Year: 1867

There are no people on the globe so tho
roughlysimbued with eloquence as the Ir-
ish. We do not claim this for relations 8
sake, but because it is an acknowledged
fact by the world. PHILLIPS stands unri-
vailed as an orator, while the name of
EMMETT is as green in the heart-devotion of
the children of Erin as is the venerated
name of ST. PATRICK. We might write
the names of lesser lights of the past and
present, both in Ireland and America but
those names will suggest themselves to all
intelligent readers. We have now two
second ENxETs in the persons of Capt.
Mcclure and Col. Burke, who were tried
recently and condemned for treason to the
British Government, in the late Fenian
troubles. We regret to have mislaid Col.
BIS speech, but below we give the manly,
dignifed, eloquent reply of the Captain,
when asked by the Judges to say why sem
tence of death should not be passed upon
him it is taken from the Pail Mall Eng
lish) Gazette of May q. This splendid
speech will be like the immortal Emmet's,
a standard piece of defamation in the
schools of this Republic. Read it slowly
and think where the noble, but las we
think) the misguided hero stood during its
impassioned delivery


NY LoRDs-In answer to the question as
to why sentence of the court should not be
passed upon me, l would desire to make o
few remarks in relation to my late exer-
tions in behalf of the suffering people Of
this country in aiding them in their ear
nest endeavors to obtain the independence
Of their native land. Though not born on
the soil of Ireland, my parents were and
from history and the traditions of the fire.
side l became conversant with this coun-
try's miseries from my earliest childhood /;
and as the human breast possesses those
God-like attributes which make men feel
for suffering mankind, I felt for Ireland's
wrongs and for her moral degradation,
and l felt that should assist her people
in their attempt to right those wrongs and
raise her from that degradation. l shall
not now state to what cause / attribute the
failure Of the late insurrectionary move
ment nor shall l express sorrow l do
not feel with regard to my own conduct.
l am fully satisfied of the righteousness of
my every act in connection with the late
revolutionary movement having been ac-
tuated alone by a holy desire to assist in
the emancipation of an enslaved but gen.
Is IL
ure to have acted as have done in behalf
of the Irish people, than any event that
has occurred to me during my eventfnl
though youthful existence. l would wish
to be distinctly understood-and | say it
here-standing on the brink of an early
grave-that I am no fllibuster, no free
booter. came to this country with no
personal objec. to gain-with no desire for
my own advancement. / came here sole
ly out of love for Ireland and sympathy
for her people. If | have forfeited my life
for having done so, am ready to abide
the issue. If my devotion to an oppressed
people be crime, knowing, as do, that
what did was in behalf of a people who
will appreciate and honor man, although
he may not be countrymen of their own,
but still a man who is willing to suffer in
defence Of that divine American principle
the right of self-eovernment. l now
wish to tender to my learned and eloquent
counsel, MIR. Heron and Mr.. Waters, and
to my solicitor, Mr.. Collins, my sincere
and heartfelt thanks for the able manner
in which they have conducted my defence.
And now, my lords, l trust l am prepared
to submit to the penalty it will be the du-
ty of your lordships to pronounce on me.
| have no more to saw