Litchfield enquirer., 1858-09-09
From the Monmouth IN. J. Herald. PATRICK HENRY.
BY HENRY WARD.

IT was day of trial fierce and strong, When War and Peril wildly swept along And this fair Land where Freedom held her sway, Was swathed in sackcloth, filed with dire dismay Yet there were those, the true of heart and soul, Who scoraed foreign tyrants base contrei' And hurled defiance at their ruthless foes, Sworn to be free, else in death repose And now they met with dauntless souls, and high, Faith in each heart and lightning in each eyc And in the God of blttles was their trust, Who aids the weak, and hurls the proud to dust. They met in solemn council to debate Their country's freedom, or impending fate. Then with majestic and undaunted mein, As some tall mountain cliff on high is seen To raise its head amid darkeninS cloud, Where lightnings flash and thundcrs echo loud, Rose HENRY, matchess in that eoquence Which moves nation in it's own defence; His words were words of fire that lived and burned, And every coward recreant's scheme O erturaed, Made brave men braver still confirmed the weak, And caused the tmid fields of strife to seek And thus he spake: 70, Bremen tis confessed, Man nature gives indulgence in his breast To vain, delusive Hope; we close our eyes Az ,inst truth that pains us with surprise; And listen to the syren's song of peace, Till all the noble powers of manhood cease, And we become transformed to beasts that go Swift to the slaughter. reckless why 'tis so. Is this the part of men who would be wise, And strive for Liberty, that gloii Dus prize Are we of those who, having eyes, blind? And having ears, are deaf to calls that bind
  And from our limbs the tyrant's letters shake? But as for me, whatever pain and ruth Cypress my soul, long to know the truth, And all the truth yearn the worst to know And be prepared against tn invading foe. One lamp alone have to guide my feet And that is past experience is it meet To judge the future save by what is past? How long shall this ngorious slumLer last? For ten long years what have those courticrs ione That iutter round the British monarchs throne, To justify your hopes or quell your fears When your petition reached the royal ears Did that insiduous and perverted smile Your senses Hull, your supine souls beguile? Trust not its blandness-it will prove snare To lure your feet to dungeons of despair; Scorn the betrayal of a treacherous kiss What is their friendship in time like this? Ask now yourselves, ye who have crst believed Your humble prayer was graciously received What mean those warlike armaments that stain With darkness both columbia s land and main Are hostile fleets and glittering bayonets fit To win our love and make our souls submit? Have we displayed so much of hardened pride, That force must win our love. and nought beside? Be not deceived Those implements they bring For war and subjugation to their king; The last, the only reasons tyrants urge, To crush fair Freedom meath Oppression's suroe ask you, freemen in the light of day, What means this martial pomp, this proud array, Unless it be to cast Us down as slaves, Or hurl us headlong to blood stained graves? Can you, my countrymen the cause divine, Or any other motive here assign? Hath Britain any other foe beside, In all this region stretching far and wide, To call her giant navies on the decp And mighty legions OCT our land to sweep? No-she hath none; for us, for us alone, They come to crush us meath tyrants throne; They come to rivet our limbs those chains Which British ministers, with hellish pains So long have forged. What now can we oppose? Will argument avail against our foes? For ten long years we ve tried it all in vain, And what have we by base delay to gain Is this the time to bend the suppliant knee When God who made us wills Us to be free? Long have we Striven to avert the storm, Besieged the throne, with loyal hearts and warm, But our petitions have been spurned away, And what have we to hope by vain delay? Insulting mOckery, scorn and foul disdain, Arc all that now for us on earth remain Would we be free flor liberty and right, To arms to arms brave freemen, We must fight Yea, repeat it, we must fght Our trust Is in that God who knows our cause is just. Say not we re weak-in God our arms are strong Wait not till all that mercenary throng Shall fire your dwellings, lead your sons in chains And Taught but vilest slavery remains. God who presides Ter nations is our friend. He'll fight our battles for us to the end Our chains are forged. On Boston's blood-staine
 plains
 Their cank is heard, and naught but War remains And let it come yea, let it come! No more Cry Peace, when halcyon Peace hath left ou shore The next wild gale that sweeps Qn northern wing. The clash of loud resounding arms will bring! Our brethren fly to arms 7! why stand we here! Is life to us, my countrymen, so dear, Or peace so sweet. that chains must be the price, And Slavery bind us in her foul device? Forbid it, Almighty God Supreme! know not what my fellow men may deem, But will cry evn with my latest breath, 70 give me LIBERTY, or give me Death !'
 LitchfekQ, Conn.,. Aug 10 1S5S