The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-25

I to erase that resoln. and there being
at that day but one printer, aud he entire
ly under the control Of the Governor, | do
not know that this resoln. ever appeared in
print. T write this from memory, but the
impression made on me at the time was
such as to fix the facts indelbly in my
mind.
| came into the Legislature as burgess
for Albemarle in the winter of 1859, on
the accession Of Id Botetourt to the 60
vernment, and about nine years after Mr..
Henry had entered on the stage of public
life. The exact conformity of our politi-
cal opinions strengthened our friendship,
and, indeed, the old leaders of the House
| being substantially firm, we had not after
this any differences of opinion in the FL.
Of B. on matters Of principle, though
sometimes on matters Of form. We
were dissolved by Id. Botetourt at our
! first session, but all were reelected.
There being no divisions among US, oc-
casions became very rare for the display
of Mr.. H.'s eloquence. In ordinary bu-
siness he was very inefficient mem
ber. He could not draw bill on the
most simple subject which would bear
legal criticism, or even the ordinary criti-
cism which looks to the correctness of
style and idea; for, indeed, there was
no accuracy of idea in his head. His
imagination was copious, poetical, sublime,
but vague also. He said the strongest
things in the finest language, but without
| logic, without arrangement, desultorily.
This appeared eminently and in q morti-
flying degree in the 1st session 6f the lst
| Car4oroIar 1874
Mr.. Henry, and Richard Henry Lee, took
at once the lead in that assembly, and, by
the high style of their eloquence were, in
the first days of the session, looked up to
as print inter pares. A petition to- the
King, an address to the people of Great
Britain, and memorial to the people of
British America were agreed to be drawn.
Lee, Henry, and others, were appointed
for the first, and Lee, Livingston, and Jay,
for the two last. The splendor Of. their
debdt occasioned Mr.. Henry to be designa-
ted by his committee to draw the petition
to the King, with which they were
charged, and Mr.. Lee was charged with
the address to the people Of England.
| The last was first reported. On read
ing it every countenance fell, and
o dead silence ensued for many
minutes. At length itwas laid on the ia
BILE for perusal and consideration till the
next day, when first one member and then
another arose, and, paying some faint COM
pliments to the composition, observed that
there were still certain considerations not
expressed in it which should properly find
a place in it. At length Mr.. Livingston
(the Governor of New Jersey, a member
of the committee, rose and observed that
q friend of his had been sketching what he
had thought might be proper for such an
address,. from which he thought some para
graphs might he advantageously intro
duced into the draught he proposed; and he
read an address which Mr.. Jay had pre-
pared de bene esse, as it were. There was
but one sentiment of admiration. The ad-
dress was recommitted for amendment,
and Mr.. jays draught reported and
adopted with scarce any alteration. These
facts were stated to me by Mr.. Pendleton
and Colonel Harrison, of our own delega-
ton, Except that Colonel Harrison
ascribed the draught to Governor Living
ston,) and were afterwards confirmed to
me by Governor Livingston; and l will
presently mention an ahecdote confrma-
tive of them, from Mr.. Jay and R. II. L..
themselves.
Mr.. Henry's draught of petition to the
King was equally unsuccessful, and was
recommitted for amendment. Mr.. John
Dickinson was added to the committee,
and new draught prepared by him was
passed.
The occasion of my learning from Mr..
Jay that he was the author Of the address
to the people of Great Britain requires ex-
planation by statement of some preced-
ing circumstances. The I'd session Of the
lst Congress met, on their own adjourn
ment, in May, 1775. Peyton Randolph was
their President. In the mean time Id.
North's conciliatory propositions came
over to be laid by the Governors before
their Legislatures. Id. Dunmore accord
ingly called that Of Virginia to meet in
June. This obliged P. Randolph, as
Speaker, to return. Our other old men,
bers being at Congress, he pressed me to
draw the answer to Id. North's propo-
sition. accordingly did so, and it passed
with little softening Of some expressions
for which the times were not yet ripe, and
wire-drawing and weakening others to sa-
tisfy individuals. I had been appointed to
60 on to Congress in place of Peyton Ran
dolph, and proceeded Immediately, charged
with presenting this answer to Congress-.
AS it was the first which had been given,
and the tone of it was strong, the members
were pleased with it, hoping it would have
good effect on the answers of the other
States. A committee which had been ap-
pointed to prepare adeclaration to be pub
| lished by General Washington on his ar
rival at the army having reported one, it
was recommitted, and Dickinson and my
self added to the committee. On the ad-
iournment of the House, happening to go
out with Govr. Livingston, one of the
committee, expressed to him my hope
he would draw the declaration. He mo-
destly excused himself, and expressed
his wish that I would do it. But
urging him with considerable impor-
tunity he at length said: "You and |,
sir, are but new acquaintance what can
have excited SO earnest desire on your
part that / should be the draughtsman 7"
"Why, sir" said I, "Ihave been informed
you drew the address to the people of Or.
Britain. I think it the first composition in
the English language and, therefore, am
anxious this declaration should be pre-
pared by the same pen." He replied
nthat l might have been misinformed on
that subject" A few days after, being in
conversation with R. 81. Lee in Congress
Hall, little before the meeting of the
House, Mr.. Jay observing us, came up,
and taking r. Fl. Lee by button of the
coat, said to him pretty sternly: 81 un-
derstand, sir, that you informed this
gentleman that the address to the
people of Great Britain, presented 70 the