, 1860-01-23
:: Patrick Henry,


! Three Baptist preachers were brought Il
trial in' about 1777J5 for preaching. The 3ndict
ment brought against them tyas, For pre4cA,
ing TIE gospel Of tie Son Of CD" CONTRARY te
tle statute in that case provided, and therefore
disturbers Of the peace. The clerk was rea.line
the indictment in d slow aud formal manner
and be pronounced the crime with emphasis
Far pr.acdiny the gospel Of The Son Of Cod. y
when plain dressed man dismounted lis horse.
entered the court house, audtook his seat within
the bar lie was known to the court and law
Jcrs, nut stranger to the mass Of spectators
who had gathered On the occasion. This was
Patrick Henry, who, on hearing of this prosecu-
ton, had rode some ffty or sixiy miles IRON hi,
Residence in Hanover: county to volunteer his
services in the defense of the prisoners. lie
listened to the further reading OF the Indictment
with marked attention, the first sentence Of
which that had caught his was, " For preacll-
ing the gospel Of the Son Of God" When the
attorney had submitted a few remarks, uenrv
arose, stretched out Lis hand and received the
paper, and then addressed the COURT.
May It please your worships: /, tlink I
heard read By the prosecutor, us entered this
house, the paper now hold. in my hand. fl
have rightly understood. the King = attorney Of
this colony has framed an Indictment for the
purpose OF arra'gning aud Furnishing by in.
prsonancnt three inoilensive persous bsfore the
par OF tins coua, for crime Of great magni-
tude-as dtsturbers Of the peace. May it please
tte court, " l4al did ! hear read: Did hear It
distinctly, or was it IL mistake Of nv. own: Did
hear an expression, Us il crime, that these
men whom your worships arc about to try for a
m'suemeanor, nrc Charged .witl,-what:" uud
continuing in low, solemn, heavy tone, for
preaching tue gospel'of the Son of Cod ~ Puus-
ius. amidst the most profound silence and
brrathcss astonishment Of bis hearers, be
Slowly waved the paper three times around his
nm h,ky1t 1ta
een, with extraordinary aud impressive energy,
he exclaimed, Great God ~ The exclamation
the aciion-ti1e burst Of feeling from the au-
sumed:
Aay it please your worships: In 4 day Ike
this, when truth is about to burst her felters--
when nlanklnd: are about to lie raised to
claim their natural aud inaiienable rights-vhen
tue yoke Of oppression which las reached the
wilderness Of America, and the unnatural ali.
ance Of ecclesiastical and civilpower ia about to
DC tllssevcred-at such period-when liberty
liberty Of conscience, is about to awake from,
her siumberings and inquire into the reason OF
such charges a. find exhibited here to dar in
this Indictment" Another fearful pEuuse, while
the speaker alternately Gust his sharp. piercing
eyes on the court and tho prisoners, and re-
sumed: "f am not deceived, according to
the contents OF the paper nov hold in my hand.
tncse IN men are;aeensed Of preaching the gospel
" snc t3ou VI Atu' HTeat Noo. Anotller long
pause, during which he again waved the indjct-
n,ent around his llead, when deeper impress
sion was made on the auditory. Resumins his
May it please yonr WorsLips: There
ere periods in the history Of man when corrup-
ton and depravity hare SO long debased the
human character that man sinks under the
weight Of the opprassor's hand aud becomes
bis servile-his abject slave; he lcks the
hand that smitcs him; lie bows down in passive
obedience to the mandate of the dcspot and
IN This state Of scryilty he receives lis fet- |
'ers of perpetual bondage. But, may it |
please your worsh ps, such q day has passed |
.way! From the. period when our fathers |
elt the land Of their nativity for Set |
'tement in these American wilds; 1or LIN
ExTf-for civil and religious liberty-for liberty
1t consclencc-to worship their Creator accord- |
ng to their conceptions Of Heavens revealed /
gill; from, the moment they placed their feet On
be American continent, and in the deeply EN-
1edded forests sought m ASYLUM from perse- |
;ution and tvranny-from that moment despo.
Ism was crushed her letters Of darkness we're
'roken, aud Heaven decreed that man should |
,e trce--Irce to worship God according to the
';bc. We're it not for this, in vain have been
AIKEN the efforts and sacrifices Of the coionists:
vain wcrc al their suffering and bloodshed
0 su9luSate this new world, if We, their Off
prins. must still be oppressed and persecutcd.
5ut, n'ay 1t please your worships, permit lnc Ia
INQUIRE once morc--for what are these men |
bout to be tried. This paper saws for preach
ng the Gospel Of the son Of Cod GREAT
I'm! For preaching the Savior to Adams full
n racc!'
After another pause, in tones Of thunder, he
inquired. ''What Law hare they violattd."
Then for the third time, in Il slow. di.uitied
manner, he lifted his eyes to Heaven and waved
he indictment round his head The Court md
he audience were now wrought up to the most
ntense pitch Of excitement. The face OF the
attorney was pale and CHASTITY, and
le appeared unconscious That his whole frame
vas agitatcd with alarm aud the Judge, in a
remulous voice, put an end to the scene, now
.ecomins extremely pAinful, by the autAorita-
i've comnlaud,. "SuEn1rr, DISCHARGE THOSE
lES .'-NIchfr's heiiyiou Dtu0minat;ont.