Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-07-06
PATRICK HENRY IN COURT.
Ills brilliant Defence Of the Indicted
Preachers
IFrom the Atlantic for Julyl

were OTTdlBIlCu ITO uloVuI DOlo VI 'ho
peace before magistrates who were
determined to convict them. Pa
trick Henry rodeffty miles to defend
them, and the following account is
gwen OF his performancc-it was
more than specch-on that ocea-
sion.
He entered the courthouse while
the prosecuting attorney was read
ing the indictment. lie was Btr.n-
ger to most of the spectators, and,
being dressed in the country manner,
his entrance excited no remark,
When tho prosecutor had finished
his brief opening, the new-come'
took tho indictment, and glanclng at
it with an expression Of puzzled in
credulity, began to speak in the tone
of a man who has just heard some
thing too astonishing for belief.
May it please your worships, |
think | heard readily the prosecutor,
as | entered the house, the paper |
now hold in my hand. If | have
rightly understood, the Kings attor-
nov has framed an indictment for
the purpose of arraigning and pun
ishing by imprisonment thoso three
inoflensive persons before the bar OF
this court for II crime otgrcat mag
nitude-as disturbors Of the peace.
May it ple4se.the court what did l
hear read? Did hear it distinctly,
or was it mistake Of my own? Did
| hear M expression of a crime, that
these men, whom your worships are
about to try for misdemeanor, are
charged with-with-with WHAT?
Having delivered these words in a
hating, broken manner MS II ms
mind was staggering under the
weight of monstrous idea, he low
cred his voice to its deepest bass
and, assuming the profoundest so
lomnity OF manner, answered his owr
question: "Prcaching the gospel o.
the Son of GodY
"Then he paused Every eye was
now riveted upon hun, and every
mind intent; for all this was e2ocu
ted as a KEN or n Siddons woul(
have performed it on tho Stage eye
voice, attitude, gesture, all i'll accor'
to produce the utmost possibility o
effect. Amid n silence that could b'
felt, he waved the Indictment three
times round his head, as though stll
amazed, still unable to comprehend
the charge.
"Thcn he raised his hands an'
eyes to heaven, and, in a tone OF pa
tRotic energy wholly indescrlbHble
exclaimed Great God?
at this point, such was the pow
cr OF his delivery, the audience re
licyod their feelings by n burst o
pigas and tears. The orator con'ln
ued;
"Nlay it please your worshlpS' IN
doy like this, when truth is about t.
bust her fettors, when mankind ar
bout to be aroused to claim thel
no ural and iualienobIo rights, whe
the yoke of oppression that ha
searched the wilderness of Amerlc'
and the unnatural alliance OF cccl'
sias,ical and civil power are about
be diaseyercd-at such II pero'
whou liberty, liberty Of conscience
is about to wake from her slumb'l
inps and inquire into the reason
snch charges as / find exhibited her
to-da, in this indictmcDt-Hero o'
cured another Of his nppalhh
panscs, during which he cast per
, il,g looks at the judges and at t,,, VI
three clergymen arriGned' The
rosuming he thrilled every hearor j
his favorite device If repetllon; ,
| am not deceived according to IL
contents of the paper | now holI
nv hand-thes6 men Nre accuse
) preaching the gospel OF the Son
Godl' He waived the documel
| tbroo times round his head rs 'hone
still lost in wonder and then, WI,
y the SANE clectricattitude OF appeal
Heaven, he gasped, Great God.
"This was followed by anoth'
/ burst of feeling from the spectator
+, and again this master OF che
PLUNGED into he tide OF his I'll
course: ~.
NAV it please your worship
there are periods in the history
man when corruption aud depraV
. hovc 80 dcbased the human chara
= ter. that man sinks under the wHS
Of the oppressor's hand -6ecGm
k his scrv,le, his abject slave. He hc
If the hand That smites him. lie Do'
in passive obedience to the man1at
/ Of the dtspot; and, III THIS state
~ seryility, he receives his letters
perpetual bondage. But, may
please your worshipe, such n day h
y, ,f passed. From that period when o
. t.thers left the land of their naIlVl
for these American wilds, from I
p moment they placed their feet up
IL the American continent, from u
moment despotism was crushed I
1t fettors of darkness were broken, a
f. Heaven decreed hat man should
free. free to worship God accord
10 to the Bible. In vain were all tn
sunrerings and bloodshcd to sub
=. cate this New World, il we, their
10 81 ring, must still be oppressed a
=. prosecuted. But, may it Please yl
'h ta worships, permit me to inquire Oh %
Us more, for what are these men Hot
to be tried? This paper says; !
e. preaching the gospel OF the Savl'
g. to Adam s fallen raceP
Again he paused. For tho til
in time ne slowly waved the indlctm
ri round his head; and then, turning
a the judges, looking them full in
lace exclaimed with the most
ri NVbat law hnVo 1