Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-08
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY s, 1858


Courier, by Capt. Jas. S. johnson. we copy
the following relating to RICHARD HENRY
LEE. The writer quotes MIR. Wirt's descrip-
ton of Patrick Henry's appearance, and his
frs, effort in the old Continental Congress, 10
l774:
"He was followed by Mr.. Richard Henry
Lee, who charmed the house with different
kind Of elc9uence. chaste, classical, beauti'
ful; his polished periods rolling along With
out effort, filing the ear with the most DC
witching harmony, and delighung the nina
with the most exquisite imagery. Inc cu.-
tiyated graces of Mr.. Lees rhetoric receiVeu'
and at the same time reflected beauty Oy
their contrast with the wild and granu emu
sions of Mr.. Henry. just as those noo!e
monuments of art which lie scattered through
the celebrated Landscape at Naples, at once
adorp. and are in their turn adorned oy 'oe
surrounding majesty of Nature.
"Two models of eloquence, each 30 per-
feet in its kind, aud 80 finely contrasted'
could not but fill the house with admiration;
and as Mr.. Henry had before been pronounc
cd the Demosthenes, it was conceded on eve
~ hand. that Mr.. Lee was the Cicero OF
America"
Such is Mr. Wirt's brilliant description of
the memorable scene in old lndep' ndence
Ual,-a scene which, on many accounts
NAV be said to have presented spectacle OF
moral sublimity hardly to be surpassed by
any recorded in the history of those eVenttul
times.
We afterwards find Mr.. Lee, on an occa-
sion scarcely lees solemn. and in an Assem-
bly scarcely less august than that OF ln4'
again following aud supporting, with bis pol
ished defamation, the great taliSman OF the
revolution, at moment when the hearts anu
passions of all hearers, lay spel'-bound be-
meath the wand of the mighty magiolan.-
Within the walls Of that venerable colonial
pile, the ime -hallowed Episcopal Church OF
St. John, at Richmond, whose antique pre-.
portions still crown. as with wreath OF
glory, the summit of one OF those many
beautiful hills, on which the present capital
of the Old Dominion stands, assembled the
famous Virginia Convention of l775.
The Convention, composed of delegates
from all the coanties and principal cities OF
the State, me, to consider and consult upon
the action Of the late Congress, held at Gar.
penter's Hall, in Philadelphia. 1t contained
many men who, although true and faithful
patriots, and ardenty attached to the cause
of American liberty, were, nevertheless AZ
that time, OPPOSED to an immediate rupture
with the parent government preierrihg 10
depend still further on measures OF conc'iia-
ton. and wishing to try still longer, the pol
lev of peaceful submission to wrong.
Mr. Henry, as you know, dissented from
this course. Unlike the good Chancellor
Wythe, Robert Carter Nicholas, aId other
equally trusted patriots OF that period be
thong BIT the cup Of submission to British ~
ranny had been drained. lie was deVout
believer in the maxim, Resistance to ty-
rants is obedience to God" and he thought
the time for resistance had come. lie. there
fore. prepared and introduced his celebrated
acqr resolutions, proposing an Immediate or
ganizatiou of an armed militia force, tor the
protection Of the rights OF the colony. IL
was in support Of these resolutions, that ne
electrified the Convention with that tremen-
dous burst of impassioned eloquence' &C.
scribed by 80 many of his contemporaries, as
amongst the sublimest and most transc ndant
exhibitions Of his genius In that remarka-
BILE speech, he combatted and put to flight
all hope entertained by otbsrs, of peaceful
solution of existing political troubles, and
proclaimed, 10 prophet tones, like kneli IN
their ears those words ofappalling omen
1--WE must fight! / repeat it, sir, we must
fght.. An appeal to the Gyd of hosts, is all
that is left u.s.. War is inevitable, and let
it comet / repeat it, sir, let 1t comet!
| know not what course others may take
but as for me, give me liberty, or give me
death!!"
10 commenting on this speech, aud the
Overwhelming effect it produced upon it's
hearers, Mr.. Henry's biograpber, already quo
ted, says:
He took his seat No murmur of az
plause was heard--the effect was too deep -
After the trance of q moment, several mem
bers started from their seats. The cry TO
arms" seemed to culver on every lip, and
CLEAN from every eye. Richard Henry Lee
arose and supported Mr. Henry with bis usual
sn;ri, and elegance. But his melody was
lost amid the agitations of that ocean, whioh
the master spirit OF tho storm had lifted up
ON high. That supernatural voice still
sounded in their ears and shivered along their
arteries. They beard in every pause the cry
of Liberty or Death" They became impa-
tent of spsech-their souls were on nre ior
action"
The resolutions we're passed. and Richard
Henry Lee was put on the Committee with
George Washing tou and others, to carry them
into effect.
Mr.. Lee next makes bis appearance on the
revolutionary stage, as q delegate from Nirc
cinia to the ever-memorable Congress VI
l776. OF that illustrious BODY, composed OF
the immortal signers of the Declaration OF
Independence, he was the acknowledged leu,
der. Ia the Congress which had assembled
nearly two years before, in the same place.
it is striking proof Of the estimation 10
which his abilities were held by that BODY
that be was honored by having his name
placed on each of the Committees. appointed TO
draft respectively those celebrated papers
the petition to the Kipg--the address to the
people OF Great Brtsiu--and the memorial 10
the people of British America. lie now re-
ceiyes the still greater honor OF beng ap-
noioted to move the Declaration OF lndepen-
dence. This he did with bis characteristic
zeal and courage. No report of this speech
has been preserved; but. if we may trust the
traditional accounts which have been HAND.
ed down to US, it was worthy OF the man ana
A modern Virginia writer of high repn,'
ta,ion. welding q pen equally classical WITH
that Of MIR. Writ, and perhaps even more
vigorous, thus briefly sketches the CHARACTER
-. hoe heen said and written OF