The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1863-03-13
Patrick Henry.


becoming his origin, but instead Of avail
ing himself of the advantages offered By
such p course Of education, lie neglected
ia golden opportunities, and amid the
pleasures OF the 1Lasa spent those hours
which should have been devoted TO his
studies When lie arrived at manhood,
he found himself destitute Of that degree
of knowledge which was requisite for him
TO enter upon these pursuits calculated to
lead him TO eminence in the literary rank
Of society. Having failed through want
If attention in his business as a merchant,
AMI 10 every other pursuit in which he had
hitherto engaged he at length in despair
applied himself TO the stud of the law
Here he Ei.ds a pursuit most congen!a! to
his feelings, and best calculated TO unfold
those hitherto hidden powers Of eIoqnence
which IN alter life d!speiled the gloomy
predictions which, his sIothfu career in
bis youth had excited, and which not on
" inmorlaiize1 Ills name, but forever rem
deEed ii.us.r!ous that glorious war Of lE>
dependence in which he was a promiren
actor. After cursory study Of only SIX
months Of this atslruse science, he wa.
admitted to practice in one Of the inferior
courts Of biz us;ive comfy. Before this
court, short time after his admission,
there was brought suit of the clergy.
Instituted against the people for the pay
meut Of certain taxes In his cause. ike
a true republican, we find him arrayed as
one of the champions Of tie people, and
in pleading hi. the success Of which was
before deemed almost hopeless, by his
'natchless eloluenee be entirely routed
his opponents and gained signal victory
for the people So grea: Was the exulta~
ZION of the public at this unexpected oc-
currence, that, transgressing all the bounds
of decorum. ard in defiance Of the author
isv Of the civil officers. they bore him from
the court house oR their shoulders, and
bv their acclamations testified their gratis
tude to their able defender. The effect
produced by this frs: display Of his eie
quence was so great, that for years after
the old people Of the colony thought that
no greater praise could be bestowed on
snv orator than to say, he is almost
equal to Patrick when he plead agains.
the parsons" The barrier which had
hitherto oistruc;ea bis progress IN the
march Of fame was now removed us
career from that time was a glorious oUe
and the name Of Patrick Henry, which
bu. 2 few months before vas hardly known
hnvca-! the narrow circle in which he
,ror., was nov trumpeted far and wide
bv The clarion o. isms He introduced
into the Virainia Legislature the HIST re,
solutions disappearing of The tyrannH:t@'
eneroarlraentS Of Britain over her colonies
and supporting them wiih an eio4"enee
rivalIing even tia. Of the propdest days
Of Greece or Rome. ! vas in tie con
ciusion of this speech that ne uttered those
memorable words-' Cesar had liIs Bru
tns, Charles the Fra lis Cromwell, and
George the Third there being interrupt
eI bv tie crv Of treason in voice OF
thunder, he continucd) may prof. By Their
example" When at length il was found
that we must either in depreciation sub
nit 70 tie despo;c authority Of Britain,
or Ir noble resistance y!ndGa'e oar
rio =. ihen it vas that Patrick sieary,
hg hs bold and fearless eloquance. depict
ed in It's true coors he III rs :ce OF the
oIt COUNTRY, and aroused his te.iow citizen.
% sense Of Their danger. Unlike De-
mostt enes of cid, WHO, when safe with
in Tie walls of Scns.e. could hnrl hi:
shafts of contempt at the invader, bn
when the time Of battle came, was the frs
who inglo'iousIv fed, we fad him leading
the first body Of troops raised in his native
.t,." 10 oppose his countrys eacm'es. t'
the frs, toK-rtss lie was an emient an(
useful meu.her, AMI vas The first who al
dressed that ,enersbIe body. A''er nav
| inr been twice Governor 9! BIS nah7'
| State. he again commenced the pesc'lc'
Of law Which a few wears after~ari h
/ abandoned and forever retired from pub,i'
/ life carving with him the respect and ad
| rairation Of his fellow countrymen, ant
eujoylng tie gratift ing reflection that h
/ had acted we'll his part. Such IS tam
! outline OF the chararter Of Patrick Henry
man who has been justly styled tn
:. orator of Nature" and who, by his owl
! unassisted natural talents, attained to lie
gree Of perfection in he art rarely equall
/ cd bv those who have made it the stud
Of their lives His undauateI opposition
70 the encyoachmeuls Of Britain, rank
him high as a patriot, his admjnisra,io
= of the executive government Of Virgini
during The stormy period of the reYolu,io
besrs witness to his skiliful stalesmansh
and bis numerous speeches lef, on record
and tie effects produced by chem, hav
enrolled tue name OF pa'rick Hear
among the btigh,es, ornament. of ora
tory.