The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-05

termination and that independence was an 40
sured TACT. The Confederation had Just been 90
compshed by the complete ratification oil tne
articles. thus shutting or all hope from the Brit
lsh OF conquerng America by dividing the STATES
ana gaining tneir submission IN detail francs
\ lihe army On the Continent Great Britain was
a. war With France, Spain and the Netherlands.
The war In America was continued without hope
OF conquest and Tor the purpose OF plumber and
destruction or else 10 strengthen her claims
III the negotiatlons for peace. In the North
the British army was shut up in New
YORK, and washington was planning an AZ.
tack upon that city. In the South COrnWallis had
retired To Wilmington. and Greene had recovered
the Garolinas. The Empress oil Russia ana the
Emperor OF Austria had proposed TO act as mesia,
tors for peace, ana England Dad consented "a,
their mediation, peace commissioners had already
been appointed by Congress ana were in Europe.
THE TALK OF PEACE
was common, aud on the 18th OF June Fox de-
clared IN the British Parliament that "from the
report OF CORVALLIS there is the most conclusive
evidence that the Is at once impraotlcA able in
its object and ruinous In Its progress;" and ne
moved a Recommendation 10 the Ministry con-
clude peace. IL would nave seemed, therefore
the height Oh folly Tor virginia 10 have proposed
SUBMISSION; when the inaependen l,,. OF all tns
Patrick Henry been inclined 10 peace on the terms
OF submission an opportunity mad been Afforded
before this time, while ne was Governor OF the
State, when the prospect was lar more
gloomy, ana The British Peace Commissioners had
actually made direct proposal 70 treat with
Virginia separately. How Indignantly ne ana the
Legislature had rejected the proposal Is a matter
oil history. Colonel Taylor could nave selected no
man as the mover OF this resolution who would
have done more violence to his character II
moving II than Patrick Henry. In the language
OF Jonn Adams, he was entitled TO ''tne glory OF
Deginnlng This great Revolution" He had been
the nrst to take up arms IN Virginia. had con,
SANITY LED the 'front.' rank OF tine patriots In all
their measures, and II MS contemporaries are 70
be believed John Taylor excepted never fal-
terec IN The struggle for independence. The great
founder oil Colonel Taylor's party, Thomas Jeffer-
son. testified abundautly TO this. Not long alter
Colonel Taylor related mis- incident TO Mr.. Adams
MIR. jefferson entertained Daniel wooster at Mon
ticelo, ana conyersed freely with him OF the Revo.
nton In speakn9 ratr,Es henry 20 Wees'ss
any man ever was and 1t Is not now easy 70 say
wnat We should have done without Patrick Henry.
THE SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION.
His influence Was most extensive with the
members from the upper counties, and his bold
and their votes oTerawed ana controlled the
more cool or the more tlmid, aristocratic gentle
men OF the lower part OF the state" 1t is hardly
possible that the person described py jefferson
should have counseiled submission at iine
when no other memDer oil the mouse would even
that the proposition met with 'lnmediate. lndig'
nsnt and universal opposition" stranger II any
thing Is the statement tnat the timid, responding
mover chan scd his views during the debate, and
became one oil 1.-THE most ardent and most san-
guine Tor perseverance In the war; Aud this II
the man, TOO. VINO was SO distinguished leader
in tue Legislature That he Is described oy MI.
Madison aud others as omuipotent in mat body.
COLONEL TAYLoR's DEPRECIATION
of Patrick Henry's efficient agency III the Revo-
luton" is completely answered by Mr.. Jefferson
IN the same conversation with webster, lor ne
adued:-"Aiter ali 1t must be allowed that ne was
our leader In tue measures OF the Revolution IN
virginia, and In that respect more Is due TO him
than to any other person. II we had not mad him
we should probably have got on pretty well, as
you did, by a number OF men OF nearly equal tal-
ents but nc left all OF US far behlnd." IL cannot
be viewed without the grayesJ suspiclon that
this cSargc OF Colonel Taylor was not made during
the lifetime OF Patrick Henry or OF any other MEN,
Der oil the Legislature Of 1881. 80 lar as
we know, and That 1t was never made
publicly at any time. Had not Mr.. Adams
preserved 1t In mis- diary IL would, IN ali probable
1ty, have been lost TO the world. Coming TO us,
then, at this late day, nearly century alter tRe
alleged occurrence, clothed WITH much suspicion
ana so improbable Ia Itself, this statement SO
dlsparagtng TO Patrick Henry, cannot De aecep ted
as true without lurther and conclusive proof.
gentleman distinguished for MS Information con.
ceralng Virginia history mas suggested to me the
following explanation OF this curious statement
ana willingly give Colonel Taylor tho benefit OF
1t:-Mr. Henry, in the Legislature OF 178l, repre-
scented one OF the counties on the south size OF
holding region OF virginia. AS the Brltlsh were
destroying large quantities Of tobacco and
Carrying on large numbers OF slaves this section
Ielt most keenly their INVASION anu had most to
fear from continuance or II. Very strong and
unusual measures were pressed upon the Le2isla-
turc by those who were determined to protect The
State at all hazards ana Mr.. Henry was foremost
among these.
In some DEBATE 1t is possible that MI. Henry
may have spurred ON the ttmld and hating men,
bers by declaring that 1t would be better TO
submit 10 Great Britain at once Than TO submit TO
their present destruction OF property wltneut
taking adequate measures to preventlt 1t.
Ine effect or sucn suggestion as an alternative
would naturally nave been TO produce greater
have been thus accomplished.
From some such incident as this Colonel Taylor,
In his o d age, emoittered against Mr.. Henry and
disposed TO depreclate him, mght nave con-
structed The statement made to Mr.. Adams. VerI
respectfully, WILLIAM WRIT HENRY.
RICHMOND, Va, July II, 1875.