The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 11 (of 12): Dresden Edition—MiscellanyIngersoll, Robert Green
Religion
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 11 (of 12): Dresden Edition—Miscellany
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Free thought
Understand me. I am not blaming the people. I am not blaming the
prosecution, or the prosecuting attorney. The officers of the court
are simply doing what they feel to be their duty. They did not find the
indictment. That was found by the grand jury. The grand jury did not
find the indictment of its own motion. Certain people came before the
grand jury and made their complaint--gave their testimony, and upon that
testimony, under this statute, the indictment was found.
While I do not blame these people--they not being on trial--I do ask you
to stand on the side of right.
I cannot conceive of much greater happiness than to discharge a public
duty, than to be absolutely true to conscience, true to judgment, no
matter what authority may say, no matter what public opinion may demand.
A man who stands by the right, against the world, cannot help applauding
himself, and saying: "I am an honest man."
I want your verdict--a verdict born of manhood, of courage; and I want
to send a dispatch to-day to a woman who is lying sick. I wish you to
furnish the words of this dispatch--only two words--and these two words
will fill an anxious heart with joy. They will fill a soul with light.
It is a very short message--only two words--and I ask you to furnish
them: "Not guilty."
You are expected to do this, because I believe you will be true to your
consciences, true to your best judgment, true to the best interests of
the people of New Jersey, true to the great cause of Liberty.
I sincerely hope that it will never be necessary again, under the flag
of the United States--that flag for which has been shed the bravest and
best blood of the world--under that flag maintained by Washington, by
Jefferson, by Franklin and by Lincoln--under that flag in defence of
which New Jersey poured out her best and bravest blood--I hope it will
never be necessary again for a man to stand before a jury and plead for
the Liberty of Speech.
Note: The jury in this case brought in a verdict of guilty.
The Judge imposed a fine of twenty-five dollars and costs
amounting in all to seventy-five dollars, which Colonel
Ingersoll paid, giving his services free.--C. P. Farrell.
GOD IN THE CONSTITUTION.
"_All governments derive their just powers from the consent of the
governed_."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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