A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and Other Crimes and Misdemeanors; From the Earliest Period to the Year 1783 - With Notes and Other Illustrations Volume 23, P. 1817 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1817 edition. Excerpt: ...to talents and eloquence, but for the soundness of my I never attempt to prejudice the people againsta jury. I_ever_will_lif_t up my _voice against any act of iniquity, in lmpannell1ng a jury, --against every act ot iniquity, in trymg to mislead a 'ury, or in trying to mlluence a. jury; even if the man on the bench tries to influence a jury, I shall stop him, I shall withhold him, and tell him, it is not his duty, though he sits there as judge, and I stand here as a criminal; it is my nght as a Briton, to keep him within the bounds of his duty, to keep him close to the execution of the laws, if he attempts to depart from them in any one instance. With the same spirit of inflation, the public prosecutor has swelled out the treasonable matter which he says lies on the table; and he is obliged, in the end, to tell you, that if it appears to you that the British convention rea y had no seditious motives, if they were only, bona fide, seeking a reform in parliament, whether it was to be by annual parliaments, or whether it was to be attended with universal sufii-age, or in whatever wa it may take place, yet that convention must e innocent. But, says he, you must concur with me, that the arole and written evidence are more than sufhcient to prove him guilty-; and adds a very curious rcasoning: --he says, if you wait till you have positive proof, it will be too late; therefore. make haste; avail yourselves of the presumptive proof that I give you, and condemn him; which is to say, 5 ort with the lives, sport with the liberties 0 English. men, for fear of accidents befalling you herel3fll'.--1S that the language of mercy? Is i that the language of the constitution?--Is it the language of the laws?--He calls his proofs in the first instance solid.