The daily Gate City., 1855-09-11
a Piece of History.

Virginia has boen honorlnS norsen Dy
causing to be prepared for erection at the
capitol bronze statues Of PATRICK HENRY and
THOMAS JEFFERSON. They are Of colossal
size, and were cast at Munich, from models
By Crawford, the American sculptor. That
Of Henry was raised to its place some days
ago.
The orator is represented at the age OF %,
when. as the Youthful member of the House
Of Burgesses at Williamsburg, on the goth
MAY, l765, he offered his resolution against
giant among giants in debate. Among his
papers was found, after his deccasc, one
scaled and thus endorsed:
"Encloscd arc the resolutions of the Vir-
ginia Assembly, in 1865, concerning the
Stamp Act. Let my executors open this pa
per-" On the back of the paper containing
the resolutions was the following endorse
ment: "The within passed the House of
of Burgess in May, 1865. They formed
the first opposition to the Stamp Act, and
the scheme Of taxing America by the British
Parliament All the colonies, either through
fear OF the want of opportunity to form an
opposition, or from influence of one kind OF
other, had remained silent | had been for
the FIRST time eleeted a burgess few days
before, was young, inexperienced, unac-
ouainted with tho forms Of the house and
the members who composed it. Finding the
men of weight opposed to opposition, and
the commencement of the tax at hand, and
that no person was likely to step forth, de-
termined to venture, and alone, unnided and
unassisted, on the blank leaf of an old law
book, wrote the within. Upon offering them
4 to the house, violent debate ensued. Many
/ threats were uttered, and much abuse cast on
me by the parties for submission. After a
long and warm contest, the resolutions passed
by n very small majority, perhaps one or two
only. The alarm spread throughout Ameri-
ca with astonishing quickness, and the min
isterinl party were overwhelmed. The great
point Of resistance to British taxation was
universally established in the colonies. This
hrought on the war, which finally separated
the two countries, and gave independence to
ours. Whether this will prove blessing OF
curse, will depend upon the use our people
make of the blessing which gracious God
hath bestowed on US. If they are wise, they
will be great and happy. II they are OF
contrary character, they will be miserable
Righteousness alone can exalt them as ma.
ton. Reader, whoever thou art, remember
this, and in thy sphere, practice virtue thy
self, and encourage it in others.
Writ thus describes the scene which Craw-
ford has immortalized in beautiful COLDER
bronze:
1t was an occasion which called upor
him to put forth all his strength, and he die
put it forth in such manner as man never die
before. The cords of argument with which
his adversaries frequently hattered themselye,
that they had bound him fast, became pack.
shreuds in his hands. He burst them with
as much ease as the unshorn Sampson die
the bands of the Phillistines. He seized thu
pillars Of the temple, shook them terribly
and seemed to threaten his opponents with
ruin. 1t was an incessant storm of lightning
and thunder which struck them aghast. The
faint hearted gathered courage from his coun.
tenance. and towards became heroes while
they gazed upon his exploits.
SIT was in the midst Of this magnificent de-
bate, while he was descanting on the tyranny
of the obnoxious act, that he exclaimed in q
voice of thunder. and with the look of a
god s'Cnsar had his Brutus, Charles the
First, his cromwell--and George the Third
e. Treason ~ cried the Speaker" Treason
treason!'' echoed from every part Of tn,
house. II was one Of those trying moments
which Is decisive of character. Henry falt
cred not for an instant but rising to loft
ier attitude, and fixing on the Speaker al
eve Of the most determined fire, he finished
his sentence with the frmcst emphasis ind,
profit by their erampie. IL this be treason
make the most Of It." This was the only
expression Of defiance which escaped him du
ring the debate"