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e know that without it no state of society； at all worthy of the dignity of human nature； at all worthy of the dignity of freemen； can exist； without active justice； indeed； the name of Freedom becomes a mere sound of mockery。 I have been taught to hold the opinion； gentlemen； that if there is one obligation more imperative than any other； imposed upon an American by the privileges of his birth…right； it is this very duty of maintaining justice in her full integrity； of raising his voice in her behalf when she is threatened； of raising his arm in her defence when she is assailed。 To move at the first clear appeal of justice； is surely one of the chief duties of every American citizen； of every man blessed with freedom of speech and freedom of action； and； surely； if this be a general rule； it would become a double act of moral cowardice； to desert the post； when those individual rights； confided especially to my own protection； including interests so important to myself； are audaciously assailed。 If there are circumstances which partially remove the weight of this obligation； of this public struggle for justice； from portions of the community； from the aged； who have already firmly upheld every honourable principle through a long course of years； and from those who are confined by their natural position to the narrow but holy circle of domestic duties； if such be honourable exemptions from bearing the brunt of the battle； it is only to open the front rank to every active citizen； laying claim to manliness and honesty。 Such I conceive to be the obligation imposed upon myself； by the demand of the plaintiff。 Upon examination； I can find no sufficient evidence to support this claim； it becomes therefore； in my belief； by its very nature； an atrocious outrage alike to the living and the deadan insulting violation of natural justice and the law of the land； sufficient to rouse every justifiable effort in resistance。
〃Whenever attention may be called to a question； of a character audaciously unprincipled； even when quite independent of personal advantage and personal feeling； I should still hope that duty as a man； duty as a freeman； would have sufficient influence over my actions； to urge me forward in opposition to its unrighteous demands； just so far as common sense and true principle shall point the way。 Such I conceive to be the character of the present question； were there no pecuniary interest； no individual feeling at stake； I should still conceive it a duty to hold on the present occasion the position in which I now stand。
〃The grounds upon which this opinion as to the character of the case has been formed； the grounds upon which we base our defence； must now be laid before you。〃
After this opening； Harry proceeded with an outline of the testimony for the defence。 His statement was very clear and accurate throughout； but as it contained nothing but what is already known to the reader； we shall omit this part of his remarks。
After he had given a general account of the conduct and views of the defendants； Mr。 Ellsworth proceeded to lay the legal evidence in their possession； before the court。 The first point examined； was the testimony they had received as to the death of William Stanley。 The wreck of the Jefferson was easily proved； by a letter from the captain of the American ship Eagle； who had spoken the Jefferson the morning of the gale in which she was lost； and having safely rode out the storm himself； had afterwards seen the wreck。 This letter was written on Captain Green's arrival in port； and was in answer to inquiries of Mr。 Wyllys； besides an account of the gale； and the wreck of the Jefferson； it contained the united opinions of his mates and himself； that no one could have escaped； unless under very extraordinary circumstances； as the vessel herself had foundered； and no boat could have lived in such a tempest。 During a calm which had followed the gale； they had fallen in with fragments of the wreck； some of which had been used in repairing their own vessel； they had seen several dead bodies； and had taken up an empty boat； and several other objects； but nothing which threw farther light on the subject。 William Stanley's name； as one of the crew of the Jefferson； was next produced； this part of the testimony came through our acquaintance； Mr。 Hopkins； who had been the owner of the Jefferson。 Then came proofs of the many efforts made by the executors； to obtain accounts of Mr。 Stanley's son； by advertisements to sailors and shipmasters； in all the great ports of the country； repeated during five years； many letters and communications were also produced； all strengthening the report of the young man's death。 An agent had been employed by Mrs。 Stanley； for one year； with no other object than that of searching for intelligence of her step…son； the man himself was dead； but his letters were read； and sworn to by his wife。 Only once had the executors obtained a faint hope of the young man's existence； the second…mate of a whaler reported that he had known a William Stanley； a foremast hand； in the Pacific； but eventually it appeared； that the man alluded to was much older than Mr。 Stanley's son； and his name was SANLEY。 Nothing could be more clearly proved； than the efforts of the executors to obtain accurate intelligence as to the young man's fate； and it was also evident from the reports received； that they could have had no good reason to doubt his death。 The next points examined； included the person and conduct of the plaintiff。 The bad character of the plaintiff was made to appear in the course of this examination； 〃a character which seems at least to have always clung to that individual； under the various names it has pleased him to assume at different times；〃 observed Mr。 Ellsworth。 It was clearly shown that he was considered a man of no principles； even among his comrades。 The personal identity was fully examined； this part of the testimony excited intense interest among the audience； while even the court seemed to listen with increased attention。 The opinions of the different witnesses on this point were not disputed； the general resemblance of the plaintiff to the Stanleys was not denied； the similarity of handwriting was also admitted； but Mr。 Ellsworth argued； that such resemblances； among persons who were in no way related to each other； were not uncommon； probably every individual in that court…room had been told fifty times； that he was like A。； B。； or C。 Occasionally； such resemblances were really very marked indeed。 He then cited the instance of a man who was hanged in England； on this very ground of personal identity； sworn to by many individuals； and yet； a year after； it was discovered that the real criminal was living； and these two men； so strikingly alike； had never even seen each other； nor were they in any manner related to each other。 But who could say whether the plaintiff were actually so much like William Stanley？ It was not certain that any individual in that room had seen the young man for eighteen years； but one of the defendants had any distinct recollection of him； even at that time； the colour of the hair； and a general resemblance in complexion and features； might well be the amount of all that could be advanced in favour of the likeness； the plaintiff resembled the Stanleys； father and son； but probably a hundred other men might be picked up in the country； in whom the same resemblance might be foundmen who laid no claim to the name or estate of Mr。 Stanley。 Similarity of handwriting was not uncommon either； and here some dozen notes and letters were produced； and proved to a certain degree that this assertion was correct； in several cases the resemblance was very great； and Mr。 Ellsworth maintained； that with the documents in the possession of the sailor； undeniably written by young Stanley； any common writer； devoid of honesty； might have moulded his hand by practice to an imitation of it； sufficient for forgery。 So much for the resemblance； he would now point out the difference between the plaintiff and William Stanley in two points； which； if clearly proved； must convince the jury that identity was utterly impossible； a pure fiction； a gross deception。 He then produced the portrait of William Stanley； after acknowledging that there was some general resemblance； he suddenly showed the difference in the formation of the hands； fingers； and nails； between the boy and the plaintiff。 This difference was indeed striking； for Ellsworth took a moment to point it out； when the sailor was in court； and engaged in putting a piece of tobacco in his mouth； and his hands were in full view。 For a second he seemed out of countenance； but he soon resumed the confident look he had worn throughout。 Mr。 Ellsworth entered very minutely into this fact； showing that painters usually gave a correct idea of the hand； when it was introduced in a portrait； and the impossibility of the natural formation of the hand being entirely changed； either by time or hard work； was proved by the testimony of anatomists。 The family physician of the late Mr。 Stanley was an important witness at this stage of the trial； he swore to the fidelity of the portrait； and confirmed the fact of the particular formation of Willi