Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-08-06
PATRICK HENRY.

The English Church having been established bv
law IN virginia became, as all such establishments
wont to do exceedingly intoerant towards other
sects. In prosecution of this system of conversion
three Baptist clergymen had been indicted at Fred
ericksburg, for preaching the Gospel of the Son of
God contrary to the statute. Henry hearing of this
rode some fifty miles to volunteer his services in de-
fence of the oppressed He entered the court being
unknown to all present, 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 remarks
In defence of the prosecution when he arose. reached
out his hand for the paper, and without more cere-
mony, proceeded 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. If / have rightly
understood, the Kings attorney of the colony has
framed an Indictment for the purpose arraignng
and Furnishing by Imprisonment, three inofensiye
persons before the bar of this court for crime of
great magnitude-as disturbers of the peace Nav
tplease the court, what did hear read? Did hear
distinctly was it mistake of my own? Did
hear an expression, as if crime, that these men,
whom your worshps are about to try for misdemean-
or, are charged with-what? and continuing in low
solemn, heavy tone, preaching the gospel of the
Son of GodP' Pausing amidst the most profound
silence and breathless astonishment he slowly waved
the paper three times around his head when lifting
his hands and eyes to heaven, with peculiar and i'm
pressive energy, he exclaimed % Great God ' The
eXclamation-the burst of feeling from the audience
were overpowering. Mr.. Henry resumed
May it please your worships In a day like this
when truth is about to burst her fetters-when
mankind about to be aroused to claim their nat
ura and natenable rights the yoke of oppres-
sion that has reached the wilderness of America and
the unnatural alliance of ecclesiastical and civil pow
err about to be dissevered-a such period when
iberty-iberty of conscience-is about to awake
from their sumberings, and inquire into the reason
of such charges as find exhibited here to-day in
this Indictment" Another fearful pause while the
speaker alternately cast his sharp piercing eyes on
the court and the prisoners and resumed. - If am
not deceived according to the contents of the paper
now hold in my hand, these men are accused of
preaching the gospel of the Son of Godl Great
GodT Another long pause, while he again waved
the indictment around his head--whie deeper i'm
preston made on the auditory. Resuming his
speech May please your worships there are Pc
RODS in the history of man. when corruption and de-
pravity have so long debased the human character
that man sinks under the weight of the oppressor's
hand-becomeS his servile his abiect slave he ticks
the hand that smites him; he bows in passive ODE
dienee to the mandates of the despot; and, in this
state of servty he receives his letters of perpetual
bondage. But, may it please your Worships, such
day has passed away! From that period when
fathers left the land of their nativity for settlement
in these American wilds-for iberty-for civil and
religious hberty-for liberty of conscience to wor-
ship their Creator according to their own concep
tons of Heavens revealed Will--from the moment
they placed their feet upon the American continent
and, In the deeply imbedded forest, sought asy-
lum from persecution and tyranny-7from that mo-
ment despotism was crushed-the letters of dark
ness were broken, and heaven decreed that man
should be free-free tOWorship God according tOthe
Bible. Were it not for this in vain were all their
sufferings and bloodshed to subjugate this New
World, if we, their offspring, must still be oppressed
and prosecuted. But, may it please your worships
permit me to inquire once more, for what are these
men about to be tried? Thisp says for preach
ing the gospel of the Saviour of Adams fallen race
And in tones of thunder he exclaimed, {" THAT LaU
houe they oiolated p? While the third time in as low
RoI I. a. HooVv
and waved the Indictment 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 CHASTITY, and ne
tated with alarm while the judge in tremulous
voice, put end to the scene now becoming excess
lively painful by the authoritative declaration, "Sher
if, discharge these men." Baptist Register.