by its example, would be as important as its valour, disciplined, gallant, pregnant with science and experience; who would perceive the good, and polish the rough points of our character; they would come to us as strangers, and leave us as friends, after sharing in our perils and elevating our destiny. These were my objects; not to receive new task-masters, but to expel old tyrants, these were my views, and these only became Irishmen. It was for these ends I sought aid from France, because France, even as an enemy, could not be more implacable than the enemy already in the bosom of my country. [Here he was interrupted by the court.] I have been charged with that importance in the efforts to emancipate my country, as to be considered the key-stone of the combination of Irishmen; or, as your lordship expressed it, "the life and blood of conspiracy." You do me honour over-much. You have given to the subaltern all the credit of a superior. There are men engaged in this conspiracy, who are not only superior to me, but even to your own conceptions of yourself, my lord; men. before the splendor of whose genuis and virtues, I should bow with respectful deference, and who would think themselves dishonoured to be called your friend-who would not disgrace themselves by shaking your blood stained hand [Here he was interrupted.] What, my lord, shall you tell me, on the passage to that scaffold, which that tyranny, of which you are only the intermediary executioner, has erected for my murder, that I am accountable for all the blood that has, and will be shed in this struggle of the oppressed against the oppressor?-shall you tell me this--and must I be so very a slave as not to repel it? I do not fear to approach the omnipotent Judge, to answer for the conduct of my whole life; and am I to be appalled and falsified by a mere remnant of mortality here? By you too, who, if it were possible to collect all the innocent blood that you have shed in your unhallowed ministry, ip one great reservoir, your lodship might swim in it. [Here the Judge interfered.] Let no man dare, when I am dead, to charge me with dishonour; let no man attaint my memory by believing that I could have engaged in any cause but that of my country's liberty and independence; or that I could have become the pliant minion of power in the oppression or the miseries of my countrymen. The proclamation of the provisional government speaks for our views; no inference can be tortured from it to countenance barbarity or debasement at home, or subjection, humiliation, or treachery from abroad; I would not have submitted to a foreign oppressor for the same reason that I would resist the foreign and domestic oppressor; in the dignity of freedom I would have fought upon the threshold of my country, and its enemy should enter only by passing over my lifeless corpse. Am who lived but for my country, and who have subjected myself to the dangers of the jealous and watchful oppressor, and the bondage of the grave, only to give my countrymen their rights, and my country her independence, and am I to be loaded with alumny, and not suffered to resent or repel it--No, God forbid ' If the spirits of the ilustrious dead participate in the concerns and cares of those who are dear to them in this transitory lifeO ever dear and venerated shade of my departed father, look down with scrutiny upon the conduct of your suffering son; and see if I have even for a moment deviated from those principles of morality and patriotism which it was your care to instil into my youthful mind; and for which I am now to offer up my life.. My lords, you are impatient for the sacrifice the blood which you seek, is not congealed by the artificial terrors which surround your victim; it circulates warmly and unruffled, through the channels which God created for, noble purposes, but which you are bent to destroy, for purposes so grievous, that they cry to heaven.-Be yet patient! I have but a few words more to say. I am going to my cold and silent grave my lamp of life is nearly extinguished: my race is run: the grave opens to receive me, and I sink into its bosom! I have but one request to ask at my departure from this world,—it is the charity of its silence — Let no man write my epitaph: for as no man who knows my motives dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and ime repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times, and other men, can do justice to my character; when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written.--I have done. THE END. CONTENTS TO PHILLIPS' SPEECHES. PREFACE, by Mr. Finlay Page ៦ Speech delivered at a Public Dinner given to Mr. Finlay by the Roman Catholics of 9 20 Speech delivered at an Aggregate Meeting of the Roman Catholics of Cork Speech delivered at an aggregate Meeting of the Roman Catholics of the county and Petition referred to in the preceding Speech, drawn by Mr. Phillips at the request The Address to H. R. H. the Princess of Wales, drawn by Mr. Philips at the re- 54 Speech delivered by Mr. Phillips at a public dinner given to him by the Friends of Speech of Mr. Phillips in the case of Guthrie v. Sterne, delivered in the Court of 66 Speech of Mr. Phillips in the case of O'Mullan v. M'Korkill, delivered at the County 83 Speech in the case of Connaghton v. Dillon delivered in the County Court-house of : 100 Speech of Mr. Phillips in the case of Creighton v. Townsend, delivered in the Court - 138 Speech of Mr. Phillips delivered at the Annual Meeting of the British and Foreign Letter of Mr. Phillips to George IV. October 6th, 1820. 153 159 - 165 549 CONTENTS TO CURRAN'S SPEECHES. On the right of election of lord mavor of the city of Dublin, between alderman Howison and James, before the lord lieutenant and privy council of Ireland, On moving that it is the exclusive privilege of the house of commons to origi- Page. |