Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-10-03
Patrick Henry vs.. Intolerance.

Patrick Henry vs.. Intolerance.
Soon after Henry's noted case c
tobacco and the preserves" as
was called, he heard of a case of op
preston for conscience sake. Tn,
English Church having been estab
lished by law in Virginia, became, a
all such establishments are wont t.
do, exceedingly intOlerant towards
other sects. In the prosecution oi
this system OF conversion, three Bap.
tist clergymen had been indicted al
! Fredericksburg for preaching the
Gospel Of the Son OF God contrary
to the statue. Henry hearing OF this,
rode some fifty miles to volunteer
his services for the oppressed. He
entered the Court, being unknown
to all present, save the bench and
the bar, while the indictment was
being read by the clerk. He sat
within the bar until the reading was
finished, and the kings attorney had
concluded some RENAL ks in support
OF the prosecution, when he arose,
reached out his hand for the paper
and without more ceremony procee-
ded with the following speech:
"May it please your worships, |
think heard read by the prosecutor,
as entered this house, the paper ]
now hold in my hand. II | have right
Iy understood, the kings attorney FOR
the colony has framed an indict-
ment for the purpose of arraigning
and Furnishing, by imprisonment,
three inoffensive persons b fore
the bar of this court, for a crime
of great magnitude-as disturbers Of
the peace. May it please the court
what did | hear readl Did hear
distinctly, or was il mistake of my
own? Did | hear an expression as
Of crime, that these men whom your
worships are about to try for mis-
demeanor,are charged with-whatf'
and continuing in low, solemn,
heavy voice, "preaching the Gospel
of the Son OF GCdI' Pausing amidst
the most profound silence and breath
less astonishment, he slowly waved !
the paper three times around his
head, when lifting his hands to heav-
en-, with peculiar and impressive en-
ergy, he exclaimed, "Great Godp-I
The excIamation-the burst of feel
ing from the audince were all over
powering. Mr.. H. resumed:
"May it please your worships, in
a day like this when truth is about
TO be aroused 10 claim IFS natural and
rights; when the yoke Of
that has reached the will
1erness OF America, and the unnatu-
-al alliance of ecclesiastical and civ
| power, are about TO be discovered
II such a period, when liberty-lib-
srty Of conscience--is about TO awake
rom her slumberings, and enquire
nto the reason Of such charges as |
ind exhibited here to-day in this in
Another fearful pause,
while the speaker, alternately casts
lis sharp, piercing eyes on the
court and the prisoners, and then
'esumed: "If ] am not deceived, ac-
:ording 10 the contents of the paper
which | now hold in my hand, these
nen are accused Of preaching the
Gospel Of the Son of Godl Great
God" Another long pause while 1
! again waved the Indictment
Iround his head-while deeper inn {
preston was made on the auditory. {
Sesuming his speech: {
"May it please your worships, |
here are periods in the history Of '
nan, when corruption and depravi- !
y have SO long debased the human c
.haracter that man sinks under the
weight OF the oppressor's hand, be-
.omes his servile, abject slave, he I
icks the hand that smites him, he !
lows in passive obedience to the {
mandates of the despot, and in this !
tate of servility, he receives bis fet- {
ers ofperpetual bondage. But, may S
/ please your worsbips, such day $
las passed awayI From that period {
when our fathers left the land of |
heir nativity for. settlement in these l
American ,wilds-for liberty-for
;ivil and religious Iiberty-for llber-
y of conscience 10 worship their !
Creator according to their own con- !
,eptions Of Heavens revealed will /
rom the moment they place their !