Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-07
Patrick Henry and the Truth of
HiStOrV

We publish 10 another COLUMN letter from
William Writ Henry, of Richmond, Va, in
reference to the story embodied 10 the Herald's
review of the Memoirs OF } 90 Quincy Adams.
Our readers will remember that Mr.. Adams 10
his diary related story to the effect that, in a
conversation with John Taylor, of Caroline,
which took place 90 the 2lst of March, 1924,
Taylor told Adams that 10 the Revolutionary
campaign of 1881 Patrick Henry had proposed
that Virginia should be the first TO submit to
Great Britain 10 order to obtain the most favor
able terms; and, furthermore, that he support
ed this motion in an eloquent speech, and that,
10 the opinion of Taylor, Henry mad much
less efficient agency iu the Revolution than
macy others
Mr.. Henry favors US with an elaborate aud
interesting discussion of the probable truth
of this narrative. He shows that Colonel
Taylor at the time he told the story was
seventy-two years OF aye, aud that he Was at
the point OF dying aud did die within six
months; that the story he told was in refer
ence to an event that had taken place forty,
three years antecedent, when Taylor was a
young man, and that it was Inconsistent with
the character of Patrick Henry. He further
more reminds US that j Ohm Taylor during the
life of Patrick Henry was his political opponent,
belonging to the arstocratic party in Virginia,
which Henry opposed; that they differed On
the adoption of the federal constitution, Taylor
avoWlng himself u dlsuOionlst while Henry, al
though opposed to the constitution, Loyalty &C.
| cepted Its PROVISIONS that the passage of the
famous resolutions of l79S as they are known,
by the Legislature Of Virginia was owing to
Mr. Taylor and 50 alarmed Henry that he re-
solved to return to public life, but died before
he could take his seat in the Legislature. He
reminds US that Henry vas assaiIed with pecu-
liar bitterness by Taylor and his party, and
that, therefore, any testimony against the char
acter OF the great orator OF the Revolution
from even so eminent man as Taylor should
be weighed scr upulously.
The period when Patrick Henry is said to
have proposed submission TO Great Britain was
just before the surrender OF CORVALLIS, in June
1871. Our correspondent has examined closely
the Journal of the House aud Guds no trace of
the motion which Colonel Taylor attributed to
Patrick Henry. There was 90 motion to 20
into secret session whatever, and in this essen
Nor Is there any sign of faItering. The jour.
nal, writes MIR. Henry, Shows the most deter
mined spirit ofreslstance IN the measures pro-
posed and adopted land MIR. Henry appears fore
most 10 them all. Our correspondent makes a
strong polnlwben he SHOWS that it Patrick Henry
had committed the blunder charged by Taylor
1t would have been used aeains, him during
his life, and especially 10 l7SS, when be led
the opposition to the federal constitution and
1t became all important to break his Influence.
Although be was assaied by leaders as coupe
tent and we'll informed Oh Revolutionary mat
tiers as Henry Lee and Edmund Randolph,
neither OF them ever charged Patrick Henry
with desire to surrender to the British. 1t is
shown also that the time selected by Taylor for
this alleged motion is unfortunate for its his
torcal truth, as it was in bright season Of the
war and not during the dark hours The indie
pendence OF the States was an accom- plishcd
tact, aud, as our correspondent We'll remarks,
1T would have seemed, therefore, the height
of folly for Virginia TO have proposed submis-
son."
The historical value of this discussion will not
be doubted. Patrick Henry, however, was TOO
great man, and his fame is two precious 10 the
eyes OF Americans for US to accept upon the sole
authority of political opponent story that
would take from him much OF the lustre with
which posterity surrounds him. -NeW York
HERALD