The Dock and the Scaffold: The Manchester Tragedy and the Cruise of the JacknellSullivan, T. D. (Timothy Daniel)
History
The Dock and the Scaffold: The Manchester Tragedy and the Cruise of the Jacknell
Sullivan, T. D. (Timothy Daniel)
Erin's Hope (Brigantine); Fenians; Ireland -- Biography; Ireland -- Politics and government -- 19th century
COSTELLO--I would not speak one word from this dock which I
knew to be other than truth. I admit there is a great deal of
suspicion, but beyond that there are no facts proved to bring
home the charge against me. What I have stated are facts,
every one of them. Now, my lords, is it any wonder that I
should speak at random and appear a little bit excited. I am
not excited in the least. I would be excited in a degree were
I expressing myself on any ordinary topic to any ordinary
audience. It is my manner, your lordships will admit, and
you have instructed the jury not to find me guilty, but to
discharge me from the dock, if they were not positive that
I was a Fenian on the 5th March. I believe these are the
instructions that his lordship, Justice Keogh, gave to the
jury--if I were not a Fenian on the 5th March, I was entitled
to an acquittal. Well I was not a Fenian at that time. I say
so as I have to answer to God. Now, to conclude. I have not
said much about being an American citizen. For why? I am not
permitted to speak on that subject. Now, as Colonel Warren
remarked, if I am not an American citizen, I am not to be held
responsible, but to the American Government. I did not press
myself on that government. They extended to me those rights
and those privileges; they said to me, "Come forward, young
man; enrol yourself under our banner, under our flag; we
extend to you our rights and privileges--we admit you to the
franchise." I came not before I was asked. The invitation
was extended to me. I had no love then, and never will have,
towards England, and I accepted the invitation. I did forswear
allegiance to all foreign potentates, and more particularly
I forswore all allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain. Your
lordships say that the law of the land rules that I had no
right to do anything of the kind. That is a question for the
governments to settle. America is guilty of a great fraud if I
am in the wrong.
The LORD CHIEF BARON--I cannot allow you to proceed in that
line of argument.
COSTELLO--I will take up no more of your time. If I am still a
British subject, America is guilty.
The LORD CHIEF BARON--I cannot allow you to refer either to
the American people or to the American government.
COSTELLO--Would you allow me to state they enticed me from my
allegiance to England; therefore she (America) is guilty of
high treason?
The LORD CHIEF BARON--We cannot allow you to speak on that
subject.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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