The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-02-29
Something New about Patrick Henry.

ly read highly interesting paper before the
Long Island Historical Society on Patrick
Henry, the great Virginia orator of the reyolu-
ton. Mr. Fontaine Is descendant of the dis
tinguished man of whom he spoke, the facts
being compiled from unpublished family docu-
ments, and correct many errors to be found in
| the biographies which have already appeared.
Rev. MI. Fontaine said that ever since he
was seventeen years old he had kept journal,
and all the anecdotes told him of Patrick Hen
ry by the oldest of his grandsons and three of
his daughters had been carefully written down.
From that source he should draw the material
for his lecture, and at the same time endeavor
to correct many mistakes in what had been said
of him. The biography written of him b.
VIM. Writ, in 1857, had passed through fifteen
editions, but it abounded in mistakes, and some
of them he hoped to be able to correct
The father of Patrick Henry, was Colonel
John Henry, of Aberdeen, in Scotland, who
came to this country in the year 1880 and set
tied in Virginia. He became Justice of the
Peace, Magistrate, and was also Colonel in
the Colonial forces. He married Mrs. Sim,
the widow of Colonel Sim, of Winchester. She
was formerly Miss Winston, and descended
from the celebrated Welsh family of that name.
Scotch father and the fire of his Welsh mother,
and they combined to make him an orator who
spoke as Homer wrote. Although Patrick
! Henry filled almost every position of honor
| and trust which it was in the power of his fell
low-citizens in Virginia to bestow upon him, he
was poor man when elected Governor for the
fourth time. He declined the honor on ac-
count of his poverty. The times, however,
have changed in that respect, for now men
take their seats without being worth cent,
and retire from Office worth millions of dollars.
But the idea never seemed to occur to him
while the sword and the purse of Virginia were
at his disposal that he could amass wealth by a
judicious use of his patronage. Although he
classical education from his uncle, and was also
taught those principles which made Virginia
so great State. He was taught "to be true
and just in all my dealings, to bear no malice
or hatred in my heart, to keep my hands from
picking and stealing, and to do my duty ir that
state of life which it shall please God to call
me-" An error has been committed in regard
to the statement put forth of the apparent want
of preparation of his speeches, and from what
Mr.. Writ has said it might be supposed that
there was nothing of the "smell of the lamp"
about them. He was, however, another illustra-
tion of the saying that "a poet Is born, but an
orator is made" He had poetical abilities OF
high order, but his speeches were all carefully
prepared.
His personal appearance was exceedingly
striking; he was six feet in height, had dark,
curly hair, and q very commanding counten-
ance. But his most remarkable feature was his
eyes, which were deeply set, and of hazel
hue: his organ of speech was perfect, and its
tones were like that of some grand wind instru-
ment and always under perfect control. He
had poetic temperament, and, although born
poet, he made himself great orator, and in
his speech on free trade he said, "Fetter not
commerce. Let her be free as air, and she will
return upon the four winds of Heaven to bless
the land with plenty" Those were words
which could not have been uttered by any man
unless he had been poet.
| In preparing for his work he spent one hour
every day in prayer, practice which is now
very seldom observed except by Ministers OF
the Gospel and old-fashioned men and women.
In 1889 he retired from public life very poor,
and the next nine years he spent in securing
riod he laid up an ample fortune for each one
of his thirteen children, and then, in 1876,
finding that his family was in easy circ1mstan-
ces, he retired from the practice of his profes-
sion, but with constitution sadly shattered by
| complication of diseases, not one, however, OF
which had been brought on by vice or excess OF
any Kind Mr.. Writ had asserted that although
he was sincere Christian, it was after form
of his own but it was mistake to say that he
was never attached to any religious society. for
he lived and died and was.at all times an ex-
emplary communicate of the Presbyterian
Church. The characteristics of Patrick Henry
as an orator, patriot, Christian and states
man, were then spoken of at great length, and
then Mr. Fontaine said his last speech was
made in April 1899, only three months before
! 1 L thapC nd ot
latiye honors, having been induced to return to
political life in order that he might use his in
fuence to prevent the secession of Virginia,
which she had reserved the right to do during
that year.
His prophetic utterances in regard to the
dangers which were likely to beset the country
when the Federal Government should have un-
limited power to levy taxes in the different
States were then spoken of, and the corruption
which would follow, the appointment OF an ar
nv of tax-gatherers, collectors and inspectors,
was set forth in Patrick Henry's speeches, and
also in his private conversations, during which
he said that when such things happened then
the country would fall under the heel OF
usurper, and the Republic would be no more.
When he made his last speech John Randolph
appeared at the same place charlotte county
Court House, in the heart of Virginia. and
casiou % Patrick Henry recognized the young
mans talents, and exhorted his fellow-citizenss
to cherish him as one who would do them good
service. The passage which had SO often been
quoted, ''Is peace so sweet, or life so dear, as
to be purchased at the price of chains and
slavery? God forbid it. 1 know not what
course others may take, but as for me, give me
liberty or give me death," had already exerted
vast influence on the fate of mankind, and it
was still ringing through the world ard WELD
ing ing power which nothing could Withstand
In Iis conclusion, Mr.. Tontaine said that Patrick
Henry was a greater orator than any other,
either in ancient or modern times. Neither
Demosthencs, Cicero or the elder Pitt through
their eloqucncc, could accomplish the objects
for which it was cxcrted, while Patrick Henry
always did. Loud applause.
/ Of thu ls ra tpndprnd to