Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-07-22
From the Louisville Journal.
GREAT MORAL COURAGE.

Messrs. Editors There is an incident
of the revolution, in reference to General
Warren, who fell at the battle of Bunker
Hill, but little known to the general reader,
which we'll illustrate the moral courage and
heroic daring of that brave man, and which
is not surpassed by any example of the kind
on record in ancient or modern history. It
is related in Wheelers History of North
Carolina, and is as follows:
The massacre of the Colonists on the 5th
of March, ITO, had been held as a sacred
festival of the people of Boston. Orations
were delivered on each anniversary, setting
forth this murder, legalized by the Crown.
Twice was Warren the orator of this deeply
exciting subject. So patriotic we're his sen.
timents-so hostile to the British power
that the officers of the army under Gen.
Gage, then quartered at Boston, declared
that no more such orations should be deliv.
cred. 1t was openly stated that it would
cost the life of any man who attempted it.
Warren took fire at a.threat so-epeBly and
tyranically made. He solicited the honor
of delivering the Grafton in ITS. For this
post he had few rivals, and It became we'll
known that Warren was to speak.
The day came, and the weather was re-
markably fine. The old South Meeting
House was crowded at an early hour. The
British, armed, filed the house and aisle,
and some even occupied the pulpit. All
entrance to the house was prevented. But
Warren reached the pulpit by ladder from
the outside. He pressed forward to his post.
In the bloom of manhood, flushed with the
spirit liberty, the youthful orator advanced
The British officers, seeing his GOODNESS and
intrepidity, made way for him. An awful
stiffness, like that which in the convulsions
of nature, often precedes the fell tornado of
the Indies, prevailed. Each man felt the
rapid palpitatiou of his own heart, and saw
it in the pale, determined face, and closed
lip of his neighbor, the peril of the occa.
sion.
The daring spirit of Warren arose, and,
sin thoughts that breathed and words that
burned he spoke of the early history of the
Colonists, their wrongs, their rights, and the
claims of justice how their rights had been
trampled down, how violated by the tyrant
power of England. His descriptions of the
suderings, agony, and blood of the Colonists
chilled even the spirits of the British. The
scene was sublime-the cause of truth pre-
vailed. The day passed without any violence.
Warren and his friends were prepared to
chastise insolence, prevent disgrace, and a.
venge any attempt at assassination.
This is scene of moral courage and sub
Unity worthy of the pencil of the painter or
the chisel of the sculptor. The thunder Of
Demosthenes rolled at distance from Philip
and his hosts: Cicero poured forth his in
ceutives when surrounded by the Senate and
free from danger of the dagger of Cataline;
but Warren spoke to the very teeth of the
proud oppressors Of his country, resting on
their loaded arms, whose errand it was to
overawe, and whose business it was to con-
quer. No example in Roman history ex-
ceeds this in moral courage or in sublimity."
n.
HENRY Co., TENN, May. II, 1858.