Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-02-11
EsOhcri E3I,in,Ct.

Below we print portion of the patriotic speech
delivered by Robert Emmett before Lord Norbury,
when asked why sentence of death should not be
pronounced according to law:
My Lords-What have to say Why sentence
Of death should not be pronounced upon me-
according to law? | have nothing to say, that
can alter your Iredctermination, nor that il will
bccome me to say with any view to the mtiga-
tion of that sentence which you are here TO pro
n0unce, and must abide by. But have that
TO say, which interests me more than life, and
which you have labored, (as was necessarily your
office in the present circumstances Of this OPP
pressed cOuntry) TO destroy. | have much 10
FAY why my reputation should be rescued from
the load of false accusation and calumny which
has been hcapcd upon it. | do not imagine that
seated where you are, your minds can he so tree
from mpurity, as TO receive the least impression
from what am going TO utter-i have no hopes
That can anchor my character in the breast Of
court constituted and tralAmerd as this isl
rn'y wish. and it is the utmost expect, that
your icrdshps may suater il tu float down your
memories untaintod by the foul breath Of prcju-
dice, until il finds some more h0spitahlc harLor
To shelter il from the storm hy which il is at
present bulrted. Was only to suffer DEATH ai-
Ter being adiudgcd guilty by you tribunal-I
should bow IN silence, aud meet the fate that
awaits me without murmur but the sentence
OF law which delivers my body TO the execution
cr, will, through the ministry Of that law, labor
in its own vindieai0n to consign my character
10 ohloquy-for there must be guilt somewhere
whether in the sentence Of the court or in the
catastrophe, pnstcrity must determine. 4 man
in my situation, my lords, has not only to en-
counter the difficulties Of fortune, aud the force
of power over minds which it has corrupted or
suliugatcd, but the difficulties of established
prejudice: the man dies hnt. his memory lives
that mine may not perish that it may I've in the
respect Of my countrym"n seize upon ihia np-
poruniiy to viudicate myself from some of the
charges alleged against me. When my spirit
shall he waited TO a more friendly port when
my shade shall have joined the bands of those
mariyred heroes who have shed their blood on
the scafod and in the field. in defence of their
country and Of virtue. this is my hope | wish
That my m"mory ana name may animate those
who survive me, while look down with compla
cency on the destruction Of that pnrGdous gov
ernment, which uphods its domination by bias.
phemy of the Most IIigh-which displays its
power over man as over the beasts of the forest
which sets man upon his brother, and Tits his
hand in The name of God against the throat of
his fellow who helevcs or doubts itlle more or
lntlr less than the government staudaM a
government which is stecled to hatbarttv by The
cries Of the orphans and the tears Of the widows
which it has made
have always understood it to be The dntv Of
o iudge when a prisoner has been convicted to
pronounce the sentence Of the law | have also
understood that judges sometimes think it their
duty to hear with patience, aud to speak with
humanity to exhort the victim of the laws. and
10 offer with tender benignity his opinions Of the
mOtiycs by which be was aotuatcd ia the crime
of which be had heep adjudgcd guilty: that "A
judge has thought it his duty so to have done.
have no doubt-bnt where is the boa-lcd freedom
Of your institutions, where is the Wanted impar-
tiality, clemency, aud mildncsS Of yonr courts of
justice, il an unfortunate prisoner, whom vour
policy, and not pnre justice, is about to deliver
into the bands OF the eXeculioner, is not suffered
10 explain his motives sincerely and truly, and
to vindeate the principles by which he was ac.u-
alod
My lords, it may be part Of tie system Of
angry justice, to bow a man mind by humil ia
ti0n TO the purposed ignomny of the scafold ::
but worse to me than the purposed shame, or the
scaiOld's terrors would be the shame of such
foul and unfoanded mputatiOns as have been
laid againrt me in this court You, my lord, are
ii Judge, am the supposed culprit ! am man,
}0u are man also ; by revolution of power
We might change places, though we never could
change characters il | stand ut the bar Of this
court and dare not vindicae my character, what
farce is your justice? II stand ut this bar
and dare not vindicate my character, how dare
yon calumnlate t2 Does the sentence Of death
which your unhallowed policy inhiets on my
body, al lso condemn my tongue to silence and my
reputation to reproach? Your execuioner may
abrdge the period Of my existence but while /
exist, shall not forhear to vindcate my charac-
ter and motives from your aspersions and as I,
man to whom fame is dearcr than life, | will make
the last use Of that life in doing justice to that
reputation which is to live after me, and which
is the only legacy ! can leave to those | honor
and love, and for whom am proud TO perish.
As men, my lord. we must APPEAR at the great
day at one common tribunal, aud ID ~.Ii thea re-
main for tue searchcr Of all hearts 10 show col.
lrciive universe who was engaged in The most
vlrtuous actions, or actuated by the purest mo-
tives.
] en- charged with being al cmissary of France