The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1902-03-06


swear by the Throne of Heaven, before
which l must shortly appear-by the
blood of the murdered patriots who
have gone before me-that my conduct
has been, through all this peril, and
through all my purposes, governed
only by the convictions which / have
uttered, and by no other view than
that of the emancipation Of my coun-
try from the super-inhuman oppression
under which she has so long and too
patiently travelled; and l confidently
and assuredly hope that, wild and chi
merical as it may appear, there is still
union and strength in Ireland to ac-
complish this noble enterprise. OF
this l speak with the confidence of in
innate knowledge, and with the con
ISOLATION that appertains to that conf
dence. Think not, my lords, say this
for the petty qualification of giving you
a transitory uneasiness. A man who
never yet raised his voice to assert
lie will not hazard his character with
posterity by asserting falsehood on a
subject 80 important to his country,
and on an occasion like tnis. Yes, my
lords, a man who does not wish to
have his epitaph written until his coun-
try is liberated, will not leave a
weapon in the power Of envy, nor a
pretense to impeach the probity which
he means to preserve, even in the
grave to which tyranny consigns him.
Lord Norbury-You proceed to un-
warrantable lengths, in order to exas-
perate or delude the uuwary, and cir
culate opinions of the most dangerous
tendency, for purposes of mischief
Again / say that what | have spoken
was not intended for your lordship,
whose situation l commiserate rather
than envy--my expressions were for
my countrymen. If there is a true
Irishman present let my last words
cheer him in the hour of his affection.
Lord Norbury-What you have
hitherto said confirms and justifies
the verdict of the jury.
have always understood it to be the
duty of Judge, when prisoner has
been convicted, to pronounce the SEN
tence of the law. | have also under
stood that judges sometimes think il
their duty to hear with patience, and
to speak with humanity; to exhort the
victim of the laws, and to offer, witt
tender benignity, their opinions of the
motives by which he was actuated il
the crime of which he was adjudgeC
guilty. That a judge has thought i
his duty so to have done, have nc
doubt; but where is the boasted free
dom of your instltutions-where is th'
Wanted impartiality, clemency ant
mildness of your courts of justice, j
an unfortunate prisoner, whom you
policy, and not pure justice, is abou
to deliver into the hands of the execu
tioner, is not suffered to explain hi
motives sincerely aud truly, and tc
vindicate the principles by which h'
was actuated? Ny lords, it may be
part of the system of angry justice t.
bow mans mind by humiliation t
the purposed ignominy of the scaffold
but worse to me than the purpose,
shame, or the scaffold's terrors, woult
be the shame of such foul and unbound
ed imputations as have been lai,
against me in this court You, M
lord, are a judge; am the suppose
culprit. / am man; you are man
also. By revolution of power W
might change places, though we neve
could change characters. If I stand q
the bar Of this court and dare not win
dictate my character, what farce
justice!, If | stand at this bar an
can not. vindicate my character, ho'
dare you calumniate i'll Does the ser
tence of death, which your unhallowe
policy inficts upon my body, also cor
denim my tongue to silence and m
reputation to reproach? Your execu
toner may abridge the period of m
} existence; but while exist / shall nc