Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-12-27
From The R,f1Io D;lo,

fist Register the following. and to US il is
new. II appears that soon after Henry's no.
ted case OF Tobacco and the Preserves" ms
II was sometimes called, he heard of a case of
oppression for consoience's sake The Eng
lish Church having been established by law in
Virginia. became as all such establishments
are wont to do. exceedingly intolcrant towards
other sects. In prosecution of this system of
conversion. three Baptist clergymen had been
indicted at Fredericksburg, for preaching the
gospel OF thc Son OF God contrary TO the Sta.
tutc. Henry. hearing this, rode some fifty
miles TO volunteer his services IN defence of
the oppressed. He entered the court. being
unknown to all present save the bench aud
the bar, while the indictment was being read
by the clerk. He sat Within the bar until
the reading was finished, and the Kings at
| tomey had concluded some remarks i'm defence
ot the prosecution, when he rose. reached ont
ms hand Tor the paper, and, without more
ceremony, proceeded with the following
speech:
MAY II please your worships: I think I
heard read by the prosecutor, as entered this
house, the paper lynow hold i'm my hand. II
have rightly understood, the Kings attorney
OF the colony has framed all indictment for the
purpose OF araigning and Furnishing by inn
prisonmcnt, three inoiiensive persons before
the bar oil this court for crime of great mag
nitude-as disturbers Of the peace. Nav il
please the court, what did hsar read? Did |
hear II distinctly, or was il a mistake of nv
own? Did hear an expression, as if a crime
that these men, whom your worships are about
TO try for misdemeanor, are charged with
what?" and, continuing in Ia low, solemn. hea-
w tone, preaching the Gospel Of the Son of
Godf' Pausing amidst the most profound ST.
fence and breathless establishment, he slowly
xya y.l bn IA 4. 4
when, lifting his hands and eyes to heaven.
with peculiar and impressive energy. he ex
claimed, Great Godp The exclamaiion-the
burst OF feeling from the audience-were all
overpowcring. Mr. Henry resumed:
MAY II please Your worships: i'm day like
this-when truth is about to turst her letters
when mankind are about to be aroused to
claim their natuEal and inahenable rights
when the yoke ofopprcssion, that has reached
the Wilderness OF America, and the unnatural
alliance of ecclesiastical and civil power, are
about 10 be dissevered-at such period. when
liberty--liberty OF conscienGe-is about to
awake from her slumberings, and inquire into
the reason of such charges as find exhibited
here to-day in this indio,ment!' Another
fearful pause, while the speaker alternately
cast his. sharp piercing eyes on the court and
the prisoners, and resumed: .'lf am not de-
ceived, according TO the contents of the paper
now hold IN my hand, these men are accrs-
ed OF preaching The gospel of the Son of God
"Great God!' Another long pause, while he
again waved the indictment around his head
while deeper impression was made on the
auditory. Resuming his speech: 'May il
please your worslips: there are periods in the
history OF man, when corruption and depravity
have so long debased the human. Character
that man sinks under the weight of the OBJ
pressors hand-becomes his scrvilc, his adj
Ject slave; he ticks the hand that smitcs him:
he bows III passive obedience TO the mandates
oil the dcspot and in this state of servility. he
receives his tcttcrs Of perpetual bondage. But
may IT please your worships, such day has
passedaway. Fron that period when our
fathers left the lantt6f their nativity for set
tlement in these American wilds-for liberty
-ior civil and religious libcrty-for liberty of
conscience To worship their Creator according
To their own conceptions OF Heavens reveal
ed will-irom The moment they placed their
feet upon the American continent, and. i'm the
deeply imbedded forest. sought an ASYLUM
from persecution and iyranny,--from that mo-
mcnt, dcspotism was crlished--the letters of
darkness were broken, and Heaven decrecd
that man should he iree-free TO worship God
in vain were all their sufferings and bloodshcd
TO subjugate this New World, il we, their off.
spring, must still BE- oppressed and prosecuted.
But, may II please your worshi S, permit me
TO inquire once more. for what are these men
about to be tried' This paper SAYS for preach
ing the gospel of the Saviour to Adams fallen
race" And, i'll tones of thunder he exclaim-
cd: 81 What lars hare they pioidfed?" While
the third time, in low, disniiicd manner, he
lifted his eyes TO Heaven, and waved the in
dictment around his head. The court and
audience were now wrought up to the most
intense pitch of excitement. The face of the
prosecuting attorney was paid and ghastly
and ne appeared unconscious that his whole
frame was agitated with alarm; while the
judge, IN a iremulous voice, put an end to the
scene, now becoming excessively painful by
the authoritative declaration, Sheriff, dis
charge those men"