ich
to determine whether you previously belonged to the Fenian
confederacy. I told them they were at liberty to consider
whether you would have got that rank if you then joined for
the first time.

PRISONER--Precisely the same thing, but in different
phraseology. Am I to understand that I have not liberty to
address the court as to why sentence should not be pronounced
upon me?

THE CHIEF BARON--You are not so to consider. You are at
liberty to address the court, but you are not at liberty to
comment upon the evidence to show that the verdict was wrong.

PRISONER--What can I speak on? To what can I speak, if not to
something connected with my case? I am not here to refer to a
church matter or any political question.

THE CHIEF BARON--I have informed you what we are bound to
rule.

PRISONER--Then I state, my lord, that as an American citizen,
I protest against the whole jurisdiction of this court, from
the commencement of my arraignment down to the end of my
trial. I protest against being brought here forcibly, and
against my being convicted on the evidence of a man whom you
yourselves designated a man of the most odious character.
You instructed the jury pointedly on one occasion, and
subsequently you said that no respectable jury could act on
his evidence, and that it was a calamity for any government,
to have to resort to the evidence of such a man. I do not wish
to say anything disrespectful to this eourt, but I think I may
say that if I stand here as a convicted felon, the privilege
should be accorded to me that has been accorded to every other
person who stood here before me in a similar position. There
is a portion of the trial to which I particularly wish to
refer. That is, in reference to the oath which it was stated
the pilot was forced to take on board the vessel. Much
importance was attached to this matter, and therefore I wish
to ask you and others in this court to look and to inquire if
there is any man here who could suppose that I am scoundrel
enough and ignorant enough to take an ignorant man, put a
pistol to his face, and force him to take an oath I ask you,
in the first place, not to believe that I am such a scoundrel,
and in the second that I am not such an idiot. If I were at
this moment going to my grave, I could say that I never