Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-11-14
CLOSE OF THE IRISH TRIALS.
ELOQUENT SPEECHES OF McMANUS, O'DoN
HE Ann acuCp-


The accounts from Ireland, b. The America
virtually conclude the history OF the rebellion
Though sentence OF death had been passed on
all the Observation-Disclosures McManus and o.
Donohue-and the minor trials been adjourned
ill December, il has al length been authora
lively announced that the lives OF all parties will
be spared.
The only points 10 be noticed in connection
with these circumstances are the terse and spirit
ed speeches made by each oil the three prisoners
above named, upon their being brought, up TO re-
ceve sentence, the words Of which sentence, pro-
flaming every sentiment OF Christianity, dishonol-
ing The monarch, and Fl! only for the shambles
were precisely the sam" "a those addressed to
Mr.. O'Brien. Al that time il was OF course
not announced that the penalty would be com
muted.
McMANus, (who was recently in the hmcri-
can trade al Live'pool,) was the frs called up
In reply 10 he question il he had anything d say
why sentence u death should not BE- passed upon
him, he replied that he was enough ot Chri.-
tian and a man 10 understand rs awful response
biliiy, and that, Standing on his native soil ami in
an Irish court, he might have had much 20 say
why sentence Of death should not b. pronounced.
bur he had placed his lite and honor in the hands
OF two advocates, who had done all ior him that
he could have desired. One thing, however, he
wished 10 be unde God, namely, that whatever
part he had acted 10 his short career he stood al
that moment with a tree heart and light con-
science, ready 10 abide the issue. Whether he
was or was not 10 ascend the scafold he wished
alsot Ia put on record that IN wha' he had done he
had been aclua,ei by n, animnsiy toward Eng
lishmen since among Them he had passed some
OF his mos happy and prosperous days what
yer he NAV have ielt of The injustice Of English
rule in Ireland. He had only therefore TO say
that il was not for having loved England less.
but Tor having loved Ireland more, that he was
then about 10 b. condemned.
ODosc0uUE was The next 70 speak He did
not complain OF Inc way in which his Trial had
been conducted, s'ricl as il was but he com
planned hat some objections taken By his counsel
10 the composition OF The Jury had not been alien
ded 10. He also objected to part OF the Judges
charge tha, he, O'Dnnuehue, was guilty uilres-
son IN having assisted Mr.. O'Brien even supp,-
sing he might no, have known OF that gentleman.
real intent; and although his hardship had thus
laid down The law, he trusted, as no earthly Judge
was iniaibe, thai such a startling doctrine
would be reserved Tor consideration, so that il j,
should be erroneous the error might be repaired
or that if confirmed il might become widely
known, and put upon their guard other men
whose lives and Liberties nigh; be endangered by
it, lie was grateful 10 all who had defended him
and 80 10 the Judge for his patient hearing
MEAGHgR then stood forward He desired
| that The last act Of proceeding, which had oc-
cupied so much OF The public time, should be oil
short duration and he had not the indclica,e
wish TO close the dreary ceremony Of State
prosecution with vain display Of words. Did
he fear that his country might think i'll Of him
hereafter. he might desire, at that solemn mo
ment, 10 yindicate his conduct; but he had NJ
such fear. His country would Judge him 10
different spirit from that in which he had beer
convicted; his sentence would be regarded only
as an attestation of his rectitude and truth; hi:
fate would meet with sympathy, and hi, memoir,
be honored. To the efforts he had made in
just and noble cause, he wished 10 attach nc
undue Importance; but it would ever happen
that those who tried to serve their country, nc
matter how weak their efforts might have been
would DO sure TO receive the thanks and bes
sings of its people He felt no animosity &c
those who had decided against him after the
charge of the Lord Chief Justice, perhaps the,
could have found no other vetdict-but he woul,
ask his Lordship TO appeal, when the passion
and prejudices of the hour should have passee
away, 10 his own conscience, and TO satisfy him
self if it was such charge as it should have
been, impartial and Indifferent, between the sub
ject and the crown. This might sound unbs
coming, but il was the truth lie was not Their
to regret anything he had ever done, to retrac
anything he had ever spoken, or 10 crave, wit
lying lips, the life he consecrated to the ibertie
Of his country.
I "Far from il" he continued Even here, wher
the thief, the libertine and The murderer have lie!
| their loot prints in The dust-here on this spo
where The shadows Of death sguound me, an
/ l:om which see my ealy grave in an unconse
cra:ei soil is opened 10 receive me-even her.
I encircled BY those rerrots, the hope which beck
| oned me 10 embark upon the prrilous sea upo
which have been wrecked still consoles, AMI
/ mates, enIaplures me. No, do not despair G
my poor old country. do not despair Of he
I peace, her liberty, her glory. For that country
can do no more than bid her hope. To lift u
I this isle, 10 make her beneiactor 10 humanity
instead Of being what she is-ihe meanes, begga
! in The worlt-io restore her ancient consti;ulio
! and her native powers-ths has been my ambi
ton, and This ambition has been my crime
Judged by the law OF England, know that thi
crime entails upon me the penalty OF death, bu
The history OF Ireland explains this crime an
| justifes it, Judged By that history I'm no cr
minal; you Cunning and addressing Mr.. M Ma
nus) are no criminal; you Cunning again 10 NJ
/ O'Donohue) are no criminal; and We deserve L
punishment Judged by that history, The treaso
Of which STAND convicted loses all guilt, ha