It will be readily supposed that the United chiefs,
who frequented the cave in which Edward Barrymore
was confined, partook largely of the public
excitement on this occasion. As their designs,
however, were far from being ripe for execution,
they had the prudence to suppress their feelings,
and to act with moderation; and were, also, at
considerable pains to restrain the popular fury
from breaking out prematurely into acts of violence.
In consequence of this solicitude to prevent
atrocities that would have been detrimental
to their cause, they preserved the jury that had
convicted Orr, from becoming victims to the fury
of some of the more daring and fanatical of their
party, who had denounced vengeance against
them.
One evening as Porter and Nelson were discoursing
on this subject in Edward's presence, in
such a manner as almost compelled him to express
his opinion, he remarked that it was neither his
province nor his inclination to defend the executive
authority on all occasions. “It is not necessary,”
said he, “that an adherent of our admirable
form of government, should defend the general
management of any particular administration, much
less approve of any isolated act of harshness or
cruelty. Still, however, before I can agree to consign
the present ministers altogether to infamy, I
must know the motives which induced them to
permit this unhappy execution. False representations
of the case, may have been made to them.
They may have been persuaded that Orr was actually
guilty of seducing the soldier from his allegiance,
and therefore wished by a severe example to
deter others from such practices. But, gentlemen, be
my opinions on this subject what they may, I cannot
help expressing my sorrow for the calamities
which I perceive accumulating on the country, and
which it is my sincere conviction, have had their
origin in the unjustifiable and illegal attempts of secret
associations to overawe the established authorities
into measures, the beneficial tendency of
which is, to say the least of it, controvertible.”
“Sir,” said Nelson, “though we dislike your sentiments,
we cannot but admire the candour with
which you express them; nor can we be offended
at your freedom of speech, since an avowed antagonist
is a much safer companion than a treacherous
colleague.”
The conversation was here interrupted by the
entrance of O'Halloran, with a bundle of letters,
one of which he handed to Nelson, saying, “here
is bad news for you. They have done what I long
since predicted they would sometime do.”
The transaction to which he alluded, will be related
in the next chapter.
