lords, I look into the dictionary for the meaning of that word, I find
that it is 'a secret agreement between several to commit a crime;' and
that is the rational, common-sense definition of it. This word,
however, in recent times, has been taken under special protection by the
government; and the definition of it now is, not only a secret agreement
between several to commit crime, but they have taken two loops to their
bow, and the further depiction given of it is, to effect, or
attempt to effect, a legal object by means that are considered illegal;
and thus a conspiracy is spelt out by the construction put upon the
means that are used to attain the object sought, however legitimate that
object may be. It has been admitted even by the crown, that in this case
there is no privacy, no secresy, no definite agreement to do anything
whatsoever; but, above all, no secret agreement, no secret society, no
private information. It has been admitted by the crown that there has
not been even one act of private communication; that everything was
openly avowed, published to the world; that this 'secret conspiracy'
had no secrecy at all. What a monstrous thing it would be to hold that
that was a conspiracy which everybody knew of, everybody heard of, and
three-fifths of the people of this country were engaged in. And what
was the evidence of those conspirators assembling together? That Mr.
Such-a-one attended at such a meeting; that Mr. Barret attended at a
certain meeting; and that Mr. Duffy attended once or twice; that I.
myself attended; and this is the way the charge of conspiracy is to
be spelt out. Is it common sense that that should be denominated a
conspiracy? Conspiracy! where was it made? when was it made? how was it
made? Was it made in winter, or in summer? in spring or in autumn? Was
it made on a holiday, or on a Sunday, or on a week day? Tell me the
hour, the week, the month, the year it was made? In which of the three
quarters of the twelve months did the gestation of this conspiracy
commence? Who proposed it? Who seconded it? Who was present at it? I
don't know whether it was said that I was present at the concoction of
this conspiracy, or this agreement, private or public, or who else was
there. When and where did it take place? Ought I not, at all events, to
have the advantage of being-able to prove an alibi? No; but you must go
over nine months, and toss up which time or place you may select. Do you
not believe that