eople, on which I have so often hazarded
my all, and never been deceived; if elevated ideas of the high
destinies of this country, and of my own duties towards it, founded
on a knowledge of the moral principles and intellectual improvements
of the people, deeply engraven on my mind in early life, and not
obscured, but exalted, by experience and age; and with humble
reverence, I feel it my duty to add, if a veneration for the
religion of the people who profess and call themselves Christians,
and a fixed resolution to consider a decent respect for Christianity
among the best recommendations for the public service, can enable
me, in any degree, to comply with your wishes, it shall be my
strenuous endeavor that this sagacious injunction of the two houses
shall not be without effect.

With this great example before me--with the sense and spirit, the
faith and honor, the duty and interest of the same American people,
pledged to support the Constitution of the United States, I
entertain no doubt of its continuance in all its energy; and my mind
is prepared, without hesitation, to lay myself under the most solemn
obligations to support it to the utmost of my power.

And may that Being who is supreme over all, the patron of order, the
fountain of justice, and the protector, in all ages of the world, of
virtuous liberty, continue his blessing upon this nation and its
government, and give it all possible success and duration,
consistent with the ends of his providence!

THE BOSTON MASSACRE

(First Day's Speech in Defense of the British Soldiers Accused of
Murdering Attucks, Gray and Others, in the Boston Riot of 1770)

_May_ _If_ _Please_ _Your_ _Honor_,_ and_ _You_,_ Gentlemen_ _of_
_the_ _Jury_:--

I am for the prisoners at the bar, and shall apologize for it only in
the words of the Marquis Beccaria:--

"If I can but be the instrument of preserving one life, his
blessings and tears of transport shall be a sufficient consolation
for me for the contempt of all mankind."

As the prisoners stand before you for their lives, it may be proper
to recollect with what temper the law requires we should proceed to
this trial. The form of proceeding at their arraignment has
discovered that the spirit of the law upon such occasions is
conformable to humanity, to common sense and feeling; that it is all
benignity and candor. And the trial commences with the prayer of the
court, expressed by the clerk, to the Supreme Judge of ju