a fathers
patriotic example the passion grew TO a dan
gerous height. He has INDUCED, perhaps,
"a vision, to the peril Of life, that Ireland
might be a nation and you her guides 10
wealth and greatness. Is not death upon the
scaifold a terrible punishment for the belief,
although misguided, that lrishmen had in
tellect enough 10 rule the country oil their
birth d! In his childhood he heard that the
union with England was carried by corrup-
ton. lie heard it from an Irish Senator whom
money could not purchase-whom %"title"
could not bribe-who gave his honest vote,
and would have freely given his life, to save
the perishing Constitution Of his country.
That father Tccounted to my client what
Plunket, Bushe and Grattan spoke on the
last night of our national existence. How
he had been persuaded by the gravity Of lhelI
arguments, Influenced ny their ardor, anc
transported by their eloquence! His youth
full imagination, fired by a sense of lreland's
wrongs, dwelt on the days when we had
gentry and a Senate with intense constancy
and the passion grew that He might restorl
n Parliament 10 the land he loved. This /
his real crime; all his actions were directed
10 this end, and he has been misled by th
too implicit reliance on doctrines uniortu
nately argued by great lawyers in the hea
of a debate which they could not recall, an,
which have instructed many. Your country
man followed up these, as he believed, const
tulional opinions. lie wished ~posterily - re
view the political transactions which he la
been taught 10 condemn.
This was the source Of all his Crrors.-
Bitter disappointment has crushed his ardei
hopes; but a preliminary constitution !
wished and meant 10 have given TO lrelanr
No mans property would have been toucht
no law Of God or man would have BET
broken. He was misled into the delusiC
that Ireland's gentry were qualified for FIRE
dom, Loved by those who knew him, ge
erous, disinterested, utterly u~nsclish ihrou!
life, humane ard ender-hearted-he nc
stands at the bar of his country, 10 answer
having meant 10 XIII lUC queen, anu suOVt
the Constitution, which in heart he adort
His true offence is, that he counted for p
what is England's glory, blessing and prld
Deeply he may have erred in pursuit OF tt
darling object-will you avenge his mis-
rected patriotism by dreadful death
You may do so, and no earthly Undue
ment would tempt me 10 say, If you p
nounce the awful sentence of guilty-u
Won have not given the verdict %conscier
Commanded. Ii his countrymen condel
nv client, he will be ready 10 meet his {
with the faith Of a Christian, and with
frmness Of a man. [Sensation. The
accents of his lips will breathe a prayer
Irelaud's happiness, lreland's constitution
freedom. The dread moment that shall p
cede his mortal agonies will be consoled,
through his sulferings and his sacrifice, SO
system of government shall a..se-whicl
aver has never exisied-just, comprehens
and impartial, and above all consistent, VIII
may conduct to wealth, prosperity and gre
ness. the country he has loved, not wise
perhaps. but too well.
Would TO God Mr.. Saith O'Brlen W
NV only client. The future happiness
an honorable, ancient, loyal family is here
stake-the ChuIeh. the Bar, the Senate
furnish relatives, near and dear to this
banpy gentleman, WHO, although they dil
In n~oIilical opinion, have FASTENED to g
him brothehy consolation ihis melanch'
day. Ireland has been tho scene OIL u