Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-01-04
Mr. Meagher's Speech.

wv S''C oCioW tie speech OF Nlf Mea-
CHER, one of the Irish State prisoners, who
was prosecuted and sentenced 10 death for
endeavoring, by revolution TO establish an
independent government in Ireland. We
know little of the parties and preiudices
which exist among the people of that op-
pressed and illfated island. Whatever Mr.
Meagher's views may have been on other
subjects, that he was sincere and self
sacrificing friend of Irish liberty, there
can be no doubt. Meagher has noble
mind, and patriotic heart.
There is power and pathos in every
sentence Of his speech. 1t is in subdu-
ed tone, but well conceived and lofty in
its sentiment. 1t is much superior to that
delivered by the council for O'Brien. And
in ages to come when Ireland shall be free
when the Papal church, (Which proved
recreant to the cause Of Irish liberty in the
time of Irish peril) shall be reformed or
overthrown-ln That age Emmet's tomb
will be built-and Meagher and Mitchell
and O'Brien will be canonized with him
i'll the pages Of history, as some of ssthe
few, the noble names that were not born
to die. - Chicago Herald.
Before the sentence of death was pro-
neunced Mr. Meagher said:
1t is my intention to say few words.
| desire that the last act of proceeding
which has occupied SO much Of the public
time should be of short duration, nor have
| the indclicate wish 10 close the dreary
ceremony of a State prosecution with
vain display Of words. Did I fear that,
hereafter when shall be no more, the
country | have tsied TO serve would think
i'll of me, l might indeed avail myself of
this solemn moment to vindicate my senti-
ments and my conduct. But / have no
such fear. The country will judge of
these sentiments, and that conduct, in
light, | think, far different from that in
which the jury by which have been
convicted have viewed them; and perhaps
the sentence you, my lords, are about to
pronounce, will be remembered only as
the severe and solemn attestations of nv
rectitude and truth.
Whatever may be the language in which
that sentence will be spoken, | know that
my fate wi meet with sympathy land tha,
my memory will behonorei. In speaking
thus, accuse me not, my Lords, of an in
decorous presumption. To the efforts that
! have made for what have conceived TO
be just and noble cause, l ascribe no vain
importance; nor do claim for them any
high reward. But SO it happens, and it
will ever so happen, that they who have
tried TO serve their country, no matter how
weak their efforts may have been, are sure
to receive the thanks and blessings Of its
people. With the country then, l leave
my memory, my sentiments, my acts,
proudly feeling that they require no vim
dication from this, day. A jury of my
coun'rymen it is true, have found me gull
ty Of the crime of which | was indicted.
For this l entertain not the slightest feel
ing of resentment against them; influenced
as they must have been by the charge of
the Lord Chief Justice, they, perhaps,
could lave returned no other verdict.
What Of that charge? Any strong ob-
servations on it sincerely feel would i'll
beft the solemnity OF this scene; but
would earnestly entreat of you, my Lords
you, who preside on that bench-when
the prcjudices and passions of this hour
have passed away, to appeal TO your own
conscience, and ask of twas your
charge, as it ought to have been, impartial
between the subject and the CROWN NV
Lords you may deem this language unbe-
coming in me, perchance it may seal my
fate; but am here TO speak the truth,
whatever it may cost. | am here 10 re-
gret nothing that | have ever done-to re-
tract nothing that have ever said. am
not here TO crave, with lying lip, the life
| consecrate to the liberties OF my country.
Far from it. Even here, where the thief,
the liberiine, the murderer, have left their
foot prints in the dust--here in this spot
where the shadow Of death surrounds me,
and from which | sec an early grave in
an Amounted soil open TO receive me-
even here, surrounded by terrors, that
hope that beckoned me 10 the perilous sea
on which have been wrecked, sill con-
soles, animates and enrap,ures me. No!
| do not despair Of my poor old country
her peace, her liberty, her glory.
i VI Iiiat Coiii'Il can now 90 no more
than bid her hope. To lift this Island up;
to make her benefactor TO humanity in
stead OF what she is--the meancs' bcggar
in the world--to restore 10 her her native
powers, and her ancient constitution this
has been my ambition, this ambition has
been my crime. Judged by the law of En-
gland, | know this crime entails upon me
the penalty of death. But the history of
Ireland explains my crime and iustifes it.
Judged by this history lam no criminal;
and turning round to Wards his fellow
prisoner, M'Manus. you are not Grim
inal, and TO O'Donahue,] You are no
criminal, and we deserve no punishment.
Judged by that history, the treason Of
which l have been convicted, loses all its
guilt; it is sanc,ified as duty and will be
embalmed as sacrifice.
With these sentiments, my Lords, /
await the sentence Of the Court. Having
done what feel to be my duty; having
spoken now, as did on every occasion
during my short life, what felt to be the
truth, now bid farewell to the country
Of my birth, my passion and death, that
country whose nisfortun-s have invoked