Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-23


The following interesting letter 10 ffsa u Zen 81
tative OF that district la Congress. - -.
FROM TIE SENIOR EDiron. ~
7rwg.sey.. rnl, !nxlYu,A. Dec. I, 1922.
write this from the cclcbrated Cdrpentevs k1dfi,
structure that wil ever be deemed sacred while
rational Liberty y chprishcd earth. II stauds in
court at the end OF alley leading south from Chcs-
nut, sctwcen fourth and fifth streets. Il 10 Of brick,
three storscs high sur,nountcd with q low sfeeplc,
and presents externally rather sombre aspect. The
lower room, i'm wholithe 6rst Congress OF the Uni
ted States (perhaps should say eulonses) met,
prchcnds the whole area OF the buiiding-whcb,
however, is not very spacious. Above are the COM
mittee rooms, occupied by u very polite school,
master, who kindly gave me permission To inspect
them.-Yes! These sublime apartments which first
rcsoundcd with the indignant murmur Of our immor-
tai ancestors, sitting in secret consultation upon the
wrongs Of their countrymcn, now ring with the din
of urchins coming their tasks; and the halow.
cd Hall below, in which the august assembly to
which they belonged daily convened, is devoted
to the use OF an auctioRcer. Even now, while am
pcnning these lines at his desk, his voice stuns my
car and distracts by brain, crying show much for
these bombazinc brooches! am offered S5-nobody
more!-g'ing gong!! gone.!" In fact. the Hall 10
numbered up with beds looking glasses, chairs tables
pictures, ready made clothes, and oil the trash and
trumpcry which usually grace the premises of q
knight of the hammer. ] must do him the Justice
however, to say, that he very readily granted the
privilege l am now enjoying when he understood nv
pnrposc-Thc building, It is gratifying to add still
belongs to the Society of Carpenters who will BY no
means part with it, or consent to any alteration.
Il was here that the ground WORK of our indepcn-
dence was laid, for here 1t was the 9TH Scpteu-
Der, 177I, after the attempt tho part of 1.-THE mo-
tlicr country, to tax the Colonies without their cor
sent an, the preparation of numerous outrages by
the Regulars upon the defenccless inhabtants that
the sages of America came together to consider Of
their grievances. Yes! these walls have echoed the
inspiring eoquencc Of Patrick Henry .s,he greatest
orator." in the opinion Of Mr.. Jefferson that ever
,ho s IN very man who gaze the first impulse to
ignorant Of him. Let them then to tire s.Skccb
Cs" Of Mr.. Writ, and enjoy literary treat that no,
even the enchanting pages Of tho Scotch novelist can
afford.
Patrick Henry. native ofvirginia, aud a plon
country lad, the second Son amongst nine children
of respectable planter, in Hanover county, who
could only afford to give him scanty En-
slsh Educat'on; He was chiefly distinguish
cd in his youthful days as n lover of Shoot.
ing and fishing, and as a performer upon the
volin-bcing, wiihal, very indolent and very fond
OF reclining near the margin of solitary streams
watching Tor hours with intense reflection, the motion
OF hrs line Afiera years Attendance behind the
counter of retailing merchant his father set him up
IN small way but his peculiar habits wofully lsoual
cd him for the hustle Of trade, and he broke twice
IN the course OF bret Career Very poor and very
nnmindfu Of the future, at the premature age OF
10, he married the daughter of an inkeepsr wihou,
fortune, and he commenced farming; but meeting
with his wonted i'll luck in this employment he BIZ.
I'm
that he was Obliged to throw himself upon the char
y OF his father i-law-waiting, in his absence upon
travellers and visitors in the character of landlord
in this state OF depression, when the past recalled no
theme for grateful remembrance, and the future
presented no; solitary glcam of hope he seems 10
have been guided it were by the finger Of Heaven
into the path which nature had designed him to p,r
sue. He bctock himself TIA the study of law, and in
six weeks, according to Nh Jefferson obtained IL
censc to practice. The polished gentlemen of the
long robe, clad in the splendid costume of British bar
rlsters, and the gentry of Virginia whose business
they transacted, made sport of him. when uncoub in
his manners and awkward in his gait, he among
them IN course homespnn dress, and not a single
soul of his acquaintance had The least idea that he
would fare better in cxpoundng legal lore than in
measuring tape. By-and bye however, the period
arrived for making his debut. II in q suit pro-
secuted by the clergy ofVrgna against the planters
for stipend in tobacco, according to old law of
the colony. approved by the King. This law, on
two occasions, had been so fur modified (but
without the King consent) to leave it Cd |
tional with the planters 10 pay in tobacco, or
fnuney at the rate Of slrteen shiihngs and eight
pence per hundred. OF course in years Of short
crops, when tobacco brought fifty shings hundred,
tho planters made a handsome speculation by COM
Inuting and the clergy, finding themselves thus de-
privcd of what they conceived to be their due laid
the case efore the King. lie at once annucd tho
modifying acts declaring them to be usurpators of
his authority, ana restored the operation of the old
law, whereby tle clergy re-invested with the
right to demand their stipend in the specific tobacco
The subject created an uncommon excitement in the
colony, and all were intent upon the result, when
the clergy commenced suits to enforce their claim-l
The experiment first tried by one Of them in
Hanover, Ucnry's native county. Legally, it was
impossible to resist the claim; and tic court aftcr
hearing tie arguments on demurrer of two profound
lawyers, accordingly gave judgment for the plain
tiff. Nothing now remained but tn assess tile dam
rgcs Oh writ of inquiry, and the defendants coun
sci, having Informed tlcm that the cause was in cf.
feet lost, abandoned IT, in this state Of absolute
despair, the planters applied to Henry, and rash, as
IL may he undertook argue it before the
jury ofnquiry. The day came, and every attcn-,
dant circumstance seemed purposely combined to
discomfort raw countryman like him, about 10 as
some ilercueaD task from which n veteran of The
har had shrunk. The court house was crowded TO OK
ccts--the eyes Of the multitude fixed upon hin
I'm the Bench sat an array Of dignii.d cerrymcn
IN Their sacerdoial robes, awful enough TO :.look
down all opposfion"-and the prcsiding Judge was
none other than his own father. In such situation
80 appalling a. ovcrpowcring, it is almost incredible
that Le had the courage to procced-and yet hc did
The counsel for the plaintiff, nn old experienced