Book Description

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. 1872 edition. Excerpt: ... 8o ADVOCATES PREFACE. adopted for the regulation of the trial of this unfortunate Prince. That conflict of uncertainty, in which hope overcomes fear, was impossible. To justify a reasonable hope of any favourable issue, it was necessary to give timely support to the Defence by petitions--by considerations of policy, the advantages of peace, and the future aggrandisement of our country. In order to cope with the power of adverse fortune, it was deemed most desirable to divide the opposition, by providing a just and energetic Defence before the Courtmartial, and, at the same time, to call the attention of the Supreme Government to the extremes of opinion that the country might go to: to point out the danger of severity, and the incalculable advantages of moderation, in the exercise of--on the one hand, power to avenge--on the other, justice. This latter portion of the trust we accepted as the only hope. The labours of a judicial defence were confided to the esteemed Licentiates Don Eulalio Maria Ortega and Don Jesus Maria Vazquez; while our own efforts were in duty directed to whatever else the Archduke, the Baron de Magnus (Minister of Prussia to the Empire), and Senor Hoorickx (Charge-d'Affaires from Belgium) our fellowtravellers to Queretaro, believed to be of moment, as involving the life or death of the Prince, who had taken upon himself the ruling of the destinies of Mexico. Concurring in our general views, we travelled together to San Luis Potosi, on a mission, to the proper discharge of which we bent all the powers of our mind and will. In the tempests of the political life of nations, there is a conflict of opinions, of desires, and of passions. And the means of arriving at the truth (the safest criterion of justice) lose their...