Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-02-21
NO. *.
Patrick Henry.

Three Baptist preachers were brought to ri
al in about 1775, for preaching. The indict-
ment brought against them was, "For preach
ing the Gospel of the Son Of God," contrary to
the statute in that case provided, and, therefore,
disturbers of the peace. The clerk was reading
the Indictment in slow and formal manner,
and as he pronounced the crime with emphasis,
"For preaching the Gospel Of the Son Of God,"
plain dressed man dismounted from his horse,
entered the court house and took bis seat with
10 the bar. He was known to the court and
lawyers, but stranger to the mass OF specta-
tors who had gathered on the occasion. This
was Patrick Henry, who on hearing of this
prosecution, had rode some fifty or sixty miles
from his residence in Hanover county, to yolun-
teer his services in the defence of the prisoners.
He listened to the further reading OF the indict-
ment with marked attention, the first sentence
of which that caught his ear was, "For preach
ing the Gospel of the Son of God" When the
indictment had been read, and the prosecuting
attorney had submitted few remarks, Henry
arose, stretched out bis hand and received the
paper, and then addressed the court:
"May it please your worships think heard
read by the prosecutor, as entered this house,
the paper | now hold in my hand. If have
rightly understood, the Kings attorney of this
colony has framed an Indictment for the pur-
pose of arraigning and Furnishing by imprison-
ment three inofensive persons before the bar
of this court, for crime of great magnitude
as disturbers of the peace. May it please the
court, what did hear read 2 Did | hear it
distinctly, or was it mistake of my own2-
Did hear an expression, as if a crime, that
these men whom your worships are charged
with-what2" and continuing in low, solemn,
heavy tone, eFor preaching the Gospel of the
Son of Godl" Pausing, amidst the most pro-
found silence and breathless astonishment of his
hearers, he slowly waved the paper three times
around his head, then lifted up his hands and
eyes to heaven, with extraordinary and impress
sive energy, he exclaimed, "Great God!" The
exclamation-the action-the burst OF feeling
from the audience, were all overpowering.-
Mr.. Henry resumed:
ssMay it please your worships; In day like
this, when truth is about to burst her fetters-
when mankind is about to be raised to claim
their natural and inalienable rights-when the
yoke of oppression which has reached the will
derness of America, and the unnatural alliance
of ecclesiastical and civil power is about to be
dissevered-at such periOd-when liberty
liberty of conscience, is about to awake from her
slumberings and inquire into the reason of such
charges as / find exhibited here in this indict
ment!" Another fearful pause while the speak
alternately casting bis sharp, piercing eyes on
the court and the prisoners, resumed: 'lt am
paper / now hold in my hand, these men are
accused of preaching the gospel OF the Son Of
God' "Great Godi" Another long pause, du-
ring which he again waved the indictment a.
round his head, when deeper impression was
made on the auditory. Resuming his speech
'sMay it please your worshps There are peri
DDS in the history of man when corruption and
depravity have so long debased the human char
ter that man sinks under the weight of the op.
- l. -,Io l.
ject slave he licks the hand that smites him
he bows in passive obedience to the mandates
of the despot; and in this state of servility he
receives his fetters of perpetual bondage. But,
may it please your worships, such day has
passed away From the period when our faith
ers left the land of their nativity for settlement
in these American wilds, for Liberty-fOr civil
and religious liberty-for liberty of conscience
Ito worship their Creator according to their
conceptions of Heavens revealed will from the
moment they placed their feet on the American
continent, and in the deepest embedded forests
sought an asylum from persecution and tyranny
from that moment despotism was crushed
her letters of darkness were broken, and Heav-
en- decreed that man should be free-free to
worship God according to the Bible. Were it
not for this, in vain have been taken the efforts
and the sacrifices of the colonists; in vain were
all their sutferiDgs and bloodshed to subjugate
this new world, if we, their ofsprings must still
be oppressed and prosecuted. But, may it
please your worships permit me to inquire once
more-for what are these men about to be trieda
This paper says, ''for preaching the Gospel Of
the Son of God" GNet God "For preaching
the Savior to Adams fallen race!"
After another pause, in tones of thunder, he
inquired what laws have they violated?" Then
for the third time, in slow, dignifed manner,
he lifted his eyes to heaven and waved the in
dictment around his head. The court and the
audience were now wrought up to the most in
tense pitch of excitement. The face of the pros
ecutng attorney was pale and ghastly, and her
appeared unconscious that his whole frame was
agitated with alarm; and the judge, in trem-
ulous voice, put an end to the scene, now be-
coming extremely painful, by the authoritative
command, 'Sheritf, discharge those men ~
Balcher's Religious Denominations.
r. !