Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-09-26
WIRT'S LIFE OF
PATE RICK III j. N RY.

aterest, rather than to the class
of the aristocratic, semi-noblemen of thaS
ancient colony. Heswas in carly youth
IL poor scholar in boohs, bht always gave
evidence that he was a deep student i'm
the knowledge Of human nature. He
married quite young, and had the fortune
TO fail twice in mercantile business-and
was ut last driven Ia the study Of the law
to avoid extreme penury. HFis first op--
pcarance in court as an advocate, gained
him great honor, although it was against
the interests of the clergy. Shortly af-
ter, elected 10 the house of Burgesses,
he gave in the words of Jefferson, the
first impulse to the ball Of revolution -
With his own hand he drew up the reso-
lutions that expressed the doctrines which,
ten years after, Redeemed the field Of
Lexington, and the Bunker's height
While the right of the British to tax the
colonies without allowing them represen-
taton in Parliament, was under discus
sion, the following is recorded Of Henry,
at was in the midst of this magnfi-
cent debate, while he was descaning on
the tyranny Of the obnoxious act, that hc
exclaimed in voice oflhundcr, and the
look Of a God, "Cnsar had his Bmus-
Charles the First his Cromwell-and
George the Third-("Trcason," cried
the speaker-''treason," "treason," cch-
oed from every part Of the house. 1t
was one of those tying moments which
is decisive of ofcharacter. Horny falteret
not for an instant, but rising to Iof:cr
attitude, and fixing on the speaker an
eye Of the most determined fire, he FIN
lshed his sentence with the firmest en-
phasis) may prcft by Men' example, Ef
Mis be treason, make the most of it,"
In INA, Henry was member of that
memorable body, the FIRST congress in
Philadelphia. The following extract.wil
show the nature Of his services on that
occasion.
"Ihe most eminent men the various
colonies were now, for The first time.
brought together Thcy were known to
each other by fame; but they were per-
sonaIy strangers. The meeting was
awlnlIy solemn. The object which had
called them together was one OF ncaIcu-
liable magnitude. The Liberties of no
less than three millions of people, with
that Of all their posterity, were staked
on the wisdom and energy Of their coun-
ellis. No wonder, then, at the long and
deep silence which is said to have fol-
lowed upon their organization at the
anxiety at which the members looked
around upon each other; and the reluc-
tance which every individual felt to op--
en- n business so fearfuly momentous-
In the midst Of this deep and death-like
silence, and just when it was beginning
to become painfully embarrassing-Mr
Henry arose slowly as if borne down by
the weight Of the subject. After falter-
ing, according to his habit, through a
most impressive cxordium, in which he
merely echoed back the consciousness Of
every other heart, in deplorag his ina
bllity to do justice to the occasion, he
launched gradually into a recital Of tho
colonial wrongs. Rising, as he advanced
with the grandeur of his subject, and
glowing at length with oil the majesty
and expectation cf the occasros, his
speech seemed more than that of mortal
man. Even those who had heard him
in all his glory, in the house of Burgess
es Of Virginia, were astonished at the
manner in which his talents seemed to
swell and expand themselves, To fll the
vaster theatre in which he .wns nov,
placed. There was no rant-no rhapso-
dy-no labor of the understa anding-no
stralnlng of the voice-no confusion of
the uticrance. His countcnance woe
cree: his eye steady--his action noble.
his enunciaton clear and tirm-his mind
poised on its centre-his views Of the
subject comprehensive and great-and
his imagination coruscatng with mag.
n'iicence & a variety which struck even
that assembly with amazement and awe.
lie sat down amidst murmurs Of ast onish-
ment and applause; and as he had before
been proclaimed the greatest orator Of
Virginia, he was now, on every hand
to be the first orator of Ameri-
"a"
On the occasion Of the battle Of Lex
ngton, Ae said in the Virginia house Of
3urgesscs:-
"There is no retreat, but in subm;.,;or
nd slavery Our chains are forged.
heir clanking may be heard on tho
!ains of Boston. The war is inevitable.
nd let !: come }! I repeat it, sir, let il
ome ~
"It is in vain, sir, TO cxtcnuato the
natter. Genilcmcn may cry, peace,
'esce; but there is no peace. The war
actually begun The next gale that
weeps from the north will bring 10 our
nra the clash nf ro.ounl.nx -, r..