The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-05-19
a Second Robert Emmet,

Two Of the Fcnian leaders in Ire
land have just been convicted and
sentenced 20 death by n Dublin jury.
One of the witnesses against them was
The Infamous renegade, Massey, pa
ragraph concerning whom we pub
lished yesterday. One of the unfor-
tunate men convicted was Zen. Burke,
who, it seems, was an officer in this
country during the late war. 1t is to
n aspeech lie delivered before the court,
when asked why sentence of death
should not be pronounced against
him, that we desire to call attention.
In speaking of this noble speech,
the Richmond Times says that, "in
pathos and eloquence, it has no pa
rallel, except in that of the noble
Emmet; and it will be remembered
in Ireland, .honored by tho patriot
and wept over in the cotter's cabin,
as long rs the memory of heroic deeds
IS treasured by gallant people," 1t
IS stated that, during its delivery, the
court and.a vast audience appeared
spell-bound, as if by n voice from
beyond the grave" We introduce it
n the language of the Times: "Let
every Irishman rejoice that, by the
splendid courage, eloquence. and pa
thos of one manned, broken and
feeble prisoner, the sunset glory and
immortal radiance Of true patriotism
will gild the ruins and wreck of the
dead order"
u ''It is not my desire now, my lords.
30 give utterance to one word against
the verdict which has been pro-
nounccd against me. But, fully con-
sclous of my honor as man, which
has never been impugned-fully con-
sclous that can go into my grave
With name and character unsullied-
can only say this: that these par
ties, actuated by desire either for
their own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or to save
their own paltry, miserable lives, have
pandered to the appetite, if I may so
speak. of justice, and my life shall
be the forfeit. Fully convinced and
satisfied of the righteousness of nv
every act in connection with the late
revolutionary movement in Ireland,
| have nothing to recall nothing
'hat L would not do again-ncthing
that would bring up the blush of
shame to mantle my brow; my con-
Duct and career, both here md in
America-if you like, as soldier
are before you. and, even in this nv
hour of trial, feel the consciousness
of having lived an honest man; and
! will die proudly, believing that, if
| have given my life to give freedom
and liberty to the land of my birth, (
nave done only that which every
lrlshman and every man whose soul
:hrobs with feeling of liberty should
10. l, my lords, shall scarcely-I
feel l should not at all-mention the
Aamc of Massey. / feel l should not
pollutc my lips with the name of that
:raltor, whose illegitimacy has been
proved here-a man whose name even
IS not known, and who, / deny point
blank, ever wore the star of a colonel
N the Confederate army. Him l shall
let rest. | shall pass him, wishing
Aim, III the words of the poet:
Nay the grass wither from his feet:
LAY the woods deny him shcltcr-earth n
home;
he ashes grave; the sun his light:
ana Heaven Its God.
Let Massey remember, from this
day forth, he carries with him, rs nv
learned and eloquent counsel (Mr.
Dowse) has stated, a serpent that will
gnaw his cOnscience-willca carry about
with him in his breast living hell,
from Which he can never be sepa-
rated. L, my lords, have no desire
for the name of martyr. 1 seek
not the death of n martyr; but If it
is the will of the Almighty and Om-