oked, are
devils, and not men; "the tempters ere the accusers." When I contemplate
such conduct--but I will not waste another word, or another moment of
your time upon this miserable Association. If I had consulted my better
judgment, I should have passed them in silence; thus much my indignation
has wrung from my contempt.

I shall now, gentlemen, proceed to the examination of the libel, or
rather that which is charged as a libel itself; and I shall begin with
the last part so charged in the indictment, instead (as my learned friend
has done) with the first; and let me beg your regard to one remarkable
fact, that at the very point of the paper, at which the motives, and
design of the writer present themselves to the reader; at that very point
this indictment stops. It has not, as you will presently see, the
candour to proceed a single syllable farther. I will now read the
passage, "Reform," it says, "will be obtained when the existing
authorities have no longer the power to withhold it, and not before, we
shall gain it as early without petitioning as with it; and I would again
put forward my opinion that something more than a petitioning attitude is
necessary." This it has been urged to you, with great emphasis, is an
excitement to insurrection; and you are called upon to draw that
inference, though the author immediately afterwards disavows, expressly
disavows any such intention. But even, if the words stood alone, I deny
that you are compelled to such a construction. Gentlemen, will any one
venture to say, that I, standing in this place, and in the very exercise
of my profession, mean any thing, but what is strictly legal, when I say
myself, that supposing reform in Parliament be necessary, something more
than mere petitioning is requisite to obtain it? But in saying this, do
I mean any thing violent or illegal? Heaven forbid; No: but I would have
societies formed, and meetings held for the purpose of discussing that
momentous subject. If reform be necessary, and the desire of a great
majority of the country, I would have that desire shown unambiguously to
the legislature, by resolutions and declarations at such meetings. Who
will deny such societies and meetings to be legal? Yet, such meetings
would be more than mere petitioning, much more: and the author means
nothing beyond this; for I say, that in the absence of all other
criteria, the only means of judging of a writer's intentions are his
words. Loo