Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Memoir And Trial Of The Celebrated Theobald Wolfe Tone,
the Roman Catholics of Ireland , a body of men whom 1 had once the honour to serve . ' .,,-,, PRESIDENT— ' We shall take care not to introduce any thing that does not apply to the case before us , what you speak of is not at all relative ; we cannot hear it . ' PRISONER—* I have not said any thing , I do not wish by this paper to that has not alreadbeen mentioned bboth houses
ofparliasay any thing y y ment , wliere ° my name has been so often quoted , and not always with the temper and decency befitting grave deliberation . I wish to know whether I am permitted to proceed ?' PRESIDNT— ' You must confine yourself to such matter as the Court can liear . You may proceed , Mr . Tone . ' resouices ot
Here Mr . Tone resumed as follows : ' Having considered the this country , and being convinced that she was too weak to effect her independence without assistance , I sought that assistance in France , and without any intrigue , but acting in the open honesty of my principles , and that love of freedom which has distinguished me , I have been adopted by the French Republic ; and , in the aitive discharge of my duty as a soldier , have acquired what is to me invaluable , and what I will never relinquish , the friendship of and esteem of brave
some of the best men in France , and approbation my comrades in arms . It is not the sentence of any court that can weaken the force or alter the nature of those principles on which I have acted , and Truth will outlive the hostility of those prejudices which rule Cor the day ; to her I leave the vindication of my fame , and I trust posterity will not listen to her advocation without being instruftetl . It is now more than four years since persecution forced me from this country , and I need hardly say that persohas in absence
nally I cannot be involved in any thing which happened my . In my efforts to accomplish the freedom of Ireland , I would never have had recourse to any other than open and manly war : there have been atrocities committed on both sides , which I lament ; and if the generous spirit which I have assisted to raise in the breasts of Irishmen has degenerated into a system of assassination , I believe that all who have had any knowledge ot me from mv infancy to the present hour , will be ready to admit , that no man in existence would mote heartily regret that any tyranny ot circumstances or ot
policy should so pervert the natural dispositions my countrymen , x MVC little more to say . Success is all in this life , and unfavoured by her , virtue becomes vicious in the ephemeral estimation of those who attach- every met it to orosperity . In the glorious race of patriotism , I have pursued the path wh'ch Washington has trod in America , and Kosciusko in Poland . Like the ' httcr , I have failed to effect the freedom of my country ; and un ike both , havefoneited my life . I lia .-e done my duty , and I have no doubt the to addthat who has thought and
Court will do theirs . I have only , a man acted as I have done , should be armed against the fear of death . ' Mr Tone having here ended from the written paper , the Judge Advocate ask-xi ' him if there was any thing else which he wished to stiy ? towhtch tae m-isoner replied , that if he was not to be brought up again , previous to the determination of the Court , he would take the present opportunity of offering few words
a more . The President desired him to proceed . _ M ) . TONE— ' I believe that I stand under the same circumstances of our Emkm in France , and I only wish to experience that induLence which the svtrmthy ofhonourable feerin ^ and the magnanimity of the French kepuWic , erar ' ed to Charette and Sombrueil , in allowing them the death o a sold . ei . I , equcstingto be shot , T y ield to no personal feeling and am only directed by a respect for the uniform which . I wear , and the brave army in which 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Memoir And Trial Of The Celebrated Theobald Wolfe Tone,
the Roman Catholics of Ireland , a body of men whom 1 had once the honour to serve . ' .,,-,, PRESIDENT— ' We shall take care not to introduce any thing that does not apply to the case before us , what you speak of is not at all relative ; we cannot hear it . ' PRISONER—* I have not said any thing , I do not wish by this paper to that has not alreadbeen mentioned bboth houses
ofparliasay any thing y y ment , wliere ° my name has been so often quoted , and not always with the temper and decency befitting grave deliberation . I wish to know whether I am permitted to proceed ?' PRESIDNT— ' You must confine yourself to such matter as the Court can liear . You may proceed , Mr . Tone . ' resouices ot
Here Mr . Tone resumed as follows : ' Having considered the this country , and being convinced that she was too weak to effect her independence without assistance , I sought that assistance in France , and without any intrigue , but acting in the open honesty of my principles , and that love of freedom which has distinguished me , I have been adopted by the French Republic ; and , in the aitive discharge of my duty as a soldier , have acquired what is to me invaluable , and what I will never relinquish , the friendship of and esteem of brave
some of the best men in France , and approbation my comrades in arms . It is not the sentence of any court that can weaken the force or alter the nature of those principles on which I have acted , and Truth will outlive the hostility of those prejudices which rule Cor the day ; to her I leave the vindication of my fame , and I trust posterity will not listen to her advocation without being instruftetl . It is now more than four years since persecution forced me from this country , and I need hardly say that persohas in absence
nally I cannot be involved in any thing which happened my . In my efforts to accomplish the freedom of Ireland , I would never have had recourse to any other than open and manly war : there have been atrocities committed on both sides , which I lament ; and if the generous spirit which I have assisted to raise in the breasts of Irishmen has degenerated into a system of assassination , I believe that all who have had any knowledge ot me from mv infancy to the present hour , will be ready to admit , that no man in existence would mote heartily regret that any tyranny ot circumstances or ot
policy should so pervert the natural dispositions my countrymen , x MVC little more to say . Success is all in this life , and unfavoured by her , virtue becomes vicious in the ephemeral estimation of those who attach- every met it to orosperity . In the glorious race of patriotism , I have pursued the path wh'ch Washington has trod in America , and Kosciusko in Poland . Like the ' httcr , I have failed to effect the freedom of my country ; and un ike both , havefoneited my life . I lia .-e done my duty , and I have no doubt the to addthat who has thought and
Court will do theirs . I have only , a man acted as I have done , should be armed against the fear of death . ' Mr Tone having here ended from the written paper , the Judge Advocate ask-xi ' him if there was any thing else which he wished to stiy ? towhtch tae m-isoner replied , that if he was not to be brought up again , previous to the determination of the Court , he would take the present opportunity of offering few words
a more . The President desired him to proceed . _ M ) . TONE— ' I believe that I stand under the same circumstances of our Emkm in France , and I only wish to experience that induLence which the svtrmthy ofhonourable feerin ^ and the magnanimity of the French kepuWic , erar ' ed to Charette and Sombrueil , in allowing them the death o a sold . ei . I , equcstingto be shot , T y ield to no personal feeling and am only directed by a respect for the uniform which . I wear , and the brave army in which 1