Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1845-12-04

l s..tsss - ~ " ls ecmetlDes called, he hear
OF case Of oppression FOR coDseenes' sake
he English church, having been establish
90 oy Law IN Virgins, became ~ all such es
tabllshmeais are web, 10 do, exceedingly q
tolerant towards other seess. ID prosecution q
lhiss system Of conversion, three Bsblisi clergy
men had been indicted 81 Fredericksburg, Isl
Pfeaehins ihegosPel Of the Son Of Gsd eonuar,
% Ne Slsis;e. Henry, heafing cffshis, rod
some my miles 70 volnDleer his services in &c
fence offh. oppressed. He entered The court
being unknown 10 all ptesenl save the bench
and The bar. while he iudictment vas helm,
read By The eleiks He sat withia The bar.pn,i
Imereadins was f1ihrd, md re King ) utssssts
had eonciueed some remarks 10 defence Of lhs
prosecui'ep, when he rosr, reached out bis hand
Tor the paper, and, without more ceremony, pro
eseded viii The following speech.
MAY it please your worships: IihinL
heard read by the prosecutor as I en-,
tered this house. the paper now hold 10
my hand. II have rightly understood
the Kings attorney OF the colony has
framed 40 indictment for the purpose oil
arraigning and Furnishing by imprison
ment. three inofensive persons before the
bar oftbis court for crime Of great mag
niiude--as dislurbers Of the peace. May
il pleasethe court. what did hear read
Did bear il distinctly. or was i, q mis-.
take my own? Did hear an expires,
/ sion, as il . crime, that these men, whom
your worships are about. 10 Try for misde
neanor, are charged wiih-what p and,
continuing 10 low, schema. heavy tone,
preaching the Gospel Of The Son OF God."
Pausing amidst the most profound ST.
lence and brea,hlsss astonishment he
slowly waved The paper three times a.
round bis head. when. lifting his hands
aud eyes 10 heaven. with peculiar and
impressive energy, be exclaimed, /" Great
God!' The exclamation-the burst OF
feeling from the audience--weres all over
towering. Mr.. Henry resumed:
May il please your worships y ia j
day like this--when truth i about 10
burst her fetters-when mankind are a
bout 10 be aroused 10 claim their natural
and inalienable rights-when the yoke OF
oppression. that has reached the wilder.
ness Of America. and the unna,ioual ali
ance Of ecclesiastical and civil power, are
about 10 dissevered--at such period,
when liberty--liberty Of conscience--is
about TO awake from her slumberings. and
inquire into The reason Of such charges as
end exhibited here to-day in this indic,..
ment = Another fearful pause. while
the speaker alternately cast his sharp
piercing eyes on the court and the prise
ners, and resumed: III 4 am not deceiy.
ed. according 10 The contents Of the paper
Ell EfNrr.l
accused Of preaching the9gospel Of the 500
Of Godl Great God!" Another long
pause. while he again waved the indict
around his hsad-while "a deeper impress,
sion was made on the auditory. Resum-
ing bis speech: "May iii please your
worships there ere periodain the history
of man, when corruption and depraviiy
bave SO long debased The human charac,
ter, that man sinks under the weight OF
the oppressot's band becomes bis ser
vile, his abject slave be ,lIcks the hand
that smites him ; he bows in passive obes
dience 10 the mandates Of the despot; an.
in this slate Of sersility, BID receives bic
letters ofperpetual bondage. But may il
please your worships, such a day hs.
passed away! From that. period when
our fathers left the land Of their nativity
for settlement: in these American wilds-
for liberty-for civlI:and religious liberty
flor liberty of conscience 10 worshdr
their Creator according to their own con
cepiions Of Heavens revealed will--frou
The moment they placed their feet upor
the American continent and, 10 the deep
!y imbedded forest. sought an asylum
from persecution aud tyranny, from tina
moment, despotism was crushed-tbe fet
tiers Of darkness were broken, and HEAVIER
decreed that man should be tree-free I,
worship God according 10 The Bible
Were i, not for this, 10 vain, were all lhei
suferings and bloodshed 10 subiugate thi
New World, IL we, their offspring, mus
still be oppressed and prosecuted. But
may il please your worships permit me Il
inquire once more. for what are Ties,
men about TO be tried TITS paper say
for preaching the gospel Of the Saviour i
Adam sfsllen race" And. 10 tones o
thunder, be exclaimed: "Whdt laos har
they piolate9?" While the third time, il
low. digni6ed manner, be lifted bis eve
10 heaven. and waved the indictment a
round bis head. The cour, and audienc
were nov wrought upto the most iniens
pitch Of excitement. The face Of ih
prosecuting attorney was paid and ghasi
j y, and be appeared unconscious thai hi
whole frame was sgitaied with alarm
while the judge, 10 Tremendous voice
pot an end 10 the scene, now beeomin
excessively painful. by the authori,ativ
declaration, 'iSheriff. discharge tbos
men.
| HAPpIsEss.-Hs Happy is the man VIII
has health. competence and contenimeni
Happy il the man who has not The tooth
ache e. who shaketh not with the sgue-
who gripeth not with cholic-who car
brush bis own boots. and sbaves himsel
with cold water on frosty morning, an,
is never disturbed with The idelirium I'll
angles A1
| Happy Is The man who has 90 horse i
lend, and who is never troubled with .hl
nightmare.
j All these are happy. Bat happier
be who has arrived 1t good old age. an
when be lieih down al night can exelsit
4 4 am Il peace wi,hsmy God, and THAN
him / do not owe fof newspaper
When honest industry raises famil
to opulerce and honors. lis very origina