Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-03-18

IA tHlC II stENhl.
Patrick Henry was the son of Col.
John Henry, native Of Aberdeen, in
Scotland. and was born at Stuaely, in
the county Of Hanover and state of
Virginia. Inhis youth he gave no signs
of future greatness. No persuasion could
induce him either to read or to. write
word, but be ran wild in the forest, and
divided his time between the uproar of
the chase, and the languor of inaction.
He married at eighteen; he was for
some time a farmer, and he entered
into mercantile Undertakings, which
in few years rendered him a bs nix
rupt, and rendered him to state of,
wretcsedness. lie now determined to
try the bar. About this time the famous
contest between the clergymen on. one
hand, and the legislature and the peo-
lple ofVirginia on the other, concern
| ing the stipends Of the former, took
lplace; and he exhibited such displays
of eloquence in the patrons cause
as it was termed, as drew forth the adj
nliration Of his fellow citizens. His ex-
ertions were so unexampled, so unex-
pected, SO instantaneous, that he OBJ
tanned the appeIlation of the "Orator
of Nature"
When the question first came to be
iagitated concerning the rights of the
British Parliament to tax America, he
gave, as has been truly remarked, "the
first impulse to the bali of the revolu-
tion."- Men who were on other occa-
sions distinguished for intrepedlty and
decision, hug back, unwilling to sub
init, yet afraid to speak out in language
of cold and open defiance. In this
! hour of dependency, suspense and
Consideration, Henry arose to cheer
the dropping spirits ofhis countrymen
and to call forth all the energies OF
the i. Americans to contend for theil
freedom. When tile llouse of Bur-
gesses was within three day. of it.
Expected close. Henry produced and
carried the fal-famed resolutions con-
corning the stamp act, which formed
the 6rst firm opposition to the scheme
of taxing America by the British par
lament. -.
In i774 he appe ared in the venerable
body Of the old continental congress Of
the United States, when it met for the
first time, Henry broke the silence
whils overawed the minds of all pre-
sent. and so he advanced, rose with
the magnitude and Importance of the
subject, to the noblest displays of ar.
gument and eloquence, This" said
he, KS not the time for ceremony; the
question before the house is one of aw
full moment to this country. 1t is moth
ing less than freedom or slavery. five
wish to be free zoe must fight II re-
peat It, sir, toe must fight an appeal to
arms and the God of hosts, is all that is
left US. 1t is in vain, sir, to extcnuate
the matter Gentlemen may CRY peace!
peace but there is no peace. The
war is actually begun. The next gale
that sweeps from the North, will bring
TO our ears the clash of resoundng
arms; our brethren are already in the
field! Why stand we here idle3 What
is it that gentlemen wants- What would
they have3 s.life so dear and peace so
sweet, as to be purchased at the price
of chains and slavery? Forbid it Al
mighty God : know not what course
others may take, but for me-" cried
he, with both his arms extended aloit,
his brows knit, every feature marked
with the resolute purpose of his soul,
and his voice sWelled TO its bOldest note
of exclamation, ''give me liberty or
give me death - He took his seat and
the cry Ito arms! = seemed to culver
from every lip, and CLEAN from every
eye. Too
Henry lived to witness the glorious
issue of that revolution which his genius
had set in motion; and, to use his own
prophetic language before the revolu-
ton, ''to see America take her station
among the nations of the carth.'
lf;0rOf;o,l Of the S,,o11o1,-T II