825 Page – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

Here is the translated text as follows:

THOMAS COOPER, 793

Where there is no reasonable suspicion or assignable motive for why the publications I offer should misrepresent the transactions I allude to, the probability is in favor of their accuracy. This is especially true when the printers of these publications are severely punishable for willful misrepresentation or gross mistakes in detailing the public acts of government.

Judge Peters: I admit a great many things from Mr. Cooper, who is without counsel, which I would not admit from others.

Judge Chase: You may read anything and everything you please.

Mr. Cooper went on to argue at length, using a copious collection of public documents from the day, that the President's policy had been to impose a permanent navy and army on the country and to suppress the liberties of the citizens through arbitrary interference, as in the case of Jonathan Robbins.

Gentlemen, I have addressed all the charges, and I am confident that I have provided the best evidence the nature of my case would allow. It is true that by resorting to Danbury for depositions and to Charlestown for records, I might have made the evidence for the last charge more complete. However, I did not and do not think it necessary to produce further conviction in your minds than you already feel on the subject. This is an important point under the law in question. If such strictness of testimony is required, it would put an end to all political conversation in mixed society. The time, labor, difficulty, expense, and the harassment and fatigue of both mind and body that such a doctrine would impose on every citizen whom a corrupt administration might seek to ruin would be an engine of oppression powerful enough to establish a perfect despotism over the press. It would be a punishment for innocence before trial, too severe even for sedition itself. I believe you must feel the truth of these remarks. The proceedings in this trial irresistibly suggest them.