Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-09-14

sentiments and oloquence OF mp
tain Henry as bis neighhors called
him. The cloak, with beautiful grace
aud classic effect, relieves the sharp
ness of the costume.
The orator is represented al the
age of 30, when, as The youthful
member Of the House of Burgcsses,
at Williamsburg, on the 29lh May,
l765. This 29lh birthday he offer
ed his resolutions against the British
Stamp act. and showed himself a
giant among giants in debate. A.
mong his papers was found, after his
decease, one sealed and thus endors-
ed:
Enclosed are the resolutions OF
the Virginia Assembly, in lI65, con-
corning the Stamp act. Let my ex-
ecutors open this paper
On the back Of the paper contain
inc the resolutions was the following
endorsement:
The within passed the House Of
Burgesscs in May, l165. They
formed the first opposition TO the
Stamp act, and the scheme Of tax
ing America 10y the British Patl'a-
ment. All tho colonies, either
through fear OF the want OF opporlu-
nifty TO form an opposition, or from
influence Of some Kind or other, had
remained silent ! had been for the
first time elected burgess a few DAYS
before, was young, inexperienced, un-
acquainted with the forms Of The
house and the members who com
posed il. Finding the men Of weight
uverso to opposition, and the com
mencement of the tax at hand, and
that no person was likely 10 step
forth, | determined to venture aud
alone, unaided and unassisicd, OH The
bark leaf OF an old law book, wrote
the within. Upon Offering them to
the house, violent debate ensued -
Many threats were uttered, and much
abuse cast on me by the parties for
submission. After long aud warm
contest, the resolutions passed by a
very small majority, perhaps one or
two ouly.
The alarm spread throughout A.
merica with astonishing quicSncss,
and the ministerial party were over
whelmed. The great point Of re-
sisiance to British taxation was uni
versally established in their colonies.
This brought on The war which final
" separated the two countries, and
gave independence TO ours. Whc,b-
er this will prove a blessing or a
curse, will depend upon the use cur
people make Of the blessings which
q gracious God hath bestowed on Us.
Ii they arc wise they will be great
and happy. If they are OF contra
ny character they will be miserable.
Righteousness alone can exist them
as nation. Reader, whoever thou
at, remember dis, and in thy sphere,
practice virtue ibyself aud encourage
il in others.
p. HENRY
Writ thus describes the scene
which Crawford has immoI;allzed in /
beautiful golden bronze:
at was an occasion that called |
upon him to put forth all his strength, |
aud he did put forth, IN such manner
as man never did before The cords |
of argument, with which his adver- /
sarles frequently faltered themselves
they bad bound INN fast, became I
pack,hreads in bis hands He burst
them with as much ease MS the I'M
shorn Sampson did the bands Of Tie /
PmlslInes. lie seized the pillars of
The temple, and shook them terribly,
and seemed to threaten his opponents
with ruin. Ii was an incessant storm
of lightning aud thunder which
struck them aghasi. The iaiut-heart-
ed gathered courage from his coun-
tenance, and towards become heroes
while they gazed upon his exploits.
1t was IN the midst Of this mag
nificent debate, while he was des-
canting on The tyranny Of the obnox-
Ious act, that he exclaimed, in Il
voice Of thunder and with the look
of God: Caesar had his Brnlus-
Charles the fnsi his Cromwo ll--and
George the Third'--C Treason =
cried the Speaker Treason, treas
on 7 echoed from every part of the
house. II was one OF those trying
moments which is decisive of char
acIer. Henry lallered not for an
instant bot rising to loflier ati-
Jude, and fixing OH the Speaker an
eye Of the most determined fire, he
finished bis sentence with the frmesl
emphasis - may pratt by hheiy' err
ample. II this be treason, mike the
most Of IT, This was the only ex.
preston Of defiance which escaped
him during the debate
II may here be remarked that
Patrick ilenry's celebrated speech Of
Give me Liberty, or give me death
was not made ali len years later,
VIZ: in March, 1915, in HE Virginia
Convention, which assembled 10 the
Old Church, on Church Hill, in the
city OF Richmond
In this necessarily hurried notice,
we have not attempted 10 do Justice
although we have not the arus,ic
capacity-io this splendid work o
ART. Ii will attract the admiration O
thousands, and will confer glory OF
Crawford, the designer and sculptor
aud on Miller, The director Of III,
foundry at Munich--and will do hon
or TO the Old Dominion, ia thus ma