ld represent to the judges, most respectfully, that they, as
honourable judges, and as upright citizens, ought to see that
the administration of justice in this country is above
suspicion. I have nothing more to say with regard to the trial;
but I would be thankful to the court for permission to say a few
words after sentence is passed."

Chief Baron and Baron Pennefather: "No. We cannot hear anything from you
after sentence is pronounced."

"Then, my lords, permit me to say, that admitting the narrow and
confined constitutional doctrines, which I have heard preached
in this court, to be right, _I am not guilty of the charge
according to this Act!_ In the article of mine, on which the
jury framed their verdict, which was written in prison, and
published in the last number of my paper, what I desired to do
was this, to advise and encourage my countrymen to keep their
arms; because that is their inalienable right, which no Act of
Parliament, no proclamation can take away from them. It is, I
repeat, their inalienable right. I advised them to keep their
arms; and further, I advised them to use their arms in their own
defence against all assailants--even assailants that might come
to attack them unconstitutionally and improperly, using the
Queen's name as their sanction.

"My object in all my proceeding has been simply to establish the
independence of Ireland for the benefit of all the people of
Ireland--noblemen, clergymen, judges, professional men--in fact,
all Irishmen. I sought that object first, because I thought it
was our right; because I thought, and think still, national
independence was the right of the people of this country. And
secondly, I admit, that being a man who loves retirement, I
never would have engaged in politics did I not think it
necessary to do all in my power to make an end of the horrible
scenes the country presents--the pauperism, and starvation, and
crime, and vice, and the hatred of all classes against each
other. I thought there should be an end to that horrible system,
which while it lasted, gave me no peace of mind, for I could
not enjoy anything in my country, so long as I saw my countrymen
forced to be vicious, forced to hate each other, and degraded to
the level of paupers and brutes. This is the reason I engaged in
politics.

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