Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-15
Speech Of PaGlick Hafiy,
Ia the House of Delegates Of Virginia, on the 23d O
Ma eli, l775, on has motion 10 fight end de- # neces

Ia the House Of Delegates Of Virginia, on the 23d Of
Ma eli, l775, on has motion 10 fight end die, #
sary, for tie freedom and Independence of Amcrlca
Mr. President: L. is natural to man to indulge
n the illusions of hope. We apt to shut eyes
against painful rutii-and listen the song Of that
8yreD, till she transforms into beasts Is this the
part Of wise men, engaged in great and aTduous strug
gle to liberty !! Are we disposed to BE- OF the number
Of those who hHViug eyes, not, having ears
hear not, the things which nearly tenn
poral salvation For my part, whatever anguish OF
spirit it might cost, am willing to know the whole
truth ~ know the worst, ard provide for it.
/ have but one lamp BY which my feet are guid-d
and that is the lamp Of experience. know OF way
OF judgn; Of the future but by the past And Judging
by the PIT wish to know what there has been in the
conduct Of tbe British ministry for the last years.
justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been
pleased to solace themselves and The house, Is it thai
nSiGious smile with which petition has been lately
received? Trust De}, sr it will prove snare your
feet Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with kiss
Ask yourselves how this gracious ecption of petit
ton comports with these wariike preparations which
cover waters and darkcn land. Are fleets and
armies necessary to work OF love and reconciliation
Have shown ourselves unwilling to be Teconced,
that force must be called 10 10 win back love Let
not deceive ourselves sir. These the implements
OF and sui jug aon-tha last arguments to which
kings r. )rt. l ask gentlemen, SIR what this
martial array, if its purpose be force US sub
mission Can gentlemen assign any other possible
motive t0r it. has Great Britain any enemy in this
quarter OF the word, to call for all this alton Of
navits and armies! No. sir she has none They are
M ant fer Us they can be meant for no other They
are bind end rvet upon Us thCss chains,
which the British ministry have been so lJng forging
And what have we TO oppose to them? Shall try
argument? Sir, have been trying that for the last
tep years Have we any thing TO fer upon the
subject? Nothing, We have held the subject up in
every light OF whica it is capable but it has been all in
vain. Shall sort 10 entreaty and bumbie suppl
cation? What terms SHALL We fnd which have not
been already exhausted?
Let US net, / besecch you, sir, deceive ourselves
longer. Sir, Lave done everything that could be
done TO avert the storm which is now coming We
have petluoned-We have rem0nstratcd-We have sup
picated-we have pres rated ourselves before the throne
and have impOred its nterposton the tyraD-
nical hands OF the ministry and parliament. Oar petit
tons have been Sighted our circumstances have pro-
duced additional violence aud insult eur suppcatiOus
have been disregardtd and have been spurned with
contempt, from the foot Of the throne. In vain, after
these things, may indulge the fond hope OF peace
and reconciliation. There no longer any room for
hope Il wish to be rte-if to esarve IT,
violate those inesma0e privileges for which We have
been so long c0nteldng--if we mean not basely to
abandon the noble struggle in which we have been SC
long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves
never to abandon until the glorious object of
test shall be obtained we must fight Il repeat it,
Sir, must fight :. An APPEAL 10 arms and to the
God CT Hosts is all that is lett US.
"They tell u.s. sir, that we are weak-unabe to cope
with 50 formidable al adversary. But when shall we
be stronger? VIII it be the next week tie mex
year? VIII it be when We totally disaTm9d, and
when British guard shall be stationed Ia every house
Shall gather strength by rresoution and inacti0n
Shall acquire the of ef16ctual resistance by
lying supinely on our backs aud huggng tie deusv5
phantom OF hope until enemies shall have bound
hand and foot? Sir We are not weak, if we make
proper OF those which the God of hath
placed Ill our power Three millions Of people. armed
tno holy OF Liberty, aud in such couotry as
that which possess nVincibe By any force which
our enemy can send against us. Besides sir, we sha'
10 fight onr battles alone There is just God wis
pr, sde2 he @:s';nies of nations and who vii
raise up ds b battles for US. The battle
sir, stioug alone it il 20 the vg;lant thu
acl.v The brave. Beside sir, We have no Ell ction
Ii We Here pase enough desire il, ii is now too Ia
10 retire from The There 20 retreat bat i.
submission aid slavery Oar chains are forged
Their clanking may be heard the plains OF Boston
The is inevitabe-and let it come !! I repeat it
sir let it come !!
1t is IN vain, sir, to txteLu tie matter. Gentle
meu may cry, peace, e-6ut there is peate. b.
war Is actually begun ! he Lext gale that SWEEPS
from the Notth WIN bTiUg 10 the clash cf re
siurdlng arms! Oar hfehien already 10 tie & ID
Why aud va te:e i. lie What Is it TIA. scctienel
{ nlsb W bat would tht lags Is life 50 dear o
peace SO ~ purchased at the price of chain
}, and slavery! Forbid it, Almighty God know no
what course Others may take; But as for me-" crie
he with both his arms extended alo his brows knit